Legit Reviews News History
Intel Launches Core 2 Duo Processors For Notebooks
Laptops around the world are getting a make-over as systems based on Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology are now shipping with Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors inside, Intel Corporation announced. The mobile version of the Intel Core 2 Duo processors T7600, T7400, T7200, T5600 and T5500 are priced at $637, $423, $294, $241 and $209 respectively, in 1,000-unit quantities.
Intel Core 2 Duo processors have two processing cores ? or computing ?brains? ? that can handle multiple tasks in less time while consuming less power. This means cooler, sleeker and smaller systems. These processors also deliver improved performance for videos, gaming and multimedia activities ? especially when running multiple applications simultaneously. For example, when integrated into Intel Centrino Duo-based systems, the Intel Core 2 Duo processors can improve viewing and playing back high-definition video, speed up conversion of songs into a digital format so they can be uploaded onto an MP3 player, and more quickly run the latest virus protection updates.
Posted by | Mon, Aug 28, 2006 - 08:01 AM
Rumor: AMD is having trouble with 65nm processor voltages
Rumors have finally hit the web about what AMD's problems are at 65nm, rather than the nebulous 'they have issues' comments that have been out for months. It seems they are having voltage issues with the core and are using far more power than they want to be using. It should be interesting to see how this one pans out. With Intel Core 2 Duo processors becoming the new benchmarking leader the last thing AMD needs is a delayed launch.
A bird has been singing to us that AMD is having problems getting the speeds they need out of the stock voltages. This is forcing AMD to pump things as high as 1.4V. If you do the math, (1.4^2)/(1.1^2) = 1.62, so AMD is forced to use 60+% more power than they wanted to. This kind of skews the performance per watt leadership they are claiming, so I guess there is still work to be done. That said, there is a bit more than three months to go before any deadlines are missed, and the wafers going in today are still not the ones you may end up buying, so there is time. Barely
Posted by | Sat, Aug 26, 2006 - 08:51 AM
Sony puts price on battery problems - up to $258 million
Sony Corp. has provided for the first time an estimate of what the recalls of its battery packs by PC makers could end up costing the Japanese company.
Sony expects the Apple and Dell recalls to cost between „20 billion and „30 billion (US$172 million to $258 million). It said the figure represents the cost of replacement battery packs and any other related costs. That could put a dent in Sony's full-year financial results. The company currently forecasts both its operating profit and its net profit to be „130 billion for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. Sony said it anticipates "no further recalls of battery packs using these particular battery cells."
Posted by | Fri, Aug 25, 2006 - 07:24 AM
Intel Wi-Fi Proset software v10.5 hogs PC memory
A software update for Intel wireless hardware is faulty and can hog PC memory, Intel acknowledged Thursday. A fix is due on Friday. The problem affects the Intel PROSet software version 10.5, Amy Martin, an Intel spokeswoman, said. The PROSet software accompanies Intel's drivers that run the company's wireless hardware on PCs.
"One of the processes used by the Intel PROSet software was not releasing the (file) handles correctly, which caused more and more memory to be used by the process," Martin said. As a result, a PC slows down, she said. Intel has made a fix available to PC makers and plans to post it to the Intel Web site on Friday, Martin said.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 25, 2006 - 07:11 AM
With ATI focused on AMD, new opportunities seen for VIA and SiS
Taiwan-based chipset vendors VIA Technologies and Silicon Integrated Systems (SiS) are expected to benefit from ATI's rumored decision to cut down chipset developments for the Intel platform, sources at Taiwan motherboard makers indicated. If the rumor is true, the two vendors will get some space in the entry-level integrated chipset market to be filled with their solutions, according to the sources.
ATI now has a right to develop chipsets for Intel Core-based processors featuring a 1066MHz FSB, the sources indicated. However, after revising ATI's latest roadmap, the sources found that ATI will maybe not support any Intel's desktop CPU with its new chipsets, beyond the RC610 chipset scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2007. Drawing a parallel to the post-takeover story of ULi Electronics, with its southbridges utilized together with ATI's northbridges in motherboards for the Intel Pentium 4, the sources expressed an opinion that ATI may also break its earlier commitments.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 25, 2006 - 07:10 AM
Apple Says Apple Says 'no material impact' Due To Battery Recall, But Not Sony
Apple Computer just settled a series of patent disputes with Creative Technology by paying the firm $100 million yesterday and just an hour ago announced the recall of 1.8 million laptop-computer batteries! It's been a tough week for Apple, but for some reason the stock doesn't reflect that. Shares of Apple (APPL) are actually up nearly 0.75% with the news of the battery recall hitting the media right now. It seems that Sony Corporation (SNE) will be picking up the Dell and Apple tab and is already feeling the impact as they are down just over 3% on the news today.
