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Wednesday, April 30th 2014
BitFenix Fury Gold 750 W Review
Bitfenix decided to enter the PSU market, and today, we have the chance to look at the flagship of their Fury series. It has a capacity of 750 W, is 80 Plus Gold certified, and features individually sleeved cables of high quality and stunning looks.
Western Digital Announces Q3 FY2014 Revenue Of $3.7 Billion
Western Digital Corp. today reported revenue of $3.7 billion and net income of $375 million, or $1.55 per share for its third fiscal quarter ended Mar. 28, 2014. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $470 million or $1.94 per share.1 In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of $3.8 billion, net income of $391 million, or $1.60 per share. Non-GAAP net income in the year-ago quarter was $514 million, or $2.10 per share.2
The company generated $697 million in cash from operations during the March quarter. During the quarter, the company utilized $244 million to buy back 2.8 million shares of common stock. It ended the quarter with total cash, cash equivalents and investments of $5.0 billion. On Feb. 6, the company declared a $0.30 per common-share dividend, which was paid on Apr. 15.
The company generated $697 million in cash from operations during the March quarter. During the quarter, the company utilized $244 million to buy back 2.8 million shares of common stock. It ended the quarter with total cash, cash equivalents and investments of $5.0 billion. On Feb. 6, the company declared a $0.30 per common-share dividend, which was paid on Apr. 15.
Corsair AX1500i Digital Power Supply Now Available
Corsair, the most awarded PC power supply brand in the world, today announced the availability of the much-anticipated AX1500i Digital ATX power supply from www.corsair.com. Using advanced digitally-controlled circuitry to deliver ultra-stable power at over 94% efficiency, the AX1500i is the first 1500 watt PSU to meet the ultra-efficient 80 PLUS Titanium standard. The AX1500i will also be available from retailers in late May.
Using Corsair's second-generation digital architecture, the AX1500i uses a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to control power output, resulting in tighter DC voltage output regulation and superior stability for your valuable PC's components. The AX1500i's incredible efficiency also results in greatly reduced heat, allowing the PSU to operate in a truly silent Zero-RPM fan mode at loads of up to 450 W. Even when delivering its maximum 1500 W of power, a high-quality 140 mm Dynamic Fluid Bearing (DFB) fan allows the AX1500i to operate quietly.
Using Corsair's second-generation digital architecture, the AX1500i uses a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to control power output, resulting in tighter DC voltage output regulation and superior stability for your valuable PC's components. The AX1500i's incredible efficiency also results in greatly reduced heat, allowing the PSU to operate in a truly silent Zero-RPM fan mode at loads of up to 450 W. Even when delivering its maximum 1500 W of power, a high-quality 140 mm Dynamic Fluid Bearing (DFB) fan allows the AX1500i to operate quietly.
ASUS Launches RP-AC52 802.11ac AC750 Dual-Band Wireless Range Extender
ASUS today announced the dual-band RP-AC52 wireless range extender, which uses next-generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi with concurrent 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz operation to work provide combined data transmission speeds of up to 733 Mbit/s. It is an elegant solution to the common problem of reception 'dead zones' caused by obstacles.
RP-AC52 is a hassle-free way to extend fast and reliable wireless coverage, and is particularly useful in large buildings or multi-floor environments. With RP-AC52, bringing wireless access to areas such garages, basements, backyards or roofs is no longer a problem. With its 3.5 mm audio jack, the RP-AC52 can also be used to stream music wirelessly from PCs and mobile devices to home entertainment and Hi-Fi systems, bringing music enjoyment to any room in the house. RP-AC52 is fully compatible with all current Wi-Fi standards, allowing it to be used with any existing Wi-Fi router or other device.
RP-AC52 is a hassle-free way to extend fast and reliable wireless coverage, and is particularly useful in large buildings or multi-floor environments. With RP-AC52, bringing wireless access to areas such garages, basements, backyards or roofs is no longer a problem. With its 3.5 mm audio jack, the RP-AC52 can also be used to stream music wirelessly from PCs and mobile devices to home entertainment and Hi-Fi systems, bringing music enjoyment to any room in the house. RP-AC52 is fully compatible with all current Wi-Fi standards, allowing it to be used with any existing Wi-Fi router or other device.
SanDisk Also Announces World's First 4 TB Enterprise SAS SSD
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced the Optimus MAX Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) solid state drive (SSD), the industry's first 4 TB SAS SSD. The Optimus MAX SSD achieves a capacity point that far outpaces today's highest-capacity 2.5" 10K and 15K rpm SAS hard-disk drives (HDDs), making it the first true replacement for legacy mission-critical data center SAS HDDs. Most notably, the Optimus MAX SSD delivers SAS performance and functionality at a breakthrough price point that was previously only available in SATA-based SSDs.
The Optimus MAX SSD tops the newly refreshed Optimus SAS SSD family and also joins the company's newly announced Lightning Gen. II 12 Gb/s SAS SSDs, extending SanDisk's entire SAS portfolio to cover the performance, capacity and endurance needs of a wide array of enterprise applications.
The Optimus MAX SSD tops the newly refreshed Optimus SAS SSD family and also joins the company's newly announced Lightning Gen. II 12 Gb/s SAS SSDs, extending SanDisk's entire SAS portfolio to cover the performance, capacity and endurance needs of a wide array of enterprise applications.
SanDisk Unveils the Lightning Gen. II SAS Solid State Drives
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced the Lightning Gen. II family of enterprise-class 12 Gb/s Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) solid state drives (SSDs). The Lightning Gen. II 12 Gb/s SAS SSDs, together with the newly announced Optimus MAX 4 TB SAS SSD and updated Optimus SSD product family, help businesses meet the performance, uptime and capacity requirements across the wide range of mixed-use, read- and write-intensive application workloads common in today's data centers.
"Business data needs are becoming so performance-intensive that even applications that are already using SSDs need an additional boost," said John Scaramuzzo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Storage Solutions at SanDisk. "The Lightning Gen. II SAS SSDs deliver double the throughput to each slot, empowering organizations to quickly and easily scale their performance infrastructure to meet this growing need."
"Business data needs are becoming so performance-intensive that even applications that are already using SSDs need an additional boost," said John Scaramuzzo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Storage Solutions at SanDisk. "The Lightning Gen. II SAS SSDs deliver double the throughput to each slot, empowering organizations to quickly and easily scale their performance infrastructure to meet this growing need."
ASUS Offers 100 GB ASUS WebStorage for Desktop and All-in-One PC Owners
ASUS and ASUS Cloud today jointly announce the provision of 100 GB ASUS WebStorage space for one year for new ASUS Desktop and All-in-One (AiO) PC users. Customers who purchase select desktop or AiO PC models will receive special offers from ASUS WebStorage which include increased storage capacity to save, sync, and share files easily through the cloud.
"In 2013, the percentage activation rate of ASUS WebStorage for desktop and AiO users was three times higher than in 2012. People are getting used cloud storage and appreciate the added convenience and flexibility it brings to them. This is a step in the right direction. We'll continue investing resources to expand our cloud services to benefit our end users," said Mr Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President & General Manager of ASUS Desktop Systems.
"In 2013, the percentage activation rate of ASUS WebStorage for desktop and AiO users was three times higher than in 2012. People are getting used cloud storage and appreciate the added convenience and flexibility it brings to them. This is a step in the right direction. We'll continue investing resources to expand our cloud services to benefit our end users," said Mr Joe Hsieh, Corporate Vice President & General Manager of ASUS Desktop Systems.
Inter-Tech Readies New USB 3.0 HDD/SSD Enclosure
Inter-Tech has today unveiled a new storage drive enclosure in the SinanPower series, a model codenamed GD25621-S3 which features USB 3.0 connectivity. Pictured below, the 2.5-inch enclosure measures 130 x 78 x 13 mm, it has an aluminum construction, and supports SATA drives with a thickness of up to 9.5 mm and a capacity of up to 4 TB.
The SinanPower GD25621-S3 is backed by a two-year warranty and should become available next month. No word on pricing yet.
The SinanPower GD25621-S3 is backed by a two-year warranty and should become available next month. No word on pricing yet.
BitFenix Introduces the Fury PSU Series
For a long time, the power supply is one part of the PC that users prefer to remain unseen. These dull, lifeless boxes were made to perform in the background, away from sight. Challenging the status quo, BitFenix set out to make a power supply that not only delivered on a performance level, but also utilized enough design elements to let it stand out in a system build. To that end, BitFenix announces the Fury Power Supply Series. Featuring top quality components like all Japanese capacitors, a killer design aesthetic, and top-notch efficiency, Fury is set to become the new gold standard in semi-modular power supply units.
Killer Aesthetics
Starting with the chassis, Fury brings a bold yet sophisticated design to the realm of power supplies. Both top and bottom are adorned with a stamped BitFenix logo, along with a custom aluminum ring accent that exudes an aggressive look no matter which direction you install it. Combined with a quality matte powder-coat finish, Fury is the first PC power supply that's designed to enhance the look of your system.
Killer Aesthetics
Starting with the chassis, Fury brings a bold yet sophisticated design to the realm of power supplies. Both top and bottom are adorned with a stamped BitFenix logo, along with a custom aluminum ring accent that exudes an aggressive look no matter which direction you install it. Combined with a quality matte powder-coat finish, Fury is the first PC power supply that's designed to enhance the look of your system.
EVGA Bundles Watch Dogs with GeForce GTX Graphics Cards
In a world of smart technology, you need smarter weaponry-GeForce GTX graphics cards. Now for a limited time, you can get Watch_Dogs free with purchase of an EVGA GeForce GTX graphics card (GTX 660 and above). Take your fight to the streets with a whole new level of performance, ingenuity, and technology including exclusive NVIDIA TXAA antialiasing for stunning graphics, HBAO+, and 4K Surround for the most immersive experience. Also, share your greatest Watch_Dogs moments with GeForce Shadowplay and get one-click settings optimization and driver support with GeForce Experience technology. Watch_Dogs on GeForce GTX. The Way It's Meant to be Played.
Tuesday, April 29th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Mouse
NAS
Networking
Notebooks
Xigmatek Nebula Review
Xigmatek's Nebula is a compact Mini-ITX chassis that utilizes an interesting mixture of materials and comes with the ability to hold a fully sized ATX PSU and dual-slot graphics card. But will it look as elaborate on the inside as it does on the outside, or is this Nebula not hiding any secrets of the universe?
Seagate Technology Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results
Seagate Technology plc today reported financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 ended March 28, 2014. For the third quarter, the Company reported revenue of approximately $3.4 billion, gross margin of 28.2%, net income of $395 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.17. On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes the net impact of certain items, Seagate reported gross margin of 28.5%, net income of $453 million and diluted earnings per share of $1.34. For a detailed reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see accompanying financial tables.
During the third quarter, the Company generated approximately $443 million in operating cash flow, paid cash dividends of $140 million and repurchased 3.5 million ordinary shares for $184 million. There were 326 million ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of the end of the quarter. Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments totaled approximately $2.3 billion at the end of the quarter.
During the third quarter, the Company generated approximately $443 million in operating cash flow, paid cash dividends of $140 million and repurchased 3.5 million ordinary shares for $184 million. There were 326 million ordinary shares issued and outstanding as of the end of the quarter. Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments totaled approximately $2.3 billion at the end of the quarter.
NVIDIA Announces Watch_Dogs Bundle
Destructoid calls it one of the "most wanted games of 2014." CNET said it was "one of the most anticipated games in recent memory." MTV said it's one of the "Can't-Miss Video Games of 2014." This, all before anyone out there has even played it.
So, starting today, gamers who purchase select NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, 780 Ti, 780, 770, 760, 690, 680, 670, 660 Ti and 660 desktop GPUs can get their chance to play Watch_Dogs, the new PC game taking the world by storm and latest masterpiece from Ubisoft.
So, starting today, gamers who purchase select NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, 780 Ti, 780, 770, 760, 690, 680, 670, 660 Ti and 660 desktop GPUs can get their chance to play Watch_Dogs, the new PC game taking the world by storm and latest masterpiece from Ubisoft.
AKiTiO Introduces 4-Bay Thunderbolt 2 Storage Solution
AKiTiO, has expanded their line of Thunderbolt storage solutions to include the new AKiTiO Thunder2 Quad, a 4-bay Thunderbolt 2 product that is large enough and fast enough for professional 4K video editing and can be used in various other occupations where larger storage capacity and high-speed data transfer speeds are required.
The AKiTiO Thunder2 Quad holds up to four drives and can handle 3.5", 2.5" or solid state drives. Capacity can reach up to 20 Terabytes when using 3.5" drives and reaches transfer speeds of up to 1.4 Gigabytes per second when four SSDs are installed.
The AKiTiO Thunder2 Quad holds up to four drives and can handle 3.5", 2.5" or solid state drives. Capacity can reach up to 20 Terabytes when using 3.5" drives and reaches transfer speeds of up to 1.4 Gigabytes per second when four SSDs are installed.
Swiftech Launches the Komodo NV-LE GPU Water Block
Following the recent release of the Apogee XL with multi-color lighting, Rouchon Industries Inc., d/b/a/ Swiftech today announced the release of their Komodo-NV LE (Luxury Edition) VGA waterblock.
The Komodo-NV LE (Luxury Edition) is a full cover waterblock compatible with Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, Titan Black, GTX 780, and GTX 780 Ti graphics cards (reference designs). The coolant flow path includes all critical components such as GPU, memory and power mosfets. Proper cooling of all the critical components contributes to overclocking stability and reliable operations.
The Komodo-NV LE (Luxury Edition) is a full cover waterblock compatible with Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, Titan Black, GTX 780, and GTX 780 Ti graphics cards (reference designs). The coolant flow path includes all critical components such as GPU, memory and power mosfets. Proper cooling of all the critical components contributes to overclocking stability and reliable operations.
OWC ThunderBay IV Storage Solution Now Available in 20 TB Model
Other World Computing (OWC), a leading zero emissions Mac upgrade and storage technology company announced the new 20 TB capacity for the OWC ThunderBay IV line of four-bay external high-performance storage solutions, one of OWC's family of Thunderbolt interface storage products.
High-Performance Four-Bay Design
The ThunderBay IV, now available with up to 20 TB of total storage, adds tremendous storage capacity and throughput to any Mac or PC with a Thunderbolt port. Applications such as A/V post-production, photography, music, graphics, data management, and even Time Machine backups are enhanced with access to data at sustained data rates of up to 887 MB/s read, 884 MB/s write.
High-Performance Four-Bay Design
The ThunderBay IV, now available with up to 20 TB of total storage, adds tremendous storage capacity and throughput to any Mac or PC with a Thunderbolt port. Applications such as A/V post-production, photography, music, graphics, data management, and even Time Machine backups are enhanced with access to data at sustained data rates of up to 887 MB/s read, 884 MB/s write.
NZXT Introduces the H440 Special Edition Colors
With its modern design and bold engineering, the H440 has quickly become an NZXT fan favorite. Now, NZXT is happy to announce the availability of three new special edition colors: Black/Blue, Black/Green and Black/Orange.
Each color is available exclusively through three different channels. The Black/Blue may be found on the NZXT Armory Store, the Black/Green may be found at Microcenter and the Black/Orange can be purchased from Newegg.
Each color is available exclusively through three different channels. The Black/Blue may be found on the NZXT Armory Store, the Black/Green may be found at Microcenter and the Black/Orange can be purchased from Newegg.
Acer Also Introduces the Aspire V 11 (Touch) and E 11 Notebooks
Acer today unveils two new 11.6-inch notebooks, the Acer Aspire V 11 (touch) and E 11, which feature a distinctive FlowCurve and fan-less design for stylish, cool, and quiet computing. The thin and light notebooks are ideal for consumers who require technology that looks chic and fulfills all their infotainment needs on the go.
The new thin and light 11.6-inch notebooks combine impressive computing power with up to 1 TB of storage space, Windows 8.1 tools for great productivity and entertainment, and a choice of color options to display users' individual flair.
The new thin and light 11.6-inch notebooks combine impressive computing power with up to 1 TB of storage space, Windows 8.1 tools for great productivity and entertainment, and a choice of color options to display users' individual flair.
Acer Debuts the Aspire U5 Series and Z3 Series All-In-One PCs
Acer today unveiled two new all-in-one (AIO) desktop PCs with 23-inch Full HD IPS displays, delivering vibrant and clear wide angle viewing. The new AIOs include the Acer Aspire U5-620 for consumers desiring a premium PC to serve as the home's digital entertainment hub and the Aspire Z3-615 for budget-minded buyers wanting a mainstream PC for the entire family to enjoy.
The Acer Aspire U5-620 is equipped with advanced video and audio communication features certified by Skype. It is ideally suited for users seeking a device that can host the highest-quality web video chats, while also sporting a modern and slender form factor.
The Acer Aspire U5-620 is equipped with advanced video and audio communication features certified by Skype. It is ideally suited for users seeking a device that can host the highest-quality web video chats, while also sporting a modern and slender form factor.
Acer Announces New Aspire E 14 and E 15 Notebook Series
Acer today announces the Aspire E 14 and E 15 notebook series built with time-tested technologies ideal for users who require everyday productivity and infotainment at an affordable price. In addition, a variety of fashionable colors are available to accentuate users' personalities.
A complete range of viewing options is available to satisfy differing customer needs with the choice of Touch/Non-Touch, Full HD/HD, and glare or matte display.
A complete range of viewing options is available to satisfy differing customer needs with the choice of Touch/Non-Touch, Full HD/HD, and glare or matte display.
Acer Unveils the 2-in-1 Aspire Switch 10
Acer unveils the 2-in-1 Acer Aspire Switch 10 that's a notebook and tablet combined in one flexible device with four modes for touch, typing, viewing, and sharing at any time. The smart device features a magnetic detachable Acer Snap Hinge design for easy transition between modes, latch-free keyboard docking, and optional additional storage capabilities. The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is the ideal companion that helps users stay a touch more connected wherever they go.
Acer Chief Marketing Officer Michael Birkin said, "The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is a winner. A brilliant package of portability, flexibility and vibrancy. It is a stunning addition to the Acer portfolio of Connected Devices - putting you in control of your world - work or play."
Acer Chief Marketing Officer Michael Birkin said, "The Acer Aspire Switch 10 is a winner. A brilliant package of portability, flexibility and vibrancy. It is a stunning addition to the Acer portfolio of Connected Devices - putting you in control of your world - work or play."
PROMISE Technology Announces Global Availability of New Storage Solutions
PROMISE Technology today announced that its Pegasus2 M4 and SANLink2 10G are both now globally available through PROMISE's network of distributors and value added resellers. Unveiled earlier this month at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, the new storage solutions are specifically engineered for creative professionals, and make up part of the world's first end-to-end Thunderbolt 2 to shared storage solution.
The new, small form factor Pegasus2 M4 offers a perfect combination of portability, capacity, performance, and cost. Featuring an innovative and compact design, the 2.5" HDD/SSD Thunderbolt 2 Pegasus2 M4 external RAID solution works with the new Mac Pro and is an ideal solution for professionals working both offsite and in-studio. The Pegasus2 family supports OS X Mavericks and will add support for Windows-based Thunderbolt hosts in Q2.
The new, small form factor Pegasus2 M4 offers a perfect combination of portability, capacity, performance, and cost. Featuring an innovative and compact design, the 2.5" HDD/SSD Thunderbolt 2 Pegasus2 M4 external RAID solution works with the new Mac Pro and is an ideal solution for professionals working both offsite and in-studio. The Pegasus2 family supports OS X Mavericks and will add support for Windows-based Thunderbolt hosts in Q2.
IBM Board Approves 16 Percent Increase in Quarterly Cash Dividend
The IBM (NYSE:IBM) board of directors today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $1.10 per common share, payable June 10, 2014 to stockholders of record May 9, 2014. Today's dividend declaration represents an increase of $0.15, or 16 percent higher than the prior quarterly dividend of $0.95 per common share. This is the 19th year in a row that IBM has increased its quarterly cash dividend, and the eleventh year in a row of double-digit percent increases. IBM has increased its dividend by over 800 percent since the beginning of 2000 and doubled the dividend in the past five years. With the payment of the June 10 dividend, IBM will have paid consecutive quarterly dividends every year since 1916.
Ginni Rometty, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer said, "Today's announcement reinforces our commitment to delivering value to shareholders. We will continue to invest aggressively in our strategic growth areas including cloud, big data analytics, social, mobile and security to position the company to drive growth and higher value for our clients."
Ginni Rometty, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer said, "Today's announcement reinforces our commitment to delivering value to shareholders. We will continue to invest aggressively in our strategic growth areas including cloud, big data analytics, social, mobile and security to position the company to drive growth and higher value for our clients."
Alphacool Announces its GPU Cooler Customization Service
Alphacool International GmbH, Germany announces the launch of the custom GPU service. For many years Alphacool has noticed a gap in the market for watercooling solutions for lower end or nonreference designed graphics cards. Until recently the high cost of developing specialised full cover watercooling blocks has forced manufacturers to focus only on producing blocks for the higher end cards. With new patented technology Alphacool have the ability to fill this gap in the market by producing full cover waterblocks for any non-reference or lower end graphics card.
The cooler comprises of three parts shown in the image below. Firstly the waterblock is designed around the 'core only' concept but is used in conjunction with the custom made base plate that is made specifically for each type of GPU ensuring the perfect fit. A custom made back plate is also included in the package at no extra cost.
The cooler comprises of three parts shown in the image below. Firstly the waterblock is designed around the 'core only' concept but is used in conjunction with the custom made base plate that is made specifically for each type of GPU ensuring the perfect fit. A custom made back plate is also included in the package at no extra cost.
Philips Rolls Out the 288P6LJEB 28-inch UHD Monitor
Philips rolled out the 288P6LJEB, a 28-inch Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) desktop monitor. Featuring a TFT LCD panel with LED backlit illumination that doesn't use PWM for adjusting brightness, the panel has some interesting specifications on offer - a stunning 1 ms response time, 160°/170° viewing angles (impressive for a TFT panel), 300 cd/m² maximum brightness, and 1,000:1 static contrast ratio. Display inputs include dual-link DVI, DisplayPort, MHL (mobile high-definition link), HDMI, and D-Sub. Other features include 3W stereo speakers, and a 4-port USB 3.0 SuperSpeed hub. The panel offers power consumption figures of 50.5W (typical) and 0.5W (standby). Its stand offers 90° rotation, apart from tilt and swivel. The 288P6LJEB from Philips is slated for late-May, 2014. Its price is still under the wraps.
Winmate Unveils First Quad-Core Rugged Windows 8.1 Tablet
Winmate, a global leader in developing advanced rugged mobile technologies, has released its newest tablet solution for the hazardous location (HazLoc) market with its Class 1 Division 2 (C1D2) M101B, a 10.1-inch, rugged, enterprise-ready Windows 8.1 tablet. The new M101B is the first rugged, industrial-grade CPU featuring Intel's latest quad-core Bay Trail processor and Windows Embedded 8.1 operating system, that is certified safe for use in hazardous locations (HazLoc).
The C1D2 certification ensures the M101B is incapable of producing heat or spark sufficient to ignite explosive atmospheres where gases such as acetylene, hydrogen, esters and hydrocarbons may have accidentally entered the atmosphere. The rugged tablet meets regulatory compliance for use in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, pharmaceutical, and others, where ignitable gases or vapor may be present.
The C1D2 certification ensures the M101B is incapable of producing heat or spark sufficient to ignite explosive atmospheres where gases such as acetylene, hydrogen, esters and hydrocarbons may have accidentally entered the atmosphere. The rugged tablet meets regulatory compliance for use in industries such as oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, pharmaceutical, and others, where ignitable gases or vapor may be present.
Synology Debuts Embedded DataStation EDS14 NAS
Synology today introduced Embedded DataStation EDS14, a palm-sized, state-of-the-art NAS server combining durability with reliability, implementing Synology's advanced network storage solutions in a wide range of application scenarios. "Designed to survive extreme conditions and harsh environments, the EDS14 is vibration-resistant and complies with the industrial thermal endurance level from -20˚C to 50˚C," said Chad Chiang, product manager at Synology Inc. "Its drive-less design and the support for high-speed SDXC UHS-I SD storage and USB 3.0 further maximize system reliability with performance and capacity."
Synology EDS14 measures at 125 x 125 x 31mm, nearly 70% smaller than an ordinary 2-bay NAS server, and is particularly suitable for areas where space is a challenge. Despite the compact physical size, the EDS14 makes no compromise in reliability by engineering the dynamic cooling mechanisms to ensure CPU health in challenging thermal environments. Optimized for deployment in a variety of environments, the EDS14 can tolerate dynamic DC input voltage from 7 to 24V, is compatible with PoE splitters, and supports 3G/LTE. The EDS14 even comes with multiple mounting solutions, including DIN rail, and a schedulable DC output to power peripheral devices, making it a good fit for versatile deployment.
Synology EDS14 measures at 125 x 125 x 31mm, nearly 70% smaller than an ordinary 2-bay NAS server, and is particularly suitable for areas where space is a challenge. Despite the compact physical size, the EDS14 makes no compromise in reliability by engineering the dynamic cooling mechanisms to ensure CPU health in challenging thermal environments. Optimized for deployment in a variety of environments, the EDS14 can tolerate dynamic DC input voltage from 7 to 24V, is compatible with PoE splitters, and supports 3G/LTE. The EDS14 even comes with multiple mounting solutions, including DIN rail, and a schedulable DC output to power peripheral devices, making it a good fit for versatile deployment.
Apple Updates MacBook Air
Apple today updated MacBook Air with faster processors and lower prices, making the perfect everyday notebook an even better value. Now starting at $899, MacBook Air features powerful processors, fast flash storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, up to 12 hours of battery life and Apple's iLife and iWork apps, giving you everything you need to handle all your work, all day long.
"With MacBook Air starting at $899, there's no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Macs have never been more popular, and today we've boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook."
"With MacBook Air starting at $899, there's no reason to settle for anything less than a Mac," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Macs have never been more popular, and today we've boosted the performance and lowered the price of MacBook Air so even more people can experience the perfect everyday notebook."
EK Preparing New GPU and Motherboard Water Blocks
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is working on a plethora of new water blocks, namely for the following graphics cards and motherboards:
The upcoming water blocks are engineered and developed in cooperation with their respected partners, such as AMD, ASUS and NVIDIA. Full Cover water coolers such as EK-FC R9-295X2, EK-FC Titan Z as well as both Matrix variants will directly cool the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water will flow directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and it's VRM to remain stable under high overclocks.
Silicon Power Unveils the Mobile X20 OTG Flash Drive
Silicon Power, the world's leading provider of memory storage solutions, today unveils the latest USB 2.0 OTG (On-the-go) dual-interface USB flash drive - Mobile X20, the valuable new acquisition for SP USB OTG Series. Combined with the dual-access of a micro-USB and a USB 2.0 connector in a compact form factor, Mobiles X20 not only frees users from capacity shortage but also offers an easier way to transfer and backup files between PCs, Android smartphones and tablets without the needs for cables or Wi-Fi hotspot. Featuring dual-interfaces, tiny drive body and specialized anti-lost cap design, Mobile X20 realizes your desires for instant sharing, quick transferring and easy carrying.
Dual-function in one, multi-pleasure at once
While the use of smartphones and tablets is getting more and more popular and widespread, how to easily expand the capacities of mobile devices and quickly transfer data between devices is now on the top of mind. SP Mobile X20 is now able to meet the requirements and can act as your central data management center by which you can instantly move and store large files such as documents, photos, music and videos between PCs and OTG compatible handheld devices.
Dual-function in one, multi-pleasure at once
While the use of smartphones and tablets is getting more and more popular and widespread, how to easily expand the capacities of mobile devices and quickly transfer data between devices is now on the top of mind. SP Mobile X20 is now able to meet the requirements and can act as your central data management center by which you can instantly move and store large files such as documents, photos, music and videos between PCs and OTG compatible handheld devices.
VIA Announces AMOS-3003 Fanless System
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient computing platforms, today announced the VIA AMOS-3003, a compact embedded IoT system designed around the tiny VIA EPIA-P910 Pico-ITX board. Combining low power, rich connectivity and high performance 64-bit computing in a ruggedized design, the VIA AMOS-3003 delivers all the latest features and digital media standards required in data collection terminals for in-vehicle control as well as machine to machine controllers in a host of industrial automation applications.
Leveraging the advanced capabilities of the combined 1.2GHz VIA Nano X2 E-Series dual core processor and VIA VX11H media system processor (MSP), the VIA AMOS-3003 features rich connectivity including dual Gigabit Ethernet and optional WiFi, GPS and 3G networking with Dual SIM card support. With a host of extendable I/O options to connect peripheral devices as well as Wake On LAN (WOL) and pre-boot execution environment (PXE) support, the VIA AMOS-3003 is the ideal solution for customers to create a host of remotely managed IoT devices for almost any environment.
Leveraging the advanced capabilities of the combined 1.2GHz VIA Nano X2 E-Series dual core processor and VIA VX11H media system processor (MSP), the VIA AMOS-3003 features rich connectivity including dual Gigabit Ethernet and optional WiFi, GPS and 3G networking with Dual SIM card support. With a host of extendable I/O options to connect peripheral devices as well as Wake On LAN (WOL) and pre-boot execution environment (PXE) support, the VIA AMOS-3003 is the ideal solution for customers to create a host of remotely managed IoT devices for almost any environment.
ADATA Launches SDXC UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) Cards
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, has announced the launch of XPG and Premier Pro series SDXC UHS-I Speed Class 3 (U3) memory cards. Compared to the UHS-I U1, write speeds are increased by 750% and 500%, respectively. Both series are designed to support latest UHS-I U3 specification, enabling the cards to capture professional grade high-quality images as well as smoothly transferring large files without any time gaps.
As demand for ultra-fine quality video continues to increase, the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution of Full HD in the past has quickly evolved into the 4K Ultra HD high resolution standard (3840 x 2160). High-quality video recording creates larger files which require more disk space, presenting challenges to the operation and load bearing capacity of recording equipment and storage media. ADATA XPG and Premier Pro SDXC UHS-I U3 are specifically tailored to 4K2K ultra-high definition devices, and deliver outstanding speeds of up to 95/85 MB/s and 95/60 MB/s, respectively. The SDXC UHS-I U3 cards are ideal for burst mode photography and high resolution videos to capture each fantastic moment with the utmost precision.
As demand for ultra-fine quality video continues to increase, the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution of Full HD in the past has quickly evolved into the 4K Ultra HD high resolution standard (3840 x 2160). High-quality video recording creates larger files which require more disk space, presenting challenges to the operation and load bearing capacity of recording equipment and storage media. ADATA XPG and Premier Pro SDXC UHS-I U3 are specifically tailored to 4K2K ultra-high definition devices, and deliver outstanding speeds of up to 95/85 MB/s and 95/60 MB/s, respectively. The SDXC UHS-I U3 cards are ideal for burst mode photography and high resolution videos to capture each fantastic moment with the utmost precision.
GX Gaming SW-G2.1 2000 Gaming Speakers Available in North America
GX Gaming, the professional gaming peripherals line by Genius, today launches the SW-G2.1 2000 speaker system in North America. With a total output power of 45 watts (RMS), GX Gaming's latest 2.1 speaker system includes a 6.5" subwoofer providing 29 watts of heart-thumping bass, two 8 watt wall-mountable satellite speakers and a separate control box for easy adjustment of volume and bass. In 4 separate pieces, the subwoofer, speakers, and control box can be arranged to maximize the acoustics and layout of any room while still having volume and bass controls at your fingertips.
Thecus NAS to Support New Seagate 5 TB HDD
Network attached storage expert Thecus is pleased to announce that the Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5" 5TB HDD is confirmed compatible with the entire Thecus NAS line. Early hands-on access to these high-capacity HDDs was made possible through Thecus's continued close relationship with Seagate.
With their 5TB breakthrough, Seagate Enterprise Capacity drives are among the highest-capacity drives available for enterprise-class purposes. And with enhanced efficiency thanks to PowerChoice host-selectable power options and robust performance coming from dual processors and ramp load technologies, the 35% average sustained increase of throughput over previous generations is almost palpable.
