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:: PC Perspective . News
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.:Latest News
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Benchmark Reviews | Subject: Storage
A joint program between Royal Philips Electronics and Lite-On IT Corporation has brought yet another SSD to the market, the 32GB LiteOn Strong-Page. To make things even more confusing, if these drives catch on in the market they will likely be branded Plextor, but for now they are PLDS drives. Using MLC flash and driven by a Marvell 88SS8014 controller, this is not going to be at the more expensive end of the SSD market. The big question is its performance, both fresh out of the package and after heavy usage; you can see how it fared in Benchmark Reviews tests here. It is really too bad that we have not yet seen an MRSP yet.
"Hopefully one day soon Solid State Drives will be standard equipment for new computer systems, but first SSDs must become available as an optional upgrade item for build-it-yourself orders. Plextor/LiteOn hopes to bring this service to tier-one OEMs, and computers from Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Sony could soon offer lightning-fast SSD performance. In this article, Benchmark Reviews tests the LiteOn 32GB 'Strong-Page' SSD, model LA-32M1S, built on the Marvell 88SS8014-BHP2 Da-Vinci controller." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hardware Heaven | Subject: Memory
G.Skill has two rather different kits being reviewed at Hardware Heaven, the Pi DDR3-2200 and Eco DDR3-1600. The Pi is DDR3-2200 and runs at 7-10-10-28, @ 1T at the expected 1.65v, the Eco hits DDR3-1600 @ 7-8-7-24 and 2T, but does it at an impressive 1.35v. When they tested overclocking performance they played it safe and did not increase the voltages but still ended up 2352MHz and 1776MHz respectively. Both kits stand out for their uses, you really should take a peek at them. "Today we have two sets of memory from G.Skill on our test bench, the high performane Pi series DDR3-2200 and a 1.35v set from the Eco series running at DDR3-1600." Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
It takes a little while to explain why people are so excited about nVIDIA Optimus and its graphics switching capabilities, first you have to explore the history of switchable mobile graphics. In the past the graphics were adjusted with a manual switch and a complete reboot, not exactly the most convenient way to manage mobile graphics on the fly. It has improved recently, to the point where you can change on the fly, assuming you have closed some necessary programs. The new Optimus technology promises to free you from that necessity, read Ryan's full review to see how well they did.
"I think is fair to say that NVIDIA Optimus is one of the most impressive mobile technologies we have ever seen. While switchable graphics promised us a future of mobility computing that was both light on power consumption and heavy on performance, Optimus looks like it could actually deliver on that. The ability to seamlessly and near-instantaneously switch between the integrated graphics on nearly any Intel platform and a large number of discrete graphics chips from NVIDIA enables a totally new paradigm for notebooks computers." Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Mobile
If you haven't yet checked out my write up on the new NVIDIA Optimus Technology, you should definitely be hitting that up. Here's the executive summary:
I think is fair to say that NVIDIA Optimus is one of the most impressive mobile technologies we have ever seen. While switchable graphics promised us a future of mobility computing that was both light on power consumption and heavy on performance, Optimus looks like it could actually deliver on that. The ability to seamlessly and near-instantaneously switch between the integrated graphics on nearly any Intel platform and a large number of discrete graphics chips from NVIDIA enables a totally new paradigm for notebooks computers.
Read up! Oh, and if you want, check out our video review that was cut and put together by our own PC Perspective "Intern Ken"! Be sure to watch it to see our clever use of this Optimus Prime / NVIDIA image during transitions.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Graphics Card
It is getting tight around the $100 mark, the HD5670 can be had for $95 with a bit of shopping, the HD5450 for a hair under $45. Now we can see the new HD5770 appearing at NewEgg for just under $85, dangerously close to the price of the HD5670. [H]ard|OCP takes a close look at this in-between card, not quite up to the challenge of gaming at high quality settings but a step up from the HD5450, which can play actually play games, albeit at low resolution and quality settings. Does this card have a home somewhere, or is the $40 you will save on the HD5450 enough to keep you away?