In other Apple news, it emerged today that the same problem that led Dell to recall 4.1 million laptop-computer batteries last week will cause Apple to recall 1.8 million laptop-computer batteries worldwide. Apple iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 models purchased between October 2003 and August 2006 are affected. Once again, Sony batteries are the culprit. An Apple spokesman told Bloomberg that the recall will have "no material impact" on the company. The Dell and Apple recalls are expected to set Sony back between $170-$257 million in total.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 12:18 PM
Apple Recalls 1.8 Million Batteries
Because of a risk of fire, Apple Computer is recalling 1.8 million batteries that use Sony's battery cell technology, which also was at the root of Dell's historic recall last week. The Mac maker's recall, while not as large as Dell's, affects users of its iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptop models sold between October 2003 and August 2006, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Apple said it has gotten nine reports of batteries overheating, including two cases in which users reported minor burns and property damage. However, it says no serious injuries have been reported. "These lithium ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers," the Consumer Product Safety Commission said in a press release Thursday. Additional information can be found by calling 1-800-275-2273 or visiting an Apple Web page for the recall.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 12:08 PM
Qantas Airlines cautions use of Dell laptops During Flight
Australia's Qantas Airways is telling passengers with Dell laptops that they might not be able to recharge their machines in-flight due to the battery recall that is causing laptops to burn up! This makes sense as the last place you want to see a laptop start to burn up is on an airplane in the middle of a flight! Dell customers can find out more about the recall by visiting the Dell Web site or by calling toll-free in the U.S. at 1-866-342-0011, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time.
Qantas said laptops with batteries that are subject to the recall and that have not yet been replaced can be used on flights, but only on battery power or through the onboard power supply with the batteries removed.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 09:34 AM
Nasa names new spacecraft 'Orion'
Nasa has named its new manned exploration craft Orion. The vehicle is being developed to take human space explorers back to the Moon and potentially then on to Mars.
It is hoped the name Orion could eventually mean as much for manned space exploration as Apollo did in the 1960s and 1970s. Its first manned flight - to the International Space Station - will take place no later than 2014 and its first flight to the Moon no later than 2020.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 07:12 AM
IBM pushes quad-core ahead of Intel and AMD
IBM is hoping to steal a march on Intel and AMD in the quad-core race by launching four servers based around its second-generation Power 5+ processors.
The new servers can manage 1.65 GHz clock speeds going downhill with the wind behind themT and will be priced to compete with x86-based servers using processors from Intel and AMD. It is the second time that IBM has had a go at peddling Power 5+ quad-core System p servers. The last time was when it used the first-generation processors that had clock speeds of 1.5 GHz and that was for the high to mid range market. In the range there will be the 505Q Express, the 510Q, the 520Q and the 550Q, a 4U system.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 07:09 AM
Halfway house for Internet addicts
Mainland China has opened its first halfway house for Internet addicts, offering shell-shocked teenagers counseling, books -- and the use of computers. The shelter can hold four minors for one-night stays and help bridge gaps between children and parents, the Shanghai Daily said.
"We wander around in nearby Internet bars at night and bring them to the halfway house if the teen agrees." Computer and online gaming has exploded in China in recent years, with an estimated 14 million people taking part. Amid growing concern that more and more young people are getting hooked, China has issued a raft of regulations aimed at curbing excessive game playing at Internet cafes and heavily fining owners that admit minors.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 07:06 AM
Pluto is no longer a planet?
Scientists from around the world on Thursday approved a new definition of a planet, downgrading Pluto's status to leave just eight classical planets. I wonder if I missed that question on the ACT or while in grade school because I want credit for my wrong, i mean right, answer! For now, the term planet will be restricted to the eight ?classical? planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
After a heated debate, 2,500 scientists and astronomers voted at the International Astronomers Union General Assembly that Pluto, which has been called a planet since being discovered in 1930, would be put into a category of planets called "dwarf planets".
