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:: PC Perspective . General Tech
GlobalFoundries Continues To Push Industry ForwardGeneral Tech - Nov 10, 2009 | 12:00 AM We spent some time recently with the team at GlobalFoundries to get an update on its status as an independent foundry company, its first and second customers, how the move to 32nm and 28nm is progressing and to speculate on what it means for the rest of the industry. 
AMD VISION Program Analysis for Desktop and MobileGeneral Tech - Nov 05, 2009 | 11:00 AM AMD hosted a select group of technology reviewers Nov. 3 at their LoneStar campus in Austin, Texas, to brief them on their next generation of notebooks featuring their new VISION technology. 
Asus HDAV 1.3 Slim Review: Bitstream for the Masses?General Tech - Nov 02, 2009 | 10:00 AM The thirst for High Definition content has now spread to audio on the PC. Asus is hoping to capitalize on this push by releasing a series of soundcards designed to be HDMI passthrough devices able to bitstream HD audio codecs such as TrueHD and DTS-HD. The HDAV 1.3 Slim is designed to be used in HTPCs of any size, and to be as transparent as possible to the user. Now... can Asus succeed there?
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective Forums | Subject: General Tech
Building computers is, in a way a matter of knowing the rules and following them. On a basic level it is plugging the right connector into the right plug, be it a ZIFF socket or a 12V power connector. Beyond that come secondary rules, like not mixing RAM and ensuring that temperatures remain reasonable. Others are more complex, like overclocking in small increments to find the perfect settings instead of instantly trying for your megahertz goal. There are other unwritten rules to follow that are no less important, rules vary greatly from those stating that an untested RAID 1 is not dependable to the simple adage that friends never let friends drive WinME.
This week sees some new ideas in our new ASUS Xtreme Design Forum, with several ambitious build plans you can look over and comment on. In the overclocking forum is a man with a plan on how to win a bet he can't get his Athlon 64 X2 7750 to 3.1GHz with the stock heatsink. The Graphics Forum is abuzz with news of the new HD5970 as well as some new information on the Lucid Hydra chipset. In the Linux Forum you can read about Microsoft's pseudo sudo patent while the Windows forum has instituted thread prefixes so that you can tell which OS version it is that the thread is about. Of course the Fragging Frogs are all too busy playing Modern Warfare 2 to be posting much. The Lightning Round? Well, there is so much to debate right now, from pig flu to pork barrel politics that you just have to head in to see. Finally, this week's PC Perspective Podcast is up, #82, thanks in part to the tireless devotion of Ryan's new slave intern, grab the audio version or subject yourself to the full facial version right here!
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Overclockers HQ | Subject: General Tech
It has long been a mantra in the business world that you must always continue to grow your business or you will die. Most have taken that to heart and began diversifying their businesses, getting into industries they never tried before and moving away from one strong product line into many varied product lines. Now this is all well and good, many companies have found success in new lines of business and consumer have benefited. This still does not explain the sudden surge in PC enclosure makers broaching the computer mouse market. The latest entrant is Cooler Master and their Choiix mouse which you can read about at OverclockersHQ ... unless you are holding out for the Tuniq Tower Mouse.
"This is another fine Cooler Master product the Choiix Accu-Mouse. Many wireless mouse have entered the market over the years. This particular one has a few features to discuss. In this review we take a look how this works with our lap top. With real world work and some fun as well. I trust you will find this review enlightening and an aid for you to decide if this is the wireless mouse for you. Let us have a look at this Choiix Accu-Mouse Wireless Optical Mouse." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: General Tech
Thinking of Google's new Chrome OS as a competitor to Windows or Linux is not really getting the point of what Google is trying to do. The OS has some very significant restrictions on how it runs, only flash can be used for storage, there will be a custom firmware layer which is non-optional, and a only Google-approved system and peripheral devices will be recognized by Chrome OS. This is not designed for open box systems, think very proprietary on the hardware and software level. The OS its self treats everything as a window in a browser, so no installation need ever occur, in fact the OS will sits on a read only partition of the available flash storage. This gives a big boost to security at the same time that it limits the user from customizing their Chrome OS. Gaming will be possible thanks to the newly developed O3D API which allows JavaScript to access the GPU for graphics, much like the new beta flash allows the usage of a GPU to process flash video. Even Office documents will work thanks to a working agreement with Microsoft. Ars Technica has their heads in the Cloud checking out Google's OS, why don't you join them.
