Legit Reviews News History
August 29 News from Around the Web
Gigabyte 9800GT Review @ OCC and other reviews from around the web can be viewed in our forums!
"Great googly moogly! The Gigabyte 9800GT has some game. The little 9800GT is no doubt helped by the Zalman cooler that keeps temperatures down. I figured I might as well go for broke with the added voltage offered in the Gamer HUD and pushed the needle to 1.4 volts. The clock speeds kept scaling upwards until I finally landed at 787MHz on the core (up from 600MHz), 1075MHz on the memory and 1863MHz on the shader cores. These clock speeds are higher than any of the 8800GT video cards that Overclockersclub has tested and represents increases of 24% on the GPU core, 16% on the memory and close to 20% on the shaders. Not too bad if I say so myself. At this level of performance, there were nice increases in all of the benchmarks used. Why the comparison to the 8800GT? Because the 9800GT is the basically the same card."
Posted by | Fri, Aug 29, 2008 - 01:57 PM
Microsoft to drop $486 million for European shopping site
Microsoft said Friday it has reached a deal to acquire Greenfield Online, the owner of consumer shopping sites, for about $486 million. Greenfield's properties include Munich, Germany-based Ciao, one of the leading price-comparison and online-shopping sites in Europe. Ultimately, Microsoft said, Ciao's technology platform, online community, and merchant relationships will be integrated with Microsoft's Live Search.
Ciao features consumer reviews and ratings. Microsoft said that, according to ComScore, Ciao has more than 26.5 million unique visitors per month across seven countries, who have generated more than 5 million product reviews. The deal calls for Microsoft to commence a cash tender offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Greenfield for $17.50 per share, or roughly $486 million.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 29, 2008 - 09:57 AM
AMD Doesn't Want You To Think NVIDIA is a Robin Hood
Do you remember the story behind Robin Hood? He is a man known for robbing the rich to give to the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny! Well, AMD doesn't want you to think that NVIDIA is going SLI away with today's announcement that SLI will be licensed to Intel X58 Express platforms. The story I wrote about it today sums this up in the title: NVIDIA Enables SLI on Intel X58 Chipsets For a Fee. AMD still feels strongly that multi-GPU technology should be free for it to be a success and I'd have to agree. Tell us what you think in the forums!
AMD's position has been open as a platform since day when they first launched the technology in June of 2006. ATI doesn't charge a licensing fee or fee to validate CrossFire support, so CrossFire costs consumers nothing. If you get SLI certified they forbid another graphics card logo to be placed on the box.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - 04:00 PM
Nvidia backtracks to authorize native SLI technology support on Intel X58 motherboards
Nvidia will authorize native SLI support on Intel X58 motherboards without the need for its nForce 200 chip, according to Tom Peterson, director of Technical Marketing for MCP products at Nvidia. Nvidia will charge motherboard makers for certification, but the price will be cheaper than that for its nForce 200 chip, costing around US$30, which until recently Nvidia insisted was required to enable SLI on motherboards not using its own chipsets.
Peterson detailed that the company's partners will need to certify their X58 motherboards through Nvidia and, after certification, will receive an approval key to place in the system BIOS. Nvidia's drivers will check for the approval key and the device ID of the chipset before determining whether to enable SLI support on the system.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - 10:38 AM
Evo-G Announces Mouse Anchor
Evo-G just sent over an e-mail letting us know that the Mouse Anchor is available for purchase. The Mouse Anchor was designed to be an efficient and simple cable management system that prevents unwanted mouse movements caused by long wires. With its heavy-duty construction, it effectively secures excess cable and increases stability and accuracy during fast-paced movements.
1.Prevent unwanted mouse movements 2. Push and Save Cable Management System 3. Heavy-Duty Construction
Posted by | Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - 10:36 AM
August 28 News from Around the Web
Benchmark Reviews has an article posted on the Belkin N1 Vision Wireless N Router F5D8232-4. Find this and other reviews from around the web by visiting our forums!
If you're in the market for a new router, you will find you have a lot of choices to pick from. There are literally dozens of manufacturers producing and selling them, and they nearly all look alike too. So when shopping for a new router how does one company go about differentiating their router from a sea of others that all look alike? Well, first of all, they stand it upright, give it a sleek black glossy finish and add an LCD screen on it. Had I not seen the word "router" next to the picture of the Belkin N1 Vision (and maybe the antennas) when I first saw it, I probably would not have known what it was. It was certainly intriguing as it instantly captured my attention. Here at Benchmark Reviews we have on hand the Belkin N1 Vision wireless N router for review.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - 07:51 AM
Microsoft's newest browser may block ads
INTERNET EXPLORER 8 Beta 2, The next version of Microsoft Corp.'s Web browser makes it easier for people to surf the Internet without leaving a trace. Companies that sell advertisements online - including Microsoft - can electronically gather tidbits about Web surfers' habits, and then use that information to help decide what kinds of ads to show. However, in the newest "beta" test version of Microsoft's forthcoming Internet Explorer 8, which was made available Wednesday, a mode called InPrivateBrowsing lets users surf without having a list of sites they visit get stored on their computers. The program also covers other footprints, including temporary Internet files and cookies, the small data files that Web sites put on visitors' computers to track their activities.
