Legit Reviews News History
ASUS Sues GIGABYTE for 'Defamatory and False Accusations'
ASUS claims that Gigabyte, without a full understanding of ASUS' engineering design and methods, has made false accusations against ASUS motherboards' EPU features and the quality of ASUS' motherboard components. ASUS has reported such acts to the Fair Trade Commission of Taiwan and on May 23rd 2008, ASUS has officially filed a lawsuit against Gigabyte for those defamatory acts.
Gigabyte misused a photograph with blown-up (exploded) capacitors and led the audience to believe it was an ASUS product to support its false allegations that ASUS uses questionable quality components. However, the image was found to be taken from a photograph of a VGA card manufactured by another vendor. The action of misrepresenting a third party product to be an ASUS product is truly defamatory and clearly outside the realm of decent competition.
Posted by | Tue, May 27, 2008 - 09:25 AM
Samsung develops 256GB solid state drive
Samsung has developed one of the largest-capacity and highest-speed solid state drives to date.
CNET site ZDNet Korea reports that Samsung announced the development of a 2.5-inch, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) at the fifth annual Samsung Mobile Solution Forum in Taipei, Taiwan. Typical solid state drives shipping in notebook PCs today have a storage capacity of 64GB. With a sequential read speed of 200 megabytes per second and sequential write speed of 160MBps, Samsung is claiming some of the fastest SSD data transfer rates to date.
Posted by | Mon, May 26, 2008 - 02:22 PM
CEO of Infineon Technologies resigns
Infineon Technologies AG said Monday that its chief executive, Wolfgang Ziebart, will resign at the end of the month over what it said was a difference in strategy for the money-losing semiconductor maker.
In a brief statement issued after the German stock exchange closed for the day, the company said that Ziebart's resignation would be effective June 1. While it did not name a successor, it said that Peter Bauer, a member of the company's executive board, would "assume the position as spokesman of the management board." The company also said that its supervisory board, the U.S. equivalent to a board of directors, had declared "its vote of confidence for the chairman Max Dietrich Kley."
Posted by | Mon, May 26, 2008 - 01:58 PM
NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Lands Safely on Mars
After traveling more than 400 million miles and 10-months in its journey from Earth, NASA's Phoenix Lander touched down safely and sent its first transmissions from the Martian arctic surface Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory were thrilled.
The entry-descent-landing period, when the lander separates from the spacecraft, enters the atmosphere and brakes from 12,000 mph to 5 mph, has been described as "seven minutes of terror." The landing appeared to be almost picture perfect. Each event, from the deployment of the parachute to the firing of the thrusters that slowed the lander for the final 300 feet to the surface, occurred just as JPL had planned.
Posted by | Sun, May 25, 2008 - 11:51 PM
Photoshop to get GPU and physics acceleration
GPU acceleration is one of the most significant trends in today hardware industry, opening the doors to an entirely class of software running desktop. What will be possible is fascinating to see on a monitor, nut it is not tangible, if you just hear about it. It appears that the next Photoshop will be one of the first mainstream applications that will tap into the GPU for a speed up. And, at least from what we have seen during a first demonstration, the progress is simply stunning.
So, what can you do with general-purpose GPU (GPGPU) acceleration in Photoshop? We saw the presenter playing with a 2 GB, 442 megapixel image like it was a 5 megapixel image on an 8-core Skulltrail system. Changes made through image zoom and through a new rotate canvas tool were applied almost instantly. Another impressive feature was the import of a 3D model into Photoshop, adding text and paint on a 3D surface and having that surface directly rendered with the 3D models' reflection map.
Posted by | Sat, May 24, 2008 - 06:16 PM
Intel to bundle SSDs as part of Centrino 2 platform
Expecting solid state drives (SSDs) to become the mainstream notebook storage format, Intel is planning to launch SSD products by the end of the third quarter this year which it will bundle as part of its upcoming Centrino 2 platform (Montevina), according to sources at PC makers.
Intel has named the product line Intel High Performance SSD and will mainly targeting enterprise, mid-range and high-end notebook markets. Initial shipments of Intel High Performance SSDs will come in two versions – Client X25-M and Client X18-M – the former having a physical size of 2.5-inch and later 1.8-inch. Both will feature 80GB capacity and a SATA interface.