"In 2009, it's better to be an Internet company that's taking slow, awkward first steps toward the PC, than a PC company that's still trying and failing to truly integrate with the Internet. Ars looks at what Chrome OS means for Google, Apple, Microsoft, the netbook, ARM, Intel, and the cloud. "Revolutionary" is a clichéd term, but Chrome OS is a good candidate for it." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: General Tech
When there were only a handful of browsers around, one proprietary to the competition and a text only browser or three, the default winner was Internet Explorer. Years later there are many browsers out there snatching market share from IE and even the coding standard are moving away from IE's interpretation and now favour the ones who stick to a generally accepted standard. IE9 is looming on the horizon, which will support CSS 3, but it will also use the new Direct2D and DirectWrite found in Windows 7 only. Of course, there will also be improvements to Javascript. Read more at Ars Technica.
"At PDC, Microsoft talked about what the next version of its browser will bring to the world. IE9 will contain a new emphasis on performance and graphics, and should make the browser far more competitive with its competitors." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AMD | Subject: General Tech
May 1, 2009, marked AMD’s 40th anniversary. Formed by Jerry Sanders and seven co-founders in 1969, AMD is a company with a rich and colorful history. AMD's 40th anniversary is a testimonial to our longevity, our employees, our customers and our unique business approach. AMD takes great pride in our role of igniting next-generation technology solutions, as well as our ability to see where customer and end-user needs are headed next and then collaborate with the industry accordingly. These values are captured in our Fusion business approach: a unique combination of integration, intimacy and impact. Giving Back
Two down, one to go
The second contest, hosted on Twitter (@AMD_Unprocessed), showed that you really know your AMD stuff, and love the HP dv2z ultrathin notebook, with more than 1600 submissions. Four lucky know-it-alls walked away with a new HP notebook. In case you were wondering, the answers to the Twitter contest questions were:
Third (and Final) Contest
Entering for a chance to win is easy. All you have to do is become a fan of AMD on Facebook (www.facebook.com/amd), go to the ‘Giveaway’ tab and complete the online form. How easy is that? Starting on Monday, November 23 we’ll randomly pick one lucky entrant every weekday (Monday – Friday) for four weeks, until Friday, December 18. Enter once and you’re entered for the entirety of the contest so, if you enter on the first day, you could theoretically be picked a winner on the last. Get over there and good luck! Thanks to all who have helped celebrate this exciting milestone over the past year. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: General Tech
You may remember back in the days when we were all eagerly awaiting an OS named Longhorn, mention of a project called MinWin. The idea was to put the Windows kernel on a serious weight loss program after its original NT kernel bloated itself while transforming into Win2K and WinXP. We had hoped to see the MinWin kernel, as well as a new file system with Vista but that just didn't happen. The MinWin project its self is alive and well, focusing on minimizing and compartmentalizing server code along with possible applications in mobile devices. Ars Technica takes you on a tour of their current efforts in this article.
"As Windows 2000 was being developed in the second half of the 1990s, Microsoft was firmly focused on building in as much functionality as possible, in a play to push Novell Netware aside and establish Windows NT as the operating system for the business world. When NT was released to manufacturing ten years ago, it was well-received by reviewers, businesses, and enthusiasts alike, and for much of the decade the OS has been considered by some to be the pinnacle of Windows releases. Its headline business features—Active Directory, Group Policy, Internet Information Services, Management Console, Windows Management Instrumentation—have become industry standards. But most importantly, Windows NT served as the technological basis for what can fairly be described as the most successful and well-known software product of all time: Windows XP." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Gizmodo | Subject: General Tech
Gizmodo has compiled information on the reliability of various laptop brands and as past users of HP products already knew, HP does not fare well. ASUS and Toshiba both did well, both with less than a 16% failure rate over 3 years where as cheap netbooks reached 6% failure rates within the first year. Fully 1/4 of HP laptops suffer failures within 3 years, followed closely by Acer, Lenovo and Gateway. Check out the rest before you pick up your next netbook or notebook.
