News Archive
Thursday, March 31st 2011
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MSI GeForce GTX 580 Lightning 1536 MB Review
MSI has engineered their own version of the GeForce GTX 580 called "Lightning", which is geared toward enthusiasts and overclockers. The card brings several exciting features like advanced voltage control and on-board DIP switches for tuning. A dual-BIOS feature with a special liquid nitrogen BIOS is also available.
Enermax Intros Jazzmate 3.5-inch HDD/SSD Enclosures
Enermax released 3.5-inch compatible variants of its Jazzmate series portable HDD/SSD enclosures. The first Jazzmate enclosures only supported drives in the 2.5-inch form-factor. Measuring 200 (D) x 123 (W) x 38 (H) mm, these enclosures have a double-sided mesh design to help ventilate the drives, a completely tool-free design, matte black color, and acrylic stands. The 3.5-inch Jazzmate is available in two variants: a USB 2.0 variant, and a USB 2.0 plus eSATA 3 Gb/s variant, priced at €24.90 and €29.90, respectively.
Foxconn Posts $218 Million Full-Year Net Loss
The year 2010 was an extremely difficult year for Foxconn. We saw major changes in the handset ecosystem triggered by entry of new players, introduction of new software and applications, as well as emergence of new business models. Market dynamics shifted drastically and created tough challenges for some industry players as well as the Company.
Despite our continual efforts to further diversify customer base and sources of revenue, the operation results for the Company concluded less than satisfaction. Revenue for the year 2010 was US$6,626 million, which represents a change of US$588 million, or 8.2% less than the prior year revenue of US$7,214 million.
Despite our continual efforts to further diversify customer base and sources of revenue, the operation results for the Company concluded less than satisfaction. Revenue for the year 2010 was US$6,626 million, which represents a change of US$588 million, or 8.2% less than the prior year revenue of US$7,214 million.
NVIDIA SLI on AMD Chipset Motherboards Soon
NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU technology is going through a rough patch on the AMD platform, with very few NVIDIA nForce 900 series motherboards available/sold. With AMD looking to come back strong in the performance CPU market (which might cause high-end gaming PC users to switch platforms), it is wise on the part of NVIDIA to make SLI available to AMD platform users in some form. NVIDIA is making a cautious move: licensing SLI to motherboard vendors in the same protocol in which it licenses them to provide NVIDIA SLI support on Intel 5-series and 6-series chipset based motherboards.
This move is particularly wise because NVIDIA wouldn't need to invest on making a chipset (though it can) for AMD's upcoming "Bulldozer" CPUs, and still get licensing fees for NVIDIA SLI. That way, it wouldn't have to rely on the platform's overall market success. NVIDIA will offer SLI licenses to motherboards based on AMD's upcoming 9-series chipset, particularly to models that lack integrated Radeon graphics (that's AMD 990FX, and AMD 990X). It will offer 2-way SLI licenses to motherboards running AMD 990X, and 3-way/2-way licenses to boards based on AMD 990FX. It won't offer nForce 200 bridge chips. Further, only those motherboard manufacturers that are currently tied up with NVIDIA for SLI licenses on Intel platform, will be granted SLI licenses on AMD platform.
This move is particularly wise because NVIDIA wouldn't need to invest on making a chipset (though it can) for AMD's upcoming "Bulldozer" CPUs, and still get licensing fees for NVIDIA SLI. That way, it wouldn't have to rely on the platform's overall market success. NVIDIA will offer SLI licenses to motherboards based on AMD's upcoming 9-series chipset, particularly to models that lack integrated Radeon graphics (that's AMD 990FX, and AMD 990X). It will offer 2-way SLI licenses to motherboards running AMD 990X, and 3-way/2-way licenses to boards based on AMD 990FX. It won't offer nForce 200 bridge chips. Further, only those motherboard manufacturers that are currently tied up with NVIDIA for SLI licenses on Intel platform, will be granted SLI licenses on AMD platform.
Second Wave of Motherboard Price Hikes in May
Desktop motherboard prices are expected to increase industry-wide for the second time this year, in May. Earlier this year, motherboard vendors hiked prices citing escalating raw material and labor costs, by 5-10%. This time around, prices are influenced by upstream component shortages in the industry caused by the recent series of natural disasters that struck Japan, which produces high-grade electrical components for use on motherboards.
If not actual damage to manufacturing facilities, the disasters, and the resulting shutdown of nuclear power plants (which amount to a large part of Japan's power generation), is causing power shortages and reduced industrial output. Industry sources told DigiTimes that several raw materials and components are already seeing price fluctuations and prices should see a more obvious increase starting in April. To reflect the increasing costs, makers are set to raise motherboard prices in May. The sources predict retail increases in prices by 3-8% after May and companies will make adjustments every month based on costs.
If not actual damage to manufacturing facilities, the disasters, and the resulting shutdown of nuclear power plants (which amount to a large part of Japan's power generation), is causing power shortages and reduced industrial output. Industry sources told DigiTimes that several raw materials and components are already seeing price fluctuations and prices should see a more obvious increase starting in April. To reflect the increasing costs, makers are set to raise motherboard prices in May. The sources predict retail increases in prices by 3-8% after May and companies will make adjustments every month based on costs.
AFOX Unveils its GeForce GT 530 Graphics Card
Hong Kong-based NVIDIA AIC partner AFOX is ready with a graphics card based on GeForce GT 530, a GPU unheard of, till now. Some specifications were also leaked out. The GeForce GT 530 from AFOX has core clocked at 750 MHz, GDDR3 memory clocked at 1333 MHz (2.66 GHz DDR) and memory amounts of 1 GB and 2 GB. Its CUDA core count is unknown, but we don't expect it to be higher than 96 (GF108 CUDA core count). The card relies entirely on the PCI-Express bus for power, it lacks SLI support, and display outputs include one each of D-Sub, HDMI, and DVI. It is expected to be priced around US $100.
Sharkoon Introduces Two New Low-Priced Aluminum Tower Cases
Users on a budget who are looking for an aluminum tower will find one available from Sharkoon: The ATX tower Sharkoon AL4 and the Micro ATX tower Sharkoon AL2 score with a reasonable functional range, stable processing and a simple yet elegant design in brushed aluminum.
The ATX tower Sharkoon AL4 is available in either titanium or silver and offers space for four optical drives, four 3.5 inch devices and seven expansion cards. A 3.5 inch bay is externally accessible. Screwless mounting of the hard drives occur through the decoupled quick-locking mechanisms. Cooling of the hard drives take place through a 120mm blue illuminating fan, which sits behind a mesh window in the front panel. The backside allows two 80mm fans to be retrofitted. An audio and two USB2.0 ports are provided in the front. The Sharkoon AL4 measures 470 x 420 x 190 mm (L x H x W) and weighs 3.2 kg. The tower is designed for graphic cards up to 27 cm long and CPU coolers up to 15 cm high.
The ATX tower Sharkoon AL4 is available in either titanium or silver and offers space for four optical drives, four 3.5 inch devices and seven expansion cards. A 3.5 inch bay is externally accessible. Screwless mounting of the hard drives occur through the decoupled quick-locking mechanisms. Cooling of the hard drives take place through a 120mm blue illuminating fan, which sits behind a mesh window in the front panel. The backside allows two 80mm fans to be retrofitted. An audio and two USB2.0 ports are provided in the front. The Sharkoon AL4 measures 470 x 420 x 190 mm (L x H x W) and weighs 3.2 kg. The tower is designed for graphic cards up to 27 cm long and CPU coolers up to 15 cm high.
QNAP Expands Exclusive QPKG Application Offerings for Turbo NAS Customers
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers announced today 4 new QPKG add-on applications and 3 updates to the original QPKGs for its NAS customers. These QPKGs give users a versatile NAS covering their need from web applications such as Gallery, to media servers and download utilities consisting of PS3 Media Server, pyLoad, and Transmission. These applications improve a QNAP NAS by enabling it not only as a pure storage server, but also a powerful yet energy-efficient downloading machine, multimedia sharing center to game consoles with transcoding capability, IP TV streaming, online photo sharing server, and an all purposed web server with advanced manageability.
QNAP's QPKG applications are free to download and convenient for end users to install. "The QPKG platform is a great feature for users to explore unlimited possibilities of what a QNAP NAS is capable of," said James Wu, Product Manager of QNAP. "With over 20 QPKG apps now available to help create and manage databases, run websites, implement ecommerce, enjoy multimedia files, and much more". QNAP strives to stay ahead of consumer needs by providing innovated add-ons to make today's data-heavy society a more user friendly world.
QNAP's QPKG applications are free to download and convenient for end users to install. "The QPKG platform is a great feature for users to explore unlimited possibilities of what a QNAP NAS is capable of," said James Wu, Product Manager of QNAP. "With over 20 QPKG apps now available to help create and manage databases, run websites, implement ecommerce, enjoy multimedia files, and much more". QNAP strives to stay ahead of consumer needs by providing innovated add-ons to make today's data-heavy society a more user friendly world.
Mach Xtreme Technology Unveils 1.8'' micro-SATA MX-MDS Series Solid State Drives
Mach Xtreme Technology Inc., a worldwide leader in top performance, high reliability and user friendly designed PC components, today unveiled the 1.8"micro-SATA MX-MDS Series SSD. Based on the best-in-class SandForce SF1222 controller, the 1.8" MX-MDS Series delivers an enhanced mobile computing experience with much faster application loading, ultra-fast data access, shorter boot-ups, and longer battery life of all laptops with micro-SATA interface.
This series maintains the highest level of read and write performance though the life of the SSD. Highly intelligent block management and wear leveling optimizes longevity of MX-MDS series drives. The MDS series supports DuraClass, DuraWrite and unique RAISE technologies. DuraClass technology provides best-in-class endurance, performance, and low power. DuraWrite technology extends the endurance of MLC memory providing at least 5 year lifecycles with 3-5K cycle MLC flash. RAISE provides the protection and reliability of RAID on a single drive without the significant write overhead.
This series maintains the highest level of read and write performance though the life of the SSD. Highly intelligent block management and wear leveling optimizes longevity of MX-MDS series drives. The MDS series supports DuraClass, DuraWrite and unique RAISE technologies. DuraClass technology provides best-in-class endurance, performance, and low power. DuraWrite technology extends the endurance of MLC memory providing at least 5 year lifecycles with 3-5K cycle MLC flash. RAISE provides the protection and reliability of RAID on a single drive without the significant write overhead.
ColorFire Readies Radeon HD 6870 Graphics Card for Extreme Overclocking
ColorFire, the associate brand of Colorful that specializes in AMD Radeon-based graphics cards, today released a new Radeon HD 6870 card geared for extreme overclocking. Its design revolves around high-grade VRM, powerful cooling, and dual BIOS, each packing overclocked settings. The ColorFire Xstorm HD 6870 is a completely non-reference design card, the GPU is powered by a 5+1 phase VRM that uses POSCAP capacitors. The card uses two BIOS ROM chips that can be selected using a push-switch on the rear panel. The "normal" BIOS packs clock speeds of 940 MHz core and 1100 MHz (4.40 GHz effective) memory, while the "turbo" BIOS runs the card at 1050 MHz core, 1150 MHz (4.60 GHz effective) memory.
The card is cooled by a large custom-design cooler the company earlier used on an HD 6850 card with similar design. It uses a large heat pipe-fed heatsink that is cooled by a 110 mm fan. Other overclocker-friendly features include consolidated voltage measure points with cables; and hardware-based voltage adjustment using DIP switches on the card. It draws power from two 6-pint power connectors. Display outputs include two DVI, and one each of full-size HDMI 1.4a, and DisplayPort 1.2. Colorfire will first sell the card in Asia, and then in Europe.
The card is cooled by a large custom-design cooler the company earlier used on an HD 6850 card with similar design. It uses a large heat pipe-fed heatsink that is cooled by a 110 mm fan. Other overclocker-friendly features include consolidated voltage measure points with cables; and hardware-based voltage adjustment using DIP switches on the card. It draws power from two 6-pint power connectors. Display outputs include two DVI, and one each of full-size HDMI 1.4a, and DisplayPort 1.2. Colorfire will first sell the card in Asia, and then in Europe.
Samsung Becomes the World's First in Mass Production of Transparent LCD Panels
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced today that it began mass production of a 22-inch transparent LCD panel in March this year. The panels come in two types, the black-and-white type and the color type, and they have a contrast ratio of 500:1 with WSXGA+ (1680x1050) resolution.
Compared with the conventional LCD panels that use back light unit (BLU) and have 5% transparency, Samsung's transparent LCD panel boasts the world's best transparency rate of over 20% for the black-and-white type and over 15% for the color type. The transparent LCD panel has a high transparency rate, which enables a person to look right through the panel like glass, and it consumes 90% less electricity compared with a conventional LCD panel using back light unit. It's because a transparent LCD panel utilizes ambient light such as sun light, which consequently reduces the dependency on electricity for generating power.
Compared with the conventional LCD panels that use back light unit (BLU) and have 5% transparency, Samsung's transparent LCD panel boasts the world's best transparency rate of over 20% for the black-and-white type and over 15% for the color type. The transparent LCD panel has a high transparency rate, which enables a person to look right through the panel like glass, and it consumes 90% less electricity compared with a conventional LCD panel using back light unit. It's because a transparent LCD panel utilizes ambient light such as sun light, which consequently reduces the dependency on electricity for generating power.
NVIDIA Readies Non-Ti GeForce GTX 560 To Ward Off HD 6790 Threat
NVIDIA is readying a new SKU based on the GF114 GPU: the GeForce GTX 560, to help strengthen the company's competitiveness against AMD's upcoming Radeon HD 6790, and probably higher SKUs in the HD 6800 series. Next week, AMD will unveil its Radeon HD 6790 SKU, which will compete with the GTX 550 Ti, and probably seat itself in the market somewhere between the GTX 550 Ti and GTX 560 Ti. It is this gap that NVIDIA is looking to fill.
The GeForce GTX 560 is said to have 336 CUDA cores enabled (same configuration as the GF104-based GTX 460 1 GB), 56 TMUs, 256-bit GDDR5 memory interface holding 1 GB of memory. The thing that sets this SKU apart from the GTX 460 is going to be clock speed and overclocking potential, which is known to be higher on GF11x GPUs in general. Unlike HD 6790, there's no set launch date for the "non-Ti" GeForce GTX 560. Tentatively mid-April or early May.
The GeForce GTX 560 is said to have 336 CUDA cores enabled (same configuration as the GF104-based GTX 460 1 GB), 56 TMUs, 256-bit GDDR5 memory interface holding 1 GB of memory. The thing that sets this SKU apart from the GTX 460 is going to be clock speed and overclocking potential, which is known to be higher on GF11x GPUs in general. Unlike HD 6790, there's no set launch date for the "non-Ti" GeForce GTX 560. Tentatively mid-April or early May.
Wednesday, March 30th 2011
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SSD
Sapphire Edge-HD Mini PC Review
More compact, quieter but still more powerful - that is what the Sapphire Edge-HD aims to deliver. The Mini-PC boasts the new ION2 chipset along with an Atom N510 dual-core processor. We open the power efficient system up to see what else makes it tick. Does the Edge-HD have what it takes to stand out in the crowded Nettop market?
Raidmax Aeolus Review
The latest addition to the long line of chassis from Raidmax, the Aeolus flies in as a top gaming case under $100. While Aeolus is a tribute to "the ruler of the winds" we'll find out if it blows us away or if the wind is knocked out of our sails in our review.
SilverStone Intros DC01 Single Drive NAS
Known more for its premium cases and PSUs, SilverStone occasionally ventures into speciality storage products, its latest being the DC01 "network data center". Simply put, it's a compact single drive NAS (network-attached storage) that can act as a print-server. Measuring 123 (W) x 123 (D) x 33 (H) mm, the DC01 can house one 2.5-inch SATA hard drive or solid state drive. Its storage can be expanded by connecting USB Mass Storage capable external hard drives or flash drives to its two USB 2.0 ports; and eSATA capable drives.
The DC01 connects to the network over one gigabit Ethernet link. It is driven by a dual-core ARM11 processor, that can drive the web-based iSharing interface. It supports BitTorrent and VPN clients, and can act as a DLNA, Apple iTunes, and print server. It is available in two colors, black and silver. Backed by a 1 year warranty, the SilverStone DC01 is priced at US $150.
The DC01 connects to the network over one gigabit Ethernet link. It is driven by a dual-core ARM11 processor, that can drive the web-based iSharing interface. It supports BitTorrent and VPN clients, and can act as a DLNA, Apple iTunes, and print server. It is available in two colors, black and silver. Backed by a 1 year warranty, the SilverStone DC01 is priced at US $150.
NVIDIA GeForce 270.51 BETA Software Suite Released, Big Changes
NVIDIA today released version 270.51 BETA GeForce software suite. The application installs the latest recommended drivers for NVIDIA GeForce GPUs (6-series and above), CUDA, PhysX, and 3DVision software, NVIDIA HDMI audio drivers, and related software. With this release, NVIDIA also introduced an automatic driver update feature. To begin with, GeForce 270.51 WHQL introduced performance improvements in a wide range of games, including SLI performance for the games covered.
Performance improvements are tabled below. Apart from optimizing pure performance NVIDIA also packed a large number of 3D Vision and SLI performance profiles that are game-specific, and step up multi-display 3D Vision Surround gaming performance. While these drivers aren't WHQL-signed, NVIDIA doubts it will hurt to try them out.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 270.51 BETA
Performance improvements are tabled below. Apart from optimizing pure performance NVIDIA also packed a large number of 3D Vision and SLI performance profiles that are game-specific, and step up multi-display 3D Vision Surround gaming performance. While these drivers aren't WHQL-signed, NVIDIA doubts it will hurt to try them out.
Xilence Intros New Top Flow M608 CPU Cooler
Xilence unveiled its latest multi-socket type compatible CPU cooler, the M608. This cooler sports a top air-flow design, where air is blown on to the motherboard, through three aluminum fin arrays that propagates parallel to the plane of the motherboard. Heat is fed to them using four nickel plated copper heat pipes. Including its 120 mm PWM-controlled fan, the cooler measures 143 x 136 x 129 mm. The fan spins at speeds between 500 and 1500 RPM, with up to 27.6 dB noise output. It supports all current socket types, including LGA1366, LGA1155/LGA1156, LGA775, AM3/AM2/AM2+. The Xilence M608 is priced at 49 EUR.
I-O Data Unveils Trio of USB 3.0 Storage Products
Japanese maker I-O Data unveiled three new storage products that make use of the USB 3.0 interface, including two portable hard drives, and one flash drive. The HDCA-UT is the larger portable hard drive that's more of an external HDD that stays on desktops for longer periods; the HDPC-AU with its compact form-factor is more portable. The HDCA-UT measures 39 (W) x 185 (D) x 120 (H) mm, weighing a little over 1 kg, and comes in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB. The HDPC-AU comes in five colors: black, white, brown, blue, and red. It measures 75(W)x 112(D)x 14(H) mm, weighing 350 g. It comes in capacities of 320, 500, 640, and 750 GB. Lastly, there's the TB-XT flash drive, measuring 18.0(W) x 69.6(D) x 8.6(H) mm, and weighing 19 g, this drive is available in silver, black, and blue, in capacities of 8, 16, and 32 GB.
Advantech Launches New Mobile Data Terminal TREK-550 for In-Vehicle Applications
Advantech, leading industrial and embedded platform provider, today announced the availability of the TREK-550, an industrial in-vehicle fanless computer. The TREK-550 placed in transport trucks, buses, vehicle fleets and taxis can be connected to a variety of monitoring systems: onboard diagnostics (OBD-II), a car area network (CAN), and tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) to name a few. Built-in wireless communications (WWAN, WLAN, Bluetooth) allow TREK-550 to send data back to a central site, as well as to receive over-the-air (AOTA) updates and communicate with central dispatch. TREK-550 is ISO7637/SAE J1455 Class A/ SAE J1113 certified; it is able to operate in extreme temperatures and transient power conditions; and it can endure shocks and vibrations. The dual-audio and video outputs allow independent displays such as the TREK-303 to be attached, providing in-cab or passenger display applications.
Sparkle Announces GeForce GTS 450 1 GB, 2 GB DDR3 Graphics Cards
SPARKLE Computer Co., Ltd., the professional VGA card manufacturer and supplier, today released SPARKLE GeForce GTS 450 1GB/2GB DDR3 Graphics Card, providing unparalleled levels of price/performance to a ideal product for mainstream users.
SPARKLE GeForce GTS 450 1GB/2GB DDR3 Graphics Card features SPARKLE exclusive designed Sun Flower Cooling Fan, which replaces NVIDIA reference cooling fans on ordinary GeForce GTS 450 graphics cards. This exclusively designed Sun Flower Cooling Fan uses SPARKLE patented technology known as "aluminum extrusion production processing", transferring heat from the bottom of the radiator to the cooling fin efficiently and fast. It also uses a "pressure casting" process, to make the entire cooling radiator at once, this process can not only brings sufficient cooling fins, but also bring heat from the bottom to the fins rapidly and efficiently, thereby improving the overall thermal efficiency, coupled with the design of solid thermal conductivity, heat from centre bottom can be brought even quickly to fins.
SPARKLE GeForce GTS 450 1GB/2GB DDR3 Graphics Card features SPARKLE exclusive designed Sun Flower Cooling Fan, which replaces NVIDIA reference cooling fans on ordinary GeForce GTS 450 graphics cards. This exclusively designed Sun Flower Cooling Fan uses SPARKLE patented technology known as "aluminum extrusion production processing", transferring heat from the bottom of the radiator to the cooling fin efficiently and fast. It also uses a "pressure casting" process, to make the entire cooling radiator at once, this process can not only brings sufficient cooling fins, but also bring heat from the bottom to the fins rapidly and efficiently, thereby improving the overall thermal efficiency, coupled with the design of solid thermal conductivity, heat from centre bottom can be brought even quickly to fins.
MSI Announces X370 Ultra Light and Slim Notebook
MSI has rolled out its new generation X-Slim Series X370 laptop computer which has a gorgeously slender body graced with flowing curves. Less than one-inch thin, it tips the scales at a mere 1.4kg. The X370 sports MSI's etched checkerboard design and the cover is sheathed in MSI's exclusive shimmering color film print to underscore the X370's extraordinary style.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that the new generation X370 laptop packs AMD's new generation dual-core E-350 processor, endowing the machine with powerful processing and display capabilities, but more importantly, it only uses 18 watts of electricity. Couple that with MSI's own ECO Engine power-saving technology and the X370's battery supplies up to ten hours of power per charge.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that the new generation X370 laptop packs AMD's new generation dual-core E-350 processor, endowing the machine with powerful processing and display capabilities, but more importantly, it only uses 18 watts of electricity. Couple that with MSI's own ECO Engine power-saving technology and the X370's battery supplies up to ten hours of power per charge.
Intel X79 Enthusiast Chipset Sketched in Roadmap
Intel's next platform for enthusiasts (successor to LGA1366, X58), will consist of a 2011-pin LGA socket, the Sandy Bridge-E (enthusiast) processor that features a massive quad-channel DDR3 memory controller and 32+ lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub, and the X79 chipset. Intel is looking to skip the 6-series chipset family with its next high-end platform chipset, and perhaps it makes sense since the platform is slated for Q4 2011. The X79 is a PCH (platform controller hub), like P55 and P67, since Intel has reorganized the platform. The beefy PCI-E hub housed in the X58 northbridge is relocated to the processor die, and the southbridge is given a much needed overhaul in terms of connectivity.
The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.
The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.
Sapphire Radeon HD 6790 Pictured
Sapphire is ready with its Radeon HD 6790 graphics card, all the more reason to believe that if not all, some AIB partners were ready for a 3/31/2011 launch before it got delayed to next week. Sapphire's HD 6790 is a non-reference design card that in many aspects resembles the company's base model HD 6870. It By the looks of it, it uses the same PCB, same exact cooler, but a different rear panel. Sapphire's card packs 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Based on the 40 nm Barts-LE GPU, it features 800 stream processors, and clock speeds of 840 MHz core, 4.20 GHz memory. It draws power from two 6-pin PCI-E power connectors. The rear panel resembles HD 6850, with two DVI, and one each of full-size HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2.
Tuesday, March 29th 2011
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AMD Radeon HD 6950 1 GB Review
In order to complete their lineup in the $250 segment, AMD has released a 1 GB version of the HD 6950. This makes the card $40 cheaper, yet does not impact performance in any way as our testing shows. We also saw great overclocking potential on our card which makes this card a tweaker's dream combined with the HD 6950 to HD 6970 modding potential.
Crucial Expands Gaming Line With New Ballistix Sport Memory Series
Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today introduced the Crucial Ballistix Sport memory series designed to provide mainstream users, gamers, and general PC enthusiasts with a reliable, no-hassle gaming experience. The new Crucial Ballistix Sport memory supports today's latest AMD and Intel platforms, including 2nd Generation Intel Core processor (formerly codenamed Sandy Bridge) technology. It also features a stylish new heat spreader design, along with standard timings and voltages, providing maximum memory stability and system compatibility. Additionally, industry-standard specifications require little or no BIOS configuration, resulting in easy product installation.
"Over the years, Crucial Ballistix memory has earned a reputation amongst gamers and enthusiasts as high-quality, high-performance, reliable memory," said Jeremy Mortenson, senior product manager. "The Crucial Ballistix Sport series offers casual gamers an accessible, easy-to-use Ballistix memory product at an affordable price. This new Ballistix offering is part of our broader product strategy and a commitment to satisfy the needs of our customers."
"Over the years, Crucial Ballistix memory has earned a reputation amongst gamers and enthusiasts as high-quality, high-performance, reliable memory," said Jeremy Mortenson, senior product manager. "The Crucial Ballistix Sport series offers casual gamers an accessible, easy-to-use Ballistix memory product at an affordable price. This new Ballistix offering is part of our broader product strategy and a commitment to satisfy the needs of our customers."
Cooler Master Announces GX Series 450W Power Supply
In a continuous effort to provide a wide array of power supplies that integrate high-grade features into a value-aware package, Cooler Master's GX Series unveils its GX450W power supply. Casual users and budget gamers alike will enjoy the quality construction and extensive features that make the GX Power Supply Series reliable, efficient, and cost-effective.
AMD Catalyst 11.3 WHQL Software Suite Released
AMD released a timely update to its Catalyst software suite, the package that provides display drivers for AMD/ATI Radeon GPUs, AMD chipset video, APUs, HDMI audio, and related software. The AMD Catalyst 11.3 WHQL release itself packs very little changes. At least the communication sent to us by AMD only mentioned one significant change: that the Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) OpenCL runtime is enabled by default within Catalyst.
Other than that, AMD advertised its next Catalyst release, which is now just a "Preview" driver (not WHQL-signed, use isn't covered under warranties). The Catalyst 11.4 Preview comes with a much larger changelog, which is listed below.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 11.3 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows 7/Vista 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit
Other than that, AMD advertised its next Catalyst release, which is now just a "Preview" driver (not WHQL-signed, use isn't covered under warranties). The Catalyst 11.4 Preview comes with a much larger changelog, which is listed below.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 11.3 WHQL for Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows 7/Vista 32-bit, Windows XP 32-bit, Windows XP 64-bit
Corsair Announces Availability of 2000MHz Vengeance High-Performance DDR3 Memory Kits
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of 2000MHz versions of the award-winning Vengeance family of DDR3 memory.
The new 2000MHz kits are equipped with aluminum heat spreaders anodized in Jet Black. They join the 1600MHz Vengeance DDR3 memory kits, which are available in either Jet Black or Cerulean Blue, and the 1866MHz Vengeance DDR3 kit, available in Jet Black.
The new 2000MHz kits are equipped with aluminum heat spreaders anodized in Jet Black. They join the 1600MHz Vengeance DDR3 memory kits, which are available in either Jet Black or Cerulean Blue, and the 1866MHz Vengeance DDR3 kit, available in Jet Black.
Acer Announces Iconia Touchbook Dual-Screen Tablet
Acer today announced that its much anticipated dual screen tablet, the Iconia-6120 Dual-Screen Touchbook is now available for pre-sale in North America. Providing a powerful, immersive touch experience like no other, it is the world's first and only tablet to offer two touch-enabled 14-inch high-definition widescreen LED backlit LCDs.
Intuitive to use and customizable to individual needs, it combines the power of Intel Core i5 processing with the familiarity of Windows 7, and is destined to change how people use technology to engage with the world. A winner of this year's prestigious "Last Gadget Standing" award at CES, the Iconia was noted for incorporating the best features of any notebook or tablet device.
Intuitive to use and customizable to individual needs, it combines the power of Intel Core i5 processing with the familiarity of Windows 7, and is destined to change how people use technology to engage with the world. A winner of this year's prestigious "Last Gadget Standing" award at CES, the Iconia was noted for incorporating the best features of any notebook or tablet device.
QNAP Equips New Turbo NAS Lineup with Powerful Atom CPUs, USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gb/s HDDs
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world-class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Media Players today announced expansion of their popular Business Series lineup of Turbo NAS servers, to include the new TS-x59 Pro II series: the 4-drive TS-459 Pro II, the 5-drive TS-559 Pro II, and the 6-drive TS-659 Pro II. The TS-x59 Pro II lineup sports the powerful yet energy-efficient dual-core Intel Atom D525 1.8GHz processor along with 1GB of DDRIII RAM (expandable to 3GB). In addition to powerful processors, the new models are the first in the industry to support SATA 6Gb/s hard drives. Also new is USB 3.0 support, ensuring internal and external hard drives deliver the highest performance possible.
Green House Intros PicoDrive N 64 GB
Green House introduced a 64 gigabyte version of its PicoDrive N USB flash drive. Still stuck in the USB 2.0 era, this drive is designed to step up capacity for its physical dimensions: 54.1 x 18 x 8.1 mm, with no more than 7.5 g in weight. The PicoDrive N packs a trial version of Kaspersky Internet Security 2011. In Japan, where it's going to be initially launched, the Green House PicoDrive N is going to charge around US $206.
GIGABYTE Officially Launches Aivia M8600 Wireless Macro Gaming Mouse
GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, is proud to extend its Aivia peripheral series with M8600 Wireless Macro Gaming Mouse. The first product from GIGABYTE's highly anticipated Aivia series, Aivia K8100 Gaming Keyboard, has recently received prestigious red dot design award. The second product to be launched under Aivia, M8600 Wireless Macro Gaming Mouse, is the world's first wireless gaming mouse to guarantee 100-hour nonstop gaming experience. Plus, it also consists of a wide range of state-of-the-art features, including two-second quick-swap battery system (patent pending), multi-functional charging dock, twin-eye gaming-grade laser engine, and GHOST macro engine technology.
Kingston Releases Critical Firmware Update for SSDNow V100 Series
Kingston Technology released an important firmware update for SSDNow V100 series solid-state drives. The update fixes an issue where the SSD becomes unresponsive during power on self-test (POST) or during booting. The issue also causes the SSD to render the machine unresponsive for a few minutes randomly. Kingston strongly recommends you to apply this update, even if you haven't come across this issue. Affected models include 64 GB SV100S2/64GZ, SV100S2D/64GZ, and SV100S2N/64GZ; 128 GB SV100S2/128GZ, SV100S2D/128GZ, and SV100S2N/128GZ; and 256 GB SV100S2/256GZ, SV100S2N/256GZ, and SV100S2N/256GZ. Details on the update can be found here.
AMD Readies Radeon HD 6790
On April 5, AMD will release its newest Radeon HD 6000 series GPU, which it has been largely secretive about. The new Radeon HD 6790 is designed to compete with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 550 Ti. The HD 6790 is based on AMD's 40 nm "Barts" GPU (on which are based HD 6850 and HD 6870). The Barts silicon is configured to have 800 stream processors (SPs)...hang on, unlike the 800 SPs on Juniper (HD 5700 series, HD 6770), the 800 SPs (arranged in 10 streaming multiprocessor units) on Barts will be spread across two blocks of 400 SPs each, each block having its own dispatch processor. Also unlike Juniper, Barts LE (HD 6790) will have 32 ROPs, 40 TMUs, and a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. The core will be clocked at a generous 840 MHz, and 1050 MHz (4.20 GHz effective) memory, churning out 134.5 GB/s memory bandwidth. The GPU is expected to have TDP of under 150W, and will draw power from two 6-pin power connectors.