Posted by | Fri, May 23, 2008 - 11:22 AM
NASA Preps for '7 Minutes of Terror' on Mars
Besided the NBA Playoffs, this weekend should be an exciting one - especially for NASA. Planetary scientists and engineers who make up the Mars Phoenix Lander team will be biting their nails Sunday evening as they gather in mission control at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the lander arrives at the Red Planet. Historically, more than half of the missions to Mars have ended in failure.
"I do not feel confident. But in my heart I'm an optimist, and I think this is going to be a very successful mission," said principal investigator Peter Smith, an optical scientist with the University of Arizona. "The thrill of victory is so much more exciting than the agony of defeat."
Posted by | Fri, May 23, 2008 - 08:54 AM
Google Co-Founder Pushes TV 'White Space' Use
Google co-founder Larry Page was in Washington to promote the company's proposal for a new generation of wireless devices to operate on soon-to-be-vacant television airwaves. Some TV broadcasters disagree with Page's plan however, complaining that many device tests have shown that there is an interference problem that has not been resolved yet.
Page highlighted the benefits of making more spectrum available, while downplaying opposition from broadcasters, and makers and users of wireless microphones, who fear the wireless devices would cause interference.
Posted by | Fri, May 23, 2008 - 08:47 AM
Intel to Cut Prices on Existing CPUs and Introduce New Parts in Q3
Recent roadmaps reveal the company has another cut coming in Q3 2008. Simultaneously, Intel will release new quad-core and dual-core processors. This includes the 3.0 GHz Core 2 Quad Q9650 with a price of $530 in 1000 unit trays. The current Core 2 Quad Q9550 will get a significant price cut from its current $530 to $316.
A few of the older Intel CPUs will be phased out including the Core 2 Quad 9450. The 9450 will be replaced with the Core 2 Quad running at 2.66GHz at $266. Other quad-core processors being phased out include the Q9300 and Q6700 leaving the Q6600 as the only 65nm Intel CPU on the market selling for $203.
Posted by | Fri, May 23, 2008 - 07:13 AM
Futuremark 3DMark Vantage Gets a Hotfix - v1.01 Released
The gang over at Futuremark have been busy cranking out a hotfix for 3DMark Vantage and version (1.0.1) has been released for use. Futuremark has made a number of changes in the product editions to make running the benchmark better for everyone. Off-line score are now available in the Advanced edition, and ad banners have been totally removed. Error messages have been improved, and various bugs have been fixed. The best part of the hotfix is that the scores are NOT affected and will remain compatible with build 1.0.0 scores. A new full install for 3DMark Vantage Build 1.0.1 is also available for those that want to download 414MB
The hotfix fixes the following:
- An issue preventing valid serial key entry in some cases has been fixed.
- An issue causing "boost::filesystem::create_directory" error message after registration has been fixed.
- Added a check and error message for hardware that is not DX10 capable.
- Improved detection of supported resolutions so that CPU test minimum requirement (1280x1024) is now taken into account correctly.
- Fixed an issue where pressing the ESC key during CPU test loading screen, the user would be taken to a score view with score -1.
- The entire 3DMark Vantage application is now elevated to Administrator rights, rather than only the SystemInfo component. This will ensure more robust SystemInfo and benchmark functionality, and fixes the "pop-behind" elevation dialog.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused "WM_QUIT" error messages.
- Post-processing scale is now displayed correctly in the UI for the Extreme Preset.
- Fixed an issue that could cause resolution switches at test runtime.
Posted by | Thu, May 22, 2008 - 08:41 AM
VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX Enables Dual Digital Displays
VIA Technologies today announced the VIA EPIA M700 Mini-ITX board, the first to feature the VIA VX800 chipset, for sophisticated digital signage and retail display systems. The VIA EPIA M700 is the first board to feature the new VIA VX800 digital media chipset that delivers enhanced video playback, dual display and dual Gigabit LAN.
Featuring a 1.5GHz or a fanless 1.0GHz VIA C7 processor, the VIA EPIA M700 leverages the uncompromising multimedia performance of the VIA VX800 unified chipset with its integrated VIA Chrome9 HC3 integrated graphics core for DirectX 9.0 3D graphics and up to six-channel VIA Vinyl HD Audio rich surround sound, while the VIA Chromotion video engine provides advanced hardware video acceleration and an improved visual experience for MPEG-2, MPEG-4, WMV9, VC1 and DivX video, plus a VMR capable HD video processor.