With their 5TB breakthrough, Seagate Enterprise Capacity drives are among the highest-capacity drives available for enterprise-class purposes. And with enhanced efficiency thanks to PowerChoice host-selectable power options and robust performance coming from dual processors and ramp load technologies, the 35% average sustained increase of throughput over previous generations is almost palpable.
SAPPHIRE Adds Radeon R9 290X OC To New Vapor-X Line-up
SAPPHIRE technology, the leading manufacturer and global supplier of AMD-based graphics products, has just added another new model to its highly acclaimed Vapor-X family of graphics cards in the successful R9 series. The SAPPHIRE R9 290X Vapor-X OC features several of the company's industry-leading technologies and a factory overclock to deliver best in class performance with very low noise.
Based on the award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture from AMD with 2816 Stream Processors, the SAPPHIRE R9 290X Vapor-X is an Overclocked edition which boasts 4 GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 1410 MHz (5.64 GB/s effective) and high speed engine clocks of 1080 MHz. Together these clocks deliver industry leading performance - but to achieve this performance with stability and reliability demands high quality components throughout the design (especially in the power control circuitry) together with a sophisticated cooling solution.
Based on the award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture from AMD with 2816 Stream Processors, the SAPPHIRE R9 290X Vapor-X is an Overclocked edition which boasts 4 GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 1410 MHz (5.64 GB/s effective) and high speed engine clocks of 1080 MHz. Together these clocks deliver industry leading performance - but to achieve this performance with stability and reliability demands high quality components throughout the design (especially in the power control circuitry) together with a sophisticated cooling solution.
Apacer Introduces the AH170 'StripedCandy' OTG Mobile Flash Drive
Apacer rolls out the "StripedCandy" mobile flash drive dedicated to Android smartphones and tablet PCs. Taking the shape of a colorful candy with lively stripes, the AH170 "StripedCandy" is like a perfect token for friends! Whenever you want to share the video clips and photos in your mobile device, simply connect AH170 and in no time the files can be transferred successfully instead of a laptop to transport files. It is so quick and easy that AH170 "StripedCandy" is your best buying option to share files as well as fun.
The AH170 "StripedCandy" comes in huge capacities: 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB, which add ultra-big storage to your smartphones/tablet PCs.
The AH170 "StripedCandy" comes in huge capacities: 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB, which add ultra-big storage to your smartphones/tablet PCs.
Cirrus Logic Agrees to Acquire Wolfson Microelectronics
Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ : CRUS) and Wolfson Microelectronics plc (LSE : WLF or WLF.L) today announced the terms of a recommended transaction under which Cirrus Logic would acquire Wolfson at a price of £2.35 per share in cash, implying an enterprise value of £278 million, or approximately $467 million. The transaction, if approved, is expected to strengthen Cirrus Logic's ability to expand its customer base with highly differentiated, end-to-end audio solutions for portable audio applications. The transaction will be financed by a combination of existing cash on Cirrus Logic's balance sheet and $225 million in debt funding.
"Wolfson has a rich history of audio innovation, a broad catalog of audio products and a first class customer list," said Jason Rhode, Cirrus Logic President and Chief Executive Officer. "This acquisition strengthens Cirrus Logic's core business as a leader in audio signal processing components, enhances our ability to differentiate our products with software, and adds new product categories such as MEMS microphones to our portfolio."
"Wolfson has a rich history of audio innovation, a broad catalog of audio products and a first class customer list," said Jason Rhode, Cirrus Logic President and Chief Executive Officer. "This acquisition strengthens Cirrus Logic's core business as a leader in audio signal processing components, enhances our ability to differentiate our products with software, and adds new product categories such as MEMS microphones to our portfolio."
GeForce GTX TITAN-Z Market Availability Delayed?
NVIDIA's flagship dual-GPU graphics card, the GeForce GTX TITAN-Z, was expected to go on sale later today. That launch is now delayed, according to a SweClockers report. The three thousand Dollar question is why. According to some sources, NVIDIA is effecting a last minute design change that sees a meatier cooler on the card, than the one Jen-Hsun Huang rafikied to the press at GTC 2014.
There may have been a last-minute realization at Santa Clara, that the card - as presented at GTC - may not cut it in the ring against AMD's Radeon R9 295X2, or at least it won't be able to warrant its vulgar $3000 price tag, against the R9 295X2's $1500; despite AMD's rather messy three-piece approach to its liquid-cooled product (the card itself, a radiator, and coolant tubing), and so NVIDIA could be redesigning the GTX TITAN-Z with an even bigger cooler, to facilitate higher clock speeds.
There may have been a last-minute realization at Santa Clara, that the card - as presented at GTC - may not cut it in the ring against AMD's Radeon R9 295X2, or at least it won't be able to warrant its vulgar $3000 price tag, against the R9 295X2's $1500; despite AMD's rather messy three-piece approach to its liquid-cooled product (the card itself, a radiator, and coolant tubing), and so NVIDIA could be redesigning the GTX TITAN-Z with an even bigger cooler, to facilitate higher clock speeds.
Synology Announces DS414j NAS Server
Synology is proud to announce the DS414j the latest refresh of its most affordable four-bay NAS, providing quick access to your own private cloud. The DS414j is the first product in Synology's venerable 'j' series to support a dual-core processor, and USB 3.0. Paired with the award winning DiskStation Manager OS (DSM 5.0), the DS414j is an excellent solution for small workgroups and home-media enthusiasts looking for centralized and highly accessible storage.
On top of the new dual-core architecture, the DS414j includes data encryption with hardware acceleration on encrypted shared folders, to address ever-growing concerns with data security. It also includes an integrated FPU, which generates photo previews quickly, for dynamic viewing in Synology's integrated Photo Station package. Both features free up the system so it can be used for the applications that matter most; like Synology's diverse array of media packages including: Audio Station, Video Station, and Media Server - with integrated DLNA streaming.
On top of the new dual-core architecture, the DS414j includes data encryption with hardware acceleration on encrypted shared folders, to address ever-growing concerns with data security. It also includes an integrated FPU, which generates photo previews quickly, for dynamic viewing in Synology's integrated Photo Station package. Both features free up the system so it can be used for the applications that matter most; like Synology's diverse array of media packages including: Audio Station, Video Station, and Media Server - with integrated DLNA streaming.
Next-Generation Mobile APUs Extend AMD Performance Leadership
Designed to enable the best user experience on today's most popular and innovative PCs, AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced its 3rd-generation Mainstream and Low-Power Mobile Accelerated Processing Units (APUs). Combining category-leading compute performance with unique features and rich user interactions, the 2014 AMD Mainstream and Low-Power Mobile APUs (formerly codenamed "Beema" and "Mullins," respectively) are the ideal choice for consumer and commercial client devices alike.
These new mobile APUs feature up to four newly-designed x86 CPU cores with updated, industry-leading AMD Radeon graphics and a hardware-level data security solution based on the ARM Cortex-A5, all on a single, power-sipping system-on-chip (SoC). Products based on these new APUs are already announced by Lenovo and Samsung, with many more expected on-shelf in time for the 2014 back-to-school shopping season.
These new mobile APUs feature up to four newly-designed x86 CPU cores with updated, industry-leading AMD Radeon graphics and a hardware-level data security solution based on the ARM Cortex-A5, all on a single, power-sipping system-on-chip (SoC). Products based on these new APUs are already announced by Lenovo and Samsung, with many more expected on-shelf in time for the 2014 back-to-school shopping season.
Monday, April 28th 2014
Today's Files
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Monitors
Notebooks
Speakers
MSI Next-Gen GAMING 5 Preview Review
New products from Intel are on their way, and today, we take our first look at what the next-gen Intel platforms have to offer, starting with MSI's Next-Gen GAMING 5. This 3rd-generation GAMING design by MSI takes all the best of past GAMING products and adds new features to solve some of the problems users ran into with past products, all with a new take on what motherboards have to offer.
Koolance Releases Full-Cover Water Block for Radeon R9 295X2
Auburn-based Koolance Inc. has now made available the VID-AR295X2, a full-cover water block compatible with AMD's release-released Radeon R9 295X2 dual-GPU graphics card. The block weighs in 1.41 kg and features a high-performance microfin (0.5m m) design, a solid copper construction with anti-corrosive nickel plating, and G ¼ threading.
Koolance's VID-AR295X2 can be used in single- and milt-card configurations and is selling for $179.99.
Koolance's VID-AR295X2 can be used in single- and milt-card configurations and is selling for $179.99.
Kingston Launches HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset
HyperX, a division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of the HyperX Cloud gaming headset. HyperX Cloud features extremely comfortable ear cushions and larger audio drivers to give gamers ultimate comfort and superior sound during long game play sessions.
HyperX Cloud uses memory foam ear cushions and a soft, leather-padded headband with custom stitching for enhanced comfort and style. The over-the-ear, closed-cup design helps block out ambient noise for a more immersive game experience. Interchangeable velour ear cushions allow gamers to hear their surroundings while also delivering dialogue and every explosion and gunfire in clear, high-fidelity audio from the large 53mm drivers. HyperX Cloud also features a detachable microphone and is made of aluminum for durability.
HyperX Cloud uses memory foam ear cushions and a soft, leather-padded headband with custom stitching for enhanced comfort and style. The over-the-ear, closed-cup design helps block out ambient noise for a more immersive game experience. Interchangeable velour ear cushions allow gamers to hear their surroundings while also delivering dialogue and every explosion and gunfire in clear, high-fidelity audio from the large 53mm drivers. HyperX Cloud also features a detachable microphone and is made of aluminum for durability.
New Portable USB Crash Cart Adapter Turns a Laptop into a Portable Console
StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity parts, has announced the availability of a new Portable USB Crash Cart Adapter (NOTECONS02). The adapter makes it easier for server technicians and field engineers to perform maintenance on servers, PCs, ATMs, kiosks and other headless devices by turning their laptop into a portable console, instead of using a conventional - and more cumbersome - server room crash cart. The NOTECONS02 is the second crash cart adapter from StarTech.com, and builds on the popularity of the previous model with the addition of local file transfer capability and improved USB transfer speed.
Speedlink Launches New Wireless Speakers
The warm season is just around the corner and the first rays of sunshine have awoken a zest for summer. To mark the start of the summer months SPEEDLINK, the specialist in audio systems, is launching not one but six new Bluetooth speakers. They're available in a variety of colours, form factors and performance classes, for a truly melody-filled start to spring. Thanks to these cordless marvels of sound, this summer music lovers will always have the right soundtrack available to suit any situation. Thanks to the speakers' integrated rechargeable battery all they need to do is charge the speaker and take it with them to enjoy their favourite songs and summer hits wherever they go - whether hitting the beach, taking a romantic stroll or at a BBQ with mates. Enjoy the wireless soundtrack of YOUR life!
The SPEEDLINK brand is steeped in tradition, and with the CUBID, XILU, TOKEN and GEOVIS it is proving that its portfolio doesn't just include incredible 2.1 sound systems and headsets. The first Bluetooth speaker, the XILU is available from retailers now and has already been awarded a 'Good' rating by German website Macwelt. In doing so it joins the ranks of SPEEDLINK's multi award-winning speaker series. The CUBID, a similarly compact yet powerful speaker, has now also been added to the lineup. Thanks to its integrated microphone, this speaker can also be used as a hands-free device. The TOKEN boasts more volume and is the perfect mobile companion thanks to its ultra-grippy rubberised finish. What's more, up to eight devices can be connected to it simultaneously. This makes switching between sources a real breeze plus it lets different devices take their turn playing DJ to supply the tunes. The TOKEN is available in the colour combos of white/red or black/red. The GEOVIS is available in three colours (red/white, grey/white and black/grey) plus its additional base membrane delivers thumping bass.
The SPEEDLINK brand is steeped in tradition, and with the CUBID, XILU, TOKEN and GEOVIS it is proving that its portfolio doesn't just include incredible 2.1 sound systems and headsets. The first Bluetooth speaker, the XILU is available from retailers now and has already been awarded a 'Good' rating by German website Macwelt. In doing so it joins the ranks of SPEEDLINK's multi award-winning speaker series. The CUBID, a similarly compact yet powerful speaker, has now also been added to the lineup. Thanks to its integrated microphone, this speaker can also be used as a hands-free device. The TOKEN boasts more volume and is the perfect mobile companion thanks to its ultra-grippy rubberised finish. What's more, up to eight devices can be connected to it simultaneously. This makes switching between sources a real breeze plus it lets different devices take their turn playing DJ to supply the tunes. The TOKEN is available in the colour combos of white/red or black/red. The GEOVIS is available in three colours (red/white, grey/white and black/grey) plus its additional base membrane delivers thumping bass.
BenQ Readies the BL3200PT 32-Inch AMVA Monitor
BenQ is currently preparing the release of the BL3200PT, a 32-inch monitor equipped with a WQHD (2560 x 1440) AMVA panel. This model makes use of Flicker-free technology to eliminate flickering at all brightness levels and also features four blue light reduction modes (Multimedia - 30% reduction, Web-surfing - 50% reduction, Office - 60% reduction, Reading - 70% reduction), an ambient light sensor (to automatically adjust brightness), and a stand enabling tilt, pivot, swivel and height adjustment.
The BL3200PT has a 3,000:1 contrast ratio (20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio), a 4 ms GTG response time, 300 cd/m2 brightness, dual 5 W speakers, D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs, plus a USB hub with two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports. BenQ's monitor is expected to ship next month but it's already listed with prices starting at just under 600 Euro.
The BL3200PT has a 3,000:1 contrast ratio (20,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio), a 4 ms GTG response time, 300 cd/m2 brightness, dual 5 W speakers, D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort 1.2 inputs, plus a USB hub with two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports. BenQ's monitor is expected to ship next month but it's already listed with prices starting at just under 600 Euro.
Take Unreal Engine 4 Elemental Tech Demo for a Spin
Wish you could run one of those awesome Unreal Engine 4 tech demos on your own hardware instead of watching its lossy, pixellated video-grabs on YouTube? Well, now you can. Epic's "Elemental" tech demo for Unreal Engine 4 cropped up on the web, and we wasted no time in re-hosting it for you. The demo doesn't appear to be a public release, but something developers put together for demos to be run by Epic and its partners, only. To begin with, it doesn't come with an installer. You have to extract its files into a folder, and manually edit its settings INI file to specify resolution, window behaviour, and other settings. You then have to install VC++ 2013 runtime if you don't already have it (the redistributables are included in the archive), and then run the demo from the relevant batch file. Unreal included both 32-bit and 64-bit executables. When you're done drooling rainbows at the demo, only an Alt+F4 closes the thing down (there's no in-demo UI). There's no internal benchmark, and you're left to use third-party frame-rate loggers. These little issues aside, the demo sure makes Unreal Engine 4 look promising. We also added a collection of five other tech-demos for your viewing pleasure.
DOWNLOAD: Unreal Engine 4 Elemental Demo (RAR archive) | Unreal Engine 4 Five Tech Demos
ASUS Introduces the PB287Q 28-Inch UHD Monitor
ASUS today announced the PB287Q True 4K/UHD (ultra-high-definition) monitor, a 28-inch display designed for prosumers and gamers.
The ASUS PB287Q features a 16:9 aspect 28-inch white light emitting diode (WLED) display that delivers next-generation 4K/UHD visuals, with resolutions up to 3840 x 2160. With a pixel density of 157 pixels per inch (PPI), the PB287Q provides four times the pixel density of standard Full HD displays for astonishingly detailed visuals. With 300% more onscreen space than similarly-sized Full HD displays, the ASUS PB287Q provides a larger area for multiple work windows for more productive multitasking.
The ASUS PB287Q features a 16:9 aspect 28-inch white light emitting diode (WLED) display that delivers next-generation 4K/UHD visuals, with resolutions up to 3840 x 2160. With a pixel density of 157 pixels per inch (PPI), the PB287Q provides four times the pixel density of standard Full HD displays for astonishingly detailed visuals. With 300% more onscreen space than similarly-sized Full HD displays, the ASUS PB287Q provides a larger area for multiple work windows for more productive multitasking.
BIOSTAR Announces J1900NH2 Mini-ITX Motherboard
BIOSTAR has announced the J1900NH2 motherboard with the on-board Intel Dual-Core Celeron J1900 processor in a mini ITX form factor for flexible use. The J1900NH2 boards come with the Intel Celeron J1900 Dual-Core processor already installed and it supports two DDR3L 1333/1066 MHz memory slots for a maximum of 16 GB of memory. It features an integrated graphics chip with enough performance for most home and office applications.
The J1900NH2 board is ready for building a universal multimedia system due to its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 5.1 Channel HD Audio chip. LAN networking is covered by the Realtek RTL8111G - 10/100/1000 controller and being a BIOSTAR board it has the Smart Speed LAN feature. For storage there are 2 SATA2 connectors and USB is well rounded with 1 USB 3.0 port and 4 USB 2.0 ports.
The J1900NH2 board is ready for building a universal multimedia system due to its HDMI and analog VGA-out, and high definition audio with the Realtek ALC662 5.1 Channel HD Audio chip. LAN networking is covered by the Realtek RTL8111G - 10/100/1000 controller and being a BIOSTAR board it has the Smart Speed LAN feature. For storage there are 2 SATA2 connectors and USB is well rounded with 1 USB 3.0 port and 4 USB 2.0 ports.
GIGABYTE Unveils its WaterForce VGA Liquid-Cooling Solution
Having earned a reputation for itself in VGA air-cooling with its WindForce line, it was only natural that it would name its VGA liquid-cooling solutions WaterForce. GIGABYTE showed its contraption off to crowds attending its Tech Tour event held on 25th April, 2014. The solution makes AMD's Asetek-made cooler for its R9 295X2 seem puny in comparison. It consists of a large external module that contains the coolant reservoirs, a gargantuan radiator with multiple fans, the pumps, and ports for coolant tubes for individual cards, that make their way into your case through a hub that takes up a 5.25-inch drive bay.
The main unit also has a coolant temperature display for each of the coolant channel, and controls that let you fine-tune cooling performance taking temperatures and noise into account. The tubes then reach each of the installed WaterForce series graphics cards, which feature full-coverage water blocks that cover not just the GPU, but also memory and VRM. The system GIGABYTE demoed had three cards based on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti. GIGABYTE also showed off its new WindForce 600W cooling solution, which recently made its debut as part of a bundle with the company's GeForce GTX TITAN Black graphics card. It's capable of handling thermal loads as high as 600W.
The main unit also has a coolant temperature display for each of the coolant channel, and controls that let you fine-tune cooling performance taking temperatures and noise into account. The tubes then reach each of the installed WaterForce series graphics cards, which feature full-coverage water blocks that cover not just the GPU, but also memory and VRM. The system GIGABYTE demoed had three cards based on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti. GIGABYTE also showed off its new WindForce 600W cooling solution, which recently made its debut as part of a bundle with the company's GeForce GTX TITAN Black graphics card. It's capable of handling thermal loads as high as 600W.
Kingmax Announces Additions to Nano Gaming RAM and SSD Lines
Since the leading memory manufacturer KINGMAX released the Nano Gaming RAM in 2012, it has always received excellent positive reviews. Currently there are four memory clocks available for gamers to choose from: 1333 MHz, 1600 MHz, 2000 MHz, and 2200 MHz. Now, KINGMAX is disclosing its new Nano Gaming Ram to over-clocking enthusiasts before COMPUTEX 2014.
The newly released Nano Gaming RAM strives for better performance in terms of frequency and voltage, and KINGMAX is dedicated to finding the optimal balance between the two to bring an all new usage experience for over-clocking enthusiasts. KINGMAX also used its exclusive Nano cooling technology to make cooling more efficient and to bring better stability for Nano Gaming Ram, allowing gamers to become more excited and hot-blooded because of its the smooth and immersive game play.
The newly released Nano Gaming RAM strives for better performance in terms of frequency and voltage, and KINGMAX is dedicated to finding the optimal balance between the two to bring an all new usage experience for over-clocking enthusiasts. KINGMAX also used its exclusive Nano cooling technology to make cooling more efficient and to bring better stability for Nano Gaming Ram, allowing gamers to become more excited and hot-blooded because of its the smooth and immersive game play.
Sunday, April 27th 2014
Inno3D Readies iChill HerculeZ Cooler for GTX TITAN-Z
For those not sold on the looks or performance of NVIDIA's reference cooler for its GeForce GTX TITAN-Z graphics card, Inno3D is readying an iChill HerculeZ air cooler for the card. Pictured below, the cooler consists of a densely packed aluminium fin stack shared by two bases and their heat pipes. A base plate is in charge of cooling the memory, VRM, and bridge chip. With restrictions in place for coming up with custom-design variants of the GTX TITAN-Z, barring those with factory-fitted water blocks, Inno3D could take GIGABYTE's route in including its cooler with a reference-design board, and instructions for end-users replace the cooler by themselves. NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN-Z is expected to hit stores on Tuesday, the 29th of April, 2014; prices start at US $2999.
ASUS Z97 WS Socket LGA1150 Workstation Motherboard Detailed
Here are some of the first pictures of the Z97 WS from ASUS, its first workstation motherboard based on Intel's new 9-series chipset. Built in the standard ATX form-factor, the board offers a boat-load of enterprise-relevant connectivity, and out of the box support for not just Core "Haswell" Refresh processors, but also Xeon processors based on the "Haswell" silicon. The board draws power from 24-pin ATX and two 8-pin EPS connectors, with an optional 6-pin PCIe power input to stabilize power supply to add-on cards. It features an 8-phase CPU VRM, with additional heatsinks to dissipate heat from the MOSFETs.
The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express gen 3.0 x48 bridge chip. This chip wires out four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, which auto-configure between x16/NC/x16/NC, x16/NC/x8/x8, and x8/x8/x8/x8, depending on how you populate the four slots. Other expansion slots include two PCIe 2.0 x1, and one PCIe 2.0 x4, wired to the PCH. Storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s, from which four convert to two SATA-Express ports, and one M.2 slot. Display outputs appear to include DisplayPort and HDMI. There are two gigabit Ethernet interfaces on offer, both driven by Intel-made controllers. 8-channel HD audio, several USB 3.0 ports, and legacy ports by headers, make for the rest of the connectivity. Its feature-set include Ai-Suite III, reinforced power connectors, and the ability to log system events onto USB flash drives.
The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express gen 3.0 x48 bridge chip. This chip wires out four PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, which auto-configure between x16/NC/x16/NC, x16/NC/x8/x8, and x8/x8/x8/x8, depending on how you populate the four slots. Other expansion slots include two PCIe 2.0 x1, and one PCIe 2.0 x4, wired to the PCH. Storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s, from which four convert to two SATA-Express ports, and one M.2 slot. Display outputs appear to include DisplayPort and HDMI. There are two gigabit Ethernet interfaces on offer, both driven by Intel-made controllers. 8-channel HD audio, several USB 3.0 ports, and legacy ports by headers, make for the rest of the connectivity. Its feature-set include Ai-Suite III, reinforced power connectors, and the ability to log system events onto USB flash drives.
Samsung Begins Mass Production of Industry's First Enterprise 3-bit NAND SSD
Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, said today that it has begun mass producing the industry's first high-performance, three-bit-NAND-based SSD for servers and data centers. The new SSD will allow data centers to better manage workloads related to social networking, web browsing and email, and enhance operation efficiency. Installations of the 3-bit MLC (multi-level-cell) NAND SSDs, initially in large-scale data centers, are expected to begin later this quarter.
"Following the last year's introduction of 3-bit NAND-based SSDs for PC markets, our new 3-bit SSD for data centers will help considerably in expanding the market base for SSDs," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales and marketing, Samsung Electronics. "We expect SSD market growth will gain momentum as this new SSD delivers significant improvements in data center investment efficiency, leading to full-fledged commercialization of SSDs in IT systems later this year."
"Following the last year's introduction of 3-bit NAND-based SSDs for PC markets, our new 3-bit SSD for data centers will help considerably in expanding the market base for SSDs," said Young-Hyun Jun, executive vice president, memory sales and marketing, Samsung Electronics. "We expect SSD market growth will gain momentum as this new SSD delivers significant improvements in data center investment efficiency, leading to full-fledged commercialization of SSDs in IT systems later this year."
Saturday, April 26th 2014
Today's Reviews
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Processors
PSUs
SSD
ASUS Demos its HyperXpress SSD
ASUS demonstrated its first SSD, the HyperXpress. As its name might give away, the drive is co-developed by HyperX, the enthusiast memory and storage brand of Kingston. Built in the 9.5 mm-thick 2.5-inch form-factor, the drive features SATA Express interface, which will hit the consumer space this May, with the arrival of Intel's Z97 Express chipset, and Core "Haswell Refresh" processors. Internally, there's not much to this drive. It's a host-agnostic RAID 0 array of two mSATA 6 Gb/s SSDs, wired to a host controller made by ASMedia. To the host machine, it will look like a single drive. The sample demoed to the press, ASUS claims, is a very early prototype, and future iterations could run two M.2 SSDs instead of mSATA, for even higher throughput. The drive was tested to offer sequential transfer rates as high as 778 MB/s. At Computex 2014, flash memory manufacturers are expected to launch legions of new SSDs in the SATA-Express and M.2 form-factors.
Friday, April 25th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Keyboards
SSD
- Crucial M550 256GB and 512GB Hardware.info
- Crucial M550 512GB Tweaktown
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB Guru3D
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB HardwareCanucks
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB MyCE
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB OCaholic
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB SSDReview
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB Technologix
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB TechSpot
- OCZ RevoDrive 350 480GB Tweaktown
AMD Catalyst 14.4 WHQL Released
AMD released a WHQL-signed version of its Catalyst 14.4 software suite, its first in four months (the previous one being 13.12 WHQL). The driver builds on the Catalyst 14.4 Release Candidate the company shipped out a little earlier this month, to lend immediate support for Radeon R9 295X2, which hit the shelves on the 21st. The four highlights of Catalyst 14.4 include support for the R9 295X2, CrossFire frame-pacing improvements for a number of games, full support for OpenGL 4.4 API, and bug-fixes for AMD Mantle API.
Among the games AMD worked to improve CrossFire performance of, include Crysis 3, which sees improved frame-pacing; Far Cry 3, which sees improved 3-GPU and 4-GPU scaling; Anno 2070, which sees an overall CrossFire scaling improvement of 34 percent; Titanfall, which sees reduced game flickering an micro-stutter; and Metro: Last Light, which sees 10 percent improvement in CrossFire scaling. The driver also addresses bugs related to 3x1 Eyefinity setups using three Ultra HD displays. For gamers running Battlefield 4 with its Mantle renderer, AMD addressed the performance slowdown seen when switching windows using Alt+Tab; and fuzzy textures when playing the game on rotated displays.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 14.4 WHQL for Windows 8/7/Visa 64-bit | Windows 8/7/Vista 32-bit | Windows XP 32-bit and 64-bit
Among the games AMD worked to improve CrossFire performance of, include Crysis 3, which sees improved frame-pacing; Far Cry 3, which sees improved 3-GPU and 4-GPU scaling; Anno 2070, which sees an overall CrossFire scaling improvement of 34 percent; Titanfall, which sees reduced game flickering an micro-stutter; and Metro: Last Light, which sees 10 percent improvement in CrossFire scaling. The driver also addresses bugs related to 3x1 Eyefinity setups using three Ultra HD displays. For gamers running Battlefield 4 with its Mantle renderer, AMD addressed the performance slowdown seen when switching windows using Alt+Tab; and fuzzy textures when playing the game on rotated displays.
DOWNLOAD: AMD Catalyst 14.4 WHQL for Windows 8/7/Visa 64-bit | Windows 8/7/Vista 32-bit | Windows XP 32-bit and 64-bit
SilentiumPC Introduces the Fortis 2 XE1226 CPU Cooler
The newest Fortis 2 XE1226 is a medium-sized CPU Cooler blending together stunning cooling performance, silent operation and unmatched price-performance ratio and it's especially intended for gaming PCs and overclocking and high-TDP systems.
The cooler uses XE technology, a pure copper base which transfers heat from the CPU more efficiently to all six Φ6 mm U-shaped heat-pipes unleashing their full potential. For best silence-performance ratio the heat sink is paired with the DF12025 120 mm PWM fan generating whisper-quiet 22dBA at full load. Optional 120 mm fan can be added for more cooling potential using extra pair of mounting clips included in the package. Also included is our special Pactum PT-1 thermal compound which gives additional small temperature drop over generic compounds.
The cooler uses XE technology, a pure copper base which transfers heat from the CPU more efficiently to all six Φ6 mm U-shaped heat-pipes unleashing their full potential. For best silence-performance ratio the heat sink is paired with the DF12025 120 mm PWM fan generating whisper-quiet 22dBA at full load. Optional 120 mm fan can be added for more cooling potential using extra pair of mounting clips included in the package. Also included is our special Pactum PT-1 thermal compound which gives additional small temperature drop over generic compounds.
Transcend Releases JetDrive SSD Upgrade Kits for MacBooks
Transcend Information, Inc. (Transcend), a worldwide leader in storage and multimedia products, is proud to announce the launch of its JetDrive SSD Upgrade Kits aimed at MacBook computers. The JetDrive Upgrade Kits are ideal for professional photographers, videographers, and graphic artists looking to enhance the performance and capacity of their MacBook system, and even includes an easy-to-use drive enclosure for converting the original SSD or HDD into a new USB 3.0 portable storage device.
Faster Performance and Increased Storage
Built on the next-generation SATA III 6 Gb/s interface to achieve lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 560 MB/s, upgrading to a Transcend JetDrive SSD translates into faster system boot up and application launch times, while offering the lag-free responsiveness and stability necessary for data-intensive computing and advanced gaming. Moreover, the newly-released SSDs are available in capacities of up to 960 GB, offering the perfect combination of speed and high-density storage.
Faster Performance and Increased Storage
Built on the next-generation SATA III 6 Gb/s interface to achieve lightning-fast transfer speeds of up to 560 MB/s, upgrading to a Transcend JetDrive SSD translates into faster system boot up and application launch times, while offering the lag-free responsiveness and stability necessary for data-intensive computing and advanced gaming. Moreover, the newly-released SSDs are available in capacities of up to 960 GB, offering the perfect combination of speed and high-density storage.
ASUS Announces the M32 Multimedia Desktop PC
ASUS today announced M32, a new high-value desktop computer that features a choice between discrete NVIDIA GeForce or AMD Radeon graphics for immersive gaming and high-definition (HD) video experiences. M32 has been carefully engineered with powerful Intel Core processors for seamless multi-tasking, exclusive SonicMaster technology for hi-fi-quality audio experiences and USB 3.0 for super-speed connectivity.
With a premium brushed-metal finish that exudes chic elegance, an HDMI port for connection to HD TVs and monitors, and an affordable price point, M32 strikes the perfect balance between cost and performance for those seeking a desktop PC for effective productivity and quality multimedia reproduction.
With a premium brushed-metal finish that exudes chic elegance, an HDMI port for connection to HD TVs and monitors, and an affordable price point, M32 strikes the perfect balance between cost and performance for those seeking a desktop PC for effective productivity and quality multimedia reproduction.
ASRock 9-series Motherboard Lineup Detailed
With leading motherboard manufacturers ready with their socket LGA1150 motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Zx7 Express chipset, ASRock joined in to unveil its offerings. ASRock's lineup includes five models based on the chipset. The most affordable of the lot will be the Zx7-Extreme4. This board offers an impressive 12-phase CPU VRM, two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x8/x8 when both are populated), one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), and three PCI-Express 2.0 x1. Its storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, from which two can mod into a SATA-Express connection with the conveniently placed SATA-E driver port; and one M.2 slot. Other features include Intel-made gigabit Ethernet, ASRock Purity sound with audio-grade capacitors and ground-layer isolation, and dual-UEFI BIOS. To not step on Gigabyte-held patents, ASRock's dual-BIOS implementation isn't automated, and you have to manually toggle between the two EEPROMs using a 2-way switch.
Thursday, April 24th 2014
Today's Reviews
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Microsoft Reports $20 Billion Revenue for Q3 FY14
Microsoft Corp. today announced revenue of $20.40 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Gross margin, operating income, net income, and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $14.46 billion, $6.97 billion, $5.66 billion, and $0.68 per share, respectively.
