Computers Hardware And Software Reviews

Corsair introduced a new line of PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600 MHz) memory kits based its latest memory module design, the Corsair Vengeance. The Vengeance mod

2010-11-27T06:12:00.001+07:00

Corsair introduced a new line of PC3-12800 (DDR3-1600 MHz) memory kits based its latest memory module design, the Corsair Vengeance. The Vengeance modules make use standard height DIMM PCBs, making use of a 'light' heatsink that goes on to be slightly taller than the PCB. 'Light', because unlike the heatsinks on the Dominator modules, Vengeance's heatsink looks to consist of just thick metal plates of the heatspreader elongating into a few heatsink fins, much like G.Skill's RipJaws modules.

The Vengeance modules can operate at 1600 MHz speeds with DRAM voltage of 1.5V, with CL8 and CL9 timings available in the lineup. The modules come in densities of 2 GB and 4 GB, making up single-channel (single module), dual-channel, and triple-channel memory kits, in capacities of 4 GB (single module), 8 GB (2x 4 GB) dual-channel, 6 GB (3x 2 GB) triple-channel, and 12 GB (3x 4 GB) triple-channel.

A list of models follows.

* 4GB (1x4GB) 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V Single-Channel DDR3 (CMZ4GX3M1A1600C9)
* 6GB (3x2GB) 1600MHz 8-8-8-24 @ 1.5V Triple-Channel DDR3 (CMZ6GX3M3A1600C8)
* 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V Dual-Channel DDR3 (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9)
* 8GB (2x4GB) 1600MHz 8-8-8-24 @ 1.5V Dual-Channel DDR3 (CMZ8GX3M2A1600C8)
* 12GB (3x4GB) 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V Triple-Channel DDR3 (CMZ12GX3M3A1600C9)
* 16GB (4x4GB) 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V Dual-Channel DDR3 (CMZ16GX3M4A1600C9)

Source: hwbox.gr

Tt eSports Announces the Challenger Gaming Keyboard

2010-11-27T06:10:00.003+07:00

Tt eSPORTS, the world’s leading professional gaming gear division by Thermaltake has unveiled their new keyboard the CHALLENGER Ultimate, a gaming keyboard created for MMORPG and RTS gamers to rule your kingdom with your own style. Enjoy the dark atmosphere but execute accurate shots, it’s the only way to take down the enemies. With the Wizard 256 back light design, 4 levels of illumination design that simulates all time true-to-life gaming ambience that can match any mood, the CHALLENGER Ultimate also provides up to 14 Macro keys capability to be one step ahead of their competitors.

With 64KB on board memory in 5 game profiles and 70 Marco keys, plus anti-ghosting capability, gamers are given that extra boost of confidence to win. Tt eSPORTS is not only the leading gaming gear provider, but they are always focused on adding that something extra. With 2 extra built-in USB ports, audio jacks for Mic. in and SP out, Gold-plated USB connector are convenient features that enhance the gaming actions.

Features:

* The world’s first exclusive cooling fan illumination gaming keyboard
* 4 levels of illumination design simulates all time true-to-life gaming atmosphere
* Provides up to 64KB on board memory in 5 game profiles and 70 macro keys
* Innovative customization GUI to bring your joy of gaming achievement

PowerColor Readies First Passive-Cooled HD 6850 Graphics Card

2010-11-27T06:07:00.001+07:00

PowerColor is readying the first AMD Radeon HD 6850 graphics card that features a passive cooler, a completely silent cooling solution. The company is currently evaluating a new design that makes use of a large GPU heatsink featuring an aluminum fin array that ensures the card occupies just two expansion slots, while adding surface area by propagating to the top of the card, in an L-shape. The heatsink uses no less than five heat pipes to convey heat to the fins. PowerColor's card will be branded under the company's "SCS3" line of silent graphics cards. Based on the 40 nm "Barts" silicon, the AMD Radeon HD 6850 features 960 stream processors, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 256-bit wide memory interface. Availability and pricing is unknown as the design is yet to be finalized.

Green-House Intros GH-JEJ223SH White 21.5-inch Full HD Monitor

2010-11-27T06:06:00.001+07:00

Green-House is offering a white version of the GH-JEJ223SH monitor it launched last year. The 21.5-inch full HD (1920 x 1080 resolution) display is geared for gaming and video, which is complemented by 2 ms response time. Other panel specifications include 300 cd/m² brightness, 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. Display inputs include DVI, HDMI, and D-Sub. It is priced at US $237.

MSI Announces Radeon HD 6870 Twin Frozr II OC Graphics Cards

2010-11-27T06:04:00.001+07:00

Internationally renowned graphics card and mainboard manufacturer MSI announces today the R6870 Twin Frozr II graphics card. It is equipped with the latest 40nm AMD Radeon HD6870 GPU, IGB GDDR5 high-speed graphics memory, and the award-winning Twin Frozr II thermal solution. As a result, the operating temperature and noise of the R6870 Twin Frozr II are reduced by 19°C and 12.8dB respectively (versus the reference design). Also, the overvoltage function from the MSI-exclusive Afterburner software further enhances the OC potential of the Barts GPU, and AMD’s Eyefinity Technology provides optimal multi-display 2D/3D output for gaming, productivity and entertainment. Along with the super reliable Solid CAPs which prolong product life and enhance product stability and quality, the R6870 Twin Frozr II is the best choice ever for power users looking for graphics cards with ultimate performance and low operating temperature.

Exclusive Twin Frozr II thermal solution maintains perfect balance between cooling and noise control
The Twin Frozr II found on the R6870 Twin Frozr II consists of a large-area copper base heat-sink with high density radiation fins, dual 8cm temperature-controlled PWM fans, and five heat-pipes to increase airflow and enhance heat conductivity for the GPU and neighboring components. In addition to the superb cooling effect, it is quiet! Under full load, the Twin Frozr II cooler reduces temperature and noise by 19C and 12.8dB respectively versus the reference design. By design, the R6870 Twin Frozr II is the industry-first graphics card that achieves a perfect balance between thermal solution and noise reduction.

Support for Afterburner overvoltage function to unleash display performance
In terms of software support, the R6870 Twin Frozr II supports the MSI-exclusive Afterburner OC software designed for instantaneous GPU and memory clock adjustments and advanced fan speed control. Users can even save up to 5 OC profiles of their own for gaming, productivity and entertainment. With the Afterburner, users can further adjust the GPU voltage to break through the limit of GPU and thereby unleash the power and performance of graphics cards. The Afterburner can also monitor the GPU temperature and fan speed for power users to totally control their graphics cards.

AMD Eyefinity and 3D Video
The R6870 Twin Frozr II is equipped with the AMD-exclusive Eyefinity Technology for multi-display, supporting up to four screens. DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a (which support 3D video and 7.1-channel lossless TrueHD and DTS-HD audio formats) help provide consumers with the most exciting audio/visual fun.