Monday, March 28th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
- XFX HD 6950 1GB Overclocked Edition Overclockers Club
- Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme Plus VGA Cooler HardwareSecrets
- EVGA GTX550 Ti FBP Ninja Lane
- MSI GTX580 Lightning Overclock3D.net
- MSI N580GTX Lightning T-Break
- Gigabyte GTX 590 Guru3D
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB HardwareSpot.de (de)
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB iXBT Labs
Headphones
Mouse
Mousepads
Nettops
Networking
PSUs
EVERCOOL HPK-1002EA Review
Evercool sent us a cute little heatsink to toy around with. But as we unpacked it, the low-profile HPK-1002EA heatsink looked bigger than we imagined. We strapped it on to our LGA1366 test-bed right away. Do small-sized "LGA1366 compatible" heatsinks cut it?
Jou Jye BITWIN BW-B430JL 430W Review
In the last PSU review we tested the middle member of the BITWIN series. Now it’s high time for the smallest to confront our vicious load tester. Besides the BW-B430JL we will also present to you detailed information regarding the Multi Link feature, as we are going to link two BITWINs together and gather interesting data (e.g. efficiency at normal and low loads).
Lenovo Revs Up New Workstation & Desktop Engines for Powerful Performance
Lenovo announced today the ThinkStation E30 workstation and ThinkCentre M81 desktop - two new solutions that bring users speedy performance with 2nd generation Intel Core processors, rapid boot up/shut down and extra productivity features. Designed for creative, engineering and financial professionals who rely on specialized software applications to power their work, users get workstation-class performance and reliability starting at an affordable $599. Meanwhile, the ThinkCentre M81 desktop equips large businesses with the advanced computing features employees need to be most productive.
"Workstation users need the kind of performance that lets them do more each minute. The ThinkStation E30 workstation builds on our strong workstation platform, combining new rapid processing for data-crunching with more vivid and intense graphics capabilities," said Tao Gu, executive director and general manager, Workstation Business Unit, Lenovo. "We created the ThinkStation E30 workstation to offer extremely powerful processing on a software-certified solution at desktop prices."
"Workstation users need the kind of performance that lets them do more each minute. The ThinkStation E30 workstation builds on our strong workstation platform, combining new rapid processing for data-crunching with more vivid and intense graphics capabilities," said Tao Gu, executive director and general manager, Workstation Business Unit, Lenovo. "We created the ThinkStation E30 workstation to offer extremely powerful processing on a software-certified solution at desktop prices."
HANNSG Introduces the HL245 LED Monitor
HANNSG is pleased to announce its latest entry into the HL series of LED monitors - introducing the new HL245. The HL monitor series combines the energy efficiency and design advantages of LED technology, with HANNSG's own proprietary display technologies and an affordable price tag. At £135.99 inc. VAT, the HL245 is a first choice, wallet friendly solution for office and home use.
The new LED monitor from HANNSG sports a 23.6" anti-glare display, featuring a full HD friendly 1920 x 1080 native resolution (16:9 ratio). It has a 15000000:1 dynamic contrast ratio delivering a crisp precise picture quality and a sensational viewing experience no matter what content is thrown at it.
The new LED monitor from HANNSG sports a 23.6" anti-glare display, featuring a full HD friendly 1920 x 1080 native resolution (16:9 ratio). It has a 15000000:1 dynamic contrast ratio delivering a crisp precise picture quality and a sensational viewing experience no matter what content is thrown at it.
Intel Announces Third-Generation SSD: Intel Solid-State Drive 320 Series
Intel Corporation announced today its highly anticipated third-generation solid-state drive (SSD) the Intel Solid-State Drive 320 Series (Intel SSD 320 Series). Based on its industry-leading 25-nanometer (nm) NAND flash memory, the Intel SSD 320 replaces and builds on its high-performing Intel X25-M SATA SSD. Delivering more performance and uniquely architected reliability features, the new Intel SSD 320 offers new higher capacity models, while taking advantage of cost benefits from its 25nm process with an up to 30 percent price reduction over its current generation.
"Intel designed new quality and reliability features into our SSDs to take advantage of the latest 25nm silicon, so we could deliver cost advantages to our customers," said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for the Intel Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Solutions Group. "Intel's third generation of SSDs adds enhanced data security features, power-loss management and innovative data redundancy features to once again advance SSD technology. Whether it's a consumer or corporate IT looking to upgrade from a hard disk drive, or an enterprise seeking to deploy SSDs in their data centers, the new Intel SSD 320 Series will continue to build on our reputation of high quality and dependability over the life of the SSD."
"Intel designed new quality and reliability features into our SSDs to take advantage of the latest 25nm silicon, so we could deliver cost advantages to our customers," said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for the Intel Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) Solutions Group. "Intel's third generation of SSDs adds enhanced data security features, power-loss management and innovative data redundancy features to once again advance SSD technology. Whether it's a consumer or corporate IT looking to upgrade from a hard disk drive, or an enterprise seeking to deploy SSDs in their data centers, the new Intel SSD 320 Series will continue to build on our reputation of high quality and dependability over the life of the SSD."
Spire Announces Sentor 6004 High-End Gamer Chassis
The Sentor 6004 PC case is a high-end, versatile and strong chassis. Well thought out complete tower structure ensuring both maximum performance and computing satisfaction for the professional user, enthusiast and gamer alike. Every element of the Sentor 6004 has been engineered to provide maximum cooling performance. Up to nine (9) LED 12cm fans can be mounted throughout the chassis, ensuring unbeatable cooling. The meshed aluminum front panel and meshed side panel allows unrestricted fresh air intake which is mandatory for today's extremely hot Micro-processors, Graphic cards and Data Drives.
The spacious internal design enables flexible and neat assembly. Neatly guide and tei cables to the drive cage and mainboard plate modular notches. Sufficient room is available for the installation of water-cooling and long 320mm Graphic-cards. The Chassis is pre-applied with rubber grommet holes for feeding the external water-cooling tubes. In total ten (10) universal drive bays with tool-free support ensure easy and simple installation of your devices. Two drive cages with direct cooling and tool free mounting for five (5) 5.25-inch and five (5) 3.5-inch data / optical drives provide massive storage capabilities. Anti-vibration mountings and application of low speed cooling fans can make this the silent power machine you have been looking for.
The spacious internal design enables flexible and neat assembly. Neatly guide and tei cables to the drive cage and mainboard plate modular notches. Sufficient room is available for the installation of water-cooling and long 320mm Graphic-cards. The Chassis is pre-applied with rubber grommet holes for feeding the external water-cooling tubes. In total ten (10) universal drive bays with tool-free support ensure easy and simple installation of your devices. Two drive cages with direct cooling and tool free mounting for five (5) 5.25-inch and five (5) 3.5-inch data / optical drives provide massive storage capabilities. Anti-vibration mountings and application of low speed cooling fans can make this the silent power machine you have been looking for.
New Patriot LX PRO Series Obliterates Current SDHC Class10 Performance Classification
Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash, storage and enthusiast computer products, today gives professional and hobbyist photographers and videographers an extra performance boost with the professional-grade LX PRO Series SDHC cards. The Patriot LX PRO Series SDHC cards surpass existing SDHC speed classifications and deliver twice the performance of standard Class 10 SDHC memory cards.
Although the Patriot LX PRO Series are classified as Class 10 SDHC cards, the professional-grade SDHC deliver 20MB/s transfer speeds - twice that of typical Class 10 SDHC cards. The high-speed transfer speeds ensure photographs and video are written to the memory card instantly to the Patriot LX PRO Series.
Although the Patriot LX PRO Series are classified as Class 10 SDHC cards, the professional-grade SDHC deliver 20MB/s transfer speeds - twice that of typical Class 10 SDHC cards. The high-speed transfer speeds ensure photographs and video are written to the memory card instantly to the Patriot LX PRO Series.
Antec's Resident Overclocking Champion Breaks Two World Records Using HCP-1200 PSU
In its 25th anniversary year, Antec, Inc., the global leader in high-performance computer components and accessories for the gaming, PC upgrade and Do-It-Yourself markets, today announced it has set two new world records on 3DMark06 and 3DMark03, using Antec's renowned High Current Pro series HCP-1200 power supply to simultaneously power four high-end intensive graphics cards with a power consumption up to 1700 watts.
The world record scores of 48,096 marks on 3DMark06 with four Radeon HD 5870 graphic cards in 4-way Crossfire, and a 3DMark03 score of 233,433 marks in 4-way SLI-configuration with GeForce GTX 580 cards were achieved by Nick Shih, current world-wide leading overclocker. Both scores represent the unrivaled overclocking capabilities of Antec's HCP-1200 PSU and how the unparalleled performance of Antec's HCP-1200 is engineered to satisfy the needs of PC enthusiasts and overclockers for high-performance, compatibility and stability.
The world record scores of 48,096 marks on 3DMark06 with four Radeon HD 5870 graphic cards in 4-way Crossfire, and a 3DMark03 score of 233,433 marks in 4-way SLI-configuration with GeForce GTX 580 cards were achieved by Nick Shih, current world-wide leading overclocker. Both scores represent the unrivaled overclocking capabilities of Antec's HCP-1200 PSU and how the unparalleled performance of Antec's HCP-1200 is engineered to satisfy the needs of PC enthusiasts and overclockers for high-performance, compatibility and stability.
I-O Data Intros its own Portable BDXL Writer
I-O Data unveiled its own external, and portable Blu-ray XL (BDXL) disc writer drive. This release comes shortly after Buffalo announced such a drive. The BRP-U6X from I-O Data measures 137(W)x 154(D)x 20(H) mm, weighing 620 g (incl. the 320 g AC adapter). It can burn 100/128 GB BDXL discs at speeds of up to 4X, and BD-R/R, DL and LTH discs at up to 6X speeds. And of course, the various kinds of DVDs and CDs can be burned at speeds typical of notebook disc burners. The drive connects to the host over a single USB 2.0 cable, it takes in power using an AC adapter. The drive is priced at 23,205 JPY (about US $284).
Danger Den Intros Full-Coverage Water Block for GTX 590, Too
Danger Den is the next water cooling specialist out with a full-coverage water block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 graphics card, the Danger Den GPU-6940. The company is sticking to its minimalist and curvy design with meandering water channels over key components such as the GPUs. The block has contact points with all heat-producing components on the obverse side of the PCB, including the two GPUs, the PCIe bridge, memory, and VRM MOSFETs. Its primary material is exposed copper, topped off with black translucent acrylic. The block weighs about 1.6 kg (3.2 lbs), and includes pre-assembled gaskets. Fat Boy High Flow G 1/4 - 1/2", 3/8" or 1/4" OD Fittings are included. The Danger Den GPU-6940 for the GeForce GTX 590 is priced at US $119.95.
EK Introduces Two Water Blocks for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590
EK WaterBlocks is ready with two new full-coverage water blocks for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, the EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel (with transparent acrylic top), and EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel+Acetal (with opaque acetal top). Tops aside, the two are of the same design. The primary material is copper with nickel plating to minimize corrosion over time. It uses a common channel design with ridges over the two GPU areas, and pressure-building points over the other areas such as the GTX 590's feisty VRM. Overall, the block is rectangular in shape, and rather than finding a way around the cylindrical capacitors, it makes room for them using holes in the block. The EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel is priced at €124.96, while the EK-FC590-GTX-Nickel+Acetal goes for €129.95.
TechPowerUp and BitFenix ''I'm a Shinobi'' Contest Winners Announced
Announcing the winners of the TechPowerUp and BitFenix "I'm a Shinobi" Contest. To celebrate the launch of BitFenix Shinobi PC case back in February, we threw open a contest to find two of the catchiest, wittiest, completions to the phrase "I'm a Shinobi because...", with the two getting a new Bitfenix Shinobi case each. And the winners are:Huge congrats you two, the organizers will contact the winners privately for shipping information.
Friday, March 25th 2011
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
- HIS HD 6850 IceQ X Turbo 1GB Overclockers Online
- MSI R6870 Hawk vs. PowerColor HD6870 PCS X-bit labs
- MSI HD 6950 Twin Frozr III 2 GB TechPowerUp
- ASUS HD 6990 4GB OCaholic
- ASUS HD 6990 4GB Overclockers Australia
- EVGA GTX 560 Ti SC TechReaction
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Benchmark Reviews
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Bjorn3D
- NVIDIA GTX 590 QuadSLI Guru3D
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Guru3D
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB HardwareCanucks
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB HardwareHeaven
- Zotac GTX 590 QuadSLI HardwareHeaven
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Hi Tech Legion
- EVGA GTX 590 Classified 3GB Hi Tech Legion
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB HotHardware
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB HT4U.net (de)
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB Legit Reviews
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB NeoSeeker
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Ninja Lane
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB OCaholic
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB Overclock3D.net
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB Overclockers Australia
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Overclockers Club
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB PureOverclock
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB Tech Report
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB TechReaction
- NVIDIA GTX 590 3GB TechSpot
- ASUS GTX 590 3GB Tweaktown
- Point of View GTX 590 OC vs. Radeon 6990 OC HardwareHeaven
- GTX 590 vs HD 6990 InsideHW
- GTX 590 vs HD 6990 X-bit labs
Headphones
Memory
Notebooks
SSD
MSI HD 6950 Twin Frozr III 2 GB Review
MSI's new HD 6950 Twin Frozr III introduces the third version of MSI's exclusive cooling solution. Thanks to two fans and five heatpipes the card runs at excellent temperatures. Tweakers will also love this card as they can adjust three voltages using MSI Afterburner. Another plus is that this card is able to be modded to a HD 6970 by BIOS flash.
Inno3D GeForce GTX 590 is Crafted for the Elite Enthusiast
Inno3D is thrilled to announce the launch of the much anticipated Inno3D GeForce GTX 590, the world's fastest DirectX 11 graphics card ever built. With the sleek exterior that houses dual 512-core GTX 500 GPUs and a custom vapor chamber cooler, the GeForce GTX 590 delivers high-end performance with style. Hook up three monitors with GeForce GTX 590's three dual-link DVI ports to play your favourite games at ultra-wide resolutions like 5760x1080 in NVIDIA Surround. Plus get all the premium GTX gaming technologies such as NVIDIA 3D Vision, PhysX, and Quad SLI for the ultimate PC gaming experience.
Koolance Intros Full-Coverage Water-Block for Radeon HD 6990
Water cooling expert Koolance is ready with its full-coverage water-block for the dual-GPU AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics card, which was launched a little earlier this month. The VID-AR699 from Koolance covers the obverse side of the PCB, cooling critical components there, including the two AMD Cayman GPUs, memory chips, the 450W-capable VRM, and the PEG bridge chip. Internally, the block is partitioned into three distinct bases, one over each GPU, and one over the VRM. The portions over the GPUs feature ribbed micro-fin structures to improve heat dissipation. The three bases are conjoined by a middle-plate that channels coolant through the three bases. The block is then topped off with acetal.
The VID-AR699 measures 10.1" x 4.8 " x 0.8" (25.7cm x 12.2cm x 2cm), and weighs 2.25 pounds (1kg). Its primary material is copper with nickel-plating that minimizes corrosion over time. Its nozzle threading is standard G 1/4 BSP, though the package doesn't include nozzles. Koolance is pricing it at US $159.99 on its online store, it will be taking orders and shipping only after the 28th of this month. In related news, Koolance also announced that it's working on a full-coverage water block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, the VID-NX590, though there are no specifications or photos out, yet.
The VID-AR699 measures 10.1" x 4.8 " x 0.8" (25.7cm x 12.2cm x 2cm), and weighs 2.25 pounds (1kg). Its primary material is copper with nickel-plating that minimizes corrosion over time. Its nozzle threading is standard G 1/4 BSP, though the package doesn't include nozzles. Koolance is pricing it at US $159.99 on its online store, it will be taking orders and shipping only after the 28th of this month. In related news, Koolance also announced that it's working on a full-coverage water block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, the VID-NX590, though there are no specifications or photos out, yet.
Point of View and TGT Announce GeForce GTX 590 Charged and Ultra Charged Video Cards
Point of View the leading European manufacturer of an exclusive range NVIDIA based 3D processor boards, advanced netbooks as well as fancy 7" and 10" Tegra tablet computers and additional enthusiast PC products, announces today that it is first to market with a 691 MHz GeForce GTX 590 3D processor board, the POV/TGT GeForce GTX 590 Ultra Charged (1382 MHz shader clock, 3710 MHz memory clock). The POV/TGT GeForce GTX 590 Ultra Charged already started shipping at a recommended retail price of € 729 (TGT-590-A1-UC) and is available in limited quantity.
Running at 691 MHz, the POV/TGT GeForce GTX 590 Ultra Charged is the fastest 3D graphics solution on a single PCB offering up to 14% additional performance in comparison with reference clock settings.
Running at 691 MHz, the POV/TGT GeForce GTX 590 Ultra Charged is the fastest 3D graphics solution on a single PCB offering up to 14% additional performance in comparison with reference clock settings.
V3 Gaming PCs Now Available with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Graphics
V3 Gaming, manufacturer of high-end computer systems, has announced the availability of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 graphics card in its high-end Convoy and Avenger desktop computers. The GTX 590 is the most powerful DirectX 11 graphics card ever built, delivers high-end performance in an excellent physical design, and uses cutting-edge technology to provide a cooler and quieter gaming experience.
The new GeForce GTX 590 graphics card features dual 512-core GTX 500 GPUs and an extended vapor chamber cooler that harnesses the incredible power of the NVIDIA Fermi architecture efficiently and quietly. With a total of 1024 CUDA cores, 3GB of GDDR5 graphics memory, and three dual-link DVI ports as well as a mini display-port connector, the GTX 590 is the single most capable graphics card in existence.
The new GeForce GTX 590 graphics card features dual 512-core GTX 500 GPUs and an extended vapor chamber cooler that harnesses the incredible power of the NVIDIA Fermi architecture efficiently and quietly. With a total of 1024 CUDA cores, 3GB of GDDR5 graphics memory, and three dual-link DVI ports as well as a mini display-port connector, the GTX 590 is the single most capable graphics card in existence.
PowerColor Introduces Radeon HD 6870 PCS++ Graphics Card
TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, today announces an advanced version of PCS+ HD6870: the PowerColor PCS++ HD6870. As an upgrade edition of award-winning PCS series, the latest product features with ultimate factory overclocked setting, clocks in at 975MHz core speed, while memory clocks in at 1150MHz, providing 8% better gaming performance with 5% less power consumed.
The PowerColor PCS++ HD6870 also takes advantage of "Platinum Power Kit" onboard design, includes the qualified components such as Volterra, Poscap and Proadilizer, enhances the power efficiency and provides the superior overclocking performance in a stable gaming environment.
The PowerColor PCS++ HD6870 also takes advantage of "Platinum Power Kit" onboard design, includes the qualified components such as Volterra, Poscap and Proadilizer, enhances the power efficiency and provides the superior overclocking performance in a stable gaming environment.
Palit Announces GeForce GTX 590 Limited Edition Graphics Card
Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading graphics card manufacturer, releases the most powerful dual-GPU graphics card- Palit GeForce GTX 590. With dual Fermi-based GTX 500 GPUs, vapor chamber cooler and the world's fastest speed, Palit GeForce GTX 590 is the strongest DirectX 11 graphics card on the planet. Palit GeForce GTX 590 is now available in Russia, Australia and Japan for you to experience the breathtaking gaming performance.
Armed with dual 512-core GPU that clocked at 607MHz and 3GB of GDDR5 memory at 1707MHz, Palit GeForce GTX 590 simply is the world's fastest Dx11 graphics card. The twin GTX 500 GPUs combine to deliver the astonishing DirectX 11 gaming experience that can devastate competing GPUs with ease by offering 20% higher performance. And with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology, you can now have the optimized 3D gaming under multi-monitor setting form a single Palit GeForce GTX 590.
Armed with dual 512-core GPU that clocked at 607MHz and 3GB of GDDR5 memory at 1707MHz, Palit GeForce GTX 590 simply is the world's fastest Dx11 graphics card. The twin GTX 500 GPUs combine to deliver the astonishing DirectX 11 gaming experience that can devastate competing GPUs with ease by offering 20% higher performance. And with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology, you can now have the optimized 3D gaming under multi-monitor setting form a single Palit GeForce GTX 590.
MSI Launches HD 6970 and GTX 580 Lightning Series Graphics Cards
MSI, the leading global graphic card and motherboard manufacturer, today unveiled its two flagship cards: the N580GTX Lightning and the R6970 Lightning. These cards are specifically designed to handle the extreme overclocking which eager gamers and media outlets around the world have been waiting for. Industry-leading Power4 architecture and Twin Frozr III dual-fan cooling with innovative Propeller Blade technology brings together a solid power supply with advanced cooling technology. This results in huge boosts to overclocking potential and stability, enabling the air-cooled N580GTX Lightning to break the 1GHz core clock barrier with ease. The Lightning series of graphic cards is designed to offer the ultimate in overclocking capabilities and is the superior choice for overclocking enthusiasts seeking to set new world records.
MSI Launches the N590GTX-P3D3GD5 Enthusiast Graphics Card
World-renowned graphics card and mainboard manufacturer, Micro-Star International (MSI), officially launches the most powerful graphics card - N590GTX-P3D3GD5, adopting dual GeForce GTX 500 GPUs with 1024 CUDA Cores and 3GB/768bits GDDR5 memory. Featuring GPU Overvoltage by Afterburner, it can increase OC potential up to 38%. Through NVIDIA 3DVision Surround technology, users can enjoy the 3D games with 3 displays using one N590GTX-P3D3GD5 graphics card; the best choice for the enthusiast gamers.
EVGA Storms Forth GTX 590 Launch with Four Classified Series Products
One of NVIDIA's principal partners, EVGA, released no less than four special edition SKUs for the GeForce GTX 590 graphics card. The SKUs bear EVGA's coveted "Classified" brand extender, which is used on only the most high-end products by the company. First, there's the EVGA GTX 590 Classified Hydro Copper Quad SLI (03G-P3-1599-A2), which is two GeForce GTX 590 graphics cards prepped for water-cooling with HydroCopper water-blocks, packed into one box; next there's the EVGA GeForce GTX 590 Classified Quad SLI (03G-P3-1598-A2), that's two reference design cards in one box; then there are single-card water-cooled (03G-P3-1599-AR) and single-card reference design (03G-P3-1598-AR) packages.
The dual-card (QuadSLI) packages include some EVGA memorabilia, a black t-shirt and a large mousepad. All four SKUs pack cards with the same clock speed profile: 630 MHz core, 1260 MHz CUDA cores, and 864 MHz (3456 MHz effective) memory. The HydroCopper cards feature full-coverage water-blocks. As for pricing, the water-cooled QuadSLI pack is priced at $1,729.99; reference-design QuadSLI pack at $1,429.99; water-cooled single-card at $879.99; and reference-design single-card at $729.99.
The dual-card (QuadSLI) packages include some EVGA memorabilia, a black t-shirt and a large mousepad. All four SKUs pack cards with the same clock speed profile: 630 MHz core, 1260 MHz CUDA cores, and 864 MHz (3456 MHz effective) memory. The HydroCopper cards feature full-coverage water-blocks. As for pricing, the water-cooled QuadSLI pack is priced at $1,729.99; reference-design QuadSLI pack at $1,429.99; water-cooled single-card at $879.99; and reference-design single-card at $729.99.
OCZ Technology Ships One Millionth Solid State Drive
OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced that it has shipped its one millionth solid state drive.
"Solid state drives continue to represent a game-changing technology for both consumers and enterprise clients, and we are proud to achieve this milestone," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ. "But most of all, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers and partners, without whom this success would not be possible."
"Solid state drives continue to represent a game-changing technology for both consumers and enterprise clients, and we are proud to achieve this milestone," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ. "But most of all, I wanted to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers and partners, without whom this success would not be possible."
Thursday, March 24th 2011
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Motherboards
Processors
Speakers
ASUS GeForce GTX 590 3 GB Review
Today NVIDIA releases their new GeForce GTX 590 flagship which is based on two GTX 580 GPUs working on a single card. AMD released their dual-GPU HD 6990 design just two weeks ago, with power and heat being the decisive limit on performance it will be a tough fight between those cards.
ASUS Releases its Dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590 with VoltageTweak
Presenting more graphics processing output than any single-board product developed to date, the ASUS GTX 590 uses dual NVIDIA GF110 cores. With ASUS exclusive Voltage Tweak to drive the card at 918MHz, it enables DirectX 11 gaming in the highest resolutions possible and with all details and effects turned on to maximum, as well as smooth and realistic 3D gaming and movies through NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround for three-screen displays.
Colorful Intros Their GeForce GTX 590
Colorful, the launch partner of NVIDIA in Asia, announces the latest high-end graphics card, GeForce GTX 590. Based on a reference design, the card has scratch artworks on the stickers, which infuses the card some symbolic significances. GTX 590 equips with 24 pieces of GDDR5 memory modules in total, 12 pieces on the front and the same quantity on the back, memory capacity is up to 3GB and the clock is set at 3414MHz. 2 pieces of GF110 chips are installed on the PCB and each of the chips has 5 phases VRM, the clock of these two GPUs are both set at 607MHz.
Point of View Doubles Performance with Dual-GPU GeForce GTX 590
Point of View known for its range of NVIDIA based 3D Graphics cards, Netbooks and other PC products, announces today its launch of the redefinition of performance: the Point of View GTX 590. What do you get when you combine excellent features and performance of a GeForce 500 GPU with ... another GF500 GPU? 200% Hardcore performance! And that's what the GeForce GTX 590 is all about.
The all-new flagship GeForce 500 series' graphics card prides itself with not one but two GF500 GPU. Without any difficult math this will offer some serious performance. The beast known as the GeForce GTX 590 will out-perform every existing graphics card with a huge lead in graphics performance.
The all-new flagship GeForce 500 series' graphics card prides itself with not one but two GF500 GPU. Without any difficult math this will offer some serious performance. The beast known as the GeForce GTX 590 will out-perform every existing graphics card with a huge lead in graphics performance.
ZOTAC Announces GeForce GTX 590, Fastest DirectX 11 Graphics Card
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world's largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and mini-PCs, today reveals the GeForce GTX 590 graphics card -- the world's fastest graphics card capable of delivering extreme visual clarity and mind-boggling frame rates. The new ZOTAC GeForce GTX 590 combines a pair of high-performance graphics processors to form the ultimate graphics card for gamers that obliterates existing visual and performance barriers.
A pair of Fermi graphics processors delivers a combined 1024 unified shaders for earth-shattering performance that is ready to tackle all current and upcoming game titles powered by Microsoft DirectX 11 technology with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 590. Large amounts of video memory - 3GB -enable the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 590 to tackle the latest titles with maximum details and enhance games with up to 32x levels of anti-aliasing for stunning visuals and details that mimic reality.
A pair of Fermi graphics processors delivers a combined 1024 unified shaders for earth-shattering performance that is ready to tackle all current and upcoming game titles powered by Microsoft DirectX 11 technology with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 590. Large amounts of video memory - 3GB -enable the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 590 to tackle the latest titles with maximum details and enhance games with up to 32x levels of anti-aliasing for stunning visuals and details that mimic reality.
Samsung Unveils Slim External 3-D Blu-ray Combo Drive for PC Market
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in digital consumer electronics and information technology, announced today its new slim external 3-D Blu-ray combo, the SE-406A optical disk drive (ODD).
Featuring a sleek design with an anti-fingerprint surface, the SE-406A adds Blu-ray 3D to PC's. The new drive includes CyberLink TrueTheater software to test PC readiness for 3D and Blu-ray content. It also transforms 2D DVD movies into a thrilling 3D experience. Beyond these features, the SE-406A reads Blu-ray discs and reads and writes CD/DVDs.
Featuring a sleek design with an anti-fingerprint surface, the SE-406A adds Blu-ray 3D to PC's. The new drive includes CyberLink TrueTheater software to test PC readiness for 3D and Blu-ray content. It also transforms 2D DVD movies into a thrilling 3D experience. Beyond these features, the SE-406A reads Blu-ray discs and reads and writes CD/DVDs.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Is World's Fastest Graphics Card
NVIDIA today introduced the GeForce GTX 590, the fastest dual graphics card available today which also happens to be the world's quietest too. Powered by dual NVIDIA Fermi-class GPUs on a single card, the GTX 590 is designed for über enthusiasts and those looking to build the ultimate PC gaming rig.
With a combined 1024 NVIDIA CUDA architecture cores, 3GB of GDDR5 memory, 6 billion transistors and over 2200 individual components all packed into an 11 inch dual slot card, the GTX 590 delivers a staggering 32 tessellation engines that can power today's cutting edge DX11 games at resolutions of 2560x1600 and higher. With four separate video outputs on each card, consumers can configure their PC with four independent displays, or they can span their gaming across 3 3D displays, at a resolution up to 5760x1080 for an intense, immersive, stereoscopic gaming experience utilizing NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
With a combined 1024 NVIDIA CUDA architecture cores, 3GB of GDDR5 memory, 6 billion transistors and over 2200 individual components all packed into an 11 inch dual slot card, the GTX 590 delivers a staggering 32 tessellation engines that can power today's cutting edge DX11 games at resolutions of 2560x1600 and higher. With four separate video outputs on each card, consumers can configure their PC with four independent displays, or they can span their gaming across 3 3D displays, at a resolution up to 5760x1080 for an intense, immersive, stereoscopic gaming experience utilizing NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
Buffalo Intros Portable BDXL Writer
Buffalo launched the new BRXL-PC6U2-BK, a portable Blu-ray XL (BDXL) disc writer. Measuring 145x153x19 mm and weighing a little under 350 g, the drive can burn 100 GB and 128 GB BDXL-R discs at 4X speeds. It relies entirely on the host for power, and uses two USB 2.0 cables to connect to the host. The second cable is for the extra power. The drive is priced at 23,205 JPY (US $287) in Japan, where it will be initially released.
MSI GX680 Gaming Laptop Unleash Superior Power and Mobility
Clumsy desktop PCs are out and notebooks are in. MSI has unveiled the new generation GX680 NB featuring Intel's second generation Core i7 quad core processor, the DirectX 11-supporting nVidia GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card, four DDR3 memory slots, and accelerated dual hard disk architecture, packing the punch of a desktop PC into a highly portable laptop.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, notes that the GX680 notebook computer boasts superior performance and the best wrap around sound available. MSI worked closely with Dynaudio to determine ideal speaker locations to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission. What's more, new generation GX680 features cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound, so regardless of the kind of music you play, it's faithfully reproduced.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, notes that the GX680 notebook computer boasts superior performance and the best wrap around sound available. MSI worked closely with Dynaudio to determine ideal speaker locations to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission. What's more, new generation GX680 features cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound, so regardless of the kind of music you play, it's faithfully reproduced.
Gigabyte Intros New Mini-ITX LGA1155 Motherboard with Dual HDMI Output
Gigabyte sneaked in its latest motherboard for SFF (small form-factor) fans, the GA-H67N-USB3-B3. This mini-ITX motherboard supports socket LGA1155 Intel Core processors, and is based on the Intel H67 chipset (B3 revision). The board supports every LGA1155 Core processor released till date, its designers didn't have to worry much about its electricals since you're not going to overclock on H67. Yet, the board packs a 4+2 phase VRM for the CPU, that's compliant with Intel's VRD 12 specification. The socket is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory support, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot.
In the storage department, there are two SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the chipset, two SATA 3 Gb/s, and one eSATA 3 Gb/s, also from the chipset. Its display connectivity surprisingly includes two HDMI ports, and one D-Sub. Audio is care of the high-grade Realtek ALC889 HDA CODEC, which can deliver 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio, the board also provides coaxial and optical SPDIF output connectivity. Other connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. The board features dual-BIOS with an EFI module that allows you to boot from a 3 TB+ volume. Gigabyte's H67N-USB3-B3 is expected to be priced around the $120 mark. This one for the HTPC.
In the storage department, there are two SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the chipset, two SATA 3 Gb/s, and one eSATA 3 Gb/s, also from the chipset. Its display connectivity surprisingly includes two HDMI ports, and one D-Sub. Audio is care of the high-grade Realtek ALC889 HDA CODEC, which can deliver 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio, the board also provides coaxial and optical SPDIF output connectivity. Other connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. The board features dual-BIOS with an EFI module that allows you to boot from a 3 TB+ volume. Gigabyte's H67N-USB3-B3 is expected to be priced around the $120 mark. This one for the HTPC.