The following table reconciles our financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to non-GAAP financial results for the prior year. We have provided this non-GAAP financial information to aid investors in better understanding the company's performance. Management commentary regarding performance and growth refers to non-GAAP financial results.
The following table reconciles our financial results reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") to non-GAAP financial results for the prior year. We have provided this non-GAAP financial information to aid investors in better understanding the company's performance. Management commentary regarding performance and growth refers to non-GAAP financial results.
NETGEAR Reports First Quarter 2014 Results
NETGEAR, Inc., a global networking company that delivers innovative products to consumers, businesses and service providers, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2014.
Net revenue for the first quarter ended March 30, 2014 was $349.4 million, as compared to $293.4 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, and $356.6 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013. Net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, in the first quarter of 2014 was $14.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. This compared to GAAP net income of $15.3 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2013, and GAAP net income of $11.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013.
Net revenue for the first quarter ended March 30, 2014 was $349.4 million, as compared to $293.4 million in the first quarter ended March 31, 2013, and $356.6 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013. Net income, computed in accordance with GAAP, in the first quarter of 2014 was $14.4 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. This compared to GAAP net income of $15.3 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2013, and GAAP net income of $11.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2013.
OCZ Launches the RevoDrive 350 PCIe SSD
OCZ Storage Solutions - a Toshiba Group Company and leading provider of high-performance solid state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced the RevoDrive 350 Series with workstation-grade design capabilities and maximum performance for professional content creation, multimedia, and extreme gaming applications. Achieving three times the performance of SATA-based SSD solutions, RevoDrive 350 is based on proven performance architecture and features 19 nm Toshiba NAND to complete OCZ's portfolio transition to in-house flash, offering a high-performance yet cost-efficient SSD solution for bandwidth-intensive client applications.
Using the PCI Express Gen. 2 x8 interface and up to four LSI SF-2282 processors to offer more available bandwidth than the previous generation, RevoDrive 350 features up to 1.8GB/s sequential speeds and up to 140,000 4K random write IOPS, delivering SSD RAID performance without the hassle in an easy-to-deploy, single card solution.
Using the PCI Express Gen. 2 x8 interface and up to four LSI SF-2282 processors to offer more available bandwidth than the previous generation, RevoDrive 350 features up to 1.8GB/s sequential speeds and up to 140,000 4K random write IOPS, delivering SSD RAID performance without the hassle in an easy-to-deploy, single card solution.
EK Launches PWM Variant of EK-DCP 4.0 Water Pump
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana-based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce the new EK-DCP 4.0 water pump with power management control. This new pumps allows pulse width modulation (PWM) control of rotation speed trough motherboard BIOS or dedicated fan controller.
The EK-DCP 4.0 PWM water pump is the ideal choice for all enthusiast water cooling systems and is compatible with the all standard water cooling system setups. This pump will easily integrate with the latest water blocks and can achieve up to 800L/hour with its compact, powerful and low-noise design.
The EK-DCP 4.0 PWM water pump is the ideal choice for all enthusiast water cooling systems and is compatible with the all standard water cooling system setups. This pump will easily integrate with the latest water blocks and can achieve up to 800L/hour with its compact, powerful and low-noise design.
Sapphire Unveils First Factory-Overclocked R9 295X2
Sapphire unveiled the industry's first factory-overclocked Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card. The R9 295X2 OC from Sapphire sticks to AMD reference design, and ships in the metal suitcase, much like its base model; but comes with factory-overclocked speeds of 1030 MHz core (vs. 1018 MHz reference), and 5.20 GHz memory (vs. 5.00 GHz reference). The rest of its feature-set is identical to that of its reference-design product. The company didn't reveal pricing. The R9 295X2 is a dual-GPU card with a pair of 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs, with 2,816 stream processors, 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 512-bit wide memory interfaces, each; and each holding 4 GB of memory, totaling 8 GB on the card.
Raijintek Unveils Morpheus VGA Cooler
Raijintek unveiled the Morpheus universal VGA cooler. Featuring a large aluminium fin stack that's arranged along the length of the PCB, in a way that directs hot to the top of the card, it features a total of 129 aluminium fins, and six nickel-plated copper heat pipes of 6 mm thickness. The heat pipes draw heat from a nickel-plated copper base, from which their ends pass through two sections of the fin-stack. The stack is so big, that it can be ventilated using a pair of 120 mm fans. If the fans are 25 mm thick, like most 120 mm fans in the market, then a card cooled by the Morpheus could need three or more slots in your system. In addition to the meaty heatsink, you get 24 little heatsinks for memory chips and MOSFETs.
Among the single-GPU cards Raijintek Morpheus supports, are Radeon R9 290 series, R9 280 series, R9 270 series, HD 7900 series, HD 7800 series; GeForce GTX TITAN and TITAN Black, GTX 780 and 780 Ti, GK104-based cards such as GTX 770, GTX 760, GTX 680, GTX 670, GTX 660 Ti, and more. Measuring 254 mm x 98 mm x 44 mm (WxDxH), the main heatsink weighs 515 g.
Among the single-GPU cards Raijintek Morpheus supports, are Radeon R9 290 series, R9 280 series, R9 270 series, HD 7900 series, HD 7800 series; GeForce GTX TITAN and TITAN Black, GTX 780 and 780 Ti, GK104-based cards such as GTX 770, GTX 760, GTX 680, GTX 670, GTX 660 Ti, and more. Measuring 254 mm x 98 mm x 44 mm (WxDxH), the main heatsink weighs 515 g.
Logitech Q4 FY 2014 Sales, Profit and Cash from Operations Exceed Expectations
Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of Fiscal Year 2014. Q4 FY 2014 sales were $485 million, up 3 percent over the prior year. "Our Q4 performance was strong, with sales, profit and cash generation better than expected," said Bracken Darrell, Logitech president and chief executive officer. "Q4 sales in our Growth category - PC Gaming, Tablet and Other Accessories, and Mobile Speakers - were up nearly 50 percent. "At the start of our fiscal year we said we would deliver strong sales in our Growth category, reduce operating expenses and improve profitability. We delivered on our commitments across the board, concluding FY 2014 ahead of our turnaround plan."
Wednesday, April 23rd 2014
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SilentiumPC Supremo M1 700 W Review
SilentiumPC is a fresh Polish company that was established in 2007. Today, we will take a look at their first Platinum PSU, the Supremo M1-700 with high efficiency, semi-passive operation for lower noise output, and a semi-modular cabling design.
GeForce GTX TITAN-Z Market Availability Detailed
NVIDIA's upcoming flagship graphics card, the dual-GPU GeForce GTX TITAN-Z, could see the light of the day (well, lights of a hardware store/warehouse), on April 29, 2014. That's when you'll be able to buy the card from ground stores off the shelf, or order one online. It's expected to stick to the price NVIDIA announced when it was unveiled at GTC 2014, which is a wallet-scorching US $2,999 (excl. taxes). Depending on your country's taxation and import excise, you could be paying anywhere between 10 and 33 percent over that. In Japan, for instance, the card is expected to be priced around 400,000¥ (incl. taxes), which converts to about $3,900.
The GeForce GTX TITAN-Z is a dual-GPU graphics card with a pair of 28 nm GK110 GPUs. The chips are configured to feature all 2,880 CUDA cores, 240 TMUs, and 48 ROPs at their disposal; and are each wired to 6 GB of GDDR5 memory across their 384-bit wide memory interfaces, totaling 12 GB on the card. The best part? Unlike AMD's Radeon R9 295X2, the GTX TITAN-Z is air-cooled. Just be ready with three slots in your system, and give up on your dream of equipping your ITX rig with it.
The GeForce GTX TITAN-Z is a dual-GPU graphics card with a pair of 28 nm GK110 GPUs. The chips are configured to feature all 2,880 CUDA cores, 240 TMUs, and 48 ROPs at their disposal; and are each wired to 6 GB of GDDR5 memory across their 384-bit wide memory interfaces, totaling 12 GB on the card. The best part? Unlike AMD's Radeon R9 295X2, the GTX TITAN-Z is air-cooled. Just be ready with three slots in your system, and give up on your dream of equipping your ITX rig with it.
Apple Expands Capital Return Program to Over $130 Billion
Apple today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized another significant increase to the Company's program to return capital to shareholders. The Company expects to utilize a total of over $130 billion of cash under the expanded program by the end of calendar 2015. As part of the program, the Board has increased its share repurchase authorization to $90 billion from the $60 billion level announced last year. The Company expects to continue to utilize about $1 billion annually to net-share-settle vesting restricted stock units.
Additionally, the Board has approved an increase to the Company's quarterly dividend of approximately 8 percent and has declared a dividend of $3.29 per common share, payable on May 15, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 12, 2014. The Company also plans to increase its dividend on an annual basis. With annual payments of $11 billion, Apple is among the largest dividend payers in the world. From August 2012 through March 2014, Apple has spent $66 billion in cash on its capital return program.
Additionally, the Board has approved an increase to the Company's quarterly dividend of approximately 8 percent and has declared a dividend of $3.29 per common share, payable on May 15, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 12, 2014. The Company also plans to increase its dividend on an annual basis. With annual payments of $11 billion, Apple is among the largest dividend payers in the world. From August 2012 through March 2014, Apple has spent $66 billion in cash on its capital return program.
BenQ XL-Z Series of Gaming Monitors Shipping In the US
BenQ America Corp., the fastest growing display brand in North America, today announced the availability of three new additions to its XL-Z series of first-person shooter (FPS) purpose-built gaming monitors: the 27-inch XL2720Z and 24-inch XL2420Z and XL2411Z widescreen full-HD displays.
Featuring BenQ's exclusive RevolutionEyes technology for exceptional monitor performance, the displays are packed with enhancements such as Motion Blur Reduction, Low Blue Light, ZeroFlicker, gaming refresh rate optimization management (GROM), and 1-ms GTG response times. In addition, the new models offer BenQ's latest firmware, which enables third-party utility support for further optimization options. The end result is striking visual clarity, seamless motion fluidity, and added viewing comfort for hours of action-packed game play.
Featuring BenQ's exclusive RevolutionEyes technology for exceptional monitor performance, the displays are packed with enhancements such as Motion Blur Reduction, Low Blue Light, ZeroFlicker, gaming refresh rate optimization management (GROM), and 1-ms GTG response times. In addition, the new models offer BenQ's latest firmware, which enables third-party utility support for further optimization options. The end result is striking visual clarity, seamless motion fluidity, and added viewing comfort for hours of action-packed game play.
Apple Reports Second Quarter Results
Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2014 second quarter ended March 29, 2014. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $45.6 billion and quarterly net profit of $10.2 billion, or $11.62 per diluted share. These results compare to revenue of $43.6 billion and net profit of $9.5 billion, or $10.09 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter. Gross margin was 39.3 percent compared to 37.5 percent in the year-ago quarter. International sales accounted for 66 percent of the quarter's revenue.
"We're very proud of our quarterly results, especially our strong iPhone sales and record revenue from services," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We're eagerly looking forward to introducing more new products and services that only Apple could bring to market."
"We're very proud of our quarterly results, especially our strong iPhone sales and record revenue from services," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "We're eagerly looking forward to introducing more new products and services that only Apple could bring to market."
SHARKOON Announces the WPM BRONZE Series Power Supplies
Sharkoon expands its range of energy-efficient power supplies with their new WPM BRONZE series. The new series complies, with an efficiency of over 85 percent by 50 percent load as well as over 82 percent by 20 percent and 100 percent load, with the stringent requirements of the "80 PLUS BRONZE" certification.
The WPM BRONZE series also offers, in addition to its high efficiency, the latest ATX V2.3 standard. Like the recently introduced WPM V2 power supply series, the BRONZE version also provides a cable management system, which features two PCIe cables, each with one 6+2-pin connector for graphics cards. In addition, the WPM Bronze provides a cable with three 4-pin peripheral device connectors, a cable with two 4-pin peripheral device connectors and a floppy connector as well as two SATA cables with three 15-pin connectors, respectively. Therefore, the only cables used are the ones needed to install the desired PC components. This not only ensures an orderly case but also improves internal airflow.
The WPM BRONZE series also offers, in addition to its high efficiency, the latest ATX V2.3 standard. Like the recently introduced WPM V2 power supply series, the BRONZE version also provides a cable management system, which features two PCIe cables, each with one 6+2-pin connector for graphics cards. In addition, the WPM Bronze provides a cable with three 4-pin peripheral device connectors, a cable with two 4-pin peripheral device connectors and a floppy connector as well as two SATA cables with three 15-pin connectors, respectively. Therefore, the only cables used are the ones needed to install the desired PC components. This not only ensures an orderly case but also improves internal airflow.
ASUS First in the World to Unleash Full SATA Express Performance
ASUS today announced that research and development work supported by Intel has led to the discovery of a BIOS structure that unleashes the true full potential of the latest SATA Express interface standard on future ASUS motherboards. Following the CES 2014 debut of the ASUS Z87-Deluxe/SATA Express concept motherboard, ASUS and Intel continued working together to ensure that users enjoy the full performance of the SATA Express interface and SATA Express components.
The joint research effort means that ASUS is the first motherboard manufacturer in the world to discover and implement a technology that is critical for SATA Express to perform at its best - the Separate Reference Clock with Independent Spread Spectrum Clocking Architecture, or SRIS for short.
The joint research effort means that ASUS is the first motherboard manufacturer in the world to discover and implement a technology that is critical for SATA Express to perform at its best - the Separate Reference Clock with Independent Spread Spectrum Clocking Architecture, or SRIS for short.
VisionTek Releases mSATA SSD Enclosure
VisionTek Products LLC, (VisionTek), a leading manufacturer of award-winning, high-performance upgrades and accessories for PC and Apple Macintosh computers, today announced the immediately availability of the VisionTek mSATA mini Enclosure. The USB 3.0 bus-powered enclosure is a Plug and Play solution for re-tasking an existing mSATA Solid State Drive after upgrading the SSD in an ultra-slim notebook or for adding a new mSATA SSD to create a high-performance ultra-portable external drive.
The Pocket-Sized Portable Storage Powerhouse
Sized smaller than a business card and weighing 0.30 ounces empty, the mSATA mini Enclosure features the SuperSpeed USB 3.0/2.0 interface to offer data rates up to 600 MB/s and a bus-powered design so an AC adapter is not required. To complement its performance and portability attributes, the mSATA mini's sleek, scratch-resistant aluminum housing provides rugged durability to safeguard a drive's data and comes complete with everything needed to start using and sharing HD movies, music, photos, and important documents wherever desired.
The Pocket-Sized Portable Storage Powerhouse
Sized smaller than a business card and weighing 0.30 ounces empty, the mSATA mini Enclosure features the SuperSpeed USB 3.0/2.0 interface to offer data rates up to 600 MB/s and a bus-powered design so an AC adapter is not required. To complement its performance and portability attributes, the mSATA mini's sleek, scratch-resistant aluminum housing provides rugged durability to safeguard a drive's data and comes complete with everything needed to start using and sharing HD movies, music, photos, and important documents wherever desired.
AOC Launches 28-Inch MVA Monitors
Display specialist AOC launches its first two 28" (71.1 cm) monitors. The m2870Vhe and m2870Vq feature extra-large 16:9 MVA panels with Full HD resolution, wide viewing angles and high luminosity. Rich colours, high contrast and fast response times make these two displays ideal for both professional needs and entertainment such as video games and movies. Both models come with an extensive array of input options and other features, with the m2870Vq even boasting an additional DisplayPort connector and stereo speakers.
Perfect colours at an impressive scale
With the two new models from its Value Line, the m2870Vhe and m2870Vq, AOC enters the young market segment of 28" (71.1 cm) displays. Thanks to MVA panel technology, the extra-large 16:9 wide screen monitors offer rich, vivid colours and a super-high contrast of 3000:1. This makes them perfect for demanding professional tasks such as design programmes requiring high colour fidelity, even at wide viewing angles of up to 178°.
Perfect colours at an impressive scale
With the two new models from its Value Line, the m2870Vhe and m2870Vq, AOC enters the young market segment of 28" (71.1 cm) displays. Thanks to MVA panel technology, the extra-large 16:9 wide screen monitors offer rich, vivid colours and a super-high contrast of 3000:1. This makes them perfect for demanding professional tasks such as design programmes requiring high colour fidelity, even at wide viewing angles of up to 178°.
Toshiba Announces Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today introduced the Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD, a product that offers a smart, easy and more reliable way to store, stream, and share files and media from mobile devices without ever attaching a single cable.
Toshiba's new portable Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD is sleek and durable, combining the convenience and capacity of portable wireless storage with the proven durability and performance of solid state hard drive technology. This slim, lightweight unit allows users to upload media instantly, freeing their smartphones, tablets and cameras to take thousands of pictures and video. Up to eight devices including smartphones, laptops, tablets and PCs can access the Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD.
Toshiba's new portable Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD is sleek and durable, combining the convenience and capacity of portable wireless storage with the proven durability and performance of solid state hard drive technology. This slim, lightweight unit allows users to upload media instantly, freeing their smartphones, tablets and cameras to take thousands of pictures and video. Up to eight devices including smartphones, laptops, tablets and PCs can access the Canvio AeroMobile Wireless SSD.
Thecus Unaffected by Heartbleed
While Thecus NAS do make use of OpenSSL, the specific branches adopted by Thecus's software development team are in fact entirely unaffected by Heartbleed (as it only affects versions 1.0.1 through 1.0.1f). So when the news about Heartbleed broke, Thecus developers quickly established that Thecus devices were never vulnerable to malformed heartbeat requests.
Given the importance of confirming system vulnerability, a number of media outlets have reached out to Thecus support staff. In France, Stéphane Guérithault spoke to Next Inpact and confirmed that ThecusOS5 and OS6 were unaffected but that additional apps were being revised and updated by their respective developers so that Heartbleed fixes would be swiftly implemented.
Given the importance of confirming system vulnerability, a number of media outlets have reached out to Thecus support staff. In France, Stéphane Guérithault spoke to Next Inpact and confirmed that ThecusOS5 and OS6 were unaffected but that additional apps were being revised and updated by their respective developers so that Heartbleed fixes would be swiftly implemented.
EIZO Releases the FlexScan S1933 IPS Monitor
EIZO Corporation today announced the release of the FlexScan S1933, a 19-inch monitor with a 1280 x 1024 native resolution for large and small offices and control rooms that require a traditional square format.
The FlexScan S1933 features an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel with wide 178° viewing angle that minimizes color shift and contrast changes when viewing the screen at an angle. This ensures stable and consistent display when two or more people view the screen at once or in a multi-monitor environment.
The FlexScan S1933 features an IPS (in-plane switching) LCD panel with wide 178° viewing angle that minimizes color shift and contrast changes when viewing the screen at an angle. This ensures stable and consistent display when two or more people view the screen at once or in a multi-monitor environment.
SanDisk Announces 15 Nanometer Technology
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced the availability of its 1Z-nanometer (nm) technology, the most advanced NAND flash process node in the world. The 15 nm technology will ramp on both two bits-per-cell (X2) and three bits-per-cell (X3) NAND flash memory architectures with production ramp to begin in the second half of 2014.
"We are thrilled to continue our technology leadership with the industry's most advanced flash memory process node, enabling us to deliver the world's smallest and most cost effective 128 gigabit chips," said Dr. Siva Sivaram, senior vice president, memory technology, SanDisk. "We are delighted that these new chips will allow us to further differentiate and expand our portfolio of NAND flash solutions."
"We are thrilled to continue our technology leadership with the industry's most advanced flash memory process node, enabling us to deliver the world's smallest and most cost effective 128 gigabit chips," said Dr. Siva Sivaram, senior vice president, memory technology, SanDisk. "We are delighted that these new chips will allow us to further differentiate and expand our portfolio of NAND flash solutions."
Toshiba Starts Mass Production of World's First 15 nm NAND Flash Memory
Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has developed the world's first 15-nanometer (nm) process technology, which will apply to 2-bit-per-cell 128-gigabit (16 gigabytes) NAND flash memories. Mass production with the new technology will start at the end of April at Fab 5 Yokkaichi Operations, Toshiba's NAND flash fabrication facility (fab), replacing second generation 19 nm process technology, Toshiba's previous flagship process. The second stage of Fab 5 is currently under construction, and the new technology will also be deployed there.
Toshiba has achieved the world's smallest class chip size with the 15nm process plus improved peripheral circuitry technology. The new chips achieve the same write speed as chips formed with second generation 19 nm process technology, but boost the data transfer rate to 533 megabits a second, 1.3 times faster, by employing a high speed interface.
Toshiba has achieved the world's smallest class chip size with the 15nm process plus improved peripheral circuitry technology. The new chips achieve the same write speed as chips formed with second generation 19 nm process technology, but boost the data transfer rate to 533 megabits a second, 1.3 times faster, by employing a high speed interface.
Tuesday, April 22nd 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Monitors
Motherboards
MSI Radeon R9 290X Lightning 4 GB Review
The $700 MSI R9 290X Lightning is MSI's latest flagship card geared toward overclockers and enthusiasts. It comes with a large overclock out of the box, higher than any other custom R9 290X available today. The board is cooled by a large triple-slot, triple-fan cooler that yields excellent temperatures.
Rapoo Introduces the E9080 and E9180P Wireless Touchpad Keyboards
Rapoo's ultra-slim, 5.6 mm, E9080 and E9180 Wireless Touchpad Keyboards combine two peripherals in one easy solution. Boasting a sleek, aluminum exterior and scissor key structure, the keyboards with integrated touchpads provide a cable-free, stylish and comfortable typing experience.
The E9080 Wireless Touchpad Keyboard is the perfect solution for users who want a touchpad without having to sacrifice a number pad. The integrated touchpad not only offers navigation without the need of a mouse, but it also transforms into a fully functional number pad with the swipe of a finger.
The E9080 Wireless Touchpad Keyboard is the perfect solution for users who want a touchpad without having to sacrifice a number pad. The integrated touchpad not only offers navigation without the need of a mouse, but it also transforms into a fully functional number pad with the swipe of a finger.
Gigabyte Shows Off A Trio of Z97 Motherboards
With less than three weeks to go until the official launch of the 9 Series chipsets, Gigabyte has decided to share a few pictures depicting three of its boards powered by the Z97. Seen below are the Z97X-UD5H BK (Black Edition), the Z97X-UD7 TH and the overclocking-ready Z97X-SOC Force which feature support for Haswell Refresh and older LGA1150 processors.
All three boards have an Ultra Durable design, they are SLI and CrossFire capable (the UD5 and UD7 provide three PCI-Express x16 slots while the SOC model offers four such slots), and include four DDR3 memory slots, one SATA Express connector, two (Z97X-SOC) or four (Z97X-UD5H, Z97X-UD7) SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, 7.1 channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet (the UD7 TH and SOC Force pack a Killer E2200 NIC).
All three boards have an Ultra Durable design, they are SLI and CrossFire capable (the UD5 and UD7 provide three PCI-Express x16 slots while the SOC model offers four such slots), and include four DDR3 memory slots, one SATA Express connector, two (Z97X-SOC) or four (Z97X-UD5H, Z97X-UD7) SATA 6.0 Gbps ports, 7.1 channel audio and Gigabit Ethernet (the UD7 TH and SOC Force pack a Killer E2200 NIC).
Silicon Power Launches 240 GB Thunder T11 External Thunderbolt Drive
Silicon Power, the world's leading provider of memory storage solutions, today presents the upgrade solution of its revolutionary Thunderbolt external solid state drive - Thunder T11 with great capacity of 240 GB. In addition, Thunder T11 gets the new color variant-starlight blue to brighten up itself with more elegance and flavor.
Featuring advanced Thunderbolt technology and exceptional product design, SP Thunder T11 has acquired great attention and support from worldwide professional designers and Apple fans since its debut last year. Thunder T11 also proved its superiority with the recognition from red dot award: Product Design 2014, which is the most influential and prestigious design award all over the world.
Featuring advanced Thunderbolt technology and exceptional product design, SP Thunder T11 has acquired great attention and support from worldwide professional designers and Apple fans since its debut last year. Thunder T11 also proved its superiority with the recognition from red dot award: Product Design 2014, which is the most influential and prestigious design award all over the world.
NZXT Introduces the New Phantom 240 Chassis
The classic Phantom styling you've come to love at its lowest price point yet. Since the first Phantom was launched in 2010, NZXT has continued to bring aggressive designs and innovative feature sets to all of its chassis. Over the years, the original Phantom and Phantom 410 quickly became NZXT's signature cases. Now, NZXT is happy to introduce its latest addition to the family, the Phantom 240.
A product designed with several years of feedback in mind, the Phantom 240 brings a refreshing new style and full-view window to the table while keeping its signature asymmetrical shape. Included with the chassis are two of NZXT's recently redesigned standard case fans, the 120mm FN V2, bringing additional cooling and lower noise levels.
A product designed with several years of feedback in mind, the Phantom 240 brings a refreshing new style and full-view window to the table while keeping its signature asymmetrical shape. Included with the chassis are two of NZXT's recently redesigned standard case fans, the 120mm FN V2, bringing additional cooling and lower noise levels.
GIGABYTE G1.Gaming Z97 Motherboard Pictured
GIGABYTE is giving final touches to its next G1.Killer series motherboard, the G1.Gaming Z97. Branded in an uncanny way to MSI's Gaming series, the G1.Gaming is a mid-range ($150 - $200) socket LGA1150 motherboard based on Intel's Z97 Express chipset, which can run Core "Haswell" Refresh processors out of the box. The board features most of the stuff you've come to expect from "gaming" grade motherboards. To begin with, its draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors, and uses an 8-phase VRM to condition power to the CPU. The CPU is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, supporting up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory; and two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated). Three PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and two legacy PCI make for the rest of its expansion area.
Display connectivity on the G1.Gaming Z97 includes DisplayPort and HDMI. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s, and likely one M.2 slot. A total of six USB 3.0 ports are on offer, four on the rear panel, two by header. The board features 7.1-channel Creative Sound Core3D audio with user-replaceable OPAMPs, a 115 dBA DAC, audiophile-grade electrolytic capacitors, and ground-layer isolation. The wired networking on this board is equally special, a Broadcom-Killer E2100 PCIe NIC with packet prioritization that's optimized for multiplayer gaming. For those with USB headsets that come with their own DACs, GIGABYTE is offering a special USB 2.0 port with extra power output, and electrical noise filter. GIGABYTE's dual-UEFI BIOS is at the helm of this board.
Display connectivity on the G1.Gaming Z97 includes DisplayPort and HDMI. Storage connectivity includes six SATA 6 Gb/s, and likely one M.2 slot. A total of six USB 3.0 ports are on offer, four on the rear panel, two by header. The board features 7.1-channel Creative Sound Core3D audio with user-replaceable OPAMPs, a 115 dBA DAC, audiophile-grade electrolytic capacitors, and ground-layer isolation. The wired networking on this board is equally special, a Broadcom-Killer E2100 PCIe NIC with packet prioritization that's optimized for multiplayer gaming. For those with USB headsets that come with their own DACs, GIGABYTE is offering a special USB 2.0 port with extra power output, and electrical noise filter. GIGABYTE's dual-UEFI BIOS is at the helm of this board.
EK Launches New Revision of EK-FC R9-290X Water Block
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana-based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce a new revision of EK-FC R9-290X water block for AMD Radeon R9 290- and 290X series graphics cards. Rev.2.0 is functionally and visually identical to its predecessor but bring compatibility for previously unsupported MSI and GIGABYTE model graphics cards.
In order to simplify the search for suitable and compatible water block EK has already added new revision water blocks to EK Cooling Configurator database and compatible graphics cards are being added to the list on daily basis.
In order to simplify the search for suitable and compatible water block EK has already added new revision water blocks to EK Cooling Configurator database and compatible graphics cards are being added to the list on daily basis.
Streacom Launches MH1 Mini Heatpipe Kit for FC8 Evo
Streacom introduces the MH1 Mini Heatpipe Kit which increases the motherboard compatibility of the fanless FC8 Evo chassis. Designed to replace the stock heatpipes supplied with the FC8 Evo, the MH1 kit contains a full set of mini copper heatpipes with a diameter of 6mm. These shorter heatpipes have been designed to allow for motherboards with CPU socket locations that are positioned towards the right side of the motherboard (close to the heatsink sidepanel), greatly expanding the range of motherboards that are compatible with the FC8 Evo, including for example boards with Intel's H87 chipset. For more information on the CPU socket coverage area and example motherboards, see our System Build Guide.
Aqua Computer Announces Radeon R9 295X2 Full Cover Block
The German-based liquid cooling specialist Aqua Computer has added the full cover water block kryographics Vesuvius for R9 295X2 cards to its portfolio. The block is entirely made in Germany and milled from 2.72kg high-purity electrolytic copper raw material. It covers the GPUs, all RAM chips, the voltage regulators and the PCIe bridge chip. All areas are covered by the flow path of the cooling liquid to provide an excellent cooling performance.
Both GPUs are covered by a micro structure with a 0.5 mm grid. The water flows through both structures in parallel which allows an even temperature for both GPUs. To achieve this effect the cooling structures use a different depth which makes sure that the same amount of water flows through both of them.
Both GPUs are covered by a micro structure with a 0.5 mm grid. The water flows through both structures in parallel which allows an even temperature for both GPUs. To achieve this effect the cooling structures use a different depth which makes sure that the same amount of water flows through both of them.
Micron Releases New SATA Solid State Drive Tuned for Data Centers
Micron Technology, Inc., today announced a new enterprise-class solid state drive (SSD) designed specifically for data center storage platforms. Enterprise applications are experiencing tremendous new demands for greater data throughput due to rapid growth in mobile applications, cloud services and connected devices. Micron's new M500DC SATA SSD addresses this growing need by providing the performance and data protection features of an enterprise-class drive at a great value.
"System administrators are realizing that there is a need for an SSD that delivers more enterprise-features than a client drive at a more affordable price than most enterprise drives," said Greg Wong, founder and principal analyst at Forward Insights. "Products such as Micron's M500DC SSD offer data centers the optimal balance of enterprise class features, performance and price for demanding 24/7 enterprise workloads."
"System administrators are realizing that there is a need for an SSD that delivers more enterprise-features than a client drive at a more affordable price than most enterprise drives," said Greg Wong, founder and principal analyst at Forward Insights. "Products such as Micron's M500DC SSD offer data centers the optimal balance of enterprise class features, performance and price for demanding 24/7 enterprise workloads."
CRYORIG Announces the C1 Compact High-End CPU Cooler
CRYORIG, newcomer in the professional PC cooling solutions market, announces hereby, that the C1 CPU cooler for ITX systems has completed rigorous testing and is now in production. The C1 is CRYORIG's first product for the growing ITX PC ecosystem with a total height of only 7,4 centimeters.
"With the increase of APUs and enthusiasts level ITX mainboards and components, ITX systems are no longer limited to under powered components like they used to be.", mentions CRYORIG Co-Founder and Chief Manufacturing Engineer Alex Wang. "ITX systems now are housing high performance, high TDP CPUs and GPUs. Cooling these crucial components is an even greater challenge in these tight spaces. What I think we achieved with the C1 is a solution that has outstanding performance for its size, and provides a great user experience thanks to its hassle free easy installation and robust accessories. Everything you need is in the box."
"With the increase of APUs and enthusiasts level ITX mainboards and components, ITX systems are no longer limited to under powered components like they used to be.", mentions CRYORIG Co-Founder and Chief Manufacturing Engineer Alex Wang. "ITX systems now are housing high performance, high TDP CPUs and GPUs. Cooling these crucial components is an even greater challenge in these tight spaces. What I think we achieved with the C1 is a solution that has outstanding performance for its size, and provides a great user experience thanks to its hassle free easy installation and robust accessories. Everything you need is in the box."
ASUSTOR to Showcase Brand New Products at Computex 2014
ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, will showcase its innovative series of NAS devices at Computex 2014 in Taipei, Taiwan. In addition to exhibiting the 6/3/2 series tower and rackmount models powered by Intel Atom dual core processors, ASUSTOR will also be introducing its new enterprise class 7 series rackmount devices (AS7009RD/AS7009RDX/AS7012RD/AS7012RDX), which feature Intel "Haswell" Xeon and Core i3 processors.