MSI Intros GeForce GTX 460 OC with New Single-Fan Cooler

2010-11-27T06:01:00.002+07:00

MSI released a new factory-overclocked GeForce GTX 460 1 GB graphics card that makes use of the company's new sporty-looking single fan cooler the company first introduced with its Radeon HD 6850 graphics cards. The uses the same PCB as the one on the GTX 460 Cyclone OC graphics card. The cooler uses a 90 mm fan to blow air onto a large aluminum fin array, to which heat is conveyed by 8 mm thick heatpipes. The clock speeds are also identical with those of the Cyclone OC: 725 MHz core, 1450 MHz CUDA cores, and 900 MHz (3600 MHz effective) memory. The card also features software voltage control, which when combined with increased frequencies, up performance by 30%. Released in Europe, the new GTX 460 OC is priced at €155.

Eurocom Launches World's First 6-cores Based Notebook Featuring Intel Core i7 980X

2010-04-14T10:02:00.003+07:00

Eurocom launches the world's first 6-cores based notebook with Intel i7-980X Extreme Edition and Xeon W5680, up to 2.6TB of storage with four physical hard drives and up to 24GB of DDR3-1333 Triple-Channel Memory! The official launch is scheduled today in Las Vegas during NAB Expo. Eurocom updated the EUROCOM D900F Panther Mobile Workstation to support the newest line of 32nm Intel 6-cores processors and D900F Panther Mobile Server to support line of XEON W56xx processors.

Eurocom Phantom series is perfect for Software and Database Developers, Graphics, Photography, Gaming, 3D Modeling, CAD, CAM, CAE, Digital Content Creators, engineeres and anyone demanding maximum power, storage and video, or Mobile Server platform running Microsoft Hyper-V capable to virtualize and run any O/S from Windows 7 or Server 2008 up to Red Hat or Solaris.

The EUROCOM D900F PANTHER Mobile Workstation combines Eurocom engineering, Intel horsepower, and professional nVidia Quadro FX 3800M OpenGL graphics in a package that can easily handle demanding engineering and visualization workloads. It delivers 64-bit workstation-class performance and functionality in a mobile form factor with laptop convenience, anywhere you go. It is designed to replace traditional desktop based workstation by providing "anywhere you go workstation" capabilities and allows companies to implement RED (Rapid Engineering Deployment) Team solutions.

Designed for real-world application performance, reliability, and cool operation EUROCOM D900F PANTHER Mobile Workstation is perfect for running most of 64-bit Operating Systems. By supporting more operating systems than any workstation in its class, the EUROCOM PANTHER gives professional users maximum flexibility.

In addition to Microsoft Windows 7, XP Pro64, Server 2003 or Server 2008, the EUROCOM D900F PANTHER supports RedHat, Linux, Open Solaris and other server-class operating systems, enabling SMB customers to use the system for virtualization as Mobile Server.

And that means mobile capabilities of launching 64-bit workstation On-the-Go or Virtual server On-the-Go applications from the convenience of a laptop, wherever, whenever work needs to be done.
Mobile Server is a new category of Eurocom notebooks designed with a professional user in mind. Software and/or database developers, training centers, military personnel, emergency relief organizations and service organizations who must frequently travel, yet need access to powerful computing, are the core target for Mobile Servers.

With unrivaled power, unsurpassed features and unmatched style, the Mobile Servers are the ultimate extension of the Eurocom Mobile Workstation notebook technology.

With the release of mobile servers, EUROCOM has taken the next step in the evolution of the desktop replacement and workstation by combining server like features, power, reliability and flexibility with desktop replacement technology. Mobile Server is the most powerful notebook on the market. It is engineered for the highest quality, best performance, long-term stability and latest computing technology.
Mobile Server features the most innovative and stable computer technologies available on the market such as the fastest processors, x64 Operating Systems, the most advanced VGA technology, multiple optical drives and multiple Hard Drives offering RAID 0/1/5/10, large displays and full size 102-key keyboards.

The EUROCOM PANTHER, which measures 15.8" x 11.9" x 2.05" and weights under 12lbs, also supplies tremendous storage (up to 2.6TB using four hard drives). Customers may also choose between RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5 or RAID 10 for the ultimate transfer rates and application load times or redundancy.

"It's a server or workstation class computer complete with built-in Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in a 12 pounds notebook form factor," said Mark Bialic, President of Eurocom. "This is one extremely fast notebook that offers server or workstation calibre capabilities. It is designed to replace traditional desktop based workstations. It offers incredible high ROI by allowing companies to be more productive and offers new "on the go" Rapid Engineering Deployment (RED) services while greatly reducing overall IT management costs".

Featuring workstation-class or server-class Intel Core i7 or Xeon Processor and up to 24GB of DDR3-1333 memory, the D900F PANTHER also offers the largest storage capacity on the market today - a whopping 2.6 Terabytes with four physical drives and RAID 0/1/5/10 - making it the perfect mobile workstation or server laptop for users who demand extra-large capacity storage and reliability for true portable server / workstation experience.

EUROCOM PANTHER supports super-powerful 6-cores 3.33GHz Intel Core i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition or 3.33 GHz Intel XEON W5680 processors running at 6.4GT/sec bus speed with 8MB L3 cache, Gigabit Ethernet port on-board, HDMI, eSATA, DVi Dual Link ports, with a 17" WUXGA LCD display and full size keyboard. If required 2nd Gigabit Ethernet can be added via Express Card expansion slot. Eurocom offers both regular hard drives with G-Force sensors as well as Solid State Drives SLC and/or MLC with capacity of 1TB per drive.

PROCESSOR TECHNOLOGY:
Driving the system is the newest line of Intel Core i7 processors up to 3.33 GHz Extreme Edition i7-980X and bus speeds of up to 2x 6.4GT/sec and 8MB of L3 cache, which delivers exceptional multi-tasking and multi-threaded performance. There are 6 different CPU choices available:

(1) i7-930 2.80 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor; 8MB L3 cache; 4.8GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
(2) i7-960 2.93 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor; 8MB L3 cache; 4.8GT/s; LGA1366; 45nm; 130W
(3) i7-980X 3.33 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor Extreme Edition; 6-cores; 8MB L3 cache; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
(4) W5680; 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon Processor; 6-cores; 8MB L3 cache; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 130W
(5) X5670 2.93 GHz Intel Xeon Processor; 6-cores; 8MB L3 cache; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 32nm; 95W
(6) W5590 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon Processor; 8MB L3 cache; 6.4GT/s; LGA1366; 45nm; 130W

Eurocom offers full processor upgradeability allowing users to update their processors as technology changes and/or if higher performance is required.

