Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
PSUs
News Archive
Friday, June 29th 2012
LEPA G1600-MA 1600 W Review
Today we are going to test Lepa's new 1600W beast, the GA1600-MA, which is based on the Enermax Platimax platform. It is 80 PLUS Gold certified and with its huge power it can easily feed every PC system out there. It not only offers outstanding power, but also comes at very attractive pricing, cheaper than many competing products in this category.
Battlefield 3 Premium Sells Over 800K Since Launch
While many scoffed at Battlefield 3's late-arriving competitor to Call of Duty Elite, it seems to have worked quite splendidly for the publisher. More than 800,000 players have signed up for Premium in its first two weeks of availability, EA Games' Patrick Soderlund revealed. Although Premium less a "service" like Elite and more of a DLC Season Pass, the $50 asking price does include a lot of content. Namely, Premium includes access to over $75 worth of content, making it a "value" for hardcore fans of the series. Speaking to USA Today, Soderlund said that "we are very pleased with the performance so far." When asked if this strategy is something EA will pursue with future games, he said: "We're actually only two weeks into it, so it's a little early to tell how this is going to pay off. It certainly it looks very promising right now."
Call of Duty Elite currently has over two million paying subscribers, a number which took about six months to reach.
Call of Duty Elite currently has over two million paying subscribers, a number which took about six months to reach.
ASUS Readies HD 7850 DirectCu II Dragon Edition Graphics Card
ASUS is reportedly working on a new custom-design Radeon HD 7850 graphics card, to capture a key price-point in the performance market segment. The card uses the company's in-house DirectCu II dual-slot cooling solution, and is labeled "Dragon Edition" (model: DRAGON HD7850-DC2O-2GD5). The card ships with clock speeds lower than those of the HD 7850 DirectCu II TOP, with 910 MHz GPU and 5.00 GHz memory (vs. reference clock speeds of 870/4.84 GHz; and DCU2 TOP clock speeds of 975/5.00 GHz).
Interestingly, the HD 7850 DirectCu II Dragon Edition features a metal back-plate, something even the TOP model lacks. The PCB, too, differs from the that is found in other HD 7850 DCU2 graphics cards, featuring a 6+3 phase Digi+ VRM, which draws power from two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The main heatsink bears a slightly different design to that of the other DCU2 models based on the GPU. ASUS is likely to price the card somewhere between the stock HD 7850 DirectCu II and the HD 7850 DirectCu II TOP.
Interestingly, the HD 7850 DirectCu II Dragon Edition features a metal back-plate, something even the TOP model lacks. The PCB, too, differs from the that is found in other HD 7850 DCU2 graphics cards, featuring a 6+3 phase Digi+ VRM, which draws power from two 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The main heatsink bears a slightly different design to that of the other DCU2 models based on the GPU. ASUS is likely to price the card somewhere between the stock HD 7850 DirectCu II and the HD 7850 DirectCu II TOP.
GIGABYTE Introduces its Line of Barebone Rack Servers Based on the Intel Xeon E5
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of server hardware, today announced the launch of its complete line of barebone rack servers based on the Intel Xeon processor E5 family.
This refresh in GIGABYTE's server hardware offering includes a large choice of dual socket systems based on the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 and E5-2400 product families. Customers can therefore narrow down their processor and system choice according to their specific needs in computing power and energy consumption.
This refresh in GIGABYTE's server hardware offering includes a large choice of dual socket systems based on the Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 and E5-2400 product families. Customers can therefore narrow down their processor and system choice according to their specific needs in computing power and energy consumption.
Rosewill Announces Fortress Series 80 Plus Platinum PSUs
Rosewill, the recipient of multiple awards for their innovative power supplies, has just released their first 80+ Platinum certified power supply. Codenamed FORTRESS, it is the first among several 80+ Platinum certified power supplies that will be added to their already distinguished line of power supplies.
With an efficiency rating up to 94%, you'll get the maximum performance from every FORTRESS power supply which will be available in 450W, 550W, 650W, and 750W ratings. The 80+ Platinum rating translates into cooler temperatures across the board which provided the opportunity to use a silent 135mm fan.
With an efficiency rating up to 94%, you'll get the maximum performance from every FORTRESS power supply which will be available in 450W, 550W, 650W, and 750W ratings. The 80+ Platinum rating translates into cooler temperatures across the board which provided the opportunity to use a silent 135mm fan.
QNAP Expands its Turbo NAS Peripherals Compatibility List
QNAP Systems, Inc. is extending the number of compatible peripherals for its Turbo NAS products. The additions, including five 500GB to 1TB 2.5-inch internal SATA hard drives, ten 2.5-inch 60GB to 480GB internal Solid State Drives, two USB Wi-Fi adapters, and one USB camera are now fully compatible. The expanded peripherals are expected to give users greater convenience and deployment flexibility.
RunCore Launches First Single Chip SATA II DOM SSD
RunCore, leading developer and brand manufacturer of high-end Solid State Drives (SSDs) and storage solutions, is officially launching the world's first single chip SATA II DOM SSD for advanced embedded SSD solutions, the RunCore Mini DOM. With a miniature size of no more than 43.38 mm(L) × 27.75mm(W), the RunCore Mini DOM, is the very first single-chip SSD utilizing the SATA II interface reaching up to 113MB/s read and 50MB/s write speeds. The Mini Dome is available in a wide capacity range from 8 GB up to 64 GB. Being able to withstand extreme temperatures between -55℃ and 95℃ RunCore's Mini DOM is designed for usage in a variety of different mission-critical system setups even under most demanding circumstances.
PNY Announces Trendy and Pleasing Series In-Ear Headphones
PNY technologies, global leader in computer peripheral devices, have released the latest instalment to their popular and diverse range of headphones including the new Trendy and Pleasing series In Ear headphones. The ergonomic design and superb breakthrough technology delivers clean, crisp sound providing long hours of uninterrupted quality listening.
The new Trendy and Pleasing series headphones is fabricated in durable and stainless metallic casings with evolved designs that surpasses other headphones and is resilient against tugs, scratches or other external damages. The layered casing also provides enhanced sound isolation and eliminates any ambient sounds resulting in excellent bass and treble, with crystal clear quality sound experience. Added to that, the selection of soft silicone ear buds that come in three replaceable sizes ranging from small, medium to large, to suit different ear shapes and provide maximum comfort.
The new Trendy and Pleasing series headphones is fabricated in durable and stainless metallic casings with evolved designs that surpasses other headphones and is resilient against tugs, scratches or other external damages. The layered casing also provides enhanced sound isolation and eliminates any ambient sounds resulting in excellent bass and treble, with crystal clear quality sound experience. Added to that, the selection of soft silicone ear buds that come in three replaceable sizes ranging from small, medium to large, to suit different ear shapes and provide maximum comfort.
AMD Releases Catalyst 12.6 WHQL and 12.7 Beta
Finally, AMD released a new WHQL-signed Catalyst driver. Catalyst 12.6 WHQL, along with Catalyst 12.7 beta, were released on Thursday. Catalyst 12.6 WHQL ships with a wide range of stability optimizations, while 12.7 beta ships with the same, plus performance optimizations for a wide range of games.
With Catalyst 12.6 WHQL, AMD fixed several outstanding bugs such as GPUs with ZeroCore hanging when the system goes to S2/S3 sleep, certain CrossFire setups hanging after cutscenes in Call of Duty: Black Ops, display corruption in Heroes and Generals in DirectX 11 mode, CrossFire + Eyefinity with Radeon HD 7000 series GPUs resulting in BSOD errors, etc. Catalyst 12.7 beta includes all these, plus performance improvements for games, except that it lacks WHQL certification. Optimizations include up to 25% in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 15% in Total War: Shogun, 10% in DiRT 3, 6% in Batman: Arkham City, and 3% in Battlefield 3.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 12.6 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit | Windows 7/Vista 32-bit | Windows XP 32-bit | Windows XP 64-bit
A list of changes follows:
With Catalyst 12.6 WHQL, AMD fixed several outstanding bugs such as GPUs with ZeroCore hanging when the system goes to S2/S3 sleep, certain CrossFire setups hanging after cutscenes in Call of Duty: Black Ops, display corruption in Heroes and Generals in DirectX 11 mode, CrossFire + Eyefinity with Radeon HD 7000 series GPUs resulting in BSOD errors, etc. Catalyst 12.7 beta includes all these, plus performance improvements for games, except that it lacks WHQL certification. Optimizations include up to 25% in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, 15% in Total War: Shogun, 10% in DiRT 3, 6% in Batman: Arkham City, and 3% in Battlefield 3.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 12.6 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit | Windows 7/Vista 32-bit | Windows XP 32-bit | Windows XP 64-bit
A list of changes follows:
Icy Dock Announces MB080U3S-1SB Blizzard Tool-Less HDD Enclosure
External enclosures are a great way to have high capacity data storage on the go. Data can also be a critical factor for users in the media business or who work with data centers. Some of the top tier hard drive companies have made their own all in one enclosure with hard drive included. However, one of the known major causes of hard drive failure is due to excessive heat buildup caused by a lack of a proper cooling system.
Also, a majority of hard drive manufactures only allow a 1 year warranty on their all in one external hard drives. This can be fatal for someone who has just lost their data and has to spend a significant amount of money in order to recover their data. There are other external enclosures in the market that provide a cooling system to help prevent this, but the physical placement of the cooling system does not always allow for the optimal airflow to cool the hard drive. Going above and beyond, the MB080U3S-1SB Blizzard is the next generation of external enclosures dedicated for maximum performance in cooling.
Also, a majority of hard drive manufactures only allow a 1 year warranty on their all in one external hard drives. This can be fatal for someone who has just lost their data and has to spend a significant amount of money in order to recover their data. There are other external enclosures in the market that provide a cooling system to help prevent this, but the physical placement of the cooling system does not always allow for the optimal airflow to cool the hard drive. Going above and beyond, the MB080U3S-1SB Blizzard is the next generation of external enclosures dedicated for maximum performance in cooling.
Thursday, June 28th 2012
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Input Devices
Motherboards
Mouse
Notebooks
Corsair Vengeance C70 Review
Corsair has successfully entered the gaming arena with their Vengeance brand, be it memory or gaming gear. Their first case offering geared towards this market goes by the name Vengeance C70 and is available in three colors right out of the gate: black, white or military green. Did Corsair manage to throw a grenade into the fray or will it turn out to be nothing but a dud?
VTX3D Launches Trio of X-Edition Series Graphics Cards
A leading brand of graphics card maker - VTX3D, today adds three new models, HD7870/7850/7770 into X-Edition series, which make this series more completed for OC enthusiast to choose. Being self-designed of VTX3D, these three models are designed to provide gamers the most extreme performance at its same class, also bring unbeatable HD gaming experience with DirectX 11 support.
Equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, the HD7870 X-Edition clocks at 1100MHz for core and 1225MHz of memory speed. There are two types of memory size, 1GB and 2GB of GDDR5 for HD7850 X-Edition, and both with 860MHz/1200MHz for core and memory respectively. HD7770 X-Edition is fitted with 1GB of DDR5 memory clocked at 1150MHz of core and 1250MHz of memory speed.
Equipped with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, the HD7870 X-Edition clocks at 1100MHz for core and 1225MHz of memory speed. There are two types of memory size, 1GB and 2GB of GDDR5 for HD7850 X-Edition, and both with 860MHz/1200MHz for core and memory respectively. HD7770 X-Edition is fitted with 1GB of DDR5 memory clocked at 1150MHz of core and 1250MHz of memory speed.
PowerColor Launches its Single Slot Low-Profile Radeon HD 7750 Graphics Card
PowerColor launched the world's first single-slot + low-profile graphics card based on the Radeon HD 7750, the PowerColor HD 7750 LP. The card relies on a compact air-cooler, which uses a dense hive of aluminum fins, ventilated by a 40 mm lateral-flow fan to cool the 1.5 billion transistor GPU. The card draws power from the PCI-Express slot, and uses high-grade VRM components (such as CPL-made chokes, LFPAK MOSFETs, etc.,) to condition power at minimal board footprint.
The card doesn't compromise on clock speeds, and ships with 800 MHz GPU and 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz GDDR5 effective) memory clock speeds. Built on the 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, the Radeon HD 7750 packs 512 Graphics CoreNext stream processors, 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1 GB of memory. The display connectors on PowerColor's card include one each of dual-link DVI, HDMI 1.4a, and D-Sub (detachable). The card's accessories include a low-profile bracket. PowerColor did not reveal pricing.
The card doesn't compromise on clock speeds, and ships with 800 MHz GPU and 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz GDDR5 effective) memory clock speeds. Built on the 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, the Radeon HD 7750 packs 512 Graphics CoreNext stream processors, 32 TMUs, 16 ROPs, and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1 GB of memory. The display connectors on PowerColor's card include one each of dual-link DVI, HDMI 1.4a, and D-Sub (detachable). The card's accessories include a low-profile bracket. PowerColor did not reveal pricing.
Shuttle Debuts AMD Radeon Graphics in New Slim PC Solutions
Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH, the European subsidiary of Shuttle Inc., one of the leading developers and manufacturers of compact PC solutions such as the world-renowned XPC Mini-PC Barebones, today announces the launch of the third generation of its award-winning and completely fanless XS35 model from their slim PC series.
"Even our dealers keep telling us how impressed they are with the quietness of this model," says Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "It's very rare that the elimination of a particular component has been greeted with such positive comments. However, we've certainly achieved this by doing away with the use of fans."
"Even our dealers keep telling us how impressed they are with the quietness of this model," says Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "It's very rare that the elimination of a particular component has been greeted with such positive comments. However, we've certainly achieved this by doing away with the use of fans."
Sharkoon Announces Drakonia Gaming Mouse
Sharkoon is expanding their gaming product line with an extravagant looking laser mouse: The Sharkoon Drakonia Gaming Laser Mouse suitably matches its name with its bright green dragon scales and illuminating tribal dragon logo. The ergonomic design and rubberized sides ensure that the associated dragon rider has a comfortable and secure ride during long and turbulent missions.
The fire of the Drakonia burns from within: The AVAGO-ADNS-9500 laser sensor delivers to up 5,000 DPI resolution, 11,750 FPS frame rate, 30 G acceleration and 150 IPS speed. The set DPI rate is always in view of the gamer through the use of four colored LEDs. Low-sense gamers who frequently allow their dragons to be lifted in the air are supported by the Drakonia by its low lift-off distance of up to five millimeters.
The fire of the Drakonia burns from within: The AVAGO-ADNS-9500 laser sensor delivers to up 5,000 DPI resolution, 11,750 FPS frame rate, 30 G acceleration and 150 IPS speed. The set DPI rate is always in view of the gamer through the use of four colored LEDs. Low-sense gamers who frequently allow their dragons to be lifted in the air are supported by the Drakonia by its low lift-off distance of up to five millimeters.
MSI Launches Wind Top AE2281G All-in-One
MSI proudly announces a new 22" All-in-One PC in its line-up: the MSI Wind Top AE2281G. Equipped with a 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 Quad-Core Processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M graphics card with NVIDIA Optimus Technology, this All-in-One PC supports 1080p Full HD resolution images on its 22" FHD Multi-Touch display. The AE2281G comes with an Anti-Glare screen, which prevents light reflections. To ensure a stable working environment, the AE2281G comes with high quality Military Class components that have an optimal lifetime during heavy conditions. Connecting external devices to this user-friendly system is also no problem thanks to two high speed USB3.0 ports with MSI Super Charger technology and four USB2.0 ports.
With the MSI Instant Display Technology, the AE2281G can also be used as monitor for external devices (via HDMI-in), such as a gaming console or desktop. Now every familymember can enjoy using the MSI AE2281G in their own individual way.
With the MSI Instant Display Technology, the AE2281G can also be used as monitor for external devices (via HDMI-in), such as a gaming console or desktop. Now every familymember can enjoy using the MSI AE2281G in their own individual way.
ADATA Announces XPG SX910 Series SSD
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash storage application products, today announced the launch of the XPG SX910 solid state drive, a significant broadening of the popular and powerful XPG line of storage products. The SX910 features a 7% capacity increase over common SSDs that use a SandForce controller, delivering a powerful combination of capacity and high performance with a five-year warranty.
The XPG SX910 uses new optimized firmware to maximize utilization of the NAND Flash components, allowing for full use of the available storage capacity. This zero percent over-provisioning in the design and engineering of the SX910 is implemented with no loss to performance- Maximum 4k random read/write speeds are 50,000 and 85,000 IOPS respectively, with sequential read and write speeds reaching 550 and 530 MB/sec, respectively.
The XPG SX910 uses new optimized firmware to maximize utilization of the NAND Flash components, allowing for full use of the available storage capacity. This zero percent over-provisioning in the design and engineering of the SX910 is implemented with no loss to performance- Maximum 4k random read/write speeds are 50,000 and 85,000 IOPS respectively, with sequential read and write speeds reaching 550 and 530 MB/sec, respectively.
Kingmax Announces PD-06 Series USB Flash Drives
With the notion that simplicity and clarity lead to good design, KINGMAX, a world renowned leading brand of DRAM and flash memory, has launched PD-06 USB flash drive -- a retractable and capless flash drive that makes data storage easy to use with a simple flick of one thumb. The capless design thoughtfully avoids the risk of losing cap. The curve of grip is streamlined and ergonomic; the two choices of splendid color: bright red or lake green match white housing perfectly, rise fresh mien for hot summer time and again makes simple design even more eye-catching. Also, the wide range of capacities from 2GB to 32GB suits individual's need.
PD-06 becomes the latest product of KINGMAX POP flash drive series; POP series, suitable for general consumers, emphasizes trendy and fashionable elements as well as consistent high quality at a reasonable price range. PD-06 is light-weighting and the retractable design with a push-key design makes user plug into or remove from USB port quite easy with only a simple flick of one thumb. Whenever using it, users are free of losing cap. Streamlined white housing appears great attention to each curve - aesthetical and ergonomic - and makes PD-06 smoothly for use. In addition, the bright red / lake green color on the front presents elegance and good taste. What makes it more interesting is the end especially designed with the hanging strap hole, which allows user to attach to a lanyard or decorative phone string and to make a portable and fashionable technological accessory.
PD-06 becomes the latest product of KINGMAX POP flash drive series; POP series, suitable for general consumers, emphasizes trendy and fashionable elements as well as consistent high quality at a reasonable price range. PD-06 is light-weighting and the retractable design with a push-key design makes user plug into or remove from USB port quite easy with only a simple flick of one thumb. Whenever using it, users are free of losing cap. Streamlined white housing appears great attention to each curve - aesthetical and ergonomic - and makes PD-06 smoothly for use. In addition, the bright red / lake green color on the front presents elegance and good taste. What makes it more interesting is the end especially designed with the hanging strap hole, which allows user to attach to a lanyard or decorative phone string and to make a portable and fashionable technological accessory.
Wednesday, June 27th 2012
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
SSD
MSI GTX 670 Power Edition Twin Frozr IV 2 GB Review
MSI's GTX 670 Power Edition comes with a large overclock out of the box, which enables the card to provide GTX 680 performance out of the box at much lower pricing. Thanks to the large Twin Frozr IV cooler the card keeps its cool, overclocking works well, too.
NVIDIA Releases WHQL-Certified GeForce Drivers for Windows 8
NVIDIA rolled out the first WHQL-certified GeForce drivers for Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system. The company just released GeForce 302.82 WHQL for desktop GPUs running on Windows 8 Release Preview. Notebook GPU users, on the other hand, will have to wait a little longer, and continue using the GeForce 302.80, which has been out since 15th June. NVIDIA announced that it was working on dishing out the first WHQL-certified graphics drivers for Windows 8 since late May. Version 302.82 WHQL doesn't appear to come with a contingent of performance updates, at least not according to its release notes document. It's likely to be based on Release Driver 302, with the Microsoft WHQL certification for Windows 8. The driver is meant only for Windows 8, and shouldn't be used with Windows 7 or Vista.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 302.82 WHQL for Windows 8 64-bit and 32-bit
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 302.82 WHQL for Windows 8 64-bit and 32-bit
Source Filmmaker Lets You Create Your Own Source Engine Movies
Valve is releasing the Source Filmmaker (SFM), the movie-making tool Valve uses to make movies inside the Source game engine. SFM has been used in quite a number of Valve trailers. SFM is currently available in beta. To apply, simply visit the official website with a computer that already has Steam installed on it. "Initially, we are limiting the number of beta users, but soon we will release the SFM to all users on Steam for free," Valve's FAQ explains. At launch, SFM will only work within Team Fortress 2, meaning fan-made Half-Life movies using SFM won't be possible for a while. However, Valve notes that "users familiar with modding with the Source engine will be able to mod the SFM build of TF2 to create new worlds."
If you're interested, here's what you'll need for Filmmaker:
-OS: Windows 7 / Vista (Windows 7 64 bit suggested)
-Processor: 3.0 GHz P4, Dual Core 2.0 (or higher) or AMD64X2 (or higher)
-Memory: 2GB (4 GB suggested)
-Hard Disk Space: At least 15 GB of Space
-Video: NVIDIA GeForce 200 series card or better, or AMD Radeon 3000 series or better (NVIDIA GeForce 400 series or AMD Radeon 5000 series preferred)
-Monitor: 1366 x 768 (1920 x 1080 suggested)
-Audio: DirectX 9.0c compatible
-USB headset with mic (suggested)
If you're interested, here's what you'll need for Filmmaker:
-OS: Windows 7 / Vista (Windows 7 64 bit suggested)
-Processor: 3.0 GHz P4, Dual Core 2.0 (or higher) or AMD64X2 (or higher)
-Memory: 2GB (4 GB suggested)
-Hard Disk Space: At least 15 GB of Space
-Video: NVIDIA GeForce 200 series card or better, or AMD Radeon 3000 series or better (NVIDIA GeForce 400 series or AMD Radeon 5000 series preferred)
-Monitor: 1366 x 768 (1920 x 1080 suggested)
-Audio: DirectX 9.0c compatible
-USB headset with mic (suggested)
LSI Extends MegaRAID Controller and HBA Families with PCI Express 3.0
LSI Corporation today introduced its latest MegaRAID 6 Gb/s SAS+SATA controllers and host bus adapters (HBAs) featuring the PCI Express 3.0 interface.
Seven new LSI MegaRAID controllers are offered with four or eight ports and provide a powerful combination of intelligent performance, enterprise RAID data protection and proven interoperability. Three new LSI HBA models provide state-of-the-art connectivity for servers and appliances in a variety of enterprise-level environments including corporate datacenters, the cloud and high-performance computing.
"In the face of massive data growth, system builders and resellers are racing to meet increasing demand for larger, more scalable systems that deliver reliability and high performance," said Brent Blanchard, director of worldwide channel sales and marketing, LSI. "The addition of PCIe 3.0 on the new MegaRAID controllers and HBAs brings dramatically higher levels of performance and allows greater system design flexibility, with proven LSI product quality and reliability."
Seven new LSI MegaRAID controllers are offered with four or eight ports and provide a powerful combination of intelligent performance, enterprise RAID data protection and proven interoperability. Three new LSI HBA models provide state-of-the-art connectivity for servers and appliances in a variety of enterprise-level environments including corporate datacenters, the cloud and high-performance computing.
"In the face of massive data growth, system builders and resellers are racing to meet increasing demand for larger, more scalable systems that deliver reliability and high performance," said Brent Blanchard, director of worldwide channel sales and marketing, LSI. "The addition of PCIe 3.0 on the new MegaRAID controllers and HBAs brings dramatically higher levels of performance and allows greater system design flexibility, with proven LSI product quality and reliability."
Pioneer's New Laptop Computer Speakers Pack More Sound in Compact Form
Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. continues to expand its line of USB-powered computer speakers with the introduction of the S-MM251. The new model offers a built-in audio DAC and a cool bass-reflex enclosure designed to enhance lower bass frequencies. The S-MM251 is designed to connect quickly to virtually any laptop computer, delivering significantly increased audio output and better sound quality.
"With more consumers watching movies and listening to music on their laptop computers, we think the sound level from the laptop should match the demands of these sources," said Chris Walker, director AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The new S-MM251 not only improves audio output, but it's also very convenient to use with a simple plug-in through a USB port, without the need for AC power or batteries."
"With more consumers watching movies and listening to music on their laptop computers, we think the sound level from the laptop should match the demands of these sources," said Chris Walker, director AV marketing and product planning for the Home Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "The new S-MM251 not only improves audio output, but it's also very convenient to use with a simple plug-in through a USB port, without the need for AC power or batteries."
I-O Data Intros HDPC-UT Series USB 3.0 Portable HDDs with Dual-Tone Bodies
I-O Data Japan released its new HDPC-UT series portable HDDs. The drives are characterized by dual-tone bodies and USB 3.0 interface. Available in 500 GB (HDPC-UT500) and 1 TB (HDPC-UT1.0), the drives are available in two color schemes: Red + Brown and White + Silvery Gray. The drives are bus-powered, requiring just one cable, are backwards-compatible with USB 2.0, and compatible with most TVs in the market that support USB mass-storage standard. The drives include installers for Mach Copy software, which works to speed up file-transfers. Measuring 75 x 112 x 14 mm (WxDxH), the drives weigh about 160 g. The 500 GB models are priced at 10,500 JPY (US $132), while the 1 TB models go for 15,015 JPY (US $188).
VESA Announces New Mobility DisplayPort Standard
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced the release of the Mobility DisplayPort (MyDP) Standard. MyDP is an extension of the DisplayPort connectivity standard that enables mobile devices to share high-definition video, audio, and 3D content with the broad universe of larger external displays through common, widely adopted connectors. Offering the industry's highest mobile-to-display image resolution, MyDP allows consumers to experience their mobile content in full, uncompressed 1080p (HDTV).
"Today's mobile devices with powerful processors and mass storage capacities have become the new hub of media content," said Soumendra Mohanty, senior director of marketing for Analogix. "However, consumers wish to experience their mobile content in a more diverse manner, beyond what a four-inch screen can offer. MyDP gives the industry a standard interface to break down screen size limitations, and Analogix is ready today with its compatible SlimPort products."
"Today's mobile devices with powerful processors and mass storage capacities have become the new hub of media content," said Soumendra Mohanty, senior director of marketing for Analogix. "However, consumers wish to experience their mobile content in a more diverse manner, beyond what a four-inch screen can offer. MyDP gives the industry a standard interface to break down screen size limitations, and Analogix is ready today with its compatible SlimPort products."
Giada Announces Their Flagship D2305 Mini PC with Intel Ivy Bridge Processors
Giada, a brand of Shenzhen Jiehe Technology Development, Co., Ltd, is pleased to announce its top of the line mini PC - D2305. Available with Intel Ivy Bridge i3, i5, or i7 processors and Intel HM77 Express Chipset as well as NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 GPU, the D2305 offers enhanced performance and power management, a promising solution for your DIY home theater PC.
The Giada D2305 mini PC incorporates premium features such as slot-in HDMI 1.3-complaint Blu-ray drive, DirectX 11 3D graphics support, and 7.1 channel HD audio. The built-in mSATA SSD drive can be used in parallel with the normal hard drive, so you have the operating system running on the SSD and the hard drive to store the media files. There's full Windows 7 support out-of-the-box, and a 500 GB of hard drive space to store thousands of hours of music and movies. Additionally, a wireless remote control is included not just for comfortable viewing and listening but allows you to turn the D2305 mini PC on and off.
The Giada D2305 mini PC incorporates premium features such as slot-in HDMI 1.3-complaint Blu-ray drive, DirectX 11 3D graphics support, and 7.1 channel HD audio. The built-in mSATA SSD drive can be used in parallel with the normal hard drive, so you have the operating system running on the SSD and the hard drive to store the media files. There's full Windows 7 support out-of-the-box, and a 500 GB of hard drive space to store thousands of hours of music and movies. Additionally, a wireless remote control is included not just for comfortable viewing and listening but allows you to turn the D2305 mini PC on and off.
Genius Announces EasyPen M610XA Graphics Tablet
Genius today releases its EasyPen M610XA. This graphics-design tablet with a 6" x 10" working area is bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Corel Painter Essentials 4 making it easy to quickly and professionally edit photos and create digital artwork.
The EasyPen M610XA connects to notebooks and computers through one USB port and is extremely accurate with 4000 LPI and a report rate per second (RPS) of 200. The included cordless stylus is pressure sensitive with 1024 pressure levels, making brush strokes thicker or thinner depending on how hard the stylus is pressed and mimics traditional painting. This high-performance stylus also doubles as a mouse. A left-click is achieved by simply pushing down on the stylus. A right-click button and a scroll button near the tip of the stylus lets it easily double as a mouse.
The EasyPen M610XA connects to notebooks and computers through one USB port and is extremely accurate with 4000 LPI and a report rate per second (RPS) of 200. The included cordless stylus is pressure sensitive with 1024 pressure levels, making brush strokes thicker or thinner depending on how hard the stylus is pressed and mimics traditional painting. This high-performance stylus also doubles as a mouse. A left-click is achieved by simply pushing down on the stylus. A right-click button and a scroll button near the tip of the stylus lets it easily double as a mouse.
MSI Launch MS-9893 IPC Board with the Latest Intel Atom Platform
MSI launch MS-9893 with the latest Intel Atom Platform. This is the multi-display outputs of mini-ITX form factor board with the latest 32nm process technology for the highest HD graphics quality, and offers lower power consumption and enhanced graphic and media performance.
MSI MS-9893 supports multi-display outputs, including single Channel 18/24 bit LVDS, VGA, one HDMI. It has great graphics performance and support for up to 1080P high definition video.MSI MS-9893 is equipped with single-channel DDR3 1066 MHz memory up to a maximum of 4 GB in 1 x 204 SO-DIMM slots. MS-9893 supports D2550(10W) / N2800(6.5W) two SKU, with VGA, HDMI, Video Output: LVDS/ Single CH 24bit by D2550 (LVDS/ Single CH 18bit by N2800). Power Input support, one ATX for D2550, and another is DC-in 12V for D2550 / N2800. I/O, and expansion connectivity, including 6* COM-ports(2 x Real, 4 x Internal), 6* USB2.0(4 x Real, 2 x Internal), and 8*GPIO(4 x GPI, 4 x GPO), one PCI slot and one Mini-PCIe slot could support the m-SATA/wireless function.
MSI MS-9893 supports multi-display outputs, including single Channel 18/24 bit LVDS, VGA, one HDMI. It has great graphics performance and support for up to 1080P high definition video.MSI MS-9893 is equipped with single-channel DDR3 1066 MHz memory up to a maximum of 4 GB in 1 x 204 SO-DIMM slots. MS-9893 supports D2550(10W) / N2800(6.5W) two SKU, with VGA, HDMI, Video Output: LVDS/ Single CH 24bit by D2550 (LVDS/ Single CH 18bit by N2800). Power Input support, one ATX for D2550, and another is DC-in 12V for D2550 / N2800. I/O, and expansion connectivity, including 6* COM-ports(2 x Real, 4 x Internal), 6* USB2.0(4 x Real, 2 x Internal), and 8*GPIO(4 x GPI, 4 x GPO), one PCI slot and one Mini-PCIe slot could support the m-SATA/wireless function.
Tuesday, June 26th 2012
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
QNAP TS-669 Pro Review
QNAP's TS-669 Pro NAS boasts six drive bays, which lets you create RAID arrays of up to 24 TB. Thanks to its Atom dual-core processor and dual Gigabit Ethernet, the device was responsive throughout all our testing. If you need more than the included 1 GB RAM, the system can be easily upgraded to 3 GB.
Biostar TZ77XE4 Intel LGA 1155 Review
With the launch of Intel's latest Z77 Express platform, Biostar steps up to the plate with a new game in mind, ready to hit a homerun. Featuring a new aesthetic design, and a new more efficient VRM design, the Biostar TZ77XE4 is ready to knock one clear out of the park.
Scythe Announces New Easy Mobile Rack
Japanese cooling expert Scythe proudly presents its newest product in the field of PC Accessories. Scythe Easy Mobile Rack is an easy Mounting Bay for 3,5" HDDs which is meant to be installed into a vacant 5,25" Bay. New Scythe Easy Mobile Rack comes in an elegant black colored design, allowing it to fit into a wide range of on-market PC chassis.
Installation of Scythe Easy Mobile Rack is really easy. It only has to be placed into a vacant 5,25" Bay of the PC chassis and secured by several screws, similar to the installation of an optical (CD, DVD or Bluray) drive. Required 8 screws are typically for Scythe included in the Package of the Scythe Easy Mobile Rack. After the Easy Mobile Rack is installed, user only have to connect one S-ATA Power Cable from the Power Supply Unit and one S-ATA Data Cable from the Mainboard to the back side of the Easy Mobile Rack. As soon as the installation is completed, users can plug-in a 3,5" Hard Drive right away without any additional work. Thanks to its Hot Plug support, Scythe Easy Mobile Rack allows removal and insertion of Hard Drives even while the PC is running.
Installation of Scythe Easy Mobile Rack is really easy. It only has to be placed into a vacant 5,25" Bay of the PC chassis and secured by several screws, similar to the installation of an optical (CD, DVD or Bluray) drive. Required 8 screws are typically for Scythe included in the Package of the Scythe Easy Mobile Rack. After the Easy Mobile Rack is installed, user only have to connect one S-ATA Power Cable from the Power Supply Unit and one S-ATA Data Cable from the Mainboard to the back side of the Easy Mobile Rack. As soon as the installation is completed, users can plug-in a 3,5" Hard Drive right away without any additional work. Thanks to its Hot Plug support, Scythe Easy Mobile Rack allows removal and insertion of Hard Drives even while the PC is running.
Falcon Northwest Announces the Tiki Compact Gaming PC: Godlike Power, Micro Tower
PC maker Falcon Northwest intends to change the perception of how big a powerful PC needs to be with their new Tiki "micro-tower". At only 4" wide and 13" tall, Tiki is roughly the size of an original XBOX game console. Inside Tiki packs the fastest NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, the fastest Intel 3rd Generation Core-i7 "Ivy Bridge" quad-core CPUs, 16 gigabytes of memory, and up to four terabytes of storage. It's even got a liquid cooling system.
"Tiki is a showcase of how far the PC industry has come in just the past year," said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. "CPUs and graphics cards have taken massive leaps in performance and power efficiency. Tiny solid-state storage has become affordable, and the miniaturization of motherboards all mean that your average tower PC is now much bigger than it really needs to be. With Tiki, we solved the heat and noise challenges involved in getting rid of all that excess space."
"Tiki is a showcase of how far the PC industry has come in just the past year," said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. "CPUs and graphics cards have taken massive leaps in performance and power efficiency. Tiny solid-state storage has become affordable, and the miniaturization of motherboards all mean that your average tower PC is now much bigger than it really needs to be. With Tiki, we solved the heat and noise challenges involved in getting rid of all that excess space."
Dell Updates as Industry-leading Supplier of Displays Portfolio
Dell today announced the immediate availability of new displays that combine performance and value to enable customers amazing viewing experiences. The six new displays join Dell's industry-leading portfolio of solutions, which has once again ranked #1 in flat-panel display market share in North Americai, and #2 in flat-panel shipments worldwideii, according to DisplaySearch.
The newest additions to Dell's industry-leading portfolio of displays, the new P and E displays offer customers diverse solutions that help them get the most out of every environment.
The newest additions to Dell's industry-leading portfolio of displays, the new P and E displays offer customers diverse solutions that help them get the most out of every environment.
Samsung's Award-Winning Series 9 Monitor Now Available
Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced that it is now shipping its award-winning Series 9 LED desktop monitor. The culmination of over five years of global market leadership in monitors, the new 27-inch Series 9 incorporates the best that Samsung has to offer, including its exclusive Natural Color Expert technology, which provides a richer viewing experience for graphic artists, photographers, designers and anyone else with a sense of style working with photos and video content.
Starting at $1,199.99, the Series 9 will be available through an exclusive prelaunch with NewEgg from June 1 - June 28 and then through Tiger Direct, MicroCenter, CDW, Buy.com and others from June 29 onwards.
Starting at $1,199.99, the Series 9 will be available through an exclusive prelaunch with NewEgg from June 1 - June 28 and then through Tiger Direct, MicroCenter, CDW, Buy.com and others from June 29 onwards.
Fractal Design Rolls Out Node 605 ATX HTPC Chassis
Fractal Design unveiled its newest premium HTPC chassis, the Node 605. Large enough to hold ATX form-factor motherboards, the Node 605 bears a minimalist design, with brushed aluminum front-panel, and steel frame. The front-panel includes a slimline optical drive bay, a multi-format card reader, two USB 3.0 ports (standard header), Firewire, and HD audio front-panel jacks. All front-panel connections are concealed behind a lid that blends with the rest of the panel.
The Node 605 has four internal drive bays, which can hold 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives. The four bays are arranged in two cages, which can be detached to create additional room for long graphics cards (up to 29 cm). The case has provision for a total of five fans, three 120 mm, and two 80 mm. Two 120 mm Silent Series R2 fans are included, so are dust-filters and a 3-channel fan-controller. Fractal Design did not disclose pricing and availability information.
The Node 605 has four internal drive bays, which can hold 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch drives. The four bays are arranged in two cages, which can be detached to create additional room for long graphics cards (up to 29 cm). The case has provision for a total of five fans, three 120 mm, and two 80 mm. Two 120 mm Silent Series R2 fans are included, so are dust-filters and a 3-channel fan-controller. Fractal Design did not disclose pricing and availability information.
SanDisk Acquires Enterprise Storage Software Maker Schooner Information Technology
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced the acquisition of Schooner Information Technology, Inc., an enterprise software company located in Silicon Valley that develops flash-optimized database and data store solutions. Schooner's products complement SanDisk's growing portfolio of enterprise solid state disk (SSD) and flash-optimized software offerings that enable customers to accelerate the performance of data-intensive applications and reduce overall cost of ownership. Schooner's team of database and flash optimization experts have joined SanDisk's Enterprise Storage Solutions (ESS) team. Schooner's products will be optimized for SanDisk's enterprise SSD portfolio as well as for enterprise SSDs from third parties.
Schooner's products are currently deployed by U.S. and international customers, including several Fortune 500 companies. Designed to fill the gap between stock do-it-yourself open source solutions and expensive high-end database deployments, Schooner's products deliver enterprise-grade performance, powering data center consolidation at a lower cost. Engineered for flash acceleration and enhanced with enterprise features, Schooner's products deliver up to five times the throughput of competing configurations. In addition, they deliver near in-memory response times to mission critical applications along with enterprise-grade replication and failover capabilities. In-memory database solutions are enabling breakthroughs in database and Business Intelligence applications that are only possible with solid state memories. Schooner's ability to combine DRAM and flash memory seamlessly in a single solution offers near DRAM performance at a lower cost.
Schooner's products are currently deployed by U.S. and international customers, including several Fortune 500 companies. Designed to fill the gap between stock do-it-yourself open source solutions and expensive high-end database deployments, Schooner's products deliver enterprise-grade performance, powering data center consolidation at a lower cost. Engineered for flash acceleration and enhanced with enterprise features, Schooner's products deliver up to five times the throughput of competing configurations. In addition, they deliver near in-memory response times to mission critical applications along with enterprise-grade replication and failover capabilities. In-memory database solutions are enabling breakthroughs in database and Business Intelligence applications that are only possible with solid state memories. Schooner's ability to combine DRAM and flash memory seamlessly in a single solution offers near DRAM performance at a lower cost.
Akitio Breaks USB 2.0 Barrier with Release of Neutrino U3+ HDD Enclosure
Akitio, a leading manufacturer of storage solutions, announced today the release of the Neutrino U3+ laptop hard drive enclosure to the company's ever-expanding product line. With the news of Apple's integration of USB 3.0 to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the Neutrino U3+ is ideal for Mac users, as well as audio and video professionals, looking for a portable, speedy storage solution.
Akitio's Neutrino U3+ is encased in a portable aluminum enclosure and was created for ease of use and the latest 2.5" SATA hard drives. By combining USB 3.0 SuperSpeed technology with FireWire 800, Neutrino U3+ provides two of the fastest transfer speed combinations available.
Akitio's Neutrino U3+ is encased in a portable aluminum enclosure and was created for ease of use and the latest 2.5" SATA hard drives. By combining USB 3.0 SuperSpeed technology with FireWire 800, Neutrino U3+ provides two of the fastest transfer speed combinations available.
Buffalo Starts Shipping the Dual Interface MiniStation Thunderbolt + USB 3.0 HDD
Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of wired and wireless networking and network and direct attached storage solutions, today announced the availability of the MiniStation Thunderbolt / USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive. Demonstrated earlier this month at Computex in Taiwan, the MiniStation Thunderbolt is the world's first portable Thunderbolt and USB 3.0 dual-interface external drive solution. With the flexibility of either SuperSpeed USB 3.0 or a lighting fast Thunderbolt connection, the MiniStation Thunderbolt is ideal for PC and Mac users looking for the fastest interface speeds while preserving backward compatibility with existing devices that support USB 2.0.
"With the creation and transferring of digital content accelerating at ever increasing paces, protecting that data on the go continues to be a challenge for all types of users," said Brian Verenkoff, director of marketing at Buffalo Technology. "With the MiniStation Thunderbolt, consumers can now move or backup digital assets faster, simplify connections between devices, maintain compatibility with nearly any device and foster new and exciting ways to use portable storage."
"With the creation and transferring of digital content accelerating at ever increasing paces, protecting that data on the go continues to be a challenge for all types of users," said Brian Verenkoff, director of marketing at Buffalo Technology. "With the MiniStation Thunderbolt, consumers can now move or backup digital assets faster, simplify connections between devices, maintain compatibility with nearly any device and foster new and exciting ways to use portable storage."
San Francisco Giants Select AMD as Multi-Year Technology Partner
AMD today announced that Major League Baseball's (MLB) San Francisco Giants selected AMD as a technology partner. The Giants have recently installed 66 new AMD A-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU)-based HP TouchSmart 320m All-In-One (AIO) touchscreen systems at AT&T Park, which will be followed by deployments of other AMD-powered systems throughout the organization.
"Our technology partnership with the San Francisco Giants puts AMD in a great position to showcase the role AMD technology can play to help large organizations harness the trends around consumerization, the Cloud and convergence to drive their business," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units. "From powering the front office infrastructure to the luxury suite experience at AT&T Park, AMD is ready to be a technology clean-up hitter for the Giants and their fans."
"Our technology partnership with the San Francisco Giants puts AMD in a great position to showcase the role AMD technology can play to help large organizations harness the trends around consumerization, the Cloud and convergence to drive their business," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units. "From powering the front office infrastructure to the luxury suite experience at AT&T Park, AMD is ready to be a technology clean-up hitter for the Giants and their fans."
Sapphire Announces Radeon HD 7870 FleX with Dual-X Cooler
SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced the SAPPHIRE HD 7870 Flex Edition - only the second model in the highly acclaimed HD 7000 series of graphics cards based on the Graphics Core Next architecture from AMD to feature SAPPHIRE's unique solution to multi-screen graphics.
Most graphics cards based on AMD technology require the third monitor in an Eyefinity set-up to be a DisplayPort monitor, or connected with an active DisplayPort Adapter. The SAPPHIRE FleX family can support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area without the need for active adapters. The first two monitors are connected to the two DVI ports and the third to an HDMI to DVI cable (supplied) with no extra active hardware required. The DisplayPort outputs are still available for the connection of additional monitors - for example the recently announced SAPPHIRE HD 7950 FleX with its two DisplayPort outputs can support up to 5 screens in Eyefinity.
Most graphics cards based on AMD technology require the third monitor in an Eyefinity set-up to be a DisplayPort monitor, or connected with an active DisplayPort Adapter. The SAPPHIRE FleX family can support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area without the need for active adapters. The first two monitors are connected to the two DVI ports and the third to an HDMI to DVI cable (supplied) with no extra active hardware required. The DisplayPort outputs are still available for the connection of additional monitors - for example the recently announced SAPPHIRE HD 7950 FleX with its two DisplayPort outputs can support up to 5 screens in Eyefinity.
Dell Expands XPS Laptop Family
Dell today announced the expansion of its XPS laptop portfolio with the XPS 14 and XPS 15 laptops. Joining the award-winning XPS 13 Ultrabook, the XPS 14 and 15 have the same beautiful, thoughtful design and craftsmanship in two additional screen sizes for consumers who desire connectivity, performance and entertainment, no matter where they are.
As part of Dell's flagship XPS brand, this array of laptops enables customers to choose the one that best suits their needs. The XPS 13 is highly portable and compact for today's most mobile users, while the XPS 14 provides long battery life and connectivity for those who need to get online wherever they are. The XPS 15 provides performance graphics and a brilliant display for multimedia creation and entertainment. All three laptops have enterprise-friendly features to intersect the design and performance desired by consumers with the security and services required by IT departments. Additionally, The XPS 14 and 15 laptops are distinguished by vibrant displays with hardened Corning Gorilla Glass, and use the latest Intel technology, such as the latest 3rd Generation processors, and Intel Rapid Start, Smart Response and Smart Connect technologies, to enable users to be productive, connected and responsive anywhere.
As part of Dell's flagship XPS brand, this array of laptops enables customers to choose the one that best suits their needs. The XPS 13 is highly portable and compact for today's most mobile users, while the XPS 14 provides long battery life and connectivity for those who need to get online wherever they are. The XPS 15 provides performance graphics and a brilliant display for multimedia creation and entertainment. All three laptops have enterprise-friendly features to intersect the design and performance desired by consumers with the security and services required by IT departments. Additionally, The XPS 14 and 15 laptops are distinguished by vibrant displays with hardened Corning Gorilla Glass, and use the latest Intel technology, such as the latest 3rd Generation processors, and Intel Rapid Start, Smart Response and Smart Connect technologies, to enable users to be productive, connected and responsive anywhere.