Also being introduced for the first time, will be an economical rackmount model, the AS-204RS and two other tower model devices powered by Intel Core i3 processors, the AS7008T and AS7010T. ASUSTOR's exhibition will feature live demonstrations of its intuitive ADM 2.2 operating system which features upgrades to core functions, the ASUSTOR Portal HDMI platform (integrating multimedia playback, web browsing, the ADM web interface, and surveillance feeds), and the newest in-house developed NAS and mobile apps from ASUSTOR. All users and interested parties are sincerely invited to visit ASUSTOR in order to experience the latest NAS technology and innovative concepts firsthand.
Also being introduced for the first time, will be an economical rackmount model, the AS-204RS and two other tower model devices powered by Intel Core i3 processors, the AS7008T and AS7010T. ASUSTOR's exhibition will feature live demonstrations of its intuitive ADM 2.2 operating system which features upgrades to core functions, the ASUSTOR Portal HDMI platform (integrating multimedia playback, web browsing, the ADM web interface, and surveillance feeds), and the newest in-house developed NAS and mobile apps from ASUSTOR. All users and interested parties are sincerely invited to visit ASUSTOR in order to experience the latest NAS technology and innovative concepts firsthand.
Cooler Master Announces CM Storm Sirus-C Gaming Headset
Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, today announces the release of the new Sirus C Gaming Headset. Built from the ground up with heart-pounding 2.2 channel sound, Sirus C delivers powerful sound as it carries on the legacy of the Sirus 5.1.
The Sirus C delivers earth-shaking 2.2 channel sound with a 44 mm main driver and a dedicated 40mm subwoofer/bass driver in each ear for explosive bass and crisp sound. A built-in USB Sound Card and Amplifier dramatically boosts signal power to make games, music and movies more immersive. In addition, the Sirus C is coupled with an in-line remote that grants access to volume adjustment, microphone mute, chat volume (console mode only), and PC / Console mode switching.
The Sirus C delivers earth-shaking 2.2 channel sound with a 44 mm main driver and a dedicated 40mm subwoofer/bass driver in each ear for explosive bass and crisp sound. A built-in USB Sound Card and Amplifier dramatically boosts signal power to make games, music and movies more immersive. In addition, the Sirus C is coupled with an in-line remote that grants access to volume adjustment, microphone mute, chat volume (console mode only), and PC / Console mode switching.
No 20 nm GPUs from AMD This Year
It's not just NVIDIA, which will lack 20 nm GPUs in its portfolio this year. AMD senior vice-president Lisa Su, responding to a question by Wells Fargo, in its Q1 investors call, confirmed that her company will stay on 28 nm throughout 2014, and it's only later that it will move on to 20 nm, and FinFET after that. "I think what I said earlier sort of what we're doing in terms of technology strategy, we are 28 this year, we have 20-nanometer in design, and then FinFET thereafter. So that's the overall product portfolio," she said.
AMD and NVIDIA manufacture their GPUs on a common foundry, TSMC, which has faced delays in implementing its 20 nanometer silicon fab node transition, forcing both companies to come up with new GPUs on existing 28 nm nodes. A huge leap in performance could be a tough ask for those new GPUs. NVIDIA is expected to tape out its performance-segment GM204 and mid-range GM206 chips, both of which are 28 nm, later this month, and the first GeForce GTX products based on the two are expected to roll out by late-Q4 2014 and early-Q1 2015, respectively.
AMD and NVIDIA manufacture their GPUs on a common foundry, TSMC, which has faced delays in implementing its 20 nanometer silicon fab node transition, forcing both companies to come up with new GPUs on existing 28 nm nodes. A huge leap in performance could be a tough ask for those new GPUs. NVIDIA is expected to tape out its performance-segment GM204 and mid-range GM206 chips, both of which are 28 nm, later this month, and the first GeForce GTX products based on the two are expected to roll out by late-Q4 2014 and early-Q1 2015, respectively.
Monday, April 21st 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
Memory
Mouse
Mousepads
Multimedia
Processors
BitFenix Flo Headset Review
BitFenix's first headset is a feature-packed, lightweight construction made for gaming. It features 40mm dynamic drivers, a detachable microphone, and a highly ergonomic design. We put it to the test to see how it fares against headsets from more established brands!
Sleeved Cables for EVGA SuperNOVA G2/P2 Power Supplies Now Available
EVGA has now made available individually sleeved cable sets that support all EVGA SuperNOVA G2 and P2 Power Supplies. These cable sets are available in Red, Black, White and Blue and are available for $89.99 at the EVGA.com webstore.
Features:
Features:
- High quality individually sleeved cables.
- No visible heat shrink tubing.
- Compatible with all EVGA SuperNOVA G2 and P2 Power Supplies
Toshiba Joins GLOBALSOLUTIONS Ecosystem as Worldwide ASIC Partner
GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced that Toshiba Corporation will join the company's GLOBALSOLUTIONS ecosystem of partners. As a worldwide ASIC partner, Toshiba will enable its Fit Fast Structured Array (FFSA) and ASIC solutions based upon GLOBALFOUNDRIES' technologies and services for customers across the globe. The agreement includes participation on multi-project wafer (MPW) runs and production wafers covering the whole portfolio of GLOBALFOUNDRIES technologies, including leading-edge process nodes.
Initially, the partnership will focus on implementations of Toshiba's FFSAs manufactured with GLOBALFOUNDRIES' 65nm and 40nm low-power process technologies, with 28nm arrays to follow. Toshiba's FFSA products-including libraries and intellectual property (IP)-allow customers to reduce development time and costs by customizing existing base wafers, choosing from a number of design platforms at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. For higher-volume applications, customers can work with Toshiba's libraries to develop fully custom system-on-chips (SoCs). With an initial product completed, customers can then leverage the embedded FFSA technology to provide quick-turn derivative products, with much lower development costs.
Initially, the partnership will focus on implementations of Toshiba's FFSAs manufactured with GLOBALFOUNDRIES' 65nm and 40nm low-power process technologies, with 28nm arrays to follow. Toshiba's FFSA products-including libraries and intellectual property (IP)-allow customers to reduce development time and costs by customizing existing base wafers, choosing from a number of design platforms at GLOBALFOUNDRIES. For higher-volume applications, customers can work with Toshiba's libraries to develop fully custom system-on-chips (SoCs). With an initial product completed, customers can then leverage the embedded FFSA technology to provide quick-turn derivative products, with much lower development costs.
AMD Catalyst 14.4 RC Available For Download
AMD has now released a new Catalyst driver build, more specifically, an RC (Release Candidate) of the Catalyst 14.4 which is expected to arrive in its final, WHQL-certified form in the next couple of weeks. The 14.4 brings full support for OpenGL 4.4 as well as some CrossFire and Mantle tweaks. The driver has support for the recently-introduced Radeon R9 295X dual-GPU card as well as for the rest of the Radeon R9 200 Series, the R7 200s, R5 200s, HD 8000s, HD 7000s, HD 6000s and HD 5000s.
The Catalyst 14.4 RC can be downloaded from this page.
The Catalyst 14.4 RC can be downloaded from this page.
Microsoft and Motorola Solutions Sign Licensing Agreement
Microsoft Corp. announced on Monday a patent licensing agreement with Motorola Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of communication solutions and services for enterprise and government customers. The license provides worldwide coverage under Microsoft's patent portfolio for Motorola Solutions' devices running the Android platform and Chrome OS operating system.
"Microsoft and Motorola Solutions share a respect for intellectual property and a commitment to fair and reasonable patent licensing programs," said Nick Psyhogeos, general manager, associate general counsel, IP licensing of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "Microsoft prefers licensing to litigation, since licensing is a more effective way to share technology and accelerate the pace of innovation."
"Microsoft and Motorola Solutions share a respect for intellectual property and a commitment to fair and reasonable patent licensing programs," said Nick Psyhogeos, general manager, associate general counsel, IP licensing of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. "Microsoft prefers licensing to litigation, since licensing is a more effective way to share technology and accelerate the pace of innovation."
Swiftech Introduces the Apogee XL CPU Waterblock
Rouchon Industries Inc., d/b/a/ Swiftech today announced the release of their new Apogee XL flagship waterblock.
The XL promises enhanced thermal and hydraulic performance compared to its long line of award winning predecessors, and it ships with 4 interchangeable color plates to allow modders to match the block lighting to that of their custom build, a welcome feature for all enthusiast builders.
The XL promises enhanced thermal and hydraulic performance compared to its long line of award winning predecessors, and it ships with 4 interchangeable color plates to allow modders to match the block lighting to that of their custom build, a welcome feature for all enthusiast builders.
Kingston Digital Releases Larger Capacity mSATA Drives
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the addition of 240 GB and 480 GB capacities to the existing SSDNow mS200 mSATA SSD line. Kingston's SSDNow mS200 mSATA solid-state drive allows system builders and enthusiasts a cost-effective performance boost with quicker boot time and application loads while requiring less power than HDDs.
The mS200's small-form factor is perfect for notebook, tablet and Ultrabook PCs, as well as a variety of embedded systems. It can also be used as a caching device with motherboards that support Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT) to improve system performance. mS200 has read speeds up to 550 MB/s and write speeds up to 520 MB/s.
The mS200's small-form factor is perfect for notebook, tablet and Ultrabook PCs, as well as a variety of embedded systems. It can also be used as a caching device with motherboards that support Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT) to improve system performance. mS200 has read speeds up to 550 MB/s and write speeds up to 520 MB/s.
TP-LINK Announces N600 Entertainment Adapter
TP-LINK, a global provider of networking products, today announced its new N600 Universal Wireless Dual Band Entertainment Adapter (TL-WA890EA), which connects any Ethernet-enabled device to your wireless home network. Providing 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency or 300Mbps on the 5.0GHz frequency, the TL-WA890EA has ample bandwidth for smooth HD video and music streaming and online gaming.
It simultaneously connects up to four devices to your Wi-Fi network with the four built-in Fast Ethernet ports, giving you the freedom to locate your Blu-ray Players, Gaming Consoles, DVRs, IPTV Set-Top-Boxes, Smart TVs, and other home entertainment devices. The TL-WA890EA has a built-in WPS button for a quick and easy setup process. Users that prefer more customization may use its web-based management page. After setup, it will remain connected to your wireless network.
It simultaneously connects up to four devices to your Wi-Fi network with the four built-in Fast Ethernet ports, giving you the freedom to locate your Blu-ray Players, Gaming Consoles, DVRs, IPTV Set-Top-Boxes, Smart TVs, and other home entertainment devices. The TL-WA890EA has a built-in WPS button for a quick and easy setup process. Users that prefer more customization may use its web-based management page. After setup, it will remain connected to your wireless network.
MSI Radeon R9 295X2 Now Available
MSI, the gaming force in Graphics Cards is happy to announce the availability of the new AMD Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card. With two R9 290X GPUs on-board with clock speeds up to 1018 MHz and 8 Gigabyte of GDDR5, the R9 295X2 delivers the most insane frame rates in todays and future games. The card is cooled with a zeo maintenance liquid cooling system so gamers can expect cool temperatures, quiet operation and consistent performance. So whether you're looking at the best card for Gaming at 4K and higher resolutions or want to be in the driver's seat for this year's most stunning PC Games, the R9 295X2 is the right choice.
The record-shattering dual-GPU R9 295X2 is packed with two Hawaii XT GPUs featuring 5632 processors running at speeds up to 1018 MHz. The massive 8 Gigabyte of GDDR5 runs at 5 GHz and delivers enough bandwidth to drive 4K screens or 5 1080p screens in Eyefinity. Together with support for TrueAudio and Mantle technology, the R9 295X2 is ready to power the best games of 2014.
The record-shattering dual-GPU R9 295X2 is packed with two Hawaii XT GPUs featuring 5632 processors running at speeds up to 1018 MHz. The massive 8 Gigabyte of GDDR5 runs at 5 GHz and delivers enough bandwidth to drive 4K screens or 5 1080p screens in Eyefinity. Together with support for TrueAudio and Mantle technology, the R9 295X2 is ready to power the best games of 2014.
AMD Energizes "Never Settle Forever"
AMD today announced a refresh of "Never Settle Forever", the popular game bundle program for AMD Radeon products. Starting today, the "Never Settle Forever" promotion will be available to a wider range of AMD Radeon graphics cards, spanning the R7 Series graphics to the ultra-enthusiast AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card. For the first time ever, the "Never Settle Forever" program will be rolled out to AMD's entry-level graphics products: the AMD Radeon R7 250X, R7 250 and R7 240 GPUs.
AMD's "Never Settle Forever" is dedicated to letting gamers select from a strong line-up of in-demand games as a reward for choosing AMD Radeon graphics. Users will receive up to three choices of free games when they redeem their AMD Radeon Reward coupon. The actual number of available choices will vary by Rewards tier: Gold, Silver or Bronze.
AMD's "Never Settle Forever" is dedicated to letting gamers select from a strong line-up of in-demand games as a reward for choosing AMD Radeon graphics. Users will receive up to three choices of free games when they redeem their AMD Radeon Reward coupon. The actual number of available choices will vary by Rewards tier: Gold, Silver or Bronze.
Sapphire Announces Radeon R9 270X Black Diamond Edition
Sapphire gave the Radeon R9 270X some Tri-X treatment, and a high factory-overclock, with its Black Diamond Edition graphics card, which is exclusive to the Greater China region. The card features the same triple-fan Tri-X cooling solution with back-plate as some R9 280X graphics cards, featuring a meaty aluminium fin heatsink that's ventilated by a trio of fans. It offers a factory core overclock of 1100 MHz, and a memory overclock of 6.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective); compared to AMD reference speeds of 1000 MHz core, 1050 MHz boost, and 5.60 GHz memory. Other features include temperature-activated color LED logo badge, and dual-BIOS with UEFI modules. Based on the 28 nm "Curacao" silicon, the Radeon R9 270X features 1,280 stream processors, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and a 256-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface, holding 2 GB of memory.
Apacer Launches the E101, E311 and E310 Earphones
With the popularity of mobile devices, accessories have become a symbol of personality. To meet the mobile audio and visual needs of people who enjoy mobile life, Apacer has launched its latest series of earphones: E101, E311 and E310. These earphones adopt standard 3.5 mm audio connectors and are compatible with smartphones, tablet PCs, handheld game consoles, MP3 players and other portable audio-visual devices.
Colorful appearance blended with a dazzling style reflects a truly personal chic taste. The ergonomic in-ear design not only optimizes sound effects but also avoids hearing damage caused by excessive volume. Stylish people can immerse into the wonderful world of music and enjoy the charms of rock anytime and anywhere.
Colorful appearance blended with a dazzling style reflects a truly personal chic taste. The ergonomic in-ear design not only optimizes sound effects but also avoids hearing damage caused by excessive volume. Stylish people can immerse into the wonderful world of music and enjoy the charms of rock anytime and anywhere.
Next-Gen Intel "Alpine Ridge" Thunderbolt Controller Detailed
Intel's upcoming Thunderbolt host controller, codenamed "Alpine Ridge," could allow you to play God with several uncompressed Ultra HD video streams during production, if its leaked specifications hold up. The controller leverages PCI-Express gen 3.0 to double bandwidth of the interface. It will launch around the same time as Intel's next-generation Core "Skylake" processors (some time in 2015), and in a typical implementation, will be wired to the CPU's root-complex, and not that of the PCH. With PCIe 3.0 x4 or PCIe 3.0 x2 links at its disposal, the controller can push data at a staggering 40 Gbps. The link can also ferry DisplayPort, HDMI 2.0, and USB 3.0 data through its link layer. That bandwidth should enable you to plug in up to two Ultra HD displays, apart from your storage array.
The Thunderbolt connector itself will undergo a change with the arrival of Alpine Ridge. It will be slimmer (shorter) than the current connector, at 3 mm (good for Ultrabooks), and there will be adapters for backwards compatibility with older-generation Thunderbolt devices. The connector will be designed to supply up to 100W of power, so Ultrabooks based on it will do away with round DC jacks, and charge up much like tablets and smartphones do. That amount of power should also enable single-cable HDD docks and RAID boxes. There will be two main variants of Alpine Ridge, one that supports two ports over daisy-chaining, and one that supports just a single port.
The Thunderbolt connector itself will undergo a change with the arrival of Alpine Ridge. It will be slimmer (shorter) than the current connector, at 3 mm (good for Ultrabooks), and there will be adapters for backwards compatibility with older-generation Thunderbolt devices. The connector will be designed to supply up to 100W of power, so Ultrabooks based on it will do away with round DC jacks, and charge up much like tablets and smartphones do. That amount of power should also enable single-cable HDD docks and RAID boxes. There will be two main variants of Alpine Ridge, one that supports two ports over daisy-chaining, and one that supports just a single port.
G.SKILL Ripjaws Releases DDR3L 32GB 2133MHz SO-DIMM Memory
G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the leading high performance memory designer and manufacturer, is proud to announce the release of an even higher performance, higher capacity DDR3L SO-DIMM memory kit at 2133MHz! This time with a massive 32GB (4x8GB) capacity! Operating at a low voltage of 1.35V and at a timing of 11-11-11-31, this new Ripjaws SO-DIMM memory kit will elevate the performance of your extreme performance gaming laptop to new heights. Desktop performance and capacity on a laptop is now a reality!
The following is a test screenshot completed on the MSI GT70 2OC gaming laptop, exhibiting stability under extreme load. "As a world leading gaming brand, MSI Notebook's goal is to become the most trusted name in gaming and e-sport. We stand by our principles of breakthroughs in design, the pursuit of excellence, and technological innovation as we have continued to raise the bar for ourselves and have accomplished a great deal of pioneering work in the industry," commented Sam Chern, marketing director at MSI.
The following is a test screenshot completed on the MSI GT70 2OC gaming laptop, exhibiting stability under extreme load. "As a world leading gaming brand, MSI Notebook's goal is to become the most trusted name in gaming and e-sport. We stand by our principles of breakthroughs in design, the pursuit of excellence, and technological innovation as we have continued to raise the bar for ourselves and have accomplished a great deal of pioneering work in the industry," commented Sam Chern, marketing director at MSI.
Biostar Announces A68N-5000 Fanless Motherboard
BIOSTAR, manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, industrial computing systems and peripherals, has officially launched the latest edition to the CPU On-Board motherboard lineup, the "A68N-5000." The A68N-5000 uses the AMD A4-5000 which is a 4 core CPU with a clock speed of 1.5 GHz with an integrated Radeon HD 8330 GPU that supports DX11.1 and HDMI, a single channel DDR3(L)-1600 memory controller as well as the Southbridge with various I/O- ports. The system runs cool and quiet with heat sinks instead of fans, this reduces noise and also dust buildup as well as cuts down on power costs.
Sunday, April 20th 2014
NVIDIA GM204 and GM206 to Tape-Out in April, Products to Launch in Q4?
It looks like things are going horribly wrong at TSMC, NVIDIA and AMD's principal foundry partner, with its 20 nm manufacturing process, which is throwing a wrench into the works at NVIDIA, forcing it to re-engineer an entire lineup of "Maxwell" GPUs based on existing 28 nm process. Either that, or NVIDIA is confident of delivering an efficiency leap using Maxwell on existing/mature 28 nm process, and saving costs in the process. NVIDIA is probably drawing comfort from the excellent energy-efficiency demonstrated by its Maxwell-based GeForce GTX 750 series. According to a 3DCenter.org report, NVIDIA's next mainline GPUs, the GM204 and GM206, which will be built on the 28 nm process, and "Maxwell" architecture, will tape out later this month. Products based on the two, however, can't be expected before Q4 2014, as late as December, or even as late as January 2015.
GM204 succeeds GK104 as the company's next workhorse performance-segment silicon, which could power graphics card SKUs ranging all the way from US $250 to $500. An older report suggests that it could feature as many as 3,200 CUDA cores. The GM204 could be taped out in April 2014, and the first GeForce products based on it could launch no sooner than December 2014. The GM206 is the company's next mid-range silicon, which succeeds GK106. It will tape out in April, alongside the GM204, but products based on it will launch only in January 2015. The GM200 is a different beast altogether. There's no mention of which process the chip will be based on, but it will succeed the GK110, and should offer performance increments worthy of being a successor. For that, it has to be based on the 20 nm process. It will tape-out in June 2014, and products based on it will launch only in or after Q2 2015.
GM204 succeeds GK104 as the company's next workhorse performance-segment silicon, which could power graphics card SKUs ranging all the way from US $250 to $500. An older report suggests that it could feature as many as 3,200 CUDA cores. The GM204 could be taped out in April 2014, and the first GeForce products based on it could launch no sooner than December 2014. The GM206 is the company's next mid-range silicon, which succeeds GK106. It will tape out in April, alongside the GM204, but products based on it will launch only in January 2015. The GM200 is a different beast altogether. There's no mention of which process the chip will be based on, but it will succeed the GK110, and should offer performance increments worthy of being a successor. For that, it has to be based on the 20 nm process. It will tape-out in June 2014, and products based on it will launch only in or after Q2 2015.
QNAP Releases System Updates to Fix Heartbleed OpenSSL Vulnerability
QNAP Systems Inc. today announced firmware updates for Turbo NAS systems with vulnerability to the OpenSSL Heartbleed bug (CVE-2014-0160). The operating systems vulnerable to Heartbleed are QTS versions 4.0 and 4.1. Versions 3.8 and earlier use a different version of OpenSSL and are not affected by the OpenSSL Heartbleed bug. As described on the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures website, the OpenSSL 1.0.1 TLS and DTLS implementation, before 1.0.1g, does not properly process Heartbeat Extension packets which allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information by reading private keys (aka the Heartbleed bug).
ASUS to Launch two TUF Series Motherboards based on Z97 Express Chipset
ASUS is expected to launch two The Ultimate Force (TUF) series motherboards based on Intel's upcoming Z97 Express chipset, ready for Core "Haswell" refresh and "Devil's Canyon" processors, TUF Sabertooth Z97, and the micro-ATX TUF Gryphon Z97. Designed with durability in mind, the two will feature the highest-grade electrical components the industry has to offer, and a boat-load of electrical, electro-static, electro-magnetic, and thermal protections. You can either take advantage of them to better your overclock, or build one for your post-apocalyptic bunker PC. The Sabertooth Z97 will feature three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, an 8-phase CPU VRM, thermal armor with a recirculating fan, and eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. We only have a teaser picture of the Gryphon Z97.
ASUS Z97 Deluxe Pictured, Too
Here's the first picture of a market-ready version of ASUS' Z97 Deluxe motherboard, from the company's mainline computer brand. ASUS seems to have received screaming feedback from some quarters that bright gold isn't the best choice heatsink color, and if Z97 Deluxe is anything to go by, we might see a softer champagne tone of gold, with a more minimalist heatsink design. The Z97 Deluxe is packed to the brim with features, beginning with a 16-phase CPU VRM. The LGA1150 socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots, and three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots. Storage connectivity appears to include six SATA 6 Gb/s, one SATA-Express, one M.2, and possibly one or more eSATA. Other connectivity includes 8-channel HD audio with ground-layer isolation, dual gigabit-Ethernet interfaces, WLAN, and a large number of USB 3.0 ports. We also scored a teaser pic of the flagship mini-ITX motherboard from ASUS based on the Z97 chipset, likely named the Z97-I Deluxe. It should give you a closer look of the chipset heatsink design.
ASUS Z97-based ROG Maximus VII Series Pictured
Here are the first pictures of the Republic of Gamers Maximus VII motherboard series, from ASUS. The lineup will initially consist of three models, the Maximus VII Hero, the Maximus VII Ranger, and the micro-ATX Maximus VII Gene, with no signs of >$200 "Formula" and "Extreme" variants, or even the mini-ITX "Impact" variant. With MSI and ASRock setting up their "Gaming" and "Fatal1ty" sub-brand models at the $150 price point, ASUS is feeling the pinch of not putting an ROG Maximus-series model up at that price. Hence we have the Maximus VII Ranger, a $150-ish motherboard that could go head on against the Gaming 3 from MSI, and Z97 Fatal1ty Killer from ASRock. The $199 price-point is captured by the Maximus VII Hero, competing with the Gaming 7 from MSI. Future "Formula" and "Extreme" variants could compete at the $250 and ≥$300 price-points with the MPower and XPower models.
The Maximus VII Ranger features two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots wired to the CPU (x8/x8 with both populated), the third one is wired to the Z97 PCH, and is electrical x4. The board appears to feature a simple 8-phase CPU VRM, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, an M.2 slot, SupremeFX audio, and a single gigabit Ethernet connection, probably made by Intel. Moving on, the Maximus VII Hero. Which could feature a meatier CPU VRM, eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, one M.2, a similar expansion slot layout to the Ranger, and probably more connectivity options. The Maximus VII Gene is a feature-rich micro-ATX board, with a similar CPU VRM to the Maximus VII Hero, two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, an addition PCI-Express x1, an M.2, and eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Its connectivity appears to include a WLAN card with 802.11 ac. Among the new ROG-exclusive features introduced by this series, are Gamefirst III (packet prioritization), LANGuard, SonicRadar II (points to where a sound is coming from), KeyBot (keyboard macros), and TrueVolt USB (power stabilization for USB ports).
The Maximus VII Ranger features two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots wired to the CPU (x8/x8 with both populated), the third one is wired to the Z97 PCH, and is electrical x4. The board appears to feature a simple 8-phase CPU VRM, six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, an M.2 slot, SupremeFX audio, and a single gigabit Ethernet connection, probably made by Intel. Moving on, the Maximus VII Hero. Which could feature a meatier CPU VRM, eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, one M.2, a similar expansion slot layout to the Ranger, and probably more connectivity options. The Maximus VII Gene is a feature-rich micro-ATX board, with a similar CPU VRM to the Maximus VII Hero, two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, an addition PCI-Express x1, an M.2, and eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Its connectivity appears to include a WLAN card with 802.11 ac. Among the new ROG-exclusive features introduced by this series, are Gamefirst III (packet prioritization), LANGuard, SonicRadar II (points to where a sound is coming from), KeyBot (keyboard macros), and TrueVolt USB (power stabilization for USB ports).
Radeon R9 295X2 Starts Selling
The flagship graphics card from AMD, Radeon R9 295X2, started selling, and is listed by leading retailers worldwide. AMD set the MSRP of this card at US $1,499, the pre-tax price could swing by ±5%. At that price, the R9 295X2 is the costliest reference-design graphics card by AMD, and is currently the fastest one money can buy. A dual-GPU on a stick solution with two 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs, the R9 295X2 features a total of 5,632 GCN2 stream processors (2,816 per GPU), 352 TMUs (176 per GPU), 128 ROPs (64 per GPU), and a total of 8 GB of memory, across two 512-bit wide memory interfaces. The card is cooled by a factory-fitted water-cooling solution by Asetek.
Friday, April 18th 2014
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Memory
Motherboards
Processors
Spire Introduces the RIDGE Series PC Cases
The Ridge series are quality ATX form factor PC enclosures with contemporary looks. This middle/small tower structure is simply functional and affordable. The clean and minimal looks make the Ridge series fit right into your home interior. External connectivity made simple through the in front concealed USB3.0/2.0 and HD Audio ports.
The internal structure enables flexible and neat assembly. Sufficient cooling through the multiple fan space positions in the front, side and rear of the chassis. (fans not pre-installed) The Ridge series ATX chassis are supported with our 2 year warranty and service program.
The internal structure enables flexible and neat assembly. Sufficient cooling through the multiple fan space positions in the front, side and rear of the chassis. (fans not pre-installed) The Ridge series ATX chassis are supported with our 2 year warranty and service program.
Thursday, April 17th 2014
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Memory
Monitors
Motherboards
Networking
Speakers
be quiet! Dark Rock 3 Review
be quiet!'s Dark Rock 3 is a great single-tower cooler as it offers up stylish looks with the performance to back it up. Take into consideration its exceptional build quality and warranty and you have a cooler that might just be best in class.
ZALMAN Upgrades Distinct Design with Reserator 3 MAX Dual Liquid CPU Cooler
ZALMAN a leading manufacturer of high performance silent oriented computer hardware components and peripherals, today announced the Reserator 3 MAX Dual liquid CPU cooler. Improving upon the Reserator 3 MAX released last year, the Reserator 3 MAX Dual bolsters performance drastically by utilizing a large 240mm Radiator compared to the smaller 120mm radiator size of its smaller brother. The Reserator 3 MAX Dual features the classic ZALMAN Omega heatsink structure, reborn and updated in its current form for the most effective radiator use in closed loop liquid cooling solutions. Enhanced with 240mm radiator capacity, the Reserator 3 MAX Dual will feature unparalleled performance with whisper quiet acoustics.
Cyberpower Makes New V3 Voltair CPU Cooler Available in Custom-Built PCs
Cyberpower Inc., a global manufacturer of custom gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and performance workstations, has entered into an agreement with V3 Components to be the exclusive distributor of V3 Components products in North America. V3 Components, based in Lomita, California is a new manufacturer of enthusiast level computer components. The company recently announced its first product, the V3 Voltair High Performance Thermoelectric CPU Cooler.
"We are very happy to have Cyberpower Inc. as the exclusive distributor of our products in North America. Cyberpower Inc. offers the logistics capacity and market reach to help make our products available to a much wider audience than we would be able to on our own," said Chuck Morris, Product Manager at V3 Components. "Cyberpower Inc. has successful partnerships among both etailers and the retail channel that it will use to offer V3 Components products to customers.
"We are very happy to have Cyberpower Inc. as the exclusive distributor of our products in North America. Cyberpower Inc. offers the logistics capacity and market reach to help make our products available to a much wider audience than we would be able to on our own," said Chuck Morris, Product Manager at V3 Components. "Cyberpower Inc. has successful partnerships among both etailers and the retail channel that it will use to offer V3 Components products to customers.
ASUS Announces the Striker GTX 760 Platinum 4GB Graphics Card
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced Striker GTX 760 Platinum, a brand-new gaming graphics card powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 graphics-processing unit (GPU), a beefy 4 GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory and engineered with exclusive cooling and power-stabilizing technologies.
The GTX 760 GPU is greatly desired by many gamers for being the performance sweet-spot, while Striker GTX 760 Platinum's DirectCU II cooling, CoolTech fan, DIGI+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) and Super Alloy Power components ensure cooler, faster, quieter gaming that also provides great overclocking potential.
The GTX 760 GPU is greatly desired by many gamers for being the performance sweet-spot, while Striker GTX 760 Platinum's DirectCU II cooling, CoolTech fan, DIGI+ voltage-regulator module (VRM) and Super Alloy Power components ensure cooler, faster, quieter gaming that also provides great overclocking potential.
Samsung and GLOBALFOUNDRIES to Deliver Multi-Sourced 14 nm FinFET Offering
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and GLOBALFOUNDRIES today announced a new strategic collaboration to deliver global capacity for 14 nanometer (nm) FinFET process technology. For the first time, the industry's most advanced 14 nm FinFET technology will be available at both Samsung and GLOBALFOUNDRIES, giving customers the assurance of supply that can only come from true design compatibility at multiple sources across the globe.
The new collaboration will leverage the companies' worldwide leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, with volume production at Samsung's fabs in Hwaseong, Korea and Austin, Texas, as well as GLOBALFOUNDRIES' fab in Saratoga, New York.
The new collaboration will leverage the companies' worldwide leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, with volume production at Samsung's fabs in Hwaseong, Korea and Austin, Texas, as well as GLOBALFOUNDRIES' fab in Saratoga, New York.
AMD Reports 2014 First Quarter Results
AMD today announced revenue for the first quarter of 2014 of $1.40 billion, operating income of $49 million and net loss of $20 million, or $0.03 per share. The company reported non-GAAP operating income of $66 million and non-GAAP net income of $12 million, or $0.02 per share.
"AMD continued our momentum by building on the solid foundation we set in the second half of 2013, further transforming the company," said Rory Read, AMD president and CEO. "Backed by our powerful x86 processor cores and hands-down best graphics experiences, we achieved 28 percent revenue growth from the year-ago quarter. We are well positioned to continue to grow profitably as we diversify our business and enable our customers to drive change and win."