VGA TECHNOLOGY
Eurocom offers multiple choices of high performance VGA cards based on standard MXM 3.0 Type B specifications, easy to upgrade by professional user:

a) 1GB GDDR3; GTX 285M Nvidia GeForce; DX10; MXM 3.0 Type B; 16x PCIe; N11E-GTX1
b) 1GB GDDR3; nVidia Quadro FX 2800M; OpenGL; DVI Dual Link; MXM 3.0b; N10E-GLM
c) 1GB GDDR3; nVidia Quadro FX 3800M; OpenGL; DVI Dual Link; MXM 3.0b; N10E-GLM3
d) 1GB GDDR5; HD5870 ATi Radeon Mobility; DX 11; DVI Dual Link; MXM 3.0b

Eurocom offer full VGA Upgradeability allowing users to upgrade their VGA technology as technology changes (i.e. DX11) and/or higher VGA performance is required (i.e. Quadro or SLI/Crossfire)

DEFINITION of MOBILE WORKSTATION
Mobile Workstation is a new category of notebooks designed to replace a desktop-based workstation for a professional user. With unrivalled power, unsurpassed features and portability, the Mobile Workstation is the ultimate evolution of the Desktop Replacement notebook. With the release of mobile workstations, Eurocom has taken the next step in the evolution of the desktop replacement by combining workstation like features, power and flexibility with desktop replacement technology. Mobile Workstation is the most powerful notebook on the market. With the arrival of 64-bit Operating System technology, mobile workstations run two times faster 64-bit applications than 32-bit desktop PCs. Featuring the most innovative computer technologies; they are engineered for the highest quality, best performance, long-term stability and serviceability. As a single computing solution, mobile workstation provides a perfect alternative to a traditional workstation class desktop computer system.

"It's a server or workstation class computer complete with built-in Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) in a 12pounds notebook form factor," said Mark Bialic, President of Eurocom. "This is one extremely fast notebook that offers server or workstation calibre capabilities. It is designed to replace traditional desktop based workstations. It offers incredible high ROI by allowing companies to be more productive and offer new "on the go" Rapid Engineering Deployment (RED) services while greatly reducing overall IT management costs".

EUROCOM High-End Mobile Workstations
EUROCOM mobile workstations are designed specifically for high-end professional and graphics users demanding maximum performance and power when running professional applications such as CAD/CAM/CAE, 3D animation, 3D simulation, engineering, financial simulations, math, forensic, 3D imaging, mapping and charting, satellite image processing, GIS, or medical software, or graphics work.

KEY BENEFITS of MOBILE WORKSTATIONS
a) Reduced IT Management costs (one piece of equipment to move around)
b) Improved Productivity (anytime, anywhere)
c) Increased Revenue Growth (allows introduction of new services, i.e. CAD/CAM/CAE consulting/training on-the-go)
d) Improved reliability of data (internal battery = built-in UPS)
f) Reduced equipment cost (single computer solution)
g) Reduced litigation costs due to intellectual properties rights (out-of-the office consulting)
h) Specific Vertical Markets:

KEY VERTICAL MARKETS:
Aerospace (CAM/CAE/CAD)
Car Manufacturing
Architecture
Education (Departments of Architecture, Engineering, Geography, Animation, Video Production; GIS)
Financial sector
Forensic (i.e. FBI)
Governments (Department of Fisheries and Oceans; Army; Navy; Public Works/Engineering; GIS)
Military (Mapping, Charting, Imaging, Navigation)
Medical (Imaging)
Software Development (Databases, CRM, Operating)
Training

Mobile workstations feature the most advanced computer technology, such as:

* High-performance Processors: Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition or XEON processors
* 64-bit hardware and multiple operating systems support (Windows 7, XP Pro 64, Server 2008, Red Hat)
* 24 GB of high performance triple channel memory,
* Four physical hard drives with up to 2.6TB of storage
* Data Redundancy with RAID 5/10 or extra performance with RAID 0
* Choice of high performance VGA graphics from single nVidia GTX 285M, Quadro FX 2800M/3800M up to dual VGA solution based on nVidia's SLI or Ati's CrossFire.
* Large displays (17" or 18.4") in a portable form factor
* Blu Ray and DVD Burning-on the-Go
* High Performance 1 Gigabit LAN on-board and support for 2nd 1Gigabit LAN interface
* 102-key desktop-like full size keyboards with separate numeric keypad
* Multiple I/O Ports: 4 or 5 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire ports, serial and parallel ports, DVI ports for multiple external monitors, S-Video In ports for digital video cameras, media card readers, Optical digital and analog audio I/O, built-in microphone and stereo speakers
* Excellent Wireless: internal up to 450Mbps WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 2.0
Internal battery allows uninterrupted operation in case of power failure.
* Excellent Surround Sound System with SRS WOW technology
* Optional internal TV Tuner for Digital and/or Analog Video Input

G.Skill Releases World's Fastest Memory, Trident 2500 MHz DDR3 Dual-Channel Kit

2010-04-14T09:34:00.001+07:00

G.Skill International Co. Ltd., manufacturer of extreme performance memory and high performance solid-state storage, today announced it has created the ultimate extreme performance dual channel DDR3 2GB x2 memory kit, rated at 2,500MHz CL9-11-9-28 at only 1.65V, which is specifically designed for Intel Core-i7 860 & 870 processors and in co-operation with ASUS, the leading manufacturer of high performance motherboard. This DDR3 2,500MHZ kit has passed numerous strict tests on ASUS P7P55D-E Deluxe and P7P55D-E EVO motherboards and will join our high performance Trident family.

Following on from its launch of groundbreaking DDR3 2,400MHz memory kit in January 2010, G.Skill has been continually working to develop the ultimate high performance memory in order to satisfy the demands of top overclockers and PC enthusiasts' worldwide. DDR3 2,500 MHz pushes the hardware limit even further than ever and to guarantee its operation, G.Skill has partnered with ASUS, the leading performance motherboard manufacturer, to break all the technology bottlenecks while maintaining the perfect stability, which is critical to ASUS and G.Skill engineering.

"G.Skill is dedicated to continuously developing the best performance memory modules on the market, to satisfy the demands of extreme overclockers and gamers. We are proud of the continual milestones we are still setting in the memory industry, and we believe the collaboration with ASUS brings the best technology synergy for future product development." commented Tony Chou, senior R&D manager at G.Skill.

"As the global motherboard leaders, we've developed quite a few innovations that are now industry standards. We did this on the best designed, best performing motherboards around, with the highest compatibility, guaranteed. Working with G.Skill to achieve this new extreme-frequency, Dual-Channel DDR3-2500, is part of this tradition, and we're very happy to be involved", said Che-Wei Lin, General Manager of the ASUS Motherboard Business Unit.

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD9 Pictured

2010-04-14T09:32:00.000+07:00

Gigabyte's upcoming extreme high-end motherboard that made news for being the foundation of some world-record overclocking feats based on the Core i7 980X EE processor, the GA-X58A-UD9, has finally faced the lens, albeit the photographer decided to keep it black and white (monochrome). The picture reveals a beastly-looking socket LGA-1366 motherboard featuring a very strong VRM and full-on PCI-Express connectivity. The CPU is powered by what appears to be a 24-phase VRM, which draws power from two 8-pin connectors. It is wired to six DDR3 DIMM slots for triple-channel memory.

The heatsinks over the CPU VRM are connected to the those over the chipset with heatpipes, the heatsink over the X58 chipset has a fusion cooler which can provide water-cooling, as well as attach to a Silent Pipe heatsink block. The heatsink over the ICH10R southbridge is about as big as the ones on the UD5, Extreme, and UD7 models. We expect there to be one or two nForce 200 bridge chips over the two x16 links from the X58 chipset, giving out a total of four x16 links. All 7 expansion slots are PCI-Express x16, looking at the three blocks of external PCI-E lane switches, there indeed are three x16 links split between six slots, and the 7th being a full x16 slot. So the electrical configuration could be x16/x8, x8, x16/x8, x8, x16/x8, x8, x16, for the seven slots.