"Today, AMD is launching the Radeon HD 5570. At $75-85 MSRP, the Radeon HD 5570 sits in-between the Radeon HD 5450 and Radeon HD 5670. The question on the table is, what is its value when the Radeon HD 5670 sits close in price? We’ll bring this question to bare, and show you our gameplay experiences, and provide our opinions on the value of this video card." Here are some more Graphics Card articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: General Tech
AMD has named their hybrid CPU-GPU with on-die graphics an APU, and the first chip family is named Llano. It is being fabbed at Global Foundries and it turns out to be a 32nm high-k + metal gate, SOI process chip. The first model we will see will be a quad-core processor, along with the on-die graphics of course. It is based off of the Phenom II architecture, though without a shared L3 cache. They have also introduced power gating so cores can be powered down when not in use and what seems to be the equivalent to Intel's Turbo mode. Drop by AnandTech for a run down on what we know about this new processor family.
"After cashing Intel’s check and appearing more competitive than expected against Clarkdale 2010 is like a fresh start for AMD. The news gets better. Late last year AMD said that before the end of 2010 it would be sampling its first APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) - codenamed Llano. Today AMD is announcing that the first Llano samples, built on Global Foundries 32nm high-k + metal gate, SOI process will be sampling to partners in the first half of this year." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hardware Heaven | Subject: System
The ASRock ION 330HT-BD is a small HTPC system based around an Intel Atom 330 and an Ion GPU that work to play Blu-Ray movies at full definition. As it turns out, the system displayed absolutely no problems when Hardware Heaven tested it, the CPU peaked at roughly 25% utilization indicating that there is plenty power to play your movies. The testing they did with Oblivion did not go quite so well, so don't expect much gaming from this HTPC. "Today HardwareHeaven has one of the latest ION models released on their test bench, the ASRock ION 330HT-BD is one of the highest specification ION/ATOM systems HardwareHeaven have seen to date." Here are some more Systems articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Benchmark Reviews | Subject: Graphics Card
One might wonder why EVGA would be releasing a new GTX275 at this time, but the EVGA GTX275 CO-OP PhysX Edition gives the old card a new twist. Instead of the two GPUs contained within handling purely graphics, this card gives the graphical duties to the GTX275 GPU
and the GTS250 only handles PhysX processing. This made frame rates in Batman:Arkham Asylum jump more than 56% at both the resolutions Benchmark Reviews tested. If you are looking at games that use PhysX and are looking at a more powerful solution than buying a new low powered nVIDIA card, this might be worth considering.
"NVIDIA and ATI dominate the market for gaming-oriented video cards. But neither company sells video cards directly to the consumer; rather, they produce "reference designs" that are manufactured by a number of "partners". Most partners simply produce the reference design and slap an identifying sticker on the card's cooler; although some might replace the reference design cooler with a quieter or more powerful solution, with few exceptions there's little to distinguish one partner's version of a specific card from another partner's version of the same card. EVGA breaks out of this rut with their EVGA GTX 275 CO-OP PhysX Edition, model 012-P3-1178-TR, which combines NVIDIA GTS250 and GTX275 GPUs on the same card, and Benchmark Reviews takes it around the block to see what it's got. " Here are some more Graphics Card articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Processor
For just under $100, a triple core CPU doing 3GHz is a veritable steal but that is exactly what the Athlon II X3 440 is. When you consider that with a bit of luck you will end up with a model that has both a disabled L3 cache and a disabled fourth core, the bargain gets even better. The particular CPU that InsideHW received unfortunately did not have either, but as a consolation the CPU did hit 3.6GHz when overclocked. AMD's new Athlon II may lack the power of the Intel Core series, but they also lack the high entry price as well.