"AMD continued our momentum by building on the solid foundation we set in the second half of 2013, further transforming the company," said Rory Read, AMD president and CEO. "Backed by our powerful x86 processor cores and hands-down best graphics experiences, we achieved 28 percent revenue growth from the year-ago quarter. We are well positioned to continue to grow profitably as we diversify our business and enable our customers to drive change and win."
Wednesday, April 16th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Motherboards
NAS
Processors
NZXT H440 Review
The NZXT H440 aims to make the new and revamped H series part of the mid-tower market. Offering no external drive bay is either gutsy or naïve, but let us take a closer look to figure out whether NZXT managed to gun for the glory among silent mid-tower cases this time around.
HIS Announces R9 295X2 LiquidCooler
Hightech Information System (HIS) today proudly announces the HIS R9 295X2 Liquid Cooler 8GB. HIS R9 295X2 Liquid Cooler 8GB is the world's fastest graphics card engineered for ultimate performance. Its features the Next Generation CrossFire support for up to 5 GPUs with no interconnect bridge required. It's designed with the latest technologies, all metal construction and features two R9 290X GPUs, which provides an all-round graphic experience to all users.
The R9 295X2 graphics card reference design ships with an advanced closed-loop liquid cooling system developed jointly with Asetek. Users can enjoy such cool temperatures, quiet operation and consistently high performance. Another powerful strength is Mantle technology. Games enabled with Mantle speak the language of Graphics Core Next to unlock revolutionary performance and image quality.
The R9 295X2 graphics card reference design ships with an advanced closed-loop liquid cooling system developed jointly with Asetek. Users can enjoy such cool temperatures, quiet operation and consistently high performance. Another powerful strength is Mantle technology. Games enabled with Mantle speak the language of Graphics Core Next to unlock revolutionary performance and image quality.
Toshiba Debuts World's Fastest microSD Memory Cards
Extending its industry leadership in memory card solutions, Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., (TAEC), a committed leader that collaborates with technology companies to create breakthrough designs, has introduced the world's fastest microSD memory cards. The new cards are the first in the industry to comply with the UHS-II interface standard, the ultra high speed serial bus interface defined in the SD Memory Card Standard Ver. 4.20. Available in 32 GB and 64 GB capacities, Toshiba's new microSD memory cards offer the fastest transfer rates available, are UHS Speed Class 3 (U3) enabled, and allow high-quality 4K video capture at constant minimum write speeds of 30 MB/s. This means that 4K2K video, live broadcast and content can be recorded on high-performance cameras.
The 64 GB cards offer a maximum read speed of 260 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 240 MB/s. The 32 GB cards have a maximum read speed of 145 MB/s and maximum write speed of 130 MB/s, which represents an 8x write speed improvement and 2.7x read speed improvement when compared to Toshiba's current 32 GB microSD UHS-I cards. These faster transfer speeds reduce the time required to download large data movie and music files to smart phones and tablets, and enable camera users to shoot high resolution digital still images in a continuous high speed shooting mode.
The 64 GB cards offer a maximum read speed of 260 MB/s and a maximum write speed of 240 MB/s. The 32 GB cards have a maximum read speed of 145 MB/s and maximum write speed of 130 MB/s, which represents an 8x write speed improvement and 2.7x read speed improvement when compared to Toshiba's current 32 GB microSD UHS-I cards. These faster transfer speeds reduce the time required to download large data movie and music files to smart phones and tablets, and enable camera users to shoot high resolution digital still images in a continuous high speed shooting mode.
TRENDnet Ships Powerline 500 Wireless Kit
TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, today announces the availability of the Powerline 500 Wireless Kit, model TPL-410APK, which extends a home wireless network using existing electrical lines.
The included TRENDnet Powerline adapters (TPL-406E + TPL-410AP) auto-connect out of the box over a pre-encrypted Powerline signal. Network the standard Powerline 500 adapter, model TPL-406E, to a router and plug in the Powerline 500 AV Wireless Access Point, model TPL-410AP, into an outlet on the same electrical system to extend a high performance wireless network. "The TPL-410APK is well suited to extend a wireless network in large homes or homes built with concrete or masonry construction which degrades wireless signals," stated Zak Wood, director of global marketing for TRENDnet. "Installation couldn't be easier. Simply plug in the adapters and you're up and running."
The included TRENDnet Powerline adapters (TPL-406E + TPL-410AP) auto-connect out of the box over a pre-encrypted Powerline signal. Network the standard Powerline 500 adapter, model TPL-406E, to a router and plug in the Powerline 500 AV Wireless Access Point, model TPL-410AP, into an outlet on the same electrical system to extend a high performance wireless network. "The TPL-410APK is well suited to extend a wireless network in large homes or homes built with concrete or masonry construction which degrades wireless signals," stated Zak Wood, director of global marketing for TRENDnet. "Installation couldn't be easier. Simply plug in the adapters and you're up and running."
Next-gen MSI OC Series Motherboard to Feature "Delid Die Guard"
The upcoming entries to MSI's more overclocker-oriented line of motherboards, the M-Power and X-Power OC Series, will feature an interesting new feature that could appeal to overclockers that like to de-lid (remove the IHS of) their processors, for more direct heat-transfer between the chip and cooler. Called the "Delid Die Guard," the accessory is a replacement LGA socket brace that runs its way around the die, and not the edges of the package. The thickness of the brace puts it at the exact level of the surface of the chip (much like the support braces GPUs come with), and so it prevents heavy coolers (think chunky LN2 pots) from pressing too hard against the die, potentially breaking it. The feature could debut on MSI's upcoming M-Power motherboard based on the Z97 Express chipset.
MSI 9-series Gaming Series Motherboards Pictured
MSI is ready with its Gaming series socket LGA1150 motherboards based on Intel's next-gen 9-series chipset, which are ready for Core "Haswell" refresh processors. The series includes three boards in the ATX form-factor, the 9-series Gaming 9 AC, 9-series Gaming 7, and 9-series Gaming 3; and one in the mini-ITX form-factor, the 9-series Gaming. The 9-series Gaming 9 AC is loaded with features, including a 12-phase CPU VRM, four DDR3 DIMM slots, three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (x16/NC/NC or x8/x8/NC or x8/x4/x4), eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports, a PCI-Express x2 M.2 slot, Killer E2200 NIC, 802.11 ac WLAN, and more.
Next up, is the 9-series Gaming 7, which offers the same 12-phase CPU VRM as the 9-series Gaming 9 AC, same three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, four PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and an identical storage connectivity. The 9-series Gaming 3 is the most affordable of the lot, with a 6-phase CPU VRM, one PCI-Express 3.0 x16, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and three PCI; six SATA 6 Gb/s, one M.2, and Killer E2200 NIC. Lastly, there's the 9-series Gaming ITX, which offers a decent 6-phase VRM, single PCI-Express 3.0 x16, 802.11 ac networking, Killer E2200 NIC, and AudioBoost audio. The three should launch in the run up to the mid-May release of Intel's new processors.
More pictures follow.
Next up, is the 9-series Gaming 7, which offers the same 12-phase CPU VRM as the 9-series Gaming 9 AC, same three PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots, four PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and an identical storage connectivity. The 9-series Gaming 3 is the most affordable of the lot, with a 6-phase CPU VRM, one PCI-Express 3.0 x16, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), two PCI-Express 2.0 x1, and three PCI; six SATA 6 Gb/s, one M.2, and Killer E2200 NIC. Lastly, there's the 9-series Gaming ITX, which offers a decent 6-phase VRM, single PCI-Express 3.0 x16, 802.11 ac networking, Killer E2200 NIC, and AudioBoost audio. The three should launch in the run up to the mid-May release of Intel's new processors.
SanDisk Declares Second Quarter 2014 Cash Dividend
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced that the Board of Directors has declared a second quarter 2014 cash dividend of 22.5 cents per share on the company's common stock. The dividend will be payable on May 27, 2014 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2014. Future dividends will be subject to approval by SanDisk's Board of Directors.
SanDisk Corporation, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a global leader in flash storage solutions. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has expanded the possibilities of storage, providing trusted and innovative products that have transformed the electronics industry. Today, SanDisk's quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smart phones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk's consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide.
SanDisk Corporation, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is a global leader in flash storage solutions. For more than 25 years, SanDisk has expanded the possibilities of storage, providing trusted and innovative products that have transformed the electronics industry. Today, SanDisk's quality, state-of-the-art solutions are at the heart of many of the world's largest data centers, and embedded in advanced smart phones, tablets and PCs. SanDisk's consumer products are available at hundreds of thousands of retail stores worldwide.
NVIDIA Rolls Out GeForce 337.61 BETA Hotfix
NVIDIA rolled out GeForce R337.61 BETA, which is a hotfix for two glaring issues that came to light with R337.50, which launched earlier this month. To begin with, it fixes an issue faced with Dell's compact 4K Ultra HD monitors, specifically P3214Q and UP2414Q, in which the GeForce GPU would give out "half" or no display (Ultra HD resolution is handled over multiple TMDS links). It also fixes a Code 43 error message after installing driver 337.50 on a PC with Hyper-V enabled. The rest of its feature-set is identical to that of its predecessor.
DOWNLOAD: GeForce 337.61 Beta Hotfix for Windows 8/7/Vista 64-bit | Windows 8/7/Vista 32-bit
Google Announces First Quarter 2014 Results
Google Inc. today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.
"We completed another great quarter. Google's revenue was $15.4 billion, up 19% year on year", said Larry Page, CEO of Google. "We got lots of product improvements done, especially on mobile. I'm also excited with progress on our emerging businesses."
Q1 Financial Summary
On January 29, 2014, we entered into an agreement with Lenovo Group Limited providing for the disposition of the Motorola Mobile business. As such, financial results of Motorola Mobile are presented as "Net loss from discontinued operations" on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and 2014; and assets and liabilities of Motorola Mobile to be disposed of are presented as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale", respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2014.
"We completed another great quarter. Google's revenue was $15.4 billion, up 19% year on year", said Larry Page, CEO of Google. "We got lots of product improvements done, especially on mobile. I'm also excited with progress on our emerging businesses."
Q1 Financial Summary
On January 29, 2014, we entered into an agreement with Lenovo Group Limited providing for the disposition of the Motorola Mobile business. As such, financial results of Motorola Mobile are presented as "Net loss from discontinued operations" on the Consolidated Statements of Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and 2014; and assets and liabilities of Motorola Mobile to be disposed of are presented as "Assets held for sale" and "Liabilities held for sale", respectively, on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2014.
Eurocom Launches the Electra 2 15.6-Inch Notebook
Eurocom is now launching the thin and light, 15.6" Electra 2 Notebook computer with TPM 1.2 hardware data encryption, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 850M graphics and 4th generation Intel Core i7 and i7 Extreme processors with 5 hours of battery life.
"At Eurocom we consider both performance and security as something that goes hand in hand. Both of those requirements are critical even in entry level systems. Users must be provided a means to secure their hardware by encrypting all the files and personal information they have." Mark Bialic Eurocom President.
"At Eurocom we consider both performance and security as something that goes hand in hand. Both of those requirements are critical even in entry level systems. Users must be provided a means to secure their hardware by encrypting all the files and personal information they have." Mark Bialic Eurocom President.
SanDisk Announces First Quarter 2014 Results
SanDisk Corporation, a global leader in flash storage solutions, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 30, 2014. First quarter revenue of $1.51 billion increased 13 percent on a year-over-year basis and decreased 12 percent sequentially.
On a GAAP basis, first quarter net income was $269 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $166 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and $338 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.
On a GAAP basis, first quarter net income was $269 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, compared to net income of $166 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and $338 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.
VisionTek Debuts the CryoVenom R9 290LE Liquid Cooled Graphics Card
VisionTek Products LLC, (VisionTek), a leading manufacturer of award-winning, high-performance upgrades and accessories for PC and Apple Macintosh computers, today announced it has expanded the award-winning CryoVenom R9 290 graphics card with a new Limited Edition model.
Designed to appeal to hardcore gamers that desire the best gaming experience and the envy of the gaming community for owning an exclusive upgrade, the $650 MSRP CryoVenom R9 290LE will be limited in availability to 100 units or less. As a special incentive for customers to spend their income tax refund on a CryoVenom purchase, VisionTek is offering a 5% discount promotion on the new LE model and the original $600 MSRP CryoVenom R9 290 model until May 1, 2014.
Designed to appeal to hardcore gamers that desire the best gaming experience and the envy of the gaming community for owning an exclusive upgrade, the $650 MSRP CryoVenom R9 290LE will be limited in availability to 100 units or less. As a special incentive for customers to spend their income tax refund on a CryoVenom purchase, VisionTek is offering a 5% discount promotion on the new LE model and the original $600 MSRP CryoVenom R9 290 model until May 1, 2014.
NuForce Releases the Primo 8 In-Ear Headphones
NuForce Inc., a leader in professional and consumer audio gear, announces the release of Primo 8, its flagship audiophile-quality in-ear headphones. The Primo 8 unites the coherence and seamlessness of one-driver earphones with the detail and transient speed of balanced armature drivers delivering an extraordinarily natural, lifelike sound. The Primo 8 excels in its ability to reproduce vocals unlike any other in-ear headphone on the market, today.
In-Ear Audiophile-Quality Speaker System
NuForce has outfitted each Primo 8 earpiece with four proprietary balanced armature speakers to form a unique 3-way design. The four balanced-armature drivers located in each earphone deliver smooth, extended response, explosive dynamic realism and fatigue-free sound. Two of the speakers operate as one for bass frequencies, with one speaker for midrange and one speaker for treble.
In-Ear Audiophile-Quality Speaker System
NuForce has outfitted each Primo 8 earpiece with four proprietary balanced armature speakers to form a unique 3-way design. The four balanced-armature drivers located in each earphone deliver smooth, extended response, explosive dynamic realism and fatigue-free sound. Two of the speakers operate as one for bass frequencies, with one speaker for midrange and one speaker for treble.
Super Flower Leadex Platinum 850W PSU Starts Shipping
Super Flower began shipping an 850W variant of its 80 Plus Platinum-brandishing Leadex Platinum series power supplies. Slotted between the 750W and 1000W variants, the 850W variant offers enough juice for triple graphics card setups using today's performance-segment graphics cards, or two high-end ones. Featuring fully-modular cabling, the PSU offers two 8-pin EPS connectors, from which one breaks up into 4+4 pins; besides the 20+4 pin ATX connector. There are a total of six 6+2 pin PCI-Express power connectors on offer. Ten SATA power, seven Molex, and one Berg make for the rest of its connectivity. Under the hood, the Leadex Platinum 850W features a single +12V rail design, with a single 70.8A rail. The unit supports low-power Core "Haswell" C-states. Most common electrical and thermal protections are offered. It uses a 140 mm temperature-controlled fan to keep cool. Backed by a 5-year warranty, the Leadex Platinum 850W from Super Flower is expected to go for around US $220.
Aerocool Introduces the QS-101 and QS-102 Slim PC Cases
Aerocool Advanced Technologies, one of world's leading manufacturers of excellent gaming PC gear, presents two new members of the PGS-Q chassis series. Unlike the other PGS-Q models, both the QS-101 and QS-102 are slim desktop PC cases, which can be used for modern office computers or compact home theatre PCs (HTPC). Depending on the individual taste and environment, both chassis can be placed either horizontal or vertical, thanks to the supplied stand.
Aerocool is known for offering its chassis in many colors. This applies for the QS-101 and QS-102 as well, as users have the choice between a classic Black Edition, a fresh Red Edition and even a White Edition. Although it might seem, that such a small desktop chassis would come with big limitation, the opposite is the case! Users are given much free room for choosing the right components for their system, as both Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards are supported. The chassis with 100 x 300 x 415 millimeter dimensions offer space for CPU Coolers with a maximum height of 8 centimeters. Furthermore, up to four Low-Profile expansion cards with a maximum length of 24 centimeters can be installed.
Aerocool is known for offering its chassis in many colors. This applies for the QS-101 and QS-102 as well, as users have the choice between a classic Black Edition, a fresh Red Edition and even a White Edition. Although it might seem, that such a small desktop chassis would come with big limitation, the opposite is the case! Users are given much free room for choosing the right components for their system, as both Mini-ITX and Micro-ATX motherboards are supported. The chassis with 100 x 300 x 415 millimeter dimensions offer space for CPU Coolers with a maximum height of 8 centimeters. Furthermore, up to four Low-Profile expansion cards with a maximum length of 24 centimeters can be installed.
Getac Announces the Pentium-Powered T800 8.1-Inch Rugged Tablet
Getac Inc., a leading manufacturer of rugged computers, is introducing the T800 fully rugged tablet. At less than 9x6 inches in size and boasting a brilliant 8.1-inch display, the T800 is the ideal compact rugged tablet for today's mobile workforce. Combining the latest in processor and wireless technology with an ultra-rugged exterior and Getac's unique SnapBack add-on accessories, the Getac T800 is the perfect fit for use in extreme working environments including those found in the utilities, military, field service, public safety and transportation sectors. The new T800 runs Windows 8.1 Professional.
"Interest in rugged tablets has never been higher," said Rowina Lee, president of Getac. "We designed the new compact T800 rugged tablet with the mobile worker in mind, combining every bit of know-how we've gained building rugged computers over the past 25 years. We're excited to get it into the hands of our customers."
"Interest in rugged tablets has never been higher," said Rowina Lee, president of Getac. "We designed the new compact T800 rugged tablet with the mobile worker in mind, combining every bit of know-how we've gained building rugged computers over the past 25 years. We're excited to get it into the hands of our customers."
Corning Announces Availability of USB 3.Optical Cables
Corning Incorporated today announced the availability of its USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning, capable of sending up to 5 gigabits per second of data at distances up to 30 meters. Compatible with most USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 devices, USB 3.Optical Cables by Corning quickly and easily extend data transmission beyond the 3-meter limitation of comparable copper cable.
Optical Cables by Corning were introduced in January 2013 and are now available for sale through select consumer electronic retail channels.
Optical Cables by Corning were introduced in January 2013 and are now available for sale through select consumer electronic retail channels.
Windows XP EOL Helping PC Sales in Q1: Gartner
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 76.6 million units in the first quarter of 2014, a 1.7 percent decline from the first quarter of 2013, according to preliminary results by Gartner. The severity of the decline eased compared with the past seven quarters. "The end of XP support by Microsoft on April 8 has played a role in the easing decline of PC shipments," said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. "All regions indicated a positive effect since the end of XP support stimulated the PC refresh of XP systems. Professional desktops, in particular, showed strength in the quarter. Among key countries, Japan was greatly affected by the end of XP support, registering a 35 percent year-over-year increase in PC shipments. The growth was also boosted by sales tax change. We expect the impact of XP migration worldwide to continue throughout 2014."
"While the PC market remains weak, it is showing signs of improvement compared to last year. The PC professional market generally improved in regions such as EMEA. The U.S. saw the gradual recovery of PC spending as the impact of tablets faded." Ms. Kitagawa said. The PC market continued to be tough for many vendors. Economies of scale matter tremendously in this high-volume, low-profit market, which is forcing some vendors, such as Sony, out of the market. In contrast, all of the top five vendors, except Acer, registered year-over-year shipment growth. The top thee vendors - Lenovo, HP and Dell - have all confirmed the importance of the PC business as part of their overall business strategies.
"While the PC market remains weak, it is showing signs of improvement compared to last year. The PC professional market generally improved in regions such as EMEA. The U.S. saw the gradual recovery of PC spending as the impact of tablets faded." Ms. Kitagawa said. The PC market continued to be tough for many vendors. Economies of scale matter tremendously in this high-volume, low-profit market, which is forcing some vendors, such as Sony, out of the market. In contrast, all of the top five vendors, except Acer, registered year-over-year shipment growth. The top thee vendors - Lenovo, HP and Dell - have all confirmed the importance of the PC business as part of their overall business strategies.
Lenovo Also Unveils the A540 AIO Desktop and New B, G and Z Series Laptops
Lenovo today introduced several new PCs starting with the Lenovo A Series A540 AIO desktop built for families and equipped with the latest audio and video features for enjoying digital content. Lenovo also introduced the B50 laptop for small businesses with a balance of essential technologies and affordability; the essential G50 laptop for general computing; and the Z40 and Z50 entertainment-focused laptops.
The sleek A540 AIO includes a super bright 23.8-in FHD 1920X1080 IPS display in an aluminum shell just four millimeters thin at its edge. Users can adjust the screen from -5° to 90° to position it for however they like to use it. Running Windows 8.1 and supporting 10-finger touch, the A540 lets users experience touch functionality with its collection of 20 pre-loaded games and education apps. Users can even go hands-free with Lenovo Motion Control, which supports up to 12 gestures to complete actions like muting the volume, advancing photos or playing videos.
The sleek A540 AIO includes a super bright 23.8-in FHD 1920X1080 IPS display in an aluminum shell just four millimeters thin at its edge. Users can adjust the screen from -5° to 90° to position it for however they like to use it. Running Windows 8.1 and supporting 10-finger touch, the A540 lets users experience touch functionality with its collection of 20 pre-loaded games and education apps. Users can even go hands-free with Lenovo Motion Control, which supports up to 12 gestures to complete actions like muting the volume, advancing photos or playing videos.
Lenovo Announces the FLEX 2 Dua-Mode Laptops
Lenovo today introduced two new additions to its FLEX family of dual mode laptops with the new FLEX 2 laptops available in 14 and 15.6-in models. Not only do the laptops give users 300° flexibility with two great modes, Laptop and Stand, they improve upon the original models in compelling new ways with an enhanced visual experience offering full HD screen and discrete graphics models.
Shaping Higher Performance
Available in either a 14 or 15.6-in screen, the laptops take Lenovo's family of dual mode devices to the next level with new design and performance features. The black or silver FLEX 2 laptops catch attention for their 300° rotation and their optional backlit keyboard, which finishes the look on this beautiful device.
Shaping Higher Performance
Available in either a 14 or 15.6-in screen, the laptops take Lenovo's family of dual mode devices to the next level with new design and performance features. The black or silver FLEX 2 laptops catch attention for their 300° rotation and their optional backlit keyboard, which finishes the look on this beautiful device.
AMD Demoes its Next-Gen x86 APU Running Fedora Linux
Red Hat Summit 2014 -- AMD today announced another major milestone in the development of its enterprise software ecosystem with the first public demonstration of its second-generation AMD Opteron X-Series APU, codenamed "Berlin," running a Linux environment based on the Fedora Project. The Fedora Project is a Red Hat-sponsored, community-driven Linux distribution, providing a familiar, enterprise class operating environment to developers and IT administrators worldwide. This is important to companies looking to transition to x86 APU servers but who are reluctant to introduce new tools and software platforms to their IT environments. This demonstration also represents a significant step forward in expanding the footprint of x86 APU accelerated performance within the data center.
AMD's premiere demonstration of "Berlin" will showcase the world's first Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) featured server APU ahead of its official launch later this year. The demonstration features advancements incorporated in "Project Sumatra" that enable Java applications to take advantage of graphics processing units (GPUs) within AMD server APUs. The combination of Linux and Java on AMD APU platforms provides an ideal platform for server-based multimedia workloads and general purpose GPU compute that will help drive new levels of workload efficiency in the data center. AMD also will demonstrate software-based on OpenCL and OpenGL on "Berlin."
AMD's premiere demonstration of "Berlin" will showcase the world's first Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) featured server APU ahead of its official launch later this year. The demonstration features advancements incorporated in "Project Sumatra" that enable Java applications to take advantage of graphics processing units (GPUs) within AMD server APUs. The combination of Linux and Java on AMD APU platforms provides an ideal platform for server-based multimedia workloads and general purpose GPU compute that will help drive new levels of workload efficiency in the data center. AMD also will demonstrate software-based on OpenCL and OpenGL on "Berlin."
Scythe Unveils Tatsumi 1000B CPU Cooler
Scythe unveiled the Tatsumi 1000B entry-level CPU cooler. Measuring 102 mm x 83 mm x 146 mm (WxDxH), and weighing in at 450 g, Tatsumi features a tower-type heatsink with three 6 mm thick copper heat pipes conveying heat drawn from a nickel-plated copper base, to an aluminium fin stack; and ventilated by a 92 mm PWM controllable fan. The fan spins at speeds ranging between 200 and 2,500 RPM, pushing between 6.7 and 55.55 CFM of air, with noise output ranging between 7.2 and 31.07 dBA. Among the CPU socket types supported are LGA2011, LGA115x, LGA1366, AM3(+), and FM2(+). Scythe is expected to begin shipping the Tatsumi in early-May.
Plextor M6S Solid State Drive Launched in Europe
Plextor has now announced the European release of the M6S, its newest SATA solid state drive which makes use of Marvell's SS9188 dual-core controller and Toshiba 19 nm Toggle-Mode MLC NAND memory. The SSD comes in a 2.5-inch form factor (7 mm tall) and has a SATA 6.0 Gbps interface and is capable of read/write speeds of up to 520/440 MB/s.
Plextor's M6S is backed by a three-year warranty and comes in 128 GB (82 Euro), 256 GB (145 Euro) and 512 GB (306 Euro) capacities.
Plextor's M6S is backed by a three-year warranty and comes in 128 GB (82 Euro), 256 GB (145 Euro) and 512 GB (306 Euro) capacities.
Thecus NAS to Support New Seagate 5TB HDD
With their recent 5 TB breakthrough, Seagate Enterprise Capacity drives are among the highest-capacity drives available for enterprise-class purposes. This, along with offering impeccable reliability and power/performance standards, makes them ideal for business-critical, multi-drive server and storage environments - such as Thecus NAS systems. "Reaching the milestone of 5TB hard drive capacity is tremendous news for the storage industry. Seagate's reliability paired with Thecus's trusted technology is an undeniable edge for enterprises in need of large pools of data in energy efficient, high performance storage." - Florence Shih, Chairperson at Thecus Technology Corp.
Early, hands-on access to these high-capacity HDDs was made possible through Thecus's continued, close relationship with Seagate. After many hours of hard work with multiple devices in various environments, Thecus is happy to announce that the Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5" 5TB HDD is confirmed compatible with the entire Thecus NAS line. The new capacity limit is a game changer for enterprises which require a large pool of data. For example, if a 16-bay Thecus N16000PRO is fully loaded with 5TB disks, it can by itself store up to 80TB of data. Daisy Chaining technology furthermore allows you to connect an additional 4 Thecus D16000s (each with 16 bays) to a master N16000PRO. This results in a total of 400 TB worth of storage capacity.
Early, hands-on access to these high-capacity HDDs was made possible through Thecus's continued, close relationship with Seagate. After many hours of hard work with multiple devices in various environments, Thecus is happy to announce that the Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5" 5TB HDD is confirmed compatible with the entire Thecus NAS line. The new capacity limit is a game changer for enterprises which require a large pool of data. For example, if a 16-bay Thecus N16000PRO is fully loaded with 5TB disks, it can by itself store up to 80TB of data. Daisy Chaining technology furthermore allows you to connect an additional 4 Thecus D16000s (each with 16 bays) to a master N16000PRO. This results in a total of 400 TB worth of storage capacity.
Aim Launches SC808 7.1-channel PCIe Sound Card
Taiwanese PC audio hardware manufacturer Aim launched its flagship consumer sound card, the SC808. This full-height dual-slot (with daughterboard) sound card features PCI-Express x1 bus interface, and offers 7.1-channel analog and digital outputs. At its heart is C-Media's CMI8888, which is a native PCIe HDA controller, giving external DACs the task of handling analog outputs. The primary 2-channel headphones output is driven by a Wolfson WM8741 DAC, which offers a stellar SNR of 128 dBA. Other analog channels (center/sub, rear, sides), are handled by a C-Media CMI9882A CODEC, which offers a reasonable 100 dBA.
At the downstream of the WM8741 is the card's headphones amp circuit, featuring socketed Texas Instruments LM4562 OPAMP chips, metalized polypropylene capacitors, and a swappable pre-amp stage. The main PCB of the card holds a 6.3 mm stereo headphones jack, left and right RCA line-outs, 7.1-channel coaxial, and optical/TOSLINK SPDIF outputs. The other multi-channel analog outs are wired out by a header and ribbon cable to the daughterboard, which holds color-coded 3.5 mm jacks to all the channels. All audio portions of the card feature electrolytic capacitors (except the OPAMP stages, which feature MP caps), only the electrical/VRM portion of the card features conductive polymer (solid-state) capacitors. The card draws power from a 4-pin Molex power connector. On the software side of things, the driver provider is C-Media, with its reference Xear3D control panel. The card supports Windows 8. Slated for an April 24th launch in Japan, it's expected to be priced at 12,000¥ (US $112). Given its hardware, that's a reasonable price.
At the downstream of the WM8741 is the card's headphones amp circuit, featuring socketed Texas Instruments LM4562 OPAMP chips, metalized polypropylene capacitors, and a swappable pre-amp stage. The main PCB of the card holds a 6.3 mm stereo headphones jack, left and right RCA line-outs, 7.1-channel coaxial, and optical/TOSLINK SPDIF outputs. The other multi-channel analog outs are wired out by a header and ribbon cable to the daughterboard, which holds color-coded 3.5 mm jacks to all the channels. All audio portions of the card feature electrolytic capacitors (except the OPAMP stages, which feature MP caps), only the electrical/VRM portion of the card features conductive polymer (solid-state) capacitors. The card draws power from a 4-pin Molex power connector. On the software side of things, the driver provider is C-Media, with its reference Xear3D control panel. The card supports Windows 8. Slated for an April 24th launch in Japan, it's expected to be priced at 12,000¥ (US $112). Given its hardware, that's a reasonable price.
Tuesday, April 15th 2014
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Cases
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Monitors
Motherboards
Networking
SSD
Asustor AS-204TE Review
Asustor is hard at work to establish itself as a good name on the NAS scene, and they are on the right track. Today, we will take a look at the AS-204TE, which Asustor says to be the best multimedia and storage-center solution for your home because it comes equipped with all typical NAS functions, an HDMI port, and XBMC support.
OCZ Storage Solutions' PCIe-Based Z-Drive SSD Series Certified As DataCore Ready
OCZ Storage Solutions - a Toshiba Group Company and leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced that its entire PCIe-based enterprise-class Z-Drive SSD Series are now certified as DataCore Ready. Through this certification program, OCZ's Z-Drive SSD Series has demonstrated product compatibility with DataCore's SANsymphony-V software platform by meeting the verification criteria set by DataCore through the successful execution of planned functional tests.
SANsymphony-V is DataCore's ninth-generation storage virtualization solution and is currently being used in more than 10,000 customer sites worldwide. The software is designed to maximize IT infrastructure performance, availability and utilization by virtualizing storage assets. Once deployed, it seamlessly manages and scales data storage architectures, combines all available storage into a single storage pool and virtualizes it delivering large performance gains through a hardware-agnostic model.
"We are pleased that OCZ's Z-Drive SSD Series is now DataCore Ready certified as this enables our joint customers to confidently utilize one of the fastest PCIe-based SSD products to further optimize application performance on software-defined architectures," said Carlos M. Carreras, Vice President of Alliances and Business Development at DataCore. "In the software-defined data center, virtualization, automation and system efficiencies must be driven through software, requiring a cost-effective approach to managing storage growth while getting the most out of hardware investments."
SANsymphony-V is DataCore's ninth-generation storage virtualization solution and is currently being used in more than 10,000 customer sites worldwide. The software is designed to maximize IT infrastructure performance, availability and utilization by virtualizing storage assets. Once deployed, it seamlessly manages and scales data storage architectures, combines all available storage into a single storage pool and virtualizes it delivering large performance gains through a hardware-agnostic model.
"We are pleased that OCZ's Z-Drive SSD Series is now DataCore Ready certified as this enables our joint customers to confidently utilize one of the fastest PCIe-based SSD products to further optimize application performance on software-defined architectures," said Carlos M. Carreras, Vice President of Alliances and Business Development at DataCore. "In the software-defined data center, virtualization, automation and system efficiencies must be driven through software, requiring a cost-effective approach to managing storage growth while getting the most out of hardware investments."