Connectivity features include six SATA 3 Gb/s from the ICH10R, two additional controllers giving out four additional SATA ports (color-coded white), of which at least two are 6 Gb/s, an IDE connector, 8+2 channel audio, two gigabit Ethernet interfaces, FireWire, USB 3.0, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. Since the GA-X58A-UD9 is already available with some professional overclockers, market availability doesn't look far away.

Source: Expreview

NVIDIA GeForce 197.45 WHQL Drivers Released

2010-04-14T09:23:00.001+07:00

NVIDIA rolled out version 197.45 of its GeForce driver suite. The WHQL-signed drivers are the latest to support GeForce 6-series to GeForce 300 series, excluding the DirectX 11 compliant GeForce 400 series. Other products supported include the ION platforms. For GTX 480 and GTX 470, NVIDIA recently released GeForce 197.41 WHQL. The drivers released today, version 197.45 WHQL, include changes such as PhysX system software updated to version 9.10.0129, on-chip HD audio driver to version 1.0.9.1, several game-specific performance increments, adds SLI profiles for new games, and enhances those for existing ones, and a number of bug-fixes detailed in the Release Notes document (for Windows XP and Windows 7/Vista). Details on game-specific performance increases follow:

* Up to 13% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with a single GPU, up to 30% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with SLI technology
* Up to 13% performance increase in H.A.W.X with single GPU, up to 15% performance increase in H.A.W.X with SLI technology
* Up to 30% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with single GPU, up to 28% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with SLI technology

The new drivers add SLI and multi-GPU support for top new gaming titles including Assassin Creed II, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City, Mass Effect 2, Napoleon: Total War, and Zombie Driver, and enhances SLI support for Metro 2033, Supreme Commander 2, Unigine, and World of Warcraft.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 197.45 WHQL

Sharkoon Releases QuickPort HDD Dock Variant with eSATA

2010-04-14T08:57:00.001+07:00

Sharkoon has expanded their "QuickPort" hard drive adapter series: The Sharkoon QuickPort Combo models offer direct access of SATA drives and IDE devices to a PC or Notebook; now Sharkoon immediately introduces an eSATA Edition, while data transfers were conducted to a PC by the existing USB2.0 ports, this adapter has recently been equipped with a faster eSATA connection. The current twelve comprehensive QuickPort series models offer optimal solutions with differing functions for hard drive collectors, who often want to attach their alternative external data carrier quickly and easily to their PC or Notebook - something in between the faster HD-backup or also for flexible access to a hard drive media center. There is no time consuming installation to the computer or external housing, the hard drive is simply plugged into the QuickPort and the device is immediately recognized.

The "Combo" versions offer insertion slots for 2.5" and 3.5" SATA hard drives, and now additionally one IDE port on the housing front; even older model hard drives and optical devices can simply and easily be attached to a PC or Notebook. Connect the adapter to a computer through its USB2.0 port while the newest model also includes an additional eSATA port. IDE hard drives are attached through the computer's faster ports. While the data transfer rate of USB2.0 is limited to around 35 MB/s, faster IDE devices can operate through the eSATA port without performance loss.

The Sharkoon QuickPort Combo eSATA is equipped with a power switch, LEDs indicating operation, and hard drive access; it measures 71 x 133 x 95 millimeters (H x W x L) and weighs approximately 545 grams. Shipment includes an IDE date cable for 3.5" inch devices and 2.5" inch hard drives including a 4-pin power cable, in addition a power adapter and cable for the QuickPort, a USB cable, an eSATA cable, plus a brief instruction manual.

End customers will find the Sharkoon QuickPort Combo eSATA available immediately for the retail price of 36.90 euros in authorized retailers. Sharkoon QuickPort Combo eSATA: Docking station for SATA hard drives and IDE devices / external port via USB2.0 and now with eSATA port / MSRP 36.90 euros.

Apple Updates MacBook Pro Line with Faster Processors, Next-Gen Graphics

2010-04-14T07:57:00.002+07:00

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with faster processors, powerful next-generation NVIDIA graphics and even longer battery life. The popular 13-inch MacBook Pro features the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor for up to 80 percent faster graphics and a groundbreaking 10-hour built-in battery. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple’s new automatic graphics switching technology that toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors.

“The new MacBook Pro is as advanced on the inside as it is stunning on the outside,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With faster processors, amazing graphics and up to three more hours of battery life, the new MacBook Pro delivers both performance and efficiency.”

All 13-inch MacBook Pro models now include faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 4GB RAM, a 10-hour built-in battery and the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor. With 48 processing cores, the new NVIDIA GeForce 320M is the fastest integrated graphics processor on the market, ideal for graphics intensive applications or high performance games. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 250GB hard drive priced at $1,199; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 320GB hard drive priced at $1,499.

The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models are up to 50 percent faster than the previous systems.** Using Intel’s state-of-the-art 32 nanometer process, Intel Core i5 and i7 processors integrate the memory controller and Level 3 cache for faster access to system memory. Hyper-Threading technology improves data throughput by creating virtual processing cores, while Turbo Boost optimizes performance between the two processor cores, accelerating the system from 2.66 GHz to 3.06 GHz for intensive dual core tasks, and up to 3.33 GHz for single core tasks.

All 15-inch and 17-inch models include two graphics processors, the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M for peak performance and Intel HD Graphics for energy efficient operation. More than twice as fast as the GeForce 320M, the powerful new GeForce GT 330M provides incredibly smooth, crisp on-screen graphics for the most demanding 3D games, creative software and technical applications. Apple’s automatic graphics switching determines which graphics processor an application needs and switches instantly between processors to deliver peak performance and long battery life. Tightly integrated hardware and software allow the new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro to deliver 8 to 9 hours on a single charge.

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in three models: one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 320GB hard drive at $1,799; one with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at $1,999; and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and 500GB hard drive for $2,299.

The MacBook Pro glass Multi-Touch trackpad now supports inertial scrolling, an intuitive way to scroll through large photo libraries, lengthy documents and long web sites. All MacBook Pros feature bright, LED-backlit wide-angle displays with a broad color gamut. The 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a high resolution 1920 x 1200 display, and the 15-inch MacBook Pro is now available with an optional high resolution 1680 x 1050 display. Customers can also upgrade their MacBook Pro with new 128GB, 256GB and 512GB solid state drives.

As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.

Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a notebook battery that delivers up to 10 hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges.**** The built-in battery design results in less waste and depleted batteries can be replaced for $129 or $179, which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

All Macs come with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar.