GELID Announces Silent 5 and Silent 6 Series 50 mm and 60 mm Case Fans
Thermal solutions specialist GELID Solutions launched their superior Silent case fan Silent 5 & Silent 6 in 50 mm and 60 mm, respectively.
The Silent series is designed for silent enthusiasts. GELID Silence case fans provide additional airflow without increasing noise levels, at affordable prices. Precisely balanced blades and long life Hydro Dynamic bearing guarantee ultra-low noise.
The Silent series is designed for silent enthusiasts. GELID Silence case fans provide additional airflow without increasing noise levels, at affordable prices. Precisely balanced blades and long life Hydro Dynamic bearing guarantee ultra-low noise.
Monday, June 25th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
- AMD HD 7750 Hardware.info
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Guru3D
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Hardware.info
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition HardwareCanucks
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition HardwareHeaven
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition HardwareSpot.de (de)
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition HotHardware
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition HT4U (de)
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Rage3D
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Tech Report
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition TechSpot
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Tweaktown
- AMD HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition VR-Zone
Headphones
Input Devices
Memory
Motherboards
Notebooks
BitFenix Prodigy Review
BitFenix's latest case offering, by the name "Prodigy", has already turned many heads at Computex. It combines the best of many worlds, with its included handles, ability to hold full size components to be used on an ITX board and the choice between potent air or liquid cooling. Is it really the wonder child we have been waiting for, or just a cheap imposter?
Sony and Panasonic to Collaborate on the Joint Development of Next Gen. OLED Panels
Sony Corporation ("Sony") and Panasonic Corporation ("Panasonic") today announced that they have signed an agreement regarding the joint development of next-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels and modules for TVs and large-sized displays.
Sony and Panasonic plan to jointly develop next-generation OLED panels and modules by each utilizing their core and printing technologies. They plan to jointly develop printing method-based next-generation OLED technology, which will be suitable for low-cost mass production of large, high resolution OLED panels and modules. Sony and Panasonic aim to establish mass-production technology during 2013, by integrating their unique technologies to improve the overall efficiency of development.
Sony and Panasonic plan to jointly develop next-generation OLED panels and modules by each utilizing their core and printing technologies. They plan to jointly develop printing method-based next-generation OLED technology, which will be suitable for low-cost mass production of large, high resolution OLED panels and modules. Sony and Panasonic aim to establish mass-production technology during 2013, by integrating their unique technologies to improve the overall efficiency of development.
HFX Unveils Micro Tower V2 Fanless Mini-ITX Chassis
Austrian company HFX released a new version of its Micro Tower fanless chassis, with the V2. The new variant makes room for a slot-in slimline optical drive, at the expense of a slightly more compact CPU heatsink assembly, which can only effectively handle CPUs with TDP up to 35W. Measuring 80 x 260 x 290 mm, and weighing about 3 kg, the Micro Tower V2 is a mini-ITX form-factor chassis. It packs two 2.5-inch and a 3.5-inch drive bay, apart from the slimline slot-in ODD bay. Most of its body is made of metal, with acrylic side panels. The metal portions consist of protrusions, that double its function up to that of a heatsink for the CPU. Available through its online store, the Micro Tower V2 from HFX, is priced at 199 EUR.
Zalman Unveils ZM1250 Platinum PSU
Zalman is ready with its newest high-end power supply unit (PSU), the ZM1250 Platinum. It can deliver 1250W of continuous power, and boasts of 80 Plus Platinum efficiency rating (89-93% at 20-100% load). It features full bridge and LLC resonant circuitry, with DC-DC switching between the various voltage domains. It uses a dual +12V rail design, with two dissimilar capacity rails. It is compliant with ATX v2.3, SSI-EPS v2.92, and ErP LOT6.
The PSU is partially modular, when it comes to its cabling. The first +12V can deliver 45A of current; the 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and the various peripheral power connectors (SATA, Molex, Berg) are connected to this rail. The second +12V rail can deliver 65A, and to it, a total of eight 6+2 pin PCI-Express power connectors are wired, of which two are fixed, and six are modular.
The PSU is partially modular, when it comes to its cabling. The first +12V can deliver 45A of current; the 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and the various peripheral power connectors (SATA, Molex, Berg) are connected to this rail. The second +12V rail can deliver 65A, and to it, a total of eight 6+2 pin PCI-Express power connectors are wired, of which two are fixed, and six are modular.
Microsoft to Acquire Yammer for $1.2 billion in Cash
Microsoft Corp. and Yammer Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Yammer, a leading provider of enterprise social networks, for $1.2 billion in cash. Yammer will join the Microsoft Office Division, led by division President Kurt DelBene, and the team will continue to report to current CEO David Sacks.
"The acquisition of Yammer underscores our commitment to deliver technology that businesses need and people love," said Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft. "Yammer adds a best-in-class enterprise social networking service to Microsoft's growing portfolio of complementary cloud services."
"The acquisition of Yammer underscores our commitment to deliver technology that businesses need and people love," said Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft. "Yammer adds a best-in-class enterprise social networking service to Microsoft's growing portfolio of complementary cloud services."
Seagate and DensBits Announce Strategic Agreement for Development of SSDs
Seagate Technology plc the worldwide leader in hard disk drives and storage solutions, and DensBits Technologies Ltd ("DensBits") the inventor of the world's first Memory ModemTM have announced today a strategic agreement for the development of low-cost, high-performance Solid State Drives ("SSD") for the consumer and enterprise markets. In conjunction with the agreement, Seagate has made an undisclosed equity investment in DensBits.
Seagate and DensBits are joining forces, to develop future products that are intended to provide customers with significant cost savings, extremely high reliability, and unparalleled performance. Under the agreement, DensBits' Memory ModemTM controller technology will be integrated with Seagate's various storage technologies to power a wide range of consumer and enterprise applications including 3 bits/cell ("TLC") 1Xnm Flash-based consumer-grade SSD, and 2 bits/cell ("MLC") 1x nm Flash-based enterprise-grade SSD.
Seagate and DensBits are joining forces, to develop future products that are intended to provide customers with significant cost savings, extremely high reliability, and unparalleled performance. Under the agreement, DensBits' Memory ModemTM controller technology will be integrated with Seagate's various storage technologies to power a wide range of consumer and enterprise applications including 3 bits/cell ("TLC") 1Xnm Flash-based consumer-grade SSD, and 2 bits/cell ("MLC") 1x nm Flash-based enterprise-grade SSD.
JEDEC Updates Universal Flash Storage (UFS) Standard
JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in the development of standards for the microelectronics industry, today announced the publication of key updates to its Universal Flash Storage (UFS) standard. Specifically tailored for mobile applications and computing systems requiring high performance and low power consumption, the new UFS v1.1 standard is an update to the v1.0 standard published in 2011, incorporating feedback from industry UFS technology implementers. JESD220A Universal Flash Storage v1.1 contains important amendments and references to the latest related MIPI Alliance specifications, and may be downloaded free of charge from the JEDEC website here.
JEDEC has also published a complementary standard, JESD223A UFS Host Controller Interface (HCI) v1.1. JESD223A defines a standard host controller interface on which system designers can create a common host controller software driver layer to work with UFS host controller hardware from different manufacturers. The HCI functionality also enables higher performance and power efficiency by minimizing the involvement of the host processor in the operation of the Flash storage subsystem. JESD223A Universal Flash Storage Host Controller Interface v1.1 may also be downloaded free of charge here.
JEDEC has also published a complementary standard, JESD223A UFS Host Controller Interface (HCI) v1.1. JESD223A defines a standard host controller interface on which system designers can create a common host controller software driver layer to work with UFS host controller hardware from different manufacturers. The HCI functionality also enables higher performance and power efficiency by minimizing the involvement of the host processor in the operation of the Flash storage subsystem. JESD223A Universal Flash Storage Host Controller Interface v1.1 may also be downloaded free of charge here.
SK Hynix to Launch Client-side SSD in the US
SK Hynix announced its launch of client SSD (Solid State Drive). The SSD features faster speed and low power consumption than HDD (Hard Disk Drive) so it is expected to replace the HDD as another type of storage for PCs and other applications.
The first ever SK Hynix's client 2.5" SSD consists of ONFI synchronous NAND Flash memory using 20nm class process and densities of 128GB (Gigabyte) and 256GB are available. It significantly improves the speed and reliability by adopting SATA III interface with data transmissions at 6Gb/s (Gigabits per second). This high performance SSD generates sequential read speeds of 510MB/s (Megabytes per second) and sequential write speeds of 470MB/s. It is three or four times faster than the traditional HDD.
The first ever SK Hynix's client 2.5" SSD consists of ONFI synchronous NAND Flash memory using 20nm class process and densities of 128GB (Gigabyte) and 256GB are available. It significantly improves the speed and reliability by adopting SATA III interface with data transmissions at 6Gb/s (Gigabits per second). This high performance SSD generates sequential read speeds of 510MB/s (Megabytes per second) and sequential write speeds of 470MB/s. It is three or four times faster than the traditional HDD.
Lian Li Announces EATX Supported Chassis with Front Placed PSU - PC-V750
Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd, today announces a brushed aluminum EATX supported chassis with a front placed PSU - PC-V750. With the power supply placed in the front, the PC-V750 can hold the hardware that enthusiasts desire while keeping a smaller footprint.
Shorter than most EATX supporting chassis, the 440mm (17.32") tall PC-V750 can hold up to six 3.5" hard drives with hotswap capabilities in the HDD cage with one 2.5" at the bottom of the cage. Two more 2.5" drives can be installed if only four 3.5" drives are in the cage.
Shorter than most EATX supporting chassis, the 440mm (17.32") tall PC-V750 can hold up to six 3.5" hard drives with hotswap capabilities in the HDD cage with one 2.5" at the bottom of the cage. Two more 2.5" drives can be installed if only four 3.5" drives are in the cage.
AMD Introduces New Low-Power AMD Embedded G-Series APU, Extending Platform to 2017
AMD today introduced the latest entry to the AMD Embedded G-Series processor family with the AMD Embedded G-T16R Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). The AMD G-T16R is targeted at very low power, small form factor and cost-sensitive embedded designs that require a combination of x86 compatibility and graphics. The optimized design of the AMD Embedded G-T16R sips power, with power consumption of just 2.3 wattsiv on average or 4.5 watts thermal design power (TDP).
Embedded product designers are taking to the industry's green challenge to design a broad range of next-generation applications for the industrial control, point-of-sale, medical appliance and transportation markets. For example, industrial customers can use the APU to help create greener factories based on more power-efficient factory hardware. Additionally, embedded designers can develop applications like point-of-sale order entry stations and tablets, medical bedside terminals and even solar-powered traffic control devices using the AMD G-T16R.
Embedded product designers are taking to the industry's green challenge to design a broad range of next-generation applications for the industrial control, point-of-sale, medical appliance and transportation markets. For example, industrial customers can use the APU to help create greener factories based on more power-efficient factory hardware. Additionally, embedded designers can develop applications like point-of-sale order entry stations and tablets, medical bedside terminals and even solar-powered traffic control devices using the AMD G-T16R.
G-Technology Launches New USB 3.0 External Storage Solutions
G-Technology today announced a new line of portable and desktop USB 3.0 storage solutions for a broad range of users from consumers to audio/video professionals. Given the brand's strength in the content creation and Apple Mac community, G-Technology is well positioned to move the Mac industry forward in leveraging high-capacity, high-performance USB 3.0 drives across a variety of customer segments, all while delivering one of the industry's most respected external storage platforms with proven quality, reliability and performance.
Today, new kinds of devices and media formats require considerably more interface bandwidth and higher transfer rates to move, store and edit data quickly. Backward compatible with USB 2.0, G-Technology's USB 3.0 drives deliver speeds 10 times faster than USB 2.0 and six times faster than FireWire 800. This means that users can now transfer two full-length movies from a G-Technology USB 3.0 drive to a computer in minutes.
Today, new kinds of devices and media formats require considerably more interface bandwidth and higher transfer rates to move, store and edit data quickly. Backward compatible with USB 2.0, G-Technology's USB 3.0 drives deliver speeds 10 times faster than USB 2.0 and six times faster than FireWire 800. This means that users can now transfer two full-length movies from a G-Technology USB 3.0 drive to a computer in minutes.
ASUS Readies ROG ARES 2 Graphics Card with Dual-HD 7870 GPUs
ASUS is working on its second Republic of Gamers (ROG) ARES graphics card, the ARES 2 dual-HD 7870. Its first ARES was dual-HD 5870. ASUS' decision to go with a pair of Radeon HD 7870 GPUs, instead of the premium HD 7970, certainly comes as a surprise. With it, one could deduce the target market-segment ASUS is aiming at: US $650-750, providing a solution that outperforms even the fastest HD 7970 GHz Edition and GTX 680 graphics cards, while being cheaper than Radeon HD 7990 (which is MIA), dual-HD 7970 X2, and of course, the GTX 690.
ASUS ARES 2 will back two 28 nm "Pitcairn" GPUs with all components unlocked; likely factory-overclocked speeds beyond those of the HD 7870 GHz Edition; and a total of 4 GB of GDDR5 memory (2 GB per GPU system). The card will draw power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and will have a TDP of around 300W. It will take advantage of AMD ZeroCore CrossFire, with which it powers down the second GPU when not gaming, or with light 3D loads that the first GPU can munch on. With the monitor idling for a set amount of time, both GPUs power down. It's likely that ASUS will use a triple-slot cooling solution, despite the fact that the HD 7870 is a generally cool GPU. Pictured below is the first-generation ROG ARES (dual-HD 5870).
Update Jun 26: We have received word from ASUS that "There is no plan to release a dual 7870 VGA".
ASUS ARES 2 will back two 28 nm "Pitcairn" GPUs with all components unlocked; likely factory-overclocked speeds beyond those of the HD 7870 GHz Edition; and a total of 4 GB of GDDR5 memory (2 GB per GPU system). The card will draw power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and will have a TDP of around 300W. It will take advantage of AMD ZeroCore CrossFire, with which it powers down the second GPU when not gaming, or with light 3D loads that the first GPU can munch on. With the monitor idling for a set amount of time, both GPUs power down. It's likely that ASUS will use a triple-slot cooling solution, despite the fact that the HD 7870 is a generally cool GPU. Pictured below is the first-generation ROG ARES (dual-HD 5870).
Club 3D Introduces its Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition Graphics Card
Records are made to be broken, so shatter them with the new and unbelievably fast Club 3D Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition. In March, Club 3D introduced the Radeon HD 7770 GHz Edition, With a reference engine clock of 1GHz, this represented an engineering milestone for the graphics card industry. With the new Radeon HD 7970 GHz, we are continuing to deliver on this high-performance pedigree.
How is the GHz Edition variant of the Radeon HD 7970 different? The Club 3D HD 7970 GHz Edition embodies the maturity of the 28nm process, and the scalability of the Graphics Core Next architecture. Due to both of these factors, the GHz variant raises the GPU core clockspeed from 925MHz to 1000MHz+. This card also features an extension to AMD Powertune technology called "Boost", which allows the GPU to dynamically adjust both voltage and clockspeed above the reference clock of 1GHz+.
How is the GHz Edition variant of the Radeon HD 7970 different? The Club 3D HD 7970 GHz Edition embodies the maturity of the 28nm process, and the scalability of the Graphics Core Next architecture. Due to both of these factors, the GHz variant raises the GPU core clockspeed from 925MHz to 1000MHz+. This card also features an extension to AMD Powertune technology called "Boost", which allows the GPU to dynamically adjust both voltage and clockspeed above the reference clock of 1GHz+.
Friday, June 22nd 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
PSUs
SSD
ZOTAC Gives GeForce GTX 670 Extreme Edition Treatment
ZOTAC seems to have a 2-pronged approach to the GeForce GTX 670, depending on the region it's being sold in. While it took advantage of the compact reference PCB by NVIDIA to come up with the space-saving GTX 670 TwinCooler (ZTGTX670-2GD5TCR001), it did the exact with the GTX 670 Extreme Edition. The card is based on the same exact design as the GTX 680 Extreme Edition, down to its lavish voltage regulation circuitry, with just the GTX 670 ASIC taking the place of the GTX 680.
The card ships with out of the box clock speeds of 1111 MHz (GPU base), 1202 MHz (GPU Boost), and 1652 MHz (memory actual), or 6.60 GHz (memory effective). It draws power from 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and conditions power using a 13-phase VRM that consists of noise-free chokes and PowIRstage DrMOS chips by International Rectifier. Power is further conditioned by a trio of multi-phase FPCAPs, and tantalum capacitors. Like the GTX 680 Extreme Edition, the card features the entire overclocker-friendly feature-set, including OC+ Module, dual-BIOS with LN2-friendly BIOS, voltage measurement points, temperature and phase loading LEDs.
The card ships with out of the box clock speeds of 1111 MHz (GPU base), 1202 MHz (GPU Boost), and 1652 MHz (memory actual), or 6.60 GHz (memory effective). It draws power from 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and conditions power using a 13-phase VRM that consists of noise-free chokes and PowIRstage DrMOS chips by International Rectifier. Power is further conditioned by a trio of multi-phase FPCAPs, and tantalum capacitors. Like the GTX 680 Extreme Edition, the card features the entire overclocker-friendly feature-set, including OC+ Module, dual-BIOS with LN2-friendly BIOS, voltage measurement points, temperature and phase loading LEDs.
SSD Prices in Free-Fall: The Next DRAM?
Hard drive prices refuse to budge after last year's floods that struck manufacturing facilities in Thailand, even as manufacturers turn record profit. The solid-state drive market, on the other hand, is finally rolling with competition, high volume production, and advancements in NAND flash technologies. With memory majors such as Hynix adding new NAND flash manufacturing facilities to their infrastructure, SSD is expected to finally get its big break in the mainstream market.
SSD prices, according to price aggregators, are on a free-fall. Models which once held relative pricing as high as $2 per gigabyte, and going deep within the $1 mark. For example, Crucial's widely-praised M4 256 GB SSD has a price per GB of 'just' $0.82, and a market price around $200, something unheard of, for a 256 GB SSD with transfer rates of over 500 MB/s. With SSD major OCZ Technology releasing new generations of drives under the Vertex 4 and Agility 4 series that use Indilinx processors, older Vertex 3 and Agility 3 models are being phased out, some of these are seeing sub $1/GB prices. Intel is also responding to market trends, with prices of its SSD 520 series dropping sharply. Find a boat-load of stats at the source.
SSD prices, according to price aggregators, are on a free-fall. Models which once held relative pricing as high as $2 per gigabyte, and going deep within the $1 mark. For example, Crucial's widely-praised M4 256 GB SSD has a price per GB of 'just' $0.82, and a market price around $200, something unheard of, for a 256 GB SSD with transfer rates of over 500 MB/s. With SSD major OCZ Technology releasing new generations of drives under the Vertex 4 and Agility 4 series that use Indilinx processors, older Vertex 3 and Agility 3 models are being phased out, some of these are seeing sub $1/GB prices. Intel is also responding to market trends, with prices of its SSD 520 series dropping sharply. Find a boat-load of stats at the source.
Sapphire Prepares New Toxic and Vapor-X Graphics Card Models
Following the announcement by AMD of the availability of the HD 7970 GHz Edition, the latest product using its highly acclaimed Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, SAPPHIRE Technology, one of the World's leading manufacturers and a global supplier of graphics cards, is happy to announce that this latest generation of GPUs from AMD will form the basis of several cutting edge new models.
Within the next few weeks, SAPPHIRE will introduce the eagerly awaited TOXIC Edition and Vapor-X models in its HD 7970 family. The TOXIC Edition is a limited edition factory overclocked model - delivering best in class performance and targeted at the enthusiast. The Vapor-X models use SAPPHIRE's exclusive Vapour Chamber cooling technology to deliver optimised performance whilst retaining low noise and cool operation.
Within the next few weeks, SAPPHIRE will introduce the eagerly awaited TOXIC Edition and Vapor-X models in its HD 7970 family. The TOXIC Edition is a limited edition factory overclocked model - delivering best in class performance and targeted at the enthusiast. The Vapor-X models use SAPPHIRE's exclusive Vapour Chamber cooling technology to deliver optimised performance whilst retaining low noise and cool operation.
HP Unveils Its First Commercial Internet Monitor, Consumer In-plane Switching Display
HP today announced its first commercial internet monitor for the U.S. market, revolutionizing guest internet access for the office, and unveiled its first consumer in-plane switching (IPS) displays, redefining visual performance for the home with consistent, vivid color and increased brightness.
"The needs of customers continue to evolve, and HP is well-positioned to meet these new demands by expanding its award-winning display portfolio," said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Display Business Unit, HP. "HP's new IPS monitors bring professional-grade technology directly to consumers, while our internet monitor serves as a new tool for businesses to engage with their patrons."
"The needs of customers continue to evolve, and HP is well-positioned to meet these new demands by expanding its award-winning display portfolio," said Jun Kim, vice president and general manager, Display Business Unit, HP. "HP's new IPS monitors bring professional-grade technology directly to consumers, while our internet monitor serves as a new tool for businesses to engage with their patrons."
AMD Introduces the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition
Today AMD launched the world's fastest graphics processing unit (GPU), the AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition. The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition uses AMD's innovative Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture to deliver astonishing performance and breathtaking image quality, providing world-class gameplay at the highest resolutions in the most demanding games such as Battlefield 3, Deus Ex: Human Revolution and DiRT Showdown.
"The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition rounds out our award-winning GCN family, providing world-class gameplay thanks to the industry's fastest single GPU," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "Gamers have been hungry for our AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series since our launch last December. We have been able to meet that growing demand as we expanded our AMD Radeon HD 7000 offerings and brought the industry's most advanced graphics across a complete family of leading-edge desktop and notebook graphics cards."
"The AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition rounds out our award-winning GCN family, providing world-class gameplay thanks to the industry's fastest single GPU," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. "Gamers have been hungry for our AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series since our launch last December. We have been able to meet that growing demand as we expanded our AMD Radeon HD 7000 offerings and brought the industry's most advanced graphics across a complete family of leading-edge desktop and notebook graphics cards."
Thursday, June 21st 2012
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Headphones
Memory
Motherboards
Nettops
PSUs
Sound Cards
Speakers
Storage
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition 3 GB Review
Today AMD launches the HD 7970 GHz Edition, in a move to take away the performance crown from NVIDIA. The new card boasts clock speeds of 1050 MHz GPU and 1500 MHz memory. Price-wise the card is on the same level as the GTX 680, but is that enough to defeat NVIDIA's single GPU flagship?
FSP Aurum Xilenser 500 W Review
FSP is one of the key players on the PSU market, so every new product they release is of great interest. Their most recent PSU releases are the two fanless Aurum Xilense units, which come in 400W and 500W versions with modular or non-modular cabling design.
Eurocom Monster 11.6-inch Notebook Capable of Running 8 VMs with 16 GB RAM, 1 TB HDD
Eurocom Corporation, a developer of long lifespan, high performance, fully upgradable Notebooks and Mobile Workstations is shipping a small form factor ultraportable notebook capable of running multiple virtual machines and multiple operating systems with up to 16GB memory and 1 TB storage while weighing under 4 lbs.
"The EUROCOM Monster is capable of running up to 8 virtual machines due to its high performance hardware; Intel Core i7 3920XM processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics combined with 16GB DDR3-1600 memory and up to 1 terabyte of storage with up to 410 minutes of battery life. This is the perfect system for mobile professionals who need exceptionally capable hardware for such things as mobile server applications, technical presale, CUDA and OpenCL development on the go" Mark Bialic, Eurocom President.
"The EUROCOM Monster is capable of running up to 8 virtual machines due to its high performance hardware; Intel Core i7 3920XM processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics combined with 16GB DDR3-1600 memory and up to 1 terabyte of storage with up to 410 minutes of battery life. This is the perfect system for mobile professionals who need exceptionally capable hardware for such things as mobile server applications, technical presale, CUDA and OpenCL development on the go" Mark Bialic, Eurocom President.
BitFenix Reaffirms SuperCharge Technology
Another innovation from the BitFenix Design Lab, BitFenix SuperCharge Technology offers a convenient and quick way to charge mobile devices right from your PC. Recently, similar solutions introduced by competitors have begun making their way into the market, sometimes with hazardous results. In fact, a recent case led to a wire catching on fire during normal operation. Today, BitFenix is reaffirming SuperCharge technology as a quick, easy and safe way to charge today's mobile devices.
Sharkoon Announces Skiller Gaming Keyboard
Sharkoon brings to the market another innovation from its gaming lineup featured at CeBIT: The Sharkoon Skiller gaming keyboard comes with an 18-key rollover, interchangeable WASD and cursor keys, and software for creating up to ten keyboard profiles.
Visually, the Skiller has defining corners and edges: The black keyboard comes in a striking geometric design; an additional eye-catcher is the blue illuminated Skiller logo in the palm rest. Gamers who want to highlight and haptic their WASD and Cursor keys will find enclosed eight interchangeable rubber keys all in blue. In addition to the 107 standard keys, the Sharkoon Skiller has 20 multimedia keys for Internet and Media applications.
Visually, the Skiller has defining corners and edges: The black keyboard comes in a striking geometric design; an additional eye-catcher is the blue illuminated Skiller logo in the palm rest. Gamers who want to highlight and haptic their WASD and Cursor keys will find enclosed eight interchangeable rubber keys all in blue. In addition to the 107 standard keys, the Sharkoon Skiller has 20 multimedia keys for Internet and Media applications.
Lucid Virtu MVP Now Available Through 100 Intel and AMD Motherboard Models
LucidLogix (Lucid), GPU virtualization software leader, today announced that Virtu and Virtu MVP GPU virtualization product family is now found in more than 100 Intel and AMD motherboard models, setting the standard for improved integrated and discrete GPU utilization, visual quality, power management and system responsiveness.
"High quality products and great service are what Asus products are all about. Virtu MVP adds that value across our line of motherboards, allowing users to enjoy best of both Intel graphics on one hand and on the other, enjoy discrete graphics with sharpest images and highest frame rates with MVP's Virtual Vsync," said Joe Hsieh, Asus Corporate Vice President & General Manager Motherboard Business Unit & Desktop System Business Unit. "We understand the importance of a responsive immersive gaming experience and with Virtu MVP's HyperFormance, we are able to provide that for the majority of popular PC titles."
"High quality products and great service are what Asus products are all about. Virtu MVP adds that value across our line of motherboards, allowing users to enjoy best of both Intel graphics on one hand and on the other, enjoy discrete graphics with sharpest images and highest frame rates with MVP's Virtual Vsync," said Joe Hsieh, Asus Corporate Vice President & General Manager Motherboard Business Unit & Desktop System Business Unit. "We understand the importance of a responsive immersive gaming experience and with Virtu MVP's HyperFormance, we are able to provide that for the majority of popular PC titles."
AMD Appoints Dr. Suresh Gopalakrishnan as Corporate VP and GM, Server Business
AMD announced today that Dr. Suresh Gopalakrishnan, 49, has joined the company as corporate vice president and general manager of its server business, reporting to Dr. Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, Global Business Units. In this role, Dr. Gopalakrishnan will lead AMD's server business and is responsible for driving the end-to-end business execution of server solutions worldwide. Andrew Feldman will continue in his role as corporate vice president and general manager of AMD's Data Center Server Solutions business, also reporting to Dr. Su.
"Today's data center operators and enterprises need to reduce cost and power consumption while increasing performance, and AMD has been working hard to meet these needs with our AMD Opteron processor family and SeaMicro fabric technology," said Dr. Su. "Under Suresh's leadership, we will accelerate our disruptive server strategy by leveraging our broad IP portfolio to deliver superior products designed to offer the world's best performance-per-dollar and power efficiency."
"Today's data center operators and enterprises need to reduce cost and power consumption while increasing performance, and AMD has been working hard to meet these needs with our AMD Opteron processor family and SeaMicro fabric technology," said Dr. Su. "Under Suresh's leadership, we will accelerate our disruptive server strategy by leveraging our broad IP portfolio to deliver superior products designed to offer the world's best performance-per-dollar and power efficiency."
MSI Intel 6/7 Series Mainboards Officially Certified for Windows 8
MSI announced today that their Intel 6/7 series mainboards have officially acquired Windows 8 certification from Microsoft. During the Computex exhibition this year, MSI already lead the Windows 8 market by displaying several mainboards that meet the Windows 8 certification requirements and showing off various new Windows 8 features live for the exhibition audience.
Not only did the MSI mainboards get officially certified from Microsoft, they are currently the only leading mainboard brand that runs 3DMark for Windows 8 successfully on their certified mainboards, which proves that MSI is fully ready for Windows 8 in terms of both software and hardware, safeguarding the Windows 8 system's stability and compatibility for consumers and providing the best user experience!
Not only did the MSI mainboards get officially certified from Microsoft, they are currently the only leading mainboard brand that runs 3DMark for Windows 8 successfully on their certified mainboards, which proves that MSI is fully ready for Windows 8 in terms of both software and hardware, safeguarding the Windows 8 system's stability and compatibility for consumers and providing the best user experience!
Belkin Debuts 802.11ac Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Routers
Belkin, creator of people-inspired consumer technology products, today launched its new line of advanced wireless routers featuring 802.11ac technology for speeds up to three times faster than existing 802.11n technology. As one of the first to market with routers that support the new 802.11ac networking standard, Belkin's AC1000 DB and AC1200 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Routers provide enhanced reliability, greater speeds, and enhanced streaming capabilities.
"With a majority of video content being consumed on devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets instead of a home computer, today's tech-savvy families have an increasing need for simultaneous connections to multiple devices throughout their homes," said Mike Chen, senior director of Belkin's networking business. "The enhanced speed and expanded coverage of Belkin's AC routers enable families to achieve the truly seamless online experiences they crave."
"With a majority of video content being consumed on devices such as smart TVs, smartphones, and tablets instead of a home computer, today's tech-savvy families have an increasing need for simultaneous connections to multiple devices throughout their homes," said Mike Chen, senior director of Belkin's networking business. "The enhanced speed and expanded coverage of Belkin's AC routers enable families to achieve the truly seamless online experiences they crave."
NVIDIA Releases PCI-Express Gen 3.0 Enabling Patch for Sandy Bridge-E HEDT Platform
Although pre-launch drivers of the GeForce GTX 680 let the GPU run in PCI-Express Gen 3.0 mode on Intel's Sandy Bridge-E HEDT (X79) platforms, the release drivers limited the GPU to PCI-Express Gen 2.0 on the platform. The issue carried on with GeForce GTX 670, and other graphics cards with "Kepler" family of GPUs. NVIDIA cited reasons such as the platform not being PCI-Expres Gen 3.0 "certified" although it supports the 8 GT/s mode. The company assured users that it was working on getting its hardware to work on the Sandy Bridge-E HEDT platform in Gen 3.0 mode, and until it's absolutely certain about reliability, it is forcing PCI-Express Gen 2.0 mode.
NVIDIA released a patch that enables PCI-Express Gen 3.0 mode on Intel Sandy Bridge-E HEDT (X79) platforms, which lets graphics cards based on GeForce Kepler GPUs, such as GeForce GTX 680, GTX 670, etc., take advantage of 8 GT/s per lane system interface bandwidth. The mode could come particularly handy for graphics cards that are installed on electrical PCI-Express 3.0 x8 slots, as they could end up with bandwidth comparable to that of PCI-Express 2.0 x16. The patch should be installed along with the latest stable drivers. To enable the patch, run the executable and reboot the system. To undo the patch later, run the same executable with "-revert" argument in Command Prompt. Use only if stability is not absolutely paramount, or if the hardware is not operating in a mission-critical environment.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Kepler PCIe 3.0 mode-enabling patch for Sandy Bridge-E systems
NVIDIA released a patch that enables PCI-Express Gen 3.0 mode on Intel Sandy Bridge-E HEDT (X79) platforms, which lets graphics cards based on GeForce Kepler GPUs, such as GeForce GTX 680, GTX 670, etc., take advantage of 8 GT/s per lane system interface bandwidth. The mode could come particularly handy for graphics cards that are installed on electrical PCI-Express 3.0 x8 slots, as they could end up with bandwidth comparable to that of PCI-Express 2.0 x16. The patch should be installed along with the latest stable drivers. To enable the patch, run the executable and reboot the system. To undo the patch later, run the same executable with "-revert" argument in Command Prompt. Use only if stability is not absolutely paramount, or if the hardware is not operating in a mission-critical environment.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce Kepler PCIe 3.0 mode-enabling patch for Sandy Bridge-E systems
New 3DMark Trailer Shows Stunning DirectX 11 Graphics
Futuremark today released its first trailer for the next version of 3DMark. Designed for measuring the gaming performance of everything from tablets and notebooks to high-end desktop gaming systems, the next 3DMark for Windows will be the world's first unified graphics benchmark allowing testing of DirectX 9, DirectX 10 and DirectX 11 capable hardware through the DirectX 11 API. Expected to be released after the launch of Windows 8, this new 3DMark will also be compatible with Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The new trailer provides a preview of the DirectX 11 test and is now available online and in high definition for the first time at 3DMark.com.
More People Use Desktop Speakers than Headsets for Gaming: TechPowerUp Poll Trend
Last week, we came up with our latest front-page poll question, asking our readers which is their preferred audio output when gaming (playing their favorite PC games). Choices included desktop speakers, headsets, and external home audio solutions (such as HT amps, HiFi systems, etc.) Over the course of the week that followed, we accumulated over 1,800 votes to build our sample, which consists of our readers (both registered members of our Forums, and unregistered readers). The interim results come as a bit of a surprise to us.
According to numbers recorded at the time of writing this article, from 1,820 respondents, 808 (44.18%) prefer desktop speakers, a close 719 (39.31%) prefer headsets, with external home audio system being a distant yet significant third option, with 302 (16.51%) of the respondents preferring it.
According to numbers recorded at the time of writing this article, from 1,820 respondents, 808 (44.18%) prefer desktop speakers, a close 719 (39.31%) prefer headsets, with external home audio system being a distant yet significant third option, with 302 (16.51%) of the respondents preferring it.
Greenliant Enters e.MMC Market With Full I-temp NANDrive SSD
Greenliant Systems, a leader in energy-efficient, highly secure and reliable solid state storage products, is now sampling its e.MMC NANDrive GLS85VM embedded solid state drive (SSD) product family to select customers. The new NANDrive devices support the JEDEC e.MMC 4.4 standard and are backward compatible with 4.3. While the JEDEC operating temperature range specification is -25 to +85 degrees Celsius, e.MMC NANDrive operates at full industrial temperatures between -40 and +85 degrees Celsius, giving customers data storage that can withstand the most severe conditions.
e.MMC NANDrive combines Greenliant's internally developed NAND controller with NAND flash die for a fully integrated SSD in a multi-chip package. It is available with 2-bits-per-cell (MLC) or 1-bit-per-cell (SLC) NAND to meet varying customer requirements for lifespan, endurance and performance. Measuring 14mm x 18mm, e.MMC NANDrive is offered in a 100 ball grid array (BGA) package, with 1mm ball pitch for increased long-term reliability.
e.MMC NANDrive combines Greenliant's internally developed NAND controller with NAND flash die for a fully integrated SSD in a multi-chip package. It is available with 2-bits-per-cell (MLC) or 1-bit-per-cell (SLC) NAND to meet varying customer requirements for lifespan, endurance and performance. Measuring 14mm x 18mm, e.MMC NANDrive is offered in a 100 ball grid array (BGA) package, with 1mm ball pitch for increased long-term reliability.
EVGA GTX 680 Classified 4GB Smashes 2 GHz GPU Clock Barrier
EVGA's GeForce GTX 680 4GB, in the skilled hands of Vince "k|ngp|n" Lucido, smashed the 2 GHz barrier for GPU clock, setting a new clock speed world record for the GTX 680. The card achieved a GPU clock speed of 2,002 MHz, with a core voltage of 1.212V; and memory clock speed of 7.406 GHz. The card went on to score P16472 in 3DMark 11 (performance preset). The rest of the test-bench included Intel Core i7-3960X six-core processor clocked at 5.53 GHz, EVGA X79 Classified motherboard, 16 GB of quad-channel DDR3-2400 MHz G.Skill RipjawsZ memory, and EVGA NEX 1500W PSU. The GPU was cooled by k|ngp|n Tek-9 FAT 6.0 LN2 evaporator, while the CPU was cooled by k|ngp|n Dragon F1 Dark LN2 evaporator. Find the ORB page here.
Wednesday, June 20th 2012
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Notebooks
MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning 2 GB Review
MSI's GTX 680 Lightning combines the outstanding performance of the GTX 680 with the unique heritage of MSI's Lightning series. The card brings many features geared toward overclockers and advanced users, but even for gamers it's a good choice thanks to the overclock out of the box.
Intel Reveals 22nm "Avoton" SoC for Micro Servers in 2013
Today during the Structure Conference in San Francisco, Jason Waxman, GM of the Cloud Infrastructure Group outlined Intel's vision and roadmap for microservers and discussed how they best suited to handle emerging "scale-out" applications. Waxman provided an update on Intel's roadmap for microservers including new generations of Intel Xeon processors and Intel Atom architecture based 22nm SoC chips codenamed "Avoton", both scheduled for 2013. In his blog Jason also talks about why within the new segment of servers it is the application that will decide which core - Intel Atom or Xeon - will be the optimal solution. Waxman's presentation can be found here.
Belkin Announces Availability of WeMo
Belkin today launched WeMo, a line of modular, Wi-Fi-based products that turn an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch into a remote control for household devices. Consisting of two initial products, the WeMo Switch and the WeMo Motion, WeMo works with the free WeMo app to create a scalable, customizable home control system designed to provide added safety, convenience, and peace of mind.
"WeMo uses familiar technology to create a plug-and-play solution for controlling gadgets and appliances remotely," said Jamie Elgie, senior director of product management for Belkin. "Designed to address simple automation needs without the hassle or expense of whole home automation, WeMo is an easy and fun way to put your home at your fingertips."
"WeMo uses familiar technology to create a plug-and-play solution for controlling gadgets and appliances remotely," said Jamie Elgie, senior director of product management for Belkin. "Designed to address simple automation needs without the hassle or expense of whole home automation, WeMo is an easy and fun way to put your home at your fingertips."
Buffalo Rolls Out 2 TB MiniStation USB 3.0 HDD with High Shock Tolerance
Buffalo Japan rolled out a 2 terabyte variant of its MiniStation HDPNTU3 portable HDD series. Models in the series are characterized by fast USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, and a shock-absorbing internal drive frame that lends higher shock tolerance, although Buffalo stopped short of mentioning the exact shock tolerance figure. The new variant (model: HD-PNT2.0U3-GBJ) provides 2 TB of unformatted capacity, and supports USB 3.0, which eliminates interface bottlenecks. It relies on the same connection for power. Its feature-set includes Buffalo's Turbo PC software, which speeds up drive access by up to 2 times; and native 256-bit AES data-encryption. Measuring 82 x 118 x 22 mm, the MiniStation weighs about 260 g. It is expected to hit stores by late-June, priced at 31,080 JPY (US $392).
I-O Data Intros 2 TB AVHD-PU Portable HDD Model
I-O Data Japan introduced a new high-capacity 2 TB model of its AVHD-PU external hard drives that gel well with your TV, packing DVR capabilities, supporting a variety of TVs across brands such as Sony, Toshiba, Sharp, etc. Called the AVHD-P2.0U, the drive joins the ranks of older 500 GB and 1 TB models, which were launched back in April. The drive provides 2 TB of unformatted capacity, and can format itself to a file-system your TV supports. It connects to compatible TVs using USB 2.0, and relies on the same connection for power. Measuring 79 x 23 x 134 mm (WxDxH), the drive weighs about 270 g. Slated for early-July, it is expected to be priced at 27,720 JPY (US $349).
Atlantis Computing Improves the RAM Disk for the Cloud Computing Generation
Today Atlantis Computing, a leading provider of storage optimization software for virtual servers and desktops, will unveil Atlantis ILIO FlexCloud 1.0 onstage at GigaOM Structure, one of the most influential cloud computing conferences. The new software product makes it possible for enterprises and service providers to fundamentally change the performance and economics of storage-intensive virtualized server and cloud applications like databases, big data and custom enterprise applications.
"With our success in the desktop virtualization market, we are constantly asked by customers to bring to market solutions for virtual servers that optimize storage utilization like we do for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)," said Bernard Harguindeguy, CEO of Atlantis Computing. "With the introduction of Atlantis ILIO FlexCloud 1.0, we are demonstrating how our technology has the flexibility to deliver similar performance, cost and scalability benefits to server virtualization and the cloud."
"With our success in the desktop virtualization market, we are constantly asked by customers to bring to market solutions for virtual servers that optimize storage utilization like we do for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)," said Bernard Harguindeguy, CEO of Atlantis Computing. "With the introduction of Atlantis ILIO FlexCloud 1.0, we are demonstrating how our technology has the flexibility to deliver similar performance, cost and scalability benefits to server virtualization and the cloud."
Acer Introduces Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 Ultrabooks
Acer America today announced the Aspire Timeline Ultra M5 line of Ultrabooks in the U.S. Slimmer and lighter than earlier generations of the Timeline series, the new Timeline Ultra models are just .81 inches thin, weigh as little as 4.3 pounds and offer the best of both worlds -- a slim, lightweight design, larger displays, all-day battery life, and powerful Intel and NVIDIA technologies - making them some of the most robust and versatile Ultrabooks on the market.
The ultra-thin profile of the Ultra M5 Series delivers a minimalist, modern look. The stylish silver cover is made of an aluminum alloy that not only looks modern and elegant, but adds to the system's overall sturdiness. The 15.6-inch models include a sleek edge-to-edge display that keeps the LCD screen smooth and streamlined. A full-size chiclet keyboard with an independent standard numeric keypad makes typing more comfortable and increases productivity.
The ultra-thin profile of the Ultra M5 Series delivers a minimalist, modern look. The stylish silver cover is made of an aluminum alloy that not only looks modern and elegant, but adds to the system's overall sturdiness. The 15.6-inch models include a sleek edge-to-edge display that keeps the LCD screen smooth and streamlined. A full-size chiclet keyboard with an independent standard numeric keypad makes typing more comfortable and increases productivity.
Genius Announces LuxePad 9100 Ultra-thin Bluetooth Keyboard
Genius today releases an ultra-thin Bluetooth keyboard, LuxePad 9100, that is compatible with iPad as well as Android and Windows tablets. This portable keyboard comes with the protective leather case that can also be used as a stand, turning your tablet into a mobile office and allowing you to quickly and comfortably type wherever you go.
Only 1.75cm thick, the LuxePad 9100 easily slides into a bag or purse alongside your tablet, making it ideal when traveling on trains or planes or just a day in the park. When you need to write documents or type emails simply pull out this ultra-thin keyboard and press the CONNECT button, then you can start writing away on your tablet. When finished, just flip the on/off switch so to conserve battery life.
Only 1.75cm thick, the LuxePad 9100 easily slides into a bag or purse alongside your tablet, making it ideal when traveling on trains or planes or just a day in the park. When you need to write documents or type emails simply pull out this ultra-thin keyboard and press the CONNECT button, then you can start writing away on your tablet. When finished, just flip the on/off switch so to conserve battery life.
VIA Announces ARM Digital Signage System with Android Support
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient computing platforms, today announced the VIA ARM DS (Digital Signage) system.
Developed for the Android operating system, the VIA ARM DS is an all-in-one system-ready solution for managing dynamic displays for cost sensitive high volume segments where high performance video and connectivity are paramount for enhanced customer engagement. Applications range from kiosks, POS systems, video walls, and menu boards to TVOIP, cloud streaming, and Out of Home Advertising across a broad spectrum of retail, hospitality, education, and entertainment environments.
Developed for the Android operating system, the VIA ARM DS is an all-in-one system-ready solution for managing dynamic displays for cost sensitive high volume segments where high performance video and connectivity are paramount for enhanced customer engagement. Applications range from kiosks, POS systems, video walls, and menu boards to TVOIP, cloud streaming, and Out of Home Advertising across a broad spectrum of retail, hospitality, education, and entertainment environments.
MSI Launches the GeForce GTX 680 Lightning Graphics Card
Leading mainboard and graphics card maker MSI has just announced the release of the N680GTX Lightning, the new king of the graphics card world equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 GPU. The N680GTX Lightning utilizes proprietary Unlocked Digital Power architecture to unleash the full performance of the graphics card without any extra modifications. The innovative patented GPU Reactor power supply back plate also reduces power supply noise and improves overclocking stability. the N680GTX Lightning is kept cool by the Twin Frozr IV cooling solution with Dust Removal technology, dual temperature-controlled fan setup and SuperPipe.
Colorful Unveils Fanless GeForce GTX 680 Graphics Card
Now see this: a fanless, passive-cooled GeForce GTX 680! Chinese graphics card designer Colorful unveiled the world's first passive-cooled GeForce GTX 680 graphics card, the iGame GTX 680 passive. The card uses a pair of detachable, dense aluminum fin heatsinks, which draw heat from the 3.5 billion transistor GPU using seven heat pipes, and dissipate it using two aluminum fin stacks on either sides of the PCB. The two stacks are joined by six 8 mm-thick heat pipes.
The cooler cumulatively has 20 heat pipes, a surface area of 2 square meters across 280 aluminum fins. The second module is optional, and is only recommended if the operating environment is warm, or if the end user is overclocking. The card is said to use a complex VRM design that draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, though we suspect the idea behind that to be heat spreading. The design guarantees reliable silent operation at reference clock speeds or mild overclocking. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Colorful is still assessing the marketability of the design. Watch this space for more.