Intel Reports First-Quarter Revenue of $12.8 Billion
Intel Corporation today reported first-quarter revenue of $12.8 billion, operating income of $2.5 billion, net income of $1.9 billion and EPS of 38 cents. The company generated approximately $3.5 billion in cash from operations, paid dividends of $1.1 billion, and used $545 million to repurchase 22 million shares of stock.
"In the first quarter we saw solid growth in the data center, signs of improvement in the PC business, and we shipped 5 million tablet processors, making strong progress on our goal of 40 million tablets for 2014," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. "Additionally, we demonstrated our further commitment to grow in the enterprise with a strategic technology and business collaboration with Cloudera, we introduced our second-generation LTE platform with CAT6 and other advanced features, and we shipped our first Quark products for the Internet of Things."
"In the first quarter we saw solid growth in the data center, signs of improvement in the PC business, and we shipped 5 million tablet processors, making strong progress on our goal of 40 million tablets for 2014," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. "Additionally, we demonstrated our further commitment to grow in the enterprise with a strategic technology and business collaboration with Cloudera, we introduced our second-generation LTE platform with CAT6 and other advanced features, and we shipped our first Quark products for the Internet of Things."
Toshiba Also Unveils New Satellite C and L Series Laptops
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced that it is refreshing its popular Satellite C and L Series laptops, right in time for the 2014 Back-to-School season. Offering a number of new features and enhancements, these laptops are ideal for consumers looking for everyday productivity and entertainment without breaking the bank. The new laptops also mark the start of Toshiba's strategic relationship with audio expert Skullcandy, adding more robust sound capabilities for greater overall value.
"Our 2014 Satellite C and L Series laptops deliver stronger price-to-performance in the entry-level and mainstream categories, especially as the market moves toward more aggressive pricing," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "We focused on reinvigorating these product lines by infusing more value than one would typically expect at these prices with slimmer, more modern designs, branded audio, quality keyboards and touchscreen options."
"Our 2014 Satellite C and L Series laptops deliver stronger price-to-performance in the entry-level and mainstream categories, especially as the market moves toward more aggressive pricing," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "We focused on reinvigorating these product lines by infusing more value than one would typically expect at these prices with slimmer, more modern designs, branded audio, quality keyboards and touchscreen options."
LG Starts Shipping the TONE PRO Mobile Headset
Bringing more choice to smartphone owners considering premium, mobile stereo headsets, LG Electronics - the makers of the acclaimed LG G2 smartphone, LG G Pad 8.3 LTE tablet and innovative curved LG G Flex - is shipping LG TONE PRO to retailers and mobile network providers nationwide.
"The premium headset market is defined by fashion as much as it is by sound quality," said Bruce Tripido, director of accessories, LG MobileComm USA. "That is exactly what consumers find in the LG TONE PRO, a well-designed headset that threads together style, comfort and quality."
"The premium headset market is defined by fashion as much as it is by sound quality," said Bruce Tripido, director of accessories, LG MobileComm USA. "That is exactly what consumers find in the LG TONE PRO, a well-designed headset that threads together style, comfort and quality."
JBL Portable Audio Products Debut in Verizon Wireless Stores Nationwide
ARMAN International Industries, Incorporated, the award-winning maker of outstanding audio and entertainment solutions, announced today that products from its award-winning JBL portable audio product lineup will now be available for sale through all Verizon Wireless stores nationwide.
With long-lasting battery life, JBL portable wireless speakers are the best way to enjoy your music away from home. And since each JBL portable wireless speaker features Bluetooth connectivity, they make the perfect audio companion to a variety of Verizon's selection of wireless devices. As an increasing number of people using their mobile phones to listen to streaming music services through their device, portable speakers from JBL make it easier than ever to share your music wherever you go.
With long-lasting battery life, JBL portable wireless speakers are the best way to enjoy your music away from home. And since each JBL portable wireless speaker features Bluetooth connectivity, they make the perfect audio companion to a variety of Verizon's selection of wireless devices. As an increasing number of people using their mobile phones to listen to streaming music services through their device, portable speakers from JBL make it easier than ever to share your music wherever you go.
ViewSonic Smart Display Virtualization Products First to Earn Citrix Ready–HDX
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, announces that its SD-A225 and SD-A245 Virtualization Smart Displays are the first Android-based displays to earn Citrix Ready-HDX Verified status from Citrix Systems, Inc. These award-winning, next-generation ViewSonic multi-touch smart displays come with the Citrix XenMobile enterprise mobility management solution pre-installed, to allow administrators to remotely configure and manage the Smart Displays.
ViewSonic has one of the most diverse lines of VDI products, and is a pioneer of VDI-enabled smart displays. With Citrix bestowing its Citrix Ready-HDX Verified status to the ViewSonic SD-A225 and SD-A245 Smart Display Clients, it indicates that these products have set the bar for multimedia capabilities from Android-based devices in a VDI environment. The Citrix Ready program makes it easy for customers to identify complementary products and solutions that can enhance Citrix environments.
ViewSonic has one of the most diverse lines of VDI products, and is a pioneer of VDI-enabled smart displays. With Citrix bestowing its Citrix Ready-HDX Verified status to the ViewSonic SD-A225 and SD-A245 Smart Display Clients, it indicates that these products have set the bar for multimedia capabilities from Android-based devices in a VDI environment. The Citrix Ready program makes it easy for customers to identify complementary products and solutions that can enhance Citrix environments.
Broadcom Doubles Wi-Fi Speeds with First Six Stream 802.11ac MIMO Platform
Broadcom Corporation, a global innovation leader in semiconductor solutions for wired and wireless communications, today introduced the industry's first six stream 802.11ac MIMO platform for home networks. Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream is up to 50 percent faster than MU-MIMO routers and gateways. The new platform has twice the bandwidth of existing 802.11ac routers and gateways, and provides advanced software to double performance of today's best-selling Wi-Fi devices for high-definition (HD) streaming and data consumption. By offering Wi-Fi data rates up to 3.2 Gbps, Broadcom's 5G WiFi XStream delivers an ideal experience for users who are simultaneously consuming more data, connecting Internet of Things devices and streaming HD content to multiple screens.
Broadcom's Intelligent Quality of Service (iQoS) advanced software identifies incoming traffic and allocates bandwidth so that applications like Netflix or YouTube get the highest priority while other applications, like file downloads, run at a lower priority. Broadcom's SmartConnect software automatically ensures that 802.11ac devices in the home are not sharing airtime with slower Wi-Fi devices. This process doubles the performance of all devices in the network.
Broadcom's Intelligent Quality of Service (iQoS) advanced software identifies incoming traffic and allocates bandwidth so that applications like Netflix or YouTube get the highest priority while other applications, like file downloads, run at a lower priority. Broadcom's SmartConnect software automatically ensures that 802.11ac devices in the home are not sharing airtime with slower Wi-Fi devices. This process doubles the performance of all devices in the network.
Toshiba Announces Completely Redesigned Performance Laptops
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today announced its completely redesigned line of its all-purpose performance laptops - the ultra-slim 15.6-inch Satellite S55, desktop replacement 17.3-inch Satellite S75 and highly mobile 14-inch Satellite E45. The laptops deliver powerful capabilities in a premium design built to increase productivity and provide an excellent entertainment experience.
"These new laptops are designed to give power users and entertainment enthusiasts the power and versatility to do more with their laptop," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Full-featured, completely customizable with an all-new stunning design, these laptops provide the ultimate audio and visual experience for movies, games and more."
"These new laptops are designed to give power users and entertainment enthusiasts the power and versatility to do more with their laptop," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Full-featured, completely customizable with an all-new stunning design, these laptops provide the ultimate audio and visual experience for movies, games and more."
Toshiba Unveils New 4K Ultra HD Laptop
Toshiba's Digital Products Division (DPD), a division of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., today unveiled its new Satellite P55t, featuring one of the world's first 4K Ultra HD display in a laptop and the world's first to earn Technicolor Color Certification. Ideal for visual creative professionals and multimedia enthusiasts, the Satellite P55t is designed to take on the most intensive computing demands and display unprecedented imagery.
"Creative professionals are embracing 4K Ultra HD as it enables a whole new level of media creation that draws viewers in with amazing detail and clarity," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Until now, media creators have been unable to have this combination of performance and display capabilities in a mobile solution and we applied years of experience and engineering resources to make it a reality."
"Creative professionals are embracing 4K Ultra HD as it enables a whole new level of media creation that draws viewers in with amazing detail and clarity," said Carl Pinto, vice president of marketing, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Digital Products Division. "Until now, media creators have been unable to have this combination of performance and display capabilities in a mobile solution and we applied years of experience and engineering resources to make it a reality."
ASUStor Announces Compatibility for ASUS Xonar Series USB DAC Devices
ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, announced today that it has added support for USB digital-to-analog audio converters (DAC) giving ASUSTOR users the ability to use a USB DAC to increase the quality of audio output from their NAS devices. A USB DAC can be conveniently used in concert with ASUSTOR's SoundsGood music player App to provide users with a heightened listening experience featuring fuller and deeper sound. Featured in this integration of USB DAC devices are four models from ASUS. These models include the Xonar Essence III, Xonar Essence One, Xonar Essence STU and Xonar U3.
"Today's NAS applications have evolved from the traditional storage and backup functions as demand for multimedia functionality has taken off," said Steve Huang, Product Manager at ASUSTOR. "ASUSTOR has made great efforts to support the increasing multimedia demands of NAS users by providing compatibility for a wide range of peripherals. With this integration of USB DAC devices, ASUSTOR users will be able to savor a fully enhanced hi-fi listening experience when playing music from their NAS."
"Today's NAS applications have evolved from the traditional storage and backup functions as demand for multimedia functionality has taken off," said Steve Huang, Product Manager at ASUSTOR. "ASUSTOR has made great efforts to support the increasing multimedia demands of NAS users by providing compatibility for a wide range of peripherals. With this integration of USB DAC devices, ASUSTOR users will be able to savor a fully enhanced hi-fi listening experience when playing music from their NAS."
Quantenna Developing World's First 10G Wi-Fi Chip
Quantenna Communications, Inc., the leader in ultra-high-performance Wi-Fi, today announced that it is developing the world's first 10G Wi-Fi chipset for a new generation of access points in the home, the enterprise and public spaces. With a novel architecture enabling MIMO configurations up to an unprecedented 8x8, speeds up to 10Gbps and universal support for MU-MIMO clients, Quantenna's 10G Wi-Fi will deliver unparalleled performance, range and stability.
10G Wi-Fi is the latest in a string of breakthroughs for the Silicon Valley Wi-Fi specialist. Quantenna was the first to deliver 4x4 chipsets for the 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards, and the first to support MU-MIMO, an ingenious technology for transmitting data to multiple devices at once. With those innovations and others such as adaptive beamforming and channel monitoring and optimization, Quantenna's Wi-Fi reaches farther and transmits faster and more reliably than any other.
10G Wi-Fi is the latest in a string of breakthroughs for the Silicon Valley Wi-Fi specialist. Quantenna was the first to deliver 4x4 chipsets for the 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi standards, and the first to support MU-MIMO, an ingenious technology for transmitting data to multiple devices at once. With those innovations and others such as adaptive beamforming and channel monitoring and optimization, Quantenna's Wi-Fi reaches farther and transmits faster and more reliably than any other.
IBM Creates Big Data & Business Analytics Center of Competence in Greece
IBM has announced that it will establish a new Big Data and Business Analytics Center of Competence in Athens, Greece advancing its ability to deliver Big Data and Business Analytics technical and consulting capabilities in the region, drawing on an emerging generation of highly skilled local expertise.
The new center will help companies to better leverage analytics and cognitive computing capabilities, improving business operations and enhancing their competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The new Center will lead Big Data and Business Analytics client engagements in the region, working closely with IBM's global network of Business Analytics Centers in Berlin, Beijing, Dallas, London, New York, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich.
The new center will help companies to better leverage analytics and cognitive computing capabilities, improving business operations and enhancing their competitiveness in the global marketplace.
The new Center will lead Big Data and Business Analytics client engagements in the region, working closely with IBM's global network of Business Analytics Centers in Berlin, Beijing, Dallas, London, New York, Tokyo, Washington and Zurich.
Micron Technology and Wave Systems Collaborate to Secure Connected Devices
Micron Technology, Inc., a global leader in advanced semiconductor systems, and Wave Systems Corp., a leading provider of endpoint security, today announced they are expanding their relationship to develop solutions designed to strengthen user protection against current and emerging threats to compute and embedded platforms.
Given the pervasive connectivity associated with cloud computing and data/asset management models, it is becoming even more critical to architect comprehensive security solutions that leverage close integration of software and hardware components. This collaboration is focused on the detection and remediation of advanced persistent threats (APTs), the most advanced forms of malware capable of infecting a wide array of IP-connected devices.
Given the pervasive connectivity associated with cloud computing and data/asset management models, it is becoming even more critical to architect comprehensive security solutions that leverage close integration of software and hardware components. This collaboration is focused on the detection and remediation of advanced persistent threats (APTs), the most advanced forms of malware capable of infecting a wide array of IP-connected devices.
Genius Announces Ergo 8800 Ergonomic Mouse
Genius is pleased to launch the Ergo 8800, an ergonomic wireless mouse that allows users to fully utilize Windows 8 and 8.1 with the ability to easily switch between Windows 8 and traditional mousing modes.
Seamlessly activate Windows 8 mode by simply holding down the right, left and scroll buttons simultaneously. Once activated, Windows 8 and 8.1 users can easily switch between active apps and open up the Charms bar with a single click. Additionally, users can toggle between Windows' Modern UI and last app used. The Ergo 8800 also has four hot keys to access Previous Page, Next Page, Flying Scroll and dpi adjustment (800, 1200 and 1600 dpi).
Seamlessly activate Windows 8 mode by simply holding down the right, left and scroll buttons simultaneously. Once activated, Windows 8 and 8.1 users can easily switch between active apps and open up the Charms bar with a single click. Additionally, users can toggle between Windows' Modern UI and last app used. The Ergo 8800 also has four hot keys to access Previous Page, Next Page, Flying Scroll and dpi adjustment (800, 1200 and 1600 dpi).
ACME Portable Announces First Ever Portable Workstation with 4K Resolution
ACME Portable, the manufacturer of high-performance portable computers, is showcasing at NAB Show 2014, Booth# SL8827 the first ever portable workstation with Ultra HD 4K display. This portable workstation, called the MegaPAC L2, is ideal for many professional works that involve 4K display, including but not limited to 3D rendering, post-production processes, and professional photography.
A powerful portable workstation for the most visually intensive tasks, the MegaPAC L2 features two 24" vertical monitors with one display at Full HD 1080p and the other at ULTRA HD 4K resolution. James Cheng, ACME Portable's CEO, has stated: "With our significant investment in research, development and innovation, ACME Portable is able to offer solutions that empower its customers to produce professional and demanding content at 4K resolution anywhere in the world!"
A powerful portable workstation for the most visually intensive tasks, the MegaPAC L2 features two 24" vertical monitors with one display at Full HD 1080p and the other at ULTRA HD 4K resolution. James Cheng, ACME Portable's CEO, has stated: "With our significant investment in research, development and innovation, ACME Portable is able to offer solutions that empower its customers to produce professional and demanding content at 4K resolution anywhere in the world!"
Lian Li Previews the PC-V2130 Full-Tower Chassis
Lian Li previewed its next flagship ATX full-tower chassis, the PC-V2130. The latest aluminium monstrosity from Lian Li features a ridged and brushed aluminium front door, and anti-acoustic padded panels all around. It's wheeled at the base. Measuring 237 mm x 640 mm x 625 mm (WxHxD), and weighing in at 9.8 kg, the case comes in three trims - all silvery aluminium, black aluminium exteriors with silvery aluminium interiors; and black aluminium exteriors with black aluminium interiors. The motherboard tray can seat XL-ATX, apart from standard ATX form-factors. It offers 10 expansion slot bays.
Storage areas of the PC-V2130 includes five 5.25-inch drive bays, eight 3.5-inch bays spread across individual trays;four 2.5-inch bays along the back side of the cage, and three 3.5-inch bays behind the motherboard tray. Ventilation includes two 140 mm front intakes, two 140 mm top exhausts, a 140 mm bottom intake, and a 120 mm rear exhaust. Front panel connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports (standard headers), an eSATA port, and HD audio jacks. The case offers room for graphics cards as long as 36 cm (up to 48 cm if you pull out the drive trays), PSUs as long as 20 cm, and CPU coolers as tall as 18 cm. Lian Li didn't reveal pricing or availability details.
Storage areas of the PC-V2130 includes five 5.25-inch drive bays, eight 3.5-inch bays spread across individual trays;four 2.5-inch bays along the back side of the cage, and three 3.5-inch bays behind the motherboard tray. Ventilation includes two 140 mm front intakes, two 140 mm top exhausts, a 140 mm bottom intake, and a 120 mm rear exhaust. Front panel connectivity includes four USB 3.0 ports (standard headers), an eSATA port, and HD audio jacks. The case offers room for graphics cards as long as 36 cm (up to 48 cm if you pull out the drive trays), PSUs as long as 20 cm, and CPU coolers as tall as 18 cm. Lian Li didn't reveal pricing or availability details.
Eurocom Equips M4 with Core i7-4940MX, GeForce GTX 880M, 3200x1800 Display
Eurocom has benchmarked the M4, the world's most powerful 13.3" QHD+ notebook. It is equipped with a breathtaking 3200x1800 QHD+ display, an Intel Core i7 Extreme Processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics. Eurocom has benchmarked and stress tested the M4 to exemplify the performance that is squeezed into its ultra portable chassis. The 5,760,000 pixels of the 13.3" 3200x1800 QHD+ display are powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics with 2GB DDR5 VRAM, 640 CUDA Cores, with a GPU core able to run at up to 1029MHz +boost.
Powered by a full line of 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processors utilizing the Intel HM87 Express Chipset including the Intel Core i7-4940MX Processor Extreme with 4 cores and 8 threads running at 3.1 GHz (up to 4 GHz max turbo frequency) with 8 MB L3 cache. The integrated Trusted Platform Module 1.2 from Infineon Technologies ensures that digital certificates, passwords and keys are made more secure from software attacks and physical theft. TPM provides the ability for a computing system to run applications more secure and allows secured remote access to perform electronic transactions and communication more safely. The increased security, brought on by the TPM 1.2 can save organizations in IT management costs.
Powered by a full line of 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processors utilizing the Intel HM87 Express Chipset including the Intel Core i7-4940MX Processor Extreme with 4 cores and 8 threads running at 3.1 GHz (up to 4 GHz max turbo frequency) with 8 MB L3 cache. The integrated Trusted Platform Module 1.2 from Infineon Technologies ensures that digital certificates, passwords and keys are made more secure from software attacks and physical theft. TPM provides the ability for a computing system to run applications more secure and allows secured remote access to perform electronic transactions and communication more safely. The increased security, brought on by the TPM 1.2 can save organizations in IT management costs.
Monday, April 14th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Gaming PC
Graphics Cards
Keyboards
Monitors
Motherboards
Networking
Notebooks
Processors
Speakers
SSD
EVGA SuperNOVA G2 750 W Review
EVGA is expanding their high-end SuperNOVA G2 series by releasing two mid-capacity units with 750 W and 850 W maximum output power. Today, we will evaluate the G2-750 with Gold efficiency, a fully modular cabling design, and selectable semi-passive operation, which renders it totally inaudible at lower loads.
Intel Starts Shipping 'Haswell Refresh' Processors
Without any real fanfare Intel has now kicked off sales and shipments of processors part of 'Haswell Refresh' line. An official launch for the updated Haswell offering, complete with motherboards based on the 9 Series LGA1150 chipsets, is reportedly planned for next month but since the CPUs got the go-ahead you can expect them to reach stores shortly.
A total of 44 chips have been introduced by Intel, 27 of which are for desktops while the rest are for mobile devices. There's nothing really new about the CPUs as they are still based on the Haswell architecture (which debuted last year) but they do have slightly higher (100 MHz in most cases) frequencies than the models they aim to replace (speed bump at no added cost).
A total of 44 chips have been introduced by Intel, 27 of which are for desktops while the rest are for mobile devices. There's nothing really new about the CPUs as they are still based on the Haswell architecture (which debuted last year) but they do have slightly higher (100 MHz in most cases) frequencies than the models they aim to replace (speed bump at no added cost).
Panasonic Announces Pricing, Availability Of New 2014 Headphone Models
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company today announced pricing and availability of new 2014 headphone models. The new RP-HC800 Noise Cancelling Headphones, RP-BTD10 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones, RP-HS34 Sport Clip Headphones and the much-anticipated RP-BTGS10 Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones are all available now on www.shop.panasonic.com.
The Panasonic RP-HC800 Noise Cancelling Headphones utilize a high performance Active Noise Cancelling System with improved Feed-back Noise Cancelling Technology for a wide-range noise cancellation effect. Expertly crafted with a sophisticated design that fuses durable plastic with metal finishes, the RP-HC800 Headphones feature a wide padded headband and cushioned ear cups for a comfortable fit even after hours of wear. The detachable cord features a microphone and controller for the iPhone/iPad/iPod so users can quickly switch between music and phone calls with the touch of a button.
The Panasonic RP-HC800 Noise Cancelling Headphones utilize a high performance Active Noise Cancelling System with improved Feed-back Noise Cancelling Technology for a wide-range noise cancellation effect. Expertly crafted with a sophisticated design that fuses durable plastic with metal finishes, the RP-HC800 Headphones feature a wide padded headband and cushioned ear cups for a comfortable fit even after hours of wear. The detachable cord features a microphone and controller for the iPhone/iPad/iPod so users can quickly switch between music and phone calls with the touch of a button.
Kanguru Debuts FlashBlu30 USB 3.0 With Physical Write Protect Switch
The Kanguru FlashBlu series, a popular flash drive line sold by Kanguru with a physical write protect switch, has recently been upgraded with new USB 3.0 technology, putting the "flash" in "flash drive" and making it one of the most cost-effective flash drives on the market. The new Kanguru FlashBlu30 USB 3.0 Flash Drive is first rate when it comes to low cost and convenience. Well-recognized for its durability, physical write protect switch, great price and high storage capacities, the new USB 3.0 interface provides high-speed data transfers.
"People love the physical write protect switch," says Don Brown, President and CEO of Kanguru. "It's a convenient and easy way to protect files from being accidentally overwritten, and now with the USB3.0 FlashBlu30 model, users can transfer their files back and forth faster than ever."
"People love the physical write protect switch," says Don Brown, President and CEO of Kanguru. "It's a convenient and easy way to protect files from being accidentally overwritten, and now with the USB3.0 FlashBlu30 model, users can transfer their files back and forth faster than ever."
AOC Announces i2473Pwm 24-inch Monitor
AOC rolled out the i2473Pwm, a 24-inch monitor with flicker-free LED backlit illumination. Featuring an IPS LCD panel, the display offers full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) native resolution, with 5 ms refresh rate, 250 cd/m² maximum brightness, 1000:1 contrast-ratio with dynamic mega-contrast. The display is framed by an extremely narrow metallic bezel, most of its electronics is located in its base. Connectivity includes MHL (mobile high-definition link), HDMI, and D-Sub (VGA). Other features include 14W stereo speakers, and Eco Mode, which dials down display settings to minimize power draw. Measuring 547.1 x 408.6 x 182.6 mm, it weighs about 4.12 kg. The company didn't reveal pricing.
TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.7.8 Released
TechPowerUp released the latest version of GPU-Z, the popular PC graphics diagnostic and monitoring utility, which gives you up to date information of the GPUs installed in your system, and lets you monitor their clock speeds, temperatures, fan-speeds, voltages, dedicated memory usage, among other things. Version 0.7.8 introduces a few handy user-interface features, beginning with the ability to resize the app's window, when the "Sensors" tab is being viewed. With modern graphics cards giving us dozens of sensors to track, throwing in a scroll-bar is making the tab cluttered, and so we decided to give it resizing. The window returns to the normal size when other tabs, such as the main "Graphics Card" tabs are clicked, and remembers your window size preference when you select the "Sensors" tab again. At this time, this feature is available only on our main (non-skinned) version.
Apart from the resizeable window for "Sensors" tab, GPU-Z 0.7.8 adds tested support for AMD Radeon R9 295X2 "Vesuvius," R9 M275, HD 7500G, and FirePro W9000. It also adds support for NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN-Z, GTX 745, GTX 880M, GTX 870M, GTX 860M, GTX 850M, GTX 775M, and Quadro NVS 510. Release dates have been fixed for GTX 780 Ti, and GTX TITAN Black.
DOWNLOAD: TechPowerUp GPU-Z 0.7.8, GPU-Z 0.7.8 ASUS ROG Themed
The change-log follows.
Apart from the resizeable window for "Sensors" tab, GPU-Z 0.7.8 adds tested support for AMD Radeon R9 295X2 "Vesuvius," R9 M275, HD 7500G, and FirePro W9000. It also adds support for NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN-Z, GTX 745, GTX 880M, GTX 870M, GTX 860M, GTX 850M, GTX 775M, and Quadro NVS 510. Release dates have been fixed for GTX 780 Ti, and GTX TITAN Black.
The change-log follows.
BIOSTAR Released Dual Gigabit LAN Motherboards With The 6+ Experience
BIOSTAR is releasing three boards with dual Gigabit LAN on-board that are going to make networking and gaming even better with the 6+ Experience. To achieve this, the "Hi-Fi B85S2G", "Hi-Fi A88S2G", and "Hi-Fi B85N 3D" have Gigabit LAN connections on the board that allow simultaneous LAN connections.
The primary advantage is the doubling bandwidth which allows the network bandwidth, it also allows for Full-duplex transmission. Two networks can be simultaneously transmitted to upload and download at the same time. In addition, there is zero packet delay with two high-speed gigabit networks, giving super high data transmission efficiency.
The primary advantage is the doubling bandwidth which allows the network bandwidth, it also allows for Full-duplex transmission. Two networks can be simultaneously transmitted to upload and download at the same time. In addition, there is zero packet delay with two high-speed gigabit networks, giving super high data transmission efficiency.
XFX Rolls Out R9 295X2 Core Edition Graphics Card
XFX rolled out its Radeon R9 295X2 Core Edition graphics card. A branding reserved by XFX for "reference design," the R9 295X2 Core Edition is every bit AMD's creation, barring just XFX stickers. It ships in a paperboard box. Codenamed "Vesuvius," the R9 295X2 is a dual-GPU graphics card based on a pair of 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs, with all 2,816 stream processors, 176 TMUs, and 64 ROPs enabled on each chip; and with two 512-bit wide GDDR5 memory interfaces, holding a total of 8 GB of memory. XFX is expected to sell this card at AMD's MSRP of US $1,499.
Sunday, April 13th 2014
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth Supports AMD Mantle
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth, a turn-based strategy game based in the interstellar age, in which you travel to and colonize habitable planets by realpolitik, was announced last weekend, with support for AMD's Mantle API, besides DirectX 11. Mantle should make the game increasingly playable on AMD "Kaveri" APUs with eye-candy cranked up, and at reasonable mainstream resolutions such as 1080p. Mantle reduces the CPU's role in graphics processing, and should benefit APUs. Developer Firaxis announced the game for three PC platforms, Windows, OS X, and Linux (over Steam). Don't add it to your summer bucket-list just yet. It's slated for this fall.
A trailer video follows.
Micron Technology Licenses Avago Technologies' 30G SerDes for Hybrid Memory Cube
Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of analog interface components for wireless, wireline, and industrial applications, today announced that Micron Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MU) has licensed Avago's 28nm Low Power 30Gbps Serializer/Deserializer (SerDes) IP for use in Micron's next generation Hybrid Memory Cube (HMC) devices.
"Avago is an established leader in the development and delivery of high-speed SerDes cores with an offering that is very well suited for integration into our HMC product line," said Tom Eby, vice president of Micron's Compute and Networking Business Unit. "Based on its advanced performance and low power, we are confident that our customers will benefit from the presence of the Avago SerDes on both sides of the memory channel."
"Avago is an established leader in the development and delivery of high-speed SerDes cores with an offering that is very well suited for integration into our HMC product line," said Tom Eby, vice president of Micron's Compute and Networking Business Unit. "Based on its advanced performance and low power, we are confident that our customers will benefit from the presence of the Avago SerDes on both sides of the memory channel."
Friday, April 11th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Keyboards
Monitors
Processors
PSUs
SSD
Creative Sound BlasterAxx 200 Axx Review
Creative's new SoundBlasterAxx series is rapidly expanding. Today, we take a look at the 200 Axx which packs a lot of unique features and great sound quality to boot. Priced at $149, it should be very competitive.
LEPA Introduces the LEPAD S17 Notebook Cooler
The new LEPAD S17 notebook cooler accomplishes two tasks at once: Its 14 cm fan supports the cooling system of overloaded and overheated mobile computers, and the two integrated speakers improve the sound output quality. For best possible air circulation and an effective elimination of hot spots, LEPA applies a wide steel mesh surface. The cooling performance can be adjusted according to the particular system requirements thanks to a seamless fan speed control. It ranges from 800 to 1,300 RPM.
Notebook sound systems will not always fulfill the expectations of audiophiles. The speakers distort the sound and the volume is too low. With two full-surround satellite speakers and an integrated amplifier, the LEPAD S17 provides a well-balanced, clear and strong audio output.
Notebook sound systems will not always fulfill the expectations of audiophiles. The speakers distort the sound and the volume is too low. With two full-surround satellite speakers and an integrated amplifier, the LEPAD S17 provides a well-balanced, clear and strong audio output.
Gigabyte Bundling GeForce GTX Titan Black with WindForce Cooler
Just like it did with the first Titan, Gigabyte Technology has decided on pairing up NVIDIA's GeForce GTX Titan Black with its own WindForce 3X 600W cooling system. There is a catch to this solution though as buyers will need to replace the stock cooler of the GTX Titan Black with Gigabyte's three-fan solution.
The Titan card available in this bundle has its 6 GB of GDDR5 memory at the standard frequency (7,000 MHz) but the GPU has higher than stock clocks - the base clock is 1006 MHz (up from 889 MHz) while the boost clock is 1111 MHz (980 MHz stock). The rest of the specs are as expected - 2880 CUDA Cores, a 384-bit memory interface, 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
The Titan card available in this bundle has its 6 GB of GDDR5 memory at the standard frequency (7,000 MHz) but the GPU has higher than stock clocks - the base clock is 1006 MHz (up from 889 MHz) while the boost clock is 1111 MHz (980 MHz stock). The rest of the specs are as expected - 2880 CUDA Cores, a 384-bit memory interface, 6-pin and 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs.
Spire Releases the Archer II Ergonomic Mouse
Did you know that one in six workers are suffering from some form of RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, mostly related to intensive use of a traditional computer mouse? As part of our new ergonomic computing product line, Spire is rolling out products which will make your long hours of computing more comfortable and better for your well being.
The Archer II is shaped in a way that the position of your arm, elbow and wrist are slightly turned and under less stress then with traditional mice on the market. The Archer II supports your hand and allows for your hand palm to rest on the mouse. Finger button placement and location are designed to the fullest care for detail and prevent your fingers from hovering over the buttons like on a traditional mouse. The latter is one of the biggest pain triggers when using a traditional mouse.
The Archer II is shaped in a way that the position of your arm, elbow and wrist are slightly turned and under less stress then with traditional mice on the market. The Archer II supports your hand and allows for your hand palm to rest on the mouse. Finger button placement and location are designed to the fullest care for detail and prevent your fingers from hovering over the buttons like on a traditional mouse. The latter is one of the biggest pain triggers when using a traditional mouse.
Palit Launches GeForce GTX 780 JetStream 6GB OC Graphics Card
Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading graphics card manufacturer, brings another glory JetStream series on GeForce GTX 780 lineup, the 6GB OC version of Palit GeForce GTX780 JetStream. It can tweak the GTX780 performance and gives you truly game-changing performance that will transform the way you experience all your favorite titles-now and future at the ultra high-resolution setting.