"Although last fall was in the sign of AMD processors by presentation of a new generation Athlon processors, first X4 and then the triplecores, AMD is not sitting idly by so we got the latest and fastest member of Athlon II X3 family, model 440…" Here are some more Processor articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: Motherboard
If you are still in love with the raw performance of the Core i7 series, the amount of LGA1156 based P55 motherboard reviews might have you a bit down. Never fear, the X58 chipset is still alive and well and companies are still improving the features and performance of their boards. The GIGABYTE X58A-UD7 is a perfect example, this $350 board sports SATA 6Gbs ports as well as USB 3 and it has 4 PCIe 16x slots a pair of which can be used at a full 16x speed. All of these improvements don't come without a cost, in [H]ard|OCP's testing they found that a BIOS update is needed for this board to overcome several obstacles they encountered; still, that did not stop the board from coming away with a silver medal.
"The X58A-UD7 is GIGABYTE's newest entry into the fiercely competitive LGA1366 board arena. The board packs a lot of promise, built on GIGABYTE's tried and true X58 based design with some nice bells and whistles added for that extra bit of appeal including USB 3.0 and SATA III features." Here are some more Motherboard articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: The Tech Report | Subject: General Tech
If you have yet to try out HTML 5, through Vimeo, YouTube or other sites you really should give it a go. This is the new improved version of HTML that Steve Jobs has bet the farm on with the iPad and iPhone. Streaming video is the most common way to encounter this relatively new standard and you benefit from a better caching system and reduced CPU utilization but there is far more to it than that. The Tech Report explores some of these uses, from bringing Wolfenstein3D to the web to an image editor with the help of Javascript.
"By now, many of you must have looked at, or at least heard of, the experimental, HTML5 version of YouTube. And if you read the news, you'll know Steve Jobs now expects HTML5 to replace Adobe Flash altogether as the predominant web video standard. Such a development would conveniently make the iPhone and iPad's lack of Flash support a non-issue." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: General Tech
As you get to know more about PCs and are comfortable with the various components you begin to realize that there is a lot more to learn. If you've decided to put together an AMD based system, you might stumble upon a term you haven't before, like TDP. Right now many of AMDs parts are 125W or 140W, but do you know what that means, or more importantly what effect will it have on your system overall? Maybe you are building an Intel machine and stumble upon a term like PAE when you are trying to determine the most amount of RAM your system can take. Your 64-bit OS may theoretically be able to address an incredible 17.2 billion gigabytes, whereas PAE was used in 32-bit OSes to go beyond the 4GB barrier and is not what you need to look up to find your proper memory limit, that is a function of your motherboards signal integrity.
The wide and wacky world of LCDs is no different than the realm of the processor, with a lot to keep track of. SSDs are keeping the storage forum hopping and there is no end in sight, we are seeing new SSDs using new controllers and memory, along with bus changes almost every day.
If you are sick of the hardware side, you could always attempt learning a new OS from scratch to keep yourself occupied, or just upgrade to a new version of a familiar OS. On the other hand, if you would rather watch people talk about hardware and software you can grab the newest episode of the PC Perspective Podcast, we're up to episode #92. Let us know what you think in this forum thread!
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Bjorn3D | Subject: Case and Cooling
There are a pair of Zalman heatsinks up for review at Bjorn3D, the 920g Zalman CNPS10X Extreme and the 700g Zalman CNPS10X Flex. Both are based on five u-shaped heatpipes, the Flex being slightly smaller but with support for a dual fan configuration for better cooling and the Extreme comes with a handy PWM Mate
so you can change its fans speed without difficulties. Check out how well they keep the heat down on an AMD Athlon II X4 620
in their full review.