The cooler cumulatively has 20 heat pipes, a surface area of 2 square meters across 280 aluminum fins. The second module is optional, and is only recommended if the operating environment is warm, or if the end user is overclocking. The card is said to use a complex VRM design that draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, though we suspect the idea behind that to be heat spreading. The design guarantees reliable silent operation at reference clock speeds or mild overclocking. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Colorful is still assessing the marketability of the design. Watch this space for more.
ECS Announces Full Product Line-up in Readiness for Windows 8
Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) today announces that it is the first hardware manufacturer to support the Windows 8 Hardware Program for its entire product line. Including all ECS motherboards, graphics cards, and AIOs currently on the market, ECS' products are optimized to take full advantage of the improved speeds, capabilities and features with the most anticipating technology Microsoft Windows 8, allowing users to fully experience its unique operating system.
After the success of Windows 7, this year Microsoft has revealed it's another masterpiece-Windows 8. Apart from the old-known operating system, Windows 8 has brought up a brand new image beyond your imagination.
After the success of Windows 7, this year Microsoft has revealed it's another masterpiece-Windows 8. Apart from the old-known operating system, Windows 8 has brought up a brand new image beyond your imagination.
MIPI Alliance and USB 3.0 PG Announce Availability of USB Inter-Chip Specification
MIPI Alliance and the USB 3.0 Promoter Group today announced the completion of the SuperSpeed USB Inter-Chip (SSIC) specification. The specification defines a chip-to-chip USB based internal interconnect for mobile devices as well as other platforms. SSIC offers MIPI Alliance's M-PHY high bandwidth and low power capabilities combined with SuperSpeed USB performance enhancements.
The M-PHYSM interface, a high speed serial interface, targets up to 2.9 Gbps per lane with scalability up to 5.8 Gbps per lane and offers a low pin count and exceptional power efficiency. SuperSpeed USB offers a 5 Gbps signaling rate, up to 10 times faster than Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0), enhanced protocol and power management and backward compatibility with the existing USB device and software model.
The M-PHYSM interface, a high speed serial interface, targets up to 2.9 Gbps per lane with scalability up to 5.8 Gbps per lane and offers a low pin count and exceptional power efficiency. SuperSpeed USB offers a 5 Gbps signaling rate, up to 10 times faster than Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0), enhanced protocol and power management and backward compatibility with the existing USB device and software model.
Tuesday, June 19th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Game Controllers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Processors
SSD
CM Storm Stryker Review
Cooler Master has had quite the success with the CM Storm Trooper chassis. The new Stryker utilizes the same shape, design and chassis, but offers different side panels and that important white and black look.
Rosewill RK-9000RE Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review
Rosewill's attempt at a mechanical gaming keyboard could be a big success. At $79.99 and featuring user selectable Cherry MX switches it is sure to shake things up. We take the RK-9000 with Cherry MX Red switches aboard for a spin to see how it compares.
MSI HD 7970 Lightning Graphics Card Breaks 3DMark World Records 8 Consecutive Times
The fierce MSI MOA (Master Overclocking Arena) 2012 EMEA Qualifier competition has ended successfully on June 14; European overclocking experts from a total of 16 countries competed in the event and have broken world records for 3DMark11 and 3DMark03 eight consecutive times. The top five scores of the winners of EMEA Qualifier competition are Xtreme Addict (Poland), T0lsty (Ukraine), ryba (PurePC.pl) (Poland), Aristidis (Greece) and Smoke (Russian Federation); the winners will team up and advance to the MOA 2012 World Overclocking Finals, and head to Taiwan to compete in the world-class "Steel World" competition.
During this skirmish, the competitors' first choice MSI HD 7970 Lightning graphics card ranked number 1 for both 3DMark11 and 3DMark03; the Polish contestant Xtreme Addict's 3DMark11 P score: 16055 marks and the Ukraine contestant T0lsty's 3DMark03 score: 214000 marks won the competition's first place for each single graphics card event respectively,. Which just goes to show that the contestants are completely fired up to march towards the worldwide Grand Final! After the EMEA Qualifier, another shot at 3DMark11 P score of 16259 marks resulted in a new WR by Polish overclocker: ryba (PurePC.pl).
During this skirmish, the competitors' first choice MSI HD 7970 Lightning graphics card ranked number 1 for both 3DMark11 and 3DMark03; the Polish contestant Xtreme Addict's 3DMark11 P score: 16055 marks and the Ukraine contestant T0lsty's 3DMark03 score: 214000 marks won the competition's first place for each single graphics card event respectively,. Which just goes to show that the contestants are completely fired up to march towards the worldwide Grand Final! After the EMEA Qualifier, another shot at 3DMark11 P score of 16259 marks resulted in a new WR by Polish overclocker: ryba (PurePC.pl).
NVIDIA Responds to Questions About Consistency of Features Across Platforms
NVIDIA posted a statement following last week's interactive session lead by Linus Torvalds, at a Finnish University, which didn't end too well for NVIDIA. The audience complained to Torvalds about lack of consistency between features available to Windows and Linux, and NVIDIA's stubbornness to help the community come up with alternative solutions to get the advertised features (such as Optimus) to work. NVIDIA's statement focuses on exactly that, consistency of features across platforms, and states that it is one of NVIDIA's priorities.
The statement by NVIDIA doesn't refute any of what a member of the audience complained about. There is still no proper Optimus feature made available by NVIDIA to Linux users, but a reminder that NVIDIA recently made changes to its drivers that makes interface with an alternative system software made by various open-source communities, the Bumblebee Project, easier. Said the statement "While we understand that some people would prefer us to provide detailed documentation on all of our GPU internals, or be more active in Linux kernel community development discussions, we have made a decision to support Linux on our GPUs by leveraging NVIDIA common code, rather than the Linux common infrastructure. While this may not please everyone, it does allow us to provide the most consistent GPU experience to our customers, regardless of platform or operating system."
The statement follows:
The statement by NVIDIA doesn't refute any of what a member of the audience complained about. There is still no proper Optimus feature made available by NVIDIA to Linux users, but a reminder that NVIDIA recently made changes to its drivers that makes interface with an alternative system software made by various open-source communities, the Bumblebee Project, easier. Said the statement "While we understand that some people would prefer us to provide detailed documentation on all of our GPU internals, or be more active in Linux kernel community development discussions, we have made a decision to support Linux on our GPUs by leveraging NVIDIA common code, rather than the Linux common infrastructure. While this may not please everyone, it does allow us to provide the most consistent GPU experience to our customers, regardless of platform or operating system."
The statement follows:
SK Hynix to Acquire Link_A_Media Devices
SK hynix Inc. ('SK hynix' or 'the Company') announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire California-based storage solution company Link_A_Media Devices Corporation ('LAMD'). LAMD, founded in 2004, is a leader in the development of semiconductor system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for the data storage market. These SoC solutions, also called controllers, interface with processors to significantly increase the speed and reliability of Flash memory. Upon completion of the acquisition, LAMD will join SK hynix as a business unit focused on customized NAND based solutions.
As various mobile applications such as smartphones and tablet PCs are being rapidly adopted and cloud computing grows in popularity, the NAND Flash market has been evolving from raw NAND memory solutions for USB and memory cards to value-added products equipped with controllers. The role of the NAND controller in premium products such as e-MMC (embedded Multi Media Card) and SSDs (Solid State Drives) has become increasingly important to meet the high memory densities and improved interface speeds required by end users.
As various mobile applications such as smartphones and tablet PCs are being rapidly adopted and cloud computing grows in popularity, the NAND Flash market has been evolving from raw NAND memory solutions for USB and memory cards to value-added products equipped with controllers. The role of the NAND controller in premium products such as e-MMC (embedded Multi Media Card) and SSDs (Solid State Drives) has become increasingly important to meet the high memory densities and improved interface speeds required by end users.
Australian R18+ Game Rating System Ends Mature Game Embargos
Australian legislators voted in a new game rating system that expands choice for gamers, allowing them to play ESRB-Mature games, which often get restricted or banned in the Australian market. Called R18+, the new rating marks games restricted to consumption by people aged 18 and above. Before it, the highest game rating marker for the Australian market was M15+ ("mature", above the age of 15), which let through titles with depiction of violence, but blocked out quite a few that in the eyes of the powers that be, were "too violent" (eg: Mortal Kombat, with its gory critical hit animations). Like with every other government, in every part of the world, it took a lobby to move the Australian House and Senate (Parliament) and make R18+ a reality. Go ahead and score fatalities in style, mates.
HIS Digital Sets New 3DMark World Record
The latest product from HIS Digital, HIS 7970 X, set a new overclock world record. 4 x HIS 7970 X at 1480/1910MHz achieved 84669 marks on 3Dmark Vantage record. The 4 HIS 7970 X cards performed to its best with HKEPC OC Lab's sophisticated "Tin Shui Wai" System. According to John Lam, the Team Captain as well as a renowned overclocker, "Tin Shui Wai" is a LN2 Chilled Water Cooling System, modified from "Kingpin F1" to provide the most stable Subzero Cooling for 4 Way HIS 7970 X Crossfire".
Besides the sophisticated overclocking equipment, it was the sleek and sophisticated design and vivid LED lighting of the system that captured the attention of industry experts. The System uses green as its main colour, spiced with blue LED light giving it a perfect blend of Extreme OC and Lan Party elements. The unbeatable OC performance and the flashy design of "Tin Shui Wai" System gained much attention from visitors and media during the demonstration at Computex, Taipei. For more information, visit this page.
Besides the sophisticated overclocking equipment, it was the sleek and sophisticated design and vivid LED lighting of the system that captured the attention of industry experts. The System uses green as its main colour, spiced with blue LED light giving it a perfect blend of Extreme OC and Lan Party elements. The unbeatable OC performance and the flashy design of "Tin Shui Wai" System gained much attention from visitors and media during the demonstration at Computex, Taipei. For more information, visit this page.
Doom 3 BFG Releases October 16th
The enhanced re-release of Doom 3 is coming just in time for Halloween, publisher Bethesda Softworks has announced. The "BFG Edition" of id's classic FPS will be available on October 16 on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. The console versions will retail for $40, while the PC version will be $30. BFG adds Doom 3, Resurrection of Evil, and "The Lost Mission"--all optimized in 3D, 5.1 surround sound, achievements, improved rendering and lighting, and a new checkpoint save system. There's also an armor-mounted flashlight, "allowing players to illuminate dark corners and blast enemies at the same time."
The BFG Edition also includes the original Doom and Doom 2, making it the "definitive collection" for the series. Perhaps after this release, id will be a bit more forthcoming about Doom 4.
The BFG Edition also includes the original Doom and Doom 2, making it the "definitive collection" for the series. Perhaps after this release, id will be a bit more forthcoming about Doom 4.
Sharkoon DarkGlider Gaming Mouse Generally Available
Sharkoon has let its latest rodent loose: the DarkGlider gaming mouse presented at CeBIT is now available on the market. The Sharkoon DarkGlider is the high-end model presented in Hannover under Sharkoon's gaming input devices. Under its ergonomically designed, secure-grip rubber cover in matte black sits the latest version of the ADNS-9500 LaserSensor Sensors. The mouse contains up to a 6,000 DPI resolution, 11,750 FPS frame rate, 30 G maximum acceleration, a millisecond response time and a maximum 5 mm liftoff distance as a very precise, reliable and responsive playmate. The DarkGlider glides on five lenticular ceramic feet, which cannot afford to support any significant sliding resistance. The DPI sampling rate can be arbitrarily set and read in the illuminated LED display.
Fujitsu Introduces Trio of LIFEBOOK Business Notebooks From Subcompact to Full-Size
Fujitsu today introduced a trio of commercial LIFEBOOK notebooks -- the full-size 15.6-inch LIFEBOOK E752; the 14-inch thin, light and economical LIFEBOOK S752; and the 13.3-inch high-performance, subcompact LIFEBOOK S762 notebook.
Powered by the new 3rd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, all three LIFEBOOK notebooks feature optional SSD cache or SSD drives with Intel Rapid Start Technology for powering up with the speed of an Ultrabook device. In addition, the notebook trio offers a versatile modular bay allowing users to remove the optical drive to lighten the load when travelling or to install a second battery, which along with the high-capacity standard battery provides up to 15.5 hours of operation.
Powered by the new 3rd generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, all three LIFEBOOK notebooks feature optional SSD cache or SSD drives with Intel Rapid Start Technology for powering up with the speed of an Ultrabook device. In addition, the notebook trio offers a versatile modular bay allowing users to remove the optical drive to lighten the load when travelling or to install a second battery, which along with the high-capacity standard battery provides up to 15.5 hours of operation.
SanDisk Introduces World's Fastest Memory Card for Smartphones and Tablets
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced the world's fastest mobile memory card. The SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDHC UHS-I card is ideal for smartphone and tablet users who want to boost their device's storage capacity while enjoying the fastest mobile experience.
SanDisk Announces Its Fastest, Thinnest and Highest-Capacity USB Flash Drives
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced a suite of USB flash drives that includes SanDisk's fastest, thinnest and highest-capacity USB products ever. The drives offer consumers the storage they need to carry libraries of digital content with them wherever they go, transfer their files quickly and do so with style.
"Whether consumers are seeking super-fast transfer speeds, maximum storage capacity or a stylish fashion statement, we offer a drive to meet their needs," said Bob O'Keefe, vice president, retail marketing, SanDisk. "SanDisk pioneered the USB drive and now offers one of the broadest lineups in the industry, with a wide range of form factors and reliability that consumers can count on to store their important files."
"Whether consumers are seeking super-fast transfer speeds, maximum storage capacity or a stylish fashion statement, we offer a drive to meet their needs," said Bob O'Keefe, vice president, retail marketing, SanDisk. "SanDisk pioneered the USB drive and now offers one of the broadest lineups in the industry, with a wide range of form factors and reliability that consumers can count on to store their important files."
D-Link SharePort DIR-505 Now Available
D-Link today announced its SharePort All-in-One Mobile Companion (DIR-505) - an innovative new product every tablet and smartphone owner needs - is now shipping. SharePort offers instant USB sharing capabilities with the free D-Link SharePort Mobile app, enabling users to share videos, music, and photos from an external hard drive or thumb drive to any iPad, iPhone or Android device. In addition, SharePort provides wireless access wherever an existing network is available and adds instant storage to a mobile device, offering the ultimate set of features for home or on-the-go convenience.
"SharePort is an all-in-one mobile companion that is ideal for anyone who enjoys playing music, movies or viewing photos from their iPad, iPhone or Android device,"said Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of marketing, D-Link North America. "It allows for easy sharing of media to Android and iOS mobile devices. Plus, SharePort instantly adds storage to your mobile device and can also serve as a portable router/access point, Wi-Fi hotspot and Wi-Fi repeater for instant wireless access from anywhere a network already exists, whether at home or traveling."
"SharePort is an all-in-one mobile companion that is ideal for anyone who enjoys playing music, movies or viewing photos from their iPad, iPhone or Android device,"said Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of marketing, D-Link North America. "It allows for easy sharing of media to Android and iOS mobile devices. Plus, SharePort instantly adds storage to your mobile device and can also serve as a portable router/access point, Wi-Fi hotspot and Wi-Fi repeater for instant wireless access from anywhere a network already exists, whether at home or traveling."
German Scientists Tap NVIDIA GPUs To Unlock Secrets Of The Brain
NVIDIA today announced that its GPUs will be used by scientists at Germany's Forschungszentrum Jülich, which hosts the Jülich Supercomputing Centre, one of Europe's largest and most powerful supercomputing resources, to accelerate advanced neurological research targeted at unlocking secrets of the human brain.
NVIDIA also announced a new, multiyear collaboration with the center to drive the next generation of GPU-accelerated scientific research in neuroscience and a range of other fields, including astronomy, astrophysics, material science, particle physics, and protein folding. Together the two organizations are launching the "NVIDIA Application Lab," a jointly run and staffed resource for the European scientific community located at the center's facilities in Jülich.
NVIDIA also announced a new, multiyear collaboration with the center to drive the next generation of GPU-accelerated scientific research in neuroscience and a range of other fields, including astronomy, astrophysics, material science, particle physics, and protein folding. Together the two organizations are launching the "NVIDIA Application Lab," a jointly run and staffed resource for the European scientific community located at the center's facilities in Jülich.
India Bolsters National Space Program Using NVIDIA GPU-Accelerated Supercomputer
NVIDIA today announced that the SAGA system, India's most powerful supercomputer and the holder of the 85 position on the Top500 list released yesterday, is leveraging NVIDIA GPUs to dramatically improve the design and analysis of the delivery vehicles critical to the nation's space program.
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), one of the six largest space research agencies in the world, the SAGA supercomputer is used to tackle complex aeronautical problems. Harnessing the power of 640 NVIDIA Tesla GPUs and providing up to 394 teraflops of peak performance, SAGA enables ISRO to accelerate and improve the design and analysis of new and existing satellite launch vehicles by enabling more complex and accurate design simulations.
Developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), one of the six largest space research agencies in the world, the SAGA supercomputer is used to tackle complex aeronautical problems. Harnessing the power of 640 NVIDIA Tesla GPUs and providing up to 394 teraflops of peak performance, SAGA enables ISRO to accelerate and improve the design and analysis of new and existing satellite launch vehicles by enabling more complex and accurate design simulations.
Synology Presents DiskStation DS112+
Synology Inc. today launched DiskStation DS112+, an all-in-one NAS server that offers high performance with energy-efficient and quiet design for small and medium businesses.
"With DiskStation DS112+, Synology has introduced an invaluable selection for SMB users where high performance meets eco-friendly design," said Peter Chen, product manager of Synology Inc. "This is the best option for providing users with fast and reliable solutions to share, sync and backup data with minimal time spent on setup process and management."
"With DiskStation DS112+, Synology has introduced an invaluable selection for SMB users where high performance meets eco-friendly design," said Peter Chen, product manager of Synology Inc. "This is the best option for providing users with fast and reliable solutions to share, sync and backup data with minimal time spent on setup process and management."
ADATA Launches Two New mSATA Solid State Drives
ADATA Technology today announces the launch of the XPG SX300 and Premier Pro SP300 mSATA solid state drives. Both products are geared towards consumers who wish to get the most out of recently released motherboards that have built-in mSATA sockets. By using an mSATA SSD as a cache drive instead of main storage, systems can reach speed boosts comparable to systems with SSDs as primary drive.
The XPG SX300 has a SATA 6 Gbit/sec interface, and is targeted towards power users who demand the utmost in speed and capacity. Read and write speeds reach an impressive 550 and 505 MB/sec respectively, with maximum 4K random write of 85,000 IOPs. With capacities of 64, 128, and 256GB in such a small form factor, the SX300 brings the full power of solid state technology to the mSATA field.
The XPG SX300 has a SATA 6 Gbit/sec interface, and is targeted towards power users who demand the utmost in speed and capacity. Read and write speeds reach an impressive 550 and 505 MB/sec respectively, with maximum 4K random write of 85,000 IOPs. With capacities of 64, 128, and 256GB in such a small form factor, the SX300 brings the full power of solid state technology to the mSATA field.
Cooler Master Launches CM Storm Stryker Case
Today CM Storm, Cooler Master's gaming brand, releases a new full tower case which is based on the highly popular CM Strom Trooper: The Stryker. Built to be amongst the most agile full-towers, Stryker becomes the second in its class to include an ultra-strong carrying handle; allowing a gamer to travel with the finest system configurations available with relative ease. CM Storm Stryker includes the features that are most desired by gamers like a windowed side panel, full dust filter coverage, a fan controller, an external SSD drive hot-swap dock and two uniquely designed modular hard drive cages and this in a full, stylish white color.
Monday, June 18th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Headphones
Motherboards
PSUs
Silverstone Kublai KL04 Review
Silverstone is known for pushing the envelope with unique internal layouts. The Kublai KL04 series does just that within the bounds of a mid-tower. We take a closer look at the case to see, if Silverstone has done it again, or if they have not managed to reinvent the wheel this time around.
Microsoft Announces Surface: New Family of PCs for Windows
Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.
EVGA Rolls Out Pwnage 2 Mousepad
EVGA made an addition to its small lineup of gaming-grade Pwnage family of mousepads, with the Pwnage 2 (part number: E00B-00-000032). Not much different from the original Pwnage mousepad (E00B-00-000007), it launched with two other designs in June 2011, the Pwnage 2 features a slightly different surface graphic. Designed for laser and optical mice, the Pwnage 2 is designed with a low-friction surface for smooth glides, although EVGA didn't specify if it's specialized for speed or control. Its base is made of non-slip rubber. Its surface measures 13.75" x 10.25" (34.92 x 26 cm). At US $14.99 a pop, it's even priced the same as the original Pwnage.
Super Talent Adds USB 3.0 Express ST2 to its Affordable Flash Drive Family
Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, announced yet another addition to its rapidly growing USB 3.0 Flash drive family. The new USB 3.0 Express ST2 series bears it's creativity in an affordable high capacity 2 channel USB 3.0 drive.
The ST2 Series is the perfect addition to our growing family of USB 3.0 products. Now numbering an industry leading (10)different USB 3.0 flash drives, Super Talent has some of the most innovative USB 3.0 products on the market today. By using 2-channels of flash, we've enabled the ST2 series to offer up to 67MB/s Read speeds from a 2-channel flash chip at avery affordable price.
The ST2 Series is the perfect addition to our growing family of USB 3.0 products. Now numbering an industry leading (10)different USB 3.0 flash drives, Super Talent has some of the most innovative USB 3.0 products on the market today. By using 2-channels of flash, we've enabled the ST2 series to offer up to 67MB/s Read speeds from a 2-channel flash chip at avery affordable price.
ViewSonic Takes TAA Compliant Displays to the Next Level
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today announced four new trade (TAA) compliant VESA mountable displays ideal for corporate, government and education environments -- including the VG2239m-TAA, VG2439m-TAA, VA2251m-TAA and VA2451m-TAA.
"We value our customers, and look to provide them with solution choices that fit their individual needs. As a part of this commitment, we felt it was important to bring our display heritage and expertise to the TAA compliant monitor market to help federal governments get onto GSA Schedule Contracts with a display partner they know and trust," stated Erik Willey, LCD monitor and PC product marketing director at ViewSonic.
"We value our customers, and look to provide them with solution choices that fit their individual needs. As a part of this commitment, we felt it was important to bring our display heritage and expertise to the TAA compliant monitor market to help federal governments get onto GSA Schedule Contracts with a display partner they know and trust," stated Erik Willey, LCD monitor and PC product marketing director at ViewSonic.
New NVIDIA GeForce 304.48 Beta Drivers Improve Performance, Fix V-Sync Issues
NVIDIA released the GeForce 304.48 Beta software suite, which include game-specific performance improvements, and fixes for bugs related to recently launched hardware. To begin with, GeForce 304.48 Beta claims performance improvements as high as 18%. The improvements are tested on GeForce GTX 680 and GeForce GTX 560, and are specific to game titles such as Batman Arkham City, Dragon Age 2, Lost Planet 2, STALKER: Call of Pripyat; SLI profiles were improved for games such as Battlefield 3 and The Witcher 2. The exact performance improvement numbers claimed by NVIDIA are charted below.
In addition to performance improvements, NVIDIA released fixes for outstanding issues, such as micro-stutter noted by some GeForce GTX 600 "Kepler" users in games with v-sync enabled; under-clocking of factory-overclocked graphics cards by certain manufacturers; and a performance issue with Total War: Shogun 2, with its latest patch enabled. NVIDIA also added and improved SLI profiles for a large selection of games.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 304.48 Beta
The complete change-log follows.
In addition to performance improvements, NVIDIA released fixes for outstanding issues, such as micro-stutter noted by some GeForce GTX 600 "Kepler" users in games with v-sync enabled; under-clocking of factory-overclocked graphics cards by certain manufacturers; and a performance issue with Total War: Shogun 2, with its latest patch enabled. NVIDIA also added and improved SLI profiles for a large selection of games.
The complete change-log follows.
AMD Adopts 28 nm Bulk Manufacturing in 2013
According to AMD senior VP and CTO Mark Papermaster, the company will adopt the 28 nanometer bulk CMOS silicon fabrication process for its chips in 2013. The bulk process is used to manufacture high-volume and less-complex products, such as motherboard chipset, entry-level APUs, etc. The company already takes advantage of TSMC 28 nm High-Performance process for highly-complex chip designs, such as its Southern Islands GPU family, and will continue using it for its next-generation "Sea Islands" GPUs. In related news, DigiTimes learned through sources that AMD's Sea Islands GPUs have entered tape-out stage, and are on course for a late-2012 volume manufacturing, and early-2013 launch schedule.
QNAP Partners with TappIn to Offer Unique Mobile File Access and Sharing Solution
QNAP Systems, Inc. announced today a partnership with TappIn, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GlobalSCAPE, a leading innovator of secure information exchange solutions for businesses and consumers. TappIn by GlobalSCAPE's secure content mobility solution will be available to QNAP's customers using the storage vendor's popular NAS devices. Tapp In provides a secure, integrated service for customers to receive on-the-go access to digital contents stored on a QNAP Turbo NAS device from any web-browser, tablet, or smartphone, including Apple iOS, Google Android, Windows Phone 7, and Kindle Fire. QNAP customers simply register for TappIn and begin accessing their contents on any Turbo NAS device via a TappIn web application or mobile apps.
According to new research from International Data Corporation (IDC), the volume of digital information may balloon from 2.7 zettabytes this year -- the equivalent of filling 2.7 billion of Apple Inc.'s priciest desktop iMacs to capacity -- to 8 zettabytes by 2015. The explosion of digital content is paralleled by the proliferation of devices on which people can access it. As this market's demand continues to increase, QNAP's integration of TappIn by GlobalSCAPE into its NAS devices will provide a solution for its customers that allows comprehensive local storage, and enables simple and secure content mobility, helping QNAP to continue its trend as one of the top providers of NAS and unified storage devices in the industry.
According to new research from International Data Corporation (IDC), the volume of digital information may balloon from 2.7 zettabytes this year -- the equivalent of filling 2.7 billion of Apple Inc.'s priciest desktop iMacs to capacity -- to 8 zettabytes by 2015. The explosion of digital content is paralleled by the proliferation of devices on which people can access it. As this market's demand continues to increase, QNAP's integration of TappIn by GlobalSCAPE into its NAS devices will provide a solution for its customers that allows comprehensive local storage, and enables simple and secure content mobility, helping QNAP to continue its trend as one of the top providers of NAS and unified storage devices in the industry.
Spire Announces NanoTech Bearing Fan Series
Spire is proud to introduce our new fan series with Nano-ceramic precision bearing. Spire fans with Nanobearing offer a more silent, reliable and durable solution for the most demanding situations.
Traditional fans with oil seal bearings have serious wear with a relatively short service life as the bearings can easily overheat which results the impeller jamming and the PCB melting. Fans with nano-ceramic bearings are made from namo-zirconia powder as main material and a collocating special nano-particles lubricant to guarantee an exponentially longer life. The average service life is more than 70,000 hours.
Traditional fans with oil seal bearings have serious wear with a relatively short service life as the bearings can easily overheat which results the impeller jamming and the PCB melting. Fans with nano-ceramic bearings are made from namo-zirconia powder as main material and a collocating special nano-particles lubricant to guarantee an exponentially longer life. The average service life is more than 70,000 hours.
InterDigital Agrees to $375 Million Patent Transaction with Intel
InterDigital, Inc. and Intel Corporation today announced that certain of InterDigital's subsidiaries have signed a definitive agreement to sell to Intel roughly 1,700 patents and patent applications for $375 million in cash.
The agreement involves patents primarily related to 3G, LTE and 802.11 technologies. InterDigital is an active developer of advanced wireless technologies including WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) and HSUPA (High Speed Upload Packet Access) 3G technologies as well as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and LTE-Advanced 4G technologies.
The agreement involves patents primarily related to 3G, LTE and 802.11 technologies. InterDigital is an active developer of advanced wireless technologies including WCDMA (Wideband CDMA), HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access) and HSUPA (High Speed Upload Packet Access) 3G technologies as well as LTE (Long Term Evolution) and LTE-Advanced 4G technologies.
Sharkoon Introduces the X-Tatic SP Plus Stereo Headset
Sharkoon presents the successor to their "X-Tatic SP" console headset: The new version of the "X-Tatic SP Plus" comes with simplified connectivity and optimized wearing comfort. The stereo headset is designed particularly for use with the PlayStation 3 and Xbox360, delivering first-class sound with its premium 40 mm Neodymium magnet speakers, but can also be used with a PC, Notebook, MP3 players and Smartphones.
Sharkoon has equipped the new model with a flexible headband, which reduces pressure on the ears and thus ensures a comfortable fit. Also new are the configurations of the two microphones: The user has the choice between an approximately 15 cm long, flexible adjustable chat microphone for gaming use and a compact mini-microphone for use while talking on a smartphone.
Sharkoon has equipped the new model with a flexible headband, which reduces pressure on the ears and thus ensures a comfortable fit. Also new are the configurations of the two microphones: The user has the choice between an approximately 15 cm long, flexible adjustable chat microphone for gaming use and a compact mini-microphone for use while talking on a smartphone.
Intel Xeon Processors E5 Achieve Fastest Adoption, Announcing Xeon Phi Co-Processors
The Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 product family reached a new supercomputing milestone as the fastest adopted new processing technology to power 44 systems, including 3 Petascale-class supercomputers on the 39th edition of the Top500 list announced today.
The "SuperMUC" supercomputer at LRZ in Germany, which ranked fourth on the list, delivers 2.9 PetaFLOPs of performance, making it the most powerful in Europe, as well as the largest installation based on the new Intel Xeon processors E5 family.
The "SuperMUC" supercomputer at LRZ in Germany, which ranked fourth on the list, delivers 2.9 PetaFLOPs of performance, making it the most powerful in Europe, as well as the largest installation based on the new Intel Xeon processors E5 family.
Lepa Unveils G1000-MA 80 Plus Gold Modular PSU
Lepa unveiled its newest performance-segment PSU, the G1000-MA. The new PSU features in the same product family as the recently-launched 1600W monstrosity, the G1600. Unlike the G1600, the new G1000-MA features partially modular cabling, with key cables such as 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and a pair of 6+2 pin PCIe power connectors being fixed, while two additional pairs of 6+2 pin PCIe connectors, a total of twelve SATA power, and 8 Molex connectors, are detachable.
The new 1000W PSU, like the G1600, is 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating certified. Other compliances include ErP Lot6, ATX 2.3, and EPS 2.92. The G1000-MA uses a quad +12V rail design, with four 30A rails. It features active power factor correction, and a suite of protection mechanisms, against over/under voltage/current and short-circuit. Measuring 150 x 183 x 86 mm, the G1000-MA uses a 140 mm fan to keep its innards cool. It is slated for June 23.
The new 1000W PSU, like the G1600, is 80 Plus Gold efficiency rating certified. Other compliances include ErP Lot6, ATX 2.3, and EPS 2.92. The G1000-MA uses a quad +12V rail design, with four 30A rails. It features active power factor correction, and a suite of protection mechanisms, against over/under voltage/current and short-circuit. Measuring 150 x 183 x 86 mm, the G1000-MA uses a 140 mm fan to keep its innards cool. It is slated for June 23.
NVIDIA Tesla K10 GPU Hits New Performance Milestones For Scientific Simulation
ISC'12 - NVIDIA Tesla K10 GPUs offer performance breakthroughs on popular high performance computing (HPC) applications -- ranging from seismic processing to life sciences to video processing -- according to new benchmarks NVIDIA released today.
Based on the new NVIDIA Kepler computing architecture, the Tesla K10 GPU delivers the industry's highest single precision performance (4.58 teraflops) and highest memory bandwidth (320 GB/sec) in a single accelerator. This is 12 times higher single precision flops and 6.4 times higher memory bandwidth than the latest-generation Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs.
Based on the new NVIDIA Kepler computing architecture, the Tesla K10 GPU delivers the industry's highest single precision performance (4.58 teraflops) and highest memory bandwidth (320 GB/sec) in a single accelerator. This is 12 times higher single precision flops and 6.4 times higher memory bandwidth than the latest-generation Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs.
AMD Supercomputing Leadership Continues with Broader Developer Ecosystem, Latest Tech
AMD today announced its continued leadership in high performance computing (HPC) with 24 of the top 100 supercomputers in the 39th TOP500 list, announced today, while making significant strides in maturing its HPC ecosystem through the addition of several key components that enable end users to continue to benefit from best-in-class price/performance for today's demanding applications.
AMD has continued to work closely with its technology partners to significantly mature its HPC ecosystem, resulting in several new developments including LS-DYNA simulation software optimized for the AMD Opteron 6200 Series processors from Livermore Software Technology Corporation (LSTC), the addition of programming options for AMD graphics processor unit (GPU) technology from CAPS, and the announcement by Mellanox Technologies of its Connect-IB products that will deliver FDR 56 Gb/s InfiniBand speeds to AMD's solution portfolios.
AMD has continued to work closely with its technology partners to significantly mature its HPC ecosystem, resulting in several new developments including LS-DYNA simulation software optimized for the AMD Opteron 6200 Series processors from Livermore Software Technology Corporation (LSTC), the addition of programming options for AMD graphics processor unit (GPU) technology from CAPS, and the announcement by Mellanox Technologies of its Connect-IB products that will deliver FDR 56 Gb/s InfiniBand speeds to AMD's solution portfolios.
First Commercial IBM Hot-Water Cooled Supercomputer to Consume 40% Less Energy
The Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ), in collaboration with IBM, today announced the world's first commercially available hot-water cooled supercomputer, a powerful, high-performance system designed to help researchers and industrial institutions across Europe investigate and solve some of the world's most daunting scientific challenges.
The new LRZ "SuperMUC" system was built with IBM System x iDataPlex Direct Water Cooled dx360 M4 servers with more than 150,000 cores to provide a peak performance of up to three petaflops, which is equivalent to the work of more than 110,000 personal computers. Put another way, three billion people using a pocket calculator would have to perform one million operations per second each to reach equivalent SuperMUC performance. Also, a revolutionary new form of hot-water cooling technology invented by IBM allows the system to be built 10 times more compact and substantially improve its peak performance while consuming 40 percent less energy than a comparable air-cooled machine.
The new LRZ "SuperMUC" system was built with IBM System x iDataPlex Direct Water Cooled dx360 M4 servers with more than 150,000 cores to provide a peak performance of up to three petaflops, which is equivalent to the work of more than 110,000 personal computers. Put another way, three billion people using a pocket calculator would have to perform one million operations per second each to reach equivalent SuperMUC performance. Also, a revolutionary new form of hot-water cooling technology invented by IBM allows the system to be built 10 times more compact and substantially improve its peak performance while consuming 40 percent less energy than a comparable air-cooled machine.
"NVIDIA is the Single Worst Company We've Ever Dealt With:" Linus Torvalds
Linux creator and Millennium Technology Prize laureate Linus Torvalds called NVIDIA the "single worst company" he and his associates dealt with. Torvalds made these comments in an interactive session with students, developers, and entrepreneurs, at the Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship in Otaniemi, Finland. The session was conducted in English.
Responding to a question by one of his audience complaining how NVIDIA was extremely stubborn in sharing technologies such as Optimus (dynamic switching between integrated and discrete GPUs) with the Linux community, and seeking his comments on the matter, Torvalds called NVIDIA "one of the worst trouble spots [they've] had with hardware manufacturers." He continued "...and that is really sad [for NVIDIA], because NVIDIA tries to sell a lot of chips into the Android market." With this comment, Torvalds reminded NVIDIA that its business with Linux isn't confined to client computing platforms such as PCs, but also the Android-driven portable computing market (of smartphones and tablets), which is growing at a breakneck pace.
Responding to a question by one of his audience complaining how NVIDIA was extremely stubborn in sharing technologies such as Optimus (dynamic switching between integrated and discrete GPUs) with the Linux community, and seeking his comments on the matter, Torvalds called NVIDIA "one of the worst trouble spots [they've] had with hardware manufacturers." He continued "...and that is really sad [for NVIDIA], because NVIDIA tries to sell a lot of chips into the Android market." With this comment, Torvalds reminded NVIDIA that its business with Linux isn't confined to client computing platforms such as PCs, but also the Android-driven portable computing market (of smartphones and tablets), which is growing at a breakneck pace.
Hynix' Own-Branded SH910 SSD Detailed
Korean memory giant SK Hynix is launching its own branded consumer and enterprise SSD lines, à la Samsung (the other Korean memory giant). It is starting off with high-performance consumer SSDs targeting Ultrabooks, built in the 2.5-inch 7 mm-thick SATA form-factor. The SH910 series SSDs combine Hynix' homegrown H27QDG8VEBIR-BCB MLC NAND flash chips built in the 25 nm fab process, with LSI-SandForce SF-2281 processor.
The drive will be initially available in two capacities, 128 GB and 256 GB (higher than usual capacities thanks to adjusted overprovisioning). Both drives offer sequential transfer speeds of up to 520 MB/s reads with 500 MB/s writes; up to 60,000 IOPS 4K random seek, 35,000 IOPS random write; and feature-set that includes 128-bit AES encryption, TRIM, NCQ, and SMART. A performance review can be found at the source.
The drive will be initially available in two capacities, 128 GB and 256 GB (higher than usual capacities thanks to adjusted overprovisioning). Both drives offer sequential transfer speeds of up to 520 MB/s reads with 500 MB/s writes; up to 60,000 IOPS 4K random seek, 35,000 IOPS random write; and feature-set that includes 128-bit AES encryption, TRIM, NCQ, and SMART. A performance review can be found at the source.
Samsung Arms Series 5 with AMD Trinity APUs
A little earlier, Samsung refreshed its Series 5 line of performance notebooks with Intel Core "Ivy Bridge" processors. It created a new branch, powered by AMD "Trinity" accelerated processing units (APUs), which pack up to four x86-64 cores, Radeon HD 7600M series graphics, and dual-channel DDR3 IMCs. Samsung currently has two models that are Trinity-powered, the Series 5 13.3-inch (NP535U3C-A01US), which is driven by AMD A6-4455M quad-core APU (2.10 GHz); and the Series 5 14-inch (NP535U4C-A01US), driven by AMD A10-4655M quad-core APU (2.80 GHz). Both models come with 4 or 8 GB dual-channel DDR3 memory and 500 or 750 GB HDD standard, with other features being identical to those of its Ivy Bridge cousins. The 13.3-inch A6 model starts at $699, while the 14-inch A10 model starts at $849.
Apacer Intros 16 GB DDR3-1600 ECC RDIMM for Emerging Cloud Computing Market
As cloud computing becomes a more mature sector of the IT industry, most enterprises have already regarded this technology as a key point in the building of future information architectures to meet the needs of massive data processing. To better address the high demands for cloud computing, Apacer, a leading memory module manufacturer, has announced an industry-leading and enterprise-level 16GB bulk storage DDR3-1600 high-speed server memory module.
It uses both internal and external voltage reference (Vref.) circuits, allowing the storage system to directly use external Vref. with high efficiency while eliminating signal noise. It helps to facilitate continuous massive data processing and helps to optimize the cloud computing and storage performance in those environments, giving a more stable server storage experience.
It uses both internal and external voltage reference (Vref.) circuits, allowing the storage system to directly use external Vref. with high efficiency while eliminating signal noise. It helps to facilitate continuous massive data processing and helps to optimize the cloud computing and storage performance in those environments, giving a more stable server storage experience.
Eurocom Offers AMD Radeon HD 7970M Graphics in High Performance Gaming Notebooks
Eurocom Corporation, a developer of High Performance Mobile Workstations and Hardcore Mobile Gaming Rigs is adding the AMD Radeon HD 7970M GPU to the Neptune 2.0 and Racer 2.0 high performance notebooks. The addition of the MXM 3.0b spec AMD Radeon HD 7970M offers gamers and enthusiasts a new level of ultra high performance GPU computing with AMD Enduro for insane battery life by taking advantage of AMD's existing ZeroCore Power and Power Gating battery-saving features.
"Hardcore gamers, enthusiasts, your dreams have come true! The AMD Radeon HD 7970M is the best graphics GPU in terms of overall price and performance on the market . The AMD Radeon HD 7970M, combined with Intel XTU and Intel XMP gives gamers and power users full control of their powerful EUROCOM super-notebooks " Mark Bialic, Eurocom President.
"Hardcore gamers, enthusiasts, your dreams have come true! The AMD Radeon HD 7970M is the best graphics GPU in terms of overall price and performance on the market . The AMD Radeon HD 7970M, combined with Intel XTU and Intel XMP gives gamers and power users full control of their powerful EUROCOM super-notebooks " Mark Bialic, Eurocom President.
Friday, June 15th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
PSUs
Speakers
ASUS Maximus V Gene Intel Z77 Express LGA 1155 Review
The ASUS ROG Maximus V Gene, based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset is here at TPU, ready to overclock the snot out of your new Ivy Bridge CPU. Built for performance first, the ASUS Maximus V Gene is ready for small-sized high-end gaming, or, if freezing things below zero is what you like, it's ready for that too.
Intel Releases HD Graphics Beta Driver for Windows 8 Release Preview
Intel released a new beta driver for processors with integrated graphics, for the Windows 8 Release Preview. Carrying the version number 15.28.0.64.2770, the driver supports Windows Display Driver Model Version 1.2 (WDDM 1.2), and enables features such as stereoscopic 3D, optimized screen rotation detection, and DirectX 11 (on select graphics controller models). It supports Intel HD Graphics 4000/3000/2500/2000 (Core "Sandy Bridge" and Core "Ivy Bridge"). Intel recommends use of its Windows 7 driver for reliability with OpenGL 3.3 applications.
DOWNLOAD: Intel HD Graphics Beta Driver for Windows 8 Release Preview
DOWNLOAD: Intel HD Graphics Beta Driver for Windows 8 Release Preview
Diablo 3 Tops Sales Charts for May
The games market went to Hell in May. Diablo III topping retail software sales for the month, according to the latest sales figures from NPD, and helped fuel a resurgence in the PC games space. Other top performers included Max Payne 3, which launched the same day as Diablo III, as well as Sniper Elite V2 and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.
While action titles continued their dominance of the top 10, 2K Sports' NBA 2K12 held the fifth spot for the second straight week. Blizzard continued to show its impact in the PC market with Diablo III at number 1, the first time since July 2010 that a PC-only title has accomplished that feat. The game that did it in 2010? StarCraft 2, another Blizzard mainstay.
Total video game sales continued to shrink, down 28 percent from last year. However, the PC market jumped 230 percent from the same time last year to $80 million, fueled by Diablo III sales. The overall spend in May, including digital sales and microtransactions was estimated to be $1.17 billion.
While action titles continued their dominance of the top 10, 2K Sports' NBA 2K12 held the fifth spot for the second straight week. Blizzard continued to show its impact in the PC market with Diablo III at number 1, the first time since July 2010 that a PC-only title has accomplished that feat. The game that did it in 2010? StarCraft 2, another Blizzard mainstay.
Total video game sales continued to shrink, down 28 percent from last year. However, the PC market jumped 230 percent from the same time last year to $80 million, fueled by Diablo III sales. The overall spend in May, including digital sales and microtransactions was estimated to be $1.17 billion.
EA Starts Medal of Honor Charity for Fallen Soldiers
EA has started a new program to generate awareness and charitable contributions to fallen Special Operations soldiers, titled "Project Honor." The program is a marketing tie-in with the upcoming Medal of Honor Warfighter, but it's also planning some smart ways to benefit military charities. Various weapon and gear manufacturers will donate to the Navy SEAL Foundation and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Their products will be featured in Warfighter, and they'll also be selling Medal of Honor merchandise with 100% of the proceeds going to one of the listed charities. In addition, EA and Danger Close will be selling a "Military Edition" of the game made exclusively for active, reserve, and former US military. It includes the Limited Edition with some exclusive unlocks. If you fit that bill, you can check out the GovX site for ordering details.
"This partnership with EA and Medal of Honor will raise awareness on the work we do to help the families of fallen Special Operations warriors and facilitate contributions that help provide college scholarships for surviving children and financial assistance to families of severely wounded special operations warriors," said Special Operations Warrior Foundation president John T. Carney, Jr., in the announcement. "This is a great way to give back to some of our country's greatest warriors."
"This partnership with EA and Medal of Honor will raise awareness on the work we do to help the families of fallen Special Operations warriors and facilitate contributions that help provide college scholarships for surviving children and financial assistance to families of severely wounded special operations warriors," said Special Operations Warrior Foundation president John T. Carney, Jr., in the announcement. "This is a great way to give back to some of our country's greatest warriors."
HP Pavilion dv6 Gets AMD Trinity APU
HP unveiled a new variant of its Pavilion dv6 15.6-inch notebook driven by AMD A8-4500M quad-core APU (model: dv6-7010us). The A8-4500M packs four x86-64 cores clocked at 1.90~2.80 GHz, 4 MB total cache, and Radeon HD 7640G integrated graphics. The APU is backed by 6 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory. A 750 GB hard drive and DVD SuperMulti drive handle storage. The 15.6-inch screen packs 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. Connectivity includes gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WLAN, and Bluetooth. Most other features are identical to the Intel-driven dv6t-7000. Sweetening the deal is the price. While the Core i7-3610QM driven dv6t-7000 starts at US $899, the AMD A8-4500M driven dv6-7010us starts at $699.