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 07:01 AM
Quanta to produce the $100 laptops in Jiangsu, China
Quanta Computer has selected its new plant in Changshu, Jiangsu province (China) as a production base for the US$100 laptop project, initiated by the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) research initiative, indicated industry sources, mentioning lower labor costs in the region as the reason for Quanta to prefer Changshu to Shanghai.
Compared to Shanghai, Quanta may save up to 20% on labor costs in Changshu, which seem the most suitable site to produce cost-sensitive US$100 laptops, according to the sources. The Changshu plant was not projected to produce notebooks, so US$100 laptops are not considered by Quanta as usual notebooks, since their specifications and price range are far different from standard notebook models, the sources said
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 06:59 AM
Apple settles with Creative for $100 million
Apple Computer and Creative Technology have agreed to settle their legal dispute over music player patents for $100 million, the companies announced Wednesday. The $100 million, to be paid by Apple, grants Apple a license to a Creative patent for the hierarchical user interface used in that company's Zen music players.
Apple can get back some of the $100 million payment if Creative is able to secure licensing deals with other MP3 player manufacturers, said Steve Dowling, an Apple spokesman. He declined to specify exactly how much Apple could recoup or how many deals it would take to trigger the payments. Under U.S. patent law, the first inventor to file a patent generally holds the rights to that technology, said Rod Thompson, an intellectual property lawyer with Farella Braun and Martell in San Francisco. This isn't always the case, as another inventor can attempt to prove that they were working on the invention before the other inventor filed for a patent, but that's a long, expensive legal process with no certainties, he said.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 24, 2006 - 06:57 AM
AMD Merger Impact -- ATi Cancels 65nm Chipsets For Intel
The first impact of AMD's acquisition of ATI Technologies on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) has surfaced, as ATI has cancelled launch of the company's 65-nanometer (65nm) chipsets for the Intel platform, the RD700, RS700 and RC710, which were scheduled to be released during the second half of 2007, according to the Chinese-language Commercial Times.
Online Hong Kong-based HKEPC Hardware reported on August 22 that ATI may fail to follow its promise that its acquisition by AMD would not affect chipset shipments for the Intel platform. ATI's upcoming RC610 chipset, which is set for release in the first quarter of 2007, may be the last ATI product supporting the Intel platform, according to HKEPC. ATI has removed the RD700, RS700 and RC710 chipsets from its pervious roadmap of ATI-Intel chipsets, said HKEPC, which claims to have reviewed the latest product roadmap from ATI.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 08:48 AM
Gateway receives ~$450 million offer for retail unit
Lap Shun Hui, owner of Joui International and the former owner of eMachines, said on Tuesday he has submitted a bid to buy the retail operations of computer maker Gateway for $450 million. In a letter to Gateway's board, Hui also said he would be willing to explore buying all outstanding shares in the whole company.
The offer for the retail operations was first submitted on Aug. 3, but Gateway did not "constructively engage in discussions" with Hui and his advisers, the letter said. Hui's cash-free, debt-free proposal to buy the Gateway retail operations represents the equivalent of $1.21 per share, based on 372.2 million shares outstanding, he said in the letter. Shares of Gateway closed at $1.72 on Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange, up 12.4 percent.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 06:36 AM
ATI Radeon X1950 Series Reviews
The online reviews of the Radeon X1950 series graphics cards are starting to flow in, so I thought I'd post a number of them up for you to read. Our review shows how the X1950 XTX stacks up against 13 other cards for a good picture of single card performance, but feel free to look around to see what the other professional reviewers think.
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ Legit Reviews
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ [H]ard|OCP
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ Driver Heaven
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ Guru3D
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ HotHardware
ATi Radeon X1950 XTX @ PCPerspective
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 06:28 AM
ATI Launches The Radeon X1950 Graphics Card Series
Gamers have a lot to be excited about as today ATI announced its new flagship graphics card family, the Radeon X1950 series. The new Radeon X1950 XTX and Radeon X1950 CrossFireT Edition work together or individually to deliver the ultimate gaming performance available today.