Posted by | Thu, May 22, 2008 - 08:34 AM
16:9 ratio notebook panels to become mainstream in 2H08
With panel makers pushing 16:9 ratio panels in 2008, Acer has decided to open up all its notebook product lines to be based on the ratio, while other notebook vendors are readying to push at least 14- and 15.6-inch lines in the third quarter this year. Notebook makers predict the proportion of 16:9 models will increase 10% per quarter during in the second half of 2008.
In addition to 14- and 15.6-inch panels, 17.3-inch, mainly supplied by AUO and LG, and 18.4-inch, supplied by Samsung Electronics, Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT) are also sizes Acer plans to introduce. Meanwhile, most other notebook vendors are still evaluating which of the two larger sizes they will bid on. Currently, Dell and Toshiba are planning 17.3-inch lines while Asustek Computer is also leaning towards this size.
Posted by | Thu, May 22, 2008 - 08:23 AM
May 22 News from Around the Web
Find motherboards.org's ASUS P5E3 Premium WIFi-AP @n Edition Review and other reviews from around the web by visiting our forums!
ASUS has done it again with their P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP@n motherboard. The board features everything you could possibly want from a new motherboard today including DDR3 support, external SATA support, Crossfire support, and saves energy while delivering the features and performance you want from a new motherboard. The P5E3 Premium WiFi-AP@n board has a high price online but you get what you pay for when paying that price. Performance is in line with the P5E3 Deluxe board which uses the same chipset but has similar performance though the other board has with the exception of SYSmark 2007 Preview. One important consideration with new motherboards is the official support of the 45 nanometer 1600MHz FSB Yorkfield CPUs and the P5E3 Premium supports those new CPUs which gives a nice upgrade path
Posted by | Thu, May 22, 2008 - 07:47 AM
Kingston 1800MHz HyperX DDR3 Wins XMP Certification
Our friends at Kingston Technology have informed us that their 1800MHz HyperX DDR3 Memory module has won Intel XMP Certification. The XMP validation program offers enthusiasts greater memory options and flexability when building high performance systems using Intel X38/X48-series chipsets.
When paired with select Intel X38/X48 series-based motherboards, Kingston HyperX modules increase overall system performance. Designed for both the novice and experienced overclocker, the XMP profile allows for easy overclocking selection through predefined profiles in the BIOS or manual adjustment of Kingston HyperX XMP modules' frequency and timings.
Posted by | Wed, May 21, 2008 - 03:19 PM
HP's second-quarter profit rises 16 percent
Hewlett-Packard issued a glowing financial report for its second quarter Tuesday, with profit buoyed by strong international growth and a significant bump in sales of laptop computers, outweighing flat results for desktop PCs. With 70 percent of revenue coming from outside the United States, HP Chief Executive Mark Hurd said, "The company's financial outlook demonstrates its strength in the global marketplace."
The world's leading computer maker reported $28.3 billion in revenue for the quarter ending April 30, up 11 percent from the same period last year. That resulted in a net profit of $2.06 billion, or 80 cents a share, an increase of 16 percent. HP previewed those figures last week but provided more details Tuesday, when it reported that revenue in the Western Hemisphere grew only 4 percent for the quarter, compared with 16 percent in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Posted by | Wed, May 21, 2008 - 01:33 PM
AMD confirms GDDR5 memory ICs will be on next generation graphics cards
AMD today announced the first commercial implementation of Graphics Double Data Rate, version 5 (GDDR5) memory in its forthcoming next generation of ATI Radeon graphics card products. The high-speed, high-bandwidth GDDR5 technology is expected to become the new memory standard in the industry, and that same performance and bandwidth is a key enabler of The Ultimate Visual Experience, unlocking new GPU capabilities. AMD is working with a number of leading memory providers, including Samsung, Hynix and Qimonda, to bring GDDR5 to market.
Today’s GPU performance is limited by the rate at which data can be moved on and off the graphics chip, which in turn is limited by the memory interface width and die size. The higher data rates supported by GDDR5 – up to 5x that of GDDR3 and 4x that of GDDR4 – enable more bandwidth over a narrower memory interface, which can translate into superior performance delivered from smaller, more cost-effective chips. AMD’s senior engineers worked closely with industry standards body JEDEC in developing the new memory technology and defining the GDDR5 spec.
Posted by | Wed, May 21, 2008 - 08:26 AM
Intel's Chengdu plant reopens after China quake
Intel Corp said Tuesday it has reopened its chip assembly and test facility in Chengdu, China, a site 55 miles from the epicenter of the massive earthquake that rattled Sichuan province on May 12.