"New data from SquareTrade (one of the bigger warranty providers) says Asus and Toshiba have the least hardware malfunctions over 3 years, while one-in-four HP laptops are projected to experience problems. Oh, and crappy netbooks are worst of all." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Benchmark Reviews | Subject: General Tech
Logitech is trying something new with their ClearChat headset; they have gone against conventional wisdom and made it wireless. It the advantages of most USB headsets, plugging in the USB transmitter is all that is required, there are no drivers to install, simply plug in and you are broadcasting at 2.4 GHz. Without wires, the controls need to be moved, the mute notification LED now sits on the microphone boom its self and the volume and mute button are on the right ear piece. This should work well with audio chats but might look a bit odd on video, and the constant draining of the batteries even in an off state means you will probably have a power cord dangling from your headset. Drop by Benchmark Reviews to see how the quality measured up as well as what kind of wireless signal interference the headset encountered. "Stereo headsets are becoming an essential part of any modern PC and, like keyboard and mice before them, they are finally going wireless. The freedom that a wireless headset provides will appeal to anyone, but with so many 2.4GHz wireless devices in every home, can a wireless headset really match the performance, clarity and comfort of its wired counterparts? Benchmark Reviews examines an impressive entry, the Logitech ClearChat PC Wireless Headset 981-000068, and finds out." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: General Tech
As you have heard from listening to the PCPer Podcast, no one is happy with the delay of the Lucid chip bearing MSI Big Bang motherboard that has been delayed. Ryan has since managed to get his hands on a test bed, but we have yet to see any retail models. Certain fingers have been pointed at a company who's colours are often equated with jealousy and who have had a bit of a questionable history of sharing nicely; not to imply that particular trait is uncommon in the electronics industry. The Tech Report had a chance to speak with an MSI rep, who has disavowed the rumours of nvIDIA's involvement, instead placing the blame on the development of the software. Perhaps it is best to wait until most of the bugs are ironed out, but that still doesn't make it easy.
"Recently, we've heard rumors that Nvidia might be involved in the delay of motherboards based on Lucid Hydra chip, which promise to usher in a brave new world of vendor-agnostic multi-GPU support. After a little prodding, Nvidia and MSI have both given us statements denying any shady reasons for the postponement. More importantly, Nvidia has vowed not to block Lucid's path with driver restrictions and the like." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective Forums | Subject: General Tech
Building PCs isn't all fun and games you know, some people do it for a living. One of the hardest and perhaps most rewarding ways to do that is running your own boutique shop. One forum member is looking for inspiration, reselling HP equipment isn't really the most exciting way to do business; do you have any suggestions on how to entice people into buying the good hardware, or hints on what pulls you away from the mass produced crap and into the cream of custom built systems. While we're on the topic, have you submitted a design to the ASUS Xtreme Design challenge yourself?
Other members are focused on software problems, with a brand new OS you always run into a variety of odd problems along with the benefits. Even if sometimes it can be hard to pin down the blame on the software and not the hardware. Also, after a one week hiatus while Ryan travelled the globe, the PC Perspective Podcast is back. He saw a lot in his travels so this one goes a little over the 1 hour target but there was a lot to cover thanks to all that mileage Ryan logged.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: General Tech
It seems that in their spare time between reinventing the browser, mobile phone and book storage, the guys at Google are also looking at changing web protocols as well. spdy:// is their proposed replacement to http://, a protocol designed to speed up transfers of large web pages with a lot of content. They argue the current protocol generates a request of a kilobyte or more, slowing down connections while their usage of SSL encryption and gzip compression trims that down and gives up to a 50% speed increase. The downside is the pressure put on the web server at the other end as a lot of the request is processed on the server side. As well, Ars Technica points out the required SSL connection is not likely to prompt more sites to keep a current security certificate; it is more likely to cause certificate warnings to be ignored more than they are already.
"On the Chromium blog, Mike Belshe and Roberto Peon write about an early-stage research project called SPDY ("speedy"). Unhappy with the performance of the venerable hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), researchers at Google think they can do better." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: OCMODSHOP | Subject: General Tech
A basic Wacom tablet will set you back over $350, so can a $70 tablet actually be of any use to anyone? That is exactly what OCMODSHOP decided to find out when they picked up the Adesso CyberTablet 6400. You get a a scroll mouse and a 6" x 4" work space along with a wireless pen that boasts 512 different pressure levels and even sports two mouse buttons so you don't need to switch back and forth between peripherals. The only real drawback they found throughout was the necessity of batteries, something Wacom users don't have to worry about.
