MEGATechNews :: Mega Techie Goodness For the Masses

Futurelooks reviews the AMD Phenom Black Edition 9850 CPU. This CPU impresses them with a lower price point and improved overclocking over previous versions of the Phenoms. Check out the review here.

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Kick Ass Rockband and Guitar Hero Axe With Real Proportions!

MegaTechNews — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:20:27 +0000

Boston, MA- July 16th, 2008 - Peak Products, a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing the best in instrument quality gaming controllers, announces Starpex, the first-ever full-size, wood, PS2^TM / PS3^TM Guitar controller with the look and feel of an actual guitar. Starpex boasts an instrument-quality, high-gloss lacquered finish with a hardwood body, neck, and headstock handcrafted by a leading guitar manufacturer giving the authentic guitar experience that Guitar Hero^TM and Rock Band^TM enthusiasts crave. Other unique features include…

Full Guitar Hero and Rockband Functionality for PS2 and PS3 - Starpex is compatible with both PS2 and PS3, and allows users to experience the full list of game play features in both Guitar Hero and Rockband, including toggle effects switch and solo button functionality.

Unique Speed Star Power / Overdrive Button provides the fastest and most accurate access to Star Power and Overdrive. Additionally, built in tilt sensor technology allows users to access Star Power and Overdrive in a more traditional way.

Optimized Whammy Bar maximizes comfort, provides better feel, reduces fatigue and provides a higher level of durability.

High Quality Ten Fret Button Design features optimal button travel for enhanced feel, reduced fatigue, and higher score potential. Ten fret buttons means that players have the option of using traditionally positioned fret buttons, or rock out with solo buttons high up on the neck which also provide critical soloing capabilities in Rockband.

Enhanced Strum Bar gives the perfect balance of tactile and audible feedback to maximize enjoyment and scoring.

Connectivity Options - Dual wired / wireless capabilities allow players to use a 15′ wired cable or a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection (both included).

Forward - Thinking Compatibility - Starpex’s modular design allows users to easily separate the electronic components from the body of the guitar which will allow for further customization including new guitar bodies, pick guards, and more.

”With well over 11 million copies of Guitar Hero/Rock Band sold on the PlayStation consoles, we see a tremendous opportunity in bringing Starpex to market” says Jamie Leece, Vice President for Peak Products. “Never before have Guitar Hero/Rock Band enthusiasts been able to shred with a hardwood, handcrafted authentic guitar controller that’s built with the look and feel of a real guitar. This will change the way the games are played.”

The Starpex will be available in Circuit City and various retailers with an MSRP of $179.95 in late August. For more information on Peak Products, please visit www.Go-Peak.com coming on line in August

About Peak Products
Peak Products is a gaming peripheral company dedicated to providing gamers of the music genre with the very best in instrument quality gaming controllers. Evolving out of a passion for both music and gaming, Peak Products understands the level of precision and quality that both musicians and gamers demand from their equipment. By fusing together the style and craftsmanship of professional grade musical instruments with the comfort and performance of gaming controllers, Peak Products is able to provide the user with an enhanced musical gaming experience. Designed by leading engineers and tested by gamers, Peak Products delivers the look of authentic musical equipment, the feel expected out of any precision instrument, and the score demanded by any serious gamer. Peak Products: Look. Feel. Score.^TM

Lian Li launches the PC-7F & PC-60F; Advanced Midi Tower Chassis

MegaTechNews — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:12:09 +0000

15 July 2008, Keelung, Taiwan - Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd today launches the PC-7F & PC-60F; the newest advanced Midi Tower chassis’ in their aluminum product lineup. These unique clean cut style cases dimensions stand at 215 x 440 x 490mm (W, H, D). They support ATX, and Micro-ATX form factors, with 4x 3.5″ drive bays; 7x PCI Expansion Slots, and 5x 5.25″ ODD bays. The refined handmade craftsmanship and high quality standards combined with the ultimate attention to detail including filed and folded edges for safety bring Lian Li products into a class of their own. The stylish, minimalist and optimized theme incorporates 1.5mm to 1.2mm thick aluminum anodized panels with a hairline brushed finish to an all round quality product. The difference between the PC-7F and PC-60F is the front panel design. The PC-7F has smooth rounded vent holes, while the PC-60F has a more open bezel front face. Each caters for a unique different taste.