Samsung Producing Industry's Highest Density LPDDR2, Using 30nm-class Technology
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a leader in advanced semiconductor technology solutions, announced today that it started the industry's first production of four gigabit (Gb), low power double-data-rate 2 (LPDDR2) DRAM using 30 nanometer (nm) class technology earlier this month. The mobile DRAM chip will help the market to deliver thinner, lighter smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices, with longer battery life, at a level unachievable until now.,
"Mass production of 4Gb LPDDR2 is a tremendous advancement for the mobile industry, one that will enable our OEM customers to move quickly in launching better differentiated high-performance mobile devices into the market." said Wanhoon Hong, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung will continue to take the initiative in accelerating growth of the market by providing high-performance, high-density green memory products as often and as early as possible."
"Mass production of 4Gb LPDDR2 is a tremendous advancement for the mobile industry, one that will enable our OEM customers to move quickly in launching better differentiated high-performance mobile devices into the market." said Wanhoon Hong, executive vice president, memory sales & marketing, Samsung Electronics. "Samsung will continue to take the initiative in accelerating growth of the market by providing high-performance, high-density green memory products as often and as early as possible."
Wednesday, March 23rd 2011
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Motherboards
PSUs
Speakers
Jou Jye BITWIN BW-B520JL 520W Review
Jou Jye's new BITWIN Series is 80 PLUS certified and the models are specially designed for gaming and overclocking since they can work continuously at full load with ambient temperatures up to 40°C. A new and interesting feature is the multi-link connector which lets you install more than one PSU into the system and combine their power output.
Club 3D Announces New NVIDIA GTX 550Ti CoolStream Super OC Edition
Club 3D B.V. is pleased to announce the introduction of the highest performing card in the GTX 550Ti series. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550Ti CoolStream Super OC Edition sports now 940 Mhz GPU clock speed and 4300 Mhz on memory, delivering a cost-effective solution for the most demanding hard-core gamer.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 550Ti CoolStream Super OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays. The new card comes equipped with CoolStream Cooling Technology to run your hottest titles without compromising performance.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 550Ti CoolStream Super OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays. The new card comes equipped with CoolStream Cooling Technology to run your hottest titles without compromising performance.
Acer Intros Duo of New Large Full-HD PC Monitors
Acer introduced two new B-series PC monitors that make use of vertical-alignment (VA) panel technology, and LED backlit illumination. The Acer B243HLCOymdr is a 24-inch model, while the B273HLOymidh is the 27-inch part. Both displays feature full-HD (1920 x 1080) resolution, and 100 million to 1 dynamic contrast ratio, providing a "zero bright dot guarantee". With 8 ms response time, the B243HLCOymdr is the snappier among the two, it features 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, and display inputs that include DVI and D-Sub; while the B273HLOymidh has 10 ms response time, 300 cd/m² brightness, and features HDMI input apart from D-Sub and DVI. The stands of both monitors allow rotating, tilting, height adjustment; the 24-inch model even allows pivoting. The Acer B243HLCOymdr and B273HLOymidh are priced at €249 and €399, respectively.
Firefox 4 Clocks Over Six Million Downloads in First 24 Hours
Released to the web, Mozilla Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 6 million times in 24 hours since its launch. The figure is three times greater than that of Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, which clocked about 2 million downloads in its first 24 hours since launch. Firefox 4 is the latest version of the popular open-source web-browser software, it introduced radical design changes to its user interface, and embraced a faster GPU-accelerated rendering engine. Firefox 4 can be downloaded from here.
Sharkoon Intros SATA QuickPort Quattro 4-Drive Dock
Sharkoon rolled out its take on a four-slot HDD/SSD dock, the SATA QuickPort Quattro. The device lets you connect up to four SATA HDDs or SSDs in 3.5" or 2.5" form-factors, like inserting cartridges into ye olde video game consoles. Measuring 285x165x95 mm (LxWxH), the dock, the dock weighs a little over a kilogram. It connects the drives to a host system over USB 3.0 or eSATA 3 Gb/s. There are separate power buttons that let you activate/deactivate individual drives, as well as individual power/activity LEDs. The unit is cooled by two fans, the speed of each fan can be adjusted manually. Sharkoon SATA QuickPort Quattro will be priced at around €99.
ASUS GeForce GTX 590 Unboxed
A Chinese source, probably a distributor/retailer, leaked the first pictures of a retail-grade ASUS GeForce GTX 590 graphics accelerator. The pictures reveal a fairly standard packaging by ASUS, which features the same green box with a mythological warrior character used on most recent GeForce graphics cards by the company. Inside, there's a harder black paperboard box, which contains the graphics card and its accessories. ASUS' card bears a reference design. As with many high-end graphics cards released by ASUS in recent times, there are no fancy anime stickers on the card, rather it features the company badge.
The pictures also reveal a little bit about the card. It's a little longer than most NVIDIA GeForce cards released, including the GTX 295. The two GPU systems look well spaced apart from the central fan, which looks to be engineered for higher air-flow. Flipping the card, reveals that NVIDIA did not use a single full-coverage back-plate, rather two smaller ones, that just cover the area behind each GPU, and spread heat from memory chips located at the reverse side of the PCB. Display IO includes three DVI and a mini HDMI. You can use all three DVI connectors at a time, to drive a 3-display NVIDIA 3DVision Surround setup.
The pictures also reveal a little bit about the card. It's a little longer than most NVIDIA GeForce cards released, including the GTX 295. The two GPU systems look well spaced apart from the central fan, which looks to be engineered for higher air-flow. Flipping the card, reveals that NVIDIA did not use a single full-coverage back-plate, rather two smaller ones, that just cover the area behind each GPU, and spread heat from memory chips located at the reverse side of the PCB. Display IO includes three DVI and a mini HDMI. You can use all three DVI connectors at a time, to drive a 3-display NVIDIA 3DVision Surround setup.
EVGA Announces GeForce GTX 560 Ti Crysis 2 Maximum Graphics Edition Bundle
EVGA is celebrating the release of what is touted to be this year's blockbuster game title, Crysis 2. The company released the EVGA GTX 560 Ti Crysis 2 Maximum Graphics Edition bundle, which combines a GeForce GTX 560 Ti (NVIDIA reference design) graphics card with a copy of Crysis 2 (PC), and some Crysis 2 memorabilia, including a Crysis 2 poster, and a black t-shirt. The special edition GTX 560 Ti graphics card features clock speeds of 900 MHz core, 1800 MHz CUDA cores, and 4212 MHz memory. It packs 384 CUDA cores, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. The GTX 560 Ti should typically let you play Crysis 2 at full-HD resolution (1920 x 1080), with hightened eye candy. The EVGA GTX 560 Ti Crysis 2 Maximum Graphics Edition bundle is priced at US $299. A bargain, if you ask me.
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 590 Exclusive Bundle Detailed, Benchmarked
Gigabyte want to launch its GeForce GTX 590 in a big way. The company prepared a special, probably limited-edition package, which it refers to as "Exclusive Bundle". Packed in an industrial-looking toolbox, Gigabyte is including its reference-design GeForce GTX 590 3072 MB graphics card, a load of cables and accessories, and a Gigabyte GHOST M8000X gaming mouse, in its complete package (including adjustable weights). Gigabyte's package looks very well made, advertising the products inside well. It kind of makes sense to pack a ultra high-end graphics card with a high-end gaming mouse. With this, Gigabyte is looking to project the GTX 590 as more of a premium gamers' product (than something you buy and put under frozen gases right away).
Gigabyte's press deck also included some benchmark results. Testing is completely internal to the company. Gigabyte is a vendor-neutral graphics card partner (it sells both GeForce and Radeon), so these numbers can be taken at face value. According to Gigabyte, the GTX 590 rocks 3DMark Vantage at low resolutions, but the gap between it and Radeon HD 6990 closes at higher resolutions. It admits that Radeon HD 6990 is a faster graphics card overall for 3DMark 11. In game tests, GTX 590 and HD 6990 trade blows with each leading the other in different game tests. If these figures are to go by, it will be a very close and interesting battle for supremacy between the GTX 590 and HD 6990. Gigabyte's GTX 590 Exclusive Bundle is priced in China at a little under US $1,150.
Gigabyte's press deck also included some benchmark results. Testing is completely internal to the company. Gigabyte is a vendor-neutral graphics card partner (it sells both GeForce and Radeon), so these numbers can be taken at face value. According to Gigabyte, the GTX 590 rocks 3DMark Vantage at low resolutions, but the gap between it and Radeon HD 6990 closes at higher resolutions. It admits that Radeon HD 6990 is a faster graphics card overall for 3DMark 11. In game tests, GTX 590 and HD 6990 trade blows with each leading the other in different game tests. If these figures are to go by, it will be a very close and interesting battle for supremacy between the GTX 590 and HD 6990. Gigabyte's GTX 590 Exclusive Bundle is priced in China at a little under US $1,150.
Corsair Announces Windowed Side Panel Kit for the Graphite Series 600T
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of a windowed side panel for their award-winning Graphite Series 600T PC case.
The replacement side panel features an impact-resistant acrylic plastic clear window for showing off components when the case is closed. The customer has the further option of replacing the window with the included mesh insert that matches the look of the mesh grilles on the front and top of the case. The mesh side panel doesn't just look good - it includes mounting points for adding up to four 120mm fans for improved cooling performance.
The replacement side panel features an impact-resistant acrylic plastic clear window for showing off components when the case is closed. The customer has the further option of replacing the window with the included mesh insert that matches the look of the mesh grilles on the front and top of the case. The mesh side panel doesn't just look good - it includes mounting points for adding up to four 120mm fans for improved cooling performance.
TYAN Validates Fusion-io 160GB and 640GB ioDrives in Dual-Socket Server Platforms
TYAN, an industry-leading server platform manufacturer, and a subsidiary of MiTAC International Corp., has completed validating 160GB and 640GB ioDrives from Fusion-io in two of their most powerful HPC computing platforms: the S7025, a dual Socket 1366 motherboard supporting Intel Xeon 5500/5600 series processors, and the S8232, the company's newest dual Socket G34 board supporting AMD Opteron 6100 series processors.
TYAN's rigorous validation process included testing ioMemory technology from Fusion-io with a full range of operating systems and applications, as well as comprehensive hardware testing to ensure complete compatibility. Tyan engineers also performed some cursory benchmark tests. "Validating Fusion ioDrives with Tyan's leading HPC platforms gives Tyan and our OEM partners total confidence in Fusion's game changing technology. We're looking forward to expanding our relations with Fusion-io in the future," stated TYAN's Senior Director of Sales, Joe James. Both motherboards are available now through TYAN distributors worldwide. OEM pricing is available on request.
TYAN's rigorous validation process included testing ioMemory technology from Fusion-io with a full range of operating systems and applications, as well as comprehensive hardware testing to ensure complete compatibility. Tyan engineers also performed some cursory benchmark tests. "Validating Fusion ioDrives with Tyan's leading HPC platforms gives Tyan and our OEM partners total confidence in Fusion's game changing technology. We're looking forward to expanding our relations with Fusion-io in the future," stated TYAN's Senior Director of Sales, Joe James. Both motherboards are available now through TYAN distributors worldwide. OEM pricing is available on request.
Tuesday, March 22nd 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Mouse
NZXT H2 Review
NZXT's H2 is a very well featured mid tower case in the $100 range that offers a clean and stylish look in both black or white. Even though it comes at a competitive price it includes three fans that can be adjusted using an integrated fan controller.
Buffalo Unveils Sleek Piano-Black MiniStation and DriveStation
Buffalo Technology, a global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of storage and wireless networking solutions, has announced a stylish design for its external storage range. Available now, the glossy, piano-black MiniStation portable device and the DriveStation desktop hard drive, will allow users to add additional external storage to any computer or laptop simply using a USB port.
The smooth, lightweight and portable MiniStation is USB powered, meaning there is no additional power supply needed. Available in 500GB and 1.0TB, the MiniStation offers a compact, stylish solution that enables users to store, back up and transport digital images, music and other files without taking up additional storage space from your PC's hard drive.
The smooth, lightweight and portable MiniStation is USB powered, meaning there is no additional power supply needed. Available in 500GB and 1.0TB, the MiniStation offers a compact, stylish solution that enables users to store, back up and transport digital images, music and other files without taking up additional storage space from your PC's hard drive.
AMD Hires Mike Wolfe as New CIO
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced it has appointed Mike Wolfe, age 52, as the company's chief information officer. He brings more than 30 years of engineering and information technology experience, most recently as vice president of IT for product development and engineering at HP for the last five years. Wolfe will be responsible for managing AMD's global technology infrastructure and will report to Thomas Seifert, senior vice president and chief financial officer and interim CEO.
"Mike has effectively led IT transformations, constantly focusing on reducing operating costs and significantly improving business innovation," said Seifert. "His considerable talent and experience will help AMD to continue strengthening our IT infrastructure and streamline our business based on our own products and platforms."
"Mike has effectively led IT transformations, constantly focusing on reducing operating costs and significantly improving business innovation," said Seifert. "His considerable talent and experience will help AMD to continue strengthening our IT infrastructure and streamline our business based on our own products and platforms."
V3 Gaming PC Partners with NVIDIA to Offer $599 Salvo Desktop with GeForce GTX 550 Ti
V3 Gaming, manufacturer of high-end computer systems, has partnered with NVIDIA to offer the Salvo Desktop Computer for $599. The V3 Salvo features the brand new GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card and the 2nd Generation Intel Core family of processors. The system itself is geared towards bringing a custom gaming computer experience to a larger audience of gamers.
Thanks to the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card from NVIDIA, the V3 Salvo has plenty of gaming chops. The GTX 550 Ti is a compact yet powerful DirectX 11 GPU that is great for small form factor and budget computer systems. It supports NVIDIA's CUDA, PhysX, and 3D Vision technologies for the most realistic gaming experience possible. The card has 1GB of GDDR5 memory and packs in 192 CUDA cores for efficient gaming performance in the latest game titles.
Thanks to the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics card from NVIDIA, the V3 Salvo has plenty of gaming chops. The GTX 550 Ti is a compact yet powerful DirectX 11 GPU that is great for small form factor and budget computer systems. It supports NVIDIA's CUDA, PhysX, and 3D Vision technologies for the most realistic gaming experience possible. The card has 1GB of GDDR5 memory and packs in 192 CUDA cores for efficient gaming performance in the latest game titles.
Sharkoon Introduces New T-Series PC Cases
Sharkoon expands their tower portfolio. The six overall ATX models of the new T-series provides versatile installation options and different color designs. Colorful highlights of the models from the T9 Value series: The tower is in a black design and waits for a colorful finish to the main board plate - choices are bright green, luscious red or elegant white. Look in through the acrylic window on the side panel. The faceplates and hard drive fasteners are the same color as the main board plate. Additional illuminating LEDs produce a similarly identical color with the three illuminating preinstalled fans as well as the tower and hard drive operating displays. If the entire look of the amenities of the tower are to colorful, then a T9 Value only with a black interior finish and an unlit fan is also available.
Kingston Digital Extends the Speedy Class 10 microSDHC Family
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping a 4GB and 8GB Class 10 microSDHC card, joining the previously released 16GB Class 10 card. Kingston will add a 32GB capacity to the family in Q2. The Class 10 cards have a fast minimum data transfer rate of 10MB/s.
"Kingston's Class 10 microSDHC cards are compatible with many of the latest mobile phones including Android smartphones and BlackBerry devices, hi-def cameras and the increasingly popular tablet PCs," said Mike Kuppinger, Flash card business manager, Kingston. "The Class 10 speed provides faster data transfer rates and the various capacities help satisfy storage needs for users with both light and heavy memory needs."
"Kingston's Class 10 microSDHC cards are compatible with many of the latest mobile phones including Android smartphones and BlackBerry devices, hi-def cameras and the increasingly popular tablet PCs," said Mike Kuppinger, Flash card business manager, Kingston. "The Class 10 speed provides faster data transfer rates and the various capacities help satisfy storage needs for users with both light and heavy memory needs."
NZXT H2 Classic Silent Chassis Establishes New Era of Whisper-Quiet PC Gaming
NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to announce the H2, a silent midtower chassis that drastically reduces the chaotic noise produced by powerful gaming PCs. In designing H2, NZXT's challenge was to engineer a decibel reduction solution while allowing components to remain cool through effective airflow. To achieve these feats, the H2 implements a layer of premium noise dampening foam that keeps internal noise from escaping the chassis. A magnetic fan cover on the top 140mm fan adds another element of silence, but can be removed if the user prefers to maximize cooling.
Efficient airflow is further achieved with a unique 3 phase fan controller that allows enthusiasts to adjust speeds at 40%, 70%, and 100%. The removable touch powered fan compartments are wireless so there's no need to open the side panel to rummage through neatly managed cables behind the motherboard to remove the fan. 8 Front facing HDDs give H2 a thermal edge over other silent solutions on the market by enhancing natural airflow in the front of the case.
Efficient airflow is further achieved with a unique 3 phase fan controller that allows enthusiasts to adjust speeds at 40%, 70%, and 100%. The removable touch powered fan compartments are wireless so there's no need to open the side panel to rummage through neatly managed cables behind the motherboard to remove the fan. 8 Front facing HDDs give H2 a thermal edge over other silent solutions on the market by enhancing natural airflow in the front of the case.
Toshiba Adds New STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S External HDDs to its Portfolio
Toshiba Europe GmbH today announced STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S: two external hard disk drives featuring USB 3.0 connectivity for fast data transfers of up to 5 Gigabits per second and high enough storage capacities to host large multimedia libraries. STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S will be available during the first quarter of 2011 in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The ongoing digitalisation of entertainment content is fuelling user demand for reliable external hard disk drives with large capacities and fast data rates. Many users want to transmit large files such as videos, music tracks and photos quickly between the backup medium and the computer. STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S both feature a USB 3.0 port offering a data rate of up to 5 Gigabits per second. However, computers and peripheral devices with USB 2.0 only can still be used with these new state-of-the-art hard disk drives.
The ongoing digitalisation of entertainment content is fuelling user demand for reliable external hard disk drives with large capacities and fast data rates. Many users want to transmit large files such as videos, music tracks and photos quickly between the backup medium and the computer. STOR.E STEEL S and STOR.E ALU 2S both feature a USB 3.0 port offering a data rate of up to 5 Gigabits per second. However, computers and peripheral devices with USB 2.0 only can still be used with these new state-of-the-art hard disk drives.
Super Talent Announces New JEDEC MO-300V Standard Compliant mSATA SSD
Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced a new mSATA interface SSD that conforms to new JEDEC MO-300V standard.
SSDs are fast, reliable, non-volatile storage devices used in a variety of portable devices. The recent proliferation of netbook and tablet designs has created the need for a standard to enable easy and efficient integration possibilities. The mSATA JEDEC standard MO-300B is one such standard. It is a SATAII interface SSD using a mini PCIe formfactor.
SSDs are fast, reliable, non-volatile storage devices used in a variety of portable devices. The recent proliferation of netbook and tablet designs has created the need for a standard to enable easy and efficient integration possibilities. The mSATA JEDEC standard MO-300B is one such standard. It is a SATAII interface SSD using a mini PCIe formfactor.
Mozilla Firefox 4 Web-Browser Released
Mozilla Corporation unveiled the "latest and greatest" version of its popular web-browser, Mozilla Firefox 4. With this release, the open-source browser achieves all essential features common with the latest generation of web-browsers that include Google Chrome 10+ and Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, which are: HTML5 support, and GPU-accelerated webpage drawing. Apart from being a lot faster than Firefox 3.6, the new browser sports a completely new user interface that shifts tabs to the titlebar, shifts menus to a "Firefox" button, and consolidates the address bar, search bar, and navigation buttons into a single line, which it refers to as the "Awesome Bar". Apart from a new bookmark manager, Firefox lets you group tabs to streamline multitasking on the browser. Mozilla Firefox 4 will be available to a variety of platforms.
DOWNLOAD: Mozilla Firefox 4
MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3) Motherboard Pictured
Here are the first pictures of MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3), the company's first socket LGA1155 motherboard based on Intel's new Z68 PCH. Intel is weeks away from launching the Z68 PCH, which is a middle-ground between P67 and H67. P67 let you overclock, while it didn't feature Flexible Display Interface (FDI); H67 featured FDI, but didn't let you overclock. Z68 features FDI, it also lets you overclock to the potential of P67. MSI's Z68A-GD80 makes use of the B3 revision of the Z68 PCH. It intends to offer loads of overclocking features, ample discrete GPU expansion, as well as FDI connectivity to let you use the processor-embedded graphics.
The LGA1155 socket supports 2011 Core i5/i7 "Sandy Bridge" processors. The LOTES-made socket on the Z68A-GD80 is powered by a 15-phase VRM that uses "solid-state" chokes that don't buzz on load. The VRM is cooled by two heatsinks that share heat over a heat pipe. The socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots that support dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include three PCI-Express x16 (electrical x16/NC/x4 or x8/x8/x4), two PCI-E x1, and two PCI.
The LGA1155 socket supports 2011 Core i5/i7 "Sandy Bridge" processors. The LOTES-made socket on the Z68A-GD80 is powered by a 15-phase VRM that uses "solid-state" chokes that don't buzz on load. The VRM is cooled by two heatsinks that share heat over a heat pipe. The socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots that support dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include three PCI-Express x16 (electrical x16/NC/x4 or x8/x8/x4), two PCI-E x1, and two PCI.
SAPPHIRE Officially Launches HD 6950 FleX, Simplifies Eyefinity for Gamers
SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced the SAPPHIRE HD 6950 Flex Edition, bringing a new level of gaming performance to the company's unique solution for multi-screen gaming. 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 costly 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 hardware required.
Verbatim Announces Store 'n' Go USB Car Audio Storage for Car Audio
The majority of music nowadays is mainly stored and played using MP3 files. With car radios increasingly supporting USB ports, Verbatim has specially developed a USB drive that can fit perfectly into a car radio USB slot, making it the ideal way to store and listen to all your favourite MP3 music while motoring. No bigger than a Euro coin, the innovative USB drive is barely noticeable once inserted into a USB port and can store up to 2000 audio tracks - more than enough for any road trip. The 8GB Verbatim Store 'n' Go Audio USB is available in stores now at €18 (8GB) (RRP).
In being only 17.15mm long x 14.85mm wide x 7.7mm deep, when inserted into the USB port only 5mm of the Verbatim Store 'n' Go Audio USB is left protruding, meaning that it can be kept in the car radio on a semi-permanent basis and used as a long-term storage extension. No damaged USB or USB Port any longer hitting the Storage exidently. And as with any standard USB drive, Verbatim's Audio USB can also be used in any computer or gadget with a USB 2.0 port - anything from netbooks, table PCs, digital picture frames to desktop PCs.
In being only 17.15mm long x 14.85mm wide x 7.7mm deep, when inserted into the USB port only 5mm of the Verbatim Store 'n' Go Audio USB is left protruding, meaning that it can be kept in the car radio on a semi-permanent basis and used as a long-term storage extension. No damaged USB or USB Port any longer hitting the Storage exidently. And as with any standard USB drive, Verbatim's Audio USB can also be used in any computer or gadget with a USB 2.0 port - anything from netbooks, table PCs, digital picture frames to desktop PCs.
ASUS To Launch Eee Pad Transformer This Friday
This Friday, ASUS will launch what it is touting to be a revolutionary new ultra-portable computing device, the Eee Pad Transformer (EP101), at a high-profile launch event in Taipei. The EP101 is a slate-type 10.1-inch tablet that can attach to a bottom-half that includes a keyboard and trackpad, and transform into a netbook. Two of its biggest features include NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor that make it both fast and its UI visually intensive; and Google's Android Honeycomb operating system largely customized by ASUS, that is optimized for larger touch devices such as tablets.
Notable components include Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB LPDDR2 memory, 16/32/64 GB eMMC storage with unlimited cloud storage, IPS display with capacitive touch and resolution of 1280 x 800, 1.2 MP front and 5 MP rear cameras, Tegra 2 graphics that can play back 1080p video, and a load of connectivity feature including WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 3G (optional). Other human interface devices include g-sensor, compass, gyro, light sensor, and GPS. The Eee Pad Transformer is expected to be priced in Taiwan at 19,596 NTD (around US $663).
More pictures follow.
Notable components include Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB LPDDR2 memory, 16/32/64 GB eMMC storage with unlimited cloud storage, IPS display with capacitive touch and resolution of 1280 x 800, 1.2 MP front and 5 MP rear cameras, Tegra 2 graphics that can play back 1080p video, and a load of connectivity feature including WiFi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 3G (optional). Other human interface devices include g-sensor, compass, gyro, light sensor, and GPS. The Eee Pad Transformer is expected to be priced in Taiwan at 19,596 NTD (around US $663).
Anand Chandrasekher to Leave Intel; Mike Bell, Dave Whalen to Lead Ultra Mobility
Anand Chandrasekher, senior vice president and general manager of Ultra Mobility Group (UMG), announced today that he will be leaving Intel to pursue other interests. Effective immediately, Mike Bell vice president of IAG and Dave Whalen vice president of IAG, will co-manage UMG. "Intel remains committed to this business," said David Perlmutter, executive vice president and Intel Architecture Group general manager.
"We continue to make the investments needed to ensure that the best user experience on smartphones and handhelds runs on Intel Architecture, and to ship a phone this year. "We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Anand for numerous contributions to Intel over his 24-year career here, and wish him well in his future endeavors."
"We continue to make the investments needed to ensure that the best user experience on smartphones and handhelds runs on Intel Architecture, and to ship a phone this year. "We'd like to take this opportunity to thank Anand for numerous contributions to Intel over his 24-year career here, and wish him well in his future endeavors."
SuperTalent Announces a new USB 3.0 Flash Drive
Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced a new USB 3.0 flash drive, the USB 3.0 Express DUO 2-CH. Featuring a cap-less industrial design, the USB 3.0 Express DUO 2-CH, now features a black "piano finished" plastic housing that twists to reveal and conceal the USB 3.0 port inside.
The 2-channel design of the Express Duo 2-CH can top over 67MB/s when plugged into a USB 3.0 port, yet remains fully-backward compatible to USB 2.0 and for about the same price. This new flash drive also comes pre-installed with Microsoft Security Essentials, real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Our USB 3.0 drive makes it easy to install this software on all of your PCs.
The 2-channel design of the Express Duo 2-CH can top over 67MB/s when plugged into a USB 3.0 port, yet remains fully-backward compatible to USB 2.0 and for about the same price. This new flash drive also comes pre-installed with Microsoft Security Essentials, real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Our USB 3.0 drive makes it easy to install this software on all of your PCs.
Exceleram Announces Availability of Rippler Blue Series Memory
Exceleram, the Highend Memory maker based in Landau / Germany announces the availability of the new Blue Rippler Kits. The new Blue Rippler series starts with 8 different memory kits. They will be available in capacities from 8GB to 24GB - the focus is here for all memory demanding applications.
"Something special for the new Blue Rippler series is the high compatibility, you can use them for LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA 1366 and AM3. Thus the endcustomer don't need much time to find the right memory for his system." said Martim Reis Silva, Salesdirector Exceleram.
"Something special for the new Blue Rippler series is the high compatibility, you can use them for LGA1155, LGA1156, LGA 1366 and AM3. Thus the endcustomer don't need much time to find the right memory for his system." said Martim Reis Silva, Salesdirector Exceleram.
Monday, March 21st 2011
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Graphics Cards
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PSUs
Amacrox Free Earth 88PLUS AX600-88FE 600W Review
Amacrox's Free Earth 88PLUS AX600-88FE PSU boasts 80 Plus Silver efficiency and its name promises that it will save Earth. With a rated capacity of 600 W it will handle all single GPU systems just fine. Thanks to its reasonable pricing, the AX600-88FE is also interesting for budget users.
Japan Earthquake Could Affect HDD Industry
Over a week after, and still reeling with one of the biggest disasters in its history, Japan is home to major manufacturing plants of hard drive-grade substrate makers such as Furukawa Denko and Kobe Steel; as well as HDD OEM Showa Denko, all of which have faced temporary shutdowns after the quake. The three have all reported damage to facilities, injuries of employees and have shut down their operations pending further evaluation. This could have its repercussions on the hard drive industry, which is beginning to face serious competition from the solid-state drive (SSD) industry, in the lower-mainstream segments.
Showa Denko-made HDDs amount for 25% of global market, but its facilities are distributed between Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. Showa Denko supplies to Seagate and Western Digital, two major companies in the HDD business, though since the two have their own manufacturing facilities, shortage of Showa Denko-sourced hard drives may not have an immediate impact, notes DigiTimes. On the other hand is HDD component manufacturers such as Furukawa Denko and Kobe Steel, which produce HDD-use substrates using aluminum mainly for desktop PCs; TDK, Showa Denko and Fuji Electric, which make fine components such as read/write heads and the magnetic discs.
Showa Denko-made HDDs amount for 25% of global market, but its facilities are distributed between Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. Showa Denko supplies to Seagate and Western Digital, two major companies in the HDD business, though since the two have their own manufacturing facilities, shortage of Showa Denko-sourced hard drives may not have an immediate impact, notes DigiTimes. On the other hand is HDD component manufacturers such as Furukawa Denko and Kobe Steel, which produce HDD-use substrates using aluminum mainly for desktop PCs; TDK, Showa Denko and Fuji Electric, which make fine components such as read/write heads and the magnetic discs.
VIA Launches VIA ART-5450 for In-Vehicle and Fleet Management Applications
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the launch of its VIA ART-5450 embedded box PC system, designed to offer embedded developers the ideal system platform for today's sophisticated logistics and fleet management applications.
Based on a uniquely compact, fanless and rugged design, the VIA ART-5450 offers a full feature set that includes a range of wireless 3G communications, dual display and advanced power management support, creating a flexible and stable platform for in-vehicle systems that control, monitor and manage commercial vehicles.
Based on a uniquely compact, fanless and rugged design, the VIA ART-5450 offers a full feature set that includes a range of wireless 3G communications, dual display and advanced power management support, creating a flexible and stable platform for in-vehicle systems that control, monitor and manage commercial vehicles.
PCMark 7 Announced For Windows 7
Futuremark, the developer of the world's most popular benchmarking software, announced PCMark 7 today, a new benchmark offering complete PC performance analysis for Windows 7. PCMark 7 includes 7 separate test suites combining more than 20 individual workloads covering storage, computation, image and video manipulation, web browsing and gaming. A release date has not been announced though the official website states that PCMark 7 is coming soon.
"Hardware innovations like solid state drives (SSDs), and new form factors such as netbooks and tablets are greatly increasing the range of PC performance available to businesses and home users," said Jani Joki, Director of PC Products and Services at Futuremark. "With so much choice available, PCMark 7 is an essential and easy to use tool to test and compare PC performance accurately and reliably across a wide range of usage scenarios."
"Hardware innovations like solid state drives (SSDs), and new form factors such as netbooks and tablets are greatly increasing the range of PC performance available to businesses and home users," said Jani Joki, Director of PC Products and Services at Futuremark. "With so much choice available, PCMark 7 is an essential and easy to use tool to test and compare PC performance accurately and reliably across a wide range of usage scenarios."
TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.5.2 Released
TechPowerUp today released version 0.5.2 of GPU-Z, our popular graphics hardware information and diagnostic utility that gives you information about the installed graphics hardware in your computer, and lets you monitor various parameters such as clock speeds, temperatures, fan speeds, and voltages, all in real-time. GPU-Z is also backed by our overclock validation system and video card BIOS database. Version 0.5.2 adds support for new GPUs, improved support for known GPUs, and a timely dose of stability improvements.
To begin with, GPU-Z 0.5.2 can now detect AMD Radeon HD 6990, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, GTX 550 Ti, GTX 560 Ti; improved support for GTX 570, and Intel "Sandy Bridge" processor-embedded graphics. The CHL8228 VRM controller found on some Radeon HD 6900 series cards is supported. There's improved OpenCL support detection for AMD/ATI GPUs, and improved driver-based monitoring support for AMD/ATI GPUs in general. A number of stability/reliability fixes were introduced.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.5.2
The changelog for GPU-Z 0.5.2 follows:
To begin with, GPU-Z 0.5.2 can now detect AMD Radeon HD 6990, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590, GTX 550 Ti, GTX 560 Ti; improved support for GTX 570, and Intel "Sandy Bridge" processor-embedded graphics. The CHL8228 VRM controller found on some Radeon HD 6900 series cards is supported. There's improved OpenCL support detection for AMD/ATI GPUs, and improved driver-based monitoring support for AMD/ATI GPUs in general. A number of stability/reliability fixes were introduced.
