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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

MSI is ready with a new Radeon HD 6950 2 GB graphics card that makes use of the company's new Twin Frozr III cooling assembly. The R6950 Twin Frozr III Power Edition from MSI makes use of a custom-design PCB with strong, overclocker-friendly VRM circuitry, out of the box overclock speeds of 850 MHz core and 1300 MHz (5200 MHz effective) GDDR5 memory speeds, against reference speeds of 800/1250 MHz. The Twin Frozr III cooler makes use of a dense aluminum fin array to which heat is conveyed by a number of nickel-plated copper heat pipes, and is ventilated by two 80 mm fans that use "propeller-design" fan blades that deliver higher air-flow at lower noise outputs.

Based on the 40 nm Cayman silicon, Radeon HD 6950 packs 1408 VLIW4 stream processors, is DirectX 11 compliant, and makes use of a high-speed GDDR5 memory controller with 256-bit bus width. Display output connectors include two DVI, two mini-DisplayPort 1.2, and one HDMI 1.4a. AMD-exclusive technologies such as Eyefinity and HydraVision are supported. The card can pair with up to three more Radeon HD 6900 series GPUs for 4-way CrossFireX multi-GPU operation. MSI's new Radeon HD 6950 2 GB Twin Frozr III Power Edition graphics card is priced at around 300€.

The the consumer graphics industry is about to see yet another round of competition between top market players AMD and NVIDIA in March, with reports suggesting that the red team (AMD) has chosen March 8 as the launch date of its Radeon HD 6990 graphics card. NVIDIA's response, the GeForce GTX 590 is slated for sometime later in March, as well. AMD is said to be finalizing the SKU, and it should be launched by partners on the 8th of next month. The Radeon HD 6990 is a dual-GPU "CrossFire on a stick" solution, in which two AMD Cayman GPUs with 2 GB of memory each, work in tandem.

Eurocom Corporation announces support for Intel's new high performance i7-990X Extreme Edition Processor inside the EUROCOM Panther 2.0 performance notebook. The addition of the Intel Core i7-990X to the long list of processor options gives Eurocom customers even greater choice when customizing their unique systems.

The Intel Core i7-990X comes unlocked and runs at 3.46GHz, with a 3.73GHz Turbo Boost. "The i7-990X gives our clients a super powerful, unlocked processor that is built for unmatched performance" said Mark Bialic, President of Eurocom "Customers can now match the Intel i7-990X extreme processor with AMD Radeon HD6970M or NVIDIA GTX 485M video cards in single or dual configuration for a super computer experience inside a notebook form factor."

Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) releases the latest motherboard HDC-I with built-in the newest AMD E-350 dual-core APU and E-240 single-core APU powered by AMD Hudson M-1 chipset; also, E-350/E-240 APU combining the Radeon HD 6310 graphics inside enable users to experience more breathtaking home theater moment with less power consumed which would only be under 22watts (TDP). ECS HDC-I uses all solid capacitor for better quality and longer durability. So that ECS HDC-I is the best choice to "green" your Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC) power for less price.

ECS HDC-I motherboard with AMD E-350/E-240 provides the impressive graphics performance for users who want to try the latest AMD Fusion (APU) technology. ECS HDC-I also supports UVD 3 and DirectX○R 11 without a discrete graphic card. No matter users want to fully indulge in home theater moment or require thrilling gaming power, ECS HDC-I motherboard not only provides up to 3 VGA output choices- HDMI, DVI, and VGA to give users the unbelievable time for multimedia aims but also equips 8 channel HD audio and S/PDIF output to inspire users' senses.

AMD today announced the introduction of the OpenCL University Kit, a set of materials that can be leveraged by any university to assist them in teaching a semester course in OpenCL programming. This effort underscores AMD's commitment to the educational community, which currently includes a number of strategic research initiatives, to enable the next generation of software developers and programmers with the knowledge needed to lead the era of heterogeneous computing. OpenCL, the only non-proprietary industry standard available today for true heterogeneous computing, helps developers to harness the full compute power of both the CPU and GPU to create innovative applications for vivid computing experiences.

"As a former professor at Washington University in St. Louis, I firmly believe that the university setting is a vital environment to cultivate the best and brightest minds and set them on a path to succeed," said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, AMD Fusion Experience Program. "By ensuring that an industry standard like OpenCL is a central element of the education process, we are helping to put the PC application ecosystem in good hands to take full advantage of a heterogeneous computing future."

HP today revamped its corporate and enterprise (C&E) and small and medium business (SMB) notebook PC lineup with new technology aimed at boosting performance and productivity, while offering an enriched and sophisticated industrial design that improves notebook quality and reliability.

The company's new FORGE design framework ensures HP business notebooks embody a timeless construction, with precision-engineered durability features that are designed for maximum reliability and with the environment in mind. Precision aluminum-alloy hinges, cast titanium-alloy display latches and the HP DisplaySafe frame are a few of the design highlights behind the FORGE approach.

Lenovo made its AMD Brazos platform-based ThinkPad X120e available to buyers. One of the first ThinkPad laptops using AMD processors, the X120e uses a 11.6-inch form-factor, and is driven by either an AMD E-240 Fusion single-core, or E-350 dual-core accelerated processing unit, AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics, 2, 3, or 4 GB of DDR3 memory, WiFi a/b/g/n, and optional 3G HSDPA, Bluetooth 3.0. Storage options include 5400 or 7200 RPM hard drives, while battery options include 3-cell standard, or 6-cell. Windows 7 Home Premium is standard, but Windows 7 Professional can be opted for. Available in a variety of configurations, the ThinkPad X120e base models start at US $399 and $449.

The pioneer of multi-vendor/multi-GPU graphic solutions, LucidLogix today announced it has released Virtu GPU virtualization software for 2nd Generation Intel Core processor platforms to global motherboard manufacturers.

With this technology, next-generation PCs will dynamically balance the advanced power-efficient, built-in media features of Intel Core processor graphics with the high-end, DirectX 11 3D, anti-aliasing and performance features of discrete GPUs, while significantly reducing the power drain of traditional entertainment desktops. Ultimately, the consumer is assured optimal simultaneous performance in 3D gaming and video functions like transcoding and HD playback without the need to swap video cable connections between GPUs.