Along with high frame rates, the Radeon X1950 family delivers uncompromised image quality. Only ATI's graphics processors provide the ability to combine FP16 High Dynamic Range effects with anti-aliasing to render the most realistic game environments possible. Sharp texture filtering capabilities also ensure that every detail in every scene is rendered. This combination of high performance and image quality results in the most immersive experience available today. The Radeon X1950 employs the latest memory technology of GDDR4 to deliver blazing performance. With an effective data rate of 2 GHz, the new cards are easily capable of rendering fast frame rates at high resolutions, or maximizing image quality settings for gamers running at more mainstream resolutions. Accompanying the addition of GDDR4, the Radeon X1950 also introduces a new fansink that results in cooler, quieter operation.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 06:24 AM
Mobile Phones On Airplanes Soon A Reality
Overhead "no smoking" signs will be replaced by "no mobiles" messages on some planes next year when technology is introduced to make it safe for passengers to use mobile phones mid-flight.
Airlines are seeking ways to police potentially annoying on-board phone chat via symbols of a mobile phone crossed out, forcing passengers to switch off during take-off and designated "night" periods. The company developing the satellite technology for Airbus planes also said cabin crew would be able to remotely switch off phones or disable their voice function, allowing travelers to just use text messaging and email during quiet times.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 06:15 AM
IBM Buying Internet Security Systems
IBM agreed to buy Internet Security Systems for $28 a share, or $1.3 billion, in cash. The deal offers holders of Atlanta-based Internet Security an 8% premium to Tuesday's closing prices.
BM said the acquisition advances its strategy to utilize IT services, software and consulting expertise to automate labor-based processes into standardized, software-based services that help clients optimize and transform their businesses. This acquisition also reinforces IBM's position in the rapidly growing area of Managed Security Services.
Posted by | Wed, Aug 23, 2006 - 06:12 AM
Futuremark Adds Sapphire as Latest Benchmark Development Member
Futuremark Corporation in joint cooperation with Hong Kong based Sapphire Technology Ltd announced today that Sapphire has become the first board manufacturer to join the 3DMark Benchmark Development Program.
"We are pleased to welcome Sapphire to the 3DMark BDP. Sapphire brings a substantial commitment to the program, expressing that they plan to be fully engaged in the benchmark development process, cooperating at each step in the BDP process" said Oliver Baltuch, Futuremark's VP of Sales and Marketing, North America. "They are strong proponents of utilizing universally accepted 3DMark performance numbers as marketing and engineering tools, so their membership in the program is strategically important to their global sales efforts."
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 09:33 AM
AMD Opens New R&D Center In Shanghai, China
AMD today officially opened the Shanghai Research and Development Center (SRDC), a multi-million dollar research and development facility driving next-generation AMD processor-powered platform innovation through increased technology partner and customer collaboration. Initially, the SRDC's engineering staff will focus on the development of AMD's next-generation mobile platforms, but will also provide an important role in the validation and testing of AMD's broad range of current and future microprocessors.
"This opening, which is the largest single expansion of system design and customer support resources in AMD's history, represents both our deep commitment to China and to moving more of our center of gravity closer to customers and technology end-users," said Dirk Meyer, president and chief operating officer of AMD. "The SRDC will dramatically improve our ability to help our customers create highly advanced, next-generation platform designs and help accelerate time to market."
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 07:47 AM
Laptops and Planes still go together, for now
With heightened security at airports across the nation many believe that laptops are destined to being on the no fly list. While if this even happens it is sometime away it's still something to think about now and the following news story does just that.
The good news is that the restrictions on electronics that applied to those transatlantic flights have been removed. You can now fly again with your laptop and your iPod. Just be prepared for some very detailed screening when you go through security. And be aware that those restrictions could be back again just as quickly, and with as little warning, as they were before.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 07:27 AM
Rumor: Intel now has many 3Dlabs employees that created Open GL 2.0
Fudo believs that Intel quietly acquired most of the 3Dlabs graphics team. Back on the 24th February this year, 3Dlabs and its mother company Creative Labs announced plans to "refocus" 3Dlabs' interests on mobile and handheld market. The company also said that it will cut its workforce to only 100 people. We learned that a whole group of very talented engineers from Fort Collins, Colorado moved across to Intel.