"The first thing that comes to mind for most people when they hear that name is 'CPU heatsinks'. Since 1999, Zalman has been providing great products designed to keep PC components cool, especially CPUs. The Zalman CNPS10X Extreme and CNPS10X Flex continue the Zalman tradition of providing great cooling components for CPUs. While the Flex allows you the flexibility to choose your fan setup, the Extreme provides a controllable PWM fan for immediate installation. It seems the days of bland CPU coolers are gone. They have all been replaced with engineering masterpieces designed to pull as much heat away from the CPU as possible. From installation to benchmarking, we put the Zalman CNPS10X Flex and Extreme to the test." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Overclockers HQ | Subject: Case and Cooling
Join OverclockersHQ as they take you through a detailed example of a Core i5 based system. As opposed to pages of benchmarks they start with a step through of every component of the build, its features and the reasons they picked it. They start with the case, as it is important to make sure all of your components will fit and be comfortable inside. The next portion covers the motherboard as well as the RAM choice and the most recent features a rather large cooler that implies some overclocking in the future for some poor unsuspecting CPU.
"We will be doing a featured build around the new Clarkdale i5 – 661 CPU from Intel. I decided to go with the Cooler Master CM 690 II for the chassis of choice for this new build. The reason being is that the Clarkdale chips are great for media and Gaming and I figured the black with blue LED that the Cooler Master CM 690 II sports is a great choice. Not only do you get a sleek looking gaming rig but with a flip of the switch you get a beautiful media case without the bright blue LED’s." Here are some more Systems articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Tech ARP | Subject: Storage
Tech ARP stumbled upon a nice trick at Techware Labs and improved it. The initial mod involved taking a 1.5TB Barracuda and changing the LBA table to make the drive think it is only 300GB, which made it about 30% faster that a Velocirapter in their testing. TechARP simply repartitioned the drive into a 300GB and a 1.2TB partition. The 300GB portion achieved the speed increase and using a partition means that you don't loose out on the storage space you paid for in the first place.
"That's a really catchy title, isn't it? Who wouldn't want to turn a "slow" 7,200 RPM hard disk drive into a super-fast 10,000 RPM Western Digital VelociRaptor? After all, the 300 GB model of the much- vaunted HDD speed king retails for US$ 199.99, while a 1.5 TB Barracuda 7200.11 only costs US$ 109.99. Imagine getting the performance of the VelociRaptor with the capacity and price of the Seagate Barracuda! The guys at TechwareLabs came up with an apparently nifty way to "transform" the 1.5 TB Barracuda 7200.11 hard disk drive into a VelociRaptor-killer. But before you go rushing out to grab yourself a 1.5 TB Barracuda 7200.11 hard disk drive, please note that their mod basically involves crippling the Barracuda..." Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: [H]ard|OCP | Subject: General Tech
HDMI 1.4 is going to be a nice upgrade from HDMI 1.3 and one that people will notice. With support for ethernet communication, it is going to add a noticeable extra to this popular connector. As well we have heard that it will support resolutions of 3840x2160 @ 24Hz/25Hz/30Hz and 4096x2160 @ 24Hz. You will also see different versions coming out, they will add an automotive standard as well as a micro HDMI connector. Now we hear via [H]ard|OCP that there will be an additional feature added in HDMI 1.4a, the ability to support 3D visuals. You may need another upgrade by the time Avatar comes out on Blu-ray.
"The HDMI Consortium recognizes the importance of standardized 3D formats for movies, gaming and broadcast content and the need for non-adopter companies and organizations to have access to that portion of the HDMI Specification," says Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. "As the mainstream adoption of 3D is gaining momentum and content providers define and expand their 3D roadmaps, HDMI is ready to support this major market development." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: PureOverclock | Subject: General Tech
The latest Mionix mouse is aiming for a different target than most, instead of looking for incredibly high DPI, the Naos 5000 is designed with comfort of use as the top priority.
The sensitivity is still top notch with a 5040 dpi laser sensor, what stands out is the wing on the mouse. It is wide enough and specifically contoured to support your ring and pinkie fingers instead of leaving them dangling. There are thumb buttons and changeable weights for the gamers but office workers might want to think about the mouse as well. Drop by Pure Overclock for a look at the mouse and the software available for it.