VIZIO Thin+Light Series Premium PCs Launched
VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company*, announced today the availability of its highly anticipated line of innovative personal computers designed to work hard and play hard. By combining its entertainment know-how with the unmatched power of the latest Intel Core processors, VIZIO intends to set a new standard for the Windows experience. The premium line, which consists of the VIZIO Thin + Light, Notebook and All-in-One PC, was created to break through the clutter present in the mainstream market and prove that power, design and entertainment can flawlessly co-exist in a PC.
Similar to its entrance into the HDTV category nearly a decade ago, VIZIO took careful inventory of the needs and wants evident in the PC space. The result is a sophisticatedly handsome PC line that meets the productivity and power standards consumers expect, while delivering the entertainment and design differentiators they desire. Calling on its HDTV background, VIZIO developed the PCs with contrast, image quality and viewing angles top of mind, giving PC users an experience only HDTVs could previously deliver. Combined with an NVIDIA Kepler-Class GeForce GPU, the brilliant HD display of the VIZIO PCs makes watching movies, gaming and streaming TV shows more enjoyable than ever. Deep and resonate SRS Premium Sound HD serves as an ideal complement to stunning image quality but can also stand alone, allowing music junkies to immerse themselves in rich, custom-tuned audio.
Similar to its entrance into the HDTV category nearly a decade ago, VIZIO took careful inventory of the needs and wants evident in the PC space. The result is a sophisticatedly handsome PC line that meets the productivity and power standards consumers expect, while delivering the entertainment and design differentiators they desire. Calling on its HDTV background, VIZIO developed the PCs with contrast, image quality and viewing angles top of mind, giving PC users an experience only HDTVs could previously deliver. Combined with an NVIDIA Kepler-Class GeForce GPU, the brilliant HD display of the VIZIO PCs makes watching movies, gaming and streaming TV shows more enjoyable than ever. Deep and resonate SRS Premium Sound HD serves as an ideal complement to stunning image quality but can also stand alone, allowing music junkies to immerse themselves in rich, custom-tuned audio.
Five Overclocking Records Achieved With G.SKILL DDR3 Memory
During the week of Computex 2012, five overclocking records have been achieved with G.SKILL high performance DDR3 memory by several renowned extreme overclockers.
Read on for details of the five records.
AMD FirePro W9000 Dual-GPU Graphics Card Pictured, Design Precursor of HD 7990?
At the AMD Fusion Developer Summit (AFDS) 2012, the host unveiled its next flagship professional graphics card, the FirePro W9000. What makes the card particularly interesting is that it is dual-GPU, packing two Tahiti-derived GPUs, the same chips that go into making Radeon HD 7900 series. The FirePro W9000, is what many believe to be a professional variant of the Radeon HD 7990 "New Zealand" dual-GPU graphics card, which is facing delays for reasons unknown (actually, here's a possible reason).
The W9000 packs a total of 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, up to 264.8 million pixels/s; 4 TFLOPs single-precision and 1 TFLOPs double-precision floating-point performance. The card design does away with lateral-flow cooler, and uses a triple-fan heatsink assembly that packs three 90 mm low-speed (low-noise) fans. A surprise here, is that the card draws power from [just] two 8-pin PCIe power connectors (it's probably using two low-voltage Tahiti chips). It's an established fact that FirePro products are merely variations of Radeon products with possibly higher build quality, and an expanded software feature-set.
The W9000 packs a total of 6 GB of GDDR5 memory, up to 264.8 million pixels/s; 4 TFLOPs single-precision and 1 TFLOPs double-precision floating-point performance. The card design does away with lateral-flow cooler, and uses a triple-fan heatsink assembly that packs three 90 mm low-speed (low-noise) fans. A surprise here, is that the card draws power from [just] two 8-pin PCIe power connectors (it's probably using two low-voltage Tahiti chips). It's an established fact that FirePro products are merely variations of Radeon products with possibly higher build quality, and an expanded software feature-set.
AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition "Tahiti XT2" Detailed
We've known since May, the existence of a new high-end single-GPU graphics card SKU in the works, at AMD. Called the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, the SKU is being designed to regain AMD's competitiveness against NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 680. We're hearing a few additional details about the SKU. To begin with, AMD has worked with TSMC to refine the chip design. The Tahiti XT2 will be able to facilitate significantly higher clock speeds, at significantly lower voltages, than the current breed of Tahiti XT chips.
Tahiti XT2, or Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, will ship with a core clock speed of 1100 MHz, 175 MHz faster than the HD 7970. The GPU core voltage of Tahiti XT2 will be lower, at 1.020V, compared to 1.175V of the Tahiti XT. It's unlikely that AMD will tinker with memory clock speed, since Tahiti already has a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, which gives it 264 GB/s memory bandwidth at 1375 MHz (5.50 GHz effective). According to the source, the new SKU enters mass-production next week. So best case, it should reach markets by late-June or early-July.
Tahiti XT2, or Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, will ship with a core clock speed of 1100 MHz, 175 MHz faster than the HD 7970. The GPU core voltage of Tahiti XT2 will be lower, at 1.020V, compared to 1.175V of the Tahiti XT. It's unlikely that AMD will tinker with memory clock speed, since Tahiti already has a 384-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, which gives it 264 GB/s memory bandwidth at 1375 MHz (5.50 GHz effective). According to the source, the new SKU enters mass-production next week. So best case, it should reach markets by late-June or early-July.
MSI MOA 2012 Regional Qualifiers: Battle Continues for the Asia-Pacific Region
Round 3 of the MSI MOA (Master Overclocking Arena) qualifiers starts on June 15 and allows the top overclockers in the Asia-Pacific region to battle it out for a ticket to Taiwan. During the qualifiers, which have seen many new records so far, the overclocking experts from the Asia-Pacific region compete for eight tickets to the MOA 2012 grand finals to become the master of the "Steel World" competition!
The annual overclocking competition MOA (Master Overclocking Arena) 2012 held by the world's leading mainboard and graphics card manufacturer MSI, has held regional qualifier competitions since April to select powerhouse overclockers to compete in the annual worldwide Grand Final. After the Americas regional qualifier and the EMEA regional qualifier have successfully ended, the Asia-Pacific regional qualifier battle is about to begin; the competition will go on from June 15 to July 12, overclockers can participate in the competition with any model of MSI mainboard and graphics card, but is limited to a single CPU and GPU.
The annual overclocking competition MOA (Master Overclocking Arena) 2012 held by the world's leading mainboard and graphics card manufacturer MSI, has held regional qualifier competitions since April to select powerhouse overclockers to compete in the annual worldwide Grand Final. After the Americas regional qualifier and the EMEA regional qualifier have successfully ended, the Asia-Pacific regional qualifier battle is about to begin; the competition will go on from June 15 to July 12, overclockers can participate in the competition with any model of MSI mainboard and graphics card, but is limited to a single CPU and GPU.
Cisco Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) announced that earlier today its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per common share to be paid on July 25, 2012, to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on July 5, 2012. Cisco's previous quarterly dividend, also $0.08 per common share, was paid on April 25, 2012. Future dividends will be subject to Board approval.
Seagate and LaCie Announce Signature of Binding Share Purchase Agreement
Following their press release issued on May 23, 2012 announcing exclusive negotiations and the receipt on June 8, 2012 of the opinion of the employee representative body of LaCie S.A., Seagate Technology plc and LaCie announced today that Seagate, Philippe Spruch, LaCie's chairman and CEO, and his affiliate, have entered into a binding share purchase agreement to purchase all of the shares of Philippe Spruch and his affiliate, representing 64.5% of the outstanding shares of LaCie for a provisional price of €4.05 per share (as may be adjusted downwards depending on the cash and debt position of LaCie at closing).
As previously announced, Ricol Lasteyrie & Associés have been appointed as independent expert by the Board of Directors of LaCie on June 23, 2012. The transaction has already received clearance from the US Antitrust Authorities but remains subject to regulatory approval in France (approval of foreign investments by the Ministry of Finance) and Germany (antitrust filing) and to other customary closing conditions.
As previously announced, Ricol Lasteyrie & Associés have been appointed as independent expert by the Board of Directors of LaCie on June 23, 2012. The transaction has already received clearance from the US Antitrust Authorities but remains subject to regulatory approval in France (approval of foreign investments by the Ministry of Finance) and Germany (antitrust filing) and to other customary closing conditions.
Thursday, June 14th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Game Controllers
Harddisks
Keyboards
Motherboards
Mouse
Notebooks
PSUs
Speakers
Lian Li PC-TU200 Review
Lian Li is well known for their Mini-ITX cases. Today we are looking at one of their high-end models, which looks much like a small suitcase, is more compact than the PC-Q08, but still offers nearly the same space within. We stuff the belly of the little PC-TU200 full of hardware and step back to see if it will burst or manage to swallow everything whole.
Computex 2012 Show Girls Review
Computex Taiwan is one of the leading computer tradeshows in the year. Thanks to its asian location the booths are full of hot show girls in short skirts. TechPowerUp brings you the complete collection with over 130 girls - including high-res images.
Intel "Ivy Bridge" Core i3 Processors Start Shipping Ten Days From Now
Intel's Taiwan office quashed media reports of its Core i3 "Ivy Bridge" processor being launched in August, stating that the new 22 nm mainstream chips are on course for a June 24 launch. The company also reiterated that the targets Intel set for the proliferation of Ultrabook by the end of 2012, that of 40 percent of consumer notebook market consisting of Ultrabook, hasn't changed. Intel's 22 nm Core i3 processor could play a key role in that, since it facilitates cheaper Ultrabook designs. The Core i3 "Ivy Bridge" family consists of value dual-core parts based on Intel's newest processor architecture.
Noctua Unveils Noise-Canceling Fan, and More Innovations at Computex
Noctua's booth at last week's Computex Taipei not only hosted world's first public demonstration of a PC fan with integrated Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) but also gave a stage to upcoming Noctua products such as the new A-series fans, third generation NF-S12 fan and 37mm low profile CPU coolers. In addition to these upcoming products, Noctua also gave an exclusive insight on some of its current development projects for its D-, U-, C- and L-series heatsinks.
Firstly, Noctua has displayed its completely new A-series fans that feature a novel aerodynamic design measure called Flow Acceleration Channels to reduce boundary layer separation as well as Noctua's AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames. The new A-series fans are scheduled for launch in September/October and will come in square 140mm, round 140mm, slim 92mm plus 60 and 40mm sizes.
Firstly, Noctua has displayed its completely new A-series fans that feature a novel aerodynamic design measure called Flow Acceleration Channels to reduce boundary layer separation as well as Noctua's AAO (Advanced Acoustic Optimisation) frames. The new A-series fans are scheduled for launch in September/October and will come in square 140mm, round 140mm, slim 92mm plus 60 and 40mm sizes.
Shortage of PEX8747 Bridge Chip Disturbs Various Launch Schedules
An increasing number of high-end graphics cards and motherboards are relying on PCI-Express bridge chips to expand the PCI-Express lane budgets, no thanks to the puny number of PCI-Express lanes today's mainstream computing platforms come with. Following the transition to PCI-Express Gen 3.0, with Intel's new platforms (Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge-E HEDT), there is a demand for Gen 3.0-compliant PCIe switching hardware, especially x48 bridge chips (which take in a PCI-Express x16 link, giving out two x16 links or four x8 links). Such chips are used on high-end motherboards to expand the number of PCIe slots, and on dual-GPU graphics cards.
It appears like NVIDIA does not have a PCIe Gen 3.0-compliant bridge chip of its own, and so the only company with one, is PLX Technology, with its PEX8747. The chip has been used on a variety of high-end motherboards, and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 690 dual-GPU graphics card. PLX reportedly saw high demand, which resulted in several companies bagging initial allocations of the chip, leaving others out to dry, with the part being listed as out-of-stock by its maker. Newer clients of the chip will have to wait until PLX undertakes the next big production cycle, to get their allocations of the chip.
It appears like NVIDIA does not have a PCIe Gen 3.0-compliant bridge chip of its own, and so the only company with one, is PLX Technology, with its PEX8747. The chip has been used on a variety of high-end motherboards, and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 690 dual-GPU graphics card. PLX reportedly saw high demand, which resulted in several companies bagging initial allocations of the chip, leaving others out to dry, with the part being listed as out-of-stock by its maker. Newer clients of the chip will have to wait until PLX undertakes the next big production cycle, to get their allocations of the chip.
Latest Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 Combines Improved Performance With Low Power Draw
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-19 has transformed the way professionals work in field utilities, emergency services, defence, transport maintenance and a huge range of field services by providing access to data and applications, wherever and whenever they need it. This latest device will mark a decade for the product line of market-leading rugged convertible notebooks, enabling customers to benefit from the latest design and technology enhancements whilst continuing to use the wide range of peripherals built around the range, such as docking stations and car mounts.
The new Toughbook CF-19 includes the 3rd generation Intel Core i5 Processor & Chipset. The high performance Intel Core i5-3320 vPro (2.60 GHz, up to 3.30 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology) standard voltage processor with Intel HD 4000 graphics, ensures the device is capable of handling the most intensive applications. To ensure reliability in the most challenging environments, the CF-19 remains unique in the market with its fan less design; instead using Panasonic energy optimisation and optimised heat pipes to cool the full performance, standard voltage CPU.
The new Toughbook CF-19 includes the 3rd generation Intel Core i5 Processor & Chipset. The high performance Intel Core i5-3320 vPro (2.60 GHz, up to 3.30 GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology) standard voltage processor with Intel HD 4000 graphics, ensures the device is capable of handling the most intensive applications. To ensure reliability in the most challenging environments, the CF-19 remains unique in the market with its fan less design; instead using Panasonic energy optimisation and optimised heat pipes to cool the full performance, standard voltage CPU.
Biwin Launches 6 Gbps Mini SATA (mSATA) III SSDs
Biwin, an industry leader in flash storage products, today launched 6 Gbps Elite Series Mini SATA (mSATA) III SSDs in 25GB, 60 GB and 120 GB capacities that support sequential read and write speeds up to 500 MB/sec and 480 MB/sec respectively, and up to 50,000 4k random write IOPS. These Elite Series mSATA III SSDs, based on the SandForce SF-2281 SSD processor, rapidly accelerate storage performance in modern ultrabooks and small form factor industrial computers.
These drives feature state of the art AES encryption, wear leveling and ECC, and robust resistance to shock, vibration, dust and other environmental threats, making them an excellent choice for primary storage in industrial computing. Elite Series mSATA III SSDs will begin shipping in July to resellers and OEMs worldwide. The 120 GB model will retail for about $1 per Gigabyte.
These drives feature state of the art AES encryption, wear leveling and ECC, and robust resistance to shock, vibration, dust and other environmental threats, making them an excellent choice for primary storage in industrial computing. Elite Series mSATA III SSDs will begin shipping in July to resellers and OEMs worldwide. The 120 GB model will retail for about $1 per Gigabyte.
Acer Rolls Out the World's Thinnest Ultrabook, the Aspire S5
Acer America today announced the availability of the Acer Aspire S5 in the U.S. The world's thinnest Ultrabook, it measures only .044 inches at its thinnest point and weighs just 2.65 lbs -- about as thin and light as a pad of paper. In addition, the company's first Ultrabook, the Aspire S3, has been refreshed with a 3rd Generation Intel Processor, solid state drives and an elegant champagne color.
Acer Aspire S5 -- the World's Thinnest Ultrabook
The S5's delicately curved chassis is Onyx Black, and the cover rim wraps around the system body like a protective shell. A magnesium-aluminum alloy cover and palm rest provide a slim and sturdy design, while the metallic brushed detail provides subtle elegance. Clean and ultra-fluid contours from all angles make the S5 a vision of beauty.
Acer Aspire S5 -- the World's Thinnest Ultrabook
The S5's delicately curved chassis is Onyx Black, and the cover rim wraps around the system body like a protective shell. A magnesium-aluminum alloy cover and palm rest provide a slim and sturdy design, while the metallic brushed detail provides subtle elegance. Clean and ultra-fluid contours from all angles make the S5 a vision of beauty.
WD Enters Wireless Home Networking Market
Western Digital, the world's leader in external storage solutions and maker of the popular WD TV media player family, today unveils its first line of wireless home networking products, designed specifically to accelerate movies, video and gaming, delivering a premium high-definition entertainment experience. With the My Net family of powerful and easy-to-use home networking products, WD debuts its exclusive FasTrack technology that instantly detects entertainment traffic on the network and fast-forwards it to gaming consoles, media players, smart TVs, tablets, smartphones, computers and other Wi-Fi connected devices.
New Logitech MMO Gaming Mouse Puts You in Control
Today Logitech introduced the latest addition to its popular G-Series gaming lineup: the Logitech G600 MMO Gaming Mouse, a highly customizable and easy-to-use mouse specifically designed for massively multiplayer online (MMO) gamers. The mouse features 20 buttons - including 12 thumb buttons, set in two groups of six on a meticulously designed thumb panel - all in easy reach for quick and easy no-look navigation and faster game play.
With three default profiles - two for MMOs and one for general gaming - it is set up for optimal use right out of the box, no drivers required. In addition, it has a G-Shift function that easily doubles the number of actions you can perform with any button, giving you complete control in your favorite MMOs. As with all of our G-Series products, the keys are programmable so you can create your own commands, store them in the mouse's onboard memory, and access them all with one touch. Plus, its sculpted shape comfortably supports your hand through long gaming sessions.
With three default profiles - two for MMOs and one for general gaming - it is set up for optimal use right out of the box, no drivers required. In addition, it has a G-Shift function that easily doubles the number of actions you can perform with any button, giving you complete control in your favorite MMOs. As with all of our G-Series products, the keys are programmable so you can create your own commands, store them in the mouse's onboard memory, and access them all with one touch. Plus, its sculpted shape comfortably supports your hand through long gaming sessions.
Thecus Completes Integration of McAfee Antivirus with its NAS Lineup
McAfee AntiVirus protects Thecus NAS, giving users the security and confidence while managing sensitive data. NAS protection is seldom looked into; however it's important to have a reliable antivirus fully operating on a NAS, as it is to back up digital data. The predicament whether essential data is safe or not is a serious note. In fact, if your NAS is not protected, the information inside aren't as well. Ultimately, Thecus NAS are outfitted with McAfee AntiVirus module to offer the most secure NAS on the market.
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 670 TwinCooler Graphics Card Detailed
One aspect of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 670 that blew us away, was its unusually short PCB for a high-performance GPU. NVIDIA's reference board still ended up being of average length, because NVIDIA's lateral-flow cooling assembly protruded beyond the PCB's length. AIC partners such as ZOTAC realised that custom-design graphics cards with short PCBs can be made to stay short, by opting for top-flow cooling solutions, something it materialised with the new GTX 670 TwinCooler (model: ZTGTX670-2GD5TCR001/ZT-60305-10P).
Pictured below, the GTX 670 TwinCooler from ZOTAC is short (about 60 mm shorter than NVIDIA reference design card). It uses a dense aluminum fin heatsink to cool the GK104 GPU, memory, and VRM. The heatsink is ventilated by two 80 mm fans. The card needs just a tiny bit more than two expansion slots in your system, it appears like it won't block the third expansion card slot. Despite its diminutive form, the card is factory-overclocked, with 954 MHz GPU clock, 1033 MHz GPU Boost, and 6208 MHz memory (against reference speeds of 915/980/6008 MHz). It draws power from two 6-pin PCIe power connectors, outputs include two dual-link DVI, and one each of HDMI and DisplayPort. It will be launched on the 20th of June.
Pictured below, the GTX 670 TwinCooler from ZOTAC is short (about 60 mm shorter than NVIDIA reference design card). It uses a dense aluminum fin heatsink to cool the GK104 GPU, memory, and VRM. The heatsink is ventilated by two 80 mm fans. The card needs just a tiny bit more than two expansion slots in your system, it appears like it won't block the third expansion card slot. Despite its diminutive form, the card is factory-overclocked, with 954 MHz GPU clock, 1033 MHz GPU Boost, and 6208 MHz memory (against reference speeds of 915/980/6008 MHz). It draws power from two 6-pin PCIe power connectors, outputs include two dual-link DVI, and one each of HDMI and DisplayPort. It will be launched on the 20th of June.
Apacer Rolls Out Compact High-Speed mSATA Industrial SSD for Ultrabooks
SSDs, with their advantages of high performance, compactness and low power consumption, are the perfect adaptation of storage products to the emergence of tablet PCs and Ultrabooks. Indeed, SSDs have become the defacto storage solution for ultra-thin notebooks. Apacer, a leading manufacturer of industrial SSDs, understands the demands for even more compactness and has produced a new mSATA A1 modular SSD that features a SATA 3.0 high-speed transmission interface and complies with JEDEC MO-300 standard codes. Currently, this model supports Intel Rapid Start and Intel Smart Response technologies, enabling users to enjoy an almost immediate start-up within seconds and enjoy a continuous high performance of the computer.
Huntkey Introducing Military Camouflage Hardware Combo
Huntkey, professional power supply, PC chassis and accessory provider, is introducing a military camouflage hardware combo targeting gamers with a true military spirit. The FX600 600W 80 Plus Platinum certified PC power supply, is supporting high-end setups with multiple-graphics, and AMD as well as Intel CPUs. All cables have a special sleeving, so your hardware won't be scratched during installation or upgrade. With its high efficiency certification, heat-dissipation as well as noise development are keep to an absolute minimum.
The upcoming military camouflage mid-tower fits exactly the style of the FX600, making them a perfect match for gamers. The front is not only sturdy, but also ideal for ventilation. On the top we find 2x 2.0 USB and 1x USB 3.0 connector. The bigger power on/off button and the smaller reset buttons are distinguished. On top we also implanted a tray for portable disk, CDs, recharging your cell phone or other things you want close by.
The upcoming military camouflage mid-tower fits exactly the style of the FX600, making them a perfect match for gamers. The front is not only sturdy, but also ideal for ventilation. On the top we find 2x 2.0 USB and 1x USB 3.0 connector. The bigger power on/off button and the smaller reset buttons are distinguished. On top we also implanted a tray for portable disk, CDs, recharging your cell phone or other things you want close by.
COUGAR Introduces Entirely New Gaming Product Line
COUGAR, leading German PC case and power supply brand, reveals a preview of their entry into the high-end gaming keyboard market. As COUGAR have themselves already well-positioned as first choice for games when it comes to top-notch cases, PC power supplies and ventilation solutions, they are now reaching out into the even more hands-on and all-decisive keyboard segment. For their debut model they have chosen nothing less than Cherry Red mechanical switches as very basis. In doing so, the COUGAR ATTACK offers leading reaction sensitivity even by low impress force.
Each key is LED-backlit, and the light can be changed to individual preferences. In the current development stage those colors will probably be white, black, blue and red. Bundled key-caps and an included key-puller allow the user to individually highlight those keys he is most dependent upon in his individual game-play. Furthermore, the COUGAR ATTACKS gives users the option to lock most of the keys while self-defining which ones to remain active for current use.
Each key is LED-backlit, and the light can be changed to individual preferences. In the current development stage those colors will probably be white, black, blue and red. Bundled key-caps and an included key-puller allow the user to individually highlight those keys he is most dependent upon in his individual game-play. Furthermore, the COUGAR ATTACKS gives users the option to lock most of the keys while self-defining which ones to remain active for current use.
Wednesday, June 13th 2012
Today's Reviews
Cases
Game Controllers
Graphics Cards
- Sapphire HD 7950 FleX NeoSeeker
- Sapphire HD 7950 FleX Overclockers Club
- Sapphire HD 7950 FleX PureOverclock
- Zalman HD 7950-Z VF3000 Tweaktown
- MSI R7970 Lightning PC-Experience.de (de)
- Arctic Accelero Xtreme 7970 VGA Cooler X-bit labs
- NVIDIA GTX 670 with SLI BitsandChips (it)
- Gigabyte GTX 670 WindForce OC HardwareCanucks
- ASUS GTX 680 DirectCU II TOP vs. MSI R7970 Lightning X-bit labs
Notebooks
Xigmatek Centauro 1000 W Review
In today's review we are going to test one of the latest Xigmatek Centauro PSUs. More specific the strongest Centauro with 1000W capacity will be our test subject and on the test bench it will prove if it is worthy of the mythical name it carries.
Max Payne 3 Multiplayer Pits Cheaters Against Cheaters
Playing against hackers and cheaters in multiplayer games is rarely fun, so now Rockstar is showing them just how it feels. It's hit upon a cruel and unusual punishment for cheaters in Max Payne 3's multiplayer: forcing them to play in a "Cheaters Pool" filled only with other hoodlums. "Anyone found to have used hacked saves, modded games, or other exploits to gain an unfair advantage in Max Payne 3 Multiplayer, or to circumvent the leaderboards will be quarantined from all other players into a 'Cheaters Pool', where they'll only be able to compete in multiplayer matches with other confirmed miscreants," Rockstar explains in a blog post. They'll also be cut from the leaderboards. Rockstar could deign to allow these rapscallions to rejoin civilised society, but will permaban them for a second infraction. Lets hope that one day all online games will adopt such measures.
Prolimatech Black Series Genesis CPU Cooler Launched
Prolimatech, the master of cooling is going a step further after the success of the Prolimatech Megahalems by presenting another revolution in CPU cooling with the limited edition Prolimatech Black Series Genesis. Besides the immaculate quality - which is present across their entire product line-up - the Black Genesis sets new standards in cooling capability and cool looks.
Prolimatech continues the trend set by the Megahalems and Super Mega by utilising two separate towers, but instead of placing them next to each other, they have been rearranged for maximum performance. The large array of cooling fins can hold up to three 120 or 140 mm fans, two of which can be installed right out of the box with the included mounting materials. Besides keeping the CPU cool, the construction allows for direct air flow across critical areas like the memory and power phases of the system.
Prolimatech continues the trend set by the Megahalems and Super Mega by utilising two separate towers, but instead of placing them next to each other, they have been rearranged for maximum performance. The large array of cooling fins can hold up to three 120 or 140 mm fans, two of which can be installed right out of the box with the included mounting materials. Besides keeping the CPU cool, the construction allows for direct air flow across critical areas like the memory and power phases of the system.
NEC Display Solutions Introduces New MultiSync Professional Series Monitor at InfoCom
NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the 23-inch MultiSync P232W-BK and P232W-BK-SV desktop monitors. The full HD MultiSync P232W can be seen at InfoComm 2012 (NEC Display Solutions Booth No. C6819) from June 13 - 15, 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
The budget-friendly MultiSync P232W display joins the next-generation MultiSync P Series, which features standard-gamut displays designed for web graphics, online video and photography professionals to ensure accurate, consistent and repeatable color performance. Its white LED-backlit IPS panel allows a low power consumption of 29 watts and slimmer depth compared to its predecessor, while its ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on lighting conditions.
The budget-friendly MultiSync P232W display joins the next-generation MultiSync P Series, which features standard-gamut displays designed for web graphics, online video and photography professionals to ensure accurate, consistent and repeatable color performance. Its white LED-backlit IPS panel allows a low power consumption of 29 watts and slimmer depth compared to its predecessor, while its ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display's brightness based on lighting conditions.
Fujitsu Brings NVIDIA GPU-Accelerated Supercomputing to the Masses
NVIDIA today announced that NVIDIA Tesla GPUs are now available in Fujitsu's PRIMERGY CX400 S1 servers, offering high-performance GPU-accelerated computing to Fujitsu's large installed base of customers in Japan and Europe.
Fujitsu designed the PRIMERGY CX400 S1 server for high performance in a compact form factor by using half-wide, two-socket server nodes -- doubling the number of cores per unit height. The system houses either four 1U hot-plug PRIMERGY CX250 S1 server nodes with two CPUs per node, or two 2U hot-plug CX270 S1 server nodes with two CPUs and one NVIDIA Tesla GPU per node.
Fujitsu designed the PRIMERGY CX400 S1 server for high performance in a compact form factor by using half-wide, two-socket server nodes -- doubling the number of cores per unit height. The system houses either four 1U hot-plug PRIMERGY CX250 S1 server nodes with two CPUs per node, or two 2U hot-plug CX270 S1 server nodes with two CPUs and one NVIDIA Tesla GPU per node.
AMD Strengthens Security Solutions through Technology Partnership with ARM
AMD today announced it will integrate a new security solution into its future products to meet the increasing need to provide consumers and businesses with secure access to their content and worry-free online transactions. Through a strategic technology partnership with ARM, AMD will integrate the established ARM TrustZone technology into future Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) via a system-on-a-chip (SoC) design methodology. This industry-first collaboration will help accelerate broader ecosystem support by aligning x86 hardware with the world's most broadly-adopted mobile security ecosystem.
By adopting the industry-standard approach to security that TrustZone technology embodies, AMD and ARM will provide a consistent approach to security spanning billions of Internet-connected mobile devices, tablets, PCs and servers − whether they are powered by ARM processor-based solutions or AMD x86 APUs. AMD plans to provide development platforms that have TrustZone security features on select APUs in 2013, expanding further across its product portfolio in 2014. In a presentation this week at the AMD Fusion Developer Summit 2012 (AFDS), AMD Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mike Wolfe described AMD's vision to advance computing security by enhancing AMD's existing security technologies. This is expected to include developing a platform security processor using an ARM CortexTM-A5 CPU that features TrustZone technology, to monitor and help protect against malicious access to sensitive data and operations at the hardware level.
By adopting the industry-standard approach to security that TrustZone technology embodies, AMD and ARM will provide a consistent approach to security spanning billions of Internet-connected mobile devices, tablets, PCs and servers − whether they are powered by ARM processor-based solutions or AMD x86 APUs. AMD plans to provide development platforms that have TrustZone security features on select APUs in 2013, expanding further across its product portfolio in 2014. In a presentation this week at the AMD Fusion Developer Summit 2012 (AFDS), AMD Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mike Wolfe described AMD's vision to advance computing security by enhancing AMD's existing security technologies. This is expected to include developing a platform security processor using an ARM CortexTM-A5 CPU that features TrustZone technology, to monitor and help protect against malicious access to sensitive data and operations at the hardware level.
NETGEAR Showcases Industry's First 802.11ac Cable Gateway
NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today announced that it will showcase several innovative solutions for cable operators, including a groundbreaking DOCSIS3.0 gateway integrated with 802.11ac wireless technology, at the ANGA Cable show taking place June 12- 14 in Cologne, Germany. In addition, NETGEAR will also demonstrate its 24 x 8 channel bonded DOCSIS/Euro-DOCSIS gateway to support up to 1.2Gbps downstream and 320Mbps upstream data rate.
The NETGEAR 802.11ac DOCSIS3.0 gateway supports wireless connectivity that is up to three times faster than today's 802.11n routers. With multiple antennae and dual band WiFi, the cable gateway increases the coverage area for HD streaming in the home while enabling consumers to download web content from any device in the home significantly faster than it would take on a similar 802.11n device.
The NETGEAR 802.11ac DOCSIS3.0 gateway supports wireless connectivity that is up to three times faster than today's 802.11n routers. With multiple antennae and dual band WiFi, the cable gateway increases the coverage area for HD streaming in the home while enabling consumers to download web content from any device in the home significantly faster than it would take on a similar 802.11n device.
EIZO Launches FORIS FS2333 Gaming PC Monitor
Eizo Nanao Corporation today introduced the FORIS FS2333, a 23-inch full high-definition (1920 x 1080 native resolution) home entertainment monitor. The FORIS FS2333 is designed for gaming as well as other leisure activities such as watching movies and editing photos. It features all-new tone mapping technology called "Smart Insight" with five settings for RTS (real time strategy) and FPS (first person shooter) games that EIZO co-developed with Fnatic, one of the world's leading professional esports teams.
Smart Insight automatically identifies dark areas of an image and improves visibility. Important details in the shadows such as the location of an opponent become easier to spot so gamers can react more quickly. Because Smart Insight uses tone mapping, it improves visibility in dark areas while preserving image details without reducing contrast. This is a significant improvement over conventional gaming monitors which attempt to achieve improvements in visibility by applying gamma correction uniformly across the image resulting in blur and low contrast in dark areas.
Smart Insight automatically identifies dark areas of an image and improves visibility. Important details in the shadows such as the location of an opponent become easier to spot so gamers can react more quickly. Because Smart Insight uses tone mapping, it improves visibility in dark areas while preserving image details without reducing contrast. This is a significant improvement over conventional gaming monitors which attempt to achieve improvements in visibility by applying gamma correction uniformly across the image resulting in blur and low contrast in dark areas.
Corsair Launches Vengeance DDR3-1600 MHz 16 GB Dual-Channel Memory Kit
Corsair launched a new affordable high-density DDR3-1600 MHz dual-channel memory kit, model: CMZ16GX3M2A1600C9. The kit consists of two 8 GB modules, which operate at 1600 MHz (PC3-12800), with timings of 9-9-9-24, and DRAM voltage of 1.5V. The modules pack an Intel XMP v1.3 profile that enables the advertised speeds. Apart from these, the kit is built in the conventional Corsair Vengeance module design. It is expected to be priced at US $135.
Buffalo Adds Faster CPU to New 4 TB LS-VL Series NAS
Buffalo Japan released a new LS-VL series home NAS model, LS-V4.0TLJ, which packs 4 TB of storage, a faster CPU, and software with a new web-access (remote-access over internet) feature. The single-drive NAS is designed for home convergence, with support for a large variety of entertainment devices such as 3D HDTVs, with support for DTCP-IP, providing recording features. Gigabit Ethernet is its only network interface, while it features USB 2.0. Measuring 45 x 175 x 156 mm (WxDxH), and weighing about 1 kg, the device draws about 24W of power under typical load. It is priced at 46,725 JPY (US $585).
SK Hynix and IBM Sign Joint Development for PCRAM
SK Hynix Inc., today announced a joint development agreement and a technology license agreement with IBM for the development of Phase Change Random Access Memory (or 'PCRAM') technology.
IBM brings years of research experience in phase change memory technology, as well as profound know-how in developing multi-level cell (MLC) technology. Last June, IBM researchers demonstrated a reliable multi-bit, phase-change memory technology that would allow computers and servers to boot instantaneously and significantly enhance the overall performance of IT systems. Combining IBM's expertise in such disciplines with SK Hynix's cutting-edge manufacturing process optimization and cost competitiveness will help to accelerate the commercialization of PCRAM technology.
IBM brings years of research experience in phase change memory technology, as well as profound know-how in developing multi-level cell (MLC) technology. Last June, IBM researchers demonstrated a reliable multi-bit, phase-change memory technology that would allow computers and servers to boot instantaneously and significantly enhance the overall performance of IT systems. Combining IBM's expertise in such disciplines with SK Hynix's cutting-edge manufacturing process optimization and cost competitiveness will help to accelerate the commercialization of PCRAM technology.
ADATA Launches Colorful Line of USB Flash Drives
ADATA Technology today announces the launch of the DashDrive UV110, a slim, compact USB 2.0 flash drive which comes in a range of four charming colors: navy blue, milk white, cotton candy pink, and caramel brown.
This colorful USB 2.0 flash drive offers simple data storage capabilities while still staying fashionable. The UV110 can match anyone's personal style, and can be stored easily in your pocket, purse, or bag thanks to its small footprint.
This colorful USB 2.0 flash drive offers simple data storage capabilities while still staying fashionable. The UV110 can match anyone's personal style, and can be stored easily in your pocket, purse, or bag thanks to its small footprint.
AMD Launches Next-Generation FirePro W600 Graphics Card
AMD today announced immediate availability of the AMD FirePro W600 professional graphics card, the company's first professional graphics card to leverage AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture and 28nm production technology, for use in high-resolution, content-rich, multi-screen display wall environments. With this launch, AMD is addressing a growing need for large, dynamic screens that are easily updated with new content.
"Whether we are checking flight times at the airport or watching the latest ads on massive screens in city squares, digital signage has quickly become an important and ubiquitous part of our lives," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD Graphics. "To enable these displays, the digital signage industry demands technology that can be regularly refreshed with new, feature-rich content. With the launch of the AMD FirePro W600 professional graphics card, AMD is helping advance the digital display wall industry by providing suppliers and developers with impressive display density, performance and exceptional value."
"Whether we are checking flight times at the airport or watching the latest ads on massive screens in city squares, digital signage has quickly become an important and ubiquitous part of our lives," said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager of AMD Graphics. "To enable these displays, the digital signage industry demands technology that can be regularly refreshed with new, feature-rich content. With the launch of the AMD FirePro W600 professional graphics card, AMD is helping advance the digital display wall industry by providing suppliers and developers with impressive display density, performance and exceptional value."
Tuesday, June 12th 2012
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Memory
Notebooks
CM Storm Sentinel Advance II Laser Gaming Mouse Review
Today we will be taking a hard look at the revamped CM Storm Sentinel Advance II which features the newest sensor technology from Avago which provides up to 8200 DPI native resolution. The design is the same, which turned heads back when it was launched.
HTC to Complete Acquisition of S3 Graphics
S3 Graphics' future hung in the balance since June 2011, when its parent company VIA Technologies announced sale of its stake in it. Since then, it's been a word on the wires, that smartphone maker HTC has been in the fray to buy it out, since it is facing IP turbulence with Apple. HTC and Apple used S3 Graphics (September 2011) and AMD (November 2011), respectively, as proxies in their patent infringement battles. It emerged out of the patent spat, that S3 Graphics holds a handy bouquet of graphics IP, and HTC announced that it is now back on track to acquire it.
Smartphone giant HTC backed S3 Graphics' claims to certain graphics-related patents in the patent infringement case against Apple. "We think S3's patent portfolio is valid and strong, and we have decided to complete the purchase of S3 after cautious assessment," HTC's general counsel Grace Lei said, at an annual shareholders' general meeting. S3 Graphics currently owns about 270 patents, some of which are licensed to Sony Corp., Nintendo Co. and Microsoft Corp., Lei added.
Smartphone giant HTC backed S3 Graphics' claims to certain graphics-related patents in the patent infringement case against Apple. "We think S3's patent portfolio is valid and strong, and we have decided to complete the purchase of S3 after cautious assessment," HTC's general counsel Grace Lei said, at an annual shareholders' general meeting. S3 Graphics currently owns about 270 patents, some of which are licensed to Sony Corp., Nintendo Co. and Microsoft Corp., Lei added.
Growing Businesses Thrive with Dell Vostro Laptops and Dedicated Services
Dell today announced the Vostro 3360, 3460 and 3560 laptops designed to deliver strong performance and security with IT support crafted specifically for growing businesses. These new Vostro laptops are easy to configure, easy to maintain, highly productive, and feature the latest technology and business-critical security and support at a great value.
"Growing a business takes more than just hardware; you need to have a solid support system in place to scale and succeed," said Sam Burd, vice president, Dell Personal Computing Product Group. "The Vostro product family enables emerging businesses to grow and thrive in competitive environments. Our end-to-end solution is the reason why so many of our Vostro customers recommend the products to their friends, family and colleagues."
"Growing a business takes more than just hardware; you need to have a solid support system in place to scale and succeed," said Sam Burd, vice president, Dell Personal Computing Product Group. "The Vostro product family enables emerging businesses to grow and thrive in competitive environments. Our end-to-end solution is the reason why so many of our Vostro customers recommend the products to their friends, family and colleagues."
AMD, ARM, Imagination, MediaTek and TI Unleash Next Era of Computing Innovation
Today at the AMD Fusion Developer Summit (AFDS), global technology leaders came together to announce the formation of the Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) Foundation. The HSA Foundation is a non-profit consortium established to define and promote an open, standards-based approach to heterogeneous computing that will provide a common hardware specification and broad support ecosystem to make it easier for software developers to deliver innovative applications that can take greater advantage of today's modern processors.
AMD, ARM, Imagination Technologies, MediaTek Inc., and Texas Instruments (TI) are the initial founding members of the HSA Foundation. The companies will work together to drive a single architecture specification and simplify the programming model to help software developers take greater advantage of the capabilities found in modern central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), and unlock the performance and power efficiency of the parallel computing engines found in heterogeneous processors.
AMD, ARM, Imagination Technologies, MediaTek Inc., and Texas Instruments (TI) are the initial founding members of the HSA Foundation. The companies will work together to drive a single architecture specification and simplify the programming model to help software developers take greater advantage of the capabilities found in modern central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), and unlock the performance and power efficiency of the parallel computing engines found in heterogeneous processors.
Kingston Digital Statement on SF-2000-based Encrypted SSDs
Kingston Digital Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory, along with LSI, its SSD processor partner, have recently been in discussions related to the encryption capabilities of the SF-2000 platform. It was discovered that the 'self encrypting' feature that Kingston markets on both the SSDNow V+200 and KC100 lines runs in 128-bit AES encryption mode, not the originally stated 256-bit mode. Both AES modes encrypt and secure the data on the SSD from unauthorized access -- just to different encryption standards.
Kingston is working with LSI to correct this and to ensure that future production of the aforementioned drives delivers 256-bit AES encryption mode.
Kingston is working with LSI to correct this and to ensure that future production of the aforementioned drives delivers 256-bit AES encryption mode.
ADATA Launches Premier Pro SDHC & SDXC Cards Featuring UHS-I Technology
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash storage application products, today announced the launch of new Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) and Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC) Ultra High Speed I (UHS-I) U1 memory cards.
These latest additions to the company's Flash storage lineup bring breakthrough performance in speed and capacity, and are expected to strengthen the company's already formidable Premier Pro memory solutions.
These latest additions to the company's Flash storage lineup bring breakthrough performance in speed and capacity, and are expected to strengthen the company's already formidable Premier Pro memory solutions.
PROMISE Technology Introduces World's Fastest Ultra Portable Thunderbolt Storage
PROMISE Technology Inc., a leader in providing high-performance storage solutions for the rich media market and the leader in designing cutting-edge Thunderbolt enabled devices today introduced the Pegasus J2, the world's fastest ultraportable Thunderbolt storage device, capable of delivering up to 750 MB/s in a device the size of a smartphone. Pegasus J2 brings an unparalleled level of performance in a small form factor to the market enabling both consumers and media professionals to manage the explosion of unstructured data and digital assets critical to their creative projects. The J2 is the perfect complement for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.
Compatible with all Thunderbolt enabled Macs, the PROMISE Pegasus J2 is a pocket-sized, blazing fast external storage device that offers up to half a Terabyte of storage and is available in 256GB and 512GB capacities. The Pegasus J2 is flash-based making it the ideal solution for anyone who craves extreme performance in the consumer and professional post-production markets. This addition to its internationally award winning Pegasus line boasts a cutting edge, compact product design with an emphasis on reducing the footprint coupled with reduced environmental noise.
Compatible with all Thunderbolt enabled Macs, the PROMISE Pegasus J2 is a pocket-sized, blazing fast external storage device that offers up to half a Terabyte of storage and is available in 256GB and 512GB capacities. The Pegasus J2 is flash-based making it the ideal solution for anyone who craves extreme performance in the consumer and professional post-production markets. This addition to its internationally award winning Pegasus line boasts a cutting edge, compact product design with an emphasis on reducing the footprint coupled with reduced environmental noise.
HARMAN Launches New Line of Harman-Kardon Headphones
HARMAN International Industries announced availability of a new line of Harman Kardon headphones that deliver a performance destined to impress music lovers and longtime fans of the innovative and legendary audio brand. The Harman Kardon headphones include five options: two sound-isolating in-ear models tailored specifically for iPhone use and three on-ear and over-ear styles - including a wireless Bluetooth and noise-cancelling model - for music lovers seeking a refined industrial design true to Harman Kardon's rich acoustical heritage.
Harman Kardon, which introduced the world's first stereo receiver in 1958, is synonymous with beautiful sound and attractive design. Pulling from a heritage of acoustic innovation, the Harman Kardon headphones incorporate optimized drivers that produce accurate bass even at low volumes, whereas many competing models today artificially exaggerate bass or treble. The distinctive rectangular shape of the in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones mirrors the back case of an iPhone, highlighting a design meant to pair with an iPhone, iPad or iPod.
Harman Kardon, which introduced the world's first stereo receiver in 1958, is synonymous with beautiful sound and attractive design. Pulling from a heritage of acoustic innovation, the Harman Kardon headphones incorporate optimized drivers that produce accurate bass even at low volumes, whereas many competing models today artificially exaggerate bass or treble. The distinctive rectangular shape of the in-ear, on-ear and over-ear headphones mirrors the back case of an iPhone, highlighting a design meant to pair with an iPhone, iPad or iPod.
Micron Boosts DDR3 Offering With 2 Gb and 4 Gb, 1 GHz/DDR3-2133
Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions, today introduced a new class of 1 GHz, 2-gigabit (Gb) and 4 Gb, 30-nanometer (nm) DDR3 devices, strengthening the company's comprehensive DDR3 portfolio. Designed for the high- performance networking and discrete graphics markets, the new devices feature industry-leading low power use while delivering speeds up to 2133 megatransfers per second (MT/s).
Micron supports its customers in highly competitive market segments with a broad portfolio of DRAM and nonvolatile memory devices that meet the demand for high-performance, cost-efficient memory solutions. "Micron has been successful in creating a complete DRAM portfolio, and this product offering rounds out the broadest DRAM offering in the industry," said Mike Howard, senior principal analyst, DRAM and Memory at iSuppli.
Micron supports its customers in highly competitive market segments with a broad portfolio of DRAM and nonvolatile memory devices that meet the demand for high-performance, cost-efficient memory solutions. "Micron has been successful in creating a complete DRAM portfolio, and this product offering rounds out the broadest DRAM offering in the industry," said Mike Howard, senior principal analyst, DRAM and Memory at iSuppli.
VIA's $49 APC Listed for Pre-Order, Sells Out
VIA listed the US $49 Android mini-PC (APC) system board for pre-order. The product sold out in a few hours following staggering demand. VIA announced that all pre-orders will be shipped starting early-July, and the company is working hard to make the product available through local distributors around the world, to eliminate shipping costs to the end-users. Announced the APC back in May, the APC is a neo-ITX system board that can fit into most ITX and ATX chassis, and can be powered both by external 2-pin DC input, and internal 4-pin ATX input. The board seats an ARM-based SoC, which drives Google's Android 2.3 operating system, modified for conventional PC interfaces.