The changelog for GPU-Z 0.5.2 follows:
Gateway Debuts New NV Series Notebooks with Latest AMD Processors
Gateway today unveils new models in its Gateway NV Series line of notebook PCs with the latest AMD processors, including new models in AMD's Vision Technology line, which deliver enhanced performance capabilities for mobile computing.
The flagship model of the new line is the Gateway NV51B05u, which features an AMD E-Series processor E-350 with Vision Technology and ATI Radeon HD 6310 graphics to deliver heightened performance in a value-based notebook.
The flagship model of the new line is the Gateway NV51B05u, which features an AMD E-Series processor E-350 with Vision Technology and ATI Radeon HD 6310 graphics to deliver heightened performance in a value-based notebook.
AMD Also Readies 3.50 GHz Clocked Phenom II X2 Part
Apart from the 3.70 Phenom II X4 980, AMD's next, and probably (hopefully) final wave of Phenom II processors will include a 3.50 GHz clocked dual-core part, the Phenom II X2 570 Black Edition. This socket AM3 chip will be based on the "Callisto" silicon, which is essentially a "Deneb" quad core die used in X4 parts, with two of its four cores disabled. The chip features two cores clocked at 3.50 GHz (17.5 x 200 MHz), 512 KB dedicated L2 caches per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache. The integrated dual-channel memory controller supports DDR3-1333 MHz on AM3 socket, and DDR2-1066 MHz on AM2+. As a Black Edition part, the BClk multiplier is unlocked, to help with overclocking. At these speeds, the TDP is rated at 80W.
Single-Slot, Slot-Powered Radeon HD 6850 Surfaces in Asia
Unknown to the west, Hong Kong-based graphics card manufacturer, AFOX, that caters to Far-East markets such as Japan, unveiled a new AMD Radeon HD 6850 1 GB graphics card that sports a single-slot design, and completely relies on the PCI Express slot for power. Most, if not all, Radeon HD 6850 graphics cards feature double-slot coolers, and require a 6-pin PCI-E power input, which is not the case with AFOX' new card.
The AF6850-1024D5S1 from AFOX features a red PCB, a black single slot cooler that covers all of the board's obverse side, and looks to feature a dense heatsink to which air is circulated by a blower. The card uses reference clock speeds of 775 MHz core, 1000 MHz (4.00 GHz GDDR5 effective) memory. The HD 6850 is rated by AMD to have 127W typical max power draw. It would be interesting to see how the card is managing to run the GPU with the slot's 75W. What's more, the card doesn't compromise in the display connectors department, packing one each of DVI, full-size HDMI 1.4a, full-size DisplayPort 1.2, and mini-DisplayPort 1.2. In Japan, the card is priced at 19,780 Yen, which converts to US $245.
The AF6850-1024D5S1 from AFOX features a red PCB, a black single slot cooler that covers all of the board's obverse side, and looks to feature a dense heatsink to which air is circulated by a blower. The card uses reference clock speeds of 775 MHz core, 1000 MHz (4.00 GHz GDDR5 effective) memory. The HD 6850 is rated by AMD to have 127W typical max power draw. It would be interesting to see how the card is managing to run the GPU with the slot's 75W. What's more, the card doesn't compromise in the display connectors department, packing one each of DVI, full-size HDMI 1.4a, full-size DisplayPort 1.2, and mini-DisplayPort 1.2. In Japan, the card is priced at 19,780 Yen, which converts to US $245.
Intel 320 Series SSD with 25 nm NAND Flash Slated for 28 March, Priced
Intel's 320 series solid-state drives (SSDs) are on track for a March 28 launch. The silicon giant is on a bit of a spree with its SSD product launches over the past few weeks. Intel 320 series, also referred to as "Postville Refresh", succeeds the company's X25-V and X25-M series, consisting of SATA 3 Gb/s SSDs in the 2.5-inch form-factor. The drives achieve sequential read speeds of 250 MB/s, and write speeds of 170 MB/s; Up to 39,500 IOPS random 4 KB reads, and up to 23,000 IOPS random 4 KB writes.
The only major change here is the multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash chips used inside, which are built on Intel's new 25 nm manufacturing process. Other new features include 128-bit AES data encryption, enhanced power-loss management, and up to 1.2 million hours MTBF. 320 series is available in 40 GB (US $109), 80 GB ($189), 120 GB ($239), 160 GB ($329), 300 GB ($569), and 600 GB ($1,119). With the 320 Series, Intel intends to target the business/office and mainstream markets, propagating SSDs to key high-volume segments.
The only major change here is the multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash chips used inside, which are built on Intel's new 25 nm manufacturing process. Other new features include 128-bit AES data encryption, enhanced power-loss management, and up to 1.2 million hours MTBF. 320 series is available in 40 GB (US $109), 80 GB ($189), 120 GB ($239), 160 GB ($329), 300 GB ($569), and 600 GB ($1,119). With the 320 Series, Intel intends to target the business/office and mainstream markets, propagating SSDs to key high-volume segments.
Saturday, March 19th 2011
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CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Motherboards
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Storage
Cubitek Launches ''Magic Cube'' Modular Case Series
Cubitek presents another unique case series after the successful launch of the "Tank" Series. The "Magic Cube" enclosures are made of 100% Aluminum and offer a revolutionary, modular design. Two models - the Magic Cube B210 and Magic Cube B211 with freely configurable modules are available immediately.
After the success of the "Tattoo" series and the launch of the highly anticipated, all Aluminum "Tank" family of enclosures, Cubitek presents an absolutely unique new case concept. Also constructed purely of Aluminum, all traditional parts of a normal chassis have been modularized with the Magic Cube cases. These sets consist of three separate enclosures: the main module for the motherboard, CPU and graphic cards, the storage module for 3.5 inch hard drives and the drive module for optical drives and card readers.
After the success of the "Tattoo" series and the launch of the highly anticipated, all Aluminum "Tank" family of enclosures, Cubitek presents an absolutely unique new case concept. Also constructed purely of Aluminum, all traditional parts of a normal chassis have been modularized with the Magic Cube cases. These sets consist of three separate enclosures: the main module for the motherboard, CPU and graphic cards, the storage module for 3.5 inch hard drives and the drive module for optical drives and card readers.
Friday, March 18th 2011
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Mousepads
Notebooks
PSUs
New Crucial DDR3-1333MHz BOM-controlled RDIMM Server Memory Now Available
Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today introduced Crucial DDR3-1333MHz RDIMM BOM-controlled server DRAM for customers who require a Bill of Material (BOM), revision control, as well as Product Change Notices (PCNs). BOM-control applies to the DRAM component, register, and PCB of eligible Crucial server memory modules. The new BOM-controlled server memory is covered by the Crucial Reliance Server Program, and enables registered partners to stay ahead of product changes, reduce the frequency of memory qualifications that occur due to memory revisions, and ultimately optimize productivity. Participating customers with Crucial BOM-controlled server memory will receive at least 30 day advanced notification of pending module revisions.
Crucial DDR3-1333MHz RDIMM BOM-controlled server memory is halogen-free, RoHS compliant, and will be validated on Intel CPUs and platforms; 2GB, 4GB and 8GB densities are now available for sampling and qualification. For additional information on how to purchase BOM-controlled server memory, contact your Crucial memory provider, or visit this page for details and qualifications.
Crucial DDR3-1333MHz RDIMM BOM-controlled server memory is halogen-free, RoHS compliant, and will be validated on Intel CPUs and platforms; 2GB, 4GB and 8GB densities are now available for sampling and qualification. For additional information on how to purchase BOM-controlled server memory, contact your Crucial memory provider, or visit this page for details and qualifications.
AMD Readies 3.70 GHz Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition Processor
AMD is looking to give its Phenom II series a finale, with a new quad-core Phenom II X4 model, the Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition. The new chip will be clocked at 3.70 GHz out of the box (18.5 x 200 MHz). It achieves this speed while staying within the 125W TDP envelope. Based on the 45 nm "Deneb" silicon, the X4 980 BE features four x86-64 cores with 512 KB dedicated L2 cache each, and a 6 MB shared cache. Compatible with AM3 and AM2+ sockets, the chip packs a dual-channel memory controller that supports DDR3-1333 MHz or DDR2-1066 MHz memory standards. AMD will unveil the new chip soon, as the company gears up to launch next-generation chips in June.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Launch Delayed to March 24?
Originally slated for March 22, NVIDIA has reportedly delayed the launch of its new high-end GeForce GTX 590 graphics card to March 24, sources told Expreview.com. The reason for this delay is not known, and NVIDIA isn't confirming this delay. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 is a dual-GPU high-end graphics card that uses two GF110 GPUs in an SLI on a stick solution.
Foxconn Unveils Quantum Force Rattler P67 Motherboard
Many had speculated that OEM giant Foxconn's own motherboard channel-brand is being closed down as the silicon conglomerate has enough on its plate. That turned out to be untrue, as the company released a new high-end socket LGA1155 motherboard based on Intel P67 (B3) chipset, the Quantum Force Rattler. The Rattler combines high-grade components with plenty of overclocker-friendly features. The CPU is powered by a 14-phase digital PWM power circuitry, and the memory by a 2-phase VRM. An OS-independent clock speed control with its own controls add to the numerous OC features.
Expansion includes two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (x8/x8 with both populated), three PCI-E x1, and one PCI. In the storage department, there are four SATA 3 Gb/s, two SATA 6 Gb/s wired to the P67 PCH, while a 3rd-party controller drives two eSATA 3 Gb/s and the lone IDE connector. Connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio with optical/coaxial SPDIF outputs, two USB 3.0 ports, a number of USB 2.0 ports, dual gigabit Ethernet, and PS/2 keyboard. OC-friendly features includes diagnostic LED, redundant BIOS, OC tuner, consolidated voltage-measure points and onboard power/reset buttons. Pricing/availability is not known.
Expansion includes two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (x8/x8 with both populated), three PCI-E x1, and one PCI. In the storage department, there are four SATA 3 Gb/s, two SATA 6 Gb/s wired to the P67 PCH, while a 3rd-party controller drives two eSATA 3 Gb/s and the lone IDE connector. Connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio with optical/coaxial SPDIF outputs, two USB 3.0 ports, a number of USB 2.0 ports, dual gigabit Ethernet, and PS/2 keyboard. OC-friendly features includes diagnostic LED, redundant BIOS, OC tuner, consolidated voltage-measure points and onboard power/reset buttons. Pricing/availability is not known.
ONDA Unveils GeForce GTX 550 Ti with 1536 MB of Memory
This just had to happen. NVIDIA wanted GeForce GTX 550 Ti to have higher memory bandwidth, while keeping costs low. So it populated its 192-bit GDDR5 memory interface with mixed density memory modules (that's 4x 1 Gbit, and 2x 2 Gbit) to get 1 GB of standard memory size. Chinese motherboard and graphics card specialist ONDA, which primarily sells in the East Asian markets, decided to populate the 192-bit interface with all 2 Gbit modules. The result is 1536 MB (1.5 GB) of memory.
The ONDA X-Engine GTX 550 Ti has a upper-mainstream look to it, with 1536 MB of memory, a high-performance cooler that uses a large 6-heatpipe heatsink, cooled by two 80 mm case fans, 4+2 phase VRM with POSCAP capacitors, and overclocked speeds of 1000 MHz core, 2000 MHz CUDA cores, and 4.40 GHz memory. To support the increased power demand, the card draws power from two 6-pin power connectors. Display outputs look to include one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. It isn't very likely that ONDA will sell westwards.
The ONDA X-Engine GTX 550 Ti has a upper-mainstream look to it, with 1536 MB of memory, a high-performance cooler that uses a large 6-heatpipe heatsink, cooled by two 80 mm case fans, 4+2 phase VRM with POSCAP capacitors, and overclocked speeds of 1000 MHz core, 2000 MHz CUDA cores, and 4.40 GHz memory. To support the increased power demand, the card draws power from two 6-pin power connectors. Display outputs look to include one each of DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI. It isn't very likely that ONDA will sell westwards.
ONFI Announces Publication of 3.0 Standard, Pushes Data Transfer Speeds to 400 MB/sec
The Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI) Working Group, the organization dedicated to simplifying integration of NAND Flash memory into consumer electronic devices, computing platforms, and industrial systems, today published the new ONFI 3.0 standard. By using the non-volatile DDR2 (NV-DDR2) interface, the newly ratified standard reaches speeds of up to 400 megabytes (MB)/sec, doubling the current NAND interface transfer rates.
The ONFI 3.0 standard details the interface and infrastructure that ONFI's more than 100 members can employ to develop products that deliver the industry's fastest NAND interface. Improvements in ONFI 3.0's NAND interface speeds will also enable future NAND controllers to achieve similar performance with half the number of channels, providing both a cost and space savings, which are key requirements for solid-state drive (SSD) design. The ONFI 3.0 incorporates a sophisticated die selection feature that reduces the number of chip enable (CE) pins, which in turn lowers the number of controller pins making PCB routing more efficient. Reducing the number of CE pins is especially important for SSDs, providing a significant cost reduction and allowing the extra pins to be assigned to other applications within the system.
The ONFI 3.0 standard details the interface and infrastructure that ONFI's more than 100 members can employ to develop products that deliver the industry's fastest NAND interface. Improvements in ONFI 3.0's NAND interface speeds will also enable future NAND controllers to achieve similar performance with half the number of channels, providing both a cost and space savings, which are key requirements for solid-state drive (SSD) design. The ONFI 3.0 incorporates a sophisticated die selection feature that reduces the number of chip enable (CE) pins, which in turn lowers the number of controller pins making PCB routing more efficient. Reducing the number of CE pins is especially important for SSDs, providing a significant cost reduction and allowing the extra pins to be assigned to other applications within the system.
New Venture Partners Portfolio Company, Silicon Hive, Acquired by Intel
New Venture Partners, the global venture capital firm dedicated to corporate technology spin-outs, today announced that its portfolio company, Silicon Hive, a spin-out from Philips Electronics (Philips), has been acquired by Intel Corporation (Intel). "New Venture Partners and Intel Capital never shied away from the heavy lifting involved in making Silicon Hive the success it is today".
Silicon Hive was incubated by Philips to commercialize parallel processing technology for semiconductor Systems-on-Chip (SoC). In 2007, Philips decided to spin out Silicon Hive as an independent, venture-backed company. New Venture Partners structured the transaction, transitioning the Silicon Hive business -- team, relationships, products, technology and related intellectual property -- out of Philips and into a start-up company. New Venture Partners led the Series A investment in Silicon Hive with initial participation from TVM Capital.
Silicon Hive was incubated by Philips to commercialize parallel processing technology for semiconductor Systems-on-Chip (SoC). In 2007, Philips decided to spin out Silicon Hive as an independent, venture-backed company. New Venture Partners structured the transaction, transitioning the Silicon Hive business -- team, relationships, products, technology and related intellectual property -- out of Philips and into a start-up company. New Venture Partners led the Series A investment in Silicon Hive with initial participation from TVM Capital.
Small Businesses Collaborate In Style with New Vostro 3000 Series
Knowing today's growing businesses require real-time information exchange and connectivity without compromise, Dell today unveiled its Vostro 3000 series laptops with 12 hours of battery lifei on select models and cutting-edge virtual collaboration solutions.
Available in 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-inch forms and styled with image-conscious entrepreneurs and mobile professionals in mind, the Dell Vostro 3000 Series packs the latest Intel 2nd generation Core I Series processors into a sleek design without compromising battery life. For those that demand the ultimate in collaboration, the Vostro 3000 is the first small-business laptop to feature voice enhancing technology SRS Premium Voice Pro software. A full HD webcam offered with the 14-, 15- and 17-inch laptops enables lifelike interactions with coworkers and customers, while a digital array mic helps reduce ambient noise, giving small businesses a superb virtual collaboration solution that's fast and clear.
Available in 13-, 14-, 15- and 17-inch forms and styled with image-conscious entrepreneurs and mobile professionals in mind, the Dell Vostro 3000 Series packs the latest Intel 2nd generation Core I Series processors into a sleek design without compromising battery life. For those that demand the ultimate in collaboration, the Vostro 3000 is the first small-business laptop to feature voice enhancing technology SRS Premium Voice Pro software. A full HD webcam offered with the 14-, 15- and 17-inch laptops enables lifelike interactions with coworkers and customers, while a digital array mic helps reduce ambient noise, giving small businesses a superb virtual collaboration solution that's fast and clear.
Thursday, March 17th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Samsung Unveils SyncMaster Monitor with Ultra Wide Band Wireless Technology
Samsung flexed its market arm today by releasing one of the first monitors to feature Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology. UWB is a method of wirelessly connecting the monitor to the PC/Laptop. The power cord stays, but hey, the lesser the cables the better, right? Samsung is bundling a UWB dongle that plugs into the PC/notebook's display connector, and relays video wirelessly to the display.
The SyncMaster C27A750 from Samsung is a 27-inch full-HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) monitor with 300 cd/m² maximum brightness. UWB aside, users can physically connect the monitor to a PC/notebook using D-Sub or HDMI. The piano-black "easy hub" (base with connectivity) also packs USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 hubs. Slated for April, the Samsung SyncMaster C27A750 is expected to be priced at €599.
The SyncMaster C27A750 from Samsung is a 27-inch full-HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) monitor with 300 cd/m² maximum brightness. UWB aside, users can physically connect the monitor to a PC/notebook using D-Sub or HDMI. The piano-black "easy hub" (base with connectivity) also packs USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 hubs. Slated for April, the Samsung SyncMaster C27A750 is expected to be priced at €599.
Switch Into Spring With The New Inspiron R Series From Dell
The new Inspiron R series joins Dell's expansive collection of laptops and desktops equipped with the latest Intel processors and are fun, stylish and lightning quick. Available today at Dell.com, the new Inspiron R 14-, 15- and 17-inch laptops deliver incredible mobile entertainment, high-definition displays and outstanding battery life, but that's just the beginning.
The perfect combination of brains and beauty - the latest addition to the Inspiron family also introduces an innovative new design twist: new SWITCH by Design Studio interchangeable lids that switch the look of Inspiron R laptops with just a pop and a clicki. The SWITCH by Design Studio collection includes 25 new eye-popping lids sporting vibrant colors and unique designs. Start the day with a Peacock Blue lid, and switch it out for a design-inspired look at night.
The perfect combination of brains and beauty - the latest addition to the Inspiron family also introduces an innovative new design twist: new SWITCH by Design Studio interchangeable lids that switch the look of Inspiron R laptops with just a pop and a clicki. The SWITCH by Design Studio collection includes 25 new eye-popping lids sporting vibrant colors and unique designs. Start the day with a Peacock Blue lid, and switch it out for a design-inspired look at night.
WD Introduces 6 TB External HDD to Support Increased HD Content Creation by Pros
Western Digital, the world's leader in external storage solutions, today introduced its My Book Studio Edition II dual-drive storage system with a massive 6 terabytes (TB) of storage to meet the capacity needs of today's creative pros and Mac enthusiasts who create, store, edit and archive large HD video and photo files. The new capacity provides users 33 percent more storage than the previous capacity, while maintaining the same footprint.
Combining its extended 6 TB storage capacity and compatibility with Apple Time Machine, the new My Book Studio Edition II drive becomes an instant storage solution for a variety of professions including art and design, photography, legal and medical, and a host of other small businesses.
Combining its extended 6 TB storage capacity and compatibility with Apple Time Machine, the new My Book Studio Edition II drive becomes an instant storage solution for a variety of professions including art and design, photography, legal and medical, and a host of other small businesses.
Foxconn Delivers HD Playback and 1080p in a Tiny Package
Foxconn, the world's leading manufacturer of computer components and systems, today announced the arrival of the Nettop NT-535, finally bringing true high definition (HD) quality playback to Intel Atom based systems without the use of third party graphics.
With a volume of only 0.6 of a litre, the NT-535 is a significant step forward from its predecessor with an upgrade to DDR3 memory and the inclusion of two specific chips to enable true Blu-ray standard of HD streaming and playback.
With a volume of only 0.6 of a litre, the NT-535 is a significant step forward from its predecessor with an upgrade to DDR3 memory and the inclusion of two specific chips to enable true Blu-ray standard of HD streaming and playback.
TechPowerUp Part of the Beautiful Web with Internet Explorer 9
TechPowerUp is ready for the numerous enhancements Internet Explorer 9 brings to Windows 7 operating system. We have added IE9 Jumplists for your favorite site to work more like an application, more of a part of your desktop. When pinned to your Windows 7 taskbar using Internet Explorer 9, TechPowerUp behaves like an application. Clicking it launches the TechPowerUp front-page, with a TPU button that takes you to the site from wherever. The navigation buttons on IE9 set themselves to match the red color.
Further, right-clicking the TPU button on the Windows 7 taskbar shows you our Jumplist. Here, you can quickly launch the IE9 with your favorite area on TPU. Five of our latest reviews are displayed in a constantly updating list, so you can catch up with our latest content. To install the TechPowerUp IE9 Jumplist integration, simply drag the TechPowerUp favicon or tab from IE9, and drop it on to your Windows 7 taskbar. It stays there and launches TPU in a flash. Comments are welcome.
Further, right-clicking the TPU button on the Windows 7 taskbar shows you our Jumplist. Here, you can quickly launch the IE9 with your favorite area on TPU. Five of our latest reviews are displayed in a constantly updating list, so you can catch up with our latest content. To install the TechPowerUp IE9 Jumplist integration, simply drag the TechPowerUp favicon or tab from IE9, and drop it on to your Windows 7 taskbar. It stays there and launches TPU in a flash. Comments are welcome.
New Rugged Portable WS from NextComputing Delivers Computing in Tough Environments
NextComputing, manufacturer of high-performance portable workstations and servers, announces its latest rugged portable workstation computer, the Vigor EX. Built to withstand harsh environments and handling, the Vigor EX packs high-end workstation performance in a durable chassis for anyone who needs to run demanding software applications in the field.
Graphics- or processing-intensive applications like geospatial imagery analysis, UAV ground control, or HD digital video processing require very high-end, powerful computer hardware to run properly. However, for mobile deployments where size, weight, power, and cooling (SWaP-C) are a concern, a typical rackmount server is oftentimes too large, heavy and power consuming.
Graphics- or processing-intensive applications like geospatial imagery analysis, UAV ground control, or HD digital video processing require very high-end, powerful computer hardware to run properly. However, for mobile deployments where size, weight, power, and cooling (SWaP-C) are a concern, a typical rackmount server is oftentimes too large, heavy and power consuming.
New Roxio Game Capture Products from Rovi Let You Share Your A-Game
Rovi Corporation today unveiled Roxio Game Capture and Roxio PC Game Capture, two affordably priced products that offer a straightforward way for gamers to quickly and easily capture and share PC and console game play videos.
In-product tutorials help everyone get set up quickly and immediately begin to capture and showcase their latest campaigns, adventures, ball skills, and race sequences. Gamers may use the products to post their high scores, tips & tricks, game reviews, or even a feature-length movie, or Machinima, based on game play footage. See the products in action here.
In-product tutorials help everyone get set up quickly and immediately begin to capture and showcase their latest campaigns, adventures, ball skills, and race sequences. Gamers may use the products to post their high scores, tips & tricks, game reviews, or even a feature-length movie, or Machinima, based on game play footage. See the products in action here.
AMD FX-Series Processors Releasing on June 11
AMD's next-generation high-end desktop processor line, the AMD FX-series, is inching toward a June 11 launch, according to DonanimHaber. FX-Series is hyped for being based on the company's next-generation "Bulldozer" architecture, which is a built from ground up x86-64 processor design. AMD's FX-series will include 8-core, 6-core, and 4-core models, and will optimally run on a new socket currently referred to as "AM3+". Major motherboard vendors are expected to release AM3+ motherboards based on various chipsets around the same time.
BenQ Releases EW Series VA LED Monitors – Room Theater Made Easy
Internationally-renowned provider of digital monitors -BenQ, proudly announced the release of their EW Series of Vertical Alignment (VA) LED monitors - The lineup of the VA-panel LED monitors includes EW2430 and EW2430V. With True 3,000:1 Native Contrast Ratio and BenQ's proprietary Senseye Human Vision Technology all on a true 8-bit color panel, these beautiful VA LED monitors aims to bring full connectivity, smarter video design and elevate its viewers audiovisual experience.
Leading the EW Series is the 24" EW2430V VA LED monitor, this VA LED panel features an ultra-high native contrast ratio of 3,000:1 for added depth and definition, also minimizes light leakage. It has better contrast and detail in dark-colored movie scenes. Equipped with the ultra high Dynamic Contrast Ratio (DCR) that equates to 20,000,000:1, it enhances the details and color contrast, producing the most exquisite and flawless true-to-life images. The true 8-bit color range with 16.7M color level presents saturated vividness and smoother color transitions in every image.
Leading the EW Series is the 24" EW2430V VA LED monitor, this VA LED panel features an ultra-high native contrast ratio of 3,000:1 for added depth and definition, also minimizes light leakage. It has better contrast and detail in dark-colored movie scenes. Equipped with the ultra high Dynamic Contrast Ratio (DCR) that equates to 20,000,000:1, it enhances the details and color contrast, producing the most exquisite and flawless true-to-life images. The true 8-bit color range with 16.7M color level presents saturated vividness and smoother color transitions in every image.
Mozilla Firefox 4 Launch Date is March 22
After the much hyped Internet Explorer 9 launch, it's time for the open-source Firefox to get its facelift. Mozilla has decided to launch the stable version of Mozilla Firefox 4 on the 22nd of March. Firefox 4 is a single-process web-browser that runs plugins in separate container processes. It will be up to date with the latest in web standards, including HTML5, will feature a much faster Javascript engine, and will use GPU hardware acceleration to speed up rendering. March 22 is turning out to be quite a day for the tech sphere, with NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 590 graphics accelerator, and EA/Crytek's self-proclaimed blockbuster game release, Crysis 2, also releasing on the same day.
Wednesday, March 16th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
- Sapphire HD 6990 4GB eTeknix
- MSI N550GTX-Ti Cyclone-II OC Benchmark Reviews
- KFA2 Galaxy GTX 550 Ti LTD OC WHITE Guru3D
- MSI GTX 550 Ti 1GB Cyclone II OC Guru3D
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti HardwareCanucks
- ASUS, EVGA, MSI, and Gigabyte GTX 550 Ti HardwareCanucks
- Palit and Zotac GTX 550 Ti HardwareHeaven
- MSI N550GTX-Ti Cyclone OC HardwareSecrets
- EVGA GTX 550Ti FPB Edition Hi Tech Legion
- ASUS GTX 550 Ti DirectCU TOP Hi Tech Legion
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti Roundup HotHardware
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti LAN OC
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti Roundup NeoSeeker
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti Ninja Lane
- MSI GTX 550 Ti 1GB Cyclone II Overclockers Australia
- ASUS GTX550 Ti DirectCU TOP Overclockers Club
- MSI N550GTX Ti 1GB Overclockers Club
- Gainward GTX 550 Ti GS Overclockers.com
- ASUS GTX 550 Ti DirectCU TOP PureOverclock
- Gigabyte GTX 550 Ti PureOverclock
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti PureOverclock
- MSI GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II PureOverclock
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti T-Break
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti Tech Report
- NVIDIA GTX 550 Ti TechReaction
- Gainward GTX 550 Ti Golden Sample Tweaktown
- MSI GTX 550 Ti 1GB Cyclone II Tweaktown
Headphones
Mousepads
Tt eSPORTS Meka Mechanical Keyboard Review
Tt eSPORT's newest gaming product is the ultra-compact mechanical keyboard dubbed the Meka. The Meka is very small yet retains the num-pad and sports the well performing Cherry MX Black keys.
Samsung Expands Enterprise Computing Line with Series 2, 4, 6 Business Laptops
Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced three new mobile PC lines for the workplace. The Series 2, Series 4 and Series 6 laptops combine first-rate reliability and enhanced security with features like anti-shock hard drives and pressure-resistant casings to meet the needs of a fast-paced enterprise or educational environment.
"Samsung's new mobile PCs deliver an unrivaled experience for the workplace, with features specifically designed to meet the needs of IT managers and end users," said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "The new Series 2, 4 and 6 laptops present a unique opportunity for Samsung to specifically focus on the enterprise and educational channels and underscores Samsung as a global leader in the enterprise PC market."
"Samsung's new mobile PCs deliver an unrivaled experience for the workplace, with features specifically designed to meet the needs of IT managers and end users," said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. "The new Series 2, 4 and 6 laptops present a unique opportunity for Samsung to specifically focus on the enterprise and educational channels and underscores Samsung as a global leader in the enterprise PC market."
HARMAN Debuts AKG GHS-1 Headset Offering Realistic, Dynamic Sound for Ultimate Gaming
HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), today announced the launch of the new AKG GHS-1 portable gaming headset. Grenade explosions and rumbling jet engines will seem as if they are in your very own room when you have the brand-new portable gaming headset on your ears. Winner of the coveted Red Dot award for outstanding product design, the new GHS-1 headset brings PC gaming to a whole new level of realism, excitement, portability and comfort.
"When you're in an all-immersive entertainment experience such as gaming, we understand how important high-quality, realistic sound plays in the overall experience," said David Slump, president, HARMAN Consumer Division. "The new GHS-1 headset is designed specifically for the gamer and features our innovative audio engineering built into a distinctive, long-lasting and intuitive design for the ideal gaming experience."
"When you're in an all-immersive entertainment experience such as gaming, we understand how important high-quality, realistic sound plays in the overall experience," said David Slump, president, HARMAN Consumer Division. "The new GHS-1 headset is designed specifically for the gamer and features our innovative audio engineering built into a distinctive, long-lasting and intuitive design for the ideal gaming experience."
LEPA Readies New Mainstream PSU Lines for Gamers and System Integrators
Ecomaster is readying new LEPA-branded power supply units (PSUs), targeting mainstream system integrators and gamers. LEPA's new products are branched into N-series, targeting system integrators, and W-series, targeting gaming PCs. Both lines consist of non-modular PSUs that are compliant with the latest PSU standards, including EU ErP Lot 6 2010 standby power draw requirements.
Starting at €34.90, the N-series includes 400W, 500W, and 600W models. The N-series boxes feature active PFC, a single 12V rail design; Over Power, Over Voltage, Over Current, Short-Circuit, and Brown Out protection mechanisms; and are cooled by a 120 mm PWM-controlled fan. The W-series, on the other hand, starts at €59.90, and includes 450W, 500W, and 600W models with higher-grade components, are 80 Plus (std.) compliant, single 12V rail design, and all the protective mechanisms available with the N-series.
Starting at €34.90, the N-series includes 400W, 500W, and 600W models. The N-series boxes feature active PFC, a single 12V rail design; Over Power, Over Voltage, Over Current, Short-Circuit, and Brown Out protection mechanisms; and are cooled by a 120 mm PWM-controlled fan. The W-series, on the other hand, starts at €59.90, and includes 450W, 500W, and 600W models with higher-grade components, are 80 Plus (std.) compliant, single 12V rail design, and all the protective mechanisms available with the N-series.
Sharkoon Intros QuickStore Portable Pro 2.5-inch SATA Drive Enclosure
Sharkoon introduced its latest 2.5-inch portable drive enclosure, the QuickStore Portable Pro. Available in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (which also supports USB 2.0) variants, the enclosures can house hard drives and solid state drives in the 2.5-inch SATA form-factor, with SATA 3 Gb/s interface. Apart from more common 9.5 mm thick HDDs/SSDs, the enclosure also has room for 12.5 mm thick drives (the 10 mm thick WD VelociRaptor should fit). Measuring 134 x 82 x 18.5 mm (L x W x H), it weighs around 80 g (minus drive). Installation is completely tool-free. A one-touch backup feature works with the bundled backup software. The USB 2.0 variant is priced at around 10 EUR, while the USB 3.0 variant is around 17 EUR.