"We are ramping it up as fast as we can," Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said, without giving an estimate on when the facility would return to full capacity. Mulloy said the company started powering up the plant and checking its machinery on Friday and output resumed Sunday. The plant, which is used to package and test silicon components, suffered cosmetic damage in last week's quake, but seismic analysis revealed no structural damage, Mulloy said.
Posted by | Tue, May 20, 2008 - 05:58 PM
Corsair Dominator DDR3 Memory Kits Reach 2462MHz - World Record!
Corsair announced today that Corsair Labs has set the world record for the highest achieved DDR3 frequency at 2462MHz using a Core 2 Duo E8400 processor and an ASUS P5E3 Premium motherboard (Intel X48 Express Chipset). Corsair didn't say which kit was used to reach this record, but it was likely something new that we will be seeing in the future. To reach a bus speed at 615MHz they also must have used some super CPU cooling also! Congrats to corsair for reaching 2.46Ghz, but why not 2.5GHz and single channel! Only kidding guys!
Verified and validated by CPU-Z, Corsair Labs achieved an astounding speed of 2462MHz at CL=9 with a single-rank 1GB module. This new world record eclipses all previous CPU-Z validated memory benchmarks. This record was set using Corsair’s award winning DOMINATOR DDR3 memory module paired with an Asus P5E3 Premium motherboard based on the Intel X48 chipset. This is now the highest achieved DDR3 frequency of all time.
Posted by | Tue, May 20, 2008 - 10:52 AM
Intel to update desktop CPU lines in 3Q08
Intel is planning to cut desktop CPU prices in the third quarter this year, along with the launch of more quad-core and dual-core models, according to sources at motherboard makers. The performance-level Core 2 Quad Q9650 with a core frequency of 3GHz will launch priced at US$530 in thousand-unit tray quantities, while the Core 2 Quad Q9550 will drop around 40% from its original price of US$530 to US$316.
The Core 2 Quad 9450, currently priced at US$316, will be phased out of the market to be replaced by the Core 2 Quad 9400 at 2.66GHz and a price of US$266. The Core 2 Quad Q9300 and Q6700 will both be phased out at the same time too, leaving the Q6600 as the only 65nm quad-core CPU left in Intel's lineup, and which will drop from US$224 to US$203. For dual-core CPUs, Intel will launch the Core 2 Duo E8600 at 3.33GHz and US$266, and will phase out the Core 2 Duo E8300. The company will also drop pricing for the Core 2 Duo E8500 and E8400 from US$266 and US$183 to US$183 and US$163, respectively. Intel will also add the Core 2 Duo E7300 at 2.66GHz and US$133 to its entry-level line and to drop the price of its Core 2 Duo E7200 from US$133 to US$113.
Posted by | Tue, May 20, 2008 - 10:38 AM
Kingston Announces TAA-Compliant Server Memory Modules
Kingston Technology today announced it is releasing select system-specific memory SKUs in accordance with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Kingston TAA-compliant system-specific memory (designated with a '-G' at the end of the part number) is the perfect solution for government agencies looking to stretch infrastructure IT budgets through the use of virtualization and further population of servers. Compliance with the TAA means that a product has originated from or been substantially transformed in a Federal Trade Agreements (FTA) designated country, defined as a country that currently has a Federal Trade Agreement with the United States. Only a couple companies come to mind for being TAA-compliant (Centon Electronics and Kingston Technology) as not many memory companies have the capacity to fill niche needs.
"Kingston is honored to be the memory of choice for many top corporations and government agencies in the United States, and we saw an opportunity to enhance service to our federal government customers by releasing TAA-compliant SKUs,” said John Holland, vice president U.S. sales, Kingston. "This is the latest step in our ongoing efforts to better accommodate the various server markets that use our products.”
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 03:47 PM
May 19 News from Around the Web
Find Reviews from around the web by visiting our forums! The following is from [H]ardOCP:
ASUS EN9600GT Silent - The GeForce 9600 GT currently represents an amazing value. For those looking for a completely silent video card ASUS may have just the ticket: The passively cooled ASUS EN9600GT Silent. We see how this silent card performs in today's top 3D shooters.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 03:43 PM
Lexar Announces Crucial DDR2 FBDIMM Memory Kits
Lexar Media today announced immediate availability of Crucial 1.5V DDR2 FBDIMM server memory modules. As part of its commitment to the enterprise-computing space, Lexar Media's new energy-efficient Crucial server memory product line utilizes the industry's first 1.5V, 1Gb-based components to deliver reduced chip count, energy-efficient FBDIMM modules. The DDR2-667MHz FBDIMM modules are available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB kits.
