Legit Reviews News History

ASUS Says Intel's Atom Chip Faces Supply Squeeze

The newest member of Intel's chip family, the low-cost Atom processor, hasn't begun shipping, yet there may not be enough of them. Computer makers, who want Intel's new microprocessor for a nascent breed of low-cost, extra-small notebooks, are predicting that there won't be enough Atom processors to go around when it becomes available later this year.

We will see a severe shortage in Atom processors that will last well into the third quarter," said Asustek CEO Jerry Shen during a conference call discussing the Taiwanese firm's first-quarter financial results, according to news reports. Asustek has been at the forefront of the new market for low-cost notebooks with its Eee PC, a stripped-down device that's half the size of traditional notebook PCs and can cost as little as $299.

The Street

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 06:39 PM

Intel China Foundry to Start Operation in 2010

US chipmaker Intel Corp. is said to have gained approval from the US government to use the 65nm silicon process technology in its Dalian-based chip foundry. The saying was confirmed by Xia Deren, mayor of Dalian, a coastal city in East China's Shandong Province, where the US chipmaker won a nod to build its first foundry in China last year. The construction of the foundry has been almost completed and it is expected to start operation in early 2010, revealed the mayor.

Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, set up foundries in developed countries only in the past. It was allowed to use 90nm silicon process technology in China when it first gained approval from the US government to build a foundry in the nation. Xia believed that Intel would make an effort to improve its chip production technology in China gradually. Currently, the state-of-the-art silicon process technology is 45nm.

SinoCast

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 02:59 PM

Intel and AMD Join Forces - Pervasive Parallelism Lab

Clock speed is no longer the most important measure on processors prowess. It has been supplanted by performance per watt, which addresses the greening of the chip industry. The performance bump that formerly came from cranking up clock speed is now the province of multicores. The only problem is that most software isn't good at taking advantage of multicore architectures. To overcome that hurdle, Stanford University is partnering with Sun Microsystems, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and Intel to create software that will allow chips to more efficiently process many tasks at the same time, according to a report in The New York Times.

The effort--dubbed the Pervasive Parallelism Lab--is expected to be announced by the group on Friday, according to the report. The project follows similar efforts announced last month by Intel and Microsoft, which are committing a combined $20 million to fund parallel computing research centers at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

New York Times Technology News

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 08:51 AM

VIA Launches Open Source Driver Development Portal

VIA Technologies today announced the launch of a beta version of the VIA Linux Portal as part of an initiative designed to extend collaboration with the Open Source community. The beta version of the VIA Linux Portal is located at http://linux.via.com.tw and currently offers driver files for Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 Service Pack 1 for the VIA CN896 chipset with two south bridge options.

The VIA Linux Portal will initially offer graphics drivers for the VIA CN896 digital media IGP chipset for the new Ubuntu 8.04 LTS distribution. Documentation and source code for these drivers will be released over the coming weeks, with official forums and bug tracking scheduled for implementation later this year. The VIA Linux Portal will also adhere to a regular release schedule that is aligned with kernel changes and the release of major Linux distributions.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 08:36 AM

April 30 News from Around the Web

Virtual Hideout's Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock Review and other reviews from around the web can be found in our forums!

“The Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock lived up to its promise. It provides a convenient method of connecting any SATA drive to your system so that you can easily access the data on it. Performance was up to par, but the real benefit is from the design. During disaster recovery, you need something that's straightforward and easy to use and won't add more trouble to your life. The NexStar Hard Drive Dock succeeds in this aspect.”

Legit Forums

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 08:11 AM

XP update delayed over glitch

Microsoft on Tuesday said it is delaying the release of Windows XP Service Pack 3 because of a newly uncovered glitch. The software maker said there is a "compatibility issue" between the XP service pack and Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System, a retail chain management program for small and midsize businesses. Microsoft finalized the code for Windows XP SP3 last week and had planned to make it broadly available starting Tuesday.

"In order to make sure customers have the best possible experience, we have decided to delay releasing Windows XP SP3 to Windows Update and Microsoft Download Center," the company said in a statement. The glitch also exists between Microsoft Dynamics RMS and Windows Vista Service Pack 1, though that product has already been broadly released. Microsoft started pushing out Vista SP1 last week via Automatic Updates.