Strontium Unveils 480 GB Python SSD
Strontium expanded its Python performance SATA 6 Gb/s SSD series with a new high-capacity 480 GB variant, which was displayed at Computex. Built in the 2.5-inch 7 mm-thick form-factor, the Python 480 GB is driven by SandForce SF-2281 processor, and uses MLC NAND flash. It offers sequential speeds as high as 550 MB/s reads, with 520 MB/s writes; and 4K random access performance of 60,000 IOPS. The company assures 1.5 million hours MTBF, and backed the product with 3 years warranty. The new 480 GB variant will reach stores soon, priced around US $450-500.
SandForce 256-bit AES Encryption Limited to 128-bit, Fix En Route
Post acquisition, an audit by LSI reportedly discovered that the 256-bit AES native data encryption by SandForce SSD processors never was, and that the feature really just encrypted data with 128-bit AES. The problem has been resolved and a fix is in the works. LSI will share the fix with all SSD manufacturers with SandForce-based products, who could then release firmware updates to end-users.
Introducing MyDigitalSSD BP3 & Smart Series mSATA 6G SSDs
Building on the success of the industry leading Bullet Proof line of mSATA SSDs, we at MyDigitalSSD are proud to announce two highly anticipated SATA III (6G) mSATA drives that reach up to 256GB capacity at a price that's right for any budget.
Like their predecessors, Bullet Proof 3 SSDs offer the performance and reliability you've come to expect from MyDigitalSSD while boasting improved Read/Write speeds of over 500/300MB/sec with Random 4K speeds of over 20/40MB/sec. Featuring Asynchronous NAND Flash and the new Phison S8 Controller, BP3 drives are the perfect upgrade solution for anyone looking for the best price to performance ratio on the market. For those who like to push their devices to the max, MyDigitalSSD will be releasing an IOPS minded Firmware in mid to late July.
Like their predecessors, Bullet Proof 3 SSDs offer the performance and reliability you've come to expect from MyDigitalSSD while boasting improved Read/Write speeds of over 500/300MB/sec with Random 4K speeds of over 20/40MB/sec. Featuring Asynchronous NAND Flash and the new Phison S8 Controller, BP3 drives are the perfect upgrade solution for anyone looking for the best price to performance ratio on the market. For those who like to push their devices to the max, MyDigitalSSD will be releasing an IOPS minded Firmware in mid to late July.
Supermicro's New Compact Embedded Server Appliance Supports 3rd Gen. Intel Core CPUs
Super Micro Computer, Inc., a global leader in high-performance, high-efficiency server technology and green computing, releases its next generation, ultra low power, compact form factor embedded server platform (5017P-TLN4F) based on their new Mini-ITX (6.7" x 6.7") motherboard (X9SPV-F/LN4F). Compared to the previous generation architecture, this solution delivers 15% more processing performance, up to 50% more 3D graphics performance supporting the latest graphic APIs - DirectX 11, OpenCL 1.1 and OpenGL 3.1 and new features such as Intel Smart Response Technology enabling increased storage I/O performance with SSD caching.
OCZ Talos 2 SSDs Selected by Microsoft for Windows Server 2012 Demonstrations
OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced that its SAS-based Talos 2 SSDs will be showcased during Microsoft's North American TechEd (technology education) conferences. With this partnership, TechEd participants will get a firsthand look at the upcoming Windows Server 2012 and how it delivers the enterprise-class storage capabilities that IT departments require. OCZ Talos 2 drives will be highlighted in various Windows Server 2012 demonstrations showing their leading application performance and data access, high endurance and reliability, seamless integration of 2.5-inch form factors, and true dual-ported SAS capabilities.
Seagate Reinvents Backup for Your Digital Life
Seagate Technology plc., today introduced Backup Plus storage devices - its reinvented consumer storage product family that delivers the easiest setup, one-click backup and the ability to save and share your content on Facebook and Flickr.
Seagate Backup Plus hard drives are newly designed external storage that work interchangeably with both Windows and Apple computers and deliver new features to protect, share and save nearly every aspect of one's digital life. These products come loaded with the new hassle-free Seagate Dashboard software for one-click local backup making it easier than ever to eliminate excuses or apprehensions about backing up one's most valuable digital content. Seagate Backup Plus products are the world's first external hard drives to provide backup for content on social networks, such as Facebook and Flickr. Storing a local duplicate copy of photos from social networks is now as easy as backing up files on your computer. Seagate Backup Plus will provide the peace of mind that every aspect of one's digital life is safe from loss.
Seagate Backup Plus hard drives are newly designed external storage that work interchangeably with both Windows and Apple computers and deliver new features to protect, share and save nearly every aspect of one's digital life. These products come loaded with the new hassle-free Seagate Dashboard software for one-click local backup making it easier than ever to eliminate excuses or apprehensions about backing up one's most valuable digital content. Seagate Backup Plus products are the world's first external hard drives to provide backup for content on social networks, such as Facebook and Flickr. Storing a local duplicate copy of photos from social networks is now as easy as backing up files on your computer. Seagate Backup Plus will provide the peace of mind that every aspect of one's digital life is safe from loss.
Monday, June 11th 2012
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Gigabyte GTX 670 OC 2 GB Review
GIGABYTE's overclocked GTX 670 Windforce OC comes with a large and silent triple fan cooler and a full GTX 680 reference design PCB. This helps the card deliver out of the box performance comparable to the GTX 680, at a much lower price. Actually GIGABYTE is charging no price premium for their improvements, the card comes at reference design pricing of $399.
Super Talent Launches the SATA III TeraNova SSD
Super Talent Technology, a leader of NAND Flash storage solutions, today announces their fastest 2.5" SSD to date, the SATA3 TeraNova.
For creative professionals seeking extreme performance killer response times, the TeraNova is the fastest 2.5" SSD that SuperTalent has released to date. Featuring the SATA3 Interface and SandForce 2200 processor with optimized firmware, the SuperTalent TeraNova was built for speed.
For creative professionals seeking extreme performance killer response times, the TeraNova is the fastest 2.5" SSD that SuperTalent has released to date. Featuring the SATA3 Interface and SandForce 2200 processor with optimized firmware, the SuperTalent TeraNova was built for speed.
Apple Updates MacBook Air and Current Generation MacBook Pro with New Hardware
Apple today updated MacBook Air with the latest Intel Core processors, faster graphics and flash storage that is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.* MacBook Air is the ultimate everyday notebook, and with new lower prices it is more affordable than ever. The current generation 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro have also been updated with the latest Intel Core processors and powerful discrete graphics from NVIDIA. Apple's popular AirPort Express has been redesigned to include features previously available only in AirPort Extreme.
"Today we've updated the entire MacBook line with faster processors, graphics, memory, flash storage and USB 3 connectivity," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "We've made the world's best portable family even better and we think users are going to love the performance advances in both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro."
"Today we've updated the entire MacBook line with faster processors, graphics, memory, flash storage and USB 3 connectivity," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "We've made the world's best portable family even better and we think users are going to love the performance advances in both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro."
Apple Introduces All New MacBook Pro with Retina Display
Apple today unveiled an all new 15-inch MacBook Pro featuring a stunning Retina display, all flash storage and quad-core processors in a radically thin and light design. Measuring a mere 0.71 inches and weighing only 4.46 pounds, the completely redesigned MacBook Pro sets a new standard in performance and portability for pro users.
"The MacBook Pro with Retina display pushes the limits of performance and portability like no other notebook," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "With a gorgeous Retina display, all flash architecture and a radically thin and light design, the new MacBook Pro is the most advanced Mac we have ever built."
"The MacBook Pro with Retina display pushes the limits of performance and portability like no other notebook," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "With a gorgeous Retina display, all flash architecture and a radically thin and light design, the new MacBook Pro is the most advanced Mac we have ever built."
Arctic Unveils the P402 Dynamic Supra-Aural Headphones
ARCTIC announces its latest innovation - P402, the dynamic supra-aural headphones, which integrates style, comfort and performance, rendering it a decent upgrade for those looking for better sound with an in-line microphone and long lasting comfort.
The P402 delivers sound without any disturbance or loss while the ultra-soft pads give you lasting comfort and keeps exterior noise out, making them the dream of every on-the-go music lover.
The P402 delivers sound without any disturbance or loss while the ultra-soft pads give you lasting comfort and keeps exterior noise out, making them the dream of every on-the-go music lover.
Link_A_Media Devices Unveils its Award-Winning 6 Gb/s SATA SSD Controller
Link_A_Media Devices (LAMD), a leader in the development of semiconductor SoC (System on Chip) solutions for the data storage market, today unveiled its flagship high-performance LM87800 SATA 6G SSD controller with proprietary eBoost technology. The highly-integrated device brings enterprise-class performance and endurance enhancement to the rapidly growing client SSD market.
Designed to deliver superior performance, the architecture deploys extensive hardware acceleration, dedicated host-side and NAND-side ARM microcontrollers and a 6 Gb/s SATA host interface, enabling the LM87800 to deliver industry-leading performance of 90K sustained random read/write IOPS and 550 MB/s sustained sequential read/write throughput. The LM87800 is fabricated on a low-power and low-leakage process technology and employs sophisticated power management techniques to achieve ultra-low power consumption.
Designed to deliver superior performance, the architecture deploys extensive hardware acceleration, dedicated host-side and NAND-side ARM microcontrollers and a 6 Gb/s SATA host interface, enabling the LM87800 to deliver industry-leading performance of 90K sustained random read/write IOPS and 550 MB/s sustained sequential read/write throughput. The LM87800 is fabricated on a low-power and low-leakage process technology and employs sophisticated power management techniques to achieve ultra-low power consumption.
CyberpowerPC Offers $14.99 Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro with any Windows 7 PC Purchase
Cyberpower Inc., a global manufacturer of custom gaming machines, wants customers to get a jump on the upcoming release of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system. All customers who purchase a qualifying Windows 7 CyberpowerPC system direct from the company or its authorized resellers, now through January 31, 2013, will receive a $14.99 offer for a downloadable copy of Windows 8 when it becomes available.
CyberpowerPC customers who retire their systems now can be assured they will have a new rig with the horsepower to run Windows 8. The process is as simple as 1-2-3.
CyberpowerPC customers who retire their systems now can be assured they will have a new rig with the horsepower to run Windows 8. The process is as simple as 1-2-3.
- Buy a qualifying CyberpowerPC running Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate now through January 31, 2013.
- Visit the promotional website windowsupgradeoffer.com to register for a Windows 8 upgrade.
- Come back when Windows 8 is available for purchase and download it.
Intel NUC 4-inch Mini PC Costs $400
Intel's Next Unit of Computing (NUC) 4-inch mini-PC concept is taking shape as more of a premium mini-PC, than an affordable mainstream PC. According to sources, the NUC will arrive some time in Q3 2012, priced at US $400. The base system will be powered by a Core i3 dual-core processor paired with HM65 chipset, about 4 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory, 40 GB mSATA SSD, HDMI, mini-DisplayPort, WiFi, and Bluetooth. The first-generation NUC hence sticks to mature previous-generation components, while 7-series chipset, and 22 nm processors could be part of its specifications a little later. The demo system at Computex was driven by a Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" processor, with a Turbo Boost speed of 2.70 GHz. A cheaper Celeron-powered version of the NUC is also on the cards.
AMD Readies Trio of New Radeon HD 7900 Series SKUs
Apart from a few Radeon HD 7970 "X2" dual-GPU graphics cards, and a few non-reference design HD 7970, we didn't hear much about new Radeon SKUs, at Computex. AMD or its partners never even talked about the Radeon HD 7990. It appears now, that the company is working on three new SKUs that will likely replace existing ones, in a bid to replenish the competitiveness of its "Southern Islands" GPU family. The three new SKUs include the Radeon HD 7990, of which we've been hearing for a greater part of this year; the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, which we knew was taking shape for some time now; and the new Radeon HD 7930.
Launch of the Radeon HD 7990 has been facing quite a few delays. We can't imagine technical hurdles with regard to board design, but the performance yield, and performance-per-Watt figures the SKU will have to produce, to ever make it to the market. The HD 7990 has the tough task of performing within an acceptable range of the GeForce GTX 690, on both these fronts.
Launch of the Radeon HD 7990 has been facing quite a few delays. We can't imagine technical hurdles with regard to board design, but the performance yield, and performance-per-Watt figures the SKU will have to produce, to ever make it to the market. The HD 7990 has the tough task of performing within an acceptable range of the GeForce GTX 690, on both these fronts.
AMD Appoints Arun Iyengar as General Manager of Newly-Formed Embedded Solutions Group
To further capitalize on the opportunity for Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) in embedded applications and form factors, AMD today announced the formation of a new Embedded Solutions Group and appointed Arun Iyengar as its corporate vice president and general manager. The AMD Embedded Solutions Group will operate as a separate business within AMD's Global Business Units under AMD Senior Vice President Lisa Su.
"AMD APUs have been extremely well received by embedded system designers who require more graphic-intensive displays and compute power, while continuing to increase our engagement with ecosystem partners to deliver a complete solution," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units. "Arun's appointment and dedicated focus on expanding our differentiated embedded offerings will help ensure we are seizing the opportunity to expand in this rapidly growing market."
"AMD APUs have been extremely well received by embedded system designers who require more graphic-intensive displays and compute power, while continuing to increase our engagement with ecosystem partners to deliver a complete solution," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units. "Arun's appointment and dedicated focus on expanding our differentiated embedded offerings will help ensure we are seizing the opportunity to expand in this rapidly growing market."
Mad Catz and Microsoft Studios Sign Deal for Licensed Halo 4 Gaming Headsets
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. today that it has entered into an agreement with Microsoft Studios, to create Halo 4 branded Gaming Headsets to be released later this year.
"We are excited to add Halo 4 to our portfolio of world class video game licenses," said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. "Halo is one of the world's most popular video games and these new Halo branded headsets are sure to appeal to the passionate gamer who wants to maximize his or her Halo experience."
"We are excited to add Halo 4 to our portfolio of world class video game licenses," said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. "Halo is one of the world's most popular video games and these new Halo branded headsets are sure to appeal to the passionate gamer who wants to maximize his or her Halo experience."
Century Japan Sells "Value" 16 GB DDR3-1600 RDIMM
Century Japan started selling a [relatively] affordable 16 GB DDR3-1600 MHz (PC3-12800) ECC Registered DIMM. The module runs at 1600 MHz with timings of 11-11-11, and has been tested on EVGA SR-X platform to achieve 192 GB (12 x 16 GB), scraping the address-space limits of Windows 7 64-bit client operating systems. The 240-pin RDIMM uses 36 Hynix-made DRAM chips. In Japan, Century's new 16 GB RDIMM is priced at 25,000 JPY (US $314) a pop. For reference, DDR3-1066 MHz 16 GB RDIMMs are priced around $300.
KINGMAX Launches World's First Transparent USB Flash Drive UI-05
Computex 2012 (6/5~6/9) has just ended, world renowned memory manufacturer KINGMAX not only launched a series of industrial products and SSD, but also exhibited the world 1st transparent COB(Chip-on-Board) type USB flash drive. Different from other USB flash drives, the transparent flash drive, UI-05, has chip packaged by clear glass above; the inner flash die and wire-bonding structure is clear to see, and the blue LED light also makes convenient to indicate working status while using it.
KINGMAX UI-05 transparent USB flash drive includes capacity of 4GB/8GB/16GB/32GB. By adopting KINGMAX's owned IMLCC package technology, UI-05 is the world 1st transparent USB flash drive and owns qualities such as tiny size, high reliability, and high yield rate and so on. UI-05's revealing circuit structure gives consumer a whole new experience, and expresses an extraordinary appearance of fashion, stylishness and high-tech touch. The streamlined look is futuristic, and the metal housing gives secured protection; the end of product equipped with LED, emitting blue light to make it even cooler.
KINGMAX UI-05 transparent USB flash drive includes capacity of 4GB/8GB/16GB/32GB. By adopting KINGMAX's owned IMLCC package technology, UI-05 is the world 1st transparent USB flash drive and owns qualities such as tiny size, high reliability, and high yield rate and so on. UI-05's revealing circuit structure gives consumer a whole new experience, and expresses an extraordinary appearance of fashion, stylishness and high-tech touch. The streamlined look is futuristic, and the metal housing gives secured protection; the end of product equipped with LED, emitting blue light to make it even cooler.
Lenovo Connects ThinkPad Users with No-Contract Mobile Broadband Service
Lenovo today introduced Lenovo Mobile Access, a flexible, no-contract mobile broadband service that gives consumers and business users greater choice and flexibility when connecting to valued online services. Lenovo Mobile Access provides pre-connected, always-on, customizable connectivity to the Internet and corporate networks, making it an ideal solution for users who need access to online content, applications and services away from their home, office or public Wi-Fi hotspots. Powered by a scalable cloud-based platform from Macheen Inc., the service is now embedded across select models of the ThinkPad product line and available immediately in the United States and nine European countries.
"We live in world where it's not only undesirable to be without online access, it's often disruptive to businesses. For that reason we wanted to create a flexible mobile broadband solution that would be unparalleled in its ability to help business users stay connected and working," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president and general manager, ThinkPad Business Unit, Lenovo. "Fundamentally, Lenovo Mobile Access gives individual and corporate customers options to determine how, when and where they want to connect with online applications and services, all at a price that fits their budget."
"We live in world where it's not only undesirable to be without online access, it's often disruptive to businesses. For that reason we wanted to create a flexible mobile broadband solution that would be unparalleled in its ability to help business users stay connected and working," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president and general manager, ThinkPad Business Unit, Lenovo. "Fundamentally, Lenovo Mobile Access gives individual and corporate customers options to determine how, when and where they want to connect with online applications and services, all at a price that fits their budget."
TRENDnet Expands PoE+ Switch Portfolio
TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces from Computex Taipei, the launch of three new PoE+ switches. Power over Ethernet (PoE) combines power and data over Ethernet cables. PoE facilitates the installation of devices in remote locations, without having to provide an electrical outlet near the device. PoE's popularity is driven by significant installation time and cost savings.
The PoE standard is based on the IEEE 802.11af specification. It provides up to 15.4 Watts of power per switch port. The new PoE+ standard doubles the power provided by PoE ports. PoE+ is based on the IEEE 802.11at specification which provides up to 30 Watts of power per port. PoE+ is designed to support power hungry devices such as outdoor access points and pan / tilt / zoom IP cameras.
The PoE standard is based on the IEEE 802.11af specification. It provides up to 15.4 Watts of power per switch port. The new PoE+ standard doubles the power provided by PoE ports. PoE+ is based on the IEEE 802.11at specification which provides up to 30 Watts of power per port. PoE+ is designed to support power hungry devices such as outdoor access points and pan / tilt / zoom IP cameras.
Friday, June 8th 2012
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Game Controllers
Motherboards
Notebooks
Biostar Displays Hi-Fi Series A85-based Socket FM2 Motherboards
Biostar is ready with a trio of socket FM2 motherboards, based on AMD's new A85 FCH chipset, the higher-end Hi-Fi A85X, mid-range Hi-Fi A85W, and value Hi-Fi A85S. Biostar implemented some of its latest innovations on the two. To begin with, the thee feature Hi-Fi amplifiers for the analog channels of the onboard audio. Another innovative feature with the two is a bank of capacitors that make the board electrostatic discharge proof up to 15,000V. Find the furriest carpet to assemble your rig on.
The audio solution combines a high SNR CODEC (probably ALC898) with an OPAMP circuitry that uses sound card grade electrolytic capacitors. The entire audio portion of the motherboard, including the rear panel jack cluster and front-panel headers, have a ground PCB layer of their own, that is isolated from the ground layer of the rest of the board. This ensures there's no ground layer interference from other high-current components on the board, a problem common with onboard audio solutions.
The audio solution combines a high SNR CODEC (probably ALC898) with an OPAMP circuitry that uses sound card grade electrolytic capacitors. The entire audio portion of the motherboard, including the rear panel jack cluster and front-panel headers, have a ground PCB layer of their own, that is isolated from the ground layer of the rest of the board. This ensures there's no ground layer interference from other high-current components on the board, a problem common with onboard audio solutions.
HIS Radeon HD 7970 X2 IceQ Graphics Card Pictured
We knew back in May, that PowerColor isn't the only AMD AIB partner with a custom-design dual-HD 7970 graphics card (≠ HD 7990) in the works, and that other partners are also attempting high-end dual-GPU designs. We got to see one of those at Computex, courtesy of HIS. Called the HIS HD 7970 X2 IceQ X2, is a 100% custom-design (cooler and PCB) dual-GPU graphics card, which makes use of two 28 nm "Tahiti" GPUs in an internal CrossFire configuration.
Like the PowerColor HD 7970 X2 Devil 13, the HIS HD 7970 X2 IceQ X2 draws power from three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and packs two "Tahiti" GPUs with all components enabled. The two GPUs could have clock speeds higher than even single-GPU HD 7970, although HIS did not finalize them. HIS implemented a super-sized triple-slot variation of its otherwise dual-slot IceQ X2 cooler. Its card has a different display output configuration from PowerColor's, with one dual-link DVI, and four mini-DisplayPorts. Earlier today, we confirmed that PowerColor's card will reach the market only by late-July. HIS, on the other hand, wants to beat PowerColor to it, and is confident of launching the industry's first HD 7970 X2.
Like the PowerColor HD 7970 X2 Devil 13, the HIS HD 7970 X2 IceQ X2 draws power from three 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and packs two "Tahiti" GPUs with all components enabled. The two GPUs could have clock speeds higher than even single-GPU HD 7970, although HIS did not finalize them. HIS implemented a super-sized triple-slot variation of its otherwise dual-slot IceQ X2 cooler. Its card has a different display output configuration from PowerColor's, with one dual-link DVI, and four mini-DisplayPorts. Earlier today, we confirmed that PowerColor's card will reach the market only by late-July. HIS, on the other hand, wants to beat PowerColor to it, and is confident of launching the industry's first HD 7970 X2.
Key Details About PowerColor HD 7970 X2 Devil 13 Surface
We've been hearing about PowerColor's Radeon HD 7970 X2 Devil 13 dual-GPU graphics card since late-May. A little earlier at Computex, we got to see the card taken apart. We spoke at lengths to reliable sources about the card. To begin with, PowerColor plans to clock the two "Tahiti" GPUs in excess of 1050 MHz (above even the single-GPU HD 7970, and its 925 MHz core clock). Next up, PowerColor will manufacture the card in limited quantities, and will release it to market towards the end of July. Lastly, the PowerColor HD 7970 X2 Devil 13 will be priced around €1,200 (including VAT), its US pricing will be around $1,200. You've heard it first on TechPowerUp!
ASUS to Give AMD AM3+ Platform Thunderbolt Support
ASUS unveiled a new line of socket AM3+ motherboards at Computex, which will constitute its lineup at least for the rest of 2012. The new motherboards are based on existing 9-series chipset, and are mere revisions of existing AM3+ motherboard models. These include the Crosshair V Formula-Z (990FX + SB950), M5A99FX PRO R2.0 (990FX + SB950), Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 (990FX + SB950) and M5A99X EVO R2.0 (990X + SB950). What all these motherboards have in common, is a header labeled "TB_HEADER," which connects them to ASUS' Thunderbolt EX add-on card.
The ASUS Thunderbolt EX is a swanky PCI-Express 2.0 x4 add-on card, which is driven by an Intel "Cactus Ridge 2C" Thunderbolt host controller. The TB_HEADER is a low-level connection between the motherboard and the add-on card, which transacts power state, signaling, and device hot-plugging events to the system BIOS. Some of ASUS' recent 7-series LGA1155 motherboards can be retrofitted with Thunderbolt the same way, and feature the same header. The card has a nice EMI shield running the entire length of its PCB. Its rear panel has one full-size DisplayPort, which is actually an input from your graphics card, and one Thunderbolt + mini-DP output.
The ASUS Thunderbolt EX is a swanky PCI-Express 2.0 x4 add-on card, which is driven by an Intel "Cactus Ridge 2C" Thunderbolt host controller. The TB_HEADER is a low-level connection between the motherboard and the add-on card, which transacts power state, signaling, and device hot-plugging events to the system BIOS. Some of ASUS' recent 7-series LGA1155 motherboards can be retrofitted with Thunderbolt the same way, and feature the same header. The card has a nice EMI shield running the entire length of its PCB. Its rear panel has one full-size DisplayPort, which is actually an input from your graphics card, and one Thunderbolt + mini-DP output.
CM Storm Trooper Gets Optional Windowed Side-Panel
Cooler Master released a new optional windowed side-panel accessory for its CM Storm Trooper chassis (SKU: SGA-5000-KWN1). The windowed panel replaces the standard meshed panel (pictured here), with one that has a large clear acrylic window that gives you a great view of your rig's innards. The panel is otherwise made of the same SECC steel, and blends in with the rest of the case. Available on Cooler Master's online store, the panel is priced at €19,95.
Patriot Shows Off Gauntlet NODE Wireless HDD Enclosure
Patriot made an addition to its Gauntlet line of storage products, the Gauntlet NODE. While other storage manufacturers are offering fully-built wireless HDDs, Patriot Gauntlet NODE gives you the flexibility to add your own 2.5-inch SATA drive (be it HDD or SSD). The enclosure supports 802.11 b/g/n (up to 150 Mbps), with WPA security. It packs a lithium ion battery, which can keep it running for up to 5.5 hours, on full charge. In the wireless mode, the NODE can stream media and files to iOS and Android devices (phones and tablets), for which it has apps in both marketplaces. It doesn't end there, the Gauntlet NODE even features USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface, with which it can connect to PCs as common USB mass-storage device, and allow you to quickly transfer files. The device charges with its included AC adapter.
Akasa Unveils Euler Fanless PC Case
Akasa unveiled the Euler fanless PC case for thin mini-ITX motherboards. Made mostly of aluminum, the Euler's body doubles up as a heatsink for the processor. Internally, the Euler has a relocatable CPU block, which conducts heat from the CPU to the chassis by heat pipes. The aluminum ridges on along the top and sides of the body dissipate heat. Apart from the thin mini-ITX motherboard, the case also has room for a 2.5-inch drive, and a slimline optical drive. Akasa will launch the Euler fanless mini-ITX case a little later this year.
AMD's Mike Wolfe Named Transformational CIO by The Enterprise CIO Forum
AMD announced today that Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Mike Wolfe is the inaugural 2012 honoree of the Transformational CIO Award, which recognizes leading-edge CIOs. Wolfe was recognized by The Enterprise CIO Forum for his pioneering approach to the strategic use of IT to transform AMD's business by reducing costs, increasing efficiency and bolstering productivity.
Wolfe, who has overseen a significant and successful consolidation of AMD's worldwide data centers, uses AMD technology for the company's engineering development and support infrastructure, including managing cloud computing solutions running on more than 123,000 AMD Opteron processor cores.
Wolfe, who has overseen a significant and successful consolidation of AMD's worldwide data centers, uses AMD technology for the company's engineering development and support infrastructure, including managing cloud computing solutions running on more than 123,000 AMD Opteron processor cores.
Eurocom Ships Fox 4.0 15.6-inch Notebook
Eurocom Corporation, a developer of long lifespan, high performance, fully upgradable Notebooks and Mobile Workstations has launched a small form factor notebook with up to 3 terabytes storage via three 1 terabyte storage drives, 3rd Generation Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge Processors, up to 16GB DDR3-1600 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M graphics with Optimus technology.
EUROCOM Fox 4.0 provides high-calibre performance, powerful graphics capabilities and high performance storage with three physical storage drives RAID 0/1/5 capability. Super powerful Intel Core i7 are supported for high-end computing wherever life takes place.
EUROCOM Fox 4.0 provides high-calibre performance, powerful graphics capabilities and high performance storage with three physical storage drives RAID 0/1/5 capability. Super powerful Intel Core i7 are supported for high-end computing wherever life takes place.
Thursday, June 7th 2012
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
- Antec One CircuitRemix
- Cooler Master Silencio 650 BitsandChips (it)
- Cooler Master Silencio 650 Guru3D
- Cooler Master Silencio 650 PCkoloji (tr)
- Cubitek ATX-ICE Overclockers Club
- InWin X-Frame Limited Edition Tweaktown
- Lian Li PC-C60 Computing on Demand
- Lian Li PC-Q05 Thin Missing Remote
- NZXT Aperture M Card Reader Ninja Lane
- SilverStone Fortress FT03-MINI Hardware Secrets
- Thermaltake Overseer RX-I NeoSeeker
- Thermaltake Armor Revo Snow Edition Overclockers Club
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
Mouse
Notebooks
Processors
PSUs
- Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 550W Tweaktown
- NZXT HALE82 N 650W Hardware Secrets
- NZXT HALE82 N Series 750W HardwareHeaven
- NZXT HALE82 N 750W Hi Tech Legion
- SilverStone Strider Gold Evolution ST75F-G 750W APH Networks
- Thermaltake Toughpower XT Platinum 1275W NikkTech
- Xigmatek Centauro 700W PCkoloji (tr)
SSD
Raptorfire Cronus Adapter Gives Your Gaming Platform Controller Flexibility
Raptorfire Inc., a Miami, FL-based manufacturer of gaming device modification tools, will be present at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, CA from June 5th thru 7th. The booth will feature product demos as well as Q&A sessions with product developers.
Raptorfire will feature their new gaming controller modification chips for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The chips, which are installed into existing hand-held controls for both systems, improve and enhance controller functionality and game play for the user. Many of the features provided by these chips include rapid fire, "drop shot", fast reload, and other popular modifications that are central to most first-person shooting games.
Raptorfire will feature their new gaming controller modification chips for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The chips, which are installed into existing hand-held controls for both systems, improve and enhance controller functionality and game play for the user. Many of the features provided by these chips include rapid fire, "drop shot", fast reload, and other popular modifications that are central to most first-person shooting games.
Sapphire Squeezes Radeon HD 7750 Down to Single-Slot Low-Profile
What you might pass away for a bare entry-level graphics card at first glance, could end up being Sapphire's new Radeon HD 7750 single-slot low-profile graphics card. The design is a beneficiary of 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, which is found to have good-enough temperatures on its reference-design board. The card is ideal for mini-ITX systems. It relies entirely on the PCI-Express slot for power, and uses a 2+1+1 phase VRM, which utilizes high-grade driver-MOSFETs on its GPU phases.
The card sticks to AMD reference clock speeds of 800 MHz core, with 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz effective) memory. It packs 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 128-bit wide memory interface. The GPU packs 512 Graphics CoreNext stream processors. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI, mini-DisplayPort, and mini-HDMI. Adapters converting them to standard-size connectors, and a low-profile bracket will come included.
The card sticks to AMD reference clock speeds of 800 MHz core, with 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz effective) memory. It packs 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 128-bit wide memory interface. The GPU packs 512 Graphics CoreNext stream processors. Display outputs include one each of dual-link DVI, mini-DisplayPort, and mini-HDMI. Adapters converting them to standard-size connectors, and a low-profile bracket will come included.
Sapphire Unveils Pure Platinum A75T Mini-ITX Motherboard
The Pure Platinum Z77i isn't the only new mini-ITX motherboard from Sapphire, the company also has one based on the AMD A75 chipset, supporting upcoming "Trinity APUs from AMD, in the socket FM2 package, called the Pure Platinum A75T. There are quite a few design differences between Sapphire's new mini-ITX motherboards besides the platforms they support. The most significant being, that the Pure Platinum A75T features two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, instead of standard 240-pin UDIMM ones.
The Pure Platinum A75T draws power from 24-pin ATX + 4-pin ATX connectors. The APU is powered by a 5-phase VRM, with a heatsink cooling the driver-MOSFETs. The APU is wired to two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory; a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot; and a mini-PCIe 2.0 x1 slot (for WLAN cards). The A75 FCH gives out four SATA 6 Gb/s internal ports. There are four USB 3.0 ports, two each on the rear-panel, and by headers. Display connectivity includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. 6-channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of the connectivity. The Pure Platinum A75T could feature in the first wave of socket FM2 motherboards.
The Pure Platinum A75T draws power from 24-pin ATX + 4-pin ATX connectors. The APU is powered by a 5-phase VRM, with a heatsink cooling the driver-MOSFETs. The APU is wired to two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory; a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot; and a mini-PCIe 2.0 x1 slot (for WLAN cards). The A75 FCH gives out four SATA 6 Gb/s internal ports. There are four USB 3.0 ports, two each on the rear-panel, and by headers. Display connectivity includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. 6-channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of the connectivity. The Pure Platinum A75T could feature in the first wave of socket FM2 motherboards.
Sapphire Also Displays Pure Platinum Z77i Mini-ITX Motherboard
Sapphire's growing motherboard lineup as a new entry in the form of the Pure Platinum Z77i. This socket LGA1155 motherboard is based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, and is built in the super-compact mini-ITX form-factor, making it ideal for gaming PCs that are LAN party-animals. The motherboard is designed to draw power from a 24-pin ATX, and a 4-pin CPU power connector. The LGA1155 socket is powered by a simple 4-phase VRM, which uses ferrite-core chokes and compact driver-MOSFETs. The VRM should be strong enough to handle CPUs that aren't heavily overclocked.
The LGA1155 socket on the Pure Platinum Z77i is wired to a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, and two DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory. The Z77 PCH gives out two internal SATA 6 Gb/s, and two SATA 3 Gb/s ports. Display connectivity includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. There are a total of four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, two by headers. Rounding off the connectivity are 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth.
The LGA1155 socket on the Pure Platinum Z77i is wired to a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot, and two DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory. The Z77 PCH gives out two internal SATA 6 Gb/s, and two SATA 3 Gb/s ports. Display connectivity includes one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. There are a total of four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, two by headers. Rounding off the connectivity are 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, and Bluetooth.
Sapphire Displays Radeon HD 7770 Ultimate Graphics Card
In February, Sapphire launched its HD 7750 Ultimate fan-less, silent graphics card. At Computex, the AMD Radeon major unveiled the model of this kind, based on the faster Radeon HD 7770 GPU. Called the Sapphire HD 7770 Ultimate, the card relies on a much larger aluminum fin heatsink than the one featured on the HD 7750 Ultimate, to cool the GPU. The heatsink makes the card about as long as an HD 7900 series model, although its PCB isn't as long. This allows a large portion of the heatsink to passively (by convection) vent its hot air above, without being interrupted by the PCB.
Despite its large heatsink, the Sapphire HD 7770 Ultimate does not need more than two expansion card slots in your system. Sapphire did not compromise on the clock speeds, although the card sticks to AMD reference speeds of 1000 MHz core, 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz effective) memory. It holds 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface. Based on the 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, the HD 7770 packs 640 Graphics CoreNext stream processors. Sapphire will launch the HD 7770 Ultimate a little later this year.
Despite its large heatsink, the Sapphire HD 7770 Ultimate does not need more than two expansion card slots in your system. Sapphire did not compromise on the clock speeds, although the card sticks to AMD reference speeds of 1000 MHz core, 1125 MHz (4.50 GHz effective) memory. It holds 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface. Based on the 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, the HD 7770 packs 640 Graphics CoreNext stream processors. Sapphire will launch the HD 7770 Ultimate a little later this year.
Enermax Display Pair of New ATX Mid-Tower Cases
Enermax displayed a pair of upcoming ATX mid-tower cases. The company hasn't finalized names of the two. One of them is labeled under Enermax' main brand (model: ECA3260), while the other, under its Ostrog series (ECA3270). The ECA3260 is designed to be extremely airy thanks to its fully-perforated front; while the CM HAF-looking ECA3270 offers "massive HDD storage room" (we count 8 3.5/2.5-inch bays). Both cases are capable of holding large (240 mm) fans, and feature largely tool-free interiors. Both cases make good use of the company's Vegas series fans for styling/illumination. Enermax will launch the the two cases in the second half of 2012.
Enermax Unveils Triathlor Series Mid-Range PSUs
Enermax showcased its newest line of mid-range PSUs, called Triathlor. Enermax talked about the new line back at CeBIT, in March. Available in a variety of sub-1000W capacities, Triathlor series consist of both fixed-cable and modular cable models. The modular ones are labeled Triathlor FC. A defining feature with all models is 80 Plus Bronze (~82 percent efficiency) and ErP Lot 6 compliance. The fixed cables on all Triathlor models feature Enermax' signature gold-stripe sleeving, while the detachable cables included in the modular ones are flat and black to ease air-flow. All models use 135 mm fans.
AMD Continues OpenCL Leadership With First Fully-Conformant OpenCL 1.2 Solution
AMD today announced continued leadership in driving OpenCL adoption with availability of the AMD APP SDK 2.7, featuring the first conformant implementation of OpenCL 1.2 and comprehensive support for C++. The new SDK expands the OpenCL application ecosystem by providing developers a powerful, cross-platform solution to unlock the performance of AMD GPUs, APUs, and multi-core CPUs with the added C++ wrapper API and AMD's C++ kernel language for greater efficiency, improved productivity and application robustness.
"AMD continues leading the OpenCL movement, as demonstrated with the release of our latest SDK featuring the industry's first fully-conformant OpenCL 1.2 implementation," said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Applications and Developer Solutions, AMD. "Our latest development tools empower developers to more easily harness the power of heterogeneous computing to help improve the user experience by making it easy to write applications that can take greater advantage of the compute capabilities of AMD's leading CPUs, GPUs and APUs."
"AMD continues leading the OpenCL movement, as demonstrated with the release of our latest SDK featuring the industry's first fully-conformant OpenCL 1.2 implementation," said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Applications and Developer Solutions, AMD. "Our latest development tools empower developers to more easily harness the power of heterogeneous computing to help improve the user experience by making it easy to write applications that can take greater advantage of the compute capabilities of AMD's leading CPUs, GPUs and APUs."
Acer Introduces New Aspire V5 Series Notebooks for U.S. Customers
Acer America today announced the Aspire V5 series, a new range of thin and light notebooks for students and budget-conscious consumers looking for impressive performance, style and full-featured mobility.
The Aspire V5 Series are 30 percent slimmer than previous value-based notebooks, making them extremely easy to handle on the go. Available in two display sizes, the 14-inch Aspire V5 model is just .79 inches thin and weighs a mere 4.6 pounds, while the 15.6-inch version is .83 inches thin and weighs just 5 pounds. The notebook's chassis has a soft and smooth surface making it comfortable to carry, with an elegant slim design available in four colors including purple, blue, silver and black.
The Aspire V5 Series are 30 percent slimmer than previous value-based notebooks, making them extremely easy to handle on the go. Available in two display sizes, the 14-inch Aspire V5 model is just .79 inches thin and weighs a mere 4.6 pounds, while the 15.6-inch version is .83 inches thin and weighs just 5 pounds. The notebook's chassis has a soft and smooth surface making it comfortable to carry, with an elegant slim design available in four colors including purple, blue, silver and black.
Nanosys and 3M to Develop Quantum Dot Technology for LCDs
Nanosys Inc. and the Optical Systems Division of 3M Company are joining technologies to provide wide color gamut technology for consumer electronic displays, allowing Liquid Crystal Displays ("LCDs") to display 50 percent more color.
3M and Nanosys will work together to commercialize Nanosys' Quantum Dot Enhancement Film ("QDEF") technology. QDEF is a drop-in film that LCD manufacturers can integrate with existing production processes. It utilizes the light emitting properties of quantum dots to create an ideal backlight for LCDs -- one of the most critical factors in the color and efficiency performance of LCDs.
3M and Nanosys will work together to commercialize Nanosys' Quantum Dot Enhancement Film ("QDEF") technology. QDEF is a drop-in film that LCD manufacturers can integrate with existing production processes. It utilizes the light emitting properties of quantum dots to create an ideal backlight for LCDs -- one of the most critical factors in the color and efficiency performance of LCDs.
Samsung Electronics Announces New 300 mm Logic Line in Korea
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced plans to build a new fabrication line in Hwaseong, South Korea, to meet the growing demands for logic products. Samsung will invest 2.25 trillion Korean won in the new fabrication line, which will break ground this month with a target timeline for completion by the end of 2013.
The new fabrication line will mainly produce highly advanced mobile application processors on 300mm wafers at 20nm and 14nm process nodes. Along with Lines 9 and 14, which have been converted to System LSI fabrication earlier this year, the new line will help supply to the expanding need for smart mobile solutions.
The new fabrication line will mainly produce highly advanced mobile application processors on 300mm wafers at 20nm and 14nm process nodes. Along with Lines 9 and 14, which have been converted to System LSI fabrication earlier this year, the new line will help supply to the expanding need for smart mobile solutions.
Sapphire Pure Platinum A85XT Socket FM2 Motherboard Pictured
It looks like the Pure Platinum A75 FM2 isn't Sapphire's top socket FM2 offering. Sapphire showed off its Pure Platnum A85XT among its other top-tier motherboards. The A85XT is based on AMD A85 FCH chipset, and supports next-generation "Trinity" APUs in the FM2 package. The APU socket is powered by an 8-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated).
Other expansion slots on the A85XT are a strangely positioned mPCIe, a PCI-Express 2.0 x4, two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and two legacy PCI. Seven of the A85 PCH SATA controller's eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports are assigned as internal ports, with the eighth one as mSATA. There are four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, and two via headers. Display connectivity includes DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 8-channel HD audio complete the package.
Other expansion slots on the A85XT are a strangely positioned mPCIe, a PCI-Express 2.0 x4, two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and two legacy PCI. Seven of the A85 PCH SATA controller's eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports are assigned as internal ports, with the eighth one as mSATA. There are four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, and two via headers. Display connectivity includes DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 8-channel HD audio complete the package.
Apacer Showing Latest Overclocking Memory at Computex 2012
Apacer is presenting their entire product line of state-of-the-art storage solutions for consumer and industrial usages at Computex Taipei 2012, June 5 to 9, at booth T202A on the 2nd floor of Taipei International Convention Center. Apart from their very comprehensive USB 3.0 line-up including SuperSpeed flash drives, external hard drives as well as card readers, this year Apacer will also be showing their leading overclocking memory modules in live demonstrations.
Workers Riot at Foxconn Chengdu iPhone/iPad Plant
If televised visits by Apple's top-brass to Foxconn's manufacturing facilities, and commitments to improve working conditions were mere PR exercises meant to cover up the issue of dismal working conditions, they failed. About 1,000 workers at Foxconn's manufacturing facility at Chengdu rioted on a large scale, which took the police several hours to subdue. According to media reports, the riot started when the facility guards were trying to stop a thief, while other workers who held grudges against the guards prevented them from catching the thief. Soon, the situation went out of control, as 1,000 workers started a riot. The workers were seen chucking pots, pans, garbage, and even fireworks from their dormitory windows. Public facilities sustained damage, the police made several arrests. The episode reveals that worker-management relations, at least at the Chengdu plant, which manufactures a massive amount of iPhone and iPad products for Apple, are at a breaking point.
Intel Selects Phoenix Technologies as Collaborative Partner for UEFI BIOS Development
Phoenix Technologies Ltd., the global leader in UEFI firmware technology, products and tools, today announced it has signed an agreement with Intel Corporation to be its collaborative partner for BIOS. The two companies will jointly develop the new reference UEFI firmware for the Intel code base.
Phoenix will provide on-site engineers who will work collaboratively with Intel across various global locations to create the reference UEFI core code firmware that will greatly improve and standardize the code base support for all future Intel client platforms. These improvements will be included in areas such as tools, re-visioning schemes and other firmware structures that will support bringing customer products to market quickly and efficiently. This jointly created reference standard for UEFI BIOS on Intel platforms will optimize an OEM's ability to meet market demands such as long battery life, instant-on and always connected for ultra-thin client products, as well as reliability, scalability and performance.
Phoenix will provide on-site engineers who will work collaboratively with Intel across various global locations to create the reference UEFI core code firmware that will greatly improve and standardize the code base support for all future Intel client platforms. These improvements will be included in areas such as tools, re-visioning schemes and other firmware structures that will support bringing customer products to market quickly and efficiently. This jointly created reference standard for UEFI BIOS on Intel platforms will optimize an OEM's ability to meet market demands such as long battery life, instant-on and always connected for ultra-thin client products, as well as reliability, scalability and performance.
Wednesday, June 6th 2012
Today's Reviews
Thermaltake Smart M Series 750 W Review
Among their many PSU offerings Thermaltake includes the SMART series which includes PSUs that are intended for those who just want a power supply that will get the work done without carrying any extra bells and whistles that increase its price.
RunCore Debuts New 2.5-inch 7mm SSD
RunCore, the leading manufacturer of high-performance and rugged solid state drives (SSDs), today introduced their new Pro VI 2.5-inch 7 mm SSD for Ultrabooks, offering higher and more stable performance than previous 7 mm SSDs.
According to latest results of various research institutions, it is estimated that more than a million Ultrabooks will be bought within 2012 as the retail price is expected to drop into the $799 to $899 range. Recently SSD pricing has already been declining, encourageing PC suppliers to use SSDs in their products, in particular Ultrabooks. In addition to the Pro V Ultra SSD, RunCore once again introduce another new 7 mm SSD - Pro VI 2.5-inch 7 mm SSD - to enrich their product lineup for Ultrabooks.
According to latest results of various research institutions, it is estimated that more than a million Ultrabooks will be bought within 2012 as the retail price is expected to drop into the $799 to $899 range. Recently SSD pricing has already been declining, encourageing PC suppliers to use SSDs in their products, in particular Ultrabooks. In addition to the Pro V Ultra SSD, RunCore once again introduce another new 7 mm SSD - Pro VI 2.5-inch 7 mm SSD - to enrich their product lineup for Ultrabooks.