Specifically designed to lower the power consumption of servers in the data center, the modules operate at 1.5V, compared to the industry-standard of 1.8V. This lower voltage, along with a reduced chip count, can translate into more than a 50% reduction in memory power consumption, without compromising the performance or reliability users have come to expect from Crucial memory.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 09:47 AM
EA deadline on Take-Two passes - $1.9 Billion won't do it
A deadline set by US video game giant Electronic Arts for shareholders in Take-Two Interactive Software to accept a $1.9bn offer has passed. EA revealed its unsolicited $25.74 a share move for Take-Two, the owner of Grand Theft Auto, back in February.
Take-Two's board had refused to discuss a takeover with EA before the 29 April launch of "Grand Theft Auto IV." Take-Two saw its stock close at $27.10 on the Nasdaq, down 0.8% but 5.2% above the $25.74 per share offered by EA. "The market's probably suggesting that EA should come up with a few more dollars and that may be a likely a scenario," said Colin Sebastian, an analyst with Lazard Capital Markets.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 09:32 AM
Intel Tukwila Itanium servers due early next year
Intel will start shipping a quad-core version of its Itanium processor to system vendors in about six months, with the first servers based on the chip due in early 2009, Intel said Monday. Intel said the new chip, code-named Tukwila, will roughly double the performance of the current, dual-core version of Itanium. Aside from the additional cores, Tukwila includes 30MB of on-chip cache memory -- about 15 percent more than its predecessor -- and Intel's QuickPath Interconnect technology, which should speed data transfer between components. We already know that Tukwila's die size is 21.5x32.5mm2, and the first run of chips will reach speeds of up to 2GHz on 170W of power. The diagram of the die can be seen below.
Intel won't say yet what clock-speeds the chip will be offered at, except that it will launch at up to 2GHz. It will be manufactured using a 65-nanometer process, a step up from the current Itanium. Itanium is designed for high-end servers running large databases, data warehouses, and transaction-heavy business applications. Intel positions it as a substitute for RISC-type processors like IBM's Power and Sun's Sparc, and as a lower-cost alternative to mainframes. Most Itanium servers are sold by Hewlett-Packard, although they are also offered by Fujitsu, NEC, and others.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 09:26 AM
Three Intel chipsets to see price increase due to Sichuan quake
Three of Intel's chipsets, the G31, G33 and 945GC, are seeing an increase in price following the earthquake in Sichuan, China last week, according to sources at motherboard makers. Although Intel's packaging and testing plant in Sichuan was unaffected by the quake, the local transport infrastructure has been severely impacted. The three chipsets occupy approximately 45% of Intel's desktop chipset shipments which has lead to rapid shortages.
The 945GC is seeing an increase from around US$15 in thousand-unit tray quantities to US$18-19, while the G31 will see its price boost from US$23 to US$25-27 and the G33 from US$28 to US$31. However, the price increases are expected to be absorbed entirely by motherboard makers hoping to maintain market share, noted the sources, and so changes to pricing in the channel are unlikely.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 09:15 AM
AMD GAME! Enables Console-like Simplicity for Mainstream PCs
From the company powering the visual experience of the two most popular gaming consoles in the world today, AMD announces AMD GAME!. This program is designed to help consumers select perfectly suited PCs for high-definition gaming. AMD GAME! platforms combine the powerful balance of multi-core processors, exceptional HD digital media , and next-generation graphics processing power. Industry leaders including Acer, Alienware, Logitech and Microsoft are joining AMD to ensure consumers can easily identify PCs that deliver HD gaming and entertainment experiences out of the box.
AMD GAME! systems combine proven AMD technology including AMD Phenom processors, the upcoming AMD Turion Ultra processors, AMD Athlon processors, ATI Radeon HD 3000 series graphics, and AMD chipsets to deliver an enhanced and simplified mainstream PC gaming experience. AMD GAME! platforms are available immediately on-line from system builders such as Alienware, Cyberpower, iBuypower, Maingear and Velocity Micro; retail availability is expected in the second half of 2008.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 09:10 AM
AMD's Game! Looks like a decent attempt to help buyers
AMD HAS DONE the seemingly impossible and made a logo campaign that looks like it means something instead of being a marketing/advertising scheme. Let's take a look at the new AMD Game programme.