Pricing & Availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, and 17-inch MacBook Pro are now available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes

* 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
* 1066 MHz front-side bus;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
* 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* two USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
* SD card slot;
* combined headphone/line in (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 63.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.66 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

* 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
* 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
* 1066 MHz front-side bus;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
* 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* two USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
* SD card slot;
* combined headphone/line in (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 63.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 13-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 320GB 5400 rpm or a 500GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:

* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
* 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256MB of VRAM;
* 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* two USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* SD card slot;
* audio line in (analog/digital);
* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.53 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
* 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256MB of VRAM;
* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* two USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* SD card slot;
* audio line in (analog/digital);
* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.66 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,199 (US), includes:

* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
* 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 with 4MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512MB of VRAM;
* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* two USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* SD card slot;
* audio line in (analog/digital);
* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a high resolution 15-inch 1680 x 1050 display in glossy and antiglare, a 500GB 5400 rpm or 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 2.53 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,299 (US), includes:

* 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
* 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512MB of VRAM;
* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet port;
* iSight video camera;
* three USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
* ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
* audio line in (analog/digital);
* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
* built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, antiglare display, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Next Generation Acer Aspire One Netbook Now Available for U.S. Customers

2009-02-12T05:05:00.001+07:00

Acer America, part of the world's third largest PC company, today announced U.S. availability of the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150, expanding the company's growing family of popular netbooks. The new Aspire One AOD150 comes on the heels of its highly successful 8.9-inch predecessor. The global market share leader in the netbook category, Acer is offering the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150 to U.S. customers today with prices beginning at $349.99.

The new 10.1-inch Aspire One provides continuous access to the Internet in an easy-to-use, stylish design with a similar ultra-compact footprint as the original 8.9-inch version. The netbook is designed to be an affordable and simple solution for Web browsing, checking email, instant messaging, VOIP calls, streaming video, viewing photos and listening to music.

"The success of the Aspire One netbook illustrates the enormous demand consumers have for mobile devices that keep them connected," said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product management for Acer America. "The new 10.1-inch Aspire One has something for everyone, whether a business user continuously on-the-go, a young student needing an introductory PC, or tech aficionado seeking a lightweight, secondary device with enduring battery power. Netbooks are an ideal solution for those who want a balance of mobility and productivity for quick and easy access to the Internet and other computing needs."

Combining ultra-portability and design
Engineered for mobility and weighing less than three pounds, the Aspire One utilizes the Intel Atom processor which combines performance and efficiency to stay connected while on-the-go. The Aspire One comes with a six-cell battery, providing up to six hours of computing power, twice the amount of the previous platform. Featuring Windows XP Home, 1GB of memory, integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network connectivity, and a generous 160GB internal hard drive to store plenty of digital albums, music and documents, the Aspire One is a simple and reliable mobile computing solution.

The Aspire One has a 10.1-inch CrystalBrite backlit display, offering a broader viewing area for Web page navigation and data input. For communication needs, the netbook is equipped with the Acer Crystal Eye webcam, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. A built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

The Aspire one is available in four high-gloss color options including seashell white, sapphire blue, ruby red and diamond black. Evoking speed and mobility, the netbook includes stylish details such as an aerodynamic-shaped metallic hinge with a colored accent and a brushed-metal palm rest, which offer a refined design element.

Acer Aspire One AOD150 Specifications
Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
10.1-inch WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD 1024 x 600
Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset
1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
Three USB 2.0 Ports
6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh)
2.95 lbs.
10.2" (W) x 8.0" (D) x 1.31" (H)
In addition to Windows XP Home, the Aspire one comes with additional preinstalled software includes Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Microsoft Office Trial 2007.

Pricing and Availability
The Aspire One AOD150 netbook is available now via Acer's authorized resellers and at major retailers nationwide, with prices beginning at $349.99. The Aspire one comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Dell Launches Latitude XT2, the Industry's First Multi-Touch Capable Tablet

2009-02-12T05:02:00.001+07:00

Dell today announced the Latitude XT2 convertible tablet building on the industry's first tablet PC with multi-touch screen capabilities designed to enhance security, increase performance and extend battery life. The system starts at $2,399 and is available today at Dell Online. Multi-touch capabilities on the Latitude XT2 allow users to use natural gestures like a pinch or tap for scrolling, panning, rotating and zooming that work with productivity applications they use every day. Dell's integration of multi-touch screen technology allows customers to use the full real estate of the display, as opposed to just the touchpad.

"As part of our commitment to deliver the best mobility experience, Dell revolutionized the tablet space with the first multi-touch capable product that allows customers to use the entire screen," said Brett McAnally, director, Dell Product Group. "Today, we're extending that leadership with the Latitude XT2 to deliver more performance, security and manageability."

Other features include:
Up to 11 hours, 28 minutes of battery life with six cell battery and optional 6-cell battery slice
Daylight Viewable display that has up to 100 percent more luminance than the HP EliteBook 2730p
Full-size keyboard, touchpad, point stick and battery-free pen give users input flexibility
Combines performance with high touch accuracy to allow touch interface with small icons without drops or hangs
Comprehensive services options with Dell ProSupport.
Improved connectivity with new LCD-based wireless antenna design
Enhanced hinge design for improved panel stability
SATA drive support providing updated storage technology and enhanced performance
Comprehensive security features adding Dell ControlVault and ControlPoint Security Manager
DDR3 RAM allows better performance and up to 5GB RAM
Manageability with integration of Intel vPro and DASH 1.0 compliance
Source: Dell

NEC Electronics Introduces Compact SoC That Supports 24x DVD writing Speeds

2009-02-12T04:59:00.001+07:00

NEC Electronics Corporation today announced that it has developed a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) product integrating all the functionalities needed for DVD writing and reading on a single chip. The new product named SCOMBO 8 is a SoC for supporting DVD Drives equipped in PCs and home write/read appliances and has following features: (1) Integrates DVD drive control logic, synchronous DRAM, and flash memory all in a compact 14mm square flat package; (2) Delivers industry's fastest 24x DVD writing; (3) Lowers power consumption during DVD writing at 8x speed to 0.8W, reducing by 50 percent compared to the previous products.
The new product allows DVD drive manufacturers to reduce external components by 20 to 30 percent and facilitates low-cost system development with less than 100 materials. The market for CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, and other optical disc drives for PCs is estimated at about 300 million per year. DVD drives account for about 80 percent of this market, with steady growth expected in the years ahead.

NEC Electronics launched a SoC with built-in DVD reading and CD write/read functionality for PC optical disc drives. Since then, the company has continuously worked to expand its product lineup, selling a cumulative 180 million products in the SCOMBO series by December 2008.

Optical disc drives in the PC market can be divided into two types, according to the height of the drive case: half-height drives or slim drives. In half-height drives, users expect higher writing speeds, while in slim drives they expect lower power consumption. In addition, users of both types seek to cut their bill of materials costs by reducing the number of components on system boards.