Akasa Unveils Venom-branded Keyboard Pad and Mouse Pad
Wouldn't it be awesome, if your entire desk was topped off with a mouse pad-like material? Akasa has just the solution for you, with [perhaps the first] keyboard pads. Akasa launched doormat-sized, Venom-branded keyboard pads, which have fabric top and rubberized bases, which ensure your keyboard stays in a firm position during extended gaming sessions (assuming the rubber feet your keyboard shipped with wore out). Along with keyboard pads, Akasa also launched Venom-branded mouse pads with micro-weave top surface, and rubberized base. The Venom keyboard pad measures 850 x 450 mm, while the mouse pad measures 352 x 250 mm.
Akasa Tops Off PSU Lineup with Venom Power XT
Akasa displayed its newest line of enthusiast-segment PSUs, Venom Power XT. The 80 Plus Gold-certified line of ATX v2.3 PSUs will initially include two high capacity models, 850W and 1000W. The PSUs feature swanky new chassis design, and are cooled by the same Viper 135 mm fan that other Venom Power models use. Internally, Venom Power XT features a dual-12V rail design, a suite of protection mechanisms, and of course, Active PFC. The PSUs are partially modular, with a few essential cables such as 24-pin ATX, 4-pin / 8-pin ATX/EPS, and a pair of PCI-Express connectors being fixed. Additional pairs of PCI-Express power connectors, SATA, Molex, and Berg connectors will be modular.
Akasa Shows Off Venom Medusa High-End Air CPU Cooler
Akasa also unveiled the third entry into its Venom series of CPU coolers, the Venom Medusa. This launch comes exactly an year after that of the Venom Voodoo. In the picture below, the Venom Medusa is shown between the original Venom, and Venom Voodoo. The Venom Medusa is a large aluminum fin dual-tower heatsink, with two symmetrical aluminum fin stacks. It is designed keeping in mind the thermal loads of the new LGA2011 processors.
Its design consists of a large base from which eight nickel-plated copper heat pipes pass, making direct contact with the CPU, and passing through the two aluminum fin stacks at ends. The Venom Medusa ships with two fans, a Viper 120 mm fan pushes fresh air through the first aluminum fin stack, while a larger 140 mm fan conveys air from the first stack to the second. There is provision for a third 120 mm fan, which pulls air from the second stack, for exhaust. The Venom Medusa supports nearly every modern CPU socket type, including LGA2011, LGA1155/LGA1156, LGA1366, AM3+/AM3, and FM2/FM1.
Its design consists of a large base from which eight nickel-plated copper heat pipes pass, making direct contact with the CPU, and passing through the two aluminum fin stacks at ends. The Venom Medusa ships with two fans, a Viper 120 mm fan pushes fresh air through the first aluminum fin stack, while a larger 140 mm fan conveys air from the first stack to the second. There is provision for a third 120 mm fan, which pulls air from the second stack, for exhaust. The Venom Medusa supports nearly every modern CPU socket type, including LGA2011, LGA1155/LGA1156, LGA1366, AM3+/AM3, and FM2/FM1.
Akasa Unveils Piranha Case Fan
Akasa unveiled its third themed case fan after Viper (which goes into Venom series products) and Apache. Called the Piranha, the new fan design by Akasa relies on a new impeller blade design with teethed edges and broad blade ends, which work to increase air-flow, which can then be traded off for lower speed and lower noise. Akasa initially only has a 120 mm (120 x 120 x 25 mm) model. It supports PWM control, and draws power from standard 4-pin connector. Its cabling is sleeved. The Piranha from Akasa could be sold as unit fan packages, but could also feature in future Akasa products such as CPU coolers, cases, and PSUs.
Point of View Announces its GeForce GT 640 Multimedia Graphics Card
Point of View, a premier NVIDIA graphics partner and manufacturer of Android tablets, notebooks and other hardware, launches today the GeForce 600-series all-rounder card; the POV GeForce GT 640.
GeForce GT 640 is specifically designed as an energy efficient and cool graphics processor. Developed on a 28nm die-size, the renowned Kepler architecture uses the new SMX steaming multiprocessor technology to not only offer the best performance but also the optimal performance per watt.
GeForce GT 640 is specifically designed as an energy efficient and cool graphics processor. Developed on a 28nm die-size, the renowned Kepler architecture uses the new SMX steaming multiprocessor technology to not only offer the best performance but also the optimal performance per watt.
ASRock FM2 Lineup Topped Off with FM2A75 Pro4
Although ASRock was bold enough to give its upcoming entry-level FM2A75M-DGS socket FM2 motherboard the SATA 6 Gb/s equipped AMD A75 FCH, the company did not have any motherboards based on the new AMD A85 FCH chipset, on show. It's fair to assume that the company's mid-range ATX motherboard, the FM2A75 Pro4, will be topping up its socket FM2 lineup. Pictured below, the ASRock FM2A75 Pro4 utilizes everything the chipset provides, and adds a few third-party controllers.
The FM2 socket, which supports upcoming AMD "Trinity" APUs, is powered by a 6-phase VRM. There are four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting DDR3-2400+ MHz by overclocking. The socket is also wired to a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. The second x16 slot is electrical x4, and wired to the A75 FCH. ASRock somehow found it necessary to add three legacy PCI slots, and just two PCI-Express 2.0 x1.
The FM2 socket, which supports upcoming AMD "Trinity" APUs, is powered by a 6-phase VRM. There are four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting DDR3-2400+ MHz by overclocking. The socket is also wired to a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. The second x16 slot is electrical x4, and wired to the A75 FCH. ASRock somehow found it necessary to add three legacy PCI slots, and just two PCI-Express 2.0 x1.
Razer Synapse 2.0 to Bring Legacy Products to the Cloud
Razer, a high performance gaming hardware producer, today announced at the International Data Corporation's (IDC) "Cloud and X-Platform Gaming" press conference that the company's cloud-based service, Razer Synapse 2.0, in fewer than six months, has surpassed half a million1 user profile settings. Razer also announced that Razer Synapse 2.0 now supports the Razer DeathAdder gaming mouse, with other legacy products to follow, including the Razer BlackWidow mechanical gaming keyboard. With millions of Razer products in the hands of gamers today, Razer expects the number of user profile settings to continue to grow.
Razer Synapse 2.0 is a unified configurator that allows synchronization of settings on Razer gaming peripherals and devices through one unique user ID. Designed to improve user experience, Razer Synapse 2.0 eliminates the need to repeatedly reconfigure user settings, profiles and other gaming content, and provides gamers with access to customized options such as macros and key-binds through a single platform. Favorite configurations can be saved via Razer Synapse 2.0, enabling users to replicate and port their user profiles between gaming devices over the cloud, allowing the gamer to move his personalized settings freely between LAN centers, tournament sites and his favorite gaming rigs.
Razer Synapse 2.0 is a unified configurator that allows synchronization of settings on Razer gaming peripherals and devices through one unique user ID. Designed to improve user experience, Razer Synapse 2.0 eliminates the need to repeatedly reconfigure user settings, profiles and other gaming content, and provides gamers with access to customized options such as macros and key-binds through a single platform. Favorite configurations can be saved via Razer Synapse 2.0, enabling users to replicate and port their user profiles between gaming devices over the cloud, allowing the gamer to move his personalized settings freely between LAN centers, tournament sites and his favorite gaming rigs.
DETSEL-01: Pocket-Sized x86 PC
Russian Communication Technology LTD. launched DETSEL-01, one of the smallest Intel x86-powered mini-PCs ever. Measuring just 125 x 74 x 12 mm (roughly the size of a Seagate GoFlex 2.5-inch portable HDD), the DETSEL-01 is driven by an Intel Atom E680 processor (1.60 GHz, single-core with HTT, 4.5W TDP), with 1 GB of DDR2-800 memory, with 128 GB or 64 GB SATA 3 Gb/s SSD handling storage, and an external 12V DC input powering it. Connectivity is aplenty, with 802.11 b/g/n, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0, D-Sub display output (HDMI coming soon), stereo HD audio, and two USB 2.0 ports. The best part about this pocket-sized PC is its ability to run 32-bit Windows XP and Windows 7.
LaCie Launches 4big Rack Office - Essential Backup for Businesses
Building on the legacy of its most successful rack storage solution, LaCie introduces the 4big Rack Office. With full data protection, superior data sharing, and industry-trusted components, the 4big Rack Office is a solid investment for small businesses.
The 4big Rack Office is powered by Windows Home Server 2011. With a straightforward setup process and familiar Windows environment, the 4big Rack Office deploys quickly for small businesses.
The LaCie 4big Rack Office is an excellent solution to keep files and data automatically backed up, organized and accessible," said Nick Parker, VP WW OEM Marketing, Microsoft. "Combining the reliability and ease of use in the Windows platform with LaCie's engineering expertise provides a simple and secure way for small business customers to get cloud connected."
The 4big Rack Office is powered by Windows Home Server 2011. With a straightforward setup process and familiar Windows environment, the 4big Rack Office deploys quickly for small businesses.
The LaCie 4big Rack Office is an excellent solution to keep files and data automatically backed up, organized and accessible," said Nick Parker, VP WW OEM Marketing, Microsoft. "Combining the reliability and ease of use in the Windows platform with LaCie's engineering expertise provides a simple and secure way for small business customers to get cloud connected."
Samsung Introduces Two New Series 5 Laptops
Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, today announced two additions to its mobile PC line: the 15.6-inch Series 5 notebook and the 14-inch Series 5 500 notebook. Both products feature a 3rd generation Intel Core processor and top-of-the-line entertainment features, including JBL stereo speakers and NVIDIA GeForce Graphics. Additionally, Samsung announced that its Series 9, Series 5 and Series 3 models will feature Intel's new, more powerful processors.
"Our latest Series 5 notebooks offer a premium computing experience, thanks to Samsung's advanced engineering and Intel's new processors, as well as enviable entertainment features including JBL audio speakers to provide a home theater experience in a mobile PC, whether you're using it in your office, home or at a hotel," said Todd Bouman, vice president of marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "The power and speed of Intel's latest processors have enabled us to create even faster, more efficient laptops, and we're excited to have begun integrating them into these new models and several of our existing designs as well."
"Our latest Series 5 notebooks offer a premium computing experience, thanks to Samsung's advanced engineering and Intel's new processors, as well as enviable entertainment features including JBL audio speakers to provide a home theater experience in a mobile PC, whether you're using it in your office, home or at a hotel," said Todd Bouman, vice president of marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "The power and speed of Intel's latest processors have enabled us to create even faster, more efficient laptops, and we're excited to have begun integrating them into these new models and several of our existing designs as well."
ASRock Displays a Pair of Micro-ATX Socket FM2 Motherboards
With AMD's "Trinity" desktop APU platform just around the corner, ASRock is ready with motherboards that run it. At Computex, the company displayed a pair of micro-ATX socket FM2 motherboards, based on the AMD A75 FCH chipset. The two include the FM2A75 Pro4-M, and FM2A75M-DGS (pictured in that order).
The FM2A75 Pro4-M is the more premium offering between the two, designed for home desktops, while the FM2A75M-DGS is designed for entry-level PCs. The reason we feel FM2A75M-DGS will win in its segment, is because unlike competitors' offerings (such as MSI A55M-P33 (F2) and GIGABYTE F2A55M-DS2), the board is based on the A75 chipset, with SATA 6 Gb/s ports. It will be priced competitively.
The FM2A75 Pro4-M is the more premium offering between the two, designed for home desktops, while the FM2A75M-DGS is designed for entry-level PCs. The reason we feel FM2A75M-DGS will win in its segment, is because unlike competitors' offerings (such as MSI A55M-P33 (F2) and GIGABYTE F2A55M-DS2), the board is based on the A75 chipset, with SATA 6 Gb/s ports. It will be priced competitively.
ASRock Z77 OC Formula Motherboard Detailed
ASRock showed off its new high-end socket LGA1155 motherboard for overclocking, the Z77 OC Formula. The new product sits several notches above its Extreme and Fatal1ty series. Its design focus is on CPU overclocking potential, with ASRock cramming in strong VRM circuitry, active-cooling for the CPU VRM area, and a load of overclocker-friendly features, at the expense of connectivity.
The CPU is powered by a 12+4 phase DigiPower VRM that uses high-current chokes, tantalum capacitors, and active cooling to the MOSFETs. The VRM active-cooler packs a coolant channel, as well as a 40 mm fan. The CPU is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting dual-channel DDR3-3000+ MHz memory, by overclocking. A staggering 8-phase VRM powers the memory, preventing even the slightest voltage droop.
The CPU is powered by a 12+4 phase DigiPower VRM that uses high-current chokes, tantalum capacitors, and active cooling to the MOSFETs. The VRM active-cooler packs a coolant channel, as well as a 40 mm fan. The CPU is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting dual-channel DDR3-3000+ MHz memory, by overclocking. A staggering 8-phase VRM powers the memory, preventing even the slightest voltage droop.
Warm Tek Also Shows off "Pangolin" Heatsink Design Concept
The next big heatsink design at Warm Tek is called Pangolin C1-6. Its design stays true to the design principle of the Hedgehog series, in which each individual heat dissipation surface makes direct contact with the CPU, eliminating the need for heat-pipes (Warm Tek calls this seamless direct conduction). While the Hedgehog series heatsinks uses copper rods, the Pangolin C1-6 uses copper sheets which are tightly stacked up at the base, and fan-out upwards. The exposed copper sheets are treated with anti-oxidants at the factory. Like with the Hedgehog, it's purely pressure holding the sheets together, and the heatsink is weld-free. Although designed primarily for fan-less setups, a fan-clip is being worked on.
Warm Tek Displays a Refreshing New Heatsink Design
This bunch of neatly arranged copper rods caught our eyes at Computex. Called the "Blonde Hedgehog," the exhibit below is a new heatsink design concept, in which numerous copper rods bunch up inside a ring, which makes up the base, where they make direct contact with the CPU, and fan-out towards the top. A fan then ventilates the bunch. The copper rod design ensures extremely high surface area for dissipation, the down-flow of the air cools other components surrounding the CPU socket, as well. The rods are held together by pressure, and not welding. In fact, the designers are bragging about the design being weld-free.
G.SKILL Showcasing "Largest & Fastest" DDR3 Memory at 2012 Computex
G.SKILL - manufacturer of world leading high performance memory and SSD, debuts the largest memory computer system that runs a total of 96GB (8GBx 12) RipjawsZ DDR3 1600MHz kit on the latest EVGA SR-X motherboard at Computex 2012.
G.SKILL also displays the fastest memory of G.SKILL's TridentX which achieved the amazing speed over DDR3 3000MHz CL11 16GB (4GBx4) on both ASUS Z77 MAXIMUS V FORMULA and GIGABYTE Z77A-UD5 motherboards.
G.SKILL also displays the fastest memory of G.SKILL's TridentX which achieved the amazing speed over DDR3 3000MHz CL11 16GB (4GBx4) on both ASUS Z77 MAXIMUS V FORMULA and GIGABYTE Z77A-UD5 motherboards.
Wave of Innovation Coming from Microsoft and its Partners This Year
Today during a keynote address at COMPUTEX, Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) division at Microsoft Corp., demonstrated the breadth of innovation happening across Windows and the Windows ecosystem. He announced the second community technology preview (CTP) for Windows Embedded Standard 8, unveiled Quanta's new private cloud server solution, highlighted Ford's launch of its award-winning SYNC in-car connectivity system for Taiwan, and showed off some of the latest Windows devices.
When it comes to delivering Windows technologies across PCs, servers, phones and specialized devices, Microsoft is taking a holistic approach by providing familiar tools and technologies that enable customers and partners to maximize their investments. To that end, Microsoft today announced the second CTP for Windows Embedded Standard 8, which delivers the power of Windows for specialized devices running line-of-business applications within intelligent systems. Windows Embedded Standard 8 encompasses tools for natural, immersive user experiences and the ability for OEMs to define and control the device capabilities, with additional technologies that extend the power of Windows on industry devices. The CTP is available immediately for download by visiting this page.
When it comes to delivering Windows technologies across PCs, servers, phones and specialized devices, Microsoft is taking a holistic approach by providing familiar tools and technologies that enable customers and partners to maximize their investments. To that end, Microsoft today announced the second CTP for Windows Embedded Standard 8, which delivers the power of Windows for specialized devices running line-of-business applications within intelligent systems. Windows Embedded Standard 8 encompasses tools for natural, immersive user experiences and the ability for OEMs to define and control the device capabilities, with additional technologies that extend the power of Windows on industry devices. The CTP is available immediately for download by visiting this page.
MediaTek First to Bring 802.11ac 1T1R "Dual Band Concurrent" Home Networks
MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions, announced today the world's first 1T1R 802.11ac dual-band concurrent Wi-Fi router and dongle solutions. MT7620 + MT7610E and MT7610U provide the mass market with 1T1R 802.11ac router and dongle to enable high quality data transmission, voice and video applications in connected homes. MediaTek will demonstrate its latest wireless technologies, connectivity devices and applications to its customers during Computex Taipei 2012.
MT7620 family integrates a 2T2R 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, a 600 MHz MIPS 24KEc CPU, 5p FE switch, 2xrGMII, USB, PCIe, SD-HC. The PCI Express interface will connect to 2nd Wi-Fi chipset for 11n 2x2 DBC router or to an 11ac chipset for 1x1 DBC 11ac routers. The high performance USB 2.0 allows MT7620 to add 3G/LTE support on a router or can add a UVC cam to enable the best cost/performance IP-Cam. And to support the wireless storage application, MT7620 supports NAND flash interface, SD-HC, USB 2.0 and storage accelerator for NAS, Wi-Fi HDD and Wi-Fi card reader. Audio interface I2S and PCM will enable wireless speaker and VoIP applications. MT7620 also steps up to the leading Hardware Network Address Translation (HNAT) milestone by supporting 2Gbps wired speed with IPv6 forwarding. The cost effective rGMII iNIC interface (2.4G or dual-band concurrent) can be utilized for cable, PON, xDSL and broadband wireless router.
MT7620 family integrates a 2T2R 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, a 600 MHz MIPS 24KEc CPU, 5p FE switch, 2xrGMII, USB, PCIe, SD-HC. The PCI Express interface will connect to 2nd Wi-Fi chipset for 11n 2x2 DBC router or to an 11ac chipset for 1x1 DBC 11ac routers. The high performance USB 2.0 allows MT7620 to add 3G/LTE support on a router or can add a UVC cam to enable the best cost/performance IP-Cam. And to support the wireless storage application, MT7620 supports NAND flash interface, SD-HC, USB 2.0 and storage accelerator for NAS, Wi-Fi HDD and Wi-Fi card reader. Audio interface I2S and PCM will enable wireless speaker and VoIP applications. MT7620 also steps up to the leading Hardware Network Address Translation (HNAT) milestone by supporting 2Gbps wired speed with IPv6 forwarding. The cost effective rGMII iNIC interface (2.4G or dual-band concurrent) can be utilized for cable, PON, xDSL and broadband wireless router.
Eurocom Adds GeForce GTX 680M as Option to Neptune 2.0 and Racer 2.0
Eurocom Corporation, a developer of long lifespan, high performance, fully upgradable Notebooks and Mobile Workstations has launched the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M GPU with 1344 CUDA cores and 4GB GDDR5 graphics memory in its line of high performance Notebooks.
Eurocom will be launching the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M in the EUROCOM Neptune 2.0 and Racer 2.0 high performance, fully upgradeable and customizable notebooks.
Eurocom will be launching the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M in the EUROCOM Neptune 2.0 and Racer 2.0 high performance, fully upgradeable and customizable notebooks.
VTX3D Also Displays HD 7870 X-Edition
The second new factory-overclocked graphics card to be shown by VTX3D at Computex, is the HD 7870 X-Edition. Unlike the HD 7770 X-Edition detailed earlier, the HD 7870 X-Edition comes with true non-reference PCB and cooler designs. The cooler appears similar to the one PowerColor (a sibling brand of VTX3D) used on the HD 7870 Eyefinity6. The card comes with out of the box clock speeds of 1100 MHz core, and 1225 MHz (4.90 GHz effective) memory, against reference clock speeds of 1000 MHz core, and 1200 MHz (4.80 GHz effective) memory. Based on the 28 nm "Pitcairn" silicon, the HD 7870 packs 1280 stream processors, and holds 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit wide memory interface.
VTX3D Displays Radeon HD 7770 X-Edition
VTX3D, a brand owned by TUL, displayed the Radeon HD 7770 X-Edition. The factory-overclocked graphics card comes with clock speeds of 1150 MHz core and 1250 MHz (5.00 GHz effective) memory, against reference clock speeds of 1000 MHz core and 1125 (4.50 GHz effective) memory. The card features a red-colored AMD reference design PCB, and a cooling solution that's just cosmetically different from AMD reference design (red and black colors inverted). The card packs 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit wide memory interface. Based on the 28 nm "Cape Verde" silicon, the Radeon HD 7770 packs 640 Graphics CoreNext stream processors.
New Details on ASUS ZEUS Emerge
A star attraction at the motherboard section of ASUS booth was its ZEUS Dual-GPU X79 concept motherboard. We got a chance to talk at lengths with people at ASUS about the exhibit, and learned a few details beyond what we already know. To begin with, ASUS is likely using a pair of "Southern Islands" family discrete mobile GPUs, not desktop ones. Further, it's likely that the GPUs are 28 nm "Pitcairn" based. The two GPUs are installed in CrossFire configuration. The next big detail is that the design focus on [evidently] isn't the integrated dual-GPU, but to demonstrate the first Thunderbolt-equipped X79 motherboard. The ZEUS has not one, but two Thunderbolt ports. The third (and most depressing) detail is that it's "highly unlikely" that the ZEUS will ever make it to the market. Think of it as yet another tradeshow concept by a big company. Perhaps ASUS doesn't want the ZEUS to end up like the ROG GSurf-365, its first off-beat ROG motherboard, which went beyond the show-floor but didn't have market-success.
ASUS Working on World's First Notebook with 802.11ac
According to Broadcom vice-president Michael Hurlston, the upcoming ASUS Republic of Gamers G75VW will be the world's first notebook PC with an integrated 802.11ac WLAN adapter. It will be the "world's first 5G Wi-Fi laptop," according to Hurlston. Yet to be released to the market, the G75VW will be equipped with a Broadcom-made 802.11ac adapter, although its product page currently only mentions 802.11n support. The notebook will pack dual-antennae MIMO support, and will be capable of theoretical network speeds in the 800 to 850 Mbps range. Hurlston made this statement at the Computex 2012 company booth.
AFOX Launches its GeForce GTX 640 Graphics Card
AFOX Corporation, a professional and leading manufacturer of Graphics Cards, today announced to release the latest AFOX Geforce GT 640 Graphics Card AF640-2048D3L1 - the newest model designed for mainstream users with excellent 3D display and gaming performance, perfect low profile size to all PC types, full PCI Express 3.0 and DirectX11 support.
Compared to the previous generation, the new AFOX AF640-2048D3L1 based on latest NVIDIA's 28nm Kepler GK107 GPU, has up to 25% better performance than the old GTS 450. The AFOX GT 640 Graphics Card has 384 Cuda Cores, an impressive 900MHz core speed, 2048MB of DDR3 memory running at 1782MHz and 128-bit memory interface. It supports NVIDIA CUDA, PhysX and Blu-Ray 3D technology, which are designed for both high quality gaming and great home theater solutions. Without any additional power requirement, the testing result shows that the new AFOX GT 640 Graphics Card has an unbeatable performance/Watt ratio compared with previous generation products.
Compared to the previous generation, the new AFOX AF640-2048D3L1 based on latest NVIDIA's 28nm Kepler GK107 GPU, has up to 25% better performance than the old GTS 450. The AFOX GT 640 Graphics Card has 384 Cuda Cores, an impressive 900MHz core speed, 2048MB of DDR3 memory running at 1782MHz and 128-bit memory interface. It supports NVIDIA CUDA, PhysX and Blu-Ray 3D technology, which are designed for both high quality gaming and great home theater solutions. Without any additional power requirement, the testing result shows that the new AFOX GT 640 Graphics Card has an unbeatable performance/Watt ratio compared with previous generation products.
Club 3D Announces its New GeForce GT 640
Club 3D presents its GeForce GT 640 graphic cards, both cards are low profile and come with a quiet single slot cooler (29 dBA*) and come with Dual-Link DVI-D, HDMI and VGA video outputs. The GeForce GT 640 cards are based on the GK107 chipset, and offer full support for PCI Express 3.0, DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.2 and OpenCL 1.2.
Aimed at the mid-entry level, the cards are a very affordable way to turn your PC into a multimedia and game computer. Like with all its Low Profile cards Club 3D offers more value with a Low Profile Kit (LP slot brackets included). The Club 3D GeForce GT 640 is the perfect solution for those that are looking for a small and affordable graphics upgrade.
Aimed at the mid-entry level, the cards are a very affordable way to turn your PC into a multimedia and game computer. Like with all its Low Profile cards Club 3D offers more value with a Low Profile Kit (LP slot brackets included). The Club 3D GeForce GT 640 is the perfect solution for those that are looking for a small and affordable graphics upgrade.
Corsair Officially Launches Dominator Platinum DDR3 Memory
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Dominator Platinum range of DDR3 memory kits, the world's most technologically-advanced performance memory. The new design adds a customizable light bar to the list of exclusive features, which includes patented DHX cooling, Corsair Link support, and hand-screened, super-overclockable DRAM ICs.
The new Dominator Platinum will be available in dual and quad-channel kits with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities, and frequencies up to 2800MHz. Dominator Platinum DDR3 memory is designed to fully exploit the performance potential of the latest Intel and AMD platforms, including the "Ivy Bridge" 3rd generation Intel Core processor family. All Dominator Platinum kits support Intel's latest XMP 1.3 profiles for easy performance tuning.
The new Dominator Platinum will be available in dual and quad-channel kits with 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities, and frequencies up to 2800MHz. Dominator Platinum DDR3 memory is designed to fully exploit the performance potential of the latest Intel and AMD platforms, including the "Ivy Bridge" 3rd generation Intel Core processor family. All Dominator Platinum kits support Intel's latest XMP 1.3 profiles for easy performance tuning.
HighPoint Unveils Next Generation RAID-On-Chip SAS 6Gb/s HBAs
HighPoint Technologies, Inc., an industry leading Storage HBA and RAID solutions manufacturer, has announced a new class of SAS 6Gb/s ROC HBA Series. The RocketRAID 4500 series were designed to meet the demanding requirements of professional business and media applications, where performance, 24-7 data availability and reliability of storage are paramount.
Introducing the RocketRAID 4520 - 8-Port 6Gb/s PCI Express SATA and SAS RAID HBA
The first of this new SAS 6Gb/s hardware RAID Host adapter series, the RocketRAID 4520, utilizes a Marvell RAID-on-Chip 900MHz onboard processor, 512MB DDR3 cache memory, PCI-Express 2.0 x8 bus speeds and SAS 6Gb/s connectivity combined with industry-proven RAID IP, delivers unrivaled performance and superior reliability.
Introducing the RocketRAID 4520 - 8-Port 6Gb/s PCI Express SATA and SAS RAID HBA
The first of this new SAS 6Gb/s hardware RAID Host adapter series, the RocketRAID 4520, utilizes a Marvell RAID-on-Chip 900MHz onboard processor, 512MB DDR3 cache memory, PCI-Express 2.0 x8 bus speeds and SAS 6Gb/s connectivity combined with industry-proven RAID IP, delivers unrivaled performance and superior reliability.
New AMD E-Series APUs Set the High Bar for Essential Notebook Battery Life
AMD today announced the launch of its latest AMD E-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) platform. Designed for essential notebook and desktop personal computers which meet basic performance needs at accessible price points, the 2012 AMD E-Series APU enables long battery life and a best-in-class entertainment and media experience, while striking a balance between energy efficiency and unique innovations for brilliant high definition (HD) entertainment.
"In 2011, we showed the industry you could get discrete-level GPU power in a notebook without added power consumption or cost, resulting in the most successful notebook platform in AMD's history," said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Client Business Unit. "Today we raise the bar even higher with our latest APU offering. Our 2012 AMD E-Series APU gives consumers a visually superior choice for everyday performance with the latest graphics technology and nearly three hours more battery life than the competition."
"In 2011, we showed the industry you could get discrete-level GPU power in a notebook without added power consumption or cost, resulting in the most successful notebook platform in AMD's history," said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Client Business Unit. "Today we raise the bar even higher with our latest APU offering. Our 2012 AMD E-Series APU gives consumers a visually superior choice for everyday performance with the latest graphics technology and nearly three hours more battery life than the competition."
Tuesday, June 5th 2012
Today's Reviews
Motherboards
ECS Golden Board Z77H2-AX LGA 1155 Review
A rare Golden weapon, forged to defeat one of the twin dragons, AMD and Intel, has emerged! The ECS Golden Board Z77H2-AX is a limited edition, highly rare sample sent to us directly from ECS, the first in a series that showcases the potential and new outlook ECS has adopted for 2012, and the future. And like any other rare weapon, the damage it inflicts is immense!
Turtle Beach Storms E3 With New And Advanced Line-Up Of Gaming Audio Products
Turtle Beach, pioneers and market-leaders of the gaming headset category, is pleased to unveil its new fall lineup at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Turtle Beach has created a 6,000 square foot both that will showcase new products and a dedicated theater showcase featuring an immersive audio experience. In addition, Turtle Beach will also underscore its commitment to competitive gaming by offering attendees a tournament showcase. The tournament area, theater experience and full line of gaming audio products are available via its E3 booth; Los Angeles Convention Center South Hall #2447, from June 5 - 7, 2012.
The Turtle Beach Ear Force theater experience offers E3 attendees a unique and innovative audio presentation to demonstrate the importance of audio in the gaming experience. Through a custom system utilizing a 270-degree screen, three projectors and headset integration the presentation highlights Turtle Beach's advanced audio. As always, hundreds of Turtle Beach headsets will be powering the audio experiences for visitors to numerous E3 booths, including Activision, 2K Games, Warner Brothers, Konami, Project (RED), Snapdragon, Bethesda, Gameloft and many others.
The Turtle Beach Ear Force theater experience offers E3 attendees a unique and innovative audio presentation to demonstrate the importance of audio in the gaming experience. Through a custom system utilizing a 270-degree screen, three projectors and headset integration the presentation highlights Turtle Beach's advanced audio. As always, hundreds of Turtle Beach headsets will be powering the audio experiences for visitors to numerous E3 booths, including Activision, 2K Games, Warner Brothers, Konami, Project (RED), Snapdragon, Bethesda, Gameloft and many others.
Samsung Set to Become a Major Force in the Video Game Industry
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, revealed today its cloud-based gaming service: "Samsung Cloud Gaming". Samsung Cloud Gaming, developed in partnership with Gaikai, a leading cloud-based video game platform provider, will stream a mix of family-friendly and AAA video games directly to owners of 2012 Samsung LED 7000 series and up Smart TVs in the U.S.
Samsung Cloud Gaming gives Smart TV users instant access to some of the video game industry's biggest titles, without any need to download, install or patch/update games. In under a minute, consumers can find and start playing some of the most popular game titles on the market.
Samsung Cloud Gaming gives Smart TV users instant access to some of the video game industry's biggest titles, without any need to download, install or patch/update games. In under a minute, consumers can find and start playing some of the most popular game titles on the market.
Biwin Unveils PCIE SSD in Technology Demo at Computex 2012
Biwin, an industry leader in flash storage products, will showcase a working PCIE based solid state drive (SSD) in a technology demo system in their booth at the Computex convention this week in Taipei. Although this product will not be released for sale, it is the precursor to the company's future line of PCIE-based enterprise class SSDs.
Today's SATA SSDs deliver sequential and random performance that is dramatically faster than HDDs. But enterprise applications demand ever greater performance, requiring storage solutions with far greater bandwidth than SATA can provide. PCI Express, or PCIE, offers three big advantages as an SSD interface:
- universal availability;
- massive bandwidth in a single volume;
- general freedom from compatibility issues.
Today's SATA SSDs deliver sequential and random performance that is dramatically faster than HDDs. But enterprise applications demand ever greater performance, requiring storage solutions with far greater bandwidth than SATA can provide. PCI Express, or PCIE, offers three big advantages as an SSD interface:
- universal availability;
- massive bandwidth in a single volume;
- general freedom from compatibility issues.
ASUS Unveils Z77 Wolverine Motherboard with 40-Phase CPU VRM
If you thought the GIGABYTE Z77X-UP7 with its 32-phase CPU VRM was over the top, check out the Z77 Wolverine from ASUS. A design concept for the time being, this beast packs 40 (yes, forty) CPU VRM phases. The VRM makes use of compact chokes and driver-MOSFETs, with 20 phases on each side of the PCB. Given that it draws power from just one 8-pin EPS connector, the only idea we see behind this concoction is reducing load per "phase", resulting in lower temperatures per driver-MOSFET, perhaps even letting the motherboard do away with with VRM area heatsinks altogether.
ASUS insists that the CPU VRM of the Z77 Wolverine features Digi+, so we assume it uses the same EPU controller found on several other P8Z77-V series motherboards. The bottom half of the Z77 Wolverine is nearly identical to that of the P8Z77-V Deluxe, including the layout of expansion slots (3x PCIe 3.0 x16, 3x PCIe 2.0 x1). The board's connectivity resembles that of the P8Z77-V Deluxe, too. This include four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and two eSATA 6 Gb/s ports; eight USB 3.0 ports (6x rear-panel, 2 via header); dual gigabit Ethernet; and 802.11 b/g/n + Bluetooth module.
ASUS insists that the CPU VRM of the Z77 Wolverine features Digi+, so we assume it uses the same EPU controller found on several other P8Z77-V series motherboards. The bottom half of the Z77 Wolverine is nearly identical to that of the P8Z77-V Deluxe, including the layout of expansion slots (3x PCIe 3.0 x16, 3x PCIe 2.0 x1). The board's connectivity resembles that of the P8Z77-V Deluxe, too. This include four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and two eSATA 6 Gb/s ports; eight USB 3.0 ports (6x rear-panel, 2 via header); dual gigabit Ethernet; and 802.11 b/g/n + Bluetooth module.
Corsair Releases Flash Voyager Slider USB 3.0 Drives
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of the Flash Voyager Slider USB 3.0 drives in capacities of 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB.
Flash Voyager Slider USB drives feature a sleek new, capless housing with a sliding retractable USB plug for convenience and protection. Like Corsair's other USB drives, the new Flash Voyager Slider delivers high-performance USB 3.0 speedsi, backwards USB 2.0 compatibility, and plug-and-play support for major operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Flash Voyager Slider USB drives feature a sleek new, capless housing with a sliding retractable USB plug for convenience and protection. Like Corsair's other USB drives, the new Flash Voyager Slider delivers high-performance USB 3.0 speedsi, backwards USB 2.0 compatibility, and plug-and-play support for major operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Action-Packed Mech Combat Rolls-out at E3 with the Razer Artemis Concept Controller
Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, today announced a partnership with Piranha Games and Infinite Game Publishing for the highly anticipated next installation of the MechWarrior franchise, MechWarrior Online. The collaboration culminates in the Razer Artemis, a concept controller crafted to give gamers a competitive edge as they stomp and destroy their way to victory in the dog-eat-dog BattleTech universe.
The BattleMech inspired Razer Artemis concept controller puts gamers into the cockpits of their favored hulking metal behemoths, fully immersed and focused on the dangers of the battlefield, claiming wins for their chosen Great House. With fully-programmable, fine-tuned controls, the ergonomically adjustable Razer Artemis concept controller makes piloting a Mech more efficient and lethal in combat.
The BattleMech inspired Razer Artemis concept controller puts gamers into the cockpits of their favored hulking metal behemoths, fully immersed and focused on the dangers of the battlefield, claiming wins for their chosen Great House. With fully-programmable, fine-tuned controls, the ergonomically adjustable Razer Artemis concept controller makes piloting a Mech more efficient and lethal in combat.
Nintendo’s Wii U Ushers in New Age of Video Games with Second-Screen Experience
Nintendo revealed a massive lineup of first- and third-party video games for its upcoming Wii U home console today, including new games in the Super Mario Bros., Pikmin, Wii Fit, Batman: Arkham City, Scribblenauts, Assassin's Creed and Just Dance franchises. The Wii U console launches this holiday season and introduces the Wii U GamePad, a controller with a 6.2-inch touch screen that redefines how people interact with their games, their entertainment and one another. Video game publishers from around the world, including Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Electronic Arts, SEGA, THQ and NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. are demonstrating how their biggest franchises are being reimagined for Wii U.
New Toshiba Business-Class Laptops Take Power and Patch Management to the Next Level
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its enhanced business laptops product line with 3rd generation Intel Core processors and new technology developed with IBM that enables IT professionals to better control the security and power management across enterprise deployments. The new models include the Portégé Z930 Ultrabook and the Portégé R930 ultraportable, as well as upgrades to its Tecra line of laptops, business workhorses with enhanced durability, security and reliability.
Silicon Power Also Unveils SkyShare Series WiFi Drives
Silicon Power made its entry to wireless storage with its SkyShare series of WiFi drives. These self-powered drives provide media streaming and data sharing for up to 8 simultaneous connections (compare that to 3, of the Kingston WiDrive). The first two members of the SkyShare family are the NAND flash-based SkyShare F10, and HDD-based H10. The flash-based F10 will be available in capacities of 32 GB and 64 GB, with "low power consumption," while the HDD-based H10 will be offered in 500 GB and 1 TB capacities. The H10 supports a "wired mode," in which it can talk to the host while charging itself, over fast USB 3.0 interface. Both the drives will support 802.11 g/n, and standard security features. The F10 and H10 are pictured in that order, below.
Silicon Power Shows off XPower DDR3 Overclocking Memory
Silicon Power showed off its newest line of DDR3 modules for overclocking, named XPower. The modules will ship with high clock-speed XMP profiles (≥1866 MHz). The one pictured below does DDR3-2400 MHz. Available in module densities of 4 GB and 8 GB, the XPower modules with make up single-module, dual-channel, triple-channel, and quad-channel kits. Seeing as how these modules are also available in triple-channel kits, it's likely that some, if not all, support older versions of Intel XMP, for compatibility with older platforms (eg: triple-channel Nehalem and Westmere supporting XMP 1.2). Key selling features here are thoroughly tested modules, and chunky aluminum heatsinks.
ASUS ROG MARS III Dual GTX 680 Graphics Card Detailed
The ROG MATRIX 7970 wasn't the only new Republic of Gamers graphics card on display at Computex, it was sitting next to the MARS III. This monstrosity is a dual-GeForce GTX 680 graphics card, it packs two 28 nm GK104 GPUs with clock speeds that match or exceed those of the GeForce GTX 680. ASUS stopped short of revealing the clock speeds. The card draws power from three 8-pin PCI-Express power connectors, next to it is an instant fan-override button that revs up the card's fans to 100%. The card gives out three dual-link DVI display outputs, and is capable of driving 3D Vision Surround using three >1920x1200 pixels displays. Unlike the MATRIX 7970 and countless recent examples of ASUS' ugly fixation with triple-slot cooling solutions, it's a pleasant surprise seeing that the triple-fan cooling solution of the MARS III needs just two expansion card slots. The MARS III will be manufactured in limited quantities, and will probably cost more than a GeForce GTX 690.
Dell Unveils Ultimate Technology for Back-to-School with New Inspiron Laptop Family
Dell today announced its expanded Inspiron laptop portfolio just in time for graduation and the upcoming back to school period. Parents today want to give their kids the best advantages, and Dell is offering its tailored line-up of Inspiron laptops for the unique needs of families and students. With three series of Inspiron laptops - the Inspiron z series for thin & powerful style on the go, the Inspiron R series for everyday family computing activities, and the Inspiron R Special Edition series for studio-quality multimedia and audio - parents and students can find the laptop best suited to them on Dell.com.
Equipped with the latest technology, customers will have peace of mind knowing that their Inspiron purchase is a smart investment for the family, whether for school work and learning online, multimedia and entertainment, or for household organization. All Inspiron laptops announced today will offer options with Intel's new 3rd Generation Core i processors (Ivy Bridge), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and will be eligible for the Microsoft Windows 8 upgrade program.
Equipped with the latest technology, customers will have peace of mind knowing that their Inspiron purchase is a smart investment for the family, whether for school work and learning online, multimedia and entertainment, or for household organization. All Inspiron laptops announced today will offer options with Intel's new 3rd Generation Core i processors (Ivy Bridge), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system, and will be eligible for the Microsoft Windows 8 upgrade program.
Razer Unveils the Taipan Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse
Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, today introduced the Razer Taipan, an ambidextrous gaming mouse that sets a new standard for versatility, form and function. Over its storied history, Razer has placed itself at the forefront of the video gaming industry by combining cutting-edge technology with ergonomic research. The Razer Taipan is the latest expression of the brand's unique approach to engineering and design, the culmination of the years of diligence and validation from the brand's e-Sports professionals.
Razer's ergonomic scientists collaborated with top e-Sports athletes from professional gaming teams such as Empire, Frenetic Array, Mousesports, Quantic, Rox.Kis and Type II Gaming, to pinpoint the optimal shape, weight, and balance required in an ambidextrous mouse at the highest levels of gameplay. Its symmetrical shape with narrow footprint and arched back make it comfortable for a wide variety of players. The weight distribution of the mouse has also been tweaked for the most optimal grip profile.
Razer's ergonomic scientists collaborated with top e-Sports athletes from professional gaming teams such as Empire, Frenetic Array, Mousesports, Quantic, Rox.Kis and Type II Gaming, to pinpoint the optimal shape, weight, and balance required in an ambidextrous mouse at the highest levels of gameplay. Its symmetrical shape with narrow footprint and arched back make it comfortable for a wide variety of players. The weight distribution of the mouse has also been tweaked for the most optimal grip profile.
TRENDnet Launches Smallest 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter With Built in Outlet
TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, announces today from Computex Taipei, the launch of the 500 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter with Built in Outlet, model TPL-407E, and the 500 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit with Built in Outlet, model TPL-407E2K, which comes with two TPL-407E adapters.
TRENDnet's innovative TPL-407E connects Internet televisions, media players, game consoles, and computers to the Internet using existing electrical lines. The TPL-407E is about half the size of comparable solutions available today, saving valuable space around crowded electrical outlets.
TRENDnet's innovative TPL-407E connects Internet televisions, media players, game consoles, and computers to the Internet using existing electrical lines. The TPL-407E is about half the size of comparable solutions available today, saving valuable space around crowded electrical outlets.
SanDisk SSD Technology Chosen for New Fujitsu Line of Ultrabook Computers
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced that Fujitsu has selected the SanDisk iSSD integrated storage device for use in the new Fujitsu LIFEBOOK lineup of Ultrabook computers.
The 32 gigabyte (GB) SanDisk iSSD provides fast, reliable storage in the Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U772, UH772 and UH572 models, which Fujitsu introduced today. SanDisk iSSD technology is combined with Condusiv Technologies ExpressCache software in the new Fujitsu LIFEBOOK computers to deliver improved system performance. This software and hardware combination reduces system startup and application loading times to deliver a better overall user experience.
The 32 gigabyte (GB) SanDisk iSSD provides fast, reliable storage in the Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U772, UH772 and UH572 models, which Fujitsu introduced today. SanDisk iSSD technology is combined with Condusiv Technologies ExpressCache software in the new Fujitsu LIFEBOOK computers to deliver improved system performance. This software and hardware combination reduces system startup and application loading times to deliver a better overall user experience.
Cooler Master Launches the Silencio 650 PC Case
Cooler Master introduces a high-end case with silence in mind, but did not neglect the needs of a powerful system in the Silencio 650. Many of these features are easily accessible via the rich I/O which includes DualBoot HDD, fan controller, USB 3.0 and more. On the inside, it has a layer of noise dampening foam, hot swap X-dock, enough room for up to 8 HDDs and up to 3 high-end graphics cards.
Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR3-3000 MHz Memory Pictured
Corsair is finally giving its high-end DRAM family some love, with the new Dominator Platinum family of high-speed DDR3 memory modules. With it, the company also came up with its newest DRAM module heatsink design. The new DHX heatsink uses a revamped design that extracts heat from the DRAM chips more efficiently. At its top portion, the module features a user-swappable "light bar", which is purely an aesthetic touch. Further, the modules support Corsair Link, which lets the user monitor temperatures and voltages of each module via software, in real-time. Pictured below is a DDR3-3000 MHz variant of the Dominator Platinum. The module packs an XMP 1.4 profile for 3000 MHz (1500 MHz actual), with CAS latency of 12T.
Toshiba Reveals Next Generation PC and Tablet Designs Built for Windows 8
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its roadmap of new computing devices designed for Microsoft Windows 8. Toshiba's new mobile solutions showcase the advanced functionality and capabilities Toshiba plans to bring to market while enhancing the experience of the new operating system.
"These inspiring new PC and tablet designs will allow consumers and business users to interact with Windows in amazing new ways," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "These products reflect Toshiba's long history of engineering breakthrough computing hardware in thin and light form factors and our close relationships with Microsoft and our silicon partners to bring them to market."
"These inspiring new PC and tablet designs will allow consumers and business users to interact with Windows in amazing new ways," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "These products reflect Toshiba's long history of engineering breakthrough computing hardware in thin and light form factors and our close relationships with Microsoft and our silicon partners to bring them to market."