CNET News

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 02:51 AM

Industry leaders join push for home media networks

Chip and electronics makers Intel (INTC.O: Quote, Profile, Research), Infineon (IFXGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research), Texas Instruments (TXN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Panasonic (6752.T: Quote, Profile, Research) have formed an alliance to promote home networks for movies, music and pictures using domestic wiring. The four leading chip and electronics makers will help market and test a standard to wire together computers, TVs and entertainment systems using electricity, phone and coaxial cable lines that already exist in most homes, they said on Tuesday.

They hope the first products using the new standard will be on the market in about a year. Consumer electronics and computer makers have long talked of the so-called digital home, in which entertainment appliances and PCs are linked and typically controlled from the computer, making it easy to share digital media content between devices. But a lack of common standards between makers of these devices has held back progress. There is already a common wireless standard to link home devices using Wi-Fi. Wired networks often have the advantage of being more stable and having more capacity, and the building blocks for the infrastructure already exist in most homes.

Reuters Technology News

Posted by | Wed, Apr 30, 2008 - 01:54 AM

Razer Introduces The DeathAdder Gaming Mouse For Mac OS X

Razer has launched the Lunar White Razer DeathAdder, an ergonomic right-handed gaming mouse specifically built with the needs of Mac OS X gamers in mind. This is the first gaming mouse in Razer’s arsenal specifically developed for the Mac gamer! The Razer DeathAdder will retail for US: $59.99 in North America and €49.99 in Europe. The Razer DeathAdder for PC can be found online for as little as $21 plus shipping, so the Mac version is more than double the PC version.

The Razer DeathAdder’s –renowned Razer 3G Infrared Sensor technology and engineering improvements make it ideal for Mac OS X gamers in need of a fully feature gaming mouse. The DeathAdder for Mac OS X features the 1800 DPI (dot per inch), Razer Precision 3G infrared sensor with 1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response and a tracking speed of up to 120 inches per second (IPS). All these features of the Razer DeathAdder for the Mac OS X further empower gamers with unprecedented levels of accuracy, precision and tracking speed for First Person Shooter gamers (that play classical Mac OS X games like Unreal Tournament, Halo and Quake III Arena).

Legit Forums

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 10:30 AM

Cray and Intel Collaborate to Develop Future Supercomputing Technologies

Cray Inc. and Intel Corporation announced yesterday that they signed a multi-year agreement to advance high-performance computing (HPC) on Intel microprocessors while delivering broad new Intel and Cray technologies in future Cray server systems. The collaboration of these two industry leaders will result in HPC systems that will help solve some of the world's most complex scientific, engineering and humanitarian challenges.

The two companies plan to explore future supercomputer component designs such as multi-core processing and advanced interconnects. As a result of this collaboration, Cray and Intel plan to develop a range of HPC systems and technologies over the next several years. "Cray's commitment to Intel is a testament of our commitment to HPC and the strength of our hardware and software roadmap and many-core research," said Patrick Gelsinger, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Enterprise Group. "Throughout Cray's history, it has been an innovator in high-end HPC while Intel has pushed the boundaries of processor technology.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 09:39 AM

EarthLink Bails Out On New Orleans Wi-FI

I missed this one over the weekend, but it seems that New Orleans is about to lose its municipal Wi-Fi network as EarthLink plans to halt its participation in the citywide project on May 18, an EarthLink spokesman said Friday. Many municipal Wi-Fi networks have had problems, so this isn't a shock. Wonder if WiMax would have been a better choice for the long run.

The Internet service provider had tried a three-pronged approach before it decided to terminate the network, said Chris Marshall, EarthLink's VP of corporate communications. First, EarthLink tried to sell the network outright. Second, it sought to transfer ownership of the network to the city of New Orleans. Finally, it tried to transfer the network to a third party. All three approaches failed. "We were unable to find a buyer -- either the city or an outside buyer," Marshall said, noting that New Orleans city officials and customers have been informed that EarthLink will remove its network. Subscribers are being offered alternate EarthLink high-speed broadband or dial-up services in place of Wi-Fi.

InformationWeek

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 07:55 AM

AMD: 100 laptop designs being readied for Puma

Around 100 laptop designs based on Advanced Micro Devices' upcoming Puma laptop chip platform are being readied ahead of the chips' scheduled launch in June, according to a company spokesman. Two months ago on a trip to visit AMD we got a chance to see the Puma platform being tested, so we know it's nearly complete!