"The peripheral gaming market is competitive and crowded, but Swedish company Mionix claims the Naos 5000 to be exceptionally comfortable, bore out by a rather unique ergonomic design from what we've seen. The features and specifications for the Naos are impressive, but we've seen many products make big claims on paper, only to find they couldn't live up to the hype when put to task. Can the Naos impress or will it add to the pile of gaming peripheral wannabees? Let's find out."
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: InsideHW | Subject: Mobile
Jon just recently finished reviewing the ASUS G51J gaming notebook; $1500 and powered by a Core i7 720QM and the nVIDIA GTX 260M. InsideHW received a different model, the G60J which keeps the same GPU and RAM but uses an i7 820QM. Perhaps the biggest difference is the resolution of the 16" displays, the G51J sports a nice HD quality 1920x1080 where as the G60J is 1366x768. The difference in price is indeterminate at this time, but with the faster 820QM the G60J is likely to run you a bit more than the G51J.
"The indigo-blue chassis glistens in the sun while Asus G60J slowly appears from the darkness to enter the testing track. The lit-up “Republic of Gamers” logo clearly states whom G60J is destined for. It’s run by one of the most powerful engines currently in production – the quad-core Core i7- 820QM, and it is unmatched in the wealth of its accessories. Mentioning only some of that wealth should suffice: GeForce GTX 260M, 4 GB DDR3-1066, 2x500 GB HDD… It’s clear that Asus G60J is a sport machine that takes the breath away, taking the lead from other competitors on the track with ease…" Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hardware Secrets | Subject: Case and Cooling
When you run across a 750W power supply for $120, even if it is from Cooler Master you ought to think before you buy. The Cooler Master GX 750W seems great, with an 80+ rating, 4 PCIe plugs for your graphics and a slew of SATA power connectors and a 120mm fan to keep it relatively cool. Then you see the results that Hardware Secrets found in their testing; noise on the +3.3 V and +5V outputs caused them to head way out of spec at a 600W
power draw. As a 450W-500W PSU, it is solid but asking more from it could endanger some of your components.
"GX is the new mainstream power supply series from Cooler Master that is arriving on the market today, so far featuring 550 W, 650 W and 750 W models. Let's see if the 750 W model is a good buy." Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Intel Press Room | Subject: System
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Feb. 4, 2010 – Intel Corporation today unveiled its 2010 Intel Core vPro processor family to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes for PCs with greater, more flexible performance, theft prevention and cost savings in a rapidly changing business computing environment. These and several other capabilities are at the heart of many new Intel-based business laptop and desktop computers beginning to roll out from computer manufacturers worldwide.
The Intel Core vPro processors arrive as business computing evolves with the emergence of video, Internet telephony, social networking and other heavyweight applications – in many cases running at the same time – making a computer's performance an even bigger priority. "Businesses, particularly those that haven't purchased PCs for several years, face a computing environment that no longer handles the applications many workers and IT are adopting," said Rick Echevarria, vice president, Intel Architecture Group, and general manager, Business Client Platform Division. "The integration of intelligent performance along with smart security and cost-saving manageability features in the Intel Core vPro processor family provide IT and SMBs a no-compromise platform. We also are excited about how Intel vPro Technology gives IT the flexibility to look at client virtualization, consumerization and rich cloud applications." The platform based on the 2010 Intel Core vPro processor family includes the new Intel Q57 Express chipset, and new Intel 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection for notebooks and Intel 82578DM Network Connection for desktop PCs. Computer manufacturers worldwide, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba, are rolling out business PCs based on the 2010 Intel Core vPro processor family. In addition, developers of software solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises such as Bomgar, Kaseya, LANDesk, Level Platforms, LogMeIn, Microsoft, RealVNC, Spiceworks, Symantec and WinZip will support the new features in their upcoming products. IT service providers, including AT&T Tech Support 360 and PlumChoice, plan to adopt Intel Core vPro Technology capabilities into their SMB offerings. Thinking Fast