Both Internet Explorer 7, Microsoft's current browser, and Mozilla's recently released Firefox 3, already allow users to block cookies. The top two browsers also let users delete private information such as temporary files and browsing history after the fact. But they can't turn off that collection entirely. The beta also introduces an additional InPrivateBlocking mode, which can block third-party content from appearing on Web sites. For example, a news site might carry stock quotes from one company and weather information from another. Companies that provide such content may also be collecting and sharing information about what people do online. But users who turn on InPrivateBlocking won't see that content or be exposed to such data collection without their consent. InPrivateBlocking can also keep some types of ads from appearing - including those served up by Microsoft's own advertising platform, whose success is considered critical to the software maker's future. /
Posted by | Thu, Aug 28, 2008 - 02:26 AM
SanDisk Extrme III SDHC Flash Card Breaks Speed Record
SanDisk Corporation today set a new speed record of 30 megabytes per second for SD flash memory cards with the introduction of the SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition line of SDHC Cards. The new cards, expected to be available worldwide in September in 4-gigabyte (GB), 8GB and 16GB capacities, are designed to deliver peak performance when used with the new digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, Nikon D90.
“Whether capturing a special moment in sports, a wilderness hike, or just your toddler running across the room, life doesn’t always stop when you want to take a picture. The combination of the new Nikon D90 camera and SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition SDHC cards helps ensure that photographers capture winning action shots and experience quicker transfer of files from the camera’s memory card to a computer,” said Mr. Koichiro Kawamura, General Manager, 1st Designing Department, Imaging Company Nikon Corporation
Posted by | Wed, Aug 27, 2008 - 09:19 AM
Taiwan government to use up current budget allocated for WiMAX industry in 2009
The Taiwan government's current budget appropriated for the development of the WiMAX industry will be completely used up in 2009, according to Chen Chao-yi, director general of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
The investment spent thus far has enabled Taiwan makers to expand their production to include WiMAX base stations with a possibility of entering the development of total solutions for the 4G telecoms industry, in addition to WiMAX CPE (customer premise equipment) products, Chen stated. WiMAX technology will continue to play an important role in the 4G industry even though LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology is seemingly more likely to emerge as the mainstream 4G standard, Chen asserted.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 27, 2008 - 09:12 AM
August 27 News from Around the Web
Find reviews from around the web by visiting our forums, including [H]ardOCP's ASUS ENGTX280 TOP Video Card Evaluation!
ASUS ENGTX280 TOP - Prices continue to drop on GeForce GTX 280 video cards, and the ASUS ENGTX280 TOP is now priced very competitively; but is it a great value? We'll compare it to a stock GeForce GTX 280, a Radeon HD 4870 X2 and a Radeon HD 4870 in real-world gaming scenarios to find out!
Posted by | Wed, Aug 27, 2008 - 08:38 AM
Contract Dispute Between ARAMARK and NVIDIA Hits Hard at NVISION 08
When I say fliers about the NVIDIA chipset recall yesterday I figured that some recall activists managed to infiltrate Nvidia’s Nvision 08 visual computing conference to stir they pot. It wasn't just once yesterday, but a number of times these people were handing out fliers inside the event. Then today we say new fliers posted in of all places the bath room..
"My Nvidia Fail is an independent blog created by UNITE HERE. NVIDIA did not sponsor its content. UNITE HERE has a labor dispute with ARAMARK, a vendor for NVIDIA." Basically, there is a contract dispute over the food sources at NVIDIA and ARAMARK and in order to get a better contract the folks at ARAMARK have been tampering with the NVIDIA event. By handing out the fliers to the thousands in attendance they hope to get things patched up with NVIDIA? Is anyone else thinking this is crazy?
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 07:47 PM
NVISION 08 - Booth Babe Pictures From The Show
A number of our readers requested booth babe pictures, so here you go!! These pictures were all taken from the show floor this afternoon and all of them are posted in the forums if you want to check the rest out. Not every company has booth babes as NVIDIA wasn't originally going to allow them and at the last minute changed the rule. .
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 07:31 PM
NVISION 08 - Thermaltake SpinQ CPU Cooler Pictured
Thermaltake just got in the very first SpinQ CPU cooler in the United States and has it on display here at NVISION 08. This new CPU cooler is entirely made out of aluminum and has a very neat look to it with the spiral fin design and 8cm fan. Not too much to say about this as it isn't known and there is nothing about it on the Thermaltake site other than this You Tube video.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 10:00 AM
NVIDIA Launches GeForce 9400 GT Video Card At $59
NVIDIA continues to offer consumers more choice with the addition today of the GeForce 9400 GT. The GeForce 9400 GT delivers unsurpassed value by enabling end users to enjoy gaming, HD video, enhanced visual effects, and smoother Vista performance for retail prices as low as $59.