Intel offered them a shelter as those guys have made 3D graphic powerhouse workstation chips for many years and because those guys actually designed most of the specs for Open GL 2.0 specification. They should not have much trouble to "refocus" their interest to the discrete graphics that Intel yearns for so much. There is a patent matter that could still be pending.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 07:03 AM
3 leave AOL over privacy goof
Two AOL employees were fired and its chief technology officer has left the company in the aftermath of a privacy breach that involved the release of more than 650,000 subscribers' Internet search terms. I still fear AOL user #907 and pray that I never bump into him in my neighborhood.
Although AOL had substituted numeric IDs for the subscribers' user names, the search queries themselves contained Social Security numbers, medical conditions and other data that could be traced to an individual. Maureen Govern, the technology chief, will be replaced on an interim basis by John McKinley, who had held that position before becoming AOL's president for digital services.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 06:03 AM
Reinventing the scroll wheel
A recent visit by CNET News.com to Synaptics' headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., turned up several notable concept designs that might make their way into future PCs. CNET has a bunch of pictures of new designs that might change the way we use computers, but it's too early to tell if any will catch on.
The company, perhaps best-known for its iPod click wheel, actually receives the bulk of its revenue from designing and building touchpads for notebook PCs. One example of a current product featuring Synaptics' technology is Toshiba's Qosmio entertainment notebook. This is a dual-mode touchpad, which means it can either operate in cursor mode or in multimedia mode by tapping the button in the upper right-hand corner with the arrows. The touchpad can be used to adjust the volume or launch different applications when in multimedia mode.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 05:58 AM
Damn That's Big -- Samsung debuts 8GB music phone
Samsung Electronics has developed a music-player cell phone with 8GB of built-in flash memory -- that's double the amount of memory in Apple Computer's hit-iPod nano. The SCH-B570 can store about 1,600 MP3 music files or about 16 movies and if that's not enough entertainment then there's also a receiver for South Korea's mobile satellite broadcasting service (S-DMB). It also has a 2 megapixel camera.
The relatively high price of flash memory is a limiting factor in the storage built into products such as MP3 players, phones and digital still cameras. But both Samsung and SanDisk are among the world's largest manufacturers of flash memory chips and so are able to benefit from lower prices than those paid by competitors like Apple and Sony. Both the new SanDisk player and cell phones capable of playing video like Samsung's SCH-B570 are among the types of products that could kick-start the market for portable video. After Apple released the iPod with video last year, interest in the sector has grown but the market remains small compared to that for music.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 05:56 AM
Intel Merom prices start at $209 -- transitional platform
The Core 2 Duo T5500 and the Core 2 Duo T5600, entry-level offerings in Intel's upcoming Merom notebook CPU line, will respectively be priced at US$209 and US$241, according to sources at Taiwan-based notebook makers. The new processors will replace existing Core Duo T2300E and T2400 models, which are based on the Yonah core.
According to notebook makers, this year's Napa Refresh platform, which incorporates Merom CPUs as a key element, will likely be a transitional solution on a way to next year's Santa Rosa. Scheduled for release by the first half of 2007, the next-generation platform is expected to utilize Core 2 Duo T7xxx-series CPUs, the sources said. Santa Rosa will support Microsoft's upcoming 64-bit Windows Vista operating system (OS) and the IEEE 802.11n Wi-Fi standard featuring multi-input multi-output (MIMO) wireless communication technology, with the network throughput increased from current 54Mbps (802.11a/g) to 300Mbps, according to the makers.
Posted by | Tue, Aug 22, 2006 - 05:54 AM
Apple Runs Fans Nonstop To Cool MacBooks
Last Thursday Apple issued a firmware update for its entry-level MacBook notebooks to adjust "fan behavior." The firmware update, which can be downloaded Apple support site, is in response to ongoing customer complaints about overheated and/or noisy MacBooks, the newest model in the Intel-based portable line.
"Now we have an update that appears to fix both issues, yet folks are now complaining that in a room with no air conditioner, no music playing, no tv, no voices, you can hear the fan running if you put your ear next to your Macbook. This is unacceptable! I think Apple should also include a pot of gold with the update to compensate for the horrible fan noise. I'm calling Steve right now and demand my pot o' gold!"