The programme is meant to address the soft middle of the gaming market, people between the hardcore techie (aka most everyone reading this) and people that make your brain hurt when you overhear them talk at the store (Does that CPU come in different colors? Oooh, blue lights!). AMD commissioned a survey asking what percentage of people "plan to use their new PC to play video games" ? Sixty-one of the US, 49 per cent of Europeans and 48 per cent of Chinese respondents said they would play games on their shiny new box. More numbers, presented in pie-chart format this time, show that enthusiasts (us) make up five per cent of the market, the 'Yes' responders above make up about 20 per cent more of the market. They however lack the technical abilities of the enthusiasts. This means there are about 50 million people out there that want to game on a PC but don't really have a clue about how to do it or what to buy. If they walk into a Best Buy, more often than not they get shafted and walk out with an Intel $599 i945 based machine with a $999 extended warranty that skips on the solitaire win screen. Stores preying on the stupid, imagine that!
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 04:07 AM
X-Fi finally goes PCI-Express
THOSE ITCHING FOR a little more aural pleasure than that provided by their on-board motherboard sound may be pleased to know that Creative is stepping out with a few new models in its X-Fi Fatal1ty line.
Yes, carrying the moniker of legendary super-dweeb Jonathan 'Fatal1ty' Wendell, he of the 5 minutes of Quake fame, Creative has two new boards designed with gamers in mind, both with names long enough to give Mavis Beacon finger fatigue. The 'Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series' card is a fairly standard X-Fi card with a PCI-Express x1 connector to fit onto modern motherboards that lack standard PCI slots. It has the usual bevvy of output connectors as well as the Alchemy technology that returns EAX effects to Vista gaming. Meanwhile, the 'Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series' is the same thing, but with a drive-bay add-in that brings audio ports and volume controls to the front of the computer.
Posted by | Mon, May 19, 2008 - 03:52 AM
ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series Graphics Cards Coming Late June
The stage is set for a great graphics cards battle this summer. In one corner you have NVIDIA gearing up to release their next-generation architecture and in the other you have the ATI R700 that will be designated the Radeon HD 4800 series. The cards that we are waiting for would be the Radeon HD 4870 512MB and Radeon HD 4870X2 1GB as they will feature super fast GDDR5 memory. The Radeon HD 4850 will use cost effective GDDR3 memory and as a result cost just under $200 if the rumors are true. Are you ready for faster graphics cards? The time is almost here and many of the cards will be spotted at Computex in a couple weeks.
ATI will introduce the much-anticipated 4800 series of graphics card on a date "somewhere between the 15th and 22nd of June" according to our old mate Theo over at TG Daily. This is, coincidentally, the same week in which Nvidia is expected to unveil the significantly more expensive (though not significantly more advanced) GT200. The 4800 range is expected start at less than two hundred of your yankee dollars for the 4850 variant with half a gig of GDDR3 graphicy goodness and the abilty to run up to four cards per system. The 4870, and 4870X2 to be launched in July, will carry 512MB and 1024MB of GDDR5 respectively.
Posted by | Sat, May 17, 2008 - 08:45 AM
May 16 News from Around the Web
Find reviews from around the web by visiting our forums! The following quote is from Ninjalane's DFI LanPartyDK X38-T2R Motherboard Review:
"Here is a common question. Do you splurge and get the shiny new model? Or hang back and look for something realistic for the current market?. The DFI Dark Series makes that question easy by featuring top of the line chipsets, high-end LanParty styling, and excellent BIOS features. All at a fraction of the cost, in a way this is what enthusiast hardware should be, all business and no fluff!"
Posted by | Fri, May 16, 2008 - 12:31 PM
One Laptop Project Adds Windows
Open-source advocates like saying Linux is free, as in free speech; not free, as in free beer. Well, for the price of a cold one, Microsoft plans to make its software an option on laptops throughout the developing world. The software giant and the One Laptop Per Child project said Thursday that they will install the Windows operating system on the OLPC's cheap XO laptops. The plan, says OLPC spokesperson Kyle Austin, is to redesign the laptops, adding another $7 worth of hardware so that they can run a stripped down version of Windows, which costs $3 a copy, in addition to running the OLPC's version of the Linux operating system.