MSI Announces Fast and Stylish CX640 and CR640 Multimedia Laptops
Who says laptop computers are all the same? MSI has unveiled the CX640 and CR640, two epoch-making notebooks in terms of both appearance and functions. Details, like the F1 racecar push start power button, the slender, layered, forward-tapering profile, the touchpad with crystal diamond finish, the concealed hotkey design, the flat black case with metallic brush finish, and the streamlined DVD drawer button, combine to give you the feeling that you are at the controls of a sophisticated high-end racecar.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that the new generation CX640 and CR640 sport Intel's powerful 2nd generation Core i5/i7 CPU and MSI's fast boot technology which gets these impressive laptops up and running in half the time that it takes most other notebooks. They also feature other MSI innovations, such as enhanced data protection which employs MSI's own software and hardware technologies to bolster structural design to safeguard the hard drive against sudden shocks. Another example is Time Stamp backup and restoration which backs up data in just seconds. Two layers of protection technology to double your peace of mind.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that the new generation CX640 and CR640 sport Intel's powerful 2nd generation Core i5/i7 CPU and MSI's fast boot technology which gets these impressive laptops up and running in half the time that it takes most other notebooks. They also feature other MSI innovations, such as enhanced data protection which employs MSI's own software and hardware technologies to bolster structural design to safeguard the hard drive against sudden shocks. Another example is Time Stamp backup and restoration which backs up data in just seconds. Two layers of protection technology to double your peace of mind.
ASUS Debuts GTX 550 Ti DirectCU Ultimate and TOP Edition Graphics Cards
The new ASUS Ultimate GTX550 Ti DirectCU and GTX550 Ti DirectCU TOP continue ASUS graphics card tradition, shipping overclocked power up to 1015 MHz for exceptional gaming performance. ASUS exclusive DirectCU offers the advantages of 20% cooling out of its direct GPU contact, all-copper cooling design, as well as exclusive Super Alloy Power quality components for faster performance and longer lifespan.
Palit Launches Fastest 1 GHz GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic Edition Graphics Card
Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading graphics card manufacturer, announces the new GTX gaming series: Palit GTX 550 Ti 1GB and GTX 550 Ti 1GB Sonic. With incredible DX11 performance and the latest technology support, Palit GTX 550 Ti series power up your PC into a next-gen gaming rig.
Continuing the excellent quality and out of the box pre-overclocked speed of Palit Sonic Overclocking Edition, the GTX 550 Ti Sonic provides superior performance with 1000MHz core speed which runs 10% faster than non-OCed version in both DX10 and DX11 performance. Powered by the stunning-fast core speed, Palit GTX 550 Ti Sonic also beating out the competition with ease by offering 35% faster performance at DX11 and 23% higher in DX10 performance. With the fierce performance of Palit GTX 550 Ti Sonic, you can dominate the latest DX11 titles like Crysis 2, H.A.W.X. 2, and Civilization V.
Continuing the excellent quality and out of the box pre-overclocked speed of Palit Sonic Overclocking Edition, the GTX 550 Ti Sonic provides superior performance with 1000MHz core speed which runs 10% faster than non-OCed version in both DX10 and DX11 performance. Powered by the stunning-fast core speed, Palit GTX 550 Ti Sonic also beating out the competition with ease by offering 35% faster performance at DX11 and 23% higher in DX10 performance. With the fierce performance of Palit GTX 550 Ti Sonic, you can dominate the latest DX11 titles like Crysis 2, H.A.W.X. 2, and Civilization V.
Eurocom adds Intel 510 Solid State Drives SATA 6 GB/s to Mobile Workstations
Eurocom Corporation announces support for Intel's new high performance 510 Series of Solid-State Drives inside their Mobile Workstations. The addition of the Intel 510 series of SSD's to Eurocoms extensive list of storage drives gives customers an even greater choice when customizing their purpose built systems. Customers have a myriad of choices between Hard Disk Drives, Solid State Drives and Hybrid Drives. Within the SSD segment MLC and SLC drives are offered.
Intel Solid-State Drive 510 series accelerates SATA throughput by utilizing SATA 6 gigabits per second performance and NAND based SSD technology. The Intel 510 series supports data transfers up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/s), with sequential write times up to 315 MB/s.
Intel Solid-State Drive 510 series accelerates SATA throughput by utilizing SATA 6 gigabits per second performance and NAND based SSD technology. The Intel 510 series supports data transfers up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/s), with sequential write times up to 315 MB/s.
Colorful Intros iGame GeForce GTX 550 Ti Ymir Graphics Card
Colorful backed NVIDIA's launch of the GeForce GTX 550 Ti mainstream GPU with its own iGame series non-reference design graphics card, the iGame550-1024 D5 Ymir. The card uses Colorful's non-reference design PCB that uses a 4+1 phase VRM, high-grade components, and dual BIOS that is selectable with a switch on the rear panel. One of the two BIOS ROMs packs failsafe clock speeds of 900/1000 MHz (core/memory), while the other "Turbo" BIOS runs the card at 1000/1100 MHz. The card is cooled by Colorful's iconic "Shark fin" cooler that packs large heatsinks, and some clever air-channeling mojo. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti packs 192 CUDA cores, and connects to 1 GB of memory over a 192-bit wide memory interface. Colorful's iGame550-1024 D5 Ymir is available in Asia immediately, and will reach Europe in the coming weeks.
Cubitek Announces Tank All-Aluminium Gaming Case Series
Cubitek, the new comer of the year in the case market, is presenting their newest case series after the successful launch of the Tattoo family. This new enclosures, called "Tank" is a new highlight in their product line-up. Three different sizes, which are all constructed of Aluminum, every type of mainboard between ITX and HTPX has been covered, giving the user total choice and control. Even though these cases are constructed of the light and high quality material, the "Tank" series also manages to impress with a competitive price point.
After the successful "Tattoo" series, which manages to impress with a unique, practical feature set and three internal color choices, the "Tank" series is clearly aimed at the enthusiast PC user. The three versions - Mini-, XL- and HTPX-Tank - are constructed using Aluminum exclusively, making them very light but retaining the strength to cope with big and heavy hardware. All "Tank" cases offer modern extras and a long list of excellent features.
After the successful "Tattoo" series, which manages to impress with a unique, practical feature set and three internal color choices, the "Tank" series is clearly aimed at the enthusiast PC user. The three versions - Mini-, XL- and HTPX-Tank - are constructed using Aluminum exclusively, making them very light but retaining the strength to cope with big and heavy hardware. All "Tank" cases offer modern extras and a long list of excellent features.
Point of View Launches its GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card
Point of View known for its range of NVIDIA based 3D Graphics cards, Netbooks and other PC products, announces today its launch of the latest addition to the high performance GeForce 500 series graphics cards: the Point of View GTX 550Ti.
The GeForce GTX550Ti is the answer to all those who seek the best possible card for their money. Excellent stock performance with some OC possibilities, the very best features, low temperatures and of course; a reasonable price tag!
The GeForce GTX550Ti is the answer to all those who seek the best possible card for their money. Excellent stock performance with some OC possibilities, the very best features, low temperatures and of course; a reasonable price tag!
Tuesday, March 15th 2011
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
- Sapphire HD 6870 FleX LAN OC
- Sapphire HD 6870 FleX ProClockers
- HIS HD 6990 Crossfire Guru3D
- AMD HD 6990 4GB X-bit labs
- ASUS GTX550TI Direct CU Arabhardware (ar)
- ZOTAC GTX 550 Ti AMP! Edition TechPowerUp
- ASUS GTX 550 Ti Direct CU 1 GB TechPowerUp
- MSI GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II 1 GB TechPowerUp
- Palit GTX 550 Ti Sonic 1 GB TechPowerUp
- AMD CrossFireX and NVIDIA SLI Scalability by HD 6970 and GTX 570 X-bit labs
Motherboards
Notebooks
Speakers
ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti Direct CU 1 GB Review
Today ASUS released their new GeForce GTX 550 Ti. The card is based around NVIDIA's new GeForce GF116 GPU which promises more performance and less power draw compared to the GPU of the GTS 450. In our testing we see superior power consumption when compared to other GTX 550 Ti models.
MSI GeForce GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II 1 GB Review
MSI's new factory overclocked GeForce GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II uses an improved version of MSI's Cyclone cooler which increases air flow without increasing noise. As a result the card's temperatures never exceed 60°C - no matter what you throw at it.
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti AMP! Edition Review
Today NVIDIA announced their new GeForce GTX 550 Ti Series. ZOTAC's AMP! Edition comes with increased clocks out of the box. It is also the only card that features a full size HDMI output and a full size DisplayPort output in addition to two dual-link DVI ports which make the AMP! Edition the connectivity champ.
Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic 1 GB Review
Palit's GeForce GTX 550 Ti comes with leading clocks of 1000 MHz out of the box which helps gain some performance to the GTX 460. In our testing the card emits super low noise levels which makes it a good choice for a silent media PC.
Leading ODMs Select AMD Fusion APUs for Whitebook and High Definition PC Systems
AMD today announced that leading original design manufacturers (ODMs) are choosing AMD's 2011 low-power platform for a new generation of PC designs ranging from ultrathin notebooks to all-in-one desktops. Nearly two dozen unique ODM whitebook and high definition PC (HDPC) designs based on the AMD C- and E-Series Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) are expected to be available for distribution and purchase in the first half of the year.
"AMD Fusion APUs provide significant advantages in power and design simplicity over competing multi-chip solutions, translating into unique and innovative PC form factors, and ultimately an amazing user experience," said David Kenyon, corporate vice president, Worldwide Channel Marketing, AMD. "We are working closely with our ODM partners to help them build the small-form-factor, long-battery-life PCs that can help them differentiate from the competition and succeed in today's competitive market."
"AMD Fusion APUs provide significant advantages in power and design simplicity over competing multi-chip solutions, translating into unique and innovative PC form factors, and ultimately an amazing user experience," said David Kenyon, corporate vice president, Worldwide Channel Marketing, AMD. "We are working closely with our ODM partners to help them build the small-form-factor, long-battery-life PCs that can help them differentiate from the competition and succeed in today's competitive market."
Club 3D Announces GeForce GTX 550 Ti CoolStream OC Edition Graphics Card
Club 3D B.V. is pleased to announce the introduction of the next generation gaming video card. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550Ti CoolStream OC Edition supports DirectX 11, CUDA, and Nvidia PhysX technologies to provide the best experience on your favorite games with up to 3x the performance of previous generations.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 550Ti CoolStream OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 550Ti CoolStream OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
Sparkle Announces its GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card
SPARKLE Computer Co., Ltd., the professional VGA card manufacturer and supplier, today presents The SPARKLE GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card, -- the latest product of SPARKLE GTX 500 Series. It delivers performance upgrade for mainstream DX11 gamers. Using the advanced Fermi 2.0 architecture from NVIDIA, the SPARKLE GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card upgrades core algorithms such as texture filtering and Z-axis compression over Fermi 1.0 architecture, so that the corresponding instruction operation efficiency is greatly enhanced. With 40nm manufacturing process improvements, now the SPARKLE GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card features higher core clock than GeForce GTS 450 graphics cards. With the two improvements, the Performance/Watt ratio of the SPARKLE GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card is 20% better over the GeForce GTS 450 graphics cards.
AMD FX Zambezi Processors Compatible with ASUS AM3 Motherboards Using BIOS Update
AMD's upcoming FX series "Zambezi" desktop processors based on the "Bulldozer architecture are also expected to bring with them compatible motherboards, as AMD, on a number of occassions, stated that the chips will require a new socket (referred to as AM3+) and compatible chipset, and that the chips will be incompatible with existing AM3 socket and existing chipset. Information available with SweClockers points to the contrary.
According to the source, motherboard major ASUS is planning to provide support to AM3+ processors to some of its existing AM3 motherboards using mere BIOS updates. That's right, Zambezi will indeed be backwards compatible with AM3 and existing chipset, only what remains to be seen is if the processors will perform to their full potential and overclock well on existing platform. Amongst ASUS' Schindler's list are top of the line AM3 models, such as ROG Crosshair IV Formula and Extreme, M4A89TD PRO/USB3, and even AMD 890GX-based motherboards such as M4A89GTD PRO. The list also shows certain AM3+ motherboards that use dated chipsets such as 760G, probably the entry-level of ASUS' M5A series of motherboards.
According to the source, motherboard major ASUS is planning to provide support to AM3+ processors to some of its existing AM3 motherboards using mere BIOS updates. That's right, Zambezi will indeed be backwards compatible with AM3 and existing chipset, only what remains to be seen is if the processors will perform to their full potential and overclock well on existing platform. Amongst ASUS' Schindler's list are top of the line AM3 models, such as ROG Crosshair IV Formula and Extreme, M4A89TD PRO/USB3, and even AMD 890GX-based motherboards such as M4A89GTD PRO. The list also shows certain AM3+ motherboards that use dated chipsets such as 760G, probably the entry-level of ASUS' M5A series of motherboards.
Seagate Raises The Bar In Enterprise Storage: Unveils Groundbreaking New SSD and HDDs
Seagate Technology today announced its latest enterprise solutions designed to deliver storage for the widest range of application environments. Joining the industry's most award-winning enterprise lineup, these solutions include: two new members of the Pulsar Solid State Drive (SSD) family that deliver the ultimate enterprise performance, endurance and reliability; two next-generation Savvio 15K and 10K hard disk drives (HDD) optimized for a balance of high performance and capacity; and the latest Constellation ES.2 3TB HDD for pure capacity-optimized mass storage needs.
"The surge in storage consumption is being driven not only by the growth of content and use within the enterprise, but also by new applications and devices that directly or indirectly consume enterprise storage," said Kurt Richarz, Seagate EVP of Product Line Management. "Seagate's new family of enterprise storage solutions meets the diverse storage needs of these high growth application environments, whether it's fast transactional database servers, bulk storage and archiving, or everything in between."
"The surge in storage consumption is being driven not only by the growth of content and use within the enterprise, but also by new applications and devices that directly or indirectly consume enterprise storage," said Kurt Richarz, Seagate EVP of Product Line Management. "Seagate's new family of enterprise storage solutions meets the diverse storage needs of these high growth application environments, whether it's fast transactional database servers, bulk storage and archiving, or everything in between."
Gigabyte Introduces Urban Chic M7800E Wireless Laser Mouse
GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, welcomes a new member to its line of wireless mice, M7800E Wireless Laser Mouse. Designed for men of urban chic style, M7800E is coated with a "matte black" layer.
The ultra sized receiver is 40% smaller than regular receivers, and it highly increases the portability of the mouse. With 800/ 1600 dpi switch, high-precision laser sensor, battery life of 6 months, and software for customizable buttons, the refined M7800E is your best partner at work.
The ultra sized receiver is 40% smaller than regular receivers, and it highly increases the portability of the mouse. With 800/ 1600 dpi switch, high-precision laser sensor, battery life of 6 months, and software for customizable buttons, the refined M7800E is your best partner at work.
EVGA Intros Pair of GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Cards
NVIDIA today launched its GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics processor, to capture a key mainstream price point with which it wants to make PC gaming as a whole more attractive. EVGA kicked off its lineup with two models, the base model, which carries the model number 01G-P3-1556-KR, features a "free performance boost", meaning that while it's priced on par with reference design cards, it is slightly overclocked out of the box. The next one is a SuperClocked (SC) variant carrying the model number 01G-P3-1557-KR. Both cards stick to NVIDIA's reference board and cooler designs.
The Free Performance Boost (FPB) variant carries clock speeds of 951/1903/4356 MHz (core/CUDA cores/memory), while the SuperClocked variant packs 981/1962/4514 MHz, against reference speeds of 900/1800/4100 MHz. The DirectX 11 compliant GeForce GTX 550 Ti GPU packs 192 CUDA cores, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface. Power is drawn from a single 6-pin PCI-E power input, display outputs include two DVI and one mini-HDMI 1.4a. The EVGA GTX 550 Ti FPB is priced at US $149.99, while the SuperClocked variant goes for US $159.99.
The Free Performance Boost (FPB) variant carries clock speeds of 951/1903/4356 MHz (core/CUDA cores/memory), while the SuperClocked variant packs 981/1962/4514 MHz, against reference speeds of 900/1800/4100 MHz. The DirectX 11 compliant GeForce GTX 550 Ti GPU packs 192 CUDA cores, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit wide memory interface. Power is drawn from a single 6-pin PCI-E power input, display outputs include two DVI and one mini-HDMI 1.4a. The EVGA GTX 550 Ti FPB is priced at US $149.99, while the SuperClocked variant goes for US $159.99.
GeForce GTX 550 Ti redefines PC gaming at £119
PC gaming just got a lot more fun today with the introduction of the GeForce GTX 550 Ti graphics processing unit (GPU) with an estimated e-tail price of £119. The GTX 550 Ti is the latest in NVIDIA's Fermi line of consumer GPUs, designed to deliver stunning DirectX 11 performance. It brings a new level of price/performance to mainstream PC gaming, while maintaining exceptionally quiet acoustics and requiring minimal power.
Like all NVIDIA "DX11 Done Right" GPUs, the GTX 550 Ti delivers the world's fastest performance in its class for DX11 games. Compared with the closest competitive product, the GTX 550 Ti is up to 50 percent faster in today's newest DX11 tessellated games, and 38 percent fasteri in previous-generation DX9 and DX10 games. And with NVIDIA SLI technology, the industry's most scalable multi-GPU platform, gamers will be able to increase their PC's gaming performance by adding a second GeForce GTX 550 Ti.
Like all NVIDIA "DX11 Done Right" GPUs, the GTX 550 Ti delivers the world's fastest performance in its class for DX11 games. Compared with the closest competitive product, the GTX 550 Ti is up to 50 percent faster in today's newest DX11 tessellated games, and 38 percent fasteri in previous-generation DX9 and DX10 games. And with NVIDIA SLI technology, the industry's most scalable multi-GPU platform, gamers will be able to increase their PC's gaming performance by adding a second GeForce GTX 550 Ti.
ZOTAC Debuts New Mainstream Graphics Cards
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world's largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and mini-PCs, today debuts a pair of new mainstream graphics cards with the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti and GTX 550 Ti AMP! Edition. The new ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti series is designed for maximum performance per watt while delivering an outstanding 3D gaming experience.
Equipped with an ultra-wide 192-bit memory interface paired with lightning-fast GDDR5 memory, the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti series delivers 70-percent more memory bandwidth than previous generations for an extra performance kick in the latest Microsoft DirectX 11 enabled games and applications. A large 1GB of video memory ensures the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti series does not sacrifice performance for visual quality.
Equipped with an ultra-wide 192-bit memory interface paired with lightning-fast GDDR5 memory, the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti series delivers 70-percent more memory bandwidth than previous generations for an extra performance kick in the latest Microsoft DirectX 11 enabled games and applications. A large 1GB of video memory ensures the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 550 Ti series does not sacrifice performance for visual quality.
PNY Launches XLR8 GeForce GTX 550 Ti Graphics Card
PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") is set to introduce the newest addition to their line-up of NVIDIA GTX 500 series GPUs: the XLR8 GTX 550 Ti 1024MB graphics card. PNY's XLR8 (ac-cel-er-ate) GeForce GTX 550 Ti Enthusiast Edition graphics card allows you to enter the incredibly detailed world of DirectX 11 for all the latest games. Driving up to 6x the gaming performance of previous generation graphics cards, GeForce GTX 550 Ti transforms your PC into a next-gen gaming rig.
PC Gamers trust GeForce GTX to supply them with the graphic ammunition they need to rule their competition. From NVIDIA 3D Vision to Surround multi-monitor gaming, PhysX and the unbeatable power of NVIDIA SLI -- with GeForce GTX you know you are well armed. The new GTX 550 Ti graphics card offers tremendous gaming power at a sub-$150 price point, as well as a Lifetime Warranty.
PC Gamers trust GeForce GTX to supply them with the graphic ammunition they need to rule their competition. From NVIDIA 3D Vision to Surround multi-monitor gaming, PhysX and the unbeatable power of NVIDIA SLI -- with GeForce GTX you know you are well armed. The new GTX 550 Ti graphics card offers tremendous gaming power at a sub-$150 price point, as well as a Lifetime Warranty.
Active Media Products Adds Write Protection Feature to SATA DOMs
Active Media Products, a leading manufacturer of DOMs and small form factor SSDs, announced that two of their low-profile 7-pin SATA DOM (Disk on Module) drive types now feature a write enable/write protect switch, which is useful in many embedded applications to prevent inadvertent deletion of files.
Most embedded computers are optimized to run a single application reliably year after year. Once deployed they are usually expected to operate continuously, maintenance free. DOMs are perfect for such applications because they are very reliable and have outstanding endurance, with a MTBF up to two million hours. The write protection switch improves reliability by allowing embedded system makers to write protect the drive after loading the OS and applications onto it. Write protection adds an extra level of security against viruses, file corruption, or inadvertent file deletion which could cause a failure of the embedded system. This improves field reliability of embedded computers and helps keep maintenance costs to a minimum.
Most embedded computers are optimized to run a single application reliably year after year. Once deployed they are usually expected to operate continuously, maintenance free. DOMs are perfect for such applications because they are very reliable and have outstanding endurance, with a MTBF up to two million hours. The write protection switch improves reliability by allowing embedded system makers to write protect the drive after loading the OS and applications onto it. Write protection adds an extra level of security against viruses, file corruption, or inadvertent file deletion which could cause a failure of the embedded system. This improves field reliability of embedded computers and helps keep maintenance costs to a minimum.
AeroCool Intros Vs-4 ATX Mid-Tower Case Targeting Bang-for-Buck Price-Point
AeroCool released a new ATX mid-tower case for gamers on a shoestring budget, the Vs-4 looks the offer most high-end features for an attractive price of just €38. Measuring 433 (H) x 185 (W) x 495 (D) mm, the Vs-4 makes clever use of 0.5 mm thick SECC steel, acrylic, and ABS plastic to keep the price down. It sports a matte black exterior overall, with a black interior. There are four exposed 5.25" bays, one of which can transform into 3.5" by changing the bay cover. There are six internal 3.5" bays spread across two cages of 2 bays and four bays, which are detachable to make room for long graphics cards or long PSUs.
The motherboard tray has holes at the right spots for cable and CPU cooler management. There are seven perforated expansion slot covers, holes for water-cooling tubing, and ample ventilation options. This includes room for a 140 mm fan at the front, one bundled 120 mm rear exhaust, one 120 mm bottom intake next to the PSU tray, and room for two 120 mm spinners on the side panel window. Front panel includes basic connectivity, USB 2.0 and audio.
The motherboard tray has holes at the right spots for cable and CPU cooler management. There are seven perforated expansion slot covers, holes for water-cooling tubing, and ample ventilation options. This includes room for a 140 mm fan at the front, one bundled 120 mm rear exhaust, one 120 mm bottom intake next to the PSU tray, and room for two 120 mm spinners on the side panel window. Front panel includes basic connectivity, USB 2.0 and audio.
Sapphire Readies Radeon HD 6950 FleX Edition 2 GB Graphics Card
Sapphire is readying a new non-reference design AMD Radeon HD 6950 2 GB graphics card that boasts of superior out of the box display connectivity to the reference design. Called the Sapphire HD 6950 FleX Edition, the card features the same exact display output connector configuration as the reference design (two each of DVI and mini-DisplayPort 1.2, along with HDMI 1.4a), but can run a 5-monitor Eyefinity setup, of which three can run over DVI without needing an active adapter. The package might include a number of dongles and cables to help set up such a display array. Even if not for gaming, Sapphire sees professional applications for such a setup.
The Radeon HD 6950 is based on the 40 nm Cayman GPU, it has 1408 VLIW4 stream processors, and connects to 2 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Sapphire's card uses a non-reference design PCB and cooling assembly. The PCB draws power from two 6-pin power connectors; the cooler makes use of a large heatsink, ventilated by a central 80 mm fan. The card can pair with three more Radeon HD 6900 series graphics cards in CrossFireX. Expect Sapphire to release the card to market soon.
The Radeon HD 6950 is based on the 40 nm Cayman GPU, it has 1408 VLIW4 stream processors, and connects to 2 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Sapphire's card uses a non-reference design PCB and cooling assembly. The PCB draws power from two 6-pin power connectors; the cooler makes use of a large heatsink, ventilated by a central 80 mm fan. The card can pair with three more Radeon HD 6900 series graphics cards in CrossFireX. Expect Sapphire to release the card to market soon.
Windows Internet Explorer 9 Released
Microsoft released Internet Explorer 9, in its stable RTM form, nearly an year after it first released "Platform Previews", followed by Betas and Release Candidates. With its latest release, Microsoft's still popular web-browser underwent a major overhaul in terms of features and browser-engine. The new browser is backed by a faster Javascript engine, a faster rendering engine that makes use of GPU hardware acceleration for drawing, and redesigned user interface elements that make day to day web browsing experience snappier.
With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft also took a bold step in not supporting Windows XP, which still holds a large chunk of the operating system market share, the new browser only supports Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows 2008/2008-R2 series operating systems. The user interface is far more minimalistic, uses simple icons, the status and menu bars are hidden by default, with tooltips doing the job of a status bar, and the browser continues to support a large number of ActiveX components. The browser also underwent a security overhaul. For 64-bit versions of Windows, the installer also packs a 64-bit version of the browser. Oracle already has a stable 64-bit Java ActiveX plugin, while Adobe Labs has a beta 64-bit Flash player for Windows, two big steps in porting the web-browser to x86-64.
DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 9
With Internet Explorer 9, Microsoft also took a bold step in not supporting Windows XP, which still holds a large chunk of the operating system market share, the new browser only supports Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows 2008/2008-R2 series operating systems. The user interface is far more minimalistic, uses simple icons, the status and menu bars are hidden by default, with tooltips doing the job of a status bar, and the browser continues to support a large number of ActiveX components. The browser also underwent a security overhaul. For 64-bit versions of Windows, the installer also packs a 64-bit version of the browser. Oracle already has a stable 64-bit Java ActiveX plugin, while Adobe Labs has a beta 64-bit Flash player for Windows, two big steps in porting the web-browser to x86-64.
OCZ Technology to Acquire Indilinx Co., Ltd
OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Indilinx Co., Ltd, a privately held fabless provider of flash controller silicon and software for SSDs.
Indilinx is headquartered in South Korea and currently sells its line of flash controllers to SSD manufacturers and Tier One OEMs for use in a broad array of products addressing multiple markets, including embedded and industrial as well as laptops and PCs. Indilinx controllers have been deployed within OCZ's SSD products since December 2008, and are currently featured in the Z-Drive series of PCIe-based SSDs. Indilinx's technology is expected to enable OCZ to expand its presence into the embedded, hybrid storage, and industrial markets.
Indilinx is headquartered in South Korea and currently sells its line of flash controllers to SSD manufacturers and Tier One OEMs for use in a broad array of products addressing multiple markets, including embedded and industrial as well as laptops and PCs. Indilinx controllers have been deployed within OCZ's SSD products since December 2008, and are currently featured in the Z-Drive series of PCIe-based SSDs. Indilinx's technology is expected to enable OCZ to expand its presence into the embedded, hybrid storage, and industrial markets.
Monday, March 14th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Mouse
Galaxy Designs 1 GHz GeForce GTX 550 Ti Hall of Fame Edition Graphics Card
Just a little later this week, NVIDIA will unveil the GeForce GTX 550 Ti mainstream graphics processor (GPU), successor to GeForce GTS 450. NVIDIA partners seem to be ready with their products based on the new GPU. One of NVIDIA's largest partners, Galaxy, is even ready with a highly overclocked model with its core running at 1 GHz (900 MHz reference), and 1150 MHz (1025 MHz reference) memory speed. Galaxy's card will use the HOF (Hall of Fame) identifier, which is supposed to indicate the company's highest level of factory-overclock speeds.
Based on the 40 nm GF116 silicon, the GeForce GTX 550 Ti packs 192 CUDA cores, and a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1 GB of memory, that's right, 1 GB, not 768 MB or 1536 MB. It looks like NVIDIA will be doing a mixed density memory chip setup. We can hypothesize that four of the six chips are 1 Gbit (128 MB), amounting for 512 MB; and two 2 Gbit (256 MB), amounting for the other 512 MB. Galaxy's HOF card will use a 3+1 phase VRM to power the card, and feature a dual-slot cooler. Its display connectivity includes one each of DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
Based on the 40 nm GF116 silicon, the GeForce GTX 550 Ti packs 192 CUDA cores, and a 192-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 1 GB of memory, that's right, 1 GB, not 768 MB or 1536 MB. It looks like NVIDIA will be doing a mixed density memory chip setup. We can hypothesize that four of the six chips are 1 Gbit (128 MB), amounting for 512 MB; and two 2 Gbit (256 MB), amounting for the other 512 MB. Galaxy's HOF card will use a 3+1 phase VRM to power the card, and feature a dual-slot cooler. Its display connectivity includes one each of DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort.
Futuremark Releases 3DMark Vantage v1.1.0
3DMark Vantage seems to be becoming the new "3DMark 06", as the benchmark becomes passable by even the most entry-level DirectX 10 supportive GPUs. Rather Unexpectedly, Futuremark released a new update, v1.1.0, that comes with significant changes. To begin with, there's no more "trial edition". The Basic Edition, which cost $6.95, is now free. Users can now freely put their GPUs through all four of the main tests, view their scores online, and compare their scores with others' on the ORB.
Display scaling is added to improve display compatibility. By default a PhysX processor won't accelerate CPU tests. The Futuremark SystemInfo component is updated to detect the latest hardware, such as CPUs, GPUs, etc. The entire application is recompiled on Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. An expert developer we spoke to doesn't believe it brings about any change. 3DMark Vantage is a comprehensive 3D graphics hardware benchmarking suite that uses DirectX 10 API.
DOWNLOAD: Futuremark 3DMark Vantage 1.1.0
Display scaling is added to improve display compatibility. By default a PhysX processor won't accelerate CPU tests. The Futuremark SystemInfo component is updated to detect the latest hardware, such as CPUs, GPUs, etc. The entire application is recompiled on Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. An expert developer we spoke to doesn't believe it brings about any change. 3DMark Vantage is a comprehensive 3D graphics hardware benchmarking suite that uses DirectX 10 API.
DOWNLOAD: Futuremark 3DMark Vantage 1.1.0
Kingston Technology Revenues Climb to Record $6.5 Billion in 2010
Kingston Technology Corporation, the independent world leader in memory products, today announced that its global revenues in 2010 soared to a record $6.5 billion (U.S.), the highest ever in company history. The $2.4 billion increase in sales over 2009 was attributed primarily to a rise in average selling price (ASP) and increased shipment volume.
"Our company was able to take advantage of an improving global economy as well as catch some lucky breaks to achieve our best sales year ever in 2010," said David Sun, co-founder, Kingston. "We are very fortunate to have dedicated and hard-working employees who work tirelessly alongside our partners and vendors to make sure that Kingston's customers are treated with respect and always taken care of."
"Our company was able to take advantage of an improving global economy as well as catch some lucky breaks to achieve our best sales year ever in 2010," said David Sun, co-founder, Kingston. "We are very fortunate to have dedicated and hard-working employees who work tirelessly alongside our partners and vendors to make sure that Kingston's customers are treated with respect and always taken care of."
Intel Acquires Egypt-based SySDSoft
Intel Corporation, through its standalone business entity Intel Mobile Communications, today announced that it has acquired most of the assets of SySDSoft, a privately held software company based in Cairo and hired approximately 100 of the company's electrical engineers and computer scientists. SySDSoft designs state-of-the-art IP solutions in the software stack and physical layer domain, and RF/analog circuits embedded in mobile platforms.
"The acquisition of engineering and design talent from an Egypt-based company in the field of cutting-edge wireless and communication technology is the first of its kind for Intel in the Middle East," said Arvind Sodhani, president, Intel Capital and executive vice president, Intel. "The acquisition shows Intel's continued long-term strategic commitment to the region and its appreciation of its young, growing talent pool."
"The acquisition of engineering and design talent from an Egypt-based company in the field of cutting-edge wireless and communication technology is the first of its kind for Intel in the Middle East," said Arvind Sodhani, president, Intel Capital and executive vice president, Intel. "The acquisition shows Intel's continued long-term strategic commitment to the region and its appreciation of its young, growing talent pool."
GeForce GTX 590 Key Features Revealed
An alleged partner presentation slide leaked to the internet reveals quite a bit more about the GeForce GTX 590 than what we already know. To begin with, it lays to rest speculations surrounding the shader configuration, each of the two GF110 GPUs have all 512 CUDA cores enabled. Next, the full width of the memory interface is utilized, giving you 1536 MB per GPU, or 3 GB of total memory on the card.