As a graphic artist, I am familiar with digital graphics tablets. Most digital artists are familiar with Wacom products, but they tend to be very pricey. The price point of a tablet has a bit of "snob" factor to it, as professional tablets start around $350 and "lesser" entry-level tablets can be had for under $100. When I saw the Adesso CyberTablet 6400, I really didn't have a lot of high hopes, given its $70 price point. I was soon flogging myself for having such negative thoughts, because the tablet ended up having the same smooth operation and functionality as one of my entry-level Wacom tablets." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Extremetech | Subject: General Tech
ExtremeTech recently published a performance comparison between Vista and Windows 7, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of switching to the new OS. That made a number of users pipe up; there are many who took one look at Vista and turned their noses up, continuing to
happily stick with XP. They've now complied with those users requests and have compared Windows 7 to that old OS stand by. How do they stack up? Read on and find out.
"After I compared the performance of Windows 7 with that of Windows Vista, a lot of readers expressed interest in seeing a comparison with the decade-old, but still popular, Windows XP. So I decided to see how each of the three operating systems compared to each other in several crucial categories. Frankly, the results were a bit surprising. While they aren't a knockout blow for Windows 7, they do show that, by some measures, XP outperforms Windows 7 on legacy hardware." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Intel Press Room | Subject: General Tech
The decision is in from the AMD versus Intel is in, the Delaware court did not get a chance to rule as AMD and Intel have worked out a settlement themselves worth $1.25 billion. This agreement puts an end to every current legal dispute between the two processor companies across the globe. The exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed, what we do know is that there will be a 5 year cross license agreement between the two companies. This is perhaps not the best possible outcome for AMD, back in 2005 a similar lawsuit ended with Intel able to use the 32/64 bit instruction set that AMD developed without licensing charges, whereas AMD still needed to license the original x86 instruction set.
It is a good year to be a lawyer working for Intel, in addition to this finding that required them to update their financial report for 2009, they just finished an anti-trust suit levelled against them by the EU that resulted in a $1.45 billion fine and New York’s attorney general, Andrew M. Cuomo has filed a different suit. AMD is benefiting, the cash influx comes at a perfect time for their company, but the end of the legal battle is even more important. This means that there are no more questions about whether the licensing agreements made by Intel and AMD should apply to Global Foundries, the manufacturing arm of AMD that was split off recently. If the licensing agreements were found to not be transferable, the consequences to Global Foundries and AMD would be devastating. The fact that Intel has agreed to be bound by certain business practices should not only help AMD retain and perhaps grow market share, but we can also hope that the CPU industry becomes a little less melodramatic. What this means to the consumer is yet to be revealed. Will the two companies continue the fierce price competition we have seen, or does this spell the beginning of a partnership that might see CPU prices begin to rise and innovation begin to slow? 
In a joint statement the two companies commented, "While the relationship between the two companies has been difficult in the past, this agreement ends the legal disputes and enables the companies to focus all of our efforts on product innovation and development." Under terms of the agreement, AMD and Intel obtain patent rights from a new 5-year cross license agreement, Intel and AMD will give up any claims of breach from the previous license agreement, and Intel will pay AMD $1.25 billion. Intel has also agreed to abide by a set of business practice provisions. As a result, AMD will drop all pending litigation including the case in U.S. District Court in Delaware and two cases pending in Japan. AMD will also withdraw all of its regulatory complaints worldwide. The agreement will be made public in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: General Tech
AMD GPU owners who happen to be fans of racing sims had a nasty surprise waiting for them with the arrival of Need for Speed SHIFT. They took a big performance hit compared to similar nVIDIA GPUs, enough that the attention of both AMD and EA's attention. Thus the pending release of the second patch, specifically designed to improve the performance of AMD cards along with a beta of Catalyst 9.12, tantalizingly labelled Hemlock, arrived on [H]ard|OCP's door. Check out the results.
"We have an exclusive first look at performance in Need for Speed SHIFT using a new patch due out at the end of this month, as well as a new AMD driver which improves performance in this game. We test gameplay on nine video cards, low end to high end, and examine gameplay performance and image quality." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: General Tech
There were many who felt quite disappointed by MSI's failure to deliver on their Oct. 29th promise of a Big Bang motherboard featuring Lucid's Hydravision. Regardless of the reason behind the delay, Ryan now has hard numbers to show off. The performance increase that he saw did not live up to the linear scaling that was hoped for, but it certainly provides stiff competition for SLI and Crossfire in performance as well as the ease of usage. There were some peculiarities when mixing cards from different vendors and some bad news for owners of dual GPU graphics cards which you can read about in the full article at the top of the page.