Posted by | Mon, Aug 21, 2006 - 08:05 AM
US judge rules wiretaps illegal
A secret wiretapping scheme brought in as part of the Bush administration's war on terror is unconstitutional and must stop, a federal judge has ruled. The programme, approved by President Bush in 2001, allows for the monitoring of millions of US citizens' phone calls abroad without the need for a warrant.
Civil liberties campaigners brought the case against the programme, which was uncovered by the US media. The White House says the scheme is legal and is seeking an appeal. In her 43-page ruling on the case, Judge Anna Diggs Taylor in Detroit said that the surveillance programme violated protections on free speech and privacy.
Posted by | Mon, Aug 21, 2006 - 08:02 AM
Intel has another chip set shortage
A spike in PC demand has created a new shortage of Intel chip sets, potentially reviving an issue blamed for causing the company to lose market share to rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) last year. Legit Reviews correctly called this shortage nearly a month ago in the conclusion of the Conroe launch article by saying: "The limiting factor here will actually be chipsets. The Intel 965 chipset is still new and currently not even available at Newegg, which goes to show that motherboards will be tight on this one".
"This year, the problem is with the 965 chip set," said Han, referring to the shortage. He said he did not know of any production glitches, believing instead that the sharp upswing in demand caught companies by surprise. "Back to school demand is very strong in the U.S.," he said.
Posted by | Mon, Aug 21, 2006 - 06:17 AM
Lite-On IT to produce HD-DVD burners in March 2007
Lite-On IT, the largest maker of optical disc drives in Taiwan, on August 18 announced it is developing half-height (H/H) HD-DVD burners, with a volume production target set for March 2007.
lthough the company has scheduled production of H/H HD-DVD burners, Lite-On IT appears to retain a neutral attitude between Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD-DVD. Lite-On IT maintains close business relations with Sony, a key member of the BD Association, and is an OEM/ODM DVD burner maker for Philips, also a key member of the association, through Philips BenQ Digital Storage (an R&D and marketing joint venture of Philips and BenQ). Mainly in this business context, Lite-On IT started production of H/H BD burners last month.
Posted by | Mon, Aug 21, 2006 - 06:12 AM
ATI Releases CATALYST 6.8 Drivers For Download
ATI just minutes ago released Catalyst 6.8 drivers on www.ati.com for both Windows and Linux platforms. THe drivers greatly improve Direct3D performance numbers with Futuremarks 3DMark06 scores increasing an amazing 22% and Call of Duty 2 increasing as much as 30%.
OpenGL – Improved shader compiler and transform engine optimizations have led to many significant performance gains in OpenGL applications across the entire Radeon X1000 Series of products
- Doom 3 performance improves as much as 6.5%
- Quake 4 (v1.2 or higher) performance improves as much as 18%
- Chronicles of Riddick performance improves as much as 20%. Average improvements of 5-10% are commonly seen.
- Prey performance improves as much as 16%.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 11:53 AM
Court orders EchoStar to halt DVR sales
TiVo Inc. Friday said a federal court in Texas has ordered EchoStar Communications Corp. to halt the use and sale of several of its digital video recorders (DVRs) after a jury ruled in April that EchoStar had infringed on a TiVo patent. This is not good news for the millions that might have issues come 30 days when customers need to be shut down.
EchoStar, owner of the No. 2 U.S. satellite television broadcaster Dish Network, said it planned to ask a federal appeals court to block the permanent injunction while it launched an appeal. The injunction, issued Thursday, would require many DVRs used by Dish Network customers to be shut off within 30 days, EchoStar said in a statement. DVRs allow viewers to record dozens of hours of programming, while they watch or pause live TV.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 06:22 AM
Dell picks up AMD chips amid SEC probe
As expected, the world's largest PC maker announced on Thursday that it will ship Dimension desktops and two-processor servers equipped with AMD's chips by the end of the year. Its first embrace of AMD products came in May, when it announced plans to ship a four-processor server based on the chips.
AMD, naturally, was thrilled to hear the news. "Dell's wider embrace of AMD processor-based offerings is a win for Dell, for the industry and most importantly for Dell customers," Marty Seyer, a senior vice president in the chipmaker's commercial business, said in a statement. Intel was less pleased, but stoic. "It's unfortunate," Bill Kircos, an Intel spokesman, said in an e-mail. "But...we have just introduced an entire new Core Duo and Xeon lineup, the best processors in the world. Couple that with our manufacturing advantages, and it's up to us to convince Dell, their customers and the tens of thousands who sell Intel technology that Core Duo and Intel Inside is the best choice for any computing need."