The rest are fascinating features, such as a removable cooler shroud that lets you clean the card from time to time (you might need to clean it now and then for the best cooling performance), heatsinks that use vapor-chamber technology, getting rid of those pesky heat-pipes, high-grade 12-layer PCB that uses 2 oz copper layers, and a 10-phase VRM (looks like 4+1 phase per GPU). As expected, the final iteration of the card needs to draw power from two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors. "Barely Street Legal"? Is it because they'll throw you out of LAN parties for having too much of a performance advantage? Hmmm.
The rest are fascinating features, such as a removable cooler shroud that lets you clean the card from time to time (you might need to clean it now and then for the best cooling performance), heatsinks that use vapor-chamber technology, getting rid of those pesky heat-pipes, high-grade 12-layer PCB that uses 2 oz copper layers, and a 10-phase VRM (looks like 4+1 phase per GPU). As expected, the final iteration of the card needs to draw power from two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors. "Barely Street Legal"? Is it because they'll throw you out of LAN parties for having too much of a performance advantage? Hmmm.
Sandy Bridge-Based Pentium Dual-Core G840 Processor Surfaces
The first Intel Pentium branded processor based on the Sandy Bridge architecture surfaced in China. The Pentium Dual-Core G840 as it's identified, is said to be based on the 32 nm dual-core silicon. It differs from Core i3 dual-core processors in having no HyperThreading technology (one thread per core), and 3 MB of L3 cache enabled. The AVX instruction set also seems to be lacking according to the CPU-Z screenshot.
The Pentium G840 is clocked at 2.80 GHz, with a base clock of 100 MHz, and 28x multiplier. The embedded Intel HD Graphics GPU is clocked at 850 MHz, with 1100 MHz GPU Turbo Boost frequency. The processor cores lack Turbo Boost. The chip has a TDP of 65W. Pricing and availability details are awaited, though expect this LGA1155 chip to cost under $100.
The Pentium G840 is clocked at 2.80 GHz, with a base clock of 100 MHz, and 28x multiplier. The embedded Intel HD Graphics GPU is clocked at 850 MHz, with 1100 MHz GPU Turbo Boost frequency. The processor cores lack Turbo Boost. The chip has a TDP of 65W. Pricing and availability details are awaited, though expect this LGA1155 chip to cost under $100.
GeForce GTX 590 Cooler Shroud Design Surfaces
VR-Zone got a hold of the cooler shroud design of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce GTX 590 graphics card. The drawing reveals something very similar to that of the GeForce GTX 295 rev. 2 (or single-slot), and tells us a bit about the cooler. The cooler will use a large fan (probably 80 mm in diameter) to blow air on to two heatsinks on its either sides. Channels, and the heatsinks themselves will guide air across both ends of the cooler. Hot air from the first GPU (closest to the display connectors) will exhaust from the rear bracket, while that from the second GPU (farthest from the display connectors), will exhaust into the case. There are spaces on either sides of the fan for partner product artwork. There is more space on top. Next to the cutout for the power connectors, is the GeForce logo. NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 590 is a dual-GPU graphics card based on two GF110 cores. It will be released on the 22nd of March.
G.Skill Launches Its New Sniper Memory Series Aimed at Gamers and Case Modders
G.Skill, the worldwide leading memory designer and manufacturer, has announced the newest concept and development of new Sniper series designed specifically for PC gamers and modding enthusiasts. Extensive compatibility tests are conducted on a wide range of Intel and AMD platforms, which guarantee the best performance, quality and reliability for user's gaming needs.
The New Sniper series is designed in ultra low voltage, especially 1.25V. This kit can save up to 10% electric power which will simultaneously allow gamers to enjoy smooth gaming without any overheat problems and meet energy efficiency requirements.
The New Sniper series is designed in ultra low voltage, especially 1.25V. This kit can save up to 10% electric power which will simultaneously allow gamers to enjoy smooth gaming without any overheat problems and meet energy efficiency requirements.
NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) Version 6.1 Released
NVIDIA BIOS Editor (fondly known as NiBiTor), got updated to version 6.01 by its developer. NiBiTor is a lightweight NVIDIA GeForce/Quadro BIOS file manipulation utility that lets to fine-tune your GeForce or Quadro graphics card at the BIOS-level. Version 6.01 packs updated GPU support, some minor fixes and a redesign to support as well unknown devices in some limited way. New GPUs supported by this version are:
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v6.01
- GeForce GTX 560
- GeForce GTX 460 SE
- Quadro FX3800M
- GeForce GTX 480M (updated support)
- GeForce GTX 460M (updated support)
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v6.01
AMD FX ''Zambezi'' Processor Box-Art Revealed
Here are the first box-shots of AMD's upcoming series of high-end desktop processors, under the FX series, referred to as "Zambezi" by the company, internally. Zambezi is based on AMD's newest Bulldozer architecture that improves instruction per clock-cycle (IPC), and packs the latest industry standard instruction sets. As stated in an older article, AMD will not assign a brand-name (such as Phenom or Athlon) to name its high-end desktop processors, but will instead refer to them as "FX" processors. To that extent, the processors will even feature a logo that resembles that of AMD Radeon to a very large extant.
AMD designed two iterations of box-art each for its FX eight-core and FX quad-core processors, puictured below. The processors look to be shipping in cuboidal paperboard boxes, very much like AMD's processors already do. The art looks very "energetic" and makes use of the AMD "arrow" motif pointing in the top-right direction. The background in each iteration is distinct, one shows splashes of red (eight-core) or orange (quad-core), the other shows flow of red/orange. It's interesting to note that all boxes denote Black Edition with its unlocked bus multiplier feature, leading us to speculate that unlocked multiplier could be standard issue with FX series processors. Also shown is the second generation TurboCore technology support, and AMD's claim to be selling the first eight-core processor [in the consumer market]. AMD's FX processors will be released to market in June. 
AMD designed two iterations of box-art each for its FX eight-core and FX quad-core processors, puictured below. The processors look to be shipping in cuboidal paperboard boxes, very much like AMD's processors already do. The art looks very "energetic" and makes use of the AMD "arrow" motif pointing in the top-right direction. The background in each iteration is distinct, one shows splashes of red (eight-core) or orange (quad-core), the other shows flow of red/orange. It's interesting to note that all boxes denote Black Edition with its unlocked bus multiplier feature, leading us to speculate that unlocked multiplier could be standard issue with FX series processors. Also shown is the second generation TurboCore technology support, and AMD's claim to be selling the first eight-core processor [in the consumer market]. AMD's FX processors will be released to market in June.
Friday, March 11th 2011
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
PSUs
Zowie Celeritas Mechanical Keyboard Review
Zowie is the name of an interesting new peripherals brand. Today we will be taking a look at their new gaming keyboard dubbed the Celeritas. The Zowie Celeritas keyboard features mechanical keys which should improve your performance both in games and while doing simple typing tasks.
TechPowerUp Radeon BIOS Editor 1.28 Released
Today, TechPowerUp released version 1.28 of Radeon BIOS Editor (RBE), our popular ATI/AMD Radeon BIOS file manipulation utility. This release packs some big features, notably, an easy Radeon HD 6950 to HD 6970 shader unlock mod that works on reference design graphics cards, next to numerous updates that include addition of Radeon HD 6990 deviceID, a fix to bug that reported an error message regarding VendorID writing occasionally, and ATI Overdrive-related bug.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp Radeon BIOS Editor (RBE) v1.28
Galaxy Designs its Own Dual GeForce GTX 460 Graphics Card
After EVGA's release of its GeForce GTX 460 2WIN dual-GPU graphics card earlier this week, Galaxy wasn't going to sit back. The company rushed in with pictures of its own dual-GeForce GTX 460 graphics card. The card is still in the works, and Galaxy was only able to display its PCB. Galaxy chose a milky-white PCB, which uses two GF104 cores in an internal SLI, powered by a strong VRM circuitry. Each GPU has 336 CUDA cores, and is wired to 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface.
Further, both display outputs of each GPU is wired out in the form of DVI connectors, making the card a single-piece 3D Vision Surround solution. Interestingly, Galaxy chose a bridge chip other than nForce 200 to run the SLI on a stick solution. If Galaxy's implementation clicks, then every AIC partner with its own R&D could work on their own dual-GPU cards, currently, they're held back by non-supply of nForce 200.
Further, both display outputs of each GPU is wired out in the form of DVI connectors, making the card a single-piece 3D Vision Surround solution. Interestingly, Galaxy chose a bridge chip other than nForce 200 to run the SLI on a stick solution. If Galaxy's implementation clicks, then every AIC partner with its own R&D could work on their own dual-GPU cards, currently, they're held back by non-supply of nForce 200.
EIZO Announces 27 inch Self-Calibrating Monitor for Graphics
Eizo Nanao Corporation today announced the ColorEdge CG275W, a 27-inch monitor for professionals in prepress, digital photography, graphic design, video editing, post production, and other graphics fields.
The ColorEdge CG275W features a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration. It becomes the second monitor in the graphics industry with this capability, following EIZO's ColorEdge CG245W which was released last year.
The ColorEdge CG275W features a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration. It becomes the second monitor in the graphics industry with this capability, following EIZO's ColorEdge CG245W which was released last year.
Enermax Releases T.B.Silence Series Fans
Enermax today released its TB.Silence line of fans. The fans were first unveiled at this year's CeBIT event, earlier this month. T.B.Silence fans use a special wavy blade profile Enermax calls "Batwing", that improves air-flow to rotational speed ratio. The fan motor supports 4-pin PWM-based speed control, but is fully compatible with older 3-pin voltage-based control. In some "manual control" models, to the power cable, rotary speed control knobs are attached, which can be kept outside the case. The fans feature twister-type bearings that set the MTBF high up to 100,000 hours. The T.B.Silence series comes in four models, and in two sizes: 80 mm and 120 mm:
- UCTB8A (80mm / manual control) ; 800 - 2500 RPM (speed) ; 10 dBA (minimum sound output) ; €6.99
- UCTB12A (120mm / manual control) ; 800 - 1500 RPM ; 10 dBA ; €10.99
- UCTB8P (80mm / PWM) ; 500 - 2200 RPM ; 8 dBA | €8.99
- UCTB12P (120mm / PWM) ; 500 - 1500 RPM ; 8 dBA ; €12.99
PNY Debuts XLR8 OC Graphics Cards and Memory at PAX East 2011
PNY Technologies, Inc. ("PNY") will showcase their latest GeForce Graphics Cards, PC Memory, SSDs, and High Speed HDMI Cables at the PAX East 2011 exhibition -- including the all-new OC2 Edition of Graphics Cards and 2000MHz Memory Kit.
PNY has once again partnered with Newegg.com at the 3-day gaming festival, being held March 11th - 13th at the Boston Convention Center. Visitors to PNY's booth (#251) will be offered the opportunity to take part in free play, live tournaments, contests, prize giveaways, and more. Extreme gamers can check out NVIDIA 3D Vision at its best and test their gaming skills with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3D in PNY's booth. In honor of this 3-day gaming festival, PNY will offer exclusive deals on its wide variety of products on Newegg.com. For a limited time only, consumers can get the best PNY gear at highly discounted prices.
PNY has once again partnered with Newegg.com at the 3-day gaming festival, being held March 11th - 13th at the Boston Convention Center. Visitors to PNY's booth (#251) will be offered the opportunity to take part in free play, live tournaments, contests, prize giveaways, and more. Extreme gamers can check out NVIDIA 3D Vision at its best and test their gaming skills with Call of Duty: Black Ops 3D in PNY's booth. In honor of this 3-day gaming festival, PNY will offer exclusive deals on its wide variety of products on Newegg.com. For a limited time only, consumers can get the best PNY gear at highly discounted prices.
EVGA Unveils GeForce GTX 460 2WIN Dual-GPU Graphics Card
It looks like EVGA isn't waiting for GeForce GTX 590, and is releasing its own dual-GPU graphics card to challenge Radeon HD 6990. Being released about 12 days ahead of GTX 590, EVGA's new GeForce GTX 460 2WIN could be a tad bit late to the market, considering it was first shown to the world back in January, at this year's CES event. The EVGA GTX 460 2WIN is a dual-GPU graphics card that uses two GeForce GTX 460 GPUs with 1 GB of memory each, for an SLI on a stick solution.
The EVGA GTX 460 2WIN (2WIN sounds like "twin"), uses clock speeds of 700 MHz core, and 900 MHz (3600 MHz GDDR5 effective) memory. Each GF104 chip has 336 CUDA cores enabled, totaling the CUDA core count to 672. The card is cooled by an in-house cooler by EVGA, it uses a large heatsink that is ventilated by three 80 mm fans. Power is drawn from two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors. Display outputs include three DVI and one mini-HDMI, you can run a 3-display NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround setup with just one of these cards, without needing a second one.
The EVGA GTX 460 2WIN (2WIN sounds like "twin"), uses clock speeds of 700 MHz core, and 900 MHz (3600 MHz GDDR5 effective) memory. Each GF104 chip has 336 CUDA cores enabled, totaling the CUDA core count to 672. The card is cooled by an in-house cooler by EVGA, it uses a large heatsink that is ventilated by three 80 mm fans. Power is drawn from two 8-pin PCI-E power connectors. Display outputs include three DVI and one mini-HDMI, you can run a 3-display NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround setup with just one of these cards, without needing a second one.
Thursday, March 10th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Speakers
ColorFire Releases Xstorm HD 6850 Graphics Card, Breaks Vantage Record
ColorFire released its new Xstorm HD 6850 graphics card. ColorFire is a sister-brand of Colorful, which focuses on AMD Radeon-based graphics cards, as Colorful specializes on NVIDIA GeForce ones. Shortly after its introduction, the ColorFire team led by overclocker Carl from China was able to break a 3DMark Vantage record for the Radeon HD 6850. The overclocker achieved P27751 points, some 3810 points ahead of the previous record-holder. The card sustained overclocked speeds of 1500 MHz core and 1275 MHz (5100 MHz GDDR5 effective) memory, and backed by an Intel Core i7-980X clocked at 5.7 GHz, with the entire setup being cooled by liquid nitrogen. The HWBOT validation can be found here.
The Xstorm HD 6850 from ColorFire features the same mid-range exorbitance characteristic of Colorful. It features a PCB with a strong VRM, making use of high-quality components; and a large cooler. It features 1 GB of memory, a 4+1 phase VRM, dual-BIOS, OCP unlock switches, and consolidated voltage-measure points. The VRM uses high-grade chokes and POSCAP capacitors. The cooler uses a large (quiet) fan to cool a big heatsink to which heat is conveyed by three heat pipes.
More pictures of the setup and card follow.
The Xstorm HD 6850 from ColorFire features the same mid-range exorbitance characteristic of Colorful. It features a PCB with a strong VRM, making use of high-quality components; and a large cooler. It features 1 GB of memory, a 4+1 phase VRM, dual-BIOS, OCP unlock switches, and consolidated voltage-measure points. The VRM uses high-grade chokes and POSCAP capacitors. The cooler uses a large (quiet) fan to cool a big heatsink to which heat is conveyed by three heat pipes.
Scythe Announces New Card Reader Kama Reader Jr
The Japanese manufacturer Scythe Co. Ltd. expands its portfolio of PC accessories with a card reader called Kama Reader Jr. The Kama Reader Jr. is a compact multi-format card reader which can be installed into a 8.89 cm (3.5 inch) drive bay. It is suitable for quick reading and writing of virtually any memory card on the market. Kama Reader Jr. is also equipped with a front USB port. Kama Reader Jr. is now available for a MSRP of 7,50 € (excluding VAT / Tax).
ZOTAC Announces the H67-ITX has Resumed Shipping to Distributors and Resellers
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world's largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and mini-PCs, today announces shipments of the H67-ITX WiFi has resumed across the globe. New shipments of the ZOTAC H67-ITX WiFi feature the updated H67 B3 revision chipset for enhanced SATA performance and reliability.
"ZOTAC values our customers and are doing everything we can to ensure customers only receive enhanced H67-ITX WiFi motherboards. To eliminate confusion, we have assigned the enhanced model with a new SKU - H67ITX-C-E," said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.
"ZOTAC values our customers and are doing everything we can to ensure customers only receive enhanced H67-ITX WiFi motherboards. To eliminate confusion, we have assigned the enhanced model with a new SKU - H67ITX-C-E," said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.
ASUS Introduces New Designo ML Series Super-slim LED Monitor Models
ASUS announced three LED monitors with IPS (In-Plane Switching) and VA (Vertical Alignment) panels in the award-winning, super-slim ASUS Designo ML Series. The 21.5" ML229H, 23" ML239H, and 24" ML249H all have a full range of features designed to provide an exceptional viewing experience, including 178° ultra-wide viewing angles and extremely bright 50,000,000:1 contrast ratios, engineered to perform in a thin and elegant frame.
New Designo ML229/239/249 LED monitors offer stunning visual performance with IPS and VA-equipped panels* that make them highly suited to both productivity and entertainment. All three offer 178° of horizontal and vertical viewing angles that eliminate off-axis color shift to provide consistent visual enjoyment from every angle, making them ideal for shared viewing scenarios. All three also have a 50,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast ratio to achieve true dark/light definition through backlight luminance adjustment. HDMI provides an optimized HD viewing experience in full 1080p (1920x1080 resolution) for PC, Blu-ray and gaming consoles.
New Designo ML229/239/249 LED monitors offer stunning visual performance with IPS and VA-equipped panels* that make them highly suited to both productivity and entertainment. All three offer 178° of horizontal and vertical viewing angles that eliminate off-axis color shift to provide consistent visual enjoyment from every angle, making them ideal for shared viewing scenarios. All three also have a 50,000,000:1 ASUS Smart Contrast ratio to achieve true dark/light definition through backlight luminance adjustment. HDMI provides an optimized HD viewing experience in full 1080p (1920x1080 resolution) for PC, Blu-ray and gaming consoles.
Sparkle Extends Thermal Guru Design to GeForce GTX 570
SPARKLE Computer Co., Ltd., the professional VGA card manufacturer and supplier, today announced the SPARKLE GTX 570 Thermal Guru Graphics Card with Effective Own Design Cooler, the ultimate DX11 3D monster from SPARKLE, which delivers intense performance and premium cooling effect for gamers who demand the best.
The SPARKLE GTX570 Thermal Guru Graphics Card is the latest new addition to SPARKLE's GTX 570 Series. Its core and memory clock are 732 and 1900 MHz respectively. Designed specifically for gamers who demand the best, the SPARKLE GTX570 Thermal Guru Graphics Card is built with NVDIA GeForce GTX 570 GPU. Based on 40nm processor and advanced GDDR5 memory technology, it consists of ground-breaking features including Microsoft DirectX 11 and NVIDIA PhysX which lead to incredibly immersive HD gaming experience and unrivaled performance.
The SPARKLE GTX570 Thermal Guru Graphics Card is the latest new addition to SPARKLE's GTX 570 Series. Its core and memory clock are 732 and 1900 MHz respectively. Designed specifically for gamers who demand the best, the SPARKLE GTX570 Thermal Guru Graphics Card is built with NVDIA GeForce GTX 570 GPU. Based on 40nm processor and advanced GDDR5 memory technology, it consists of ground-breaking features including Microsoft DirectX 11 and NVIDIA PhysX which lead to incredibly immersive HD gaming experience and unrivaled performance.
Lenovo and Intel Extend Digital Learning with New Lenovo Classmate+ PC
Today, Lenovo and Intel Corporation announced the Lenovo Classmate+ PC, a purpose-built laptop designed to improve learning for students in grades K-8. The Lenovo Classmate+ provides schools an affordable, child-friendly complete hardware and software solution. Based on the Intel Learning Series reference design, the PC will come pre-loaded with the Intel Learning Series software suite, specialized educational software and a variety of teaching resources. This spring, the Organization of Ibero-American States will deploy the first wave of 158,000 Lenovo Classmate+ laptops as part of its Conectar Igualdad 1:1 computing program, which will equip students throughout the country with PC technology.
"As the fastest-growing PC company in education, we are committed to creating education solutions that improve schools' efficiency, as well as leading initiatives to evaluate how technology can measurably improve learning outcomes," said Michael Schmedlen, director of Worldwide Education, Lenovo. "Our work with Intel to offer products like the Lenovo Classmate+ PC will create more opportunities for K-8 administrators, teachers and students to realize the benefits of technology-enriched 1:1 learning experiences."
"As the fastest-growing PC company in education, we are committed to creating education solutions that improve schools' efficiency, as well as leading initiatives to evaluate how technology can measurably improve learning outcomes," said Michael Schmedlen, director of Worldwide Education, Lenovo. "Our work with Intel to offer products like the Lenovo Classmate+ PC will create more opportunities for K-8 administrators, teachers and students to realize the benefits of technology-enriched 1:1 learning experiences."
ASUS Launches the P6X58-E WS Workstation Motherboard
Proving the Intel X58 architecture's enduring potential and value, the P6X58-E WS ships with multi-GPU support for both NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossFireX, SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0. It also includes built-in server-class Intel LAN, as well as ASUS-developed highlights such as Xtreme Phase power delivery and EPU energy consumption optimization. The new board ships with the ASUS "24X24" pledge, meaning 24-hour non-stop operation and 24-month guaranteed market availability to reduce costs due to involuntary product replacement.
Flexible multi-GPU configuration
A dedicated expansion slot controller ensures increased bandwidth availability for each connected graphics card, hence the P6X58-E WS supports up to 3-way NVIDIA SLI, with each of the triple PCI-E channels working at full X16 speeds. For AMD CrossFireX, the P6X58-E WS offers up to quad-GPU arrangements, with each PCI-E channel working in X16.
Flexible multi-GPU configuration
A dedicated expansion slot controller ensures increased bandwidth availability for each connected graphics card, hence the P6X58-E WS supports up to 3-way NVIDIA SLI, with each of the triple PCI-E channels working at full X16 speeds. For AMD CrossFireX, the P6X58-E WS offers up to quad-GPU arrangements, with each PCI-E channel working in X16.
Swiftech Returns to Air-Cooling with Polaris 120 CPU Cooler
Swiftech is making a comeback to making CPU air-coolers. The company currently specializes in water-cooling components such as CPU/GPU water blocks, radiators, etc. Swiftech's latest air-cooler is called Polaris 120, and is a tower-type heatsink. It makes use of five 8 mm thick copper heat pipes that make direct contact with the CPU, to feed heat to a dense aluminum fin array. The aluminum fins have grooves at their edges to improve heat dissipation. As the name suggests, it uses a 120 mm fan to ventilate the heatsink. The fan spins at speeds of 750~1500 rpm, with rated noise output of 13.2 ~ 41.5 dBA. Measuring 135 (W) x 91 (D) x 152 (H) mm, it weights 849 g. Slated for next week, it is expected to be priced at $60.
Revolutionary Advances, Blazing Performance MSI's GE620 and GR620 Gaming Laptops
Continuing its tradition of holding G Series gaming laptops to the highest standards, MSI unveiled its new generation GE620 and GR620 NBs with Intel's second generation Core i7 quad core processor and Intel's latest generation Turbo Boost 2.0 which significantly boosts performance in each core. The GE620 also packs the DirectX 11-supporting nVidia GeForce GT 540M discrete graphics card to enhance game resolution, so that you can see details of objects off in the distance, such as lines on building walls, increasing game realism.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, notes that the glowing white characters "MSI" in the center of the cover of these machines set off their brush metal finish, underscoring their stylish high tech looks and putting them in a class all their own. What's more, new generation GE620 and GR620 feature cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound, so regardless of the kind of music you play, they reproduce it faithfully.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, notes that the glowing white characters "MSI" in the center of the cover of these machines set off their brush metal finish, underscoring their stylish high tech looks and putting them in a class all their own. What's more, new generation GE620 and GR620 feature cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound, so regardless of the kind of music you play, they reproduce it faithfully.
Acer's New ''Web Surf Station'' is Between Monitor and All-in-One in Functionality
Acer made the PC monitor a little smarter by giving it PC functionality, without being a PC. The new DX241H "Web Surf Station" is a 24-inch full-HD monitor that has an in-built web-browser based on Google Chrome, and DLNA-based media player, that give users the ability to surf the web and access their media collection, without needing a PC. The monitor comes with a "Web Surf Station" remote that gives media controls, and a slide-out QWERTY keypad. The monitor can connect to the internet over wired Ethernet, a wireless network adapter can also be plugged in to the monitor's USB 2.0 ports. The monitor uses these USB 2.0 ports to access USB flash drives, external hard drives, and drive enclosures, or pretty much any media that uses the USB Mass Storage framework. A multi-format card reader is also included.
As a monitor, the DX241H is full-HD (1920 x 1080 pixels resolution), and uses a TN panel. It features 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, fast 2 ms response time, and display inputs that include D-Sub and HDMI. It is available for pre-order in Europe, priced at €299.
As a monitor, the DX241H is full-HD (1920 x 1080 pixels resolution), and uses a TN panel. It features 80,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, fast 2 ms response time, and display inputs that include D-Sub and HDMI. It is available for pre-order in Europe, priced at €299.
Wednesday, March 9th 2011
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cooling
Graphics Cards
- Three HIS HD 6800 Series Graphics Cards Metku Mods
- Sapphire HD 6990 HardwareHeaven
- AMD HD 6990 4GB HardwareSecrets
- AMD HD 6990 4GB HT4U.net (de)
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Overclockers.com
- Sapphire HD 6990 4GB Technical Tweaktown
- Sapphire HD 6990 4GB Performance Tweaktown
- Scythe Setsugen 2 VGA Cooler X-bit labs
- ASUS ENGTS450 DirectCU OC Benchmark Reviews
- Pre-Overclocked NVIDIA GTX 570: Gainward vs. Zotac X-bit labs
Keyboards
Motherboards
ViewSonic Delivers the Best of Both Worlds with Availability of its ViewPad 10 Tablet
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today announced North American availability of the ViewPad 10. Giving users a choice between Windows 7 and Google Android within the same device, this 10.1" dual-boot tablet is ideal for maximizing business productivity alongside entertainment.
"The lines of professional and personal life are blurring, which creates a need for devices that are suited for both sides," said Adam Hanin, vice president of marketing for ViewSonic Americas. "The ViewPad 10 delivers just that by enabling users to merge business productivity with personal enjoyment anywhere, anytime. We are proud of our 10-year tablet history and are dedicated to further extending our tablet product portfolio to meet every individual need."
"The lines of professional and personal life are blurring, which creates a need for devices that are suited for both sides," said Adam Hanin, vice president of marketing for ViewSonic Americas. "The ViewPad 10 delivers just that by enabling users to merge business productivity with personal enjoyment anywhere, anytime. We are proud of our 10-year tablet history and are dedicated to further extending our tablet product portfolio to meet every individual need."
Panasonic Introduce New SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards with 80 MB/s Write Speed
Panasonic is pleased to introduce new SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards with read and write speeds of up to 95 MB/s and 80 MB/s. The new Gold cards, compliant with the SD Memory Card Specification Ver.3.01 (UHS104), are the ideal media for digital SLR cameras which requires high-speed write performance. The new cards will be globally introduced in April, 2011 with 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities.
With the highest-level writing speed of up to 80 MB/s, the new cards are perfect for high-speed consecutive shooting in HD quality with digital SLR cameras. When the new SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards are used with UHS-I supported digital still cameras, the number of consecutive shots will be increased to be twice of that of the current Gold models. The cards also allow for quick data transfer to a PC and can transfer data approx. 4 times faster than the current Gold SDW series.
With the highest-level writing speed of up to 80 MB/s, the new cards are perfect for high-speed consecutive shooting in HD quality with digital SLR cameras. When the new SDHC UHS-I Memory Cards are used with UHS-I supported digital still cameras, the number of consecutive shots will be increased to be twice of that of the current Gold models. The cards also allow for quick data transfer to a PC and can transfer data approx. 4 times faster than the current Gold SDW series.
Internet Explorer 9 Final Launches on the 14th
After subjecting itself to the dark ages as Mozilla Firefox, and later Google Chrome started eating into its market-share, Microsoft's Internet Explorer team released version 9 of its [then] iconic browser, which actually kept up with current standards in terms of speed, features, and functionality. Internet Explorer 9 stable will be released to web on March 14, 2011.
MSIE 9 made its first public release in September 2010, in the form of a functional beta, and was fed by the occasional stability updates. It later assumed the form of the first Release Candidate in early February 2011, with a slightly tweaked user-interface. Once it achieves a stable build status, it will be updated regularly under Microsoft's cumulative security updates. Internet Explorer 9 is an "omnibox"-styled, tabbed, multi-process web-browser. Each tab and running ActiveX plugin runs in its own process. The browser is up to date in terms of standards including HTML5, packs a fast Javascript engine, and uses GPU hardware acceleration to draw web-page contents.
MSIE 9 made its first public release in September 2010, in the form of a functional beta, and was fed by the occasional stability updates. It later assumed the form of the first Release Candidate in early February 2011, with a slightly tweaked user-interface. Once it achieves a stable build status, it will be updated regularly under Microsoft's cumulative security updates. Internet Explorer 9 is an "omnibox"-styled, tabbed, multi-process web-browser. Each tab and running ActiveX plugin runs in its own process. The browser is up to date in terms of standards including HTML5, packs a fast Javascript engine, and uses GPU hardware acceleration to draw web-page contents.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 Launch Date is March 22
The dust seems to have settled down, after AMD's launch of the Radeon HD 6990, extending the red-team's performance lead previously held precariously by the Radeon HD 5970, to the GeForce GTX 580. It looks like NVIDIA will challenge the performance leadership with GeForce GTX 590, a dual-GPU graphics card that uses two GF110 GPUs (the ones on GTX 570 and GTX 580), for an SLI-on-a-stick solution. Rumors of NVIDIA working on this card became concrete as early as in November 2010, when NVIDIA's reference board became public for the first time.
Latest reports suggest that NVIDIA has chosen March 22 as the launch day of GeForce GTX 590. Incidentally, that is also the launch date of EA/Crytek's much-hyped, initially DirectX 9 action/shooter game, Crysis 2. GeForce GTX 590 uses two GF110, though the shader configuration and clock speeds are not known. Since NVIDIA is chasing the top-spot, you can expect the most optimal configuration for the GF110s. A total of 3 GB (1536 MB per GPU system) on board, and NVIDIA's workhorse PCI-E bridge, nForce 200 will be the traffic cop and radio station between the two GPUs. The card will be able to do 3DVision Surround (NVIDIA's multi-display single head technology comparable to ATI Eyefinity) on its own, without needing a second card.
Latest reports suggest that NVIDIA has chosen March 22 as the launch day of GeForce GTX 590. Incidentally, that is also the launch date of EA/Crytek's much-hyped, initially DirectX 9 action/shooter game, Crysis 2. GeForce GTX 590 uses two GF110, though the shader configuration and clock speeds are not known. Since NVIDIA is chasing the top-spot, you can expect the most optimal configuration for the GF110s. A total of 3 GB (1536 MB per GPU system) on board, and NVIDIA's workhorse PCI-E bridge, nForce 200 will be the traffic cop and radio station between the two GPUs. The card will be able to do 3DVision Surround (NVIDIA's multi-display single head technology comparable to ATI Eyefinity) on its own, without needing a second card.
Eurocom Adds Intel Xeon Processor X5690 to Panther 2.0
Eurocom Corporation, the world's leading developer of highly personalized, high-performance notebook PCs and energy efficient All-in-One PCs, is now supporting the groundbreaking Intel Xeon Processor X5690 in its line of Mobile Server and Mobile Workstation notebooks.
The EUROCOM Mobile Server Technology significantly reduces the time and cost of deploying short-term LAN based solutions and of extending usage of existing business applications to users wherever is required. Eurocom has developed a concept called "Server-on-the-Go" where a team of Engineers in the field operating under a RED Team strategy utilize a Eurocom Mobile Server to receive and process feedback while being face-to-face with customers, co-developers, final users and other third parties.
The EUROCOM Mobile Server Technology significantly reduces the time and cost of deploying short-term LAN based solutions and of extending usage of existing business applications to users wherever is required. Eurocom has developed a concept called "Server-on-the-Go" where a team of Engineers in the field operating under a RED Team strategy utilize a Eurocom Mobile Server to receive and process feedback while being face-to-face with customers, co-developers, final users and other third parties.