The 2010 Intel Core i7 processors and Core i5 processors feature Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology for adaptive, "smarter" computing. Intel Turbo Boost Technology automatically adjusts the speed of the processor when it senses a workload change – faster when the user, for example, is multitasking or watching a video, and slower, more energy-efficiently when the worker goes for coffee and only background applications are running. Contributing to the industry-leading speed and energy efficiency of the processors, Intel Hyper-Threading Technology interconnects multiple processor cores with multiple "threads" that enable faster processing of instructions in parallel. Using standard benchmarks, a notebook with the 2010 Intel Core i5 vPro processor can run business productivity applications up to 80 percent faster1, multiple applications up to twice as fast1, and protect confidential data up to 3.5 times quicker1 compared to a 3-year-old mainstream notebook. Outsmarting Evil Doers
Thinking Straight on Management
As encryption becomes more prevalent in business PCs, Intel has added features that avoid productivity slowdowns. First, Intel incorporated new instructions for the Advanced Encryption Standard into the hardware, speeding up encryption and decryption. Second, new Intel Remote Encryption Management enables distant IT personnel to manage PCs with encrypted hard drives by more securely unlocking those drives, making all of the Intel vPro Technology capabilities available. Another new feature, PC Alarm Clock, can wake a PC from off at a predetermined time to perform maintenance, security and other tasks on its own. Boost for Small-, Medium-sized Businesses …
... and Enterprises
For wireless performance that complements the speed of the new Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, Intel unveiled the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 and Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 802.11n WLAN adapters. The adapters offer advanced 802.11n multi-stream capabilities, dual-band support, consistent coverage and higher speeds (up to 450 Mbps for the 6300 and 300 Mbps for the 6200). Intel also introduced the Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 adapter, which offers up to 20-Mbps WiMAX and advanced 802.11abgn (up to 300 Mbps) WiFi for maximum versatile coverage. All three adapters support Intel vPro Technology.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: AnandTech | Subject: Graphics Card
Clocked just 50MHz higher than the HD and 4550 with 50 million more transistors the new HD5450 might not seem like much, unless you pay attention to the fact that this is a 40nm card. That new process has dropped its TDP below 20, making passive cooling an easy choice for AMD and resellers. Add DX11 and Eyefinity support, the usual triplet of video outputs found on HD 5xxx series cards and you have a serious card for around $50. AnandTech's biggest hope with this card is that you will finally be able to utilize the noise reducing software AMD provides as well as HD audio. Find out how AMD did.
"4 chips in 6 months reaches its end today, with the launch of the final chip in AMD’s Evergreen stack: Cedar. Cedar, the baby of the family, will be powering AMD’s bottom-tier cards. Today we’re seeing the the first of what we expect will be a couple of Cedar cards with the launch of the Radeon 5450." Here are some more Graphics Card articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Microsoft | Subject: General Tech
There are a number of Microsoft OSes about to undergo changes, which you should be aware of. The one you have probably heard the most about is the upcoming semi-expiration of the Windows 7 Release Candidate on March 1st, when it will start shutting down every 2 hours. If you haven't taken the hint and switched your OS by June 1st, then you will find your box is not bootable anymore.
As well, support for the vanilla Vista RTM expires on April 13th, so please update to Windows Vista SP1 or SP2, if you insist on sticking with Vista. You WinXP holdouts will need to do the same come July 13th, move to Service Pack 3 or you will notice a lot less updates rolling out, as in none. If you are using an OS that has been supported now for a decade, it is time to put down those Win2K disks and upgrade, as all support for that OS ends on July 13th as well. "Updating your Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista–based PCs before the end of mainstream support dates will ensure that your PCs stay supported and receive security updates. Migrating to Windows 7 provides the longest support lifecycle for your organization, helping to ensure protection, support, and timely updates." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Editorial
Are you ready for the PC Perspective Podcast LIVE right here or by visiting http://live.twit.tv/?? Lots of great topics on the agenda for today!!!