GeForce GTX 780 features a massively powerful NVIDIA Kepler-based GPU with 2304 cores-50% more than its predecessor. Plus, Palit design the 6GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory on GeForce GTX780 to offer rich realistic and explosive gaming performance under maximum Ultra HD 4K resolution setting. This Paliit GTX780 JetStream 6GB is the best choice for gamers who want to experience ultimate 3D gaming by NV 3D Vision Surround technology. Also equipped with the innovationary JetStream thermal solution and the optimized hardware components to ensure the best performance for all exciting hardcore gamers. With NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 and PhysX technology, giving you the performance capabilities you need to game at extreme settings.
GeForce GTX 780 features a massively powerful NVIDIA Kepler-based GPU with 2304 cores-50% more than its predecessor. Plus, Palit design the 6GB of high-speed GDDR5 memory on GeForce GTX780 to offer rich realistic and explosive gaming performance under maximum Ultra HD 4K resolution setting. This Paliit GTX780 JetStream 6GB is the best choice for gamers who want to experience ultimate 3D gaming by NV 3D Vision Surround technology. Also equipped with the innovationary JetStream thermal solution and the optimized hardware components to ensure the best performance for all exciting hardcore gamers. With NVIDIA GPU Boost 2.0 and PhysX technology, giving you the performance capabilities you need to game at extreme settings.
MSI ProBox23 Thin Mini-ITX Barebone Now Shipping
MSI announces the launch of the MSI ProBox23, the first model in its new generation of commercial oriented barebone PCs. These series use the latest Intel H81 chipset, and support the 4th Generation Intel Core processors with high performance and integrated GPU providing powerful graphics processing.
Furthermore, the MSI ProBox23 is equipped with a thin mini-itx motherboard and energy efficient CPU cooler. With a length and width of only 20cm and a height of just 5cm, this barebone PC is one of the smallest in its kind. Moreover, the MSI ProBox23 can easily be mounted behind a monitor, making it the best space-saving solution for commercial and entertainment applications. The MSI ProBox23 will be available worldwide per beginning of April 2014.
Furthermore, the MSI ProBox23 is equipped with a thin mini-itx motherboard and energy efficient CPU cooler. With a length and width of only 20cm and a height of just 5cm, this barebone PC is one of the smallest in its kind. Moreover, the MSI ProBox23 can easily be mounted behind a monitor, making it the best space-saving solution for commercial and entertainment applications. The MSI ProBox23 will be available worldwide per beginning of April 2014.
Thursday, April 10th 2014
Today's Reviews
CPU Coolers
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Input Devices
Mouse
NAS
Sound Cards
Cooler Master HAF Stacker Review
Cooler Master is joining the fray of extra large cases, but is making things modular in the process. With that in mind, the HAF Stacker was born. Will it show others how it is done, although late to the game? We take the HAF Stacker and shuffle its parts around a few times to see what it has to offer over offerings by other brands.
OCZ Storage Solutions Announces Beta Program for Next ZD-XL SQL Release
OCZ Storage Solutions - a Toshiba Group Company and leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced that it has initiated a beta test program for the next release of ZD-XL SQL Accelerator and invites enterprise SSD customers and SQL Server database administrators (DBAs) to participate. DBAs looking to accelerate SQL Server workloads via SSD flash or flash caching, and have production SQL Server data to run on the new ZD-XL SQL Accelerator platform are especially sought for this beta testing program. Those interested in becoming a ZD-XL SQL Accelerator 1.5 beta tester are invited to complete the online application form here.
The next generation ZD-XL continues to provide optimized and efficient flash acceleration for SQL Server environments through its tight integration of innovative hardware and software elements. It supports SQL Server 2008 R2 and 2012 versions, as well as the new 2014 version released April 1st by Microsoft that builds on the key features delivered in previous SQL Server versions, improving storage performance, availability and manageability. ZD-XL 1.5 enables DBAs to unleash the full power of SQL Server 2014 features, such as flash Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) support, that enables database pages to be accessed faster by loading them directly from flash.
The next generation ZD-XL continues to provide optimized and efficient flash acceleration for SQL Server environments through its tight integration of innovative hardware and software elements. It supports SQL Server 2008 R2 and 2012 versions, as well as the new 2014 version released April 1st by Microsoft that builds on the key features delivered in previous SQL Server versions, improving storage performance, availability and manageability. ZD-XL 1.5 enables DBAs to unleash the full power of SQL Server 2014 features, such as flash Buffer Pool Extension (BPE) support, that enables database pages to be accessed faster by loading them directly from flash.
Microlab Announces FC60BT Wireless Speaker System
Microlab, a leading audio manufacturer of portable and Hi-Fi speaker systems for the digital home and office and a CES 2012 Innovations Award Winner, announced today the FC60BT HD audio wireless Bluetooth/NFC 2.1 Subwoofer Speaker System, featuring Microlab's patented HC2D Technology, a powerful subwoofer, and 2 advanced stereo satellite SQ speakers without enclosures for crystal clear sound without harmonic distortions or vibrations that often happen when speakers are enclosed.
The perfect Father's Day gift for the ultimate fully immersive "man cave" audio listening experience, the FC60BT brings audio perfection to dad with Microlab's innovative patented HC2D (High Clarity Close Distance) technology that provides an impeccable 105 Watt crystal clear output, with EQ parameter for automatically balanced sound, a 360 degree remote control that works from any angle in the room, modern white acrylic styling, and quick and easy set-up.
The perfect Father's Day gift for the ultimate fully immersive "man cave" audio listening experience, the FC60BT brings audio perfection to dad with Microlab's innovative patented HC2D (High Clarity Close Distance) technology that provides an impeccable 105 Watt crystal clear output, with EQ parameter for automatically balanced sound, a 360 degree remote control that works from any angle in the room, modern white acrylic styling, and quick and easy set-up.
Linksys Starts Shipping the WRT1900AC Router
Linksys today announced that it has started shipping the new WRT1900AC, which will be available for sale at Best Buy stores throughout the US or at the Linksys.com store. The new WRT features four external antennas for optimal wireless coverage throughout the home and has been certified for the new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The new wireless standard delivers best-in-class performance and includes intelligent technologies such as beamforming to further improve the wireless signal range. The design of the new Linksys WRT1900AC Dual Band Wi-Fi Router is inspired by the iconic WRT54G that was introduced 11 years ago. The new WRT has been equipped with powerful hardware such as a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 128 MB flash memory, eSATA and USB ports. The new WRT ships with Linksys Smart Wi-Fi setup and management tools, and Linksys has also been collaborating with OpenWrt to make sure that an open source alternative is available in the coming weeks.
"The WRT is a cornerstone in the history of Wi-Fi and synonymous for many people with going wireless at home since it was their first wireless router. Since the introduction of the original WRT, we have sold more than 50 million units worldwide and are still selling it very successfully even with wireless technology advancing rapidly," said Mike Chen, vice president product management for Linksys. "The WRT has a cult status for many because of the open source aspect that made it so immensely popular. We are honored to have collaborated with OpenWRT to ensure the open source readiness of the product and building a WRT-worthy successor with cutting-edge hardware and iconic design."
"The WRT is a cornerstone in the history of Wi-Fi and synonymous for many people with going wireless at home since it was their first wireless router. Since the introduction of the original WRT, we have sold more than 50 million units worldwide and are still selling it very successfully even with wireless technology advancing rapidly," said Mike Chen, vice president product management for Linksys. "The WRT has a cult status for many because of the open source aspect that made it so immensely popular. We are honored to have collaborated with OpenWRT to ensure the open source readiness of the product and building a WRT-worthy successor with cutting-edge hardware and iconic design."
MSI Gaming-branded SteelSeries Siberia V2 Headset Sells Separately
Possibly the most highly co-branded gaming peripheral on the planet, SteelSeries Siberia V2 headset is now donning a new look - MSI Gaming. Decked in black and red, the headset features red "MSI Gaming" branding on its headband, a red "dragon" peeping through the black mesh of its cans, and a full MSI Gaming logo inside them. If you've not had enough "MSI Gaming" with your motherboard, graphics card, keyboard, notebooks, RAM, or even full-blown gaming desktops already, then you can add this headset to your bucket list. Pricing details are not at hand.
Intel Core "Haswell" Refresh CPUs Launch Date Revealed
It looks like Intel will launch its Core "Haswell" Refresh line of processors sooner than Computex 2014. According to sources in the IT retail, Intel could launch these new chips, led by the Core i7-4790K, on May 10th in most markets. An armada of new socket LGA1150 motherboards, based on Intel's Z97 Express chipset should launch around those dates, probably in the week leading up to the 10th. Intel Core "Haswell" Refresh processors offer marginally better performance over current Core "Haswell" chips, at existing price points (i.e., they will displace existing chips from their current price-points); while the 9-series chipset offers features such as M.2 SSD support, making you ready for a tidal wave of 1000 MB/s SSDs that will launch around Computex.
Image Source: Hermitage Akihabara
Virtium Announces DDR4 VLP RDIMM Products
Virtium, a leading provider of embedded SSD and industrial memory modules, today announced its embedded infrastructure market support for DDR4, and the company's initial DDR4 RDIMM products. As one of the first to offer DDR4 memory modules, Virtium's embedded industrial OEM customers are able to have early test and development access to the lower power, high bandwidth and density benefits of this latest DRAM technology. Delivering significant power savings of up to 40% and up to twice the bandwidth over DDR3, the new DDR4 modules from Virtium are excellent solutions for server blades, networking and telecom applications.
Virtium is a proven innovator of VLP (Very Low Profile - 0.72-inch or 0.738-inch) and ULP (Ultra Low Profile - 0.70-inch) memory modules for space-constrained applications. Continuing Virtium's exclusive support for the embedded infrastructure market, these first DDR4 modules are offered in the lower profile ULP RDIMM height in capacities ranging from 4 to 16 gigabytes (GB). The new DDR4 modules feature low 1.2 V configurations with data transfer speeds of 1866 MT/s.
Virtium is a proven innovator of VLP (Very Low Profile - 0.72-inch or 0.738-inch) and ULP (Ultra Low Profile - 0.70-inch) memory modules for space-constrained applications. Continuing Virtium's exclusive support for the embedded infrastructure market, these first DDR4 modules are offered in the lower profile ULP RDIMM height in capacities ranging from 4 to 16 gigabytes (GB). The new DDR4 modules feature low 1.2 V configurations with data transfer speeds of 1866 MT/s.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880 Detailed
NVIDIA's next-generation GeForce GTX 880 graphics card is shaping up to be a true successor to the GTX 680. According to a Tyden.cz report, GTX 880 will be based on NVIDIA's GM204 silicon, which ranks within its product stack in the same way GK104 does to the GeForce "Kepler" family. It won't be the biggest chip based on the "Maxwell" architecture, but will have what it takes to outperform even the GK110, again, in the same way GK104 outperforms GF110. The DirectX 12-ready chip will feature an SMM (streaming multiprocessor Maxwell) SIMD design that's identical to that of the GeForce GTX 750 Ti, only there are more SMMs, spread across multiple graphics processing clusters (GPCs), probably cushioned by a large slab of cache.
This is what the GTX 880 is shaping up to be.
Wednesday, April 9th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
- MSI R9 290 Gaming OC Tweak.dk (dk)
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB ComputerBase (de)
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Guru3D
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB HardOCP
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Hardware.info
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB HardwareCanucks
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Hexus.net
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB HotHardware
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Legit Reviews
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Tech Report
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB TechSpot
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Tom's Hardware
- AMD R9 295X2 8GB Tweaktown
Keyboards
Super Flower Leadex Platinum 1200 W Review
The Leadex Platinum 1200 W will hit our test bench today. It features 80 Plus Platinum efficiency, a fully modular cabling design, and promises to perform wonderfully while producing hardly any noise by utilizing an excellent platform and a semi-passive operation user can swap to by flipping a switch.
Sapphire Radeon R9 295X2 Ships in Signature Suitcase
Sapphire's Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card is generally available, and ships in the metal suitcase that AMD shipped its reference design card to reviewers in. The only difference? The stylish black artwork is replaced with the usual Sapphire "robotic creature" artwork, and marketing blurbs. The rest of the card sticks to AMD reference design, except a couple of stickers, of course. A dual-GPU "CrossFire on a stick" solution based on two 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs in the same core configuration as the Radeon R9 290X, the R9 295X2 features a factory-fitted closed-loop cooling solution, and clock speeds of 1018 MHz core, and 5.00 GHz memory. The card is expected to be priced at US $1,499.
HIS Announces Higher Overclocked R9 290X IceQ X² Turbo Graphics Card
HIS announced a Radeon R9 290X IceQ X² Turbo graphics card with a higher GPU factory overclock of 1060 MHz. The memory on the card is left untouched at 5.00 GHz, at which it belts out a memory bandwidth of 320 GB/s, thanks to its 512-bit wide memory interface. The card is among the only R9 290 series boards featuring a blue-colored PCB, in signature HIS fashion, and an IceQ X² cooling solution with a soft-gold color shroud and back-plate. We're not sure how well that goes with blue. The cooler is a large aluminium fin-stack heatsink that's ventilated by a pair of 10 cm fans.
MSI Releases AM1 Socketed Kabini Mini-ITX AM1I motherboard
MSI, world leader in motherboards, debuts its first AMD AM1 Socketed Kabini Mini-ITX motherboard, the MSI AM1I. With Kabini being sold separately, the MSI AM1I is fully upgradable and gives the user flexibility when looking for a ultra-low power dual or quad core solution. With MSI AM1I's rich feature set and support for the powerful power efficient Kabini APU, packed with high performance DirectX 11.2-support, it is the ideal motherboard to use in a compact desktop, HTPC or other multimedia solutions.
Kabini is the first x86 quad-core System on a Chip solution for mainstream use with improved performance per watt and best-in-class graphics. Now being sold separately, instead of soldered to a motherboard, the AM1 platform offers a complete, customizable package together with the MSI AM1I motherboard.
Kabini is the first x86 quad-core System on a Chip solution for mainstream use with improved performance per watt and best-in-class graphics. Now being sold separately, instead of soldered to a motherboard, the AM1 platform offers a complete, customizable package together with the MSI AM1I motherboard.
PC Shipments Down 4.4% On-Year in Q1, According to IDC
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 73.4 million units in the first quarter of 2014 (1Q14), a decline of -4.4% year-on-year, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Although still in decline and with continuing weakness in consumer and emerging market segments, the preliminary results are slightly better than a projected decline of -5.3%.
Similar to the latter part of 2013, the upside in the first quarter arose primarily from demand in mature commercial markets. Commercial refresh projects, which had already been protracted, received a last push from the impending end of Windows XP support, particularly in Japan. In addition, slowing demand for tablets seems to have helped constrain previously drastic cutbacks in notebooks. Nevertheless, emerging regions continued to post weak results, with growth in Latin America and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) falling even faster than recent declines as both economic conditions and continued tablet penetration stifled PC shipments.
Similar to the latter part of 2013, the upside in the first quarter arose primarily from demand in mature commercial markets. Commercial refresh projects, which had already been protracted, received a last push from the impending end of Windows XP support, particularly in Japan. In addition, slowing demand for tablets seems to have helped constrain previously drastic cutbacks in notebooks. Nevertheless, emerging regions continued to post weak results, with growth in Latin America and Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) falling even faster than recent declines as both economic conditions and continued tablet penetration stifled PC shipments.
Adesso Launches Tru-Form Media 1500GB Ergonomic Keyboard & Laser Mouse
Adesso Inc., a leading manufacturer of computer input peripherals, announces the release of WKB-1500GB -- Tru-Form Media 1500GB Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard & Mouse, which offer users two advanced input devices with ergonomic design, multifuncti onal features, and a wireless range of up to 30 feet. At the MSRP of $69.99, Tru-Form Media 1500GB is available for purchase at major retailers and e-retailers.
The Tru-Form Media 1500GB's stylish and gently-sloped split keyboard design complements the natural curves and positioning of hands, wrists, and forearms for maximum comfort and extensive use. The membrane key switches provide improved tactile response and a quieter typing experience, lasting up to five million keystrokes.
The Tru-Form Media 1500GB's stylish and gently-sloped split keyboard design complements the natural curves and positioning of hands, wrists, and forearms for maximum comfort and extensive use. The membrane key switches provide improved tactile response and a quieter typing experience, lasting up to five million keystrokes.
HyperX Releases 'FURY' Memory Line
HyperX, a division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the launch of HyperX FURY memory for entry-level gamers and enthusiasts. HyperX FURY replaces the HyperX blu memory line. The new, next-generation high-performance memory offers automatic overclocking with an asymmetric, aggressive heatspreader design for the ultimate cost-efficient enthusiast computer experience.
HyperX FURY memory is fully Plug and Play (PnP) so it automatically overclocks within the system speed allowance without any manual BIOS tuning. The new heatspreader design comes in four colors (blue, black, red, and white) and features black PCB to enable gamers, modders and system builders to have color matched systems. HyperX FURY is available in 1333 MHz, 1600 MHz, and 1866 MHz frequencies.
HyperX FURY memory is fully Plug and Play (PnP) so it automatically overclocks within the system speed allowance without any manual BIOS tuning. The new heatspreader design comes in four colors (blue, black, red, and white) and features black PCB to enable gamers, modders and system builders to have color matched systems. HyperX FURY is available in 1333 MHz, 1600 MHz, and 1866 MHz frequencies.
Greenliant Now Shipping mSATA ArmourDrive SSDs
Greenliant Systems, a leader in energy-efficient, highly secure and reliable solid state storage products, has begun volume production of its mSATA ArmourDrive solid state drives (SSDs). Measuring 29.85 mm x 50.80 mm x 4.85 mm (JEDEC MO-300), all GLS86 series products operate between -40 to +85 degrees Celsius, making them ideal for various industrial, networking and computing systems that require robust data storage able to withstand extreme temperatures.
mSATA ArmourDrive is available with 2-bits-per-cell (MLC) NAND flash memory in 8, 16, 32 and 64 GByte for applications that require dependable, industrial temperature SSDs. For applications that require high-endurance, long-life SSDs, mSATA ArmourDrive is also offered with 1-bit-per-cell (SLC) NAND in 8, 16 and 32 GByte capacities.
mSATA ArmourDrive is available with 2-bits-per-cell (MLC) NAND flash memory in 8, 16, 32 and 64 GByte for applications that require dependable, industrial temperature SSDs. For applications that require high-endurance, long-life SSDs, mSATA ArmourDrive is also offered with 1-bit-per-cell (SLC) NAND in 8, 16 and 32 GByte capacities.
ASUS Unveils the ESC4000 G2S Series HPC GPU Servers
ASUS today announced ESC4000 G2S, a new 2U-sized server series based on the dual Intel Xeon E5-2600 v2 processor platform and designed for use in environments that demand high-density GPU/coprocessor servers.
The new ESC4000 G2S series servers feature a highly optimized thermal design, six hot-swappable 2.5-inch SATA drive bays and nine PCI Express 3.0 (PCIe 3.0) x16 expansion slots. The innovative and thoughtful design delivers high-density computing power, easy scalability and exceptional energy efficiency, making ESC4000 G2S series servers the ideal choice for applications in the high-performance computing (HPC) fields of life and medical sciences, engineering science, financial modeling and virtualization.
The new ESC4000 G2S series servers feature a highly optimized thermal design, six hot-swappable 2.5-inch SATA drive bays and nine PCI Express 3.0 (PCIe 3.0) x16 expansion slots. The innovative and thoughtful design delivers high-density computing power, easy scalability and exceptional energy efficiency, making ESC4000 G2S series servers the ideal choice for applications in the high-performance computing (HPC) fields of life and medical sciences, engineering science, financial modeling and virtualization.
EK Releases GIGABYTE GTX 780 (Ti) WindForce 3X Series Water Block
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana-based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce the full-cover water cooling solution for the GIGABYTE non-reference circuit board design WindForce 3X NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 (Ti) series graphics cards.
EK-FC780 GTX WF3 water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and its VRM to remain stable under high overclocks.
EK-FC780 GTX WF3 water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and its VRM to remain stable under high overclocks.
AMD Introduces New Socketed AMD Sempron and AMD Athlon APU Products
AMD today announced global availability of its new AM1 platform featuring quad-core and dual-core variants of the AMD APU codenamed "Kabini" into the component channel for system builders. The AM1 platform, branded with the AMD Athlon and AMD Sempron APU brands, will deliver award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture and "Jaguar" CPU cores on motherboards from the leading manufacturers. AMD Athlon 5150/5350 and AMD Sempron 2650/3850 APUs provide consumers a balanced computing experience on a socketed upgradable platform.
"AMD consistently builds on its industry leading technology by continuing to offer a diversified product stack which is proven today with the availability of the AM1 platform with 'socketed' AMD Sempron and AMD Athlon APUs designed for the mainstream market," said Bernd Lienhard, corporate vice president and general manager, Client Business Unit, AMD. "With quad-core performance and AMD Radeon graphics the AM1 platform is an affordable solution that provides great flexibility due to an infrastructure built to deliver a multitude of options to our end users and system builders."
"AMD consistently builds on its industry leading technology by continuing to offer a diversified product stack which is proven today with the availability of the AM1 platform with 'socketed' AMD Sempron and AMD Athlon APUs designed for the mainstream market," said Bernd Lienhard, corporate vice president and general manager, Client Business Unit, AMD. "With quad-core performance and AMD Radeon graphics the AM1 platform is an affordable solution that provides great flexibility due to an infrastructure built to deliver a multitude of options to our end users and system builders."
ASUS Announces New Additions to Its Desktop PC and All-in-One PC Line-up
ASUS today announced exciting new additions to its commercial ASUSPRO PC range, with the launch of the ET1620 all-in-one PC, EeeBox EB1036 and EB1037 space-saving desktop PCs, and the ultra-small form factor (USFF) BT1AD and BT1AE desktop PCs.
All models feature the very latest Intel processors for optimum performance and power efficiency. Designed for small-to-medium businesses, public sector and enterprise customers, these new ASUSPRO PCs offer enhanced productivity, space-saving design, and advanced management and security features - including the new and exclusive ASUS Business Manager - tailored to enhance productivity with minimal impact on operating and maintenance costs.
All models feature the very latest Intel processors for optimum performance and power efficiency. Designed for small-to-medium businesses, public sector and enterprise customers, these new ASUSPRO PCs offer enhanced productivity, space-saving design, and advanced management and security features - including the new and exclusive ASUS Business Manager - tailored to enhance productivity with minimal impact on operating and maintenance costs.
Logitech Announces the K830 Illuminated Keyboard
Today Logitech introduced the Logitech Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830 to brighten your connected-TV experience. The rechargeable keyboard features backlit keys, an integrated touchpad, and advanced wireless connectivity, so you can type and click from your couch or bed - even in the dark.
"More and more consumers want an easy way to access movies, TV programs, music and photos with their PC connected to a TV," said Charlotte Johs, global vice president of brand development for PC accessories at Logitech. "Our new Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830 is designed with this setup in mind. Backlit keys and a premium aesthetic that blends into the living room make it a stand-out choice for people with connected TVs."
"More and more consumers want an easy way to access movies, TV programs, music and photos with their PC connected to a TV," said Charlotte Johs, global vice president of brand development for PC accessories at Logitech. "Our new Illuminated Living-Room Keyboard K830 is designed with this setup in mind. Backlit keys and a premium aesthetic that blends into the living room make it a stand-out choice for people with connected TVs."
Tuesday, April 8th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
CPU Coolers
Graphics Cards
Motherboards
Mouse
PSUs
AMD Radeon R9 295X2 8 GB Review
Today, AMD is launching their Radeon R9 295X2, a dual-GPU card based on two fully unlocked, fully clocked Hawaii graphics processors. As a result, the card delivers impressive numbers in 4K and EyeFinity. But with a price of $1500, it is certainly not cheap, no matter how you look at it.
Newegg Extends Reach Into the United Kingdom and Australia
Newegg is building on its e-commerce leadership in the United States with a pilot program that makes a limited selection of its products available to customers in the United Kingdom and Australia. The move is an important first step in the company's international expansion plans. "We're extending the Newegg customer experience beyond North America, selectively addressing English-speaking countries overseas to begin that process," said Soren Mills, Chief Marketing Officer for Newegg North America. "This is an important step forward for our company and we're taking a very deliberate approach to our international growth."
Customers in the United Kingdom and Australia are now able to visit Newegg.com and purchase select products for shipment to their respective countries. Several thousand products are currently available in these new markets with the product line expanding dramatically throughout the year.
Scaling an e-commerce business to new international markets poses significant logistical challenges in the areas of order fulfillment, customer support, returns, regional product compatibility and country-specific regulations. To ensure a smooth expansion, Newegg plans to closely monitor all operational functions as it scales international product availability.
Customers in the United Kingdom and Australia are now able to visit Newegg.com and purchase select products for shipment to their respective countries. Several thousand products are currently available in these new markets with the product line expanding dramatically throughout the year.
Scaling an e-commerce business to new international markets poses significant logistical challenges in the areas of order fulfillment, customer support, returns, regional product compatibility and country-specific regulations. To ensure a smooth expansion, Newegg plans to closely monitor all operational functions as it scales international product availability.
GIGABYTE Announces New AM1 Series Motherboards
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced official support for next generation AMD Athlon and Sempron APUs based on the highly anticipated 'Kabini' SOC architecture. GIGABYTE 'Kabini' support includes the all new GA-AM1M-S2P and GA-AM1M-S2H motherboards based on the AM1 motherboard platform. GIGABYTE AM1 Series motherboards showcase a number of features and technologies that separate them from the competition, including GIGABYTE RTC Clock IC and Ultra Durable 4 Plus.
The all new 'Kabini' APU's CMOS functions have been integrated into the APU; this means that when the user removes the APU, all CMOS settings revert to factory defaults. Even with the battery in place, users will lose settings such as the current time. GIGABYTE's AM1 motherboards solve this issue by including a secondary RTC Clock IC onboard, so that even when the APU is removed, the CMOS settings are retained.
The all new 'Kabini' APU's CMOS functions have been integrated into the APU; this means that when the user removes the APU, all CMOS settings revert to factory defaults. Even with the battery in place, users will lose settings such as the current time. GIGABYTE's AM1 motherboards solve this issue by including a secondary RTC Clock IC onboard, so that even when the APU is removed, the CMOS settings are retained.
BenQ Releases RevolutionEyes G Series Mainstream Displays
BenQ America Corp., the fastest growing display brand in North America, today introduced its new GW and GL Series of mainstream monitors. Equipped with BenQ's pioneering RevolutionEyes technology for exceptional monitor performance, the elegantly thin GL2460HM, GL2760H, and GW2760HS displays bring together best-in-class image quality with ZeroFlicker and Low Blue Light settings for enhanced visual comfort encased in stylish silhouettes to enable amazing onscreen experiences while adding a touch of sophistication to any home office or workspace environment.
"Our new G Series monitors are prime examples of BenQ's value on innovation," said Bob Wudeck, Associate Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at BenQ America Corp. "Featuring a clean look, super crisp dynamic contrast ratios, and BenQ's RevolutionEyes technology with exclusive features such as ZeroFlicker and Low Blue Light, we now offer users the best viewing experience for peak performance in any application and across our entire monitor lines."
"Our new G Series monitors are prime examples of BenQ's value on innovation," said Bob Wudeck, Associate Vice President, Strategy and Business Development at BenQ America Corp. "Featuring a clean look, super crisp dynamic contrast ratios, and BenQ's RevolutionEyes technology with exclusive features such as ZeroFlicker and Low Blue Light, we now offer users the best viewing experience for peak performance in any application and across our entire monitor lines."
Intel Transforms Its Operations in Costa Rica
After holding meetings with the Government of Costa Rica and the Investment Promotion Agency -CINDE-, Intel confirmed today that it will transform its operations in Costa Rica. As part of its global strategy, the company will relocate its assembly and test operation to Asia, where these activities will be concentrated. Intel's Global Services Center, as well as the company's Engineering and Design Center will remain in their current location in Belen, Heredia. These operations will gain relevance in research and development related activities.
These changes in Intel's operation in Costa Rica gross up to other changes recently made by the company in Barcelona, Spain (March, 2014); Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Massachusetts, United States (March and January, 2014 and November, 2013 respectively); and Penang & Kulim, Malaysia (November 2013). All of them respond directly to the global strategy announced and more strongly implemented by the company during the last year.
These changes in Intel's operation in Costa Rica gross up to other changes recently made by the company in Barcelona, Spain (March, 2014); Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, and Massachusetts, United States (March and January, 2014 and November, 2013 respectively); and Penang & Kulim, Malaysia (November 2013). All of them respond directly to the global strategy announced and more strongly implemented by the company during the last year.
Other World Computing Introduces the Mercury Elite Pro Dual External RAID Drive
Other World Computing (OWC), a leading zero emissions Mac and PC upgrade and storage technology company, expanded its family of Thunderbolt interface storage products with the addition of the OWC Mercury Elite Pro Dual external high-performance drive with hardware RAID capabilities. The Mercury Elite Pro Dual with Thunderbolt interface will be featured at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in Las Vegas this week, at Other World Computing's booth #SL14016, in the Las Vegas Convention Center.
High-Performance Two-Bay Design
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual, available in capacities up to 8 TB of total storage, adds tremendous storage capacity and throughput to any Mac or PC with a Thunderbolt port. Applications such as A/V post-production, photography, music, graphics, data management, and even Time Machine backups are enhanced with access to data at sustained data rates of up to 389 MB/s read, 351 MB/s write.
High-Performance Two-Bay Design
The Mercury Elite Pro Dual, available in capacities up to 8 TB of total storage, adds tremendous storage capacity and throughput to any Mac or PC with a Thunderbolt port. Applications such as A/V post-production, photography, music, graphics, data management, and even Time Machine backups are enhanced with access to data at sustained data rates of up to 389 MB/s read, 351 MB/s write.
ViewSonic Introduces New Ergonomic SuperClear Monitors
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, today introduces the new VG33SMH series 22'' and 24'' displays. With the new VG33SMH monitors, users are able to experience multiple outstanding features, including true-to-life colours via exclusive SuperClear Image Enhancement Technology, an energy-saving ECO-Mode, customizable ergonomic design and a versatile connectivity with HDMI.
"ViewSonic thrives to offer brilliant visual solutions for business users. The new VG series provides exceptional colour quality, transforms any office into a more productive and comfortable environment and helps businesses to lower their total cost of ownership with the energy saving ECO mode." said Claire Chuang, Product Manager for ViewSonic Europe.
"ViewSonic thrives to offer brilliant visual solutions for business users. The new VG series provides exceptional colour quality, transforms any office into a more productive and comfortable environment and helps businesses to lower their total cost of ownership with the energy saving ECO mode." said Claire Chuang, Product Manager for ViewSonic Europe.
Samsung Accelerates Ramp Up of DDR4 Production
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., the world leader in advanced memory technology, said today that it is accelerating its production ramp up of DDR4 memory modules to accommodate an anticipated strong market demand along with the approaching introduction of the new Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family. DDR4 is the most advanced memory for server and high-performance computing applications.
"At Samsung, we are taking the lead in readying the DDR4 market to coincide with the introduction of the next-generation Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family, and plan to contribute to creating a bigger market for DRAM in the second half of 2014," said Jim Elliott, corporate vice president, Memory Marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "We will continue to introduce high-density DDR4 modules for global OEMs that will facilitate the launch of next-generation enterprise servers and will maximize IT investment efficiency."
"At Samsung, we are taking the lead in readying the DDR4 market to coincide with the introduction of the next-generation Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family, and plan to contribute to creating a bigger market for DRAM in the second half of 2014," said Jim Elliott, corporate vice president, Memory Marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. "We will continue to introduce high-density DDR4 modules for global OEMs that will facilitate the launch of next-generation enterprise servers and will maximize IT investment efficiency."
AMD Selects Asetek to Liquid Cool The World's Fastest Graphics Card
Asetek, the world's leading supplier of computer liquid cooling solutions, today announced that its liquid cooling technology will be used to cool AMD's latest flagship graphics card. The new AMD Radeon R9 295X2 is the world's fastest graphics card. Boasting 8 gigabytes of memory and over 11 teraflops of computing power, the AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card is the undisputed graphics performance champion.