The new product meets all of these requirements by delivering integrated functionality, higher writing speeds, and lower power consumption. The main features of the SCOMBO 8 are as follows:
(1) Industry's smallest package combining the functionality required for DVD drives
The new product integrates functionalities such as servo control circuit that controls the optical pickup, data modulation/demodulation circuit, digital read channel function, and write strategy circuit. It also provides analog circuits to process the output signals of the optical pickup, CPUs, and a serial ATA interface all on a single chip. In addition to these control circuits, the new product also includes 16 Mbit SDRAM and 16 Mbit flash memory, all in a compact 14mm square package. The new product is the world's smallest SoC to integrate these functions all in a single package.
In addition to the smallness of the package itself, SCOMBO 8 also allows users to reduce the number of components required to develop the system by 20 to 30 percent, bringing the component count to below 100 and delivering substantial savings in mounting surface and total system cost.
(2) Industry's first DVD controller to support 24x DVD recording
By adopting BiCMOS process, both analog and digital circuits can be optimized by implementing high-speed bipolar process into analog circuits and implementing CMOS process with outstanding power quality into logic circuits. As a result, these advances make it possible to achieve 24x DVD writing for the first time in the industry.
(3) Reduced power consumption during DVD 8x recording by 50 percent (compared to company's previous products)
The product has a number of improvements, including lowered internal voltage from 1.5V to 1.0V achieved through 90nm process, and optimized functional blocks including the CPU. These improvements enabled the new product to reduce power consumption during 8x DVD writing by 50 percent (0.8W) compared to the company's previous SCOMBO products.
NEC Electronics believes the SCOMBO 8 to play a significant role in digital AV equipments and plans to market this product actively in fields of optical disc drives with DVD write/read control functionalities.

Pricing and Availability
The sample price of the new product is US$10 per unit. Mass production is scheduled to begin in March 2009 with approximately 1000,000 units and expected to reach 4000,000 units per month by March 2010. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Source: NEC

Intel to Invest $7 Billion in U.S. Manufacturing Facilities

2009-02-12T04:58:00.000+07:00

Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini today announced the company would spend $7 billion over the next two years to build advanced manufacturing facilities in the United States. The investment funds deployment of Intel's industry-leading 32 nanometer (nm) manufacturing technology that will be used to build faster, smaller chips that consume less energy. The commitment represents Intel's largest-ever investment for a new manufacturing process.

"We're investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation," Otellini said. "These manufacturing facilities will produce the most advanced computing technology in the world. The capabilities of our 32nm factories are truly extraordinary, and the chips they produce will become the basic building blocks of the digital world, generating economic returns far beyond our industry."

Intel's investment will be made at existing manufacturing sites in Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico and will support approximately 7,000 high-wage, high-skill jobs at those locations -- part of a total Intel workforce of more than 45,000 in the U.S. Intel, while generating more than 75 percent of its sales overseas, carries out roughly 75 percent of its semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. At the same time, about 75 percent of the company's R&D spending and capital investments are also made in the U.S.

The technology used in Intel's manufacturing process builds chip circuitry 32nm (32/billionth of a meter or about 1/millionth of an inch) across - incredibly small, atomic level structures.

The first Intel processors to be built using this technology are codenamed "Westmere" and will initially be used in desktop and mobile mainstream systems. Westmere combines Intel's latest high-performance micro-architecture ("Nehalem") with graphics capability integrated into the processor. As a result, computer manufacturers will be able to increase performance and simplify system manufacturing compared to current systems. Outstanding 32nm manufacturing and product health are enabling Intel to accelerate the Westmere production ramp beginning in 2009. Additional 32nm products will follow in 2010.

Otellini will discuss the importance of new technology and investing for the future at 9 a.m. EST today during a speech at the Economic Club of Washington, DC. In addition, Intel executives will be on-hand at an event beginning at 10 a.m. PST in San Francisco to provide the world's first public demonstration of a fully functional 32nm based device - the first Westmere processor.

Source: Intel

ACTICA Delivers DDR2-800 ECC Registered Memory for AMD Opteron Shanghai Platforms

2009-02-12T04:56:00.000+07:00

ACTICA Inc., manufacturer of mission critical server memory products, announces the next generation DDR2-800/PC2-6400 ECC Registered for AMD Opteron Shanghai Platforms.

ACTICA's new DDR2-800 ECC REG are compatible to AMD Opteron Shanghai sever platforms such as Supermicro H8DMT, H8DMU+, H8DM3, H8DMA, H8DA3, H8DAi-2, Tyan S4985-E, S3992-E, S2927-E, S2915-E, S2912-E, S2937, S2935, and Asus KFSN4-DRE/SAS/iKV, KFSN4-DRE/iKVM.

ACT4GER72E4G800S—DDR2-800 4GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
ACT2GER72F8G800S---DDR2-800 2GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
ACT1GER72A8G800S---DDR2-800 1GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
Designed according to JEDEC standard, ACTICA's new DDR2-800 ECC REG modules meet the high-capacity and high-performance needs of high-level servers and workstations. The 800 MHz version will enable improved performance for AMD Opetron Shanghai based servers. The 800 MHz modules have bandwidth per high speed lane of 4.8 Gbit/s - an increase of 50 percent compared to 533 MHz and 20 percent compared to 667 MHz versions.

In order to meet the critical performance and reliability requirements of high-end computing and server applications, ACTICA only use premier grade components from major DRAM makers. ACTICA's DDR2-800 ECC REG memory modules are built with Samsung chipset, and are available in 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4GB. 8 GB DDR2-800 ECC REG module is due to release in Q2 2009.

Every ACTICA module completes 24 hours of burn-in reliability testing and extensive dynamic testing to ensure highest quality and reduce RMA rate. All ACTICA memory modules come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Source: Actica

NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.09.0203 Released

2009-02-12T04:54:00.000+07:00

NVIDIA has released new and updated PhysX driver that is compatible with AGEIA PhysX processors and CUDA ready GeForce GPUs. Version 9.09.0203 dated February 10, 2009 is almost 40MB and works with Windows XP and Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit versions). The application supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory. Here is what's new in this release:
Resolves PhysX SDK runtime issues with multi-GPU configurations in Hybrid environments.
Improves performance of some PhysX enabled games on GeForce GTX 285 and GTX 295 products.
Resolves occasional system crashes when PhysX is enabled on some systems when running on EA’s Mirrors Edge.
Runtime upgrade ONLY for AGEIA PhysX processors users. (New installations should install older PhysX system software such as version 8.09.04 – prior to installing this update).
Includes the latest PhysX runtimes used in the latest game titles.
DOWNLOAD: http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_9.09.0203_whql.html
Source: NVIDIA

NVIDIA GeForce Driver Version 182.05 BETA Released

2009-02-12T04:50:00.000+07:00

NVIDIA today also released new BETA GeForce driver version 182.05 for both Windows Vista and Windows XP. Some games will run a bit faster with this driver compared to the latest official version 181.22:

Up to 8% performance increase in Fallout 3 at high resolution and AA.
Up to 10% performance increase in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.
Up to 9% performance increase in Half-Life 2 at high resolution with AA.
Up to 11% performance increase in Left 4 Dead at high resolution with AA.
Up to 10% performance increase in Race Driver: GRID at high resolution and AA.
Unfortunately, direct links from NVIDIA give me "Page Not Found" message, so I'll give download links from our colleagues at Guru3D.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.guru3d.com/news/download-geforce-forceware-18205-xp-and-vista/
Source: NVIDIA, Guru3D

ASUS Introduces N81Vg, Features the New NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M Graphics Processor

2009-02-12T04:37:00.002+07:00

ASUS, a pioneer in the adoption of cutting-edge notebook graphics, announced today the ASUS N81Vg, the world's first notebook to feature the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M graphics processing unit (GPU). The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M GPU features NVIDIA CUDA technology with 32 processor cores, DirectX 10 support, and 1080p High Definition video playback through NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology. Coupled with the ASUS N81Vg's 14-inch LED backlit display, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M delivers unrivaled visual clarity and vibrancy.

Combining Effortless Mobility with Stunning Graphics Performance
The pairing of the ASUS N81Vg and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M provides users with numerous multimedia options in a small, highly portable notebook designed to take entertainment to the streets.

"The ASUS N81Vg uses the GeForce GT 120M GPU to deliver a visual computing experience far superior to other notebooks in its category today," said Rene Haas, General Manager, Notebook Products, NVIDIA. "With 32 powerful processing cores, the GeForce 120M GPU makes photo editing, video editing, movie ripping, high-definition Blu-ray playback and gaming a reality on 14-inch notebooks."

"We are proud to offer consumers a notebook that is capable of providing spectacular graphics and stunning clarity while maintaining effortless mobility," said Alvin Chou, Senior Product Manager of ASUS' Notebook Business Unit. "By combining sublime graphics performance, smart technologies and supreme ease of use, the N81Vg is the ideal notebook for those who would like to enjoy multimedia to the fullest."

NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M - Fast Forward Visual Experience for All
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M features the latest NVIDIA CUDA technology, which harnesses a massive 110 gigaflops of computing power for a myriad of applications such as video conversion and High Definition enhanced DVD playback with up to 15 times higher frame rate. Users can enjoy greater productivity with CUDA-enhanced photo and video editing applications such as CyberLink PowerDirector and motionDSP vReveal. With DirectX 10 support, users can experience realistic in-game texture details, high dynamic range lighting and special visual effects. NVIDIA PureVideo HD handles 100% of the video decoding process, producing 1080p High Definition visuals with sharper images, smoother transitions and more vibrant colors.

With a 3DMark 2006 score of 5,431, the ASUS N81Vg delivers up to 15 times better performance than most other 14-inch notebooks, thus satisfying discerning users with a penchant for High Definition audio and visual enjoyment while on the go.

Reliable Computing and Entertainment with Variable Power Modes
The ASUS N81Vg lasts 3 hours in Performance mode and 4 hours in Battery Conservation mode—in both cases an hour more than similarly-specified notebooks.

Source: ASUS

SanDisk Announces World’s First High Performance 4-Bits-Per-Cell (X4) Flash Memory

2009-02-12T04:33:00.000+07:00

Building on its leadership in multi-level cell (MLC) technology, SanDisk Corporation today announced that it will begin mass-production of the world's first high performance 4-bits-per-cell (X4) flash memory. Using 43-nanometer (nm) process technology, this breakthrough enables 64-gigabit (Gb) memory in a single die - the highest capacity in the industry and suitable for the most demanding storage applications. SanDisk has also produced an advanced X4 controller, which is necessary to effectively manage the complexities and performance requirements of X4 memory. The X4 memory chip combines with the X4 controller chip in a multi-chip package (MCP) to provide a complete, integrated and low-cost storage solution.

"The development of X4 memory and controller technologies is a major milestone for flash memory storage that will provide significant long term benefits to SanDisk and play a critical role in future NAND flash scaling," said Dr. Khandker Quader, senior vice president, memory technology & product development, SanDisk. "64Gb X4 is the result of numerous key innovations, and demonstrates SanDisk's leadership in driving multi-bit flash memory with performance and cost suitable for storage-intensive applications such as music, movies, photos, GPS, games and more."

X4 Flash Memory Breakthrough
SanDisk co-developed the 64Gb X4 flash memory chip on 43nm technology with Toshiba Corporation, which cooperates with SanDisk in the development and manufacturing of advanced flash memory. The new 43nm 64Gb X4 chip is the highest capacity and highest density flash memory die in the world to enter production this year, boasting a 7.8MB/sec memory write performance that is comparable with current multi-level cell technologies. SanDisk's patented All-Bit-Line (ABL) architecture as well as the newly introduced three-step programming (TSP) and sequential sense concept (SSC) serve as key enablers to X4's impressive performance.

X4 Controller Technology Is Key
SanDisk developed a number of innovative solutions for advanced system management that address the difficulties posed by this complex 4-bits-per-cell technology. The X4 controller, developed and owned by SanDisk, utilizes a first-of-its-kind error correcting code (ECC) scheme specifically developed for use in storage systems, and tailored to support the 16 levels of distribution needed for 4-bits-per-cell.

"The inherent challenges in producing 4-bits-per-cell technology with good performance and low costs require advanced system level innovations in multi-level storage," said Menahem Lasser, vice president, future technologies and innovation, SanDisk. "Our X4 controller technology with its memory management and signal processing schemes is crucial to meeting the unique demands of 4-bits-per-cell memory, and demonstrates SanDisk's ability to conceptualize and produce sophisticated flash memory solutions."

Today, at the 2009 International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), SanDisk and Toshiba presented a technical paper describing the key technology advancements that led to the development of 64Gb 4-bits-per-cell NAND flash memory on 43nm technology node. This announcement comes one year after SanDisk unveiled its X3 (3-bits-per-cell NAND) technology at the 2008 ISSCC and was subsequently honored with the ISSCC 2009 Lewis Winner Outstanding Paper Award.

Source: SanDisk

NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009

2009-02-12T04:28:00.000+07:00

NVIDIA Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and the fiscal year ended January 25, 2009. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, revenue was $481.1 million compared to $1.2 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, a decrease of 60 percent. For the twelve months ended January 25, 2009, revenue was $3.4 billion compared to $4.1 billion for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008, a decrease of 16 percent.
NVIDIA's results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), included a net loss of $147.7 million, or $0.27 per share. Non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, which excludes stock-based compensation charges, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a restructuring credit against operating expenses, and the associated tax impact of these items, was $94.4 million, or $0.18 per share.

GAAP net loss for the twelve months ended January 25, 2009 was $30.0 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to net income of $797.6 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008. Non-GAAP net income for the twelve months ended January 25, 2009, which excludes stock-based compensation charges, a non-recurring charge against cost of revenue related to a royalty dispute, a non-recurring warranty charge against cost of revenue, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a restructuring charge against operating expenses, and the associated tax impact of these items, was $303.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to $919.3 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008.

"The environment is clearly difficult and uncertain. Our first priority is to set an operating expense level that balances cash conservation while allowing us to continue to invest in initiatives that are of great importance to the market and in which we believe we have industry leadership. We have initiatives in all areas to reduce operating expenses," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "Although fiscal 2009 was extremely difficult, it was one of our best years of innovation. We made many important advances in graphics processing with PhysX and 3D Vision, GPU computing with CUDA and Tesla, and mobile computing with ION and Tegra. I am pleased with the excellent achievements we made in each of these important areas."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2009 Highlights:
NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Ion Platform, which combines the highly acclaimed GeForce 9400 GPU with the Intel Atom CPU. The combination enables the smallest premium PC experience available today, making it ideal for the exploding category of mini-notebooks and compact PCs.
NVIDIA introduced GeForce 3D Vision, the world's first high-definition 3D stereo solution for the home. 3D Vision is a combination of high-tech wireless glasses, a high-power infrared (IR) emitter and advanced software that automatically transforms hundreds of PC games into full stereoscopic 3D experiences.
NVIDIA unveiled the GPU-based Tesla Personal Supercomputer, which delivers the equivalent computing power of a cluster, at 1/100th of the price and in a form factor of a standard desktop workstation.
NVIDIA announced that Electronic Arts, THQ and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, have licensed NVIDIA PhysX technology as a development platform which will be available for use by each of the company's studios worldwide.
NVIDIA announced it is working closely with Wipro to provide CUDA professional services to their joint customers worldwide. Wipro's Product Engineering Services group will accelerate the development efforts of companies with vast software portfolios seeking to exploit parallel computing with the GPU.
NVIDIA announced that National Taiwan University (NTU), one of the world's leading research universities, has been named as Asia's first CUDA Center of Excellence. NTU joins previously recognized CUDA Centers of Excellence, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Utah.
Conference Call and Web Cast Information
NVIDIA will conduct a conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 financial results and current financial prospects today at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time (5:00 P.M. Eastern Time). To listen to the call, please dial (212) 231-2901. A live Web cast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be held at the NVIDIA investor relations Web site nvidia.com/ir and at streetevents.com. The Web cast will be recorded and available for replay until the Company's conference call to discuss its financial results for its first quarter fiscal 2010.

Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP net income (loss), and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share. In order for our investors to be better able to compare our current results with those of previous periods, we have shown a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures. These reconciliations adjust the related GAAP financial measures to exclude stock-based compensation, a non-recurring charge against cost of revenue related to a royalty dispute, a non-recurring warranty charge against cost of revenue, a restructuring charge (credit) against operating expenses, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, in-process research & development charges related to acquisitions, and the associated tax impact of these items, where applicable. We believe the presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures enhances the user's overall understanding of our historical financial performance. The presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and our non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Source: NVIDIA

ELSA Japan and LucidLogix to Introduce High Performance Computing Products

2009-02-12T04:16:00.002+07:00

ELSA Japan, a leading computer graphics solution provider and Lucidlogix (Kfar Netter, Israel, CEO - Moshe Steiner) announce an agreement to deploy Lucid's HYDRA based chip in ELSA Japan High Performance products.

The companies have teamed up to transform high performance computing in the Japanese marketplace. For the first time, a product based on Lucid's HYDRA technology will be used in a new line of ELSA Japan high performance systems for the HPC, broadcast and medical markets.

End of Mar 2009, The new solution will allow ELSA to provide a cost affective solution based on multi GPUs from any vendor. First products will feature dual and quad GPU configurations.

By combining Lucid's component with Elsa Japan's PCI-Express end-point device and remote graphics offering, a fully scalable and flexible system can be achieved for the first time at affordable price points.

"We are pleased to partner with ELSA, which has the reputation for providing leading performance computing solutions to the Japanese market. ELSA's selection of Lucid products for graphics and high performance computing platforms demonstrates our commitment to deliver a unique and powerful parallel processing architecture," said Offir Remez, President of Lucid. "HYDRA technology will allow ELSA to combine multiple GPUs on one device, for efficient, high performance in compute intensive, large scale visualization scenarios."

"Partnership with Lucid is very important for our customers who require high performance computer. We can provide scalable performance and configurable solutions to break through the performance barrier." said Jun Nagai, president, ELSA Japan Inc.

Source: ELSA

Intel Preparing Core i7 950, Expanding Lineup

2009-02-12T04:15:00.000+07:00

Earlier this month, news surfaced of Intel working on a new Extreme Edition (XE) Core i7 chip, model 975, that displaces the existing Core i7 965 XE from its existing price-point to grab the $999 in 1,000 unit tray quantities price-point. The 975 XE is to be accompanied by another new SKU in the making: the Core i7 950.

The new chip is bound to displace the Core i7 940 from its existing price point of $562. It features higher clock speed, bus multiplier value and is built on the newer D0 revision of the Bloomfield core. The chip will feature a clock speed of 3.06 GHz. It achieves this speed using a multiplier value of 23X. The new chip is expected to be introduced sometime in Q2, 2009.

Samsung Brings Forth New Wireless USB System-On-Chip Solution

2009-02-12T04:07:00.001+07:00

Samsung Electronics, a worldwide leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced a new wireless universal serial bus (W-USB) System-On-Chip (SoC) designed specifically for the upcoming ultra-wideband (UWB) market. The latest in a growing portfolio of mobile technology solutions, Samsung's new W-USB SoC combines the convenience of wireless connectivity, the security level of wired USB, and the high speed performance of UWB to instantly transfer mass storage data such as digital photos, movie videos or MP3 music files between electronic devices. For example, the new W-USB SoC can download a 700MB movie in approximately one minute.

Samsung's suite of advanced products for portable consumer applications will be on display at the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Hall 1, Booth #D33 of the Fira de Barcelona, Montjuic.

"Connected consumer electronic products are the next step in enabling anytime, anywhere access to information and services," said Dr. Yiwan Wong, vice president, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. "One of the keys to wireless connectivity is W-USB technology. While W-USB technology is just beginning to ramp up, its application will soon increase with the consumer electronic and mobile phone markets' demand for wireless connectivity technology and UWB's fast download speeds."

This high-performance chip is expected to be applied to digital cameras and mobile phones and gradually expand to other peripheral electronic devices such as wireless printers, beam projectors, wireless hard disks, wireless displays, and wireless speakers. For example, without any cable connection, consumers can directly send photos from their digital cameras to their PC or view them instantly on their TV. Consumers can directly connect their MP3 players to high-quality surround speakers and listen to their favorite music. Also, multi-media data can be shared among mobile phones through a peer-to-peer network without a host computer.

Using advanced CMOS process technology and 3.1~10.6 GHz-band UWB technology, Samsung's new W-USB SoC is a single chip solution which features a built-in ARM core, a UWB physical layer, and a memory controller. It also provides an SD card, an MMC, a NAND flash memory, and a high-speed USB 2.0 OTG (On-The-Go) interface without additional logic circuitry.

With the industry's first built-in embedded memory controller and adoption of Samsung's proprietary data storage technology, Samsung's W-USB SoC offers a high throughput, performing at the speed of 480Mbps (megabytes per second). When considering a conventional payload overhead, the average effective data download speed of existing chipsets is around 50Mbps while Samsung's W-USB SoC can reach up to 120Mbps.

Samsung's new W-USB SoC utilizes security measures which are seamless with features such as a 128 bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption algorithm and a static signal that makes hacking through wiretapping and signal tracing difficult.

This new SoC maintains a low power consumption of less than 300mW (milliwatt), making it an ideal product for portable electronic devices like mobile phones and digital cameras.

According to the market research analysis firm In-Stat, worldwide W- USB is expected to reach US$22 million this year and increase to US$390 million in 2012, at an annual compound growth rate of over 200 percent.

Samsung's W-USB SoC is currently sampling and will be in mass production starting in Q2, 2009.

Source: Samsung