Be sure to subscribe to our show right here: http://twit.tv/twich 
Ryan Shrout | Source: PC Perspective | Subject: Processor
In a phone briefing today held by Intel to preempt the upcoming ISSCC conference (http://www.isscc.org/isscc/index.htm) details were released about the Westmere 6-core product otherwise known as Gulftown. This processor, that will fit into existing LGA1366 processor sockets on current X58 consumer motherboards, will likely be released in the next 60 days or so but we are finally getting more details and information about what to expect.
Because the Gulftown CPU is built on Intel's 32nm process technology, consumers will be getting a 50% increase in core count and a 50% increase in cache for the same power envelope as current 45nm LGA1366 processors. Based on the Westmere architecture, Gulftown will once again re-integrate the triple-channel memory controller on-die; a change from the first Westmere parts that were released that were dual-core and moved a dual-channel memory controller to a second on-package chip coupled with integrated graphics. (See our Clarkdale CPU coverage here.) And just to clarify - Gulftown will not have integrated graphics on it. 
The processor will have 12MB of L3 cache and include HyperThreading and Turbo Boost technology. The die is 240mm^2 and consists of 1.17 billion transistors. 
Gulftown will be released both as a consumer part as well as a Nehalem EP processor for servers and workstations. This of course means a return to the world of Intel QuickPath Technology (QPI) as DMI will be limited to the mainstream processors of Lynnfield and Clarkdale. Another interesting change on the Westmere-based processors is that Intel has added support for low-voltage DDR3 memory that will run with little as 1.35 volts compared to the 1.5 volts the controller is at today. Intel also confirmed that there will be quad-core variants of the Westmere architecture coming soon but no other details on inclusion of graphics, etc, were divulged.
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: engadget | Subject: General Tech
Engagdet is
featuring an article on a great idea on how to implement touch capability to PCs as well as just about anything else. Instead of building it into a device at great expense, Displax has created a membrane that can respond to up to 16 touches concurrently. Treating this more like a peripheral such as a high end mouse ought to keep the cost reasonable and all you need to do is plug it into something compatible and start touching!
"Light Blue Optics already blew our minds up with its touchscreen-creating projector, but it looks
like Displax will be the one to really turn the touchpanel into a modern day commodity. The Portugal
-based company is trumpeting a new polymer film that can be stuck onto or just under glass, plastic
or wood in order to transform a vanilla surface into one that responds to touch and airflow."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hardware Zone | Subject: Display
The most important things in display reviews have changed over the years, from SVGA or VGA to LCD or CRT to more recent times when the big differences have been limited to native resolution and screen size. There are other statistics which are important, like response times, brightness and viewing angles, as well as the colour gamut if you are into graphics design. Thanks to nVIDIA and a few other companies, the next big thing has arrived which is depth, or 3D. The ViewSonic VX2268WM and Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ are up for review at Digital Trends with a little help from nVIDIA's 3D Vision kit. Both are 120MHz 1680x1050 22" monitors with a 3ms response time in 3D mode, the big question that needs to be answered is the differences. Find out if one 3D monitor is better in the full review.
"While 3D capabilities have not exactly been in the mainstream yet, some LCD monitors have come into the market with 3D support, namely, the Samsung 2233RZ and ViewSonic VX2268WM. We take a look at both LCD monitors on standard and 3d gaming usage to see which will come up on top." Here are some more Display articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Hardware Canucks | Subject: Case and Cooling
The Corsair Dominator GTX2 PC3-18000 CL8
DDR3 memory kit is flexible thanks to having 2 different stock speeds and timings. For the AMD user, DDR3-1900 @ 6-6-6-18
will be the base speed and for the Intel user the more impressive DDR3-2250 @ 8-8-8-24. Hardware Canucks took advantage of the variable timings available to see just how many ways they could tweak the memory by tightening the timings on an Intel P55 machine and an X58 system as well. There is LN2 involved and some serious benchmark results.