“GeForce 9400 GT GPUs are a great solution for consumers to optimize the performance of their PC for everyday applications, such as getting online directions through Google Earth or Microsoft 3D maps, or surfing the web for photos using an interactive plug-in like PicLens.”
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 09:52 AM
Gigabyte GA-X58-DS4 Motherboard Pictured - Intel X58 Express Chipset
The upcoming Intel X58 Express chipset supports Socket 1366 Nehalem Core i7 processors and while in San Jose this week I managed to catch a peak at this board from Gigabyte and took a couple pictures. The motherboard is labeled GA-X58-Extreme, but it might be a GA-X58-DS4, which is a cut down and cheaper version. There isn't too much information about this board as it is the first one in the United States and we basically just saw it in passing.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 09:14 AM
Shattered Horizon Game Uses NVIDIA PhysX Technology
NVIDIA Corporation today announced that Futuremark Games Studio has selected NVIDIA PhysX technology for its upcoming first-person shooter game, Shattered Horizon, which was officially unveiled last week at the Leipzig Games Convention in Germany.
“Shattered Horizon has a real space setting that offers gameplay, tactics, and freedom of movement that cannot be found in any other shooter,” said Jukka Mäkinen, Head of Futuremark Games Studio. “PhysX is essential in helping our game designers create a realistic and fun zero-gravity combat experience.” Shattered Horizon is a multiplayer first-person shooter where players fight in zero gravity surrounded by rocky debris from a huge explosion on the Moon. With simple and intuitive controls players have complete freedom of movement to create gameplay and tactics impossible in games constrained by gravity. The game’s stunning lighting effects and zero gravity physics give the look and feel of real space, bringing to life an extraordinary and epic vision of the future.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 02:15 AM
Western Digital Launches 750GB and 1TB RE3 Hard Drives
As the enterprise market for highly reliable, high-capacity storage continues to grow, WD today added 750 GB and 1 TB WD RE3 SATA hard drives to its successful family of WD RE hard drives. WD RE3 1 TB (model WD 1002FBYS) and the 750 GB (model WD57502ABYS) hard drives are available now through select distributors and resellers. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the WD RE3 1 TB is $249 USD and the 750 GB is $199 USD. WD RE3 drives are covered by a five-year limited warranty. Expect to see a review of the new RE3 drives here on Legit Reviews in the weeks to come.
Perfect for demanding server and storage application environments, WD’s RE3 750 GB and 1 TB high-capacity enterprise SATA hard drives combine 32 MB cache, enhanced vibration and shock tolerance, and deploy new electronics to increase performance approximately 20 percent and by as much 60 percent in high-vibration environments. WD RE3 enterprise hard drives also include improved reliability features that help protect the drive and the data stored on it, and run cooler and quieter than previous generation enterprise drives.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 02:11 AM
ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre Supports NVIDIA CUDA
ArcSoft, Inc. announced today that ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre, its universal multimedia player, now supports NVIDIA CUDA which provides DVD upscaling through Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Devising its SimHD post processing technology with NVIDIA CUDA, ArcSoft is accelerating TotalMedia Theatres DVD upscale performance on GPUs to deliver viewers a close-to-HD video from the standard definition multimedia files and DVDs, offering them a sharper and more vivid picture in real time.
"The newly released, CUDA-powered SimHD technology is available in TotalMedia Theatre to allow viewers to obtain a HD-like viewing experience from not only DVDs, but also other standard definition multimedia files,"said George Tang, ArcSoft Vice President and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group. "We are pleased to be partnering with NVIDIA to deliver excellence in high-definition video on the PC."
Posted by | Tue, Aug 26, 2008 - 02:06 AM
Tricia Helfer Live and in Person at NVISION 08
When I was entering the San Jose performing arts center for the Nvision 08 opening keynote I got a chance to see Tricia Helfer up close and personal. Many of you will know her from the TV show Battlestar Galactica and others will know her for her appearance in the February 2007 issue of Playboy Join. Enjoy the pictures as I took just a quick number before I went to watch Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang present during the keynote.
Tricia Janine Helfer (born April 11, 1974) is a Canadian actress and former model, best known for her role as Number Six in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and television series. Helfer played the role of Number Six, a humanoid Cylon operative. She continued that role as a regular cast member in the subsequent series, which entered its fourth and final season in 2008.
Posted by | Mon, Aug 25, 2008 - 05:43 PM
Broadcom to Acquire Digital TV Business from AMD
Broadcom Corporation and AMD today announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Broadcom to acquire AMD’s digital TV (DTV) business.
“The acquisition of AMD’s DTV business, which will become the core of Broadcom’s DTV line of business, will enable us to significantly scale and accelerate the completion of our digital TV product portfolio while also expanding our tier one customer base and positions us to achieve leadership and long-term growth in this important market segment,” said Daniel Marotta, Senior Vice President & General Manager of Broadcom’s Broadband Communications Group. “We believe our combined DTV team will be in an excellent position to grow and thrive in this burgeoning market by bringing best-in-class people, technology, solutions and support to our customers.”
Posted by | Mon, Aug 25, 2008 - 09:21 AM