The PC-7F & PC-60F have crisp airflow solutions from front low to high back, which gives optimal performance for the two internal fans, one a 14cm LED ball-bearing intake fan runs at 900RPM, and has a washable nylon air filter on the front bezel end. The 120mm exhaust fan (1000RPM) has no LED, and is mounted high up on the back end, and silently extracts hot air directly from the CPU region.

The front panel is easily removable and replaceable with Lian Li’s unique vibration softening clips. In addition there are anti-vibration couplings on the removable motherboard tray, and side panels to prevent vibration from affecting the silence. The HDD bay is modular, so it can be moved around within the case as needed. It supports 4x 3.5″ HDD’s and has a patented anti-vibration, tool-less mounting, with special rubber grommets to secure the thumb screws which are mounted onto the HDD securing bracket. The HDD securing bracket snugly supports the HDD in rubber insulation, while acting as a heatsink, drawing off the heat generated by those super fast HDD’s.

For those using water cooling, the PC-7F & PC-60F have an entrance and exit hole for water tubes, secured by rubber stoppers. The PCI brackets have vent holes to increase airflow from within the case. The top cover is easily removable for modding projects, as is the front panel and all wires are kept within the main frame; out of harm’s way.

The Power supply unit (PSU) should be secured near the bottom of the case, and has special insulation to prevent vibration, while the space itself is large enough to cater for big power supplies.

The ODD bays (5x 5.25″ bays; one for 3.5 inch convertor) have tool-less brackets to secure your ODD’s without fuss. You do have the option to screw in the ODD should you wish to.

Multi-media I/O ports on top of the case are enclosed with a dust cover and include 2x USB 2.0, 1x Firewire 1394 and a microphone and headset speaker jack which support AC97+HD Audio.

There are two alternative models available: the PC-7FW & PC-60FW, “W” for window as both have a transparent side panel being the only difference between them and the PC-7F & PC-60F respectively. For more details on features and extras available for the please go here: http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product06.php?pr_index=265&cl_index=1&sc_index=25&ss_index=62&g=q

About Lian-Li
Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd is an Aluminum Chassis and Chassis peripheral manufacturer and provider of industrial wholesale as well as OEM & ODM services for the PC industry as required. With over 20 years of service excellence, ISO 9001 certification and a team of professional staff willing to do the utmost to deliver durable, superior quality products, all backed by a *2 year guarantee; your satisfaction is guaranteed.(*conditions apply)

Super Talent Ships Tiny Gold 8GB Storage Device

MegaTechNews — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:04:02 +0000

San Jose, California - July 15, 2008 – Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, today announced the PICO-C Gold, a 24-carat gold plated, water resistant USB drive that weighs less than a nickel (~4.7 grams), is smaller than an SD card, and can store over 2,000 MP3 songs.

Super Talent uses chip-on-board (COB) technology to squeeze 8GB of Flash into an impressively small 31.3mm x 12.4mm x 3.4mm gold plated steel case. The Pico-C Gold is shock resistant, water resistant, and has up to 200X (30MB/sec) transfer speeds. The Pico-C Gold includes a sturdy gold chain, and looks more like a fashion accessory than a high performance Flash drive.

“Is it the speed, the ruggedness, the water resistance, the incredibly tiny size or the pure elegance that people like most in our Pico-C drive? Who knows? But, this combination of features and style is not offered in any other terrestrial storage device, which makes it a real craze”, commented Super Talent Marketing Director, Joe James.

All Super Talent USB drives are backed with a lifetime warranty. The 8GB Pico-C Gold drive, part number STU8GPCG, is available from NewBiiz and NewEgg today for under $40.