That makes sense on a machine where every dollar counts. The XO currently costs roughly $180, although as more laptops are cranked out, they will likely come down in price, Austin noted. Trials of so-called dual-boot laptops will begin in June, although those will involve machines equipped with secure digital card readers, rather than gear designed to handle a dual-boot system. Laptops designed for poor children have become a sort of proving ground for low-cost Internet devices. Intel is pushing a rival design, dubbed the Classmate. Intel's processors power the Classmate, while Advanced Micro Devices chips are powering the XO.
Posted by | Fri, May 16, 2008 - 09:14 AM
Thermaltake Introduces the ProWater 850i Water Cooler
The guys over at Thermaltake USA just sent us word that the have announced the ProWater 850i Water Cooler. Notice we didn't say BigWater as Thermaltake is launching a brand new series of DIY liquid cooling systems, the ProWater Series. The first model to be introduced is the new PW850i that incorporates the latest production techniques and technology of the internal liquid cooling segment. The $149.99 Thermaltake BigWater 760i was a great success as you can see from our review on the unit here, so keep your fingers crossed that the ProWater 850i will perform even better.
The P500 Pump used in the PW850i has a maximum high output of 500L per hour to support the liquid cooling system even under heavy load; the hard-wearing ceramic bearing further increases the life span of the pump, users will not need to worry about pump failure even with extended VGA or memory liquid cooling components. The professionally designed inlet and outlet will eliminate the possibility of air blockages. The PW850i also adopts an automotive style radiator with Thermaltake exclusive "Dimple Dimpled Tubes" DDT technology rather than traditional round tubes, and with the adjustable 120mm fan (1300~2400 RPM); CPU heat will be transmitted efficiently in the coordinated system environment.
Posted by | Thu, May 15, 2008 - 02:51 PM
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Shuts Down PC Club and ClubIT.com
Today's announcement was made in light of the fact that the owners of PC Club were apparently forced into involuntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. With the bankruptcy, PC Club closed 37 stores in eight states: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Prior to today, PC Club had three stores in Utah (in Riverdale, Murray and Orem), as well as a store in Las Vegas. In addition, PC Club also shuttered its online e-commerce Website: ClubIT.com.
"It stinks to be left with no place to turn to for any help, particularly with something like a personal computer," said Dan ("The Laptop Man") Young, president and founder of PC Laptops. "That's why (as the largest independent personal computer company in the Rocky Mountain region) we're announcing free lifetime labor and service support to any owner of a PC Club brand computer. Simply put, if you own a PC Club computer and you need help, come see us. Bring your desktop or laptop into one of our eight stores in Utah and Nevada, and we'll get you taken care of right away - at no cost for labor or service."
Posted by | Thu, May 15, 2008 - 11:52 AM
CBS buying CNet for $1.8 billion
CBS announced plans today to buy CNET for $1.8 billion in a deal that would combine an old-school television network with one of the Internet's pioneers. The deal would instantly give CBS a top 10 presence on the Internet. At the same time, it likely will help CNET appease shareholders who have pressed for changes amid frustrations about the company's stock performance and business execution.
"There are very few opportunities to acquire a company like CNET Networks," said CBS CEO Leslie Moonves in a statement. "CNET will add a tremendous platform to extend our complementary entertainment, news, sports, music and information content to a whole new global audience." "We're thrilled to join CBS and combine our interactive media experience with CBS's world-class content," CNET CEO Neil Ashe added in the statement. Under the deal, which CNET's board has approved, CBS will pay $11.50 a share for the San Francisco-based online media company. That represents a 45 percent premium to CNET's closing price on Wednesday of $7.95 a share.
Posted by | Thu, May 15, 2008 - 11:50 AM
Intel to develop e-commerce PC with China's Alibaba
Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba.com and Intel plan to jointly develop a computer designed to get small and medium-sized Chinese businesses online, the companies said this week. The planned computer, the first step in a broader alliance between the two companies, will come with Alibaba's e-commerce applications preinstalled and use Intel components, according to a joint statement.
The statement did not detail which Intel components would be used in the PC, but one likely candidate is the company's upcoming Atom processor, due to be launched next month. Formerly called Diamondville, Atom was designed for low-cost laptops but will also be used in a crop of low-cost desktops. These desktops, which Intel calls nettops, are basic systems designed to be inexpensive and used for Internet applications, a description that neatly fits the announced objectives of Intel and Alibaba. However, Intel ruled out Atom as an option. "The PCs will not be nettops, or based on Atom," said Leo Wang, a company spokesman, in an e-mail response to questions.