"Lucid pointed out some newer games that did not yet have any SLI or CrossFire scaling with the latest WHQL drivers from NVIDIA and ATI – we have seen this over the years where it takes time for the GPU vendors to release updated drivers and profiles to get GPU scaling working. In those cases, because Lucid’s software doesn’t require profiles in that sense, the HYDRA solution provided scaling when native options could not. If Lucid’s software team lives up to its claims it could mean day-of-release scaling for any PC title on HYDRA-enabled systems." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: General Tech
If you have yet to click on the link at the top of the page then you are missing out on some serious geek pr0n and some information about the future of the industry. Ryan flew to Germany for a visit with Global Foundries. There are a few snaps of the automation system and the clean rooms in which AMD and others have their chips made. He also got some information on how their lineup will change and when we will start to see the new processes start up. It is a must see.
"Another interesting note made by GF's team last week was they were "not interested in owning IP" but only wanted to build it. This is obviously a jab at Intel who only recently decided to start offering some of its Atom core IP for production at TSMC for third-parties (a revolutionary move from Intel though) yet will still of course produce the same architecture for themselves at their own facilities." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: OCIA | Subject: General Tech
If you want to look unique at the next LANParty you hit, or maybe you are just THAT into Medal of Honor and want to add to the experience, pick up Gameskulls' GS-1 Tactical Gaming Helmet. It is made to resemble the Army's PASGT Ground Troops helmet or the USMC Light Weight Helmet and hides inside a pair of earcups with 50mm drivers and a boom microphone. USB, PS3 and XBox 360 connectors all come in the package, there is no installation software. OCIA did find that ambient noise bounced around in the helmet and thought perhaps noise cancellation would be a good thing to add to another model. Note: Buying this helmet and wearing it on the 11th of November is not sufficient; please consider taking a break from gaming to visit a memorial service for veterans who have died in past and present wars. "Tired of the same old boring gaming audio headgear? Looking for something unique to wear at your next LAN party? The guys over at Gameskulls may have just the thing you're looking for. It's the GS-1 Tactical Gaming Helmet, and it's definitely a whole lot different than any other gaming headset we've ever reviewed or even seen previously." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: General Tech
Cloud computing is either the new Web 2.0 or it is at least how that magical new Web will manage to perform all of the miracles that most CIOs dream of happening ... soon. For the geeks in the trenches it is becoming a nightmare; which is really too bad. The blame for this falls squarely on the shoulders of management so upper that it has it's head in the cloud already.
For those that have a need to more fully understand cloud computing in a way that could possibly be understood by management, a trip to Ars Technica is recommended. You will find a very concise definition of Cloud computing as well as a look at its history. From its origins in client/server applications, through the dawn of distributed computing and how Cloud computing differs from grid computing, it is all covered. You will even get a look at the various differences in the 'Something' as a Service buzz words actually translate into reality. "Few terms have been as simultaneously hyped and reviled as "cloud computing," but there's definitely more to the phenomenon than just a buzzword and some vague talk of "efficiencies" and "agility." We've put together this short, simple introduction to cloud computing that you can send to your CIO the next time you catch him abusing "the cloud" at a meeting." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: General Tech
Tessellation is the killer app of DX11, making the jump from DX10 much more impressive than the jump from DX9 to DX10. There is a bit of bad news for HD5xxx owners out there which is the performance hit that comes from the breaking up of large triangles into dozens of tiny ones. In [H]ard|OCP's testing of the Unigine Heaven benchmark they saw a drop of about 40% when they enabled tessellation, but the visual impact is much greater. Check out the screenshots and pay particular attention to how the wire frames change. That huge increase in the amount of polygons is what tessellation is all about.
"What does DX11 Tessellation look like in a real-time 3D engine? Unigine’s Heaven Benchmark supports DX11
with Tessellation and we’ve taken a look at Tessellation in this unique application. Tessellation has the
potential to improve the gameplay experience, and you’ll see why once you see these screenshots."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
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