Toshiba Unveils New Ultrabooks Designed for Home, Mobility and Entertainment
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced the growth of its Ultrabook product line with the introduction of the Satellite U series. New models include the Satellite U845W, the world's first Ultrabook offering a 21:9 cinematic display, and the Satellite U845, an affordably-priced everyday Ultrabook. The new Satellite U series joins Toshiba's successful Portégé Z series Ultrabook, which will now offer new 3rd generation Intel Core processors1.
"Toshiba is setting the pace in the Ultrabook category, building on our more than 25-year heritage building thin and light mobile computing products," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "For the first time, consumers can get the performance benefits of an Ultrabook in thin and light designs that cater to their needs whether it's price-to-performance value, entertainment or supreme mobility."
"Toshiba is setting the pace in the Ultrabook category, building on our more than 25-year heritage building thin and light mobile computing products," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "For the first time, consumers can get the performance benefits of an Ultrabook in thin and light designs that cater to their needs whether it's price-to-performance value, entertainment or supreme mobility."
SilverStone Also Shows Off Asymmetric Dual-Tower SST-NT08 CPU Cooler
SilverStone also displayed its own take on asymmetric dual-tower heatsinks, with the SST-NT08 (not to be confused with another heatsink of the same model, first unveiled at Computex 2008). While most other asymmetric dual-tower heatsinks have variations in aluminum fin count or positions of the fin towers, the NT08 has two completely dissimilar fin towers. The thicker fin tower is close to double the thickness of the slimmer one, although the heatsink still has U-shaped heat pipes that pass through both fin towers, with the base in between. The NT08 uses six 6 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat pipes, and deploys a 120 mm fan between the two fin stacks to ventilate it. The fan pulls air through the slimmer tower, and pushes it through the thicker one.
Fujitsu Intros LIFEBOOK Ultrabook Devices for Consumers and Business Professionals
Fujitsu is kicking off the summer product season today, introducing two LIFEBOOK Ultrabook devices -- the 14" LIFEBOOK U772 Ultrabook designed for business professionals and the 13.3" LIFEBOOK UH572 Ultrabook ideal for consumers -- powered by the 3rd generation Intel Core processors, which enable improved performance and extended battery life. Stylish and durable with magnesium alloy housing, both Fujitsu Ultrabook systems offer large touchpads with integrated buttons and multi-touch gesture support.
In addition to the new LIFEBOOK Ultrabook systems, Fujitsu introduced the refreshed Fujitsu LIFEBOOK NH532 desktop replacement notebook featuring a 17.3" HD+ display and powered by a new 3rd generation Intel Core processor.
In addition to the new LIFEBOOK Ultrabook systems, Fujitsu introduced the refreshed Fujitsu LIFEBOOK NH532 desktop replacement notebook featuring a 17.3" HD+ display and powered by a new 3rd generation Intel Core processor.
SPARKLE Announced a Series of New Products in Computex 2012
2012 COMPUTEX will take place from 5th to 9th of June 2012. The world leading graphics card company Sparkle will introduce the latest technologies and products in COMPUTEX. Pay a visit at booth L1318 in 4th floor of TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall, you will get the latest product update from Sparkle.
SilverStone Displays Unique SST-NT01 Pro CPU Cooler
The next in our series on "aluminum oddities" is SilverStone's SST-NT01 Pro, an unconventional aluminum fin heatsink. The design idea is similar in a way, to that of the Antec Kuhler Flow. The aluminum fin stack doesn't propagate directly above the base, but besides it. While the Kuhler Flow has a square fin stack, the NT01 Pro has a rectangular one, with its longer side along the plane of the motherboard, rather than perpendicular to it. As many as six 6 mm-thick nickel-plated copper heat pipes transport heat from the base to the fin stack, which is then ventilated by two 80 mm fans.
GELID Shows Off Black Edition Gamer CPU Cooler
GELID Solutions showed off its newest Gamer series Black Edition CPU Cooler (doesn't carry a GX## model number). The cooler's design consists of a dark aluminum fin dual-tower design à la NH-D14, Corator DS, etc., and uses no less than seven heat pipes (3x 8 mm-thick and 4x 6 mm-thick) to transport heat from the base to the aluminum fin stacks. In the space between the two fin-stacks, a standard-size 120 mm (25 mm-thick) fan pulls air through the first stack, and pushes it through the second one. Pushing in fresh-air through the first stack is care of a slim 120 mm (15 mm-thick) fan. The cooler will be designed to be compatible with all modern CPU socket types, including LGA2011, LGA1155/LGA1156, LGA1366, AM3+/AM3/AM2+/AM2, and FM2/FM1.
Foxconn Channel A85AP Socket FM2 Motherboard Pictured
Foxconn's channel brand is ready with a socket FM2 motherboard of its own, the A85AP. The motherboard is based on the new AMD A85 FCH, and supports next-generation AMD "Trinity" APUs in the FM2 package. The motherboard doesn't add much to the feature-set of the A85 FCH. The APU is powered by a 5-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory, and one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. Other expansion slots include a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4, wired to the FCH), an mPCIe, and two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x1 and legacy PCI.
The AMD A85 FCH gives out eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, six of which are assigned as internal ports on the A85AP, and two are given out as eSATA. The board also features six USB 3.0 ports, four of which are given out through the rear panel, and two via headers. Display outputs include DVI and D-Sub. 8-channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of the connectivity. Foxconn A85AP could feature in the first-wave of socket FM2 motherboards to be launched.
The AMD A85 FCH gives out eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, six of which are assigned as internal ports on the A85AP, and two are given out as eSATA. The board also features six USB 3.0 ports, four of which are given out through the rear panel, and two via headers. Display outputs include DVI and D-Sub. 8-channel HD audio and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of the connectivity. Foxconn A85AP could feature in the first-wave of socket FM2 motherboards to be launched.
Antec Announces High Current Platinum 1300W, Other New Products at Computex 2012
Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets, is taking the opportunity provided by Computex 2012 to unveil a new PSU as well as a series of elegantly-designed lifestyle products intended to keep up with our increasingly social and mobile lives.
First up, Antec is showcasing its new high-performance enthusiast PSU guaranteed to take power supplies to the max. Designed with high-power users in mind, the HCP-1300 Platinum is meant to complement its 'little' brother the HCP-1000 Platinum. The HCP-1300 Platinum is sleeved, Stealth Wire cables integrate seamlessly in your setup while a plethora of available connectors enable users to set up a 4-way SLI or CrossFire in no time. With Platinum-rated efficiency, ErP Lot 6:2013 and all the strict energy standards already implemented in Antec's other HCP Platinum units, the HCP-1300 Platinum offers the perfect foundation for those who want to build an environmentally-conscious setup that still goes easy on your wallet when it comes time to pay your electric bill.
First up, Antec is showcasing its new high-performance enthusiast PSU guaranteed to take power supplies to the max. Designed with high-power users in mind, the HCP-1300 Platinum is meant to complement its 'little' brother the HCP-1000 Platinum. The HCP-1300 Platinum is sleeved, Stealth Wire cables integrate seamlessly in your setup while a plethora of available connectors enable users to set up a 4-way SLI or CrossFire in no time. With Platinum-rated efficiency, ErP Lot 6:2013 and all the strict energy standards already implemented in Antec's other HCP Platinum units, the HCP-1300 Platinum offers the perfect foundation for those who want to build an environmentally-conscious setup that still goes easy on your wallet when it comes time to pay your electric bill.
Lenovo Unleashes Ultrabooks to Power Next Chapter of Great Ideas
Marked by the launch of a multi-million dollar global marketing campaign, Lenovo today announced the worldwide availability of its coveted IdeaPad U310 and U410 Ultrabooks. Powered by the 3rd generation Intel Core processors, Lenovo's new U Series Ultrabook devices take the era of thin, lightweight and ultra-responsive mobile computing to a new level of affordability, without compromising quality or style. To showcase the benefits and features unique to its new Ultrabooks, Lenovo's multi-faceted, global "Book of Do" advertising campaign highlights how the combination of innovative thinking and IdeaPad Ultrabooks empower people-the world's tinkerers, creators and builders-to make great things happen.
Buffalo Intros DiskStation USB 3.0 + Thunderbolt Hard Drive
Buffalo Japan launched the DiskStation HD-PATU3, a new external hard drive that features two high-bandwidth interface options, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, letting you use it without interface bottlenecks on both PCs and Macs. The HD-PATU3 comes in two capacity options, 500 GB and 1 TB. The drive is entirely bus-powered, and does not require an AC adapter. The drive comes pre-formatted to the Mac-friendly HFS+ file-system, but can be re-formatted to Windows-friendly file-systems such as NTFS or ex-FAT. Buffalo did not give out pricing information. 
EVGA Announces its GeForce GT 640 Series
EVGA kicked off its GeForce GT 640 lineup with two models, a double-slot one (model: 02G-P4-2643-KR), and a single-slot (model: 02G-P4-2645-KR), both of which are priced at US $109.99. The GeForce GT 640 is based on the new 28 nm GK107 silicon, with 384 CUDA cores, and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. The cards rely entirely on the PCI-Express slot for power, and support PCI-Express 3.0 x16 interface. Both models provide the same display output load-out, including two dual-link DVI and a mini-HDMI. The cards should be available right away.
ZOTAC Continues GeForce 600 Series Momentum With New GeForce GT 640
ZOTAC International, a global innovator and channel manufacturer of graphics cards, mainboards and mini-PCs, today continues the GeForce 600 series momentum with the new mainstream ZOTAC GeForce GT 640 graphics card for users that desire dedicated graphics and memory.
NVIDIA's Kepler architecture forms the heart of the ZOTAC GeForce GT 640 graphics card with new SMX unified shaders that deliver superior performance and energy efficiency. New NVIDIA Surround technology brings triple independent displays mainstream on the ZOTAC GeForce GT 640 to create a massive workspace for greater productivity and an immersive point of view.
NVIDIA's Kepler architecture forms the heart of the ZOTAC GeForce GT 640 graphics card with new SMX unified shaders that deliver superior performance and energy efficiency. New NVIDIA Surround technology brings triple independent displays mainstream on the ZOTAC GeForce GT 640 to create a massive workspace for greater productivity and an immersive point of view.
PMC Delivers Industry's First End-to-End 12Gb/s SAS Solution with SSD Controller
PMC, the semiconductor innovator transforming storage, optical and mobile networks, today announced its 12Gb/s SAS flash manager (SFM-12G) for the next wave of enterprise solid state drives (SSDs). With this introduction, PMC has delivered the industry's first end-to-end 12Gb/s SAS solution, from the protocol controller to the SSD controller.
PMC's SFM-12G enables more than 300,000 I/Os per second (IOPS) in a 2.5" SAS SSD, more than double the performance of today's 6Gb/s SAS SSDs. When paired with the industry's highest-performing protocol controller, PMC's SPCv 12G, cloud server and big data storage manufacturers can deliver a stunning 2.4 million IOPS in an eight-drive, enterprise-class flash subsystem.
PMC's SFM-12G enables more than 300,000 I/Os per second (IOPS) in a 2.5" SAS SSD, more than double the performance of today's 6Gb/s SAS SSDs. When paired with the industry's highest-performing protocol controller, PMC's SPCv 12G, cloud server and big data storage manufacturers can deliver a stunning 2.4 million IOPS in an eight-drive, enterprise-class flash subsystem.
Sapphire Unveils Mid-Range Pure Platinum A75 Socket FM2 Motherboard
Sapphire's newest motherboard is the Pure Platinum A75 (model: PT-ABA75). Although based on the previous-generation AMD A75 FCH, the board supports AMD A-Series "Trinity" APUs in the FM2 package. The board is a bundle of simplicities. The APU is powered by a 5-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots supporting dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory; and a single PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot, without any lane switches en route. Two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x1, legacy PCI, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x4 make up the rest of the expansion slot area.
The AMD A75 FCH gives out six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, five of which are assigned as internal ports, and one mSATA. Display outputs include DVI and HDMI. 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, and two USB 3.0 ports make up the rest of the connectivity. The Pure Platinum A75 will be part of the first wave of FM2 motherboards.
The AMD A75 FCH gives out six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, five of which are assigned as internal ports, and one mSATA. Display outputs include DVI and HDMI. 8-channel HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, and two USB 3.0 ports make up the rest of the connectivity. The Pure Platinum A75 will be part of the first wave of FM2 motherboards.
ASUS Shows off ROG Matrix 7970 Graphics Card
ASUS showed off its newest high-end single-GPU graphics card, the Republic of Gamers (ROG) Matrix 7970. The card will be ASUS' addition to a new wave of highly-overclocked Radeon HD 7970 graphics cards (we're talking ≥25% factory-OC), by AMD AIB partners, to compete with GeForce GTX 680. ASUS did not disclose the clock speeds the Matrix 7970 ships with, but listed out its exclusive features, such as VGA Hotwire (read and control voltages at a hardware level), TweakIT (hardware voltage-speed control using buttons, one-push fan override), ProbeIT (voltage fan-speed monitoring points), a 20-phase Digi+ VRM with software control using GPUTweak software, and the software itself, which comes with a plethora of tweaking options.
PowerColor Shows Off Graphics Cards with Radeon E6000 Embedded GPUs
PowerColor showed off a handful of entry-level graphics cards that use the Radeon E6000 series GPUs. Designed for embedded systems, the E6000 series GPUs use multi-chip module packages, which seats the GPU die and memory on the same package, reducing board footprint. PowerColor's cards are targeted at productivity desktops, where reliable display connectivity, and responsive 2D display are priority. Among the cards shown by PowerColor, are full-height, half-height, and pseudo-half-height graphics cards, with a variety of display output configurations.
PowerColor HD 7970 X2 Devil 13 Taken Apart
Here are the first pictures of PowerColor's ambitious Radeon HD 7970 X2 Devil 13 dual-GPU graphics card taken apart. The pictures reveal a PCB that's both longer and taller than that of the HD 7970, to create room for two 28 nm "Tahiti" GPUs, a total of 24 GDDR5 memory chips (12 on each side), a PLX PEX8747 PCIe 3.0 bridge chip, and a VRM that consists of 5+2+1 phases per GPU system. The card draws power from three 8-pin PCIe power connectors. The VRM consists of solid-state chokes and Renesas Driver-MOSFETs. Display outputs include two each of DVI and mini-DP, and an HDMI. Each GPU system has a pair of BIOS'es (performance and failsafe).
Corsair Unveils 4th Generation SSDs with New Link_A_Media Devices Controller
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC hardware market, today announced the Neutron Series solid-state drives (SSDs), the industry's first consumer SSDs to feature the LM87800 6 Gb/s SSD controller from Link_A_Media Devices (LAMD), a leader in the development of semiconductor SoC (system on chip) solutions for the enterprise and mobile storage market. Also available in an extreme performance Neutron GTX model, the new SSDs bring professional-grade performance and reliability to PC enthusiasts, content creators, and IT professionals.
Available in capacities of 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB, Neutron Series GTX SSDs are designed with toggle NAND flash memory to deliver up to a super-high 90,000 random read and write IOPs (input/output operations per second), which speeds up data-intensive tasks like video and image editing. These drives also provide superior sequential speeds of up to 555 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write, for lightning fast file access. The standard Neutron Series models, available in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities, provide up to 90,000 random read IOPs and 85,000 random write IOPs with sequential speeds of up to 555 MB/s read and 370 MB/s write.
Available in capacities of 120 GB, 240 GB and 480 GB, Neutron Series GTX SSDs are designed with toggle NAND flash memory to deliver up to a super-high 90,000 random read and write IOPs (input/output operations per second), which speeds up data-intensive tasks like video and image editing. These drives also provide superior sequential speeds of up to 555 MB/s read and 500 MB/s write, for lightning fast file access. The standard Neutron Series models, available in 120 GB and 240 GB capacities, provide up to 90,000 random read IOPs and 85,000 random write IOPs with sequential speeds of up to 555 MB/s read and 370 MB/s write.
Corsair Announces World's Most Advanced PC Power Supply
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Corsair AX1200i Digital ATX Power Supply, the world's most advanced modular power supply for PC gamers and enthusiasts.
The AX1200i's digitally-controlled power circuitry provides incredibly stable voltages, and exceptionally low ripple and noise. These features are aided by the reduced component count and elegant circuit-board layout made possible by the DSP-based design. These design elements also contribute to the AX1200i's 80 PLUS Platinum certification and incredibly high energy-efficiency of up to 92%. The high efficiency also results in reduced heat, allowing the AX1200i to operate in a silent fanless mode until the PSU load reaches 40% of the maximum power rating.
The AX1200i's digitally-controlled power circuitry provides incredibly stable voltages, and exceptionally low ripple and noise. These features are aided by the reduced component count and elegant circuit-board layout made possible by the DSP-based design. These design elements also contribute to the AX1200i's 80 PLUS Platinum certification and incredibly high energy-efficiency of up to 92%. The high efficiency also results in reduced heat, allowing the AX1200i to operate in a silent fanless mode until the PSU load reaches 40% of the maximum power rating.
Patriot Memory Releases New Viper 3 High Performance DRAM
Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash, storage and enthusiast computer products today introduces their new Viper 3 memory series.
Specifically engineered for rock solid performance in the most demanding computer environments, Patriot Memory's Viper 3 Series is designed with true power users in mind. Available in a customized four color line up with specific performance variants, the Viper 3 Series will offer a wide range of performance solutions. Leading the pack, the Black Mamba will feature speeds from 1600 MHz up to 2133 MHz at 1.5 volts for increased stability and endurance. Providing speeds of 1600 MHz up to 2133 MHz, the Venom Red and Sapphire Blue modules will offer true killer high performance for enthusiast gaming and the most demanding applications. With full Intel XMP certification, the Sapphire Blue will be the ultimate gaming solution for use with Intel platforms and overclocking profiles. Offering an eco-friendly solution, the Jungle Green modules will feature a power draw of only 1.35 volts.
Specifically engineered for rock solid performance in the most demanding computer environments, Patriot Memory's Viper 3 Series is designed with true power users in mind. Available in a customized four color line up with specific performance variants, the Viper 3 Series will offer a wide range of performance solutions. Leading the pack, the Black Mamba will feature speeds from 1600 MHz up to 2133 MHz at 1.5 volts for increased stability and endurance. Providing speeds of 1600 MHz up to 2133 MHz, the Venom Red and Sapphire Blue modules will offer true killer high performance for enthusiast gaming and the most demanding applications. With full Intel XMP certification, the Sapphire Blue will be the ultimate gaming solution for use with Intel platforms and overclocking profiles. Offering an eco-friendly solution, the Jungle Green modules will feature a power draw of only 1.35 volts.
Biwin Announces NuvoDrive PX Enterprise Class 2.5" SATA III SSD
Biwin, an industry leader in flash storage products, today announced the NuvoDrive PX enterprise class 2.5 inch SATA III 6 Gbps SSD that supports up to 85,000 random write IOPS and features data loss protection in the event of sudden power failure.
NuvoDrive PX is based on the LSI SandForce SF-2582 Flash Storage Processor, which packs the vanguard of enterprise reliability features such as global wear leveling, NCQ support, SMART commands support, and an ECC engine capable of correcting up to 55 bits per 512-byte sector.
NuvoDrive PX is based on the LSI SandForce SF-2582 Flash Storage Processor, which packs the vanguard of enterprise reliability features such as global wear leveling, NCQ support, SMART commands support, and an ECC engine capable of correcting up to 55 bits per 512-byte sector.
Intel, Industry Shaping Future of Computing Experiences on Intel Architecture
Intel Corporation Senior Vice President Tom Kilroy officially introduced the next wave of Ultrabook systems during a keynote address at Computex Taipei 2012. Making a bold statement around the importance of touch technology, Kilroy also announced that Intel has signed agreements with several leading touch panel manufacturers to ensure adequate capacity to meet the expected demand for touch-enabled Ultrabook experiences over the next several years.
He also highlighted the company's efforts to deliver user-centric experiences across a range of mobile devices from the Ultrabook to smartphones and tablets, pointing to momentum across all three.
He also highlighted the company's efforts to deliver user-centric experiences across a range of mobile devices from the Ultrabook to smartphones and tablets, pointing to momentum across all three.
Colorful Unveils Graphics Card Cooler with Modular Air + LN2 Design
Check out this graphics card cooler design concept from the design house of Colorful, the people behind some of the most wacky and ingenuous graphics card cooler designs. The card is touted to be the "world's first liquid nitrogen customized."
Its cooler design is pretty straightforward. The GPU, memory, VRM, and other hot ancillaries make contact with a copper vapor-chamber plate, to which are attached a first stage of aluminum fin heatsinks. This stage can be decked up with a second stage of heatsinks that attach to the first stage using numerous heat-pipes, and a fan can be attached at the center, which ventilate the heatsinks. The fan, along with the second stage, can be removed, to reveal the copper plate that makes direct contact with the GPU. To this, a liquid-nitrogen (LN2) evaporator (parallel or perpendicular to the card's plane), can be attached. The LN2 evaporator cools the entire first stage, which cools not only the GPU, but also the memory, VRM, and other hot ancillaries.
Its cooler design is pretty straightforward. The GPU, memory, VRM, and other hot ancillaries make contact with a copper vapor-chamber plate, to which are attached a first stage of aluminum fin heatsinks. This stage can be decked up with a second stage of heatsinks that attach to the first stage using numerous heat-pipes, and a fan can be attached at the center, which ventilate the heatsinks. The fan, along with the second stage, can be removed, to reveal the copper plate that makes direct contact with the GPU. To this, a liquid-nitrogen (LN2) evaporator (parallel or perpendicular to the card's plane), can be attached. The LN2 evaporator cools the entire first stage, which cools not only the GPU, but also the memory, VRM, and other hot ancillaries.
Chaintech Partners with Colorful, Displays High-End Motherboards
As promised, Walton-Chaintech made a comeback to the PC motherboard and graphics card markets, by partnering with Colorful. The duo launched a full-fledged lineup of motherboards across various sockets (including LGA1155, AM3+, FM2), and graphics cards. Leading the lineup on the motherboard front are the Z77 X5 and X990FX X7.
Based on the Intel Z77 chipset, supporting the Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors, the Z77 X5 makes use of the entire feature-set of the platform. The LGA1155 socket is powered by a 8-phase VRM with special branding "Smart Power Engine 3," which gives user. fine control over the VRM via BIOS. Expansion slots include two each of PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (red, x8/x8, when both are populated), PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and legacy PCI. AMD CrossFireX is the only multi-GPU technology supported. 8-channel HD audio, 802.11 b/g/n, gigabit Ethernet, 2x SATA 6 Gb/s + 4x SATA 3 Gb/s, are among its features.
Based on the Intel Z77 chipset, supporting the Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors, the Z77 X5 makes use of the entire feature-set of the platform. The LGA1155 socket is powered by a 8-phase VRM with special branding "Smart Power Engine 3," which gives user. fine control over the VRM via BIOS. Expansion slots include two each of PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (red, x8/x8, when both are populated), PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and legacy PCI. AMD CrossFireX is the only multi-GPU technology supported. 8-channel HD audio, 802.11 b/g/n, gigabit Ethernet, 2x SATA 6 Gb/s + 4x SATA 3 Gb/s, are among its features.
ASUS ROG ZEUS Fuses LGA2011 Motherboard with Dual-GPU Graphics
ASUS displayed a nerdtastic motherboard design concept, at Computex. Called the Republic of Gamers ZEUS, ASUS' creation is a socket LGA2011 motherboard with a dual-GPU graphics hardware soldered onto the board, in the place otherwise assigned for expansion slots. The top half of the ZEUS resembles that of a conventional LGA2011 motherboard, with the processor being powered by a 10-phase Digi+ VRM, and eight DDR3 DIMM slots. ASUS somehow made the platform support up to 128 GB of unregistered DIMM DDR3 memory (double the 64 GB limit of the Sandy Bridge-E HEDT platform).
The second half of the motherboard has the X79 PCH, and two PCI-Express 3.0 GPUs in dual-GPU configuration. ASUS hasn't revealed which GPUs these are, but sources predict it's a pair of AMD Radeon HD 7970 (Tahiti XT) or HD 7870 (Pitcairn XT). Each GPU system has its own set of memory, and a set of 8-pin + 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The display outputs of this dual-GPU setup are given out on the rear panel, as two mini-DP + Thunderbolt ports, and one each of HDMI and standard DP. The ZEUS even has as many as 8 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and 12 USB 3.0 ports, besides two Thunderbolt 10 Gb/s ports. For now, ASUS' monstrosity is a design concept, and the company is undecided about launching it to the market. If nothing, the ZEUS serves as a testament of ASUS' mammoth engineering potential.
The second half of the motherboard has the X79 PCH, and two PCI-Express 3.0 GPUs in dual-GPU configuration. ASUS hasn't revealed which GPUs these are, but sources predict it's a pair of AMD Radeon HD 7970 (Tahiti XT) or HD 7870 (Pitcairn XT). Each GPU system has its own set of memory, and a set of 8-pin + 6-pin PCIe power connectors. The display outputs of this dual-GPU setup are given out on the rear panel, as two mini-DP + Thunderbolt ports, and one each of HDMI and standard DP. The ZEUS even has as many as 8 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, and 12 USB 3.0 ports, besides two Thunderbolt 10 Gb/s ports. For now, ASUS' monstrosity is a design concept, and the company is undecided about launching it to the market. If nothing, the ZEUS serves as a testament of ASUS' mammoth engineering potential.
ASUS Shows off Trio of TUF Sabertooth Z77 Design Concepts
ASUS showed of three new design concepts for the otherwise boring-looking thermal armor of the TUF Sabertooth Z77 motherboard. The designs were sourced from the PC enthusiast community. The top design is entitled "Ammo depot," and makes use of props that look like grenades and shells. The next design is entitled "Gears of TUF," and bears a rustic industrial look. The final design concept is called "Desert Warrior," and features a non-digital desert camo design with a few rounds lying on it. For now, these are merely design concepts. ASUS probably found its newest product designer out of the exercise.
MSI's Other Socket FM2 Motherboards Pictured
Apart from the premium A85XA-G65, and mini-ITX A85IA-E53, MSI has two other mainstream socket FM2 motherboards, the A85MA-E35, and A55M-P33 (F2).
The A85MA-E35, like its mini-ITX cousin, has a misleading name. It is actually based on the AMD A75 FCH chipset. The socket FM2 APU is powered by a simple 5-phase VRM, it is wired to just the two DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. Other slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x1 and a legacy PCI. Display outputs include DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. All six SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the FCH are wired out as internal ones, the board features a total of four USB 3.0 ports.
The A85MA-E35, like its mini-ITX cousin, has a misleading name. It is actually based on the AMD A75 FCH chipset. The socket FM2 APU is powered by a simple 5-phase VRM, it is wired to just the two DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot. Other slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x1 and a legacy PCI. Display outputs include DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. All six SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the FCH are wired out as internal ones, the board features a total of four USB 3.0 ports.
MSI Unveils Mini-ITX Socket FM2 Motherboard A85IA-E53
MSI's second most interesting socket FM2 motherboard is the A85IA-E53, perhaps the first socket FM2 motherboard in the mini-ITX form-factor. Although its name says otherwise, it is based on the previous-generation A75 chipset, which is no big deal, there's no room for eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the A85 FCH, anyway, and you still end up with four 6 Gb/s ports. In the limited board space, MSI was able to cram in a 5-phase VRM to power the APU, a power design consisting of 24-pin + 4-pin power inputs, two full-size DDR3 DIMM slots supporting up to 16 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory, a lone PCI-Express 2.0 x16 expansion card slot, display outs that include HDMI and D-Sub, 802.11 b/g/n, and Bluetooth.
Monday, June 4th 2012
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Cooler Master Silencio 650 Review
Cooler Master is breaking the 100 Euro barrier with their latest silent chassis. Going by the name Silencio 650, it aims to please the high-end gamer and quiet computing enthusiast. But is it worth the price premium over the 550D? Read on to find out!
MSI Shows off A85XA-G65 Socket FM2 Motherboard
MSI showed off its top socket FM2 motherboard, the A85XA-G65. Based on the AMD A85 FCH chipset, the board supports upcoming AMD "Trinity" APUs in the FM2 package. MSI designed the A85XA-G65 with its Military Class III construction. The FM2 APU is powered by an 8-phase VRM. It is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory; and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated). Given that it supports both NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFire, it's a little strange that MSI didn't name this model "A85XA-GD65." Other expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x1 and two legacy PCI.
All eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the A85 FCH are wired out as internal ports, with no eSATA. Display outputs include one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Other connectivity options include four USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and 8+2 channel HD audio. The A85XA-G65 features quite a few OC-friendly features, including voltage-measurement points with lead-holders, OC Genie, ClickBIOS II UEFI BIOS, etc. It will be among MSI's first socket FM2 motherboards to be launched, a little later this quarter.
All eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the A85 FCH are wired out as internal ports, with no eSATA. Display outputs include one each of DVI, D-Sub, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Other connectivity options include four USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and 8+2 channel HD audio. The A85XA-G65 features quite a few OC-friendly features, including voltage-measurement points with lead-holders, OC Genie, ClickBIOS II UEFI BIOS, etc. It will be among MSI's first socket FM2 motherboards to be launched, a little later this quarter.
MSI GeForce GTX 680 Lightning Pictured
MSI's new Big Bang MPower line of motherboards were shown to public with a matching pair of graphics cards, the already launched R7970 Lightning, and the upcoming N680GTX Lightning. Based on the GeForce GTX 680, the card is expected to feature >10% higher out of the box clock speeds, with 2 GB of memory. Like its cousin from the red camp, it features MSI's swanky new black+yellow Twin Frozr IV cooling solution, and Unlocked Digital Power VRM, which gives users fine control over GPU, memory, and PLL (auxiliary) power domains using Afterburner software. The new card will be launched in the coming weeks.
Qualcomm Atheros Demonstrates Portfolio of 802.11ac Solutions for Mobile Computing
Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, today at COMPUTEX TAIPEI demonstrated the industry's first solutions that integrate 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity for tablets and notebook computers. Qualcomm Atheros' 1-, 2- and 3-stream solutions are part of the company's end-to-end 802.11ac ecosystem, which is driving Gigabit-class wireless connectivity in mobile, computing, consumer electronics and networking products.
As consumers use tablets and notebooks to create, download and stream media files over wireless networks, Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11ac solutions are designed to deliver connectivity with the speed and reliability essential to today's mobile computing environments. Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11ac offers more than three times the Wi-Fi performance of 802.11n per stream and is capable of delivering up to 1.3 Gbps PHY rates with the company's 3-stream solutions. The new solutions also feature Bluetooth 4.0 with low-power mode for connecting mobile computers to wireless keyboards, headsets, speakers, printers and other peripherals while also conserving battery power.
As consumers use tablets and notebooks to create, download and stream media files over wireless networks, Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11ac solutions are designed to deliver connectivity with the speed and reliability essential to today's mobile computing environments. Qualcomm Atheros' 802.11ac offers more than three times the Wi-Fi performance of 802.11n per stream and is capable of delivering up to 1.3 Gbps PHY rates with the company's 3-stream solutions. The new solutions also feature Bluetooth 4.0 with low-power mode for connecting mobile computers to wireless keyboards, headsets, speakers, printers and other peripherals while also conserving battery power.
NVIDIA Launches GeForce GTX 680M Notebook Graphics Processor
NVIDIA today brings its next-generation NVIDIA Kepler graphics architecture to the top of the GeForce notebook GPU lineup, with the launch of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M. The fastest, most advanced gaming notebook GPU ever built, the GTX 680M GPU delivers unprecedented performance, incredible power efficiency and the world's most advanced gaming technology.
"The GeForce GTX 680M is the fastest mobile GPU ever, but it's more than just a speed king," said Rene Haas, vice president and general manager of the notebook business unit at NVIDIA. "It also offers an entire arsenal of next-gen gaming technology, along with Optimus technology for extended battery life."
"The GeForce GTX 680M is the fastest mobile GPU ever, but it's more than just a speed king," said Rene Haas, vice president and general manager of the notebook business unit at NVIDIA. "It also offers an entire arsenal of next-gen gaming technology, along with Optimus technology for extended battery life."
Belkin Unveils Upgraded New Thunderbolt Express Dock and Thunderbolt Cable
Belkin today announced new upgrades to its upcoming Thunderbolt Express Dock, as well as a new Thunderbolt cable for both Mac and PC users. Belkin's new Thunderbolt offerings will be on display at the Intel Exhibition Showcase, Booth M410, at Computex, June 5-9, 2012.
The Thunderbolt Express Dock is a first-of-its-kind docking solution for both PC and Mac users that enables instant access to up to nine desktop peripherals with one cable, and provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to a mobile device. Upgrades to the latest version of the dock include the addition of three USB 3.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0 ports, as well as an eSATA port.
The Thunderbolt Express Dock is a first-of-its-kind docking solution for both PC and Mac users that enables instant access to up to nine desktop peripherals with one cable, and provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to a mobile device. Upgrades to the latest version of the dock include the addition of three USB 3.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0 ports, as well as an eSATA port.
SATA-IO Rolls Out USM Slim Specification for Thinner, Lighter External Storage
The Serial ATA International Organization (SATA-IO), the industry consortium dedicated to sustaining the quality, integrity and dissemination of Serial ATA (SATA) technology, today announced it has finalized a new version of its Universal Storage Module (USM) standard that enables consumers to simply and easily increase the storage capacity of their mobile devices. The USM Slim specification defines a thinner, 9 mm dimension, making it an ideal storage solution for ultrabooks, tablets and other portable devices.
Demand for thinner, lighter mobile devices often results in decreased native storage capacities, limiting the amount of content consumers can carry with them. The USM Slim specification allows manufacturers to develop external storage offerings that seamlessly pair with these thin and light devices so that consumers can still have instant access to their music, movies, photos and other content at any time or place. The smaller form factor now makes it possible for thinner CE devices to integrate the USM host connector or slot to accept the 9 mm module.
Demand for thinner, lighter mobile devices often results in decreased native storage capacities, limiting the amount of content consumers can carry with them. The USM Slim specification allows manufacturers to develop external storage offerings that seamlessly pair with these thin and light devices so that consumers can still have instant access to their music, movies, photos and other content at any time or place. The smaller form factor now makes it possible for thinner CE devices to integrate the USM host connector or slot to accept the 9 mm module.
MSI Big Bang MPower Motherboard Series Detailed
Late last week, we came across teaser pictures of a certain new Big Bang series motherboard. Our source didn't reveal its name, but mentioned that we were close in guessing its name to be "ZPower", which we admitted we could go wrong with. It turns out that the new line is named "MPower", and includes not just a new socket LGA1155 motherboard, the Z77 MPower, but also a new LGA2011 one, the X79 MPower. The two are beefed-up versions of the Z77A-GD65 and X79A-GD65 (8D), respectively, with stronger CPU VRM, relaxed warranties that are overclocker-friendly, and a new black+yellow color-scheme, which is consistent with that of its Lightning series graphics cards (such as the R7970 Lightning).
Xbox Makes Entertainment More Amazing on Phone, PC, Tablet and TV
hat if your tablet or phone knew what you were watching on TV and presented bonus features without you having to lift a finger? What if you could use your tablet to draw up a play in EA SPORTS' "Madden NFL" and then perform it to perfection on your TV? What if you could control your favorite websites on the TV with a simple swipe, pinch or zoom on your tablet's touchscreen?
To kick-start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a bold new vision for enjoying entertainment at home and on the go with Xbox SmartGlass. Launching this year, Xbox SmartGlass is an application for Windows 8, Windows Phone, and other portable devices that connects phones, PCs and tablets with your Xbox 360 console to make your entertainment smarter, more interactive and more fun.(1) The intelligence of Xbox SmartGlass makes your entertainment more engaging, Web surfing more effortless, and playing games more immersive by delivering companion content and control to enhance your TV experience.
To kick-start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. today unveiled a bold new vision for enjoying entertainment at home and on the go with Xbox SmartGlass. Launching this year, Xbox SmartGlass is an application for Windows 8, Windows Phone, and other portable devices that connects phones, PCs and tablets with your Xbox 360 console to make your entertainment smarter, more interactive and more fun.(1) The intelligence of Xbox SmartGlass makes your entertainment more engaging, Web surfing more effortless, and playing games more immersive by delivering companion content and control to enhance your TV experience.
SteelSeries Announces Peripherals for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2
SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of gaming peripherals, today announced co-licensed product line-ups for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2, which are anticipated Valve games targeted for release later this year. Created in collaboration with Valve Corporation, the peripherals for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive include a co-branded SteelSeries Siberia v2 Headset, SteelSeries Kana Gaming Mouse and SteelSeries QcK mousepad.
In addition, SteelSeries is also introducing the SteelSeries Dota 2 Limited Edition Mouse Bundle. Glossy black and sporting the red Dota 2 logo, the mouse is optimized and perfected with the help of professional gaming teams including the award-winning Dota International team, Natus Vincere. The bundle will include the optical, 6-button mouse, the Dota 2 branded SteelSeries QcK Mini mousepad, and an exclusive Dota 2 in-game item.
In addition, SteelSeries is also introducing the SteelSeries Dota 2 Limited Edition Mouse Bundle. Glossy black and sporting the red Dota 2 logo, the mouse is optimized and perfected with the help of professional gaming teams including the award-winning Dota International team, Natus Vincere. The bundle will include the optical, 6-button mouse, the Dota 2 branded SteelSeries QcK Mini mousepad, and an exclusive Dota 2 in-game item.
SteelSeries Unveils the World of Warcraft Wireless Mouse
SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of professional gaming peripherals, today announced the SteelSeries World of Warcraft Wireless Mouse, co-designed with Blizzard Entertainment. Evoking some of the most iconic images from Blizzard's massively multiplayer online role-playing game, the new Wireless Mouse brings players an ergonomic, 11-button layout, with illumination and pulsation options that help immerse players in the game. The SteelSeries Engine software guides players through an easy, in-game integration set-up with drag and drop functionality of World of Warcraft commands, full button remapping, macro creation and the ability to save an unlimited number of game profiles.
"We brought to market the first MMO gaming mouse more than three years ago with Blizzard, and since that product launch, we've been working to improve and perfect what the MMO community has wanted and asked for - from the size and button shape to the hardware and wireless functionality. The World of Warcraft Wireless Mouse not only answers players requests, but we're confident that it will impress players by arming them with state of the art hardware features and an exceptional user experience," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO.
"We brought to market the first MMO gaming mouse more than three years ago with Blizzard, and since that product launch, we've been working to improve and perfect what the MMO community has wanted and asked for - from the size and button shape to the hardware and wireless functionality. The World of Warcraft Wireless Mouse not only answers players requests, but we're confident that it will impress players by arming them with state of the art hardware features and an exceptional user experience," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO.
Patriot Memory Announces the EP Pro UHS-1 Compatible SDXC/SDHC Cards
Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash, storage and enthusiast computer products today launches their new EP Pro Series SDHC/SDXC flash storage, shipping July 16th.
The EP Pro is the new high performance flagship in Patriot Memory's secure digital card line up. Designed with high definition video and photography enthusiasts in mind, the Patriot Memory's EP Pro SDHC/SDXC delivers unrivaled transfer speeds of 90 MB/s (read) and 50 MB/s (write) and capacities up to 128 GB. With nearly 5x the transfer speeds of standard SDHC cards, when used with UHS-I compatible devices, the EP Pro SDHC/SDXC provides the high performance necessary for professional high definition multimedia content creation.
The EP Pro is the new high performance flagship in Patriot Memory's secure digital card line up. Designed with high definition video and photography enthusiasts in mind, the Patriot Memory's EP Pro SDHC/SDXC delivers unrivaled transfer speeds of 90 MB/s (read) and 50 MB/s (write) and capacities up to 128 GB. With nearly 5x the transfer speeds of standard SDHC cards, when used with UHS-I compatible devices, the EP Pro SDHC/SDXC provides the high performance necessary for professional high definition multimedia content creation.
SanDisk Uses 19 nm Process To Manufacture iNAND Extreme
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today announced it is using the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing process to produce SanDisk's highest performing embedded memory products.
iNAND Extreme is now being built on SanDisk's 19 nanometer (nm)* process technology to enable the large-capacity, high-performance embedded NAND flash memory products that are ideally suited for high-end tablets and smartphones. Products running the Android operating system as well as the upcoming Microsoft Windows RT version of the Windows 8 operating system can benefit from iNAND Extreme capacity, performance and small size.
iNAND Extreme is now being built on SanDisk's 19 nanometer (nm)* process technology to enable the large-capacity, high-performance embedded NAND flash memory products that are ideally suited for high-end tablets and smartphones. Products running the Android operating system as well as the upcoming Microsoft Windows RT version of the Windows 8 operating system can benefit from iNAND Extreme capacity, performance and small size.
SteelSeries Announces Guild Wars 2 Peripherals Line-Up
SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of gaming peripherals, in partnership with ArenaNet, the world's premier developer of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today announced a new line-up of gaming peripherals for Guild Wars 2.
Created in collaboration with ArenaNet, the line-up includes the Guild Wars 2 Gaming Headset, a slim profile, on-ear headset design that delivers a quality, immersive audio experience, and the Guild Wars 2 Gaming Mouse, an ambidextrous mouse that features seven programmable buttons, red illumination, and industry-leading technology. Both products are highlighted by the distinctive look of the Guild Wars 2 logo. The Guild Wars 2 QcK Mousepads are available in three designs, including the stylized dragon logo and the heroes Logan Thackeray and Eir Stegalkin. The Guild Wars 2 Gaming Keyboard rounds out the product line-up with an entirely new design that features SteelSeries Engine software for ease of use and advanced functionality as well as game-specific shortcuts; additional details about the keyboard will be unveiled later this year.
Created in collaboration with ArenaNet, the line-up includes the Guild Wars 2 Gaming Headset, a slim profile, on-ear headset design that delivers a quality, immersive audio experience, and the Guild Wars 2 Gaming Mouse, an ambidextrous mouse that features seven programmable buttons, red illumination, and industry-leading technology. Both products are highlighted by the distinctive look of the Guild Wars 2 logo. The Guild Wars 2 QcK Mousepads are available in three designs, including the stylized dragon logo and the heroes Logan Thackeray and Eir Stegalkin. The Guild Wars 2 Gaming Keyboard rounds out the product line-up with an entirely new design that features SteelSeries Engine software for ease of use and advanced functionality as well as game-specific shortcuts; additional details about the keyboard will be unveiled later this year.
SanDisk Launches the Lightning PCI Express Solid State Accelerators
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, today introduced Lightning PCI Express (PCIe) Solid State Accelerator (SSA) cards designed to boost the performance of workstations and servers used in data centers, server farms and cloud computing environments.
The new SanDisk Lightning PCIe SSA products can be added to workstations and servers to provide balanced, predictable performance for enterprise applications, delivering the ideal combination of speed, reliability and cost-savings. The cards provide rapid access to the most frequently used data and applications in order to more effectively manage heavy workloads. They are part of SanDisk's growing portfolio of solid state drive (SSD) solutions for the enterprise.
The new SanDisk Lightning PCIe SSA products can be added to workstations and servers to provide balanced, predictable performance for enterprise applications, delivering the ideal combination of speed, reliability and cost-savings. The cards provide rapid access to the most frequently used data and applications in order to more effectively manage heavy workloads. They are part of SanDisk's growing portfolio of solid state drive (SSD) solutions for the enterprise.
Sony Unveils Elegant VAIO T Series Ultrabook And New Powerful VAIO Line
Sony's VAIO Expo Tour at the Sony Wonder Technology Lab in New York heralded the brand new VAIO T Series Ultrabook as well as a new portfolio of VAIO PCs built with Sony's industry-leading audio, video, imaging and software technology.
The first Ultrabook to carry the VAIO name, the T Series packs high performance and responsiveness into a stylishly slim magnesium and aluminum chassis for daily trips to the office or campus. Also in the VAIO family are enhancements to the E, S, Z and L All-in-One Series models, incorporating advanced features and a platform of innovations for all around excellence in productivity and entertainment.
The first Ultrabook to carry the VAIO name, the T Series packs high performance and responsiveness into a stylishly slim magnesium and aluminum chassis for daily trips to the office or campus. Also in the VAIO family are enhancements to the E, S, Z and L All-in-One Series models, incorporating advanced features and a platform of innovations for all around excellence in productivity and entertainment.
PNY Unleashes New Verto GeForce GT 640 Graphics Card
PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") today announced the release of the Verto GeForce GT 640 1024MB DDR3 graphics card. This new entry-level NVIDIA 28nm Kepler card features dedicated graphics performance from this powerful next-generation GeForce architecture.
The GT 640 delivers premium multimedia performance and reliable entry-level gaming, for a faster, more immersive experience. Harnessing PhysX technology, bring your HD videos, photos, web, and games to life; edit your photos and videos; or play the latest DirectX 11 games with GPU-accelerated tessellation. Accelerate your desktop's performance with cutting-edge features, such as CUDA technology to handle the most demanding system tasks -- such as photo editing -- and delivering incredible performance improvements over traditional CPUs. Adding to the incredible performance and power efficiency of the GT 640 is the new -- built from the ground up -- SMX unit, available only on Kepler. The revolutionary Kepler GPU has taken graphics to the next level and allows the GT 640 to simultaneously run up to three monitors with NVIDIA Surround technology -- expanding your viewing perspective and increasing productivity.