Posted by | Thu, May 15, 2008 - 10:33 AM
Apple's largest U.S. (Boston) store highlights growth plan
Apple Inc unveiled its largest U.S. store on Wednesday, a glass-facade building sheathed in steel that a senior company official said reflects Apple's plans to expand retail ventures at home and abroad. Sandwiched between aging brick buildings, the minimalist 20,000-square-foot store stands out on Boston's historic Boylston Street, featuring a ground floor with more than 100 Mac laptops and computers, a second level for iPod music players and iPhones, and a third entirely for service.
"Concierges" stand at attention in orange shirts bearing the slogan "I know people" -- part of changes made in recent weeks to more thoroughly identify roles played by employees with the color of their shirts worn in Apple stores. A sales force of "specialists" wear aqua blue and technicians are each dubbed "genius" as they work the third floor wearing dark blue -- all projecting a trademark retail image that has helped drive sales growth. "These stores have served them very, very well and really raised the bar in terms of technology customer service," said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Jupiter Research, a technology consulting firm.
Posted by | Thu, May 15, 2008 - 10:29 AM
May 14 News from Around the Web
Madshrimps posted their GeForce 9800 GTX Extreme Overclocking Experiment. Find this and other reviews from around the web by visiting our forums!
"The GeForce 9800 GTX product was received with mixed feelings; on the one hand you had an affordable high end VGA solution, but on the other hand it was not much of improvement over the 8800 GTX. One area where the 9800 GTX might shine through however is overclocking, the new GPU generates less heat, and with the help of some LN2 it will be interesting to see how high it can climb!"
Posted by | Wed, May 14, 2008 - 09:38 AM
Dell Tells Gamers That Alienware and XPS Systems Will Remain Industry Leaders
Dell issued a statement on Tuesday night, saying the XPS brand will live on but that more resources will go into Alienware. It seems the Wall Street Journal didn't lay down the facts correctly in a recent article and Dell has a blog post setting the record straight. With new gaming systems like the Dell XPS M1730 gaming notebook and the Dell XPS 730 H2C would you expect Dell to pull back?
XPS remains an important Dell brand with its heritage of premium performance. While closely associated with gaming, in the last year XPS has expanded well beyond a gaming brand – look at the XPS One, our first entry into the all-in-one market, the XPS M1330, an industry leading ultraportable or the XPS 420 desktop, designed for multi-media activities. How the WSJ missed all this is a little beyond us. And XPS gaming systems will remain an important part of our gaming product portfolio. We don’t plan an early phase-out of these systems as the WSJ incorrectly stated, and in fact will continue to refresh them to keep them on the front edge of gaming.
Posted by | Wed, May 14, 2008 - 09:16 AM
Nokia sees half of cellphones with GPS in 2010-12
Nokia plans to add navigation to half of the phones it sells within a few years to find new revenue streams amid decreasing handset prices, a senior official at the world's top cellphone maker said. It sells five models with built-in GPS and has unveiled four more which will ship in the coming months.
"We are planning to ship 35 million GPS units this year," Halbherr said, adding "and many more location-enabled phones that use cell-towers to orient themselves on the map". "You will see few 'E' or 'N' Series phones without GPS," he said. Last year Nokia sold 437 million phones, and it expects the volume to grow more than 10 percent this year. It sold 38 million phones in its multimedia range "N Series" and some 7 million "E Series" business phones.
Posted by | Wed, May 14, 2008 - 09:11 AM
ProMOS China fab mass production schedule not affected by quake
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Sichuan province of China will not affect ProMOS Technologies' 8-inch fab mass production schedule set for the third quarter of 2008, according to company chairman ML Chen.
Chen indicated that operations at ProMOS' Chongqing fab in Sichuan province is normal, with electricity supply not being affected by the earthquake. Only a few lithography equipment stopped operating during the quake but operations resumed soon afterward, he said. ProMOS is well prepared for any earthquake due to its rich experience gained from its Taiwan operations, Chen stressed. As already scheduled, ProMOS will gradually relocate its 8-inch wafer production facilities from Taiwan to the China fab. The 8-inch fab in Taiwan, which is now running at peak utilization rate, will transition to produce 12-inch wafers after all equipment is relocated. The company plans to complete the transition by the end of 2008.
Posted by | Wed, May 14, 2008 - 09:09 AM
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