"In the world of extreme overclocking, the best of the best are always looking for the next big thing which will allow them to push their systems to new heights. Corsair has recently introduced a new line of modules which are the epitome of their current Dominator series. Dubbed the GTX2, these are geared to be the best of the best and we see how they perform when pushed to the absolute limits." Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: TweakTown | Subject: Graphics Card
Around about $100 the graphics market gets a little crowded, with several nVIDIA cards and quite a few AMD cards. The newest is the HD5670 also at the $100 level, which Ryan felt might be a bit on the expensive side for what it delivers. It is finally available at $114 shipped, which is right on AMDs announced price. This is a bit of a problem, as you can get your hands on an XFX Radeon HD 5770
for $170 shipped. The reason that is important is because of some testing that Tweaktown did with HD5670 in Crossfire. As it turns out, the Crossfire setup is a hair faster than the HD 5770 by a handful of frames, but as it stands it will cost you an extra $58 for those frames. If the price drops on the HD 5670 it may become more attractive to buy a pair, but as it stands it seems a steep price for a half dozen fps.
"High MB video cards of course have their place in the high end segment and so does CrossFire and SLI in that same segment, but these days we seem so content that more is better and we forget to look at the 1s and 0s of the situation. Following something that I was once told, "If you can't beat them, join them". I'm here with my second HD 5670 1GB GDDR video card and today we're going to place it with our other one to see what kind of performance this budget CrossFire setup can get us."
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: futurelooks | Subject: Storage
SSDs are quickly maturing now that they have hit the market; one of the latest companies to put out a second revision of their drive is Kingston with their SSDNow V+ Series (Rev 2.0) 128GB drive. They utilize different flash memory inside but the big difference is a new controller, which changes the rated as well as observed speeds. Once Futurelooks finished their testing of the new Kingston drive it proved to be noticeably faster than its predecessor but still not up to the standards of Intel or the new Sandforce controller. Still a very decent upgrade for those who feel too cramped by a 64GB drive.
"It's only taken a couple years for the SSD (Solid State Drive) talk to die down. Or, has it? A lot
of folks weren’t sure about the technology when it first launched. But as more Controllers and
different flavors of NAND are thrown in to the mix, performance and pricing are starting to convince
us. It would appear that MLC isn’t as useless or as bad as originally thought."
Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:
Jeremy Hellstrom | Source: Benchmark Reviews | Subject: General Tech
Much to the dismay of companies like Acronis and Norton, every single version of Windows 7 comes with a built in system image disk utility. Hidden away in the Control Panel, under System and Maintenance is a Backup and Restore icon which gives you access to the utility. The first time you use it you run the Set up backup to create your first image and specify its location, after that the back up is incremental, Windows 7 will back up the changes to your system, not require you to invest the time needed to make a new image. You can also create a system repair disk from the same menu. Benchmark Reviews has a walkthrough on using this tool here.
"Very recently Benchmark Reviews published the Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade and Installation guide, which helps erase the mistakes made by Windows Vista and introduces computer enthusiasts to the newly introduced O/S. Microsoft has enjoyed a successful launch for their Windows 7 Operating System, also referred to at Win7 or W7, and PCs have been made more productive and secure as a result. But like all good things that we receive, it's in our nature to protect and keep them. The best way to accomplish this is with a solid backup, and luckily Windows 7 offers a built-in Backup and Restore tool for creating System Images. By creating a backup file users can preserve their data, but with a System Image recovering the source disk can be helpful when replacing the drive with another. In this article, Benchmark Reviews guides users on the best practices for protecting and Recovering Windows 7 with System Image Restore Disks." Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
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