The GT 640 delivers premium multimedia performance and reliable entry-level gaming, for a faster, more immersive experience. Harnessing PhysX technology, bring your HD videos, photos, web, and games to life; edit your photos and videos; or play the latest DirectX 11 games with GPU-accelerated tessellation. Accelerate your desktop's performance with cutting-edge features, such as CUDA technology to handle the most demanding system tasks -- such as photo editing -- and delivering incredible performance improvements over traditional CPUs. Adding to the incredible performance and power efficiency of the GT 640 is the new -- built from the ground up -- SMX unit, available only on Kepler. The revolutionary Kepler GPU has taken graphics to the next level and allows the GT 640 to simultaneously run up to three monitors with NVIDIA Surround technology -- expanding your viewing perspective and increasing productivity.
TRENDnet Demonstrates 1750 Mbps Wireless Router and Adapter
TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today displays from Computex Taipei, the AC1750 Dual Band Wireless Router, model TEW-812DRU, and the AC1750 Dual Band Wireless Media Bridge, model TEW-800MB.
The explosion of wireless devices in the home and office, coupled with high demand for HD video content, continue to drive demand for increased wireless bandwidth. 802.11ac is a new wireless standard designed to meet tomorrow's extreme wireless bandwidth needs.
The explosion of wireless devices in the home and office, coupled with high demand for HD video content, continue to drive demand for increased wireless bandwidth. 802.11ac is a new wireless standard designed to meet tomorrow's extreme wireless bandwidth needs.
Latest HP ProLiant Gen8 Servers Integrate New AMD Opteron Processors
Today AMD announced 11 servers from its customers, including two based on the new HP ProLiant Gen8 platform, will be integrating previously unannounced versions of the award-winning high-performance AMD Opteron 6200 Series processor and the low-power AMD Opteron 4200 Series processor. These servers are based on five new AMD Opteron processors that offer increased performance without an increase in power consumption, providing customers more choice in using the world's best price/performance x86 server processor.
Last month, HP launched two HP ProLiant Gen8 servers using the new AMD Opteron processors and plans to refresh the ProLiant DL585 G7 and the BL685c G7 later this year. Moreover, Dell is also expected to refresh its AMD offering with the latest AMD Opteron processors in the PowerEdge C6145, C6105, R415, R515, R715, R815 and the M915.
Last month, HP launched two HP ProLiant Gen8 servers using the new AMD Opteron processors and plans to refresh the ProLiant DL585 G7 and the BL685c G7 later this year. Moreover, Dell is also expected to refresh its AMD offering with the latest AMD Opteron processors in the PowerEdge C6145, C6105, R415, R515, R715, R815 and the M915.
GIGABYTE Launches New Ultra Durable 5 Socket LGA2011 Motherboards
GIGABYTE did not leave out the Sandy Bridge-E HEDT platform when designing its new Ultra Durable 5 line of motherboards, the company showed of two new socket LGA2011 parts, the X79S-UP5 WIFI, and the X79-UP4.
The X79-UP4 is designed to be a sub-$300 offering, being a notch above the X79-UD3 (and perhaps even the X79-UD5). It uses a 6+1 phase CPU VRM, which consists of high-current ferrite core chokes, and PowIRstage IR3550 driver-MOSFETs. GIGABYTE added eight DDR3 DIMM slots, four on either side of the socket, supporting up to 64 GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory. Expansion slots include four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x16/x8/x16/x8), two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and one legacy PCI. The X79-UP4 otherwise has a similar connectivity load-out as the X79-UD3.
The X79-UP4 is designed to be a sub-$300 offering, being a notch above the X79-UD3 (and perhaps even the X79-UD5). It uses a 6+1 phase CPU VRM, which consists of high-current ferrite core chokes, and PowIRstage IR3550 driver-MOSFETs. GIGABYTE added eight DDR3 DIMM slots, four on either side of the socket, supporting up to 64 GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory. Expansion slots include four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x16/x8/x16/x8), two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and one legacy PCI. The X79-UP4 otherwise has a similar connectivity load-out as the X79-UD3.
GIGABYTE Also Shows Off its First Socket FM2 Motherboards
Among GIGABYTE's new motherboard extravaganza, are some of its first socket FM2 motherboards, which based on the new AMD A85 FCH chipset (higher price-points) and previous-generation A55 FCH (lower price-points) and support next-generation "Trinity" APUs. Among these are the high-end F2A85X-UP4 with Ultra Durable 5 construction, mainstream F2A55-DS3, and entry-level F2A55M-DS2 Ultra Durable 1 motherboards.
The F2A85X-UP4 is loaded with top-tier VRM components, including high-current ferrite core chokes, IR3550 PowIRstage driver-MOSFETs, which make up an 8-phase CPU VRM. The FM2 socket is wired to four DDR3 memory slots, with support for dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking; and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated). Other expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and a legacy PCI, all of which are wired to the A85 FCH.
The F2A85X-UP4 is loaded with top-tier VRM components, including high-current ferrite core chokes, IR3550 PowIRstage driver-MOSFETs, which make up an 8-phase CPU VRM. The FM2 socket is wired to four DDR3 memory slots, with support for dual-channel DDR3-2400 MHz by overclocking; and two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots (x8/x8, when both are populated). Other expansion slots include three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and a legacy PCI, all of which are wired to the A85 FCH.
GIGABYTE's Duo of Thunderbolt-Equipped Motherboards Pictured
GIGABYTE showed off some of its first Ultra Durable 5 motherboards, which included its first Thunderbolt-equipped ones, the Z77X-UP4 TH and the Z77X-UP5 TH. The two are slated to be notches above the current-generation Z77X-UD3H and Z77X-UD5H, respectively. Their most striking feature is the Thunderbolt interface, which gives high-bandwidth devices (such as DAS) access to 10 Gb/s of bandwidth. The Thunderbolt interface is also wired to the Intel Flexible Display Interface (FDI), which routes the Intel HD 4000/2500 series graphics of the processor through a common Thunderbolt + mini-DisplayPort, which can then be daisy-chained between 6 devices, including a monitor. The two also feature high-grade CPU VRM, which utilize new high-current chokes and PowIRstage IR3550 driver-MOSFETs, and a VRD12-compliant VRM controller, also made by IR. The Z77X-UP4 TH and the Z77X-UP5 TH are otherwise similar to the UD3H and UD5H, respectively, in terms of other features.
GIGABYTE Shows Off Z77X-UP7 Motherboard with 32-Phase CPU VRM
It's good to see GIGABYTE back to doing high-end motherboards with overkill CPU power designs. Its latest creation, the Z77X-UP7, was shown to sections of the media, at a private exhibition, ahead of Computex. The Z77X-UP7 is the company's first motherboard to feature its Ultra Durable 5 motherboard construction technology, which is basically Ultra Durable 4 augmented with higher current 60A chokes, and International Rectifier PowIRStage IR3550 ICs (a highly potent driver-MOSFET implementation). The Z77X-UP7 is based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, and supports Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package.
GIGABYTE Announces Ultra Durable 5 Technology
GIGABYTE TECHNOLGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today introduced their latest Ultra Durable 5 technology, featuring a range of high current capable components including the industry's highest rated 60A IR3550 PowIRstage ICs that provide the best quality power delivery to the CPU for record-breaking performance, cool and efficient operation and extended motherboard lifespan.
GIGABYTE is yet again raising the bar of motherboard quality and durability with their Ultra Durable 5 technology, which includes high current capable components for the CPU power zone including the highest rated and awarded IR3550 PowIRstage ICs from International Rectifier, 2X Copper PCB and high current Ferrite Core Chokes rated up to 60A which together are able to deliver up to 60°C* cooler temperatures than traditional motherboards. Featured on a range of new motherboards based the Intel X79 and Z77 Express Chipsets, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 5 technology is the next evolution in quality motherboard design.
GIGABYTE is yet again raising the bar of motherboard quality and durability with their Ultra Durable 5 technology, which includes high current capable components for the CPU power zone including the highest rated and awarded IR3550 PowIRstage ICs from International Rectifier, 2X Copper PCB and high current Ferrite Core Chokes rated up to 60A which together are able to deliver up to 60°C* cooler temperatures than traditional motherboards. Featured on a range of new motherboards based the Intel X79 and Z77 Express Chipsets, GIGABYTE Ultra Durable 5 technology is the next evolution in quality motherboard design.
Fresco Logic Demonstrates the World's First Thunderbolt to USB 3.0 Dock Application
Fresco Logic Inc., a global leading fabless semiconductor company providing advanced solutions that deliver highly-efficient connectivity, such as USB 3.0 and PCI Express for next-generation consumer electronics, personal computing, storage and mobile devices, today demonstrates Thunderbolt to USB 3.0 docking at Computex Taipei 2012.
The upstream of the Dock offers simultaneous bi-directional, 10 Gbps transfer speeds over a single Thunderbolt cable. The downstream features USB 3.0 connectivity, Ethernet, and HDMI. Users can connect multiple Thunderbolt-enabled or USB3.0 enabled devices to transfer large files while watching Full HD 1080p movies and view cloud content at Gigabit Ethernet speed.
The upstream of the Dock offers simultaneous bi-directional, 10 Gbps transfer speeds over a single Thunderbolt cable. The downstream features USB 3.0 connectivity, Ethernet, and HDMI. Users can connect multiple Thunderbolt-enabled or USB3.0 enabled devices to transfer large files while watching Full HD 1080p movies and view cloud content at Gigabit Ethernet speed.
IDT Announces End of "Go-Shop" Period in PLX Technology Acquisition
Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT), the Analog and Digital Company delivering essential mixed-signal semiconductor solutions today announced the expiration of the "go-shop" period pursuant to the terms of the previously announced merger agreement with PLX Technology, Inc. ("PLX"), dated April 30, 2012, which contemplates the exchange offer for all outstanding shares of PLX common stock, followed by a second step merger.
Pursuant to the "go-shop" provisions of the merger agreement, PLX and its representatives were permitted to actively solicit alternative acquisition proposals for a period of 30 calendar days, which expired at 11:59 p.m. California time on May 30, 2012, and to continue negotiations with certain qualifying "excluded parties" for up to an additional 15 days thereafter. On May 31, 2012, PLX confirmed that it did not receive any superior acquisition proposals during the "go shop" period and that no qualifying "excluded party" would be permitted to engage in any subsequent negotiations.
Pursuant to the "go-shop" provisions of the merger agreement, PLX and its representatives were permitted to actively solicit alternative acquisition proposals for a period of 30 calendar days, which expired at 11:59 p.m. California time on May 30, 2012, and to continue negotiations with certain qualifying "excluded parties" for up to an additional 15 days thereafter. On May 31, 2012, PLX confirmed that it did not receive any superior acquisition proposals during the "go shop" period and that no qualifying "excluded party" would be permitted to engage in any subsequent negotiations.
ASUS Announces the RT-AC66U (802.11ac) Dual-Band Router
The ASUS RT-AC66U router integrates dual-band Gigabit wireless with fifth generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, also known as 5G WiFi, which enables speeds up to three times faster than existing 802.11n. As one of the first routers to achieve this, it tops Gigabit wireless requirements with a combined 2.4 GHz/5 GHz bandwidth of 1.75 Gbps. This massive data rate makes it an excellent high speed router for demanding online applications, coupled with exclusive ASUS AiRadar signal amplification and shaping technology. Easy ASUSWRT setup, multiple SSIDs, and IPv6 support further enhance networking, while strong USB-based capabilities turn the RT-AC66U into a 3G, FTP, DLNA, and printer server for genuine multi-role functionality.
MSI Announces GeForce GTX 670 Power Edition Graphics Card
Leading mainboard and graphics card maker MSI today announced the release of its GTX 670 Power Edition (P/N: N670GTX PE 2GD5/OC and N670GTX PE 2GD5) graphics card. The new GTX 670 Power Edition is based on the MSI Power Edition architecture which incorporates Triple Overvoltage, a strengthened PWM enabling an impressive 22.5% boost in overclocking potential compared to the reference design. The new Twin Frozr IV Thermal Design keeps the card cool and MSI's exclusive Dust Removal technology ensures that the cooling module remains free of dust for optimal cooling performance.
In addition, Propeller Blade technology offers 20% more air flow than conventional fans, effectively reducing temperatures by up to 20°C and noise levels by 11.7dB. The MSI GTX 670 Power Edition uses Military Class III components that give overclockers a level of quality and stability they can count on. The power, cooling, and other components of the MSI GTX 670 Power Edition incorporate more functions and technologies than the reference board, making it the choice of those looking for superior overclocking performance.
In addition, Propeller Blade technology offers 20% more air flow than conventional fans, effectively reducing temperatures by up to 20°C and noise levels by 11.7dB. The MSI GTX 670 Power Edition uses Military Class III components that give overclockers a level of quality and stability they can count on. The power, cooling, and other components of the MSI GTX 670 Power Edition incorporate more functions and technologies than the reference board, making it the choice of those looking for superior overclocking performance.
Toshiba Intros 19 nm NAND Flash-based SSDs
Toshiba announced the first SSDs based on its swanky new 19 nm-class NAND flash memory. These include four models in the 2.5-inch 9.5 mm-thick form-factor (standard), another four models in the 2.5-inch 7 mm-thick form-factor (slim, for Ultrabooks); and three models in the super-compact mSATA form-factor. The 9.5 mm-thick and 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch models differ only with their thickness, and are otherwise identical, since SSDs are essentially just printed circuit boards with NAND flash memory, controllers, caches, and ancillary components soldered onto them.
The 9.5 mm-thick 2.5-inch models carry the model number scheme THNSNFxxxGBSS (xxx = number of GB capacity), while the 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch models use THNSNFxxxGCSS. Both lines are available in 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB capacities. The 128, 256, and 512 GB models offer transfer rates as high as 524 MB/s, while the 64 GB model offers up to 440 MB/s. Toshiba implemented a new controller that features next-generation Deterministic Zeroing TRIM (a feature exclusive with Windows 8 and future *nix kernels), Quadruple Swing-by Code (QSBC), a performance-optimized ECC-equivalent, and a read-only mode. The mSATA models (model number scheme THNSNFxxxGMCS) offer similar performance to their 2.5-inch cousins, but are available in only three capacity options, 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. Toshiba will release its new line of SSDs in August.
The 9.5 mm-thick 2.5-inch models carry the model number scheme THNSNFxxxGBSS (xxx = number of GB capacity), while the 7 mm-thick 2.5-inch models use THNSNFxxxGCSS. Both lines are available in 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB capacities. The 128, 256, and 512 GB models offer transfer rates as high as 524 MB/s, while the 64 GB model offers up to 440 MB/s. Toshiba implemented a new controller that features next-generation Deterministic Zeroing TRIM (a feature exclusive with Windows 8 and future *nix kernels), Quadruple Swing-by Code (QSBC), a performance-optimized ECC-equivalent, and a read-only mode. The mSATA models (model number scheme THNSNFxxxGMCS) offer similar performance to their 2.5-inch cousins, but are available in only three capacity options, 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. Toshiba will release its new line of SSDs in August.
DisplayLink and Listeq SDK Enables a Virtually Unlimited Number of Embedded Displays
DisplayLink, the leading provider of technology for virtual graphics and USB-connected computing, and Listeq, a developer of interactive learning systems, today announced the DisplayLink SDK for Windows .NET that enables simple plug and display connectivity of a virtually unlimited number of DisplayLink-powered monitors.
DisplayLink has taken the technical challenge and complications out of connecting multiple monitors by allowing software developers to utilize an optimized approach to create systems that require large numbers of connected displays, such as:
DisplayLink has taken the technical challenge and complications out of connecting multiple monitors by allowing software developers to utilize an optimized approach to create systems that require large numbers of connected displays, such as:
Introducing the GIGABYTE High on Ivy Overclocking Contest
GIGABYTE TECHNOLGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced its latest overclocking competition in conjunction with HWBOT.org, the GIGABYTE 'High on Ivy Contest'.
Calling all HWBot members! From June 1st to June 30th, GIGABYTE invites you to push your unlocked Ivy Bridge processors as high as you possibly can, with a chance to win a next-generation GIGABYTE motherboard. The rules are simple; take any GIGABYTE Z77 board and aim for the highest scores possible across four unrelenting stages.
Calling all HWBot members! From June 1st to June 30th, GIGABYTE invites you to push your unlocked Ivy Bridge processors as high as you possibly can, with a chance to win a next-generation GIGABYTE motherboard. The rules are simple; take any GIGABYTE Z77 board and aim for the highest scores possible across four unrelenting stages.
Matrox Announces Thunderbolt Docking Station at $249
Matrox today introduced Matrox DS1, a Thunderbolt docking station that brings all the productivity benefits of a desktop computer to MacBook and Ultrabook users. From a single Thunderbolt connection, users can add multiple peripherals including a large DVI or HDMI display, a full-size keyboard, and a mouse. A gigabit Ethernet port provides connectivity to a wired corporate network, enabling data transfers 18 times faster than Wi-Fi. One SuperSpeed USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, a microphone input, and a speaker/headphone output are also provided. With its solid aluminum construction, yet sleek design, Matrox DS1 is ideal for office, dorm, or home use.
HP Delivers High-performance Desktop and Mobile Workstations
HP today announced the new HP Z220 Workstations and HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations, packed with reliable and professional-class features.
HP's most affordable, no-compromise workstations, the Z220, features next-generation Intel Core and Intel Xeon processors, the latest integrated and discrete professional graphics from Intel, NVIDIA and AMD and four integrated USB 3.0 high-speed ports. The Z220 entry-level workstation is available in a choice of an exceptionally expandable, Convertible Mini-Tower (CMT) or a highly compact Small Form Factor (SFF) that's 65 percent smaller and perfect for tight spaces.
HP's most affordable, no-compromise workstations, the Z220, features next-generation Intel Core and Intel Xeon processors, the latest integrated and discrete professional graphics from Intel, NVIDIA and AMD and four integrated USB 3.0 high-speed ports. The Z220 entry-level workstation is available in a choice of an exceptionally expandable, Convertible Mini-Tower (CMT) or a highly compact Small Form Factor (SFF) that's 65 percent smaller and perfect for tight spaces.
Sunday, June 3rd 2012
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Processors
J&W Readies Consumer Variant of M001 Fanless PC
Earlier this month, J&W unveiled the M001, a fanless industrial PC (IPC). The company is poised to unveil its affordable variant targeting the consumer nettop market, at Computex. It will be launched in two affordable models, starting at US $149, the M001-AP1I42110 and M001-AP6I62C10. The former is driven by Intel Atom D2550 processor, 2 GB DDR3 memory, and packs a 320 GB HDD; while the latter is driven by Atom D2800 processor, 2 GB memory, and a 32 GB SSD. Most modern nettop features, including WiFi b/g/n, multi-format card-reader, gigabit Ethernet, and 1080p-capable graphics, will be included.
Acer Presents Windows 8 Tablets with Full-HD Touchscreens
Acer presents two of its newest Windows 8 tablets at Computex Taipei. The ICONIA W510 evolves the computing experience with three different modes of touchscreen operation, while the ICONIA W700 is the best-performing Windows 8 tablet with the added versatility of a cradle. Both designed to set new standards in ergonomics and user-friendliness.
The most unique part of the W510 tablet is the tri-mode, allowing users to touch, type and view. Aside from the conventional tablet mode, it can be used in productivity mode. A detachable keyboard dock can be connected to the tablet for optimal typing as well as extending the battery life up to 18 hours. Rotating the tablet 295 degrees allows it to be used in presentation mode, which is excellent for watching a video, browsing a webpage or viewing a PowerPoint presentation.
The most unique part of the W510 tablet is the tri-mode, allowing users to touch, type and view. Aside from the conventional tablet mode, it can be used in productivity mode. A detachable keyboard dock can be connected to the tablet for optimal typing as well as extending the battery life up to 18 hours. Rotating the tablet 295 degrees allows it to be used in presentation mode, which is excellent for watching a video, browsing a webpage or viewing a PowerPoint presentation.
Computex 2012 Best Choice MSI to Show 4 Major Laptop Series
MSI will be rolling out its latest generation of G Series gaming laptops, including the GT60, GT70, GE60, and GE70, June 5-9 at Booth L0810 on the fourth floor of TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall. Other notebook computers to be displayed include the U270 with AMD's latest Brazos 2.0 processor, the high performance, highly mobile U180 netbook, the CX70, CR70, CX61, CR61, and CR41--five multimedia laptops from the solid C Series. The slender and powerful MSI Slider S20 will also be there. Popular the world over, this ultimate in ultrabooks sports an 11.6-inch screen and classy looks. Tipping the scales at just 1.3 kilograms, it is less than 2 centimeters thin. What's more, the Slider ultrabook can be collapsed to give you the most powerful tablet in the world.
AMD Catalyst Receives Windows 8 Certification
AMD is proud to announce that it has received Windows Hardware Certification (WHC) for an AMD Catalyst graphics driver (with full support for the new WDDM 1.2 driver model) on Windows 8. This landmark moment reflects both our commitment to AMD Radeon graphics customers, and our vision of providing quality hardware/software solutions for Microsoft Windows products.
Formerly known as the Windows Logo Program, WHC is a rigorous mark of compatibility and reliability for products intended for use with Microsoft Windows. It also allows AMD to serve as an official partner in the upcoming Windows 8 release, use the "Windows 8 Compatible" logo, and offer the drivers on Windows Update.
Formerly known as the Windows Logo Program, WHC is a rigorous mark of compatibility and reliability for products intended for use with Microsoft Windows. It also allows AMD to serve as an official partner in the upcoming Windows 8 release, use the "Windows 8 Compatible" logo, and offer the drivers on Windows Update.
Kingston Technology to Ship Ultra-fast 2666 MHz HyperX Memory
Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping HyperX dual-channel kits engineered especially for the new Intel third-generation Core i7 and i5 processors (Ivy Bridge). Kingston HyperX memory is available in 16GB and 8GB kits of two at 1600MHz, 2133MHz, 2400MHz and soon to be speedy 2666 MHz frequencies.
"The new 22nm architecture of this processor allows significant performance gains for benchmarkers, enthusiasts and overclockers," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. "Enthusiasts who want to push the performance boundaries of the new processors will want to pair it with Kingston HyperX memory. Our 2666 MHz kit combined with the top CPU in the Ivy Bridge family will allow unparalleled performance."
"The new 22nm architecture of this processor allows significant performance gains for benchmarkers, enthusiasts and overclockers," said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. "Enthusiasts who want to push the performance boundaries of the new processors will want to pair it with Kingston HyperX memory. Our 2666 MHz kit combined with the top CPU in the Ivy Bridge family will allow unparalleled performance."
Nintendo Shows Off Ergonomic Wii U Pro Controller
For all those put off with the ergonomics of Nintendo's standard Wii U controller, the console giant is planning a new ergonomic gamepad for games that can make do with just common controls (D-pad, axes, four buttons, triggers). Called the Wii U Pro Controller, the gamepad dons a similar shape to that of the Xbox 360 controller, but with both its analog sticks located in the same row of controls. The controller appears to be designed to work both wired and wireless. More details will be released at this year's E3 event, scheduled for this week.
Acer Introduces Premium Touch Ultrabook - Aspire S7
Acer today introduces its newest premium Windows 8 Ultrabook devices - the Aspire S7 Series - at Computex Taipei. Available in two sizes, 13.3-inch and 11.6-inch, these are the thinnest and smallest, respectively, Full HD touch Ultrabooks. Both feature a sleek aluminum metallic unibody design and provide a more engrossing computing experience. The larger model additionally sports a glossy, sculpted glass cover, delivering a trendy and elegant appearance.
With the aluminum unibody design, the S7 Ultrabooks are exceptionally slim and light, yet durable enough to handle the rigors of everyday use. The 13.3-inch model offers up to 12 hours of battery life, while the 11.6-inch model can run for up to 9 hours, to ensure a full day of on-demand productivity and media consumption from a single charge. To make the best of the powerful performance components, Acer designed its innovative Acer Twin Air cooling system to produce efficient cooling and deliver the best thermal comfort.
With the aluminum unibody design, the S7 Ultrabooks are exceptionally slim and light, yet durable enough to handle the rigors of everyday use. The 13.3-inch model offers up to 12 hours of battery life, while the 11.6-inch model can run for up to 9 hours, to ensure a full day of on-demand productivity and media consumption from a single charge. To make the best of the powerful performance components, Acer designed its innovative Acer Twin Air cooling system to produce efficient cooling and deliver the best thermal comfort.
AMD Makes "Life More Brilliant" at 2012 COMPUTEX TAIPEI
AMD will welcome attendees, customers and partners to COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2012 with system demonstrations of the second generation AMD A-Series Accelerated Processor Unit (APU) and the newest AMD E-Series APUs, both designed for best-in-class PC entertainment, gaming, and battery life. A debut event the morning of June 6 in Taipei will underscore the diverse range of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and independent software vendors (ISVs) supporting AMD's 2012 product offerings, provide updates on new products, and demonstrate the powerful applications leveraging the unique processing power of the APU. A live webcast of the "Life More Brilliant" event will be available.
"There could not be a better location than COMPUTEX in Taiwan to recognize our customers and technology partners, and celebrate their contributions to the rapidly growing APU ecosystem," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units and host of the upcoming event. "AMD saw consumers wanting a more visually-demanding, entertainment-focused PC experience long ago and created a product strategy to enhance those experiences. This week we will proudly share with the rest of the world the latest advances and accomplishments we have made with our customers."
"There could not be a better location than COMPUTEX in Taiwan to recognize our customers and technology partners, and celebrate their contributions to the rapidly growing APU ecosystem," said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Global Business Units and host of the upcoming event. "AMD saw consumers wanting a more visually-demanding, entertainment-focused PC experience long ago and created a product strategy to enhance those experiences. This week we will proudly share with the rest of the world the latest advances and accomplishments we have made with our customers."
Acer Announces Windows 8 All-In-One U Series
Acer today announces two new Windows 8 all-in-one (AIO) PCs at Computex Taipei: the Aspire 7600U (27-inch) and the Aspire 5600U (23-inch).
The striking Aspire 7600U supports up to 64-point simultaneous touch from all angles, enabling use by multiple users at once. It features 0 to 90 degree viewing and swivels at four sides when laid flat for enjoyment by more than one user. At just 35 mm thin, the 7600U is ultra-slim. It delivers Full HD visuals and Dolby Home Theater surround sound. This AIO is made for modern day explorers who want a cutting-edge multimedia experience.
The striking Aspire 7600U supports up to 64-point simultaneous touch from all angles, enabling use by multiple users at once. It features 0 to 90 degree viewing and swivels at four sides when laid flat for enjoyment by more than one user. At just 35 mm thin, the 7600U is ultra-slim. It delivers Full HD visuals and Dolby Home Theater surround sound. This AIO is made for modern day explorers who want a cutting-edge multimedia experience.
DisplayLink Supports 3rd Generation Intel Core Processors
DisplayLink, the leading provider of technology for virtual graphics and USB-connected computing, today announced its support for 3rd generation Intel Core processors and supporting mobile Intel QM77 and Intel QS77 express chipsets with SuperSpeed USB 3.0.
DisplayLink's DL-3000 chip platform with USB 3.0 is shipping today in adapters, monitors and docking stations from leading vendors. The broad availability of onboard USB 3.0 in systems using 3rd generation Intel Core processors means that a huge new segment of the market now has access to easy-to-use docking, and multi-display possibilities. With DisplayLink technology, Ultrabook devices can now enjoy full docking station functionality, portable USB 3.0 monitors can be quickly connected without the need for a separate power cable, and up to six displays can be driven by a single computer over just one "Plug and Display" USB cable.
DisplayLink's DL-3000 chip platform with USB 3.0 is shipping today in adapters, monitors and docking stations from leading vendors. The broad availability of onboard USB 3.0 in systems using 3rd generation Intel Core processors means that a huge new segment of the market now has access to easy-to-use docking, and multi-display possibilities. With DisplayLink technology, Ultrabook devices can now enjoy full docking station functionality, portable USB 3.0 monitors can be quickly connected without the need for a separate power cable, and up to six displays can be driven by a single computer over just one "Plug and Display" USB cable.
MAINGEAR Leads the March of Ultraportable Gaming with the New Pulse 11
MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks, workstations, is now adding the Pulse 11 high performance ultraportable laptop solution to their product line and is unmatched in its class for PC gamers who want to harness desktop-like power wherever they go.
The MAINGEAR Pulse 11 combines the best in small form-factor laptop design featuring the latest mobile technology such as Intel's 3rd Generation Core processor with up to 8-thread processing with the Intel Core I7 mobile processor and offering 75% better performance with Intel's 3rd Generation Core i5 mobile processor compared with Intel's previous Core 2 Duo E8400/ P8600 processors. It's a perfect engine for power users who demand unparalleled performance on the go in HD, multitasking, or multimedia.
The MAINGEAR Pulse 11 combines the best in small form-factor laptop design featuring the latest mobile technology such as Intel's 3rd Generation Core processor with up to 8-thread processing with the Intel Core I7 mobile processor and offering 75% better performance with Intel's 3rd Generation Core i5 mobile processor compared with Intel's previous Core 2 Duo E8400/ P8600 processors. It's a perfect engine for power users who demand unparalleled performance on the go in HD, multitasking, or multimedia.
Friday, June 1st 2012
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Desktop PC
Keyboards
Motherboards
SSD
Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H WiFi Intel Z77 Express LGA 1155 Review
The Gigabyte Z77X-UD5H WiFi is a full ATX product straight out of Gigabyte's enthusiast-class of board products, featuring not only a new AMI UEFI BIOS implementation, but also an add-in Bluetooth and WiFi card, and is sure to meet the needs of nearly any user.
SteelSeries and Major League Gaming Introduce the Sensei MLG Edition Gaming Mouse
SteelSeries, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality peripherals, and partner Major League Gaming (MLG), the world's largest competitive video game league, today introduced the SteelSeries Sensei MLG Edition Gaming Mouse. As the official, licensed mouse for Major League Gaming, the SteelSeries Sensei MLG Edition brings competitive players the best-in-class hardware as well as a color design and surface that was chosen in cooperation with the MLG community - based on interviewing visitors at the MLG Winter Championship in Columbus. Key features include a 32-bit ARM processor that allows for advanced SteelSeries ExactTech calculations to be done directly on the mouse, easy driverless setup at tournament computers via an on mouse LCD display and menu, and the newest, premium-quality sensor, which increases the CPI to 8,200 and 16,400 DCPI. Attendees at the MLG Spring Championship in Anaheim, CA, June 8-10 will be the first to get an advanced look and can pre-order the sophisticated mouse which will be available beginning this August for $99.99 / €99.99 MSRP.
Microsoft Announces Availability of Windows Upgrade Offer
Microsoft Corp. today announced the availability of the Windows Upgrade Offer for consumers purchasing a qualifying new Windows 7 PC. The Windows Upgrade Offer provides consumers who buy an eligible Windows 7 PC the option to purchase a downloadable upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for an estimated retail price of just $14.99 (U.S.) during the time of the promotion, which will be redeemable when Windows 8 is generally available. The Windows Upgrade Offer is just the first of many consumer offers that will roll out in conjunction with the general availability of Windows 8.
"We've seen a great interest in Windows 8, especially given the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview this week, and yet we know many consumers want a new PC now," said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of Windows at Microsoft. "The Windows Upgrade Offer gives people the flexibility to purchase the new Windows 7 PC they need today, with the knowledge they can easily get Windows 8 when it's available."
"We've seen a great interest in Windows 8, especially given the availability of the Windows 8 Release Preview this week, and yet we know many consumers want a new PC now," said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of Windows at Microsoft. "The Windows Upgrade Offer gives people the flexibility to purchase the new Windows 7 PC they need today, with the knowledge they can easily get Windows 8 when it's available."
Club 3D Introduces Radeon HD 7870 Eyefinity 6 Graphics Card
Club 3D proudly presents the Club 3D Radeon HD 7870 Eyefinity 6 graphics card, the world's first Radeon HD 7000 series graphics card to feature 6 mini DisplayPort outputs, and harnesses the power to unleash incredible scalability, productivity and immersive HD gaming performance, making it the definitve solution for those who refuse to compromise.
Get ready for the future with 28nm GPU technology, Graphics Core Next Architecture, AMD App Acceleration and support for Ultra HD 4096p resolutions and PCI Express 3.0. If you expect above average performance of your Graphics card, Club 3D CoolStream High Performance Cooling Technology is just the kind of high performance that you have been looking for.
Get ready for the future with 28nm GPU technology, Graphics Core Next Architecture, AMD App Acceleration and support for Ultra HD 4096p resolutions and PCI Express 3.0. If you expect above average performance of your Graphics card, Club 3D CoolStream High Performance Cooling Technology is just the kind of high performance that you have been looking for.
MSI Working On "Letexo" Variant of its Own
At IDF Beijing, 2012, Intel unveiled a large selection of its upcoming Ultrabook designs, including what it referred to as "Letexo," a sliding-Ultrabook, which bridges the gap between high-performance Windows 8 tablets, and Ultrabooks (devices with keyboards). MSI is working on one such device, which lays to rest the looming question of whether the company plans to do Ultrabook PCs. The unnamed Letexo by MSI was unveiled as a teaser picture, earlier today. The device is a fully functional Windows 8 tablet, driven by Intel architecture, a comfortable and responsive chiclet keyboard slides out, when you have a lot of typing to do. We expect to see this device at Computex.
MSI Big Bang ZPower Motherboard Teased
MSI is working on its first Big Bang series motherboard based on the Intel Z77 Express chipset, supporting Core "Ivy Bridge" and "Sandy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package, which is called Big Bang ZPower (we could be wrong with the name), carrying an MSI internal model number MS-7751 v 3.0. The model number seems to suggest that the PCB design is similar to that of the Z77A-GD65. For now we only have two cutout teaser pictures with us.
The pictures reveal the ZPower to be a bustling metropolis with a swanky heatsink design that keeps up with the theme of MSI's Lightning series graphics cards. The motherboard will be designed for 3-way multi-GPU setups, although a PLX-made bridge chip won't be used. Instead it will use Pericom PCIe lane switches to split the x16 link from the processor into x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4. The focus of this board will be towards overclocking, a lot of overclocker-friendly features, options (in the UEFI BIOS setup program), and a strong VRM will be added to the mix. MSI is likely to exhibit the new motherboard at the upcoming Computex event.
The pictures reveal the ZPower to be a bustling metropolis with a swanky heatsink design that keeps up with the theme of MSI's Lightning series graphics cards. The motherboard will be designed for 3-way multi-GPU setups, although a PLX-made bridge chip won't be used. Instead it will use Pericom PCIe lane switches to split the x16 link from the processor into x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4. The focus of this board will be towards overclocking, a lot of overclocker-friendly features, options (in the UEFI BIOS setup program), and a strong VRM will be added to the mix. MSI is likely to exhibit the new motherboard at the upcoming Computex event.
PowerColor and TechPowerUp GPU-Z Giveaway Winners Announced
In May, TechPowerUp teamed up with PowerColor to run this year's first GPU-Z Giveaway. Up for grabs were some groovy PowerColor Radeon HD 7000 PCS graphics cards, with Vortex series cooling solutions. Today, we are pleased to announce its winners. There is a slight change, though. The prize that was slated for the third-place, the PowerColor HD 7770 PCS+ Vortex II, is launching at a slightly later date than our contest permits, and so we have two second place winners, instead. Both second place winners get an awesome new PowerColor HD 7870 PCS+ Vortex II graphics card, each.
The Winners:
The Winners:
- Boris from Czech Republic - wins PowerColor PCS+ HD 7970 Vortex II
- Anurag from India and Rodrigo from Brazil - win PowerColor PCS+ HD 7870 Vortex II, each
ECS Also Provides Sneak-Peek of its GeForce GTX 680 Black Series Graphics Card
The new GTX680 Black Series graphics card from Elitegroup (ECS) combines graphics power, rock solid reliability, low noise and tweakability in one unbeatable package. Screaming fast graphics performance and innovative thermal design means it won't even break a sweat running the lastest games, and it's ready for the next generation, too. GTX680 harnesses the raw power of the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 GPU, backed by the stability of ECS Nonstop Certification. Combine the GTX680 with an ECS Black Series motherboard for the ultimate gaming platform.
CM Storm Launches QuickFire Pro Gaming Keyboard
Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, today announces the next incarnation of the extremely popular QuickFire Rapid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, the QuickFire Pro.
Featuring a smooth and clean aesthetic, QuickFire Pro includes laser-marked keycaps and a non-glossy matte finish. This is complemented by a set of extra keycaps (includes a key puller) that give the keyboard an extra appeal that draws other gamers in. A response time of 1ms, in USB mode, offers gamers a necessary consistency to navigate the ever changing landscapes of their video game libraries. With the Windows Key being disabled in GAME mode, users will no longer worry about possibly losing a match from accidentally minimizing the game.
Featuring a smooth and clean aesthetic, QuickFire Pro includes laser-marked keycaps and a non-glossy matte finish. This is complemented by a set of extra keycaps (includes a key puller) that give the keyboard an extra appeal that draws other gamers in. A response time of 1ms, in USB mode, offers gamers a necessary consistency to navigate the ever changing landscapes of their video game libraries. With the Windows Key being disabled in GAME mode, users will no longer worry about possibly losing a match from accidentally minimizing the game.
Roccat Teases with the Lua Gaming Mouse
German gaming peripherals manufacturer, ROCCAT Studios, is set to unveil the ROCCAT Lua Tri-Button Gaming Mouse at the Computex expo in Taipei and E3 in Los Angeles, June 5. Described as "The Classic 3-Button Mouse: Re-Mastered", the Lua packs advanced gaming engineering into a sleek and clean ambidextrous form that offers a comfortable fit for every gamer's hand.
"We took the beloved three-button mouse design and injected it with our innovative gaming engineering - and created a killer tool that gives props to the past while heading boldly into the future," says René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and CEO. "The Lua delivers everything gamers need for control, comfort and style - all in a sleek and slim design that offers perfect comfort for every hand."
"We took the beloved three-button mouse design and injected it with our innovative gaming engineering - and created a killer tool that gives props to the past while heading boldly into the future," says René Korte, ROCCAT Founder and CEO. "The Lua delivers everything gamers need for control, comfort and style - all in a sleek and slim design that offers perfect comfort for every hand."
ECS Announces A85F2-A Deluxe Motherboard with FM2 Socket
Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) has announced the A85F2-A Deluxe, a new motherboard built around the AMD A85X chipset with support for the latest socket FM2 CPUs.
The A85F2-A Deluxe is one of the most powerful and reliable motherboards currently available. In the ATX format, this ECS motherboard features two 2nd generation PCIe x16 slots for graphics card upgrades and CrossFireX support, as well as three 2nd generation PCIe x1 and 2 PCI slots for other cards. Up to 64 GB of dual channel DDR3 memory can be installed in 4 sockets, with a maximum speed of 1866, or up to 2300 for overclockers. There are seven 6 Gb/s SATA sockets, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, & 10.
The A85F2-A Deluxe is one of the most powerful and reliable motherboards currently available. In the ATX format, this ECS motherboard features two 2nd generation PCIe x16 slots for graphics card upgrades and CrossFireX support, as well as three 2nd generation PCIe x1 and 2 PCI slots for other cards. Up to 64 GB of dual channel DDR3 memory can be installed in 4 sockets, with a maximum speed of 1866, or up to 2300 for overclockers. There are seven 6 Gb/s SATA sockets, with support for RAID 0, 1, 5, & 10.
Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors Launched
Logitech today unveiled the world's first personally tuned custom in-ear monitors - the Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors. Engineered to your exact needs for fit, look and sound, the Ultimate Ears Personal Reference Monitors were created to deliver an experience as personal as your passion for music. The process begins with our exclusive Personal Reference Tuning Box, which allows you to precisely adjust the sound signature of the monitors based on your listening preferences. The Personal Reference Tuning Box captures your adjustments to the mix of highs, mids and lows, which Ultimate Ears engineers then use to craft Personal Reference Monitors to your very own sound signature based on those exact settings.
Portronics Unveils My-Buddy Laptop Cooling Desk
In life nothing comes free, laptop brings us the convenience of portability but its ease of use and convenience gives us the liberty to use the laptop in a posture which can leads to multiple problems like strain on the lower back, strain on neck, pressure on Diaphragm and kidneys, distortion of nasal and Sinus civilities, and many more.
Portronics, a leader in portable and digital devices, announces the launch of its new Laptop Cooling Desk - MY-BUDDY, which is a multi utility laptop cooling desk that allows you to use the laptop in the best of the postures depending on the height of the person and also cool the laptop while you using it. You can use any size of the laptop on this table and the same can be folded, and carried anywhere.
Portronics, a leader in portable and digital devices, announces the launch of its new Laptop Cooling Desk - MY-BUDDY, which is a multi utility laptop cooling desk that allows you to use the laptop in the best of the postures depending on the height of the person and also cool the laptop while you using it. You can use any size of the laptop on this table and the same can be folded, and carried anywhere.
Team Group Launches C123 USB 3.0 Flash Drive
Team C123 is a USB3.0 Flash drive designed to let everyone enjoy the sensation of USB3.0 at the minimal cost! Cost/Performance value cannot get any higher than this! On the outside, the design is centered on a simple and slick style with a carefully engineered curved cap to minimize the possibility of losing such a fine piece of work. With the lowest price, you will get easily the extreme speed that USB 3.0 has to offer! Users are allowed to transmit photos, music and video clips in a blink of eye, and that make life so much easier and so much fun. Having C123, life couldn't have been easier.
C123 comes in 8, 16 and 32GB in volume and "charming white" and "stylish gray" in color. The charming white brings out the extra colors on the tail cap on which the protective cap is secured, thus minimizing the possibility of losing the cap and adding extra convenience for users! The stylish gray is all about a glossy texture and the cool, calm noble fashion, perfect for urban businessmen on the go. Team C123 not only has stylish appearance and extreme speed, but also is the top choice in a time like when the price of everything is skyrocketing. Team Group is here with you for a difficult time like this.
C123 comes in 8, 16 and 32GB in volume and "charming white" and "stylish gray" in color. The charming white brings out the extra colors on the tail cap on which the protective cap is secured, thus minimizing the possibility of losing the cap and adding extra convenience for users! The stylish gray is all about a glossy texture and the cool, calm noble fashion, perfect for urban businessmen on the go. Team C123 not only has stylish appearance and extreme speed, but also is the top choice in a time like when the price of everything is skyrocketing. Team Group is here with you for a difficult time like this.
DOTA 2: Free to Play Confirmed
Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today confirmed that Dota 2 will be free to play and announced the Dota Store in preparation for the game's release.
Upon its opening, the Dota Store will offer items created by Valve and members of the community that may be used immediately and carried over after the public launch of the game. Early Access to the game is not required to purchase items before launch. However, gamers may get into the game now by purchasing the Dota 2 Early Access Bundle of items.
Upon its opening, the Dota Store will offer items created by Valve and members of the community that may be used immediately and carried over after the public launch of the game. Early Access to the game is not required to purchase items before launch. However, gamers may get into the game now by purchasing the Dota 2 Early Access Bundle of items.
GELID Launches the ICY Vision-A VGA Cooler
Thermal Solutions specialist GELID Solutions expands its multi-award winning "ICY VISION" VGA Cooler on the latest graphic cards of AMD (reference board of HD 7950 & HD 7970). This new product is dedicated exclusively to AMD VGA cards.
The "ICY VISION-A" cooler contains 5 power heatpipes in a unique heatpipe constellation. The heatpipes are interlaced into 85 optimized high--quality Aluminium fins. Together with a flat stack fin soldered Copper base, they enable the most efficient heat transmission and dissipation from GPU core in its class.
The "ICY VISION-A" cooler contains 5 power heatpipes in a unique heatpipe constellation. The heatpipes are interlaced into 85 optimized high--quality Aluminium fins. Together with a flat stack fin soldered Copper base, they enable the most efficient heat transmission and dissipation from GPU core in its class.
May 10th, 2024 04:26 EDT
change timezone
Latest GPU Drivers
New Forum Posts
- What are you playing? (20606)
- Graphics card running at 8x 4.0 not 16x 4.0 (16)
- What's a good option for a digital touchless thermometer? (18)
- Game Soundtracks You Love (949)
- RM750x (2021) enough for my 5800X3D + 7900XT system? (1)
- Is hard drive sentinel trustworthy (8)
- Ghost of Tsushima PC Port !!!! (23)
- Flash VBIOS to turn RX 580 2048SP into RX 570 (28)
- AM5 boot times improve RADICALLY with memory context restore enabled (28)
- looking to optimize (performance+cooling) a ryzen 7800x3d system with x670e aorus pro x (16)
Popular Reviews
- CHERRY XTRFY M64 Pro Review
- Bykski CPU-XPR-C-I CPU Water Block Review - Amazing Value!
- Corsair iCUE Link RX120 RGB 120 mm Fan Review
- Corsair MP700 Pro SE 4 TB Review
- ThundeRobot ML903 NearLink Review
- Upcoming Hardware Launches 2023 (Updated Feb 2024)
- Finalmouse UltralightX Review
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Review - The Best Gaming CPU
- Sapphire Radeon RX 7700 XT Pure Review
- ASUS Radeon RX 7900 GRE TUF OC Review
Controversial News Posts
- Intel Statement on Stability Issues: "Motherboard Makers to Blame" (264)
- AMD to Redesign Ray Tracing Hardware on RDNA 4 (206)
- Windows 11 Now Officially Adware as Microsoft Embeds Ads in the Start Menu (169)
- NVIDIA to Only Launch the Flagship GeForce RTX 5090 in 2024, Rest of the Series in 2025 (144)
- Sony PlayStation 5 Pro Specifications Confirmed, Console Arrives Before Holidays (119)
- AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs Could Stick with 18 Gbps GDDR6 Memory (114)
- NVIDIA Points Intel Raptor Lake CPU Users to Get Help from Intel Amid System Instability Issues (106)
- AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D Now at a Mouth-watering $329 (104)