Renesas Electronics Introduces New Third Generation USB 3.0 Host Controllers
Renesas Electronics Corporation, a premier provider of advanced semiconductor solutions, today announced the availability of its two new SuperSpeed Universal Serial Bus (USB 3.0) xHCI host controllers (part number, µPD720201 and µPD720202) for electronic devices such as PCs and digital TVs that feature faster effective data transfer speeds and reduced power consumption in low power mode.
The µPD720201 and µPD720202 devices make it easier for system designers to build electronic devices combining high-speed data transfer, compact size, and extended battery life. In addition, Renesas Electronics device drivers for Microsoft Windows with a proven track record, and device drivers with Linux support, are available for the µPD720201 and µPD720202 host controllers at no cost.
The µPD720201 and µPD720202 devices make it easier for system designers to build electronic devices combining high-speed data transfer, compact size, and extended battery life. In addition, Renesas Electronics device drivers for Microsoft Windows with a proven track record, and device drivers with Linux support, are available for the µPD720201 and µPD720202 host controllers at no cost.
Hear Every Detail: Logitech Unveils Theater-Quality Surround Sound Speakers
So you can hear every detail in your movies, games and music, today Logitech unveiled the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906. Delivering 500 watts (RMS) of power, the Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 are THX Certified, creating a theater-quality audio experience in your living room.
"We're delighted to offer consumers a successor to the highly acclaimed Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit. "The Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 are the logical evolution of surround sound speakers, and we're confident they will become an indispensable part of the living room."
"We're delighted to offer consumers a successor to the highly acclaimed Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Speaker System," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit. "The Logitech Surround Sound Speakers Z906 are the logical evolution of surround sound speakers, and we're confident they will become an indispensable part of the living room."
Be Quiet! Releases Duo of Dark Rock Series of CPU Coolers to European Markets
When it comes to power supplies be quiet! already realised the brand's name. So, why not even take it further and try to silence and improve other parts of a computer? Among the power supply the CPU-cooler is the part, which fabricates most of the noise in a PC. So be quiet! Took the challenge to develop a cooler which offers excellent cooling and a near silent operation. As the company stands for maximum performance, they put a lot of effort into the development process. It took them over one year, to work out the perfect combination between performance and noise. Until the finished product there were over 40 prototypes produced and numerous scenarios were simulated.
Zalman Announces CNPS11X Extreme CPU Cooler
A new CPU Cooler lineup has just been released to bring up the Zalman to the next stage. Unlike its predecessors, CNPS11X Extreme comes with the unique V-shape heatsink from any other manufacturers. With a highly optimized thermal designed heatsink will be certainly outperforming than any other heatsink in the market.
On top, with its stylish Black pearl plating with Blue LED will add more visuals for the Case modders. In addition, by Zalman's unique Composite Heatpipe Solution, CNPS11X Extreme will have more than enough to cool any hottest CPUs in the market as well. (Up to 350W TDP). Included ZM-STG2 will also boost up to the maximum cooling performance of CNPS11X.
On top, with its stylish Black pearl plating with Blue LED will add more visuals for the Case modders. In addition, by Zalman's unique Composite Heatpipe Solution, CNPS11X Extreme will have more than enough to cool any hottest CPUs in the market as well. (Up to 350W TDP). Included ZM-STG2 will also boost up to the maximum cooling performance of CNPS11X.
Gigabyte Intros Radeon HD 6970 WindForce 3X Graphics Card
Gigabyte unveiled its latest high-end graphics card, the Radeon HD 6970 WindForce 3X. Based entirely on an in-house design, the card uses a Ultra Durable VGA+ PCB that makes use of 2 oz copper layers, and high-grade chokes, MOSFETs, and capacitors. Cooling is care of Gigabyte's workhorse high-end VGA cooler, the WindForce 3X. It makes use of a dense aluminum fin array to which heat is conveyed by several heat pipes, and is ventilated by three fans.
The card is slightly overclocked, 900 MHz core against 880 MHz reference, and 2 GB of memory clocked at 5500 MHz. That apart, the GPU packs 1536 VLIW4 stream processors, and connects to the memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Display outputs include two DVI, and one each of full-sized HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2. Gigabyte didn't give out pricing.
The card is slightly overclocked, 900 MHz core against 880 MHz reference, and 2 GB of memory clocked at 5500 MHz. That apart, the GPU packs 1536 VLIW4 stream processors, and connects to the memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Display outputs include two DVI, and one each of full-sized HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2. Gigabyte didn't give out pricing.
Tuesday, March 8th 2011
Today's Reviews
Cooling
Graphics Cards
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Benchmark Reviews
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Bjorn3D
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Guru3D
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Hardware-Mag (de)
- AMD HD 6990 4GB HardwareCanucks
- AMD HD 6990 4GB HardwareHeaven
- AMD HD 6990 4GB HotHardware
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Legit Reviews
- AMD HD 6990 4GB NeoSeeker
- PowerColor HD 6990 Crossfire Overclock3D.net
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Overclock3D.net
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Rage3D
- AMD HD 6990 4GB Tech Report
- AMD HD 6990 4GB TechGage
- Arctic Cooling Accelero Xtreme Plus GPU Cooler FunkyKit
- Gainward GTX 570 Phantom TweakPC (de)
- MSI GeForce N570GTX Twin Frozr II TweakPC (de)
Keyboards
Motherboards
Networking
PSUs
AMD 'Bulldozer' CPUs Slated for June
AMD is said to have finalized the shipping dates of its new high-end processor lineup. The company's new nameless lineup of high-end desktop processors will be released to market in the second half of June. The new processors will be built on the 32 nm manufacturing process, and will be based on the much talked about Bulldozer architecture. The reason it's "nameless" is because there's no processor brand (such as Athlon or Phenom) attached to it. The lineup will consist of AMD FX8000 series octo-core processors, AMD FX6000 series hexa-core processors, and AMD FX4000 series quad-core processors. The chip will feature high-speed DDR3 integrated memory controllers, but will lack integrated graphics. AMD will release as many as eight processor models. To support the processors, AMD's partners in the motherboard industry will release socket AM3+ motherboards based on AMD 9-series chipsets, around the same time.
Kingston Technology Ships HyperX Genesis with New Heatspreader
Kingston Technology Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced a new look to its Kingston HyperX Genesis enthusiast memory. The new look accentuates the traditional blue color with a military/ballistic trim along the top, similar to the Genesis Special Edition Grey modules made especially for the Intel P67 Sandy Bridge platform.
Kingston has begun transitioning all skus in the Genesis family - which range from 1333MHz to 2133MHz frequencies and are available in various single, dual and triple channel configurations - to the new look heatspreader. All part numbers will remain the same. For more information and a look at the new Genesis please visit this page.
Kingston has begun transitioning all skus in the Genesis family - which range from 1333MHz to 2133MHz frequencies and are available in various single, dual and triple channel configurations - to the new look heatspreader. All part numbers will remain the same. For more information and a look at the new Genesis please visit this page.
MSI Announces its Radeon HD 6990 Graphics Card
Internationally renowned graphics card and mainboard manufacturer MSI is popular with enthusiasts and professional consumers via great graphics performance and our expertise in research and design. After succesfully launching its all-new R6900/R6800 series of graphics cards, MSI today announces its top model AMD Radeon R6990-4PD4GD5 graphics card, equipped with two AMD Radeon HD6900-series graphics processors and the world's first desktop card with 4GB GDDR5 memory. This places the R6990-4PD4GD5 as the highest performance graphics card in existance today! The R6990-4PD4GD5 supports AMD's exclusive Eyefinity multi-display technology, with 4 mini DisplayPort 1.2 outputs on it that offers up to a maximum 5 display outputs from a single graphics card.
In addition, R6990-4PD4GD5 also supports the legendary graphics card overclocking utility - MSI's Afterburner. Enthusiasts can adjust clock speeds of GPU and memory, and monitor information like voltage, temperature and usage of memory via Afterburner. Also, power users can measure the stability of overclocked graphic card with the MSI graphics card testing utility Kombustor V2.0. R6990-4PD4GD5 supports the latest DirectX11, OpenGL 4.1 graphical standards, features found on the most demanding performance applications and games.
In addition, R6990-4PD4GD5 also supports the legendary graphics card overclocking utility - MSI's Afterburner. Enthusiasts can adjust clock speeds of GPU and memory, and monitor information like voltage, temperature and usage of memory via Afterburner. Also, power users can measure the stability of overclocked graphic card with the MSI graphics card testing utility Kombustor V2.0. R6990-4PD4GD5 supports the latest DirectX11, OpenGL 4.1 graphical standards, features found on the most demanding performance applications and games.
Intel Announces Second-Generation Core vPro Family of Processors
Bringing industry leading security and manageability, and better, more flexible performance to business computing, Intel Corporation today unveiled its newest family of business processors. The new 2nd generation Intel Core vPro processor family features the performance and capabilities of Intel's new microarchitecture, enhancements to Intel vPro technology and new security features, including a 3G "poison pill" option to help protect a PC's data.
Computer makers around the world, including Dell, Fujitsu, HP and Lenovo, are introducing new laptop, convertible-tablet, desktop and all-in-one PCs for businesses based on the new Intel Core vPro processors.
Computer makers around the world, including Dell, Fujitsu, HP and Lenovo, are introducing new laptop, convertible-tablet, desktop and all-in-one PCs for businesses based on the new Intel Core vPro processors.
Active Media Products Ships 64GB PATA Mini PCI-E SSD Upgrade for Dell Mini 9
Active Media Products, a leader in DOMs and small form factor SSDs, today announced a new 64GB Mini PCI-E SSD designed specifically for Dell Inspiron Mini 9 upgrades that delivers substantially more storage space and dramatically faster performance than the Mini 9's default drive, as shown in the benchmark results below.
The SaberTooth AA SSD scored about 100% faster than the default SSD in Read speeds, and up to 9x faster in write speeds. The SaberTooth AA is one of the first available 64GB upgrades for the Mini 9, making it the highest density storage solution in this form factor. "This SSD answers the demand from many netbook users for bigger and faster storage options. We were able to reach the 64GB density by using the newest high capacity flash chips," stated Active Media Products VP of Sales, Jerry Thomson.
The SaberTooth AA SSD scored about 100% faster than the default SSD in Read speeds, and up to 9x faster in write speeds. The SaberTooth AA is one of the first available 64GB upgrades for the Mini 9, making it the highest density storage solution in this form factor. "This SSD answers the demand from many netbook users for bigger and faster storage options. We were able to reach the 64GB density by using the newest high capacity flash chips," stated Active Media Products VP of Sales, Jerry Thomson.
Club 3D Announces its Radeon HD 6990 Graphics Card - World's Fastest
Club 3D B.V. is pleased to announce the introduction of the next generation video card based on the Antilles chipset, AMD' second generation DirectX 11.
The new Club 3D Radeon HD 6990 4GB GDDR5 comes with a Dual Bios Overdrive with a default speed from factory at 830 MHz. It can be switched into Overdrive mode at a flick of a switch. The Overdrive mode is set at 880 MHz. Do things faster with AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) technology on the most demanding applications and take advantage of the Dolby True HD support for a theatre-quality experience.
The new Club 3D Radeon HD 6990 4GB GDDR5 comes with a Dual Bios Overdrive with a default speed from factory at 830 MHz. It can be switched into Overdrive mode at a flick of a switch. The Overdrive mode is set at 880 MHz. Do things faster with AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) technology on the most demanding applications and take advantage of the Dolby True HD support for a theatre-quality experience.
HIS Unveils the World’s Fastest Graphics Card – HD 6990 Fan 4GB GDDR5
TODAY Hightech Information System Ltd. is proud to unleash the HIS 6990 Fan 4GB GDDR5, accelerating advanced PC game by running at 830 MHz core clock and 5000 MHz memory clock. Loaded with stunning array of advanced technologies, such as AMD HD3D, Eyefinity, EyeSpeed and Eye-Definition, HIS 6990 4GB delivers the Power Gamers superior gaming performance and flawless image quality. Bundled with a Mini Display Port to Single Link DVI (Active) dongle and a HIS Exclusive Mini Display Port to Display Port dongle, HIS 6990 is geared for gamers to enjoy the incredible Eyefinity technology.
What's more? The HIS 6990 4GB supports the latest industry standards with DirectX 11 and scalable geometry processing, making HD 6990 4GB the fastest graphics card in the world. The powerful dual GPUs accelerate frame rates and therefore give hardcore gamers the definitive solution at every advantage. Meanwhile, the integrated HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 readiness enable gamers to experience unparalleled display flexibility. If you are looking for the best hardware and extreme configurations to maximize your gaming experience, HIS 6990 4GB is no doubt an only choice for you.
What's more? The HIS 6990 4GB supports the latest industry standards with DirectX 11 and scalable geometry processing, making HD 6990 4GB the fastest graphics card in the world. The powerful dual GPUs accelerate frame rates and therefore give hardcore gamers the definitive solution at every advantage. Meanwhile, the integrated HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 readiness enable gamers to experience unparalleled display flexibility. If you are looking for the best hardware and extreme configurations to maximize your gaming experience, HIS 6990 4GB is no doubt an only choice for you.
ASUS Launches the HD 6990 Graphics Card
PC gamers have a new standard-setting graphics card to look forward to in the form of the ASUS HD 6990. A true powerhouse, it uses dual HD 6970 cores on one printed circuit board, doubling the power while maintaining streamlined energy draw requirements. With ASUS exclusive Voltage Tweak, it pushes the card to run at up to 1245 MHz for sheer gaming performance in the highest possible resolutions and with all effects and details turned up to maximum. The HD 6990 represents the very top-end of AMD-sourced technology.
Based on AMD Antilles GPU architecture, the HD 6990 offers hardcore PC gamers and DIY builders the fastest dual-core graphics card ever produced using AMD technology. It represents the pinnacle of the Windows 7 and DirectX 11-optimized Northern Islands series of GPUs from AMD.
Based on AMD Antilles GPU architecture, the HD 6990 offers hardcore PC gamers and DIY builders the fastest dual-core graphics card ever produced using AMD technology. It represents the pinnacle of the Windows 7 and DirectX 11-optimized Northern Islands series of GPUs from AMD.
PowerColor Launches the World's Fastest Graphics Card: Radeon HD 6990
TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, today introduced the fastest graphics card on the planet: the PowerColor HD6990. The PowerColor HD6990 features a dual BIOS setting, allowing a hardware overdrive option from factory-supported clocks to switch to 880MHz core speed and 1250MHz memory speed. The bump enables enthusiasts to maximize gaming experience and deliver unprecedented performance.
The PowerColor HD6990 embedded digital programmable Volterra regulators in the card design, enabling a 450W-capable graphics card. The card is also equipped with dual vapor chambers, with a central blower, easily dissipating heat from GPU and cooling down the temperature, providing a stable and cool entertainment environment for hardcore enthusiasts.
The PowerColor HD6990 embedded digital programmable Volterra regulators in the card design, enabling a 450W-capable graphics card. The card is also equipped with dual vapor chambers, with a central blower, easily dissipating heat from GPU and cooling down the temperature, providing a stable and cool entertainment environment for hardcore enthusiasts.
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 6990 Delivers Top Performance
SAPPHIRE Technology, the largest manufacturer and supplier worldwide of graphics solutions based on AMD technology has just added a new top-of-the-range model bringing record performance levels to the recently launched HD 6000 series - the SAPPHIRE HD 6990.
The new SAPPHIRE HD 6990 is a dual GPU card featuring the latest architecture from AMD providing massively parallel computing power for graphics and other accelerated applications. It is fitted with 4GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 1250MHz (5.0GHz effective). A key feature of this card is a switch selectable dual BIOS, which allows the user to chose a core clock speed of 830MHz for Performance or 880MHz for Extreme use.
The new SAPPHIRE HD 6990 is a dual GPU card featuring the latest architecture from AMD providing massively parallel computing power for graphics and other accelerated applications. It is fitted with 4GB of GDDR5 memory clocked at 1250MHz (5.0GHz effective). A key feature of this card is a switch selectable dual BIOS, which allows the user to chose a core clock speed of 830MHz for Performance or 880MHz for Extreme use.
AMD Extends Graphics Performance Lead, Launches World's Fastest Graphics Card… Again!
AMD today announced the launch of the fastest graphics card in the world, the AMD Radeon HD 6990, packing so much raw performance it delivered a new single graphics card world record score of P11865 in the industry standard 3DMark11 benchmark. AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards are available immediately from retailers worldwide, with select models starting at US $699 MSRP.
Designed for the power gamer, AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards include AMD's second-generation, Microsoft DirectX 11-capable architecture, advanced image quality features for the best looking games, and AMD PowerTune intelligent technology to enable higher clock speeds and faster gaming. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 offers the ultimate in immersive HD gaming and computing with native support for up to five displays using AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, with six display support possible via DisplayPort 1.2 components available for purchase later this year. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards also feature a dual-BIOS toggle switch, allowing enthusiast gamers to unlock the card and rev up the clocks and voltages for even more performance. Finally, AMD HD3D technology provides a cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie experience, thanks to HDMI 1.4a support.
Designed for the power gamer, AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards include AMD's second-generation, Microsoft DirectX 11-capable architecture, advanced image quality features for the best looking games, and AMD PowerTune intelligent technology to enable higher clock speeds and faster gaming. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 offers the ultimate in immersive HD gaming and computing with native support for up to five displays using AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, with six display support possible via DisplayPort 1.2 components available for purchase later this year. The AMD Radeon HD 6990 graphics cards also feature a dual-BIOS toggle switch, allowing enthusiast gamers to unlock the card and rev up the clocks and voltages for even more performance. Finally, AMD HD3D technology provides a cutting-edge stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie experience, thanks to HDMI 1.4a support.
Monday, March 7th 2011
Today's Reviews
Cases
Cooling
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Memory
Motherboards
Mouse
Mousepads
ASUS Radeon HD 6990 4 GB Review
Today AMD unleashed their new monster: Radeon HD 6990. This dual-GPU card, which is based on two HD 6970 GPUs took the gaming performance crown without beating a sweat. So, this card has tons of performance, but what about power consumption, heat and noise? And last but not least, is it worth the $699 price tag?
PowerColor Radeon HD 6990 CrossFire Review
AMD's new Radeon HD 6990 is the fastest graphics card in the world. We take TWO of those cards for a spin and check if this combination is worth $1,400 of your hard earned Dollars or if it only serves as a hot air blowing e-penis extension.
Club 3D Announces the Introduction of the New NVIDIA GTX 560Ti CoolStream OC Edition
Club 3D B.V. is pleased to announce the introduction of the next generation gaming video card. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti CoolStream OC Edition supports DirectX 11, CUDA, and Nvidia PhysX technologies to provide the best experience on your favorite games with up to 3x the performance of previous generations.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 560Ti CoolStream OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
With NVIDIA 3D Vision technology you can now use two Gefore GTX 560Ti CoolStream OC Edition cards in NVIDIA SLI configuration to project across three displays with NVIDIA 3D Vision Surround technology.
Western Digital to Acquire Hitachi Global Storage Technologies
Western Digital and Hitachi, Ltd. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby WD will acquire Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4.3 billion. The proposed combination will result in a customer-focused storage company, with significant operating scale, strong global talent and the industry's broadest product lineup backed by a rich technology portfolio.
Under the terms of the agreement, WD will acquire Hitachi GST for $3.5 billion in cash and 25 million WD common shares valued at $750 million, based on a WD closing stock price of $30.01 as of March 4, 2011. Hitachi, Ltd. will own approximately ten percent of Western Digital shares outstanding after issuance of the shares and two representatives of Hitachi will be added to the WD board of directors at closing. The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is expected to close during the third calendar quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. WD plans to fund the transaction with a combination of existing cash and total debt of approximately $2.5 billion.
Under the terms of the agreement, WD will acquire Hitachi GST for $3.5 billion in cash and 25 million WD common shares valued at $750 million, based on a WD closing stock price of $30.01 as of March 4, 2011. Hitachi, Ltd. will own approximately ten percent of Western Digital shares outstanding after issuance of the shares and two representatives of Hitachi will be added to the WD board of directors at closing. The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is expected to close during the third calendar quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. WD plans to fund the transaction with a combination of existing cash and total debt of approximately $2.5 billion.
OCZ Technology Expects That Fiscal Q4 Revenue Increased by Nearly 100% to Record $64M
OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced it expects to report record revenue for its fiscal 2011 fourth quarter of approximately $64 million, an increase of nearly 100% from the $32.4 million reported in last year's fourth quarter. For the year ended February 28, 2011, revenues are expected to be approximately $189 million compared to $144 million in fiscal 2010.
In addition to the record quarterly and full year revenue expectations, the Company's SSD products for fiscal fourth quarter are expected to be approximately $58 million compared to $12.1 million during the same period last year, and $41.5 million in the Company's third quarter ending November 30, 2010. This represents approximate increases of 380% year over year and 40% sequentially. The expected Q4 SSD product mix of approximately 7% Consumer, 78% Server, and 15% Enterprise is generally consistent with prior quarters.
In addition to the record quarterly and full year revenue expectations, the Company's SSD products for fiscal fourth quarter are expected to be approximately $58 million compared to $12.1 million during the same period last year, and $41.5 million in the Company's third quarter ending November 30, 2010. This represents approximate increases of 380% year over year and 40% sequentially. The expected Q4 SSD product mix of approximately 7% Consumer, 78% Server, and 15% Enterprise is generally consistent with prior quarters.
MSI Hiking Motherboard Prices From This Month
With escalating raw-material and labor costs, motherboard manufacturers had decided to hike prices in Q1 2011. To its effect, leading companies ASUS and Gigabyte have already implemented price-hikes in February, which will reflect in store prices soon. MSI will be introducing price-hikes on its motherboards by 5%-10%. Motherboard sales are expected to go up shortly, as the industry is re-releasing socket LGA1155 motherboards with rectified Intel "Cougar Point" 6-series PCH chips.
ASUS Radeon HD 6990 Listed on Pre-Order
European retailer salland.eu listed ASUS' upcoming Radeon HD 6990 graphics card on pre-order. It can be pre-ordered for € 715 (about US $1,000). Items put on pre-order can tend to be a little expensive, but € 715 is a staggering price. Even if (the big if) the retailer set its pre-order price a good 20% above the release price, we're looking at a € 572.25 ($ 802) retail price for the ASUS HD 6990, at least in EU.
The listed card carries the SKU EAH6990 3DI4S/4GD5. Specifications listed show that the card carries clocks of 830 MHz core, and 1250 MHz (5000 MHz effective) memory. It packs 4 GB of total memory. AMD's Radeon HD 6990 graphics card is expected to be launched tomorrow.
The listed card carries the SKU EAH6990 3DI4S/4GD5. Specifications listed show that the card carries clocks of 830 MHz core, and 1250 MHz (5000 MHz effective) memory. It packs 4 GB of total memory. AMD's Radeon HD 6990 graphics card is expected to be launched tomorrow.
SuperTalent Unveils New SSD Lineup
Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, unveiled its next generation TeraDrive. Featuring the 2nd generation SandForce controllers, a SATA III 6Gbps interface, and the new ONFi Double Data Rate NAND flash, these new drives promise to deliver twice the performance of their predecessors.
At 3 Gbps, the SATA 2 interface posed a bottleneck to existing SSD designs but little performance was to be gained by changing to SATA3. That just changed. As double data rate (DDR) NAND becomes available, SSD performance stands to double overnight. Since the new 2nd generation SandForce controllers support both SATA3 and DDR flash, we are now able to unleash the performance of these new designs.
At 3 Gbps, the SATA 2 interface posed a bottleneck to existing SSD designs but little performance was to be gained by changing to SATA3. That just changed. As double data rate (DDR) NAND becomes available, SSD performance stands to double overnight. Since the new 2nd generation SandForce controllers support both SATA3 and DDR flash, we are now able to unleash the performance of these new designs.
Samsung Launches its 950 Series 3D LED Displays
Samsung launched its latest 950 series 3D LED monitors in Korea. It was first displayed to the public at this year's CES event, back in January. The series consists of two 27-inch displays, the 27TA950 with its asymmetric stand design, and the 27TA750 with its centrally-located stand. Both monitors feature full-HD resolution, HDTV tuners, 3D display support (refresh rate not known), and use LED for uniform illumination and high dynamic contrast ratio. The panel is backed with a host of features, including Samsung Ultra Clear Panel Technology, Samsung TV Apps and Smart Hub, and USB to share content both ways to/from the TV. In Korea, the 27TA950 is priced at 8.9 Million Won (US $8,000), while the 27TA750 goes for 8.4 Million Won, or $7,500.
OCZ Unveils IBIS XL 4 TB HSDL Solid State Drive
After dedicating a big chunk of its resources to the SSD market, OCZ's R&D became a fertile ground for new SSD solutions. The company put up its latest high performance, high capacity SSD for enterprises at CeBIT, the IBIS XL. This monstrosity supports OCZ's very own HSDL interface, and comes in the 5.25-inch form-factor (about the size of a PC optical drive). It offers a humongous 4 terabyte of storage, higher than even the highest PC hard drive in the market, which offers 3 TB. IBIS XL offers transfer rates of 1800 MB/s read, 1700 MB/s write, and up to 200,000 IOPS 4K random write performance.
Gelid Unveils GX-7 CPU Heatsink
At the CeBIT event, Gelid showed off its latest CPU cooler, the GX-7. This medium-sized aluminum fin tower-type CPU heatsink makes use of over 40 aluminum fins to which heat is conveyed by as many as seven copper heat pipes (probably in multi-layer stacks at the base). Ventilation is care of two Gelid Wing 12 fans in push-pull configuration, with 1500 RPM speeds. The cooler supports all modern socket types, including LGA1366, LGA1155/LGA1156, LGA775, and AM3/AM2+/AM2.
Transcend’s New Portable SSD Boasts SuperSpeed USB 3.0
Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a worldwide leader in memory and storage products, today announced a new addition to its SSD family, the SSD18C3 Portable Solid State Drive. The new portable SSD combines the benefits of USB 3.0 with all the performance and durability advantages of solid-state technology, providing unparalleled speed and stability that conventional portable hard drives cannot compete with.
BitFenix Officially Launches Shinobi and Shinobi Window ATX Mid-Tower Cases
Today, gaming hardware maker BitFenix is pleased to announce the latest addition to its lineup of PC chassis designed for hardcore gamers. Named Shinobi, this mid tower ATX chassis delivers impressive cooling, excellent expansion possibilities, and a bevy of DIY friendly features all wrapped up in a design that articulates the bold yet clean BitFenix design philosophy.
"We wanted to create a no-nonsense gaming chassis that was not only functional, but also exuded the killer design concept that BitFenix is known for. I believe that with Shinobi, gamers will get to see what we mean first hand," says BitFenix Product Manager David Jarlestedt. 
"We wanted to create a no-nonsense gaming chassis that was not only functional, but also exuded the killer design concept that BitFenix is known for. I believe that with Shinobi, gamers will get to see what we mean first hand," says BitFenix Product Manager David Jarlestedt.
New Single-Processor 3DMark Vantage Record Set
Overclockers Elmor and kinc last gathered to set a singl-card 3DMark Vantage world record, the duo and SF3D got together in Sweden to set another record, of the highest multi-GPU 3DMark Vantage score with a single processor. Vantage multi-GPU records are lead by multi-processor (dual LGA1366) setups. The team achieved a Vantage score of P75892 points. For this feat, the team used a single Intel Core i7-990X Extreme Edition processor 6213 MHz (177.5 MHz x 35.0) with all cores and threads enabled, backed by 4 GB of dual-channel memory by ADATA clocked at 887.5 MHz (actual), running on ASUS Rampage III Extreme motherboard with ROG Xpander to enable 4-way SLI capability.
Leading the graphics department were four ASUS GTX 580 DirectCu graphics cards clocked at 1105/1301/2210 MHz (core/shader/memory). The setup was powered by two Antec HCP 1200W PSUs. Liquid nitrogen cooling was the weapon of choice, the CPU was cooled by SF3D OC Inflection Point LN2 evaporator, and four Kingpin Tek-9 6 Slim evaporators for the graphics cards.
Leading the graphics department were four ASUS GTX 580 DirectCu graphics cards clocked at 1105/1301/2210 MHz (core/shader/memory). The setup was powered by two Antec HCP 1200W PSUs. Liquid nitrogen cooling was the weapon of choice, the CPU was cooled by SF3D OC Inflection Point LN2 evaporator, and four Kingpin Tek-9 6 Slim evaporators for the graphics cards.
Saturday, March 5th 2011
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Notebooks
Khronos Releases Final WebGL 1.0 Specification, Brings Accelerated 3D without Plugins
The Khronos Group released the final WebGL 1.0 specification to enable hardware-accelerated 3D graphics in HTML5 Web browsers without the need for plug-ins. WebGL defines a JavaScript binding to OpenGL ES 2.0 to allow rich 3D graphics within a browser on any platform supporting the industry-standard OpenGL or OpenGL ES graphics APIs. WebGL has the support of major silicon and browser vendors including Apple, Google, Mozilla and Opera with multiple browsers already shipping with WebGL implementations including the beta releases for Mozilla Firefox 4.0, all channels of Google Chrome 9.0, an Opera preview build, and Apple Mac OS Safari nightly builds.
WebGL leverages the pervasive availability of OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics on almost all browser-capable desktop, mobile and embedded platforms and the recent developments in Web technology including the massive increases in JavaScript performance. The ability for Web developers to directly access OpenGL-class graphics directly from JavaScript, and freely mix 3D with other HTML content, will enable a new wave of innovation in Web gaming, educational and training applications and graphically rich user interfaces to make the Web more enjoyable, productive and intuitive.
WebGL leverages the pervasive availability of OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics on almost all browser-capable desktop, mobile and embedded platforms and the recent developments in Web technology including the massive increases in JavaScript performance. The ability for Web developers to directly access OpenGL-class graphics directly from JavaScript, and freely mix 3D with other HTML content, will enable a new wave of innovation in Web gaming, educational and training applications and graphically rich user interfaces to make the Web more enjoyable, productive and intuitive.
Microsoft Expediting Windows 8 Tablet Launch to January 2012
Tablet PCs came and went, but "tablets" as a category began with the Apple iPad. Merely weeks after its launch, the rattled PC OEM industry announced plans for their tablets, some being ARM-based and driven by Google's touch-phone optimized Android OS, and some using x86 processors and Windows 7. Unfortunately, Windows 7 based tablets aren't cutting it in the market, and the problem is with the user-interface (UI) itself. While Windows 7 has a touchscreen/pen software framework, its UI is more PC-like. Menu items, buttons with applications, are not very optimized for a comfortable touch-only input device.
Hence, Microsoft seems to be expediting the release of Windows 8 for Tablets, and the software giant plans to do that as early as by CES 2012. Only the tablet version of Windows 8 will be released then, not the PC version.
Hence, Microsoft seems to be expediting the release of Windows 8 for Tablets, and the software giant plans to do that as early as by CES 2012. Only the tablet version of Windows 8 will be released then, not the PC version.
Lenovo Announces ThinkCentre M91p for Businesses
Lenovo today announced the ThinkCentre M91p desktop designed to give large businesses the highest levels of performance, security and manageability. Available in tower, small form factor and eco small form factor versions, the desktop is designed for speed and performance with technologies including SATA III, USB 3.0, Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 and support for four monitors as well as security and manageability with the latest Intel Core vPro processors.
"We've packed the new ThinkCentre M91p desktop with the latest performance technologies, like Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, to give users and IT departments a noticeable difference in the way they work," said Tom Shell, vice president, ThinkCentre Desktop Marketing, Lenovo. "Now PC users can quickly open and save data, view graphics and video faster and stream work across four monitors."
"We've packed the new ThinkCentre M91p desktop with the latest performance technologies, like Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, to give users and IT departments a noticeable difference in the way they work," said Tom Shell, vice president, ThinkCentre Desktop Marketing, Lenovo. "Now PC users can quickly open and save data, view graphics and video faster and stream work across four monitors."
Corsair Unveils Flaming Red Force GT Series SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs
Corsair's best memory modules come under the Dominator line, the best Dominator modules are marked under Dominator GT, with their distinctive flaming red heatsinks. Corsair is looking to extend the "GT" marker even to its SSDs, and is ready with the Force GT line of 2.5-inch SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs. As you can see, the flaming red product scheme is carried over. Driven by the latest SandForce SF-2000 series controllers, Force GT offers read speeds of up to 520 MB/s, and 500 MB/s write speeds. It is available in number of capacities in the higher quadrant. At least the 240 GB model will be launched very soon.