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 06:21 AM
ATI's R600 graphics card has 64 real pipes
The ATI R600 GPU has been in the works for some time and details and rumors are coming out daily on it now. Our dear friend Fudo believes that it has 64 pipelines... WOW!
We previously wrote that the chip will have sixty four Shader units but we never realised at the time that the design is actually built around a full sixty four physical pipes. That is what various high-ranking sources are telling us. In this scenario, unless Nvidia also managed to triple its pipeline count in the upcoming G80, this chip could lose out big time when put against a 64-pipeline ATI offering. The outcome is still uncertain as we don?t know enough about the G80 to make the final conclusion.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 06:19 AM
Intel's digital-home Bearlake G+ to support HDMI and HDCP
Delivering its Bearlake chipset family to the market in the second quarter of 2007, Intel will begin with the Bearlake-P variant, which targets the mainstream market, and the Bearlake-G chipset that includes an integrated graphics processor (IGP), indicated motherboard makers familiar with Intel's chipset roadmap. Next two products in this family, the Bearlake-X and Bearlake-G+, both to be launched in the third quarter, will support DDR3 memory technology and PCI Express (PCIe) 2.0 interface, the makers emphasized.
The forthcoming chipset will not only feature the 1333MHz FSB, but also support DDR3-1333 memory, according to the sources. The Bearlake-G+ will be Intel's first chipset to support Microsoft DirectX 10 technology, said the sources. In addition to this, the IGP chipset will be able to work with DDR2-800 or maybe even DDR3-1066 memory, and its digital-home properties will include H.264 and VC-1 video codecs, which are both adopted by Blu-ray and HD DVD formats, the sources pointed out.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 06:15 AM
Abit launches AW9D Series of Intel 975 Motherboards
Today Universal abit launched their much anticipated AW9D and AW9D-MAX motherboards based on the Intel 975X chipset. There has been much anticipation in the industry for this series and as far as looks go, these boards are built to please.
Abit AW9D-MAX is the essence of Bushido, the true ?way of the warrior?. This board is built with only one thing in mind ? destroy the competition ? no thought, no mind, only perfect results through righteousness: With superior strength in features and mental preparedness, the Righteous path of enlightenment and true domination comes with the AW9D-MAX. Supporting dual graphic slots, dual Ethernet, all solid state capacitors, 7.1-Channel Dolby Master Studio sound and a host of awesome capabilities. Sheathed within the box; bearing the mark of MAX Righteousness. The Intel 975X ?Core 2 Duo? compatible and Quad core ready LGA775 socket motherboard is enhanced with traditional heavy duty armor plated Solid-State capacitors and the deathly quiet patented Silent OTESTM 2 technology to keep the durable components and chipsets stilled and calmed while the user can rest assured that despite the peaceful experience, the pervading power is omnipresent and ready at hand.
Posted by | Fri, Aug 18, 2006 - 06:13 AM
Internet crimes hit record high in Japan
The number of Internet-related crimes in Japan in the first six months of this year hit a record high, according to data issued Thursday by the National Police Agency.
The NPA said there were 1,802 cases of such crimes in the first half of 2006, which is up 12 percent on the same period last year. The largest number of cases involved fraud related to computer networks. Most of these cases, which accounted for about 40 percent of all Internet-related crimes, were linked to Internet auction sites, the NPA said.
Posted by | Thu, Aug 17, 2006 - 06:45 AM
110 GHz Device Made By Adding Fluorine to the Silicon
A simple tweak to the way common silicon transistors are made could allow faster, cheaper mobile phones and digital cameras, say UK researchers. By adding Fluorine to the silicon they were able to go faster and that they did, by reaching 110GHz!
To achieve the speed gain, researchers at the University of Southampton added fluorine to the silicon devices. The technique uses existing silicon manufacturing technology meaning it should be quick and easy to deploy. "It just takes a standard technology and adds one extra step," said Professor Peter Ashburn at the University of Southampton, who carried out the work. "This is a really cheap method."
Posted by | Thu, Aug 17, 2006 - 06:43 AM
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