Yesterday, we had a very productive phone call with CTS-Labs, the firm behind the "AMD Flaws" critical security vulnerabilities exposé of the "Zen" microarchitecture. Our questions focus on the practicality of exploiting these vulnerabilities, and should provide more insight to the skepticism centered on needing admin privileges, flashing BIOS ROMs, and other localized hacks that would render any machine, not just "Zen" powered, vulnerable. Feel free to follow up with questions in the comments section, if we can help explain something.

Security researchers with Israel-based CTS-Labs, have discovered a thirteen security vulnerabilities for systems based on AMD Zen processors. The thirteen new exploits are broadly classified into four groups based on the similarity in function of the processor that they exploit: "Ryzenfall," "Masterkey," "Fallout," and "Chimera."

The researchers "believe that networks that contain AMD computers are at a considerable risk," and that malware can "survive computer reboots and re-installations of the operating system, while remaining virtually undetectable by most endpoint security solutions," such as antivirus software. They also mention that in their opinion, "the basic nature of some of these vulnerabilities amounts to complete disregard of fundamental security principles. This raises concerning questions regarding security practices, auditing, and quality controls at AMD."

iBUYPOWER, the Official Gaming PC of Major League Gaming, is excited to announce new NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 and 660 video cards are now available on all desktop systems. The new video cards deliver high performance and power efficiency at an affordable price point.

"The NVIDIA GeForce 600 series video cards are the step-up many gamers are waiting for," said Darren Su, Vice President of iBUYPOWER, "Those gamers can get that technology delivered to their doorstep, ready-to-play."

iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce the availability of Intel's Performance Tuning Protection Plan on all new iBUYPOWER gaming systems. The plan offers iBUYPOWER customers a one-time replacement for a CPU that is internally damaged by operating the processor outside of Intel's published specifications.

The protection plan will be available at no additional charge with the order of any Intel Z68-based iBUYPOWER system featuring an Intel Core K Series processor. This includes iBUYPOWER's popular Chimera, LAN Warrior II and Erebus systems. The company also offers free liquid CPU cooling on all new desktop systems.

iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce it is the official gaming PC partner of Major League Gaming (MLG), the world's largest competitive gaming league and largest eSports stage in the US. iBUYPOWER's Chimera 4, the fourth generation of iBUYPOWER's signature gaming line inspired by the mythical fire-breathing beast, will be used as the official competition PC for all 2012 MLG Pro Circuit Events.

"We are thrilled to have iBUYPOWER onboard for the 2012 season," said John Lane, EVP Partnerships, Major League Gaming. "Their systems offer our competitors the power they need to perform at the highest levels of professional gaming."

iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce Chimera 4 - the fourth generation of iBUYPOWER's signature gaming line inspired by the mythical fire-breathing beast - is now available for purchase at Newegg, Tiger Direct, and Wal-Mart. The Chimera 4 is sure to turn heads with its fiery case design and performance.

"We are honored for three of the world largest e-tailers to carry our signature line," said Darren Su, Executive Vice President of iBUYPOWER. "Their combined massive reach will expose millions of potential customers to Chimera's unique case design and power."

iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce the availability of new Intel Core i7 3820 3.6 GHz processor. New processors are available in new iBUYPOWER systems, including the Chimera 4, Paladin XLC (extreme liquid cooling) and Erebus Custom Liquid Cooling systems.

iBUYPOWER systems running Intel 3820 are faster not only in clock speed compared to the x58-based CPUs they replace, but they're also faster clock-for-clock, and more efficient with power. This translates into a smoother gaming experience and faster load times to get gamers back into the action quicker. Additional advantages include quad channel memory, more PCIE lanes for improved multi-GPU performance and faster hard drive transfer speeds.

iBUYPOWER, one of the largest gaming system manufacturers in the world, is excited to announce the Chimera Gaming System which is built in the company's first advanced function signature case. The Chimera systems combine a glossy fiery exterior with clear side paneling and optional internal lighting to give it the unique look gamers crave. Its three 120mm cooling fans, Asetek liquid cooling solution, and front panel thermal display keep the Chimera's flames at bay, and the system running cool during even the most intense battles.

iBUYPOWER is offering both an Intel Core i7 based system (Chimera X58) and an AMD configuration featuring the AM3 + Phenom II platform (Chimera AM3). The Chimera systems both support multi-GPU solutions from both ATI and NVIDIA to deliver an unparalleled visual experience.