Friday, March 4th 2011
Today's Contests
Today's Reviews
Cooling
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Netbooks
ASUS P7P55D-E Pro LGA 1156 Intel P55 Review
ASUS brings the P55 chipset an update in the form of the P7P55D-E PRO, with USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gbps. The P7P55D-E looks to rival other boards on the market, and even potentially some of the up and coming P67-based products. In the face of Intel's latest release, is it still a viable option?
ASUS Reveals the World’s First Motion-Sensing Experience for PC
An exciting new approach to PC entertainment on show at CeBIT 2011. WAVI Xtion (pronounced "way-vee action") comprises two components- the WAVI wireless media streaming device, and the Xtion motion sensor. It streams high definition media wirelessly from a PC located in one room toa TV in another, while infrared gesture-based multimedia playback, games and applications introduce the first ever officially-supported motion-sensing PC interface.
WAVI Xtion integrates motion-sensing technology from PrimeSense with the exclusive ASUS Xtion Portal user interface to bring consumers closer to technology through intuitive interaction with applications. Connections to both PCs and TVs via wireless HDMI(WHDI technology) deliver smooth transfers of high definition content such as movies, games and photos in 5GHz with a range of up to 25 meters.
WAVI Xtion integrates motion-sensing technology from PrimeSense with the exclusive ASUS Xtion Portal user interface to bring consumers closer to technology through intuitive interaction with applications. Connections to both PCs and TVs via wireless HDMI(WHDI technology) deliver smooth transfers of high definition content such as movies, games and photos in 5GHz with a range of up to 25 meters.
Plextor Europe Announced its New SuperSpeed USB 3.0 500GB and 750GB Portable HDDs
Plextor, a leading brand of high-performance storage and digital media solutions, introduces a new portable hard disk drive, equipped with a high-speed USB 3.0 connection. The PX-PH500U3 is a strikingly compact 500GB portable hard disk. Formed of perfect aluminum it incorporates the latest SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface for exceedingly fast connection and data transfer rates. It is the fast new professional standard in portable hard disks from world renowned storage manufacturer Plextor. Power to the hard disk is also provided through the USB connector, eliminating the need to carry an additional power adapter.
Protecting the advanced drive mechanism an elegant casing crafted from aircraft grade aluminum results in a mere 162 grams total weight. The complete package includes a USB 3.0 cable and a stylish leatherette case provides additional protection during transportation. Complementing this well-balanced hardware, a range of powerful software applications comes preinstalled on the hard disk. Users can backup and restore valuable data using FNet PC Clone EX and maximize the read and write speeds with the Turbo HDD utility.
Protecting the advanced drive mechanism an elegant casing crafted from aircraft grade aluminum results in a mere 162 grams total weight. The complete package includes a USB 3.0 cable and a stylish leatherette case provides additional protection during transportation. Complementing this well-balanced hardware, a range of powerful software applications comes preinstalled on the hard disk. Users can backup and restore valuable data using FNet PC Clone EX and maximize the read and write speeds with the Turbo HDD utility.
MSI Announces the Wind Top AE2210 All-in-One PC
MSI, the innovating leader in the all-in-one touch screen PC market, today unveiled the Wind Top AE2210 All-in-One PC with Intel's latest Sandy Bridge platform. The Wind Top AE2210's large 21.5" Full HD high resolution display comes fitted with the newest 2nd generation Intel Core i processor. Whether it's CPU or built-in graphic card, the performances get a noticeable boost. Unlike models from other brands, the AE2210 houses two built-in speakers specially paired with Hollywood-class THX TruStudio Pro acoustic technology.
This enables the AE2210 to not only provide a satisfying high resolution picture, but also presents users with audio capabilities that are akin to having a personal surround sound system, marking a revolution in audio and video quality. The AE2210 comes with 2 USB 3.0 ports, ensuring ultra-fast data transfer speeds which make life even more efficient. One of the two USB 3.0 ports comes with additional MSI Super Charger technology, which offers 40% faster recharging time compared to a normal USB; it also lets users continue to charge devices through the USB port even while the computer is turned off. This makes life more convenient than ever.
This enables the AE2210 to not only provide a satisfying high resolution picture, but also presents users with audio capabilities that are akin to having a personal surround sound system, marking a revolution in audio and video quality. The AE2210 comes with 2 USB 3.0 ports, ensuring ultra-fast data transfer speeds which make life even more efficient. One of the two USB 3.0 ports comes with additional MSI Super Charger technology, which offers 40% faster recharging time compared to a normal USB; it also lets users continue to charge devices through the USB port even while the computer is turned off. This makes life more convenient than ever.
Thursday, March 3rd 2011
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Memory
Motherboards
PSUs
MSI GeForce GTX 560 Ti Twin Frozr II 1 GB Review
MSI's GeForce GTX 560 Twin Frozr II comes with MSI's own cooling solution, which does a great job at keeping the card cool. Even with heavy voltage increases, the temperatures never rose above 80°C. For maximum performance MSI has overclocked the card out of the box - at no price increase compared to the reference design.
Corsair Announces USB 3.0 Upgrade Kit for Obsidian Series Cases
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of a USB 3.0 Upgrade Kit for their Obsidian Series 800D and 700D full-tower PC cases.
The kit is designed for Obsidian Series case owners who have upgraded their systems to support USB 3.0, either by replacing their motherboard or via an add-in card. The kit consists of a replacement front I/O panel that includes a USB 3.0 port and a wiring harness that connects to an available USB 3.0 port on the customer's motherboard or add-in card. Installation takes just minutes.
The kit is designed for Obsidian Series case owners who have upgraded their systems to support USB 3.0, either by replacing their motherboard or via an add-in card. The kit consists of a replacement front I/O panel that includes a USB 3.0 port and a wiring harness that connects to an available USB 3.0 port on the customer's motherboard or add-in card. Installation takes just minutes.
Unigine Releases Heaven 2.5 Benchmarking Suite, New Professional Edition
Unigine released the latest version of Unigine Heaven, one of the industry's first DirectX 11 compliant 3D graphics benchmark applications. Version 2.5 of the software expands its feature set a little, the product is also branched into two variants: a free "basic edition" that gives most of the product's functionality to consumers, overclockers, and gamers; and a paid "professional edition", that gives data-logging and specific-functionality to aid professionals such as analysts, and reviewers, priced at US $495. The professional variant is also backed by technical support.
As far as new features go, Heaven 2.5 introduced support for new DirectX 11 features such as indirect occlusion (SSDO) to simulate real-time global illumination, improved hardware support, improved quality of ambient occlusion, and a number of stability improvements that help maintain long sessions of benchmarking. It also added a new help file, and a snappier installer. The professional edition includes command line automation support, data-logging in CSV format, stress-testing, a commercial use license, and technical support. The professional edition can be purchased from here.
DOWNLOAD: Unigine Heaven 2.5 Basic Edition
As far as new features go, Heaven 2.5 introduced support for new DirectX 11 features such as indirect occlusion (SSDO) to simulate real-time global illumination, improved hardware support, improved quality of ambient occlusion, and a number of stability improvements that help maintain long sessions of benchmarking. It also added a new help file, and a snappier installer. The professional edition includes command line automation support, data-logging in CSV format, stress-testing, a commercial use license, and technical support. The professional edition can be purchased from here.
Thermaltake Unveils Chaser MK-1 Gaming Chassis at CeBIT
At the second day of the world's largest IT and computer trade show CeBIT 2011 in Hannover, Germany, Thermaltake debuts their latest mid-tower gaming chassis, the Chaser MK-1. At this world's first debut the Chaser MK-1 shows off a design language that is clearly inspired by modern games. Strong lines and all black coating inside and outside in combination with blue elements lend it its very dynamic and powerful looks. The pulsing logo on top only add even further to the overall mighty appearance. Being the very first XB (extra big) ATX mid tower chassis, the Chaser MK-1 is extra wide, thereby allowing for enough space to install particularly big and powerful CPU coolers of up to 18 cm height. An entirely tool-less design for the hard drive trays makes installation and removal of 3.5" HDDs and 2.5" SSDs a child's play.
Sparkle Readies Single-Slot GeForce GTX 570 Graphics Card
Sparkle computer's CeBIT bit booth featured an eye-catching new graphics card, the Sparkle One GTX 570. This is the first air-cooled single-slot GeForce GTX 570 series graphics card. While it is thin, the card is extremely long. We estimate around 13-inches long, if not more. Sparkle seems to be making use of the extra length to squeeze in as much metal (heatsink) as possible. A fan pushes air backwards. The card features clock speeds of 752/1504/4000 MHz (core/shader/memory).
Like every other GTX 570, it's based on the 40 nm GF110 GPU with 480 CUDA cores enabled, and 1280 MB of GDDR5 memory across a 320-bit wide memory interface. Display outputs include one each of DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Sparkle expects the card to be released by next month.
Like every other GTX 570, it's based on the 40 nm GF110 GPU with 480 CUDA cores enabled, and 1280 MB of GDDR5 memory across a 320-bit wide memory interface. Display outputs include one each of DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort. Sparkle expects the card to be released by next month.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011
Today's Reviews
Cooling
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Mousepads
Netbooks
Notebooks
PSUs
Zowie G-TF Mouse Mat Review
Zowie's newest mouse mat is dubbed the G-TF and features triple stitched edges for better durability. The surface smoothness has been improved and provides a better and more consistent glide than many other high end cloth mat offerings.
Point of View and TGT Announce GTX 580 Beast 2 Graphics Card, Claim Top Spot
Point of View and its associate TGT overclocking team announced what they claim to be the highest clocked NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 graphics card, the GTX 580 Beast 2. The team had, in December, announced the GTX 580 Beast, with clock speeds of 855/1710/4104 MHz (core/CUDA cores/memory effective). The new Beast 2 model features "unprecedented" clock speeds of 873 MHz core, 1746 MHz CUDA cores, and 4104 MHz memory. This, is claimed by its makers to be the highest-clocked GeForce GTX 580 graphics card. The card is kept cool by a full-coverage copper water-block made by Aqua Computer. Said to be already shipping, the Point of View TGT GeForce GTX 580 Beast 2 graphics card is priced at €799.
ASUS Republic of Gamers Sizzles at CeBIT
ASUS unveiled a number of new gaming products at CeBIT in March this year, including Republic of Gamers (ROG) notebook PCs, high-performance motherboards, graphics cards, 3D monitors, router and headsets. All hold true to the ASUS promise to provide choice for everyone and complete its line-up of immersive gaming products.
The new Republic of Gamers (ROG) G Series notebooks lead the charge. Designed for hardcore gamers who want to be able to play anywhere, the G74Sx uses the latest Intel 'Huron River' Core i5 and i7 processors for outstanding performance with any application, while the latest NVIDIA enthusiast level graphics card ensure class-leading 3D performance. NVIDIA 3D Vision is supported as standard too, as is big-screen 3D output via HDMI 1.4 to a compatible display.
The new Republic of Gamers (ROG) G Series notebooks lead the charge. Designed for hardcore gamers who want to be able to play anywhere, the G74Sx uses the latest Intel 'Huron River' Core i5 and i7 processors for outstanding performance with any application, while the latest NVIDIA enthusiast level graphics card ensure class-leading 3D performance. NVIDIA 3D Vision is supported as standard too, as is big-screen 3D output via HDMI 1.4 to a compatible display.
ROCCAT Unveils Isku Illuminated Gaming Keyboard with ROCCAT Talk Technology
ROCCAT Studios proudly presents the ROCCAT Isku - Illuminated Gaming Keyboard featuring brand new ROCCAT Talk technology which will get its first global showing at CeBIT today. The ROCCAT Isku - Illuminated Gaming Keyboard is the result of intensive research and extensive design studies centered around meeting gamers' needs in particular. The result is a keyboard equipped with extensive macro functions plus, as a special set bonus, it's also the first keyboard in the world to feature the latest technologies: ROCCAT Talk and EasyShift[+]. The ROCCAT Talk protocol allows mouse and keyboard to talk to each other for the first time ever, opening up a host of unprecedented options for gamers. The 123 medium-height, standard-layout keys offer an optimum keystroke response and perfect pressure point. With 6 brightness levels, gamers can hit the right key even in the dark.
Asetek to Highlight Latest CPU and GPU Innovations at CeBIT 2011
Asetek Inc., the world's leading supplier of liquid cooling technology for computers, today announced it will demonstrate its latest innovations in CPU and graphics liquid cooling at CeBIT 2011, the world's largest IT trade show. The Asetek booth (Reseller Pavilion, Hall 14, Stand J46) will feature computers running active demos showcasing:
- The new WaterChill 2011C, Asetek's best-ever, ultra-extreme liquid CPU cooler. Highlights include Asetek's low profile pump with third-generation coldplate technology and advanced liquid temperature fan control, coupled with a massive 240mm x 120mm radiator and four 120mm PWM fans. The 2011C also includes the company's newly-enhanced ChillControl performance monitoring, cooling control software.
- Asetek's latest GPU cooler delivers superior overclocking capability (up to 25% on the NVIDIA GTX 580) while drastically reducing GPU temperatures and fan noise at load. The new graphics cooler features a 120mm radiator and liquid temperature controlled fan along with a pump and coldplate integrated into the GTX 580, and will be launched in conjunction with a graphics card partner.
Gigabyte Officially Intros X58A-OC Motherboard
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions today announced the launch of the world's first motherboard designed from the ground up for extreme overclockers, the GIGABYTE GA-X58A-OC. Its overclocking specific performance design defines a whole new category of enthusiast focused motherboards that introduces never-seen-before tweaking and insulating features.
"The GIGABYTE X58A-OC introduces some really exciting and unique overclocking technologies like the PWM frequency switcher, a full range of onboard hardware OC buttons, onboard SATA power connectors for stable multiple graphics configurations, and DualBIOS switcher that up until now have just been ideas discussed in private OC forums and messages," commented HiCookie, GIGABYTE In-house Overclocking Expert. "Tweaking features aside, we have also adopted high current components such as POScaps and MPFC (Max Power Ferrite Core) Chokes that allow overclockers to bench more reliably and with more power so they are able to smash more world records. As an avid overclocker myself, having the freedom to help design a board specifically for overclockers has been a dream come true, and I really hope that overclockers enjoy benching on this board as much as we enjoyed making it!"
"The GIGABYTE X58A-OC introduces some really exciting and unique overclocking technologies like the PWM frequency switcher, a full range of onboard hardware OC buttons, onboard SATA power connectors for stable multiple graphics configurations, and DualBIOS switcher that up until now have just been ideas discussed in private OC forums and messages," commented HiCookie, GIGABYTE In-house Overclocking Expert. "Tweaking features aside, we have also adopted high current components such as POScaps and MPFC (Max Power Ferrite Core) Chokes that allow overclockers to bench more reliably and with more power so they are able to smash more world records. As an avid overclocker myself, having the freedom to help design a board specifically for overclockers has been a dream come true, and I really hope that overclockers enjoy benching on this board as much as we enjoyed making it!"
Kingston Technology Releases Fastest Notebook Memory for New Intel Core Mobile CPUs
Kingston Technology Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of new Kingston HyperX 4GB and 8GB 1600MHz SO-DIMM kits. The dual-channel, plug and play CL9 memory kits are the fastest modules on the market specifically designed to support notebooks and mobile platforms using the new 2nd Generation Intel Core Mobile Processor Family, codenamed "Huron River".
"Our latest HyperX SO-DIMMs are the best way to boost the system performance of notebook PCs, as well as mini-ITX motherboards and mobile-based systems, by replacing standard memory with high-speed, higher capacity modules," said Mark Tekunoff, Senior Technology Manager, Kingston. "With the memory's simple plug and play feature, system performance is enhanced fast and effortlessly without the need of having to manually adjust the BIOS or load overclocking profiles."
"Our latest HyperX SO-DIMMs are the best way to boost the system performance of notebook PCs, as well as mini-ITX motherboards and mobile-based systems, by replacing standard memory with high-speed, higher capacity modules," said Mark Tekunoff, Senior Technology Manager, Kingston. "With the memory's simple plug and play feature, system performance is enhanced fast and effortlessly without the need of having to manually adjust the BIOS or load overclocking profiles."
G.Skill Exhibits New Memory Products at CeBIT
G.Skill International Co. Ltd., manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid-state storage with solid quality, exhibits its first SATA 6Gbps SSD, Phoenix II, its brand new and uniquely designed Sniper gaming memory and a series of ultra fast memory products, including DDR3 2300MHz CL7, at CeBIT 2011 in Hannover.
SteelSeries Announces Siberia v2 Headset for Console Gamers
Kicking off CeBIT 2011, SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of gaming peripherals, announced today the new SteelSeries Siberia v2 for PS3. The headset, which is also compatible with Xbox 360, PC and Mac, will provide gamers with superior comfort through its leather earcups and over-the-head, lightweight suspension; impressive audio reproduction with for optimal directional sounds; along with the convenience of independent audio/voice volume, and the new, multi-level settings of SteelSeries LiveMix.
"Premium quality features and versatility for multi-platform gamers is what distinguishes our new headset apart from all the rest," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "We've combined the comfort and superior soundscape of the Siberia v2 headset that PC and Mac gamers have come to praise and integrated it with original function and features like multi-level LiveMix for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gameplay, creating the ultimate universal headset option for both computer and console gamers."
"Premium quality features and versatility for multi-platform gamers is what distinguishes our new headset apart from all the rest," said Bruce Hawver, SteelSeries CEO. "We've combined the comfort and superior soundscape of the Siberia v2 headset that PC and Mac gamers have come to praise and integrated it with original function and features like multi-level LiveMix for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gameplay, creating the ultimate universal headset option for both computer and console gamers."
Tuesday, March 1st 2011
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Motherboards
Notebooks
Processors
SSD
PowerColor HD 6970 PCS+ 2 GB Review
PowerColor's new HD 6970 PCS+ comes overclocked to the highest clock speeds of any Radeon HD 6970 card that is available at the market right now. It also uses a dual-fan heatsink which will help give you that edge during overclocking and overvolting. With a price increase of just $10, pricing is right, too.
Patriot Displays Fast and Huge SuperSonic Magnum USB 3.0 Flash Drive
At the ongoing CeBIT event, Patriot Memory showed off its very latest, which includes the WildFire series of SATA 6 Gb/s SSDs, and its latest USB flash drive, the SuperSonic Magnum. As the name suggests, it's both fast and large (capacious). Making use of the USB 3.0 interface, SuperSonic Magnum can rip through file transfers at speeds of up to 200 MB/s (read) and 110 MB/s (write), while holding 128 GB of data. The drive isn't too big (in terms of physical dimensions), by USB 3.0 flash drives' standards. Patriot didn't give out pricing/availability information.
Intel Intros Atom N570 Dual-Core Processor
Intel today expanded its Atom family of high-efficiency, low-footprint x86 processors, with a new high-speed dual-core model. The Atom N570 released today is clocked at 1.66 GHz, a 166 MHz increase over N550 and its 1.50 GHz speed. The dual-core chip is backed by HyperThreading technology, which gives the OS a total of 4 logical CPUs to work with. Atom N570 features a single-channel, low-latency DDR3 memory controller, with DDR3-667 being the memory speed standard (common DDR3-1066/1333 modules will run at 667 MHz, with lowered latency). The processor also embeds a graphics controller, a PCI-Express root complex, and an L2 cache of 1 MB. One can expect N570 to gradually replace N550 in netbooks.
Razer and BioWare Prepare You For Battle In Dragon Age II
Razer, the world's leading high-end precision gaming brand, and Bioware, the critically acclaimed game developer, unleash their Dragon Age II product line to aid your rise to power in this sequel to 2009's Game of the Year and one of 2011's most anticipated games, which launches on March 8, 2011 in North America and March 11, 2011 in Europe on the Xbox 360 computer and videogame system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PC and Mac.
Razer's exclusively designed PC weaponry includes an ergonomically precise Razer DeathAdder mouse, a speed-enhancing Razer Goliathus mouse mat, and a tactile-sensitive Razer BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard. On the Xbox 360 computer and videogame system, the Razer Onza Tournament Edition with adjustable resistance analog sticks is the perfect weapon to wield on your rise to power. The Dragon Age II messenger bag is the warrior's perfect loot-carrying solution with ample space for gaming on the go.
Razer's exclusively designed PC weaponry includes an ergonomically precise Razer DeathAdder mouse, a speed-enhancing Razer Goliathus mouse mat, and a tactile-sensitive Razer BlackWidow Ultimate mechanical keyboard. On the Xbox 360 computer and videogame system, the Razer Onza Tournament Edition with adjustable resistance analog sticks is the perfect weapon to wield on your rise to power. The Dragon Age II messenger bag is the warrior's perfect loot-carrying solution with ample space for gaming on the go.
AOC Announces e2795Vh 27-inch MVA Panel LED Monitor
With the e2795Vh model display specialist AOC presents a large-screen monitor in a timelessly classic design that is equally suitable for action-packed entertainment and the office. The slim widescreen monitor with a response time of 5 ms, a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD) and a screen diagonal of nearly 70 cm (27") is also perfect for fast-paced games and movies.
Complex charts, double-page spreads, image editing, games, video clips or movies - the large 16:9 display area of the e2795Vh offers a lot of space for numerous applications and entertainment. High contrast and brightness values (300 cd/m²) in combination with wide viewing angles (178°/178° hor./vert.) provide an excellent image quality from almost every perspective. LED backlight is employed as light source for the MVA panel, which renders an even brighter and livelier picture.
Complex charts, double-page spreads, image editing, games, video clips or movies - the large 16:9 display area of the e2795Vh offers a lot of space for numerous applications and entertainment. High contrast and brightness values (300 cd/m²) in combination with wide viewing angles (178°/178° hor./vert.) provide an excellent image quality from almost every perspective. LED backlight is employed as light source for the MVA panel, which renders an even brighter and livelier picture.
Thortech Shows off Platinum Plus 850W PSU
GeIL brand Thortech showed off its high-wattage PSU bearing the coveted 80 PLUS Platinum efficiency rating, the Thortech Platinum Plus 850W. The PSU gives out 850W of continuous power, complemented by over 92% efficiency. It makes use of a single large 100A +12V rail design, backed by high-grade components. While the PSU features a suite of powerprotection mechanisms, it also features a native hardware monitoring heads-up display like its 80 Plus Gold compliant cousins. The display sits into a 5.25" drive bay, displays various PSU parameters, and also gives a bit of control. Thortech's PSU is modular, and packs enough PCI-E cables to power a system with up to three graphics cards.
ZOTAC Announces the New ZBOX AD02 Series Mini-PCs
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and the world's largest channel manufacturer of graphics cards, motherboards and mini-PCs, today unleashes the ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series mini-PCs powered by the AMD E-350 APU platform. The ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series delivers a premium computing experience with rich high-definition video playback capabilities and outstanding 3D visuals in a compact form factor.
The powerful AMD E-350 APU equips the ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series with dual processor cores for lightning-fast system responsiveness and snappy multi-tasking abilities. Integrated AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics enable compatibility with the latest Microsoft DirectX 11 titles for stunning 3D visuals on the ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series.
The powerful AMD E-350 APU equips the ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series with dual processor cores for lightning-fast system responsiveness and snappy multi-tasking abilities. Integrated AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics enable compatibility with the latest Microsoft DirectX 11 titles for stunning 3D visuals on the ZOTAC ZBOX AD02 series.
Seagate Ships Industry's Easiest To Deploy 3TB Desktop Drive To Overcome 2TB Barrier
Seagate today began shipments of the industry's most elegant, easy-to-install 3TB desktop drive - the Barracuda XT hard drive - a product that eliminates the need to purchase extra hardware or software to overcome the 2TB barrier. The Barracuda XT hard drive delivers the highest available capacity for home servers and workstations, high-definition video editing and production systems, high-performance PC gaming systems and desktop PCs.
Legacy PC BIOS designs and device drivers and older operating systems such as Windows XP are incapable of using hard drive capacities beyond 2.1TB. The upshot is that existing desktop drives with more than 2.1TB of storage capacity must be deployed with additional software or hardware and may also require extra device drivers to overcome this limitation.
Legacy PC BIOS designs and device drivers and older operating systems such as Windows XP are incapable of using hard drive capacities beyond 2.1TB. The upshot is that existing desktop drives with more than 2.1TB of storage capacity must be deployed with additional software or hardware and may also require extra device drivers to overcome this limitation.
G.Skill Displays Phoenix II SATA 6 Gbps SSD with Blazing 550 MB/s Speeds
G.Skill showed off its fastest SATA solid state drive (SSD) at CeBIT, the Phoenix II series. Based on the SandForce SF-2000 series controller, Phoenix II pushes the limits of SF-2000 series in terms of throughput, and advertises some of the highest transfer rates for the chipset: 550 MB/s read, and 500 MB/s write. The company even validated these speeds using a session of ATTO disk benchmark. The 120 GB Phoenix II SSD was connected to an AMD SB850 SATA 6 Gb/s controller, on a system headed by Phenom II X6 processor. G.Skill said that the 120 GB model would be priced at €299.
VIA Eden X2 Unveiled at Embedded World 2011
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced the new VIA Eden X2 processor, the industry's lowest power dual-core processor, optimized for fanless implementation in a broad range of industrial and commercial embedded systems. VIA Eden X2 will debut at Embedded World 2011, Nuremberg, Hall 12, Booth No. 574
VIA Eden X2 processors combine VIA's signature 'Eden' fanless design principles, in a highly optimized, power-efficient dual-core architecture. This guarantees rock-solid stability for mission critical embedded systems without compromising on performance or features. With a component longevity guarantee of 7 years, VIA Eden X2 processors are guaranteed to extend the reach of fanless system design for years to come.
VIA Eden X2 processors combine VIA's signature 'Eden' fanless design principles, in a highly optimized, power-efficient dual-core architecture. This guarantees rock-solid stability for mission critical embedded systems without compromising on performance or features. With a component longevity guarantee of 7 years, VIA Eden X2 processors are guaranteed to extend the reach of fanless system design for years to come.
Kingston Technology Adds New HyperX T1 Black Triple-Channel Memory Kits
Kingston Technology Europe Ltd, an affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of HyperX T1 Black DDR3 triple-channel memory kits. The new memory kits are designed to meet the performance requirements for the new Intel Core i7-990X chipset and X58-based motherboards and are available in kits of three or six modules and in capacities up to 24GB. Check out the Kingston HyperX 24GB Black T1 demo.
Our new HyperX T1 Black triple-channel kits give enthusiasts the opportunity to combine performance and style into their PC build, said Mark Tekunoff, Senior Technology Manager, Kingston. These high-capacity kits are ideal for the X58 products on the market, especially the new GIGABYTE G1-Killer gaming motherboards.
Our new HyperX T1 Black triple-channel kits give enthusiasts the opportunity to combine performance and style into their PC build, said Mark Tekunoff, Senior Technology Manager, Kingston. These high-capacity kits are ideal for the X58 products on the market, especially the new GIGABYTE G1-Killer gaming motherboards.
Corsair Announces Availability of Cerulean Blue Vengeance High-Performance DDR3 Kits
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of a new blue version of their award-winning Vengeance family of DDR3 memory modules. Vengeance DDR3 memory is optimized for overclocking and compatibility, at an attractive price point. The original Vengeance modules, released to critical acclaim in November 2010, are equipped with aluminum heat spreaders anodized in Jet Black.
The new modules offer performance identical to the original, with Cerulean Blue anodized heat spreaders that provide a great match with the latest 2nd generation Intel Core processor family motherboards from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte. The striking blue color is shared with Corsair Gaming Series power supplies, allowing users to maintain a consistent color scheme throughout their system. Style-conscious system builders can also mix original Jet Black and new Cerulean Blue Vengeance modules for an even more dramatic look that matches their motherboard.
The new modules offer performance identical to the original, with Cerulean Blue anodized heat spreaders that provide a great match with the latest 2nd generation Intel Core processor family motherboards from ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte. The striking blue color is shared with Corsair Gaming Series power supplies, allowing users to maintain a consistent color scheme throughout their system. Style-conscious system builders can also mix original Jet Black and new Cerulean Blue Vengeance modules for an even more dramatic look that matches their motherboard.
Corsair Announces Flash Voyager USB 3.0
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Flash Voyager USB 3.0 family of USB flash drives.
The new Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models bring SuperSpeed USB 3.0 performance to the Flash Voyager family, and share the same durable rubber housing and stylish looks that have made the Flash Voyager family a favorite of consumers looking for fast, reliable, and portable data storage. All Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models are shockproof, water-resistant, backward compatible with USB 2.0/USB 1.1, and provide easy plug-and-play compatibility with most operating systems.
The new Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models bring SuperSpeed USB 3.0 performance to the Flash Voyager family, and share the same durable rubber housing and stylish looks that have made the Flash Voyager family a favorite of consumers looking for fast, reliable, and portable data storage. All Flash Voyager USB 3.0 models are shockproof, water-resistant, backward compatible with USB 2.0/USB 1.1, and provide easy plug-and-play compatibility with most operating systems.
QNAP Announces That All Turbo NAS Series Now Work with Hitachi and Seagate 3TB HDDs
QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of world class NAS servers, NVR Video Surveillance Systems, and Network-based Media Players today announced Hitachi (Deskstar7K3000 HDS723030ALA640) and Seagate (Barracuda XT ST33000651AS) 3TB hard drives are fully supported by the entire lineup of Intel-based and ARM-based Turbo NAS series.
QNAP users can now update the system firmware of Turbo NAS to V3.4.0 or later version and use these high capacity hard drives to enjoy a whopping of 24TB storage (8-bay desktop or rack-mounted models) for high-speed and efficient backup and storage of documents, multimedia files, and more.
QNAP users can now update the system firmware of Turbo NAS to V3.4.0 or later version and use these high capacity hard drives to enjoy a whopping of 24TB storage (8-bay desktop or rack-mounted models) for high-speed and efficient backup and storage of documents, multimedia files, and more.
Corsair Announces First Shipments of Hydro Series H60
Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced shipments of the new Hydro Series H60 High-Performance Liquid CPU Cooler. The Hydro Series H60 brings remarkable new technologies to the CPU cooling market at an affordable price point. New features include:
- A low-profile, light-weight cooling unit that reduces clutter around the CPU
- A redesigned microchannel cold plate with a new fin design that dramatically increases the surface area of copper available for heat absorption
- A new split-flow manifold that delivers coolant directly to the center of the cold plate - the warmest area of the CPU - significantly improving cooling efficiency
- A custom-designed 120mm fan with very high static pressure, which allows for more cold air to be drawn through the radiator to vent heat from the cooling liquid
- Compatibility with the recently announced Corsair Link system for monitoring and control
AMD Radeon HD 6990 Press Deck Leaked
While it is slated for release on the 8th of this month, AMD's Radeon HD 6990 was detailed to sections of the industry. It wasn't long before someone leaked the press deck, revealing all the specifications and AMD performance estimates. The Radeon HD 6990 is a dual-GPU graphics card making use of two AMD Cayman GPUs in internal CrossFire. Cayman is the same GPU that is at the center of Radeon HD 6950 and HD 6970.
In the HD 6990, each Cayman is configured to use all 1536 of its VLIW4 stream processors. The GPU core is clocked at 830 MHz, and memory at 1250 MHz (5.00 GHz GDDR5 effective). The 256-bit wide memory interface of each GPU is populated with 2 GB of memory, setting the total board memory to 4 GB. Display IO includes five connectors, including one DVI and four mini-DisplayPort 1.2. While the HD 6990 is said to outperform GeForce GTX 580, AMD is also bracing itself for NVIDIA's dual-GPU GTX 590, with HD 6990 OC variants following an official specification of 880 MHz core, and the same 5.00 GHz memory.
In the HD 6990, each Cayman is configured to use all 1536 of its VLIW4 stream processors. The GPU core is clocked at 830 MHz, and memory at 1250 MHz (5.00 GHz GDDR5 effective). The 256-bit wide memory interface of each GPU is populated with 2 GB of memory, setting the total board memory to 4 GB. Display IO includes five connectors, including one DVI and four mini-DisplayPort 1.2. While the HD 6990 is said to outperform GeForce GTX 580, AMD is also bracing itself for NVIDIA's dual-GPU GTX 590, with HD 6990 OC variants following an official specification of 880 MHz core, and the same 5.00 GHz memory.
Jan 11th, 2025 07:00 EST
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