AMD plans to launch its Puma laptop platform during the Computex trade show in June, where many of the upcoming laptops based on the chips are expected to be on display. Pairing greater power efficiency with improved graphics, Puma is based on AMD's upcoming Turion X2 Ultra processor, previously known by the code name Griffin. Puma also includes a chipset with integrated graphics and an ATI Radeon HD3400 discrete graphics chip. Wireless connectivity is provided by a third-party chipset with support for 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n Wi-Fi networking.

Network World

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 07:37 AM

AMD 45nm Deneb desktop CPU lineup revealed

AMD is planning to launch two 45nm Phenom X4 CPUs (Deneb) in 2008 with core frequencies of between 2.5-2.8GHz and 2.4-2.7GHz, with both adopting 6MB L3 Cache and having a TDP rating of 95W, according to sources at motherboard makers. In addition to the current triple-core CPUs, AMD will launch the Phenom X3 8550 with a core frequency of 2.2GHz in the third quarter (production beginning in the second quarter) and the company will launch more triple-core CPUs in the fourth quarter.

AMD will announce the final order date for its 125W Phenom X4 9750 by the end of the second quarter and the CPU will be replaced by a 95W version – which is available this quarter – while the 95W Phenom X4 9850 will appear before January of 2009. The company is also planning to launch an updated version of its upcoming Phenom X4 9950 (schedule to launch in June) at the end of the fourth quarter.

DigiTimes Daily IT News

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 07:35 AM

Antec Launches Twelve Hundred PC Case

Antec has launched the Twelve Hundred PC enclosure, the next evolution of its best-selling Nine Hundred case. With an advanced cooling system, a spacious design and other convenient features, the Twelve Hundred is an excellent choice for gamers and other high-performance PC builders. The case will retail for approximately $209.95 and is backed by Antec's Quality 3-Year Warranty.

The Twelve Hundred features an exceptionally robust cooling system, designed to accommodate even the most demanding gaming PCs. This system is composed of a top 200mm TriCool fan, two rear 120mm TriCool fans and three front 120mm fans. All TriCool fans come with 3-speed control, enabling users to optimize their balance of cooling and quiet. Two additional 120mm fan mounts give builders the option to provide cooling to the graphics cards and the CPU. The Twelve Hundred also comes with a water cooling platform that can be used to position a reservoir or a pump. A perforated front panel and a washable air filter help to take in air more efficiently and reduce dust build up. The case also includes an advanced cable management system that allows cables to be tucked out of the way for unrestricted airflow.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 07:31 AM

Walton Chaintech Announces APOGEE GT DDR2 1150 & 1200MHz 4GB Memory Kits

Walton Chaintech today introduced its new APOGEE GT DDR2 1150 and 1200 memory module 4GB KIT (2GB x 2 pc) facilitating customers with more competitive price, high capacity and efficiency. APOGEE GT DDR2 1150 and 1200 modules use top quality 128M x 8 BGA chips, with a highest capacity reaching 4 GB in size for faster graphics rendering, 3D gaming, and performance computing. In this 4GB kit, two 2GB modules are included with guaranteed compatibility and occupy less memory slots for better space management.

APOGEE GT DDR2 1150 and 1200 memory module 4GB KIT is specifically designed to be made with 8-layer PCBA with strictly refined quality and JEDEC standardized stability. In terms of bandwidth and speed enhancement, the bandwidth of APOGEE GT DDR 1150 has been expanded to 9.6 GB/s. A 50% growth is performed compared with the current mainstream DDR2 800 (6.4 GB/s). With dual-channel configuration support and a latency of CL 5-5-5-15, APOGEE GT DDR2 1150 and 1200 clearly position itself at the top level of speed and performance among other overclocking memory modules. The famous fin-shape heatsink with a touch of APOGEE red is featured with each pair of modules and helps reducing the heat during the overclocking operation and increase stability of this pair of memory modules.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Tue, Apr 29, 2008 - 07:27 AM

April 28 News from Around the Web

Find reviews from around the web in our forums! The following is from High Tech Reviews' article on the CoolerMaster Real Power Pro 1000 watt Power Supply:

As more and more people are configuring their systems to operate in either nVidia’s SLI or AMD’s Crossfire configuration the demand for a power supply that can not only provide enough power for both video cards, but for all of the accessories that go it. As an example the cooling system we are using is comprised of a six TECs (thermoelectric coolers) which are notorious for drawing a great deal of current. The Real Power Pro 1000 handles everyone of the stresstest programs we tosses at it and all the while the voltage stayed within +-5%.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Mon, Apr 28, 2008 - 07:58 AM

Intel to push Mini-ITX motherboard for entry-level and multimedia PCs

Intel has unveiled two Mini-ITX-based motherboards, Elko and Fly Creek, for entry-level PC and multimedia PC markets, respectively.

Elko will adopt Intel's 945GC chipset, while Fly Creek will adopt its G45 chipset featuring the GMA X3500 graphics core for better multimedia performance. Tom Rampone, general manager of Intel Channel Platforms Group said there is market demand for smaller-size PCs, but current nettops do not meet the requirements for entry-level or multimedia markets. The two new motherboards satisfy these markets. Rampone added in saying that Intel expects Mini-ITX to replace Micro-ATX and become the mainstream for future low-cost, entry-level and multimedia PC markets.

DigiTimes Daily IT News

Posted by | Fri, Apr 25, 2008 - 10:28 AM

Cellphone market Q1 growth fastest since 2006

Handset makers sold 14 percent more phones in January-March than a year ago, growing at the fastest pace in five quarters, research firms said on Friday. In 2006, market growth was at over 20 percent level throughout the year.

"Global handset volume continues to increase at a healthy pace. Recent annual growth rates have actually gone up, not down. Emerging markets continue to surge," said Neil Mawston, analyst at Strategy Analytics. The world's largest phone maker Nokia, and Korean vendors Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, won further share of the market, helped by attractive designs and wide offerings.

Reuters Technology News

Posted by | Fri, Apr 25, 2008 - 10:06 AM

Microsoft may keep XP alive after all according to Steve Ballmer

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said Thursday that the company may reconsider its decision to stop selling Windows XP on June 30. At an event in Belgium, Ballmer told reporters, "If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter," according to an Associated Press report.

Fans of XP — the six-year-old operating system set to be pulled off store shelves by June 30 — have plastered the Internet with blog posts, cartoons and petitions recently. They trumpet its superiority to Vista, whose consumer launch in January was greeted with lukewarm reviews. Ballmer said the customers buying PCs with XP are corporate information technology departments that are having trouble shifting old machines to newer technology.

Associated Press

Posted by | Thu, Apr 24, 2008 - 10:38 AM

Low Flash Memory Prices Are Creating Low Cost Consumer Products

An oversupply of one kind of computer memory is creating great deals on digital camera cards, music players and other portable electronics. Flash memory chips are so plentiful, they're being sold at steep losses. One common model sold Wednesday for $3.37 wholesale, though it can cost between $4 and $4.50 to make, says market tracker DRAMeXchange and equity firm Lehman Bros.

Some wholesale flash prices tumbled 22% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, Semico Research says. That's bad news for companies that manufacture flash, including Samsung, Toshiba and Hynix (formerly a division of Hyundai). But it lowers the cost of making everything from universal serial bus (USB) drives to navigation systems to cellphones.

USA Today

Posted by | Thu, Apr 24, 2008 - 10:36 AM

ASUS Unveils Lamborghini VX3 Laptop in Hollywood at Lamborghini Dealer

ASUS introduces the ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 third generation laptop with a Hollywood-style celebration co-sponsored by Intel at the Lamborghini Orange County dealership. Celebrities and industry partners will walk the yellow-carpet as they enter the ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 celebration. Photo opportunities are available via various press walls which feature the ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 and Lamborghini automobiles. The ASUS-Lamborhini VX3 will retail for $3,299.

The latest addition to the ASUS-Lamborghini VX series family is a design combination of luxury, portability and superior performance. The 12.1 inch, 3.6lb ASUS-Lamborghini VX3 features a sapphire crystal camera lens, hand-made genuine leather palm rest, titanium alloy hinge, authentic Lamborghini painted cover with the world-renowned Lamborghini logo, a 320G hard drive and the latest Intel Centrino processor technology that provides optimal performance and authenticity on-the-go.

Legit Forums

Posted by | Thu, Apr 24, 2008 - 10:34 AM

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