"Today's high-end graphic cards pack insane amounts of power into a very small area and removing that heat is no small task. Utilizing our liquid cooling for graphics cards unlocks new opportunities for performance and low noise," said André Sloth Eriksen, Founder and CEO of Asetek. "The fact that AMD has chosen Asetek liquid cooling for their reference cooling design is a testament to the reliability and performance of our technology."
"Today's high-end graphic cards pack insane amounts of power into a very small area and removing that heat is no small task. Utilizing our liquid cooling for graphics cards unlocks new opportunities for performance and low noise," said André Sloth Eriksen, Founder and CEO of Asetek. "The fact that AMD has chosen Asetek liquid cooling for their reference cooling design is a testament to the reliability and performance of our technology."
Corsair Releases Black Aluminum Vengeance K70 Mechanical Gaming Keyboards
Corsair, a worldwide leader in high-performance PC gaming hardware, today announced that the award-winning Vengeance K70 mechanical gaming keyboard -- in black aluminum with red backlit keys - is now available with Cherry MX Blue and Brown keyswitches in addition to the original Cherry MX Reds. Similar to all Vengeance gaming keyboards, the latest K70 doesn't miss when it counts due to genuine German-made Cherry MX switches, the most popular and accurate mechanical keyswitches for gamers - with over 5 billion sold.
The sophisticated aesthetics of the refreshed Vengeance K70 gaming keyboard starts with an anodized black aluminum chassis for long-lasting durability and timeless style. Vibrant red backlighting shines through each key, oozing an industrial look capable of complimenting any gamer den. The overall backlighting can be adjusted to four levels of intensity while the lighting for each key can be independently enabled or disabled. The key-by-key lighting customization allows users to highlight just the keys they need to emphasize, such as WASD, and then save the setting directly to the K70's onboard memory.
The sophisticated aesthetics of the refreshed Vengeance K70 gaming keyboard starts with an anodized black aluminum chassis for long-lasting durability and timeless style. Vibrant red backlighting shines through each key, oozing an industrial look capable of complimenting any gamer den. The overall backlighting can be adjusted to four levels of intensity while the lighting for each key can be independently enabled or disabled. The key-by-key lighting customization allows users to highlight just the keys they need to emphasize, such as WASD, and then save the setting directly to the K70's onboard memory.
Memoright Launches XT3 Series SSD with TLC NAND Flash
With Memoright's proprietary Advanced Endurance Write features and Super Cache firmware architecture, Memoright XT3 SSD (SATA 6Gbps) currently supports TLC NAND with latest 19nm process technology. XT3 series SSD offers the best combination of reliability and performance, ideal for applications in personal computing, while driving the cost down with advanced TLC.
XT3 Series SSD is currently sampled in 2.5"/1.8" 7mm ultra-thin designs and mSATA form factor with options of 128, 256, and 512GB in capacity. The sequential read/write performance with incompressible data exceeds 500/450 MB/s. Advanced Trim command handling restores the performance of the SSD thus avoids the write performance cliff, which is commonly experienced after a SSD is used for a long period of time.
XT3 Series SSD is currently sampled in 2.5"/1.8" 7mm ultra-thin designs and mSATA form factor with options of 128, 256, and 512GB in capacity. The sequential read/write performance with incompressible data exceeds 500/450 MB/s. Advanced Trim command handling restores the performance of the SSD thus avoids the write performance cliff, which is commonly experienced after a SSD is used for a long period of time.
ASUS Announces its Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card
ASUS joined the Radeon R9 295X2 launch party with a card of its own. Sticking to AMD's reference board design, ASUS' offering ships in a big black+red box. The card features reference clock speeds of 1018 MHz core, with 5.00 GHz memory; and 8 GB of memory (2x 4 GB). Its two "Hawaii" GPUs feature 2,816 stream processors, 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 512-bit wide memory interfaces, each. ASUS is pricing the card on par with the others, at US $1,499.
Club 3D Debuts Its Radeon R9 295X2
Club 3D, the renowned Dutch based manufacturer of high performance AMD graphics cards is proud to introduce the new boss. Today we show you the Club 3D Radeon R9 295X2, the fastest graphics card ever!
In 2013 AMD launched the new Radeon R9 series which consists of high performance graphics cards targeted at gamers who want nothing but the best performance for their gaming PC. The Radeon R9 series is topped by the incredibly fast and capable Hawaii GPU found in the Radeon R9 290 and 290X. The extreme performance levels of the Hawaii GPU result in some heat production. The Club 3D Radeon R9 290 and 290X royalAce cards however show that with a capable triple fan CoolStream cooling solution the Hawaii temperatures can be kept at as low as 68 degrees under full load.
In 2013 AMD launched the new Radeon R9 series which consists of high performance graphics cards targeted at gamers who want nothing but the best performance for their gaming PC. The Radeon R9 series is topped by the incredibly fast and capable Hawaii GPU found in the Radeon R9 290 and 290X. The extreme performance levels of the Hawaii GPU result in some heat production. The Club 3D Radeon R9 290 and 290X royalAce cards however show that with a capable triple fan CoolStream cooling solution the Hawaii temperatures can be kept at as low as 68 degrees under full load.
VTX3D Announces its Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card
A renowned brand of graphics card maker - VTX3D, today announced a dual GPU (Hawaii) graphics card, the VTX3D R9 295X2. The new model uses a conventional air cooler and incorporates liquid cooling system, and it is fitted with the most high-end specification, giving users the ability to play all current and upcoming PC titles and delivering extreme performance to all users.
VTX3D R9 295X2 is based on the best high-end specification, containing two AMD Radeon R9 series GPUs on board along with 4GB of memory per GPU. The memory runs at 1250MHz (5.0Gbps) on a dual 512-bit memory bus, and the frequency of both GPUs is up to 1018MHz, providing higher clock speeds and faster performance in users' favorite games.
VTX3D R9 295X2 is based on the best high-end specification, containing two AMD Radeon R9 series GPUs on board along with 4GB of memory per GPU. The memory runs at 1250MHz (5.0Gbps) on a dual 512-bit memory bus, and the frequency of both GPUs is up to 1018MHz, providing higher clock speeds and faster performance in users' favorite games.
PowerColor Announces its Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card
TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphic cards, today brings the most powerful weapon to amaze all gamers, the PowerColor R9 295X2. Packed with two top-notch AMD R9 290X GPUs, the R9 295X2 is not only combined the liquid cooling, also the active fan cooling which is for ram and regulators in one card, making it a total solution for gamers.
The PowerColor R9 295X2 is equipped with 8GB of GDDR5 memory, and run the clock speeds up to 1018MHz for the core and 1250MHz for the memory, totally built for ultimate performance. The R9 295X2 ships with an advanced closed-loop liquid cooling system, without paying any effort on preassemble and maintain. Gamers now are more accessible to experience watercooling solution. The R9 295X2 is solid built by metal construction and backplate, together with special design of the illuminated logo and fan, offering luxury feel to all gamers.
The PowerColor R9 295X2 is equipped with 8GB of GDDR5 memory, and run the clock speeds up to 1018MHz for the core and 1250MHz for the memory, totally built for ultimate performance. The R9 295X2 ships with an advanced closed-loop liquid cooling system, without paying any effort on preassemble and maintain. Gamers now are more accessible to experience watercooling solution. The R9 295X2 is solid built by metal construction and backplate, together with special design of the illuminated logo and fan, offering luxury feel to all gamers.
MAINGEAR Offers AMD Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics In Desktops
MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder offering custom desktops, notebooks and workstations has just added AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card solution to their award winning up desktop offerings.
The new AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card was engineered for ultimate performance and for the first time in industry history, the graphics card reference design ships with an advanced closed-loop water cooling system. Hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts will enjoy cool temperatures that are also extremely quiet during the high demand of their PCs right out the box without any tweaking.
The new AMD Radeon R9 295X2 graphics card was engineered for ultimate performance and for the first time in industry history, the graphics card reference design ships with an advanced closed-loop water cooling system. Hardcore gamers and PC enthusiasts will enjoy cool temperatures that are also extremely quiet during the high demand of their PCs right out the box without any tweaking.
AMD Announces the Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card
AMD announced its flagship graphics card for this generation, the dual-GPU Radeon R9 295X2. Based on a pair of fully-loaded "Hawaii" GPUs, the same ones that drive the R9 290X, the card features a premium built with an air+liquid hybrid cooling solution. Each of the card's two chips feature 2,816 GCN2 stream processors, 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 512-bit wide GDDR5 memory interfaces, holding 4 GB of memory. The total memory amount on the card is hence 8 GB. It uses a PLX PEX8747 PCIe gen 3.0 x48 bridge chip to marshal data between the two GPUs, and the rest of the system. The best part, it draws power from just two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. AMD is asking US $1,499 for the R9 295X2, which is half that of NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce GTX TITAN-Z. It should be available for purchase on April 21.
Acer Announces the GN246HL 144 Hz Gaming Monitor
Acer today unveiled the GN246HL, a new, gaming-focused 24-inch monitor with a refresh rate f 144 Hz and a response time of just 1 ms. Acer's display makes use of a TN panel and features a an LED backlight, a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, 350 cd/m2 brightness, a 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and D-Sub, DVI, and HDMI 1.4a connectivity.
The GN246HL is set to become available at the end of this month priced at 279 Euro.
The GN246HL is set to become available at the end of this month priced at 279 Euro.
Noctua Presents the NH-D15 Dual Tower CPU Cooler
Noctua today introduced its new flagship-model NH-D15. Built on the basis of the legendary NH-D14 and carrying on its quest for ultimate quiet cooling performance, the NH-D15 is an elite-class dual tower cooler for the highest demands.
"Having convinced tens of thousands of quiet cooling enthusiasts around the globe, our NH-D14 has become a reference for top-tier dual tower heatsinks", explains Mag. Roland Mossig, Noctua CEO. "In the end, it took us more than three years of continuous development, countless thermal simulations and over hundred samples to come up with a substantial improvement in efficiency. Staying true to our policy of not releasing anything we're not 100% satisfied with, we had to accept some delays in order to squeeze out the last few percent of performance, but now we're proud to finally release the NH-D15 as a worthy successor to the venerable D14."
"Having convinced tens of thousands of quiet cooling enthusiasts around the globe, our NH-D14 has become a reference for top-tier dual tower heatsinks", explains Mag. Roland Mossig, Noctua CEO. "In the end, it took us more than three years of continuous development, countless thermal simulations and over hundred samples to come up with a substantial improvement in efficiency. Staying true to our policy of not releasing anything we're not 100% satisfied with, we had to accept some delays in order to squeeze out the last few percent of performance, but now we're proud to finally release the NH-D15 as a worthy successor to the venerable D14."
Apacer Introduces the SFD 25H-M Solid State Drive
According to IDC, a market research institution, Taiwan's Cloud computing and Big Data have entered into implementation phase this year. For example, telecommunication companies monitor the online transaction behaviors by means of Cloud technology. Dealers of chain channels trace production records via Big Data analysis to ensure food safety. Finance companies analyze extensive consumer behaviors to make marketing plans.
Big Data storage has become the basis of all these Cloud applications. In order to respond to the worldwide rapid growth of Cloud and Big Data, Apacer launched SATA 3 large capacity SFD 25H-M SSD. It possesses an ultra-large storage capacity of 1 TB, with sequential read/write speed of 510/420 MB/sec, marking a significant specification enhancement and an advance to virtualization technology of Big Data storage. Enterprises' overall data processing performance will be strengthened.
Big Data storage has become the basis of all these Cloud applications. In order to respond to the worldwide rapid growth of Cloud and Big Data, Apacer launched SATA 3 large capacity SFD 25H-M SSD. It possesses an ultra-large storage capacity of 1 TB, with sequential read/write speed of 510/420 MB/sec, marking a significant specification enhancement and an advance to virtualization technology of Big Data storage. Enterprises' overall data processing performance will be strengthened.
Logitech Launches First-of-Its-Kind Logitech G Tunable Gaming Mouse
Logitech, a leading innovator of gaming peripherals, today introduced its newest Logitech G mouse, the Logitech G502 Proteus Core Tunable Gaming Mouse. This extremely customizable mouse combines the world's first 12,000 DPI sensor with advanced surface and weight tuning to help you maximize your victory potential. "I've been super excited to use this mouse in public, I got to test it and it felt great! Was super comfortable and just fit perfectly to my hand," said Hai Lam, team captain for Cloud 9. "Adjusting the DPI is super easy and very flexible. This is probably my favorite mouse to date!" As with every product in the Logitech G lineup, Proteus Core reflects Logitech's commitment to putting science to work to help you win.
GIGABYTE and TechPowerUp TITANFALL Giveaway: Here are the Winners
A round of applause for the winners of the TITANFALL Facebook Giveaway TechPowerUp ran, in partnership with GIGABYTE, and its Aivia line of elite gaming peripherals. Starting March 24th, we ran a neat little giveaway that saw over 3,600 participants take a shot at winning some cool gaming hardware by GIGABYTE, by simply "Liking" our Facebook page, filling in a brief form, and answering a handful easy questions. A big congrats to the following winners:
- Szabolcs from Hungary, wins GIGABYTE Radeon R9 280X WindForce OC graphics card,
- Crystal from the United States, wins TITANFALL Collector's Edition Bundle,
- Jonathan from Israel, wins GIGABYTE Aivia Uranium gaming mouse, and
- Carl from Norway, wins GIGABYTE Aivia Osmium mechanical gaming keyboard
Monday, April 7th 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Cooling
Desktop PC
Graphics Cards
Networking
Notebooks
Panasonic Debuts 98-inch and 84-inch Professional 4K LED Displays
Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, a leader in delivering technology solutions for government, enterprise and SMB markets, today announced two new large-format 4K LED displays along with other new professional AV technologies at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.
As interest grows in 4K content capture, production and distribution, Panasonic engineered these 4K LED backlit LCD display store-produce stunningly sharp images in a streamlined form factor with the system expandability required for professional 4K applications. The 98" TH-98LQ70 and 84" TH-84LQ70 4K displays are ideal for a number of growing 4K resolution B2B applications including broadcast production, eye-catching digital signage for retail, rental and staging, design and simulation as well as command and control rooms. These displays, combined with Panasonic's imaging capture and workflow technologies, provide a one-stop solution for organizations with image creation needs.
As interest grows in 4K content capture, production and distribution, Panasonic engineered these 4K LED backlit LCD display store-produce stunningly sharp images in a streamlined form factor with the system expandability required for professional 4K applications. The 98" TH-98LQ70 and 84" TH-84LQ70 4K displays are ideal for a number of growing 4K resolution B2B applications including broadcast production, eye-catching digital signage for retail, rental and staging, design and simulation as well as command and control rooms. These displays, combined with Panasonic's imaging capture and workflow technologies, provide a one-stop solution for organizations with image creation needs.
OCZ Announces Partnership with Private Label PC for Distribution in the Americas
OCZ Storage Solutions - a Toshiba Group Company and leading provider of high-performance solid state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced its new partnership with Private Label PC (PLPC) for distribution of its complete portfolio of storage solutions. As the largest storage provider with a well established customer base, OCZ SSDs will be more readily available for channel customers in the North and South American markets.
PLPC is a key storage solution provider in North, Central, and South America with a strong base of over 3000 customers and has been in operation for nearly 30 years, and currently supplies over one million units of storage products per quarter to its extensive customer base. "We are pleased to announce Private Label PC as an authorized distributor of our full line of solid state products," said Wayne Eisenberg, Senior Vice President Global Sales, OCZ Storage Solutions, "PLPC has a long history of being a leading provider of enterprise and client storage products to a very diverse customer base throughout the Americas and we are looking forward to working together to address the increasing demand for SSDs."
PLPC is a key storage solution provider in North, Central, and South America with a strong base of over 3000 customers and has been in operation for nearly 30 years, and currently supplies over one million units of storage products per quarter to its extensive customer base. "We are pleased to announce Private Label PC as an authorized distributor of our full line of solid state products," said Wayne Eisenberg, Senior Vice President Global Sales, OCZ Storage Solutions, "PLPC has a long history of being a leading provider of enterprise and client storage products to a very diverse customer base throughout the Americas and we are looking forward to working together to address the increasing demand for SSDs."
MSI Announces A88X-G41 PC Mate Motherboard
MSI rolled out a new mid-range, socket FM2+ motherboard in the ATX form-factor, the A88X-G41 PC Mate. As its name suggests, it's based on the A88X FCH chipset by AMD. Drawing power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS connectors, the board uses a 5-phase VRM to condition power for the FM2+ socket, which is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots, that support up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz memory; and a single PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot. The second x16 slot is electrical PCI-Express 2.0 x4, and wired to the FCH.
Storage connectivity on the A88X-G41 PC Mate includes just six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, even as the A88X FCH offers eight. The board offers a total of four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, two by header. Also on offer are ten USB 2.0 ports, four on the rear panel, six by headers. There's quite some legacy connectivity on offer, such as LPT and COM, by headers. Display outputs include a dual-link DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI 1.4a. 6-channel HD audio, and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of it. The A88X-G41 PC Mate is driven by AMI UEFI BIOS. Expect this board to be priced around the $100 mark.
Storage connectivity on the A88X-G41 PC Mate includes just six SATA 6 Gb/s ports, even as the A88X FCH offers eight. The board offers a total of four USB 3.0 ports, two on the rear panel, two by header. Also on offer are ten USB 2.0 ports, four on the rear panel, six by headers. There's quite some legacy connectivity on offer, such as LPT and COM, by headers. Display outputs include a dual-link DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI 1.4a. 6-channel HD audio, and gigabit Ethernet make for the rest of it. The A88X-G41 PC Mate is driven by AMI UEFI BIOS. Expect this board to be priced around the $100 mark.
Intel to Change Financial Reporting Structure
Beginning with the publication of Intel Corporation's first-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, April 15, the company will revise the presentation of its operating segments to reflect changes in our organizational model, which are aligned with our critical objectives. The company is providing our financial reporting structure now, as shown below, in order to give visibility into the new model. Actual results will be reported with the first-quarter earnings report.
SK Hynix Developed the World's First Highest Density 128 GB DDR4 Module
SK Hynix Inc. announced that it has developed the world's first highest density of 128 GB (Gigabytes) module based on 8 Gb(Gigabit) DDR4 using its advanced 20 nm class technology.
This module has double density compared to existing 64 GB by taking advantage of TSV(Through Silicon Via) technology. This new product works at 2133 Mbps and with a 64-bit I/O it processes up to 17 GB of data per second. It also runs at ultra low-voltage of 1.2V which does at lower voltage than 1.35V of existing DDR3.
This module has double density compared to existing 64 GB by taking advantage of TSV(Through Silicon Via) technology. This new product works at 2133 Mbps and with a 64-bit I/O it processes up to 17 GB of data per second. It also runs at ultra low-voltage of 1.2V which does at lower voltage than 1.35V of existing DDR3.
PROMISE Technology Debuts New Storage Solutions at NAB 2014
PROMISE Technology today announced three new Thunderbolt 2 and shared storage devices engineered for creative professionals. These new solutions will be showcased at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention (NAB) in booth SL#5329.
Pegasus2 M4 builds on the success of Pegasus2, the world's first Thunderbolt 2 hardware RAID storage solution, by delivering performance and capacity in a new, portable form factor with 2.5" drives. Featuring an innovative and compact design, the 2.5" HDD/SSD Thunderbolt 2 Pegasus2 M4 external RAID solution works with the new Mac Pro and is an ideal solution for professionals working both offsite and in-studio. The Pegasus2 M4 will also be featured as part of a workflow process at the Intel Zone in the StudioXperience booth at NAB (SU#621D1). The Pegasus2 family supports OS X Mavericks and will add support for Windows-based Thunderbolt hosts in Q2.
Pegasus2 M4 builds on the success of Pegasus2, the world's first Thunderbolt 2 hardware RAID storage solution, by delivering performance and capacity in a new, portable form factor with 2.5" drives. Featuring an innovative and compact design, the 2.5" HDD/SSD Thunderbolt 2 Pegasus2 M4 external RAID solution works with the new Mac Pro and is an ideal solution for professionals working both offsite and in-studio. The Pegasus2 M4 will also be featured as part of a workflow process at the Intel Zone in the StudioXperience booth at NAB (SU#621D1). The Pegasus2 family supports OS X Mavericks and will add support for Windows-based Thunderbolt hosts in Q2.
NVIDIA Releases GeForce 337.50 Performance-Focused Graphis Driver
NVIDIA has now made available the GeForce 337.50, a new, beta-tagged graphics driver that is claimed to deliver 'performance gains of up to 71% in DirectX 11 games'. This release boosts both single-GPU and SLI performance while also including tweaks to reduce game load time, new and updated SLI profiles, plus 3D Vision optimizations.
The GeForce 337.50 beta supports GeForce 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 Series cards and comes bundled with GeForce Experience 2.0 which brings ShadowPlay desktop capture, advanced Twitch streaming controls, ShadowPlay for notebooks, and SHIELD GameStream support for notebooks.
Download: Windows 8.1/8/7/Vista (32-bit) / Windows 8.1/8/7/Vista (64-bit) / Windows XP (32-bit) / Windows XP (64-bit)
The GeForce 337.50 beta supports GeForce 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 Series cards and comes bundled with GeForce Experience 2.0 which brings ShadowPlay desktop capture, advanced Twitch streaming controls, ShadowPlay for notebooks, and SHIELD GameStream support for notebooks.
Download: Windows 8.1/8/7/Vista (32-bit) / Windows 8.1/8/7/Vista (64-bit) / Windows XP (32-bit) / Windows XP (64-bit)
G-Technology Also Launches New Evolution Series External Drive Modules
G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced the latest additions in its Evolution Series family - the G-DRIVE ev SSD and the 500 GB G-DRIVE ev external drive modules.
Inspired by creative pros, the Evolution Series is a flexible ecosystem of G-DOCK ev docking stations and interchangeable and expandable G-DRIVE ev external drive modules with USB 3.0 that makes transferring, editing and distributing content more efficient, scalable and reliable.
Inspired by creative pros, the Evolution Series is a flexible ecosystem of G-DOCK ev docking stations and interchangeable and expandable G-DRIVE ev external drive modules with USB 3.0 that makes transferring, editing and distributing content more efficient, scalable and reliable.
G-Technology Launches Its New 'Studio' Line Of External Hard Drives
G-Technology, a leader in delivering premium storage solutions for audio/video production, photography and the creative professional market, today announced the first products in its new Studio line - the G-RAID Studio and G-SPEED Studio. Continuing G-Technology's popular design legacy, the Studio family comes in new high-quality, sleek black enclosure for today's high-performance computers and workstations.
The Studio line features multiple RAID options, removable enterprise-class 7,200 RPM drives, 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) Thunderbolt 2 interfaces, and the industry's highest capacity 6 TB hard disk drives (HDDs) for pre- and post-production workflows.
The Studio line features multiple RAID options, removable enterprise-class 7,200 RPM drives, 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) Thunderbolt 2 interfaces, and the industry's highest capacity 6 TB hard disk drives (HDDs) for pre- and post-production workflows.
Aerocool Announces the Air Force Case Fans
Aerocool Advanced Technologies, one of world's leading manufacturers of excellent gaming PC gear, proves once again that great ideas can push the air cooling market further. After releasing the successful "Dead Silence" case fan series, which innovated the market thanks to its great performance and dual-material design, Aerocool now presents the "Air Force" case fan series. The new series features energy-efficient fan blade design and the Air Circulator attachment for guided airflow and intense cooling.
Aerocool offers both 120 and 140-millimeter models, which are available in several color-variation. Users have the choice between a classic "black edition" without LED illumination and the colorful editions with LED illumination, such as blue, white, orange and red. Fancy design is not the only aspect of the new Air Force series. High airflow at low noise level is achieved thanks to the energy-efficient fan blade design, which reduces air turbulence.
Aerocool offers both 120 and 140-millimeter models, which are available in several color-variation. Users have the choice between a classic "black edition" without LED illumination and the colorful editions with LED illumination, such as blue, white, orange and red. Fancy design is not the only aspect of the new Air Force series. High airflow at low noise level is achieved thanks to the energy-efficient fan blade design, which reduces air turbulence.
Seagate Ships World's Fastest 6 TB Hard Drive
Seagate Technology plc, a world leader in storage solutions, today announced it is now shipping the world's fastest 6 TB hard disk drive (HDD) - the Seagate Enterprise Capacity 3.5 HDD v4. Boasting industry-leading performance, the Enterprise Capacity 3.5 HDD v4 is an important step forward in scale-out data infrastructures delivering supersize storage and enterprise reliability to meet the explosive growth of corporate and cloud-based data centers.
"Unstructured data growth is doubling exponentially and will propel the digital universe to reach 16 Zettabytes of data by as early as 2017. This will cause cloud service providers to look for innovative ways to store more within an existing footprint while lowering operational costs," said Scott Horn, Seagate vice president of marketing. "Seagate is poised to address this challenge by offering the fastest 6 TB enterprise capacity HDD based on our proven, reliable platform meeting this never-ending demand in both private and public cloud data centers."
"Unstructured data growth is doubling exponentially and will propel the digital universe to reach 16 Zettabytes of data by as early as 2017. This will cause cloud service providers to look for innovative ways to store more within an existing footprint while lowering operational costs," said Scott Horn, Seagate vice president of marketing. "Seagate is poised to address this challenge by offering the fastest 6 TB enterprise capacity HDD based on our proven, reliable platform meeting this never-ending demand in both private and public cloud data centers."
AMD Introduces the FirePro W9100 Professional Graphics Card
AMD today launched the AMD FirePro W9100 professional graphics card designed for the next generation of 4K workstations accelerated by OpenCL (Open Computing Language). With cutting-edge graphics, up to 2.62 TFLOPS double precision of industry leading GPU compute power and ultra-high resolution (4K) multi-display capabilities, video, design and engineering professionals can work at a whole new level of detail, speed, responsiveness and creativity.
With an industry first 16 GB of ultra-fast GDDR5 memory, workstation users can multi-task efficiently across up to six 4K displays, load massive assemblies and data sets to manipulate them, or edit, color-correct and layer in multiple effects to 4K video projects, all in real-time. Powered by AMD's latest Graphics Core Next architecture, AMD FirePro W9100 gives creative professionals supercomputing-class performance from a single GPU.
With an industry first 16 GB of ultra-fast GDDR5 memory, workstation users can multi-task efficiently across up to six 4K displays, load massive assemblies and data sets to manipulate them, or edit, color-correct and layer in multiple effects to 4K video projects, all in real-time. Powered by AMD's latest Graphics Core Next architecture, AMD FirePro W9100 gives creative professionals supercomputing-class performance from a single GPU.
Turtle Beach To Make Heroes of the Storm Gaming Headsets
Turtle Beach, the leading audio brand in the games industry, today announced a new multi-year licensing agreement with Blizzard Entertainment around the highly anticipated Heroes of the Storm multiplayer game. As part of the agreement, Turtle Beach will develop PC gaming headsets for both elite and recreational players. Turtle Beach is the gaming audio brand of Parametric Sound Corporation.
Heroes of the Storm is a new raucous online team brawler that draws iconic characters from more than 20 years of Blizzard gaming history, including the award-winning Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft franchises. Heroes of the Storm is uniquely positioned to deliver exciting competitive play, thanks to its team-oriented gameplay mechanics and its fast-paced skirmishes.
Heroes of the Storm is a new raucous online team brawler that draws iconic characters from more than 20 years of Blizzard gaming history, including the award-winning Warcraft, Diablo, and StarCraft franchises. Heroes of the Storm is uniquely positioned to deliver exciting competitive play, thanks to its team-oriented gameplay mechanics and its fast-paced skirmishes.
Antec GX500 Gaming Chassis Now Available
Antec Inc., a global leader in high-performance computer enclosures, power supplies, and mobile accessories today announces the availability of the GX500, the latest addition to Antec's GX series. The case is now commercially available from 59€ (suggested retail price including VAT) and is backed by Antec's Quality 3-Year Warranty.
Despite its understated design, the entry-level chassis comes with great features. The Midi-Tower is black inside and out, has side vents for improved air circulation and rounded upper and lower edges. The GX500 is a clean and powerful case with space for high-end graphics cards up to a length of 15 inches (380 mm), as well as extra space behind the motherboard tray for cable routing. Thanks to its cutout for the CPU and generous space for cable management, it is fun and easy to assemble a system. Additional features include standard SSD support and dual front mounted USB 3.0 ports for transfer rates up to 5 Gbps.
Despite its understated design, the entry-level chassis comes with great features. The Midi-Tower is black inside and out, has side vents for improved air circulation and rounded upper and lower edges. The GX500 is a clean and powerful case with space for high-end graphics cards up to a length of 15 inches (380 mm), as well as extra space behind the motherboard tray for cable routing. Thanks to its cutout for the CPU and generous space for cable management, it is fun and easy to assemble a system. Additional features include standard SSD support and dual front mounted USB 3.0 ports for transfer rates up to 5 Gbps.
StarTech Announces New UASP-supported USB 3.0 Products
StarTech.com, a leading manufacturer of hard-to-find connectivity parts, has announced the availability of UASP-supported USB 3.0 storage products, which make it easy for IT professionals and prosumers to take advantage of the performance capability of Solid State storage (SSDs), through the fastest USB 3.0 transfer speeds available. UASP, which stands for USB Attached SCSI Protocol, is a protocol that was introduced by the USB Implementers Forum which provides significantly faster performance than a traditional USB 3.0 connection which uses the BOT (Bulk Only Transport).
Users of Windows 8, Mac OSX (10.8 or above), and Linux can all benefit from UASP's improved performance. In testing, UASP performs with a 70% faster read speed and 40% faster write speed over traditional USB 3.0 at peak performance. At the same peak in testing UASP also shows an 80% reduction in required processor resources. "UASP-supported USB 3.0 will become one of the most widely accepted data transfer interfaces, in the years to come" said Juliet Wei, Senior Product Manager for StarTech.com's Data Storage and Hard Drive Accessories product line. "The UASP products we've released to date offer IT professionals and prosumers a cost-effective way to get the most performance from their external USB 3.0 mass storage devices, especially when used with Solid State or hybrid drives."
Users of Windows 8, Mac OSX (10.8 or above), and Linux can all benefit from UASP's improved performance. In testing, UASP performs with a 70% faster read speed and 40% faster write speed over traditional USB 3.0 at peak performance. At the same peak in testing UASP also shows an 80% reduction in required processor resources. "UASP-supported USB 3.0 will become one of the most widely accepted data transfer interfaces, in the years to come" said Juliet Wei, Senior Product Manager for StarTech.com's Data Storage and Hard Drive Accessories product line. "The UASP products we've released to date offer IT professionals and prosumers a cost-effective way to get the most performance from their external USB 3.0 mass storage devices, especially when used with Solid State or hybrid drives."
ASUS Radeon R9 295X2 Graphics Card Pictured, Pricing Revealed
Here's the first picture of an AMD add-in board (AIB) branded Radeon R9 295X2 dual-GPU graphics card, ASUS in this case. The card ships in a huge cubical box, although we're not sure if that paperboard box hides a metal suitcase inside. ASUS did away with the perforated metal grille over the central fan on the card, and plastered a couple of stickers, although the rest of the card sticks to AMD's reference board design. According to leading Turkish tech publication DonanimHaber, AMD is planning to price the Radeon R9 295X2 at US $1,499. According to older reports, the R9 295X2 is a dual-GPU CrossFire-on-a-stick graphics card, featuring two 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs, with all 2,816 stream processors, 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 512-bit wide memory interfaces enabled on each chip, and 4 GB of memory per GPU system, totaling the amount to 8 GB.
Samsung Introduces New Lineup of Branded Memory Cards
Samsung Electronics, a market leader in advanced memory technology and an innovator in consumer electronics, announced today that it is now shipping a new line of advanced SD and microSD cards that are ideal for digital imaging and mobile devices. The products will be available in PRO, EVO and Standard categories, suited for various use cases and performance levels for consumers and professionals.
Samsung's extensive memory card lineup offers SD cards and microSD cards for use in many different consumer electronic devices. The PRO, EVO and Standