CES 2013 Video: ASUS VG248QE 144 Hz 24-in and MX299Q 29-in 21:9 2560x1080 Monitors
Subject: Displays, Shows and Expos | January 8, 2013 - 01:18 AM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: vg248qe, mx299q, monitor, display, ces 2013, CES, asus
ASUS continues its push into the monitor market with a pair of new models debuting at CES 2013. First up is the VG248QE, a 24-in 1080p monitor that runs at a refresh rate of 144 Hz and supports NVIDIA's 3D Vision 2 and a 1ms gray-to-gray response time. These are TN panels so you might be surprised to see they are going to priced quite reasonably in the $399 range. The display also includes a new ASUS technology called GamePlus that embeds crosshairs for games into the OSD on the monitor to offer additional options in troublesome 3D modes.
The second new monitor we saw was the MX299Q, a 2560x1080 monitor in the exciting new 21:9 form factor. These allow developers, traders or just every day users to have two "full screen" applications open at the same time without the need for multiple displays. The MX299Q will also include Bang & Olufsen powered speakers.
Check out our talk with Nick from ASUS about these new displays!
PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!
CES 2013 Video: ASUS RAIDR Express PCIe SSD and ARES II Dual HD 7970 Graphics Card
Subject: Graphics Cards, Storage, Shows and Expos | January 8, 2013 - 01:07 AM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: raidr express, ces 2013, CES, ASUS ROG, asus, ARES II
No stop at the ASUS suite at CES is complete without talking to JJ and learning about what is new in the world of PC components. Not only did we talk with him about the upcoming ARES II limited edition dual Radeon HD 7970 graphics card (that Chris has already written about earlier in the day) but also we learned that ASUS plans to enter the PCIe solid state market with the ROG RAIDR Express.
Yeah, you read that right!
PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!
ASUS Releases the Limited Edition ROG ARES II Dual 7970 and it's a Monster
Subject: Graphics Cards | January 7, 2013 - 03:07 PM | Chris Barbere
Tagged: ROG ARES II, liquid cooling, dual gpu, ces 2013, CES, asus, 7970
ASUS has just announced it's Limited Edition ROG ARES II Graphics card, and boy is it a doozy!
Dual AMD Radeon 7970 GPU's clocked at 1100 MHz are paired with 6 GB of DDR5 running at a speedy 1650 MHz memory clock. This monster needs 3 8 Pin power connectors from the minimum recommended 850 watt power supply that can push at least 42 Amps on the 12V rail.
The ARES II will come with a 'hybrid cooling setup' that includes a custom cooler using both liquid and air cooling. A closed-cycle liquid system with dual 120 mm fans and a radiator block cool the GPU while an 80mm 'dust-proof' fan gives additional cooling for the memory, power and other critical components. ASUS is claiming that the cooling setup will keep everything stable even under full load and can achieve 13% more performance while running 30C cooler temperatures when compared to a reference GTX 690.
Detailed Specifications include:
|
Model name |
ARES2-6GD5 |
|
Graphics engine |
2 x AMD Radeon™ HD 7970 GHz Edition |
|
System bus |
PCI Express 3.0 x 16 |
|
Video memory |
6GB GDDR5 |
|
Boost clock |
1100MHz (base clock: 1050MHz) |
|
Memory clock |
6600MHz (1650MHz GDDR5) |
|
Memory interface |
768-bit (2 x 384-bit) |
|
Maximum DVI resolution |
2560 x 1600 |
|
Maximum VGA resolution |
2048 x 1536 |
|
Microsoft Direct3D version |
DirectX® 11 |
|
I/O |
1 x single link DVI / 1 x dual link DVI / 1 x HDMI via adapter/ 4 x native DisplayPort |
|
Bundled accessories |
3 x 8-pin power cable / 1 x DVI to HDMI adapter / 1 x extended CrossFireX™ bridge |
|
Minimum recommended power supply |
850W (42A on the 12V rail) |
|
Power connectors |
3 x 8-pin |
|
Dimensions |
Card: 11.8” x 5.5” x 1.8” Fan block: 4.6” x 5.8” x 1.9” Fan: 4.7” x 4.7” x 1” Liquid cooling tube length: 13.4” |
Ryan was able to snap a few pics of the card at the ASUS booth and we can't wait to get our hands on it, but with pricing and availability yet to be announced, this may be a card out of reach of most of us.
PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!
CES 2013: ASUS Launches Qube With Google TV
Subject: General Tech | January 7, 2013 - 12:55 PM | Tim Verry
Tagged: qube, htpc, google tv, ces 2013, CES, asus
In addition to the expected flood of tablets and ultrabooks, ASUS has announced a new cube shaped device–called the ASUS Qube–that runs Google TV. Similar to the Nexus Q without the expensive analog audio hardware, the ASUS Qube is a box that is designed to bring streaming media to your living room. In this case however, the ASUS Qube is running Google TV and is paired with motion, voice, or Android smartphone controls for input.
The Qube can access Netflix, Amazon, and Youtube for video content along with other standard Google TV applications. It can also display a customized TV guide and play games, for example. ASUS has paired the aptly-name Qube with a new interface that displays on screen options in a rotating cube.
To sweeten the deal over other Google TV boxes, ASUS is throwing in 50GB of WebStorage cloud storage space with each Qube.
Unfortunately there is no word on pricing or availability for the ASUS Qube.
Read more about Google TV at PC Perspective.
PC Perspective's CES 2013 coverage is sponsored by AMD.
Follow all of our coverage of the show at http://pcper.com/ces!
ASUS Partners with VIA for Tablet SoCs
Subject: General Tech, Processors, Mobile | December 13, 2012 - 04:37 PM | Scott Michaud
Tagged: asus, VIA
We have not heard too much about VIA Technologies developing CPUs in recent history. They still hold an x86 license until at least some time in 2013. VIA also develops ARM SoCs, apparently, and have recently struck a deal to get in multiple 7-inch tablets by Asustek. These models will be exclusively sold to China.
ASUS set a goal of 12 million sales for tablet PCs for 2013 and one way to accomplish that milestone is to provide cheap but decent devices. This goal is firmly in the same order of magnitude as iPad sales. Still, ASUS already has a fairly big presence in the tablet market with its strong Transformer line and more notably Google’s Nexus 7.
VIA will provide ARM Cortex A9 processors for the lower end of ASUS’ product line. The model which they will be embedded in will retail for somewhere between $99-$149 USD. These devices will be available in China for the Lunar New Year season of 2013.
Interestingly Asustek has not contracted out Pegatron to manufacture the device, opting instead for Wistron Corp. to fulfill the order. The two companies, Pegatron and Asustek, were once one-in-the-same; founded by a businessman with a fascination for the Greek mythological Pegasus. The company changed with the climate like any other and Pegatron was spun off into its own independent entity. Since then, Pegatron has been hard at work developing laptops and tablets for ASUS as well as picking up orders from Apple and others.
The first shipment of 2-3 million manufactured devices is rumored to be delivered to Asus by the end of December. Perhaps these sales can help bolster VIA and their ability to develop CPUs once more?
Podcast #229 - ASUS RT-N56U Router, Radeon HD 8000 series rumors, Crysis 3 and more!
Subject: General Tech | December 6, 2012 - 03:26 PM | Ken Addison
Tagged: ssd, rt-n56u, podcast, Crysis 3, asus, 8990, 8970, 7970 matrix
PC Perspective Podcast #229 - 12/06/2012
Join us this week as we talk about the ASUS RT-N56U Router, Radeon HD 8000 series rumors, Crysis 3 and more!
You can subscribe to us through iTunes and you can still access it directly through the RSS page HERE.
The URL for the podcast is: http://pcper.com/podcast - Share with your friends!
- iTunes - Subscribe to the podcast directly through the iTunes Store
- RSS - Subscribe through your regular RSS reader
- MP3 - Direct download link to the MP3 file
Hosts: Ryan Shrout, Jeremy Hellstrom, Josh Walrath, Allyn Malventano and Chris Barbere
This Podcast is brought to you by MSI!
Program length: 1:34:42
Podcast topics of discussion:
- 0:01:15 Never Settle Contest Part 3 is running!
-
Week in Reviews:
- 0:03:10 ASUS RT-N56U Router Review
- 0:08:45 Tt eSPORTS Level 10 M Mouse Video
- 0:11:45 Cutting the Cord Series
- 0:27:15 ASUS Matrix Radeon HD 7970 Platinum
- 0:38:06 This podcast is brought to you by MSI
-
News items of interest:
- 0:39:22 Microsoft Surface Pro Priced/Dated/Batteried
- 0:42:50 Rosewill announces a 1600 watt power supply
- 0:45:23 Crysis 3 System Requirements
- 0:47:30 Steam releases Big Picture mode
- 0:53:30 Radeon HD 8990 Rumored for 2013
- 0:58:15 Intel might make chips for...ARM?
- 1:03:30 AMD will continued to support socketed processors
- 1:07:30 Enterprise might need to buy SSDs 10000x less often?
- 1:17:30 Far Cry 3 Game Stream Summary
-
Closing:
-
1:18:30 Hardware / Software Pick of the Week
- Ryan: 7 year old PC steering wheels
- Jeremy:(Not) Fancy ass new networked printers
- Josh: Asetek Rules!
- Allyn: Google 2-factor authentication
- Chris: HTC 8X
-
1:18:30 Hardware / Software Pick of the Week
- 1-888-38-PCPER or podcast@pcper.com
- http://pcper.com/podcast
- http://twitter.com/ryanshrout and http://twitter.com/pcper
- Closing/outro
Be sure to subscribe to the PC Perspective YouTube channel!!
AMD Never Settle Sweepstakes Part 3: ASUS HD 7970 DirectCU II for FREE!
Subject: Graphics Cards | December 5, 2012 - 01:53 PM | Ryan Shrout
Tagged: never settle, HD 7970, asus, amd
UPDATE: We have selected a winner for this contest! If you didn't get an email from me on it, then better luck next time. We'll have more contests coming up very soon at PC Perspective!!
AMD is really excited about its Never Settle campaign and the bundle packages it has built for the holiday season. PC gamers looking for an uprade will defintely want to read up on the special promotion but we have another surprise for you as well - A FREE GRAPHICS CARD!
AMD and ASUS are partnering up with PC Perspective to hand out an ASUS HD 7970 DirectCT II graphics card, perfect for gaming on your PC!
Not only do you get the card in this sweet contest but you'll get the same software bundle as if you had purchased them at retail.
That means a 20% off coupon for Medal of Honor Warfighter, a FREE copy of Far Cry 3, a FREE copy of Hitman: Absolution and a FREE copy of Sleeping Dogs!
What do you have to do to enter to win this hardware? It couldn't be easier:
- Visit your favorite PC Perspective pages like our YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter account. You should subscribe, like and follow us, you know...if you want to. We'd appreciate it!
- Check out the AMD Never Settle page to read up on the bundle and special offers they are running right now!
- Leave a comment here on this post!
That's it - we love our fans so we want to make sure everyone gets a chance to win some free stuff! Sorry though, North American readers only on this one!
We will close the contest on Wednesday December 12rd at 1pm EST or so - so get your entries in! Thanks again for being a fan of PC Perspective, thanks to AMD for the great prizes and stay tuned for MORE contests and giveaways in the coming days!
A ton of technology in here
In the world of graphics cards there a lot of also-rans, cards that were released but didn't really leave a mark on the industry. Reference cards are a dime a dozen (not really, though $0.10 HD 7970s sounds like a great thing to me) and when the only thing vendors can compete on is price it is very hard to make a compelling argument for one card over another. The ASUS Matrix Platinum HD 7970 that we are looking at today in no way suffers from these problems - it is a custom design with unique features that really give it the ability to stand out from the clogged quarters of the GPU shelf.
As you should expect by now with the ASUS ROG brand, the Matrix HD 7970 not only has a slightly overclocked clock speed on the GPU and memory but also some unique features like VGA Hotwire, TweakIt buttons and more!
ASUS ROG Matrix Design
Before we dive into performance and our experiences in overclocknig the HD 7970 with the ASUS Matrix Platinum we wanted to go over some of the design highlights that make this graphics card unique. Available in both Matrix and Matrix Platinum (hand picked chips) revisions, this triple-slot design will include a custom built PCB with 20-phase power and quite a bit more.
This "exploded" view of the Matrix HD 7970 shows a high-level view of these features with details to follow below. Some of the features are really aimed at the extreme overclockers that like to get their hands into some LN2 but there is still a lot to offer users that just want to try their hand at getting additional performance through air overclocking.
ASUS' custom DirectCU II cooler is at work on the ASUS Matrix HD 7970 using all copper heatpipes to help lower temps by 20% compared to the reference HD 7970 while also running quieter thanks to the larger 100mm fans. These fans can be independently controlled and include the ASUS dust proof fan technology we have seen previously.
Continue reading our review of the ASUS Matrix HD 7970 3GB Graphics Card!!
ASUS RT-N56U Wireless Router Review
On deck for review today is the ASUS RT-N56U “Black Diamond” Dual-band Gigabit Wireless-N Router. ASUS has a broad stable of networking equipment including wireless adapters, wireless routers, wired networking gear and even some power line networking gear. Released in late 2010, the RT-N56U is one of the lower cost offerings in ASUS’ Dual Band N series and can be found online for around $99.
ASUS RT-N56U Wireless-N Router Overview
The media review information supplied to us by ASUS claims the ASUS RT-N56U “Black Diamond” offers “Extreme performance in style.” The router’s “Aesthetic design” has a “Sexy and stylish approach with streamlined, meticulously designed and well-rounded appearance, just like diamonds sparkling and twinkling in the dark.” Now I don’t know about you, but if it’s dark, I’m not sure how you see diamond’s twinkling? But I digress; the RT-N56U is a great looking router, with the black cross hatched lattice surface we liked from previous ASUS routers.
Is the ASUS RT-N56U a worthy contender to handle all your router needs? Read on to find out!
ASUS, please offer us an alternative to IPS displays
Subject: Displays | November 20, 2012 - 04:33 PM | Jeremy Hellstrom
Tagged: asus, PLS, lcd, 2560x1440, PB278Q, 27
Before they even turned the ASUS PB278Q on, Hardware Canucks had formed several opinions about the monitor; on the positive side the stand was very versatile and more stable than other 27" displays but on the negative side was the complete lack of an anti-glare coating. The OSD was quite comprehensive, especially if you contrast it with some of the high definition displays from Korea we have seen recently. The overall performance of monitor was not quite up to the Samsung SyncMaster 27A850 which is another PLS display on the market, however you can get the ASUS display for at least $100 less which may make it the preferred choice of those needing something better than a TN display but can't afford the top model.
"PLS panel technology hasn't been around for all that long but it has already made a lasting mark upon the display market. ASUS' new PB278Q puts this technology to good use in a 27" 2560 x 1440 WQHD monitor that is targeted towards gamers and professionals alike."
Here are some more Display articles from around the web:
- Asus PB278Q Review @ TechReviewSource
- ASUS PB278Q Review: An IPS Competitor Emerges @ AnandTech
- Philips Brilliance P-Line 241P4QPYKES 24″ LED Monitor @ Kitguru
- Dell UltraSharp U2713HM Review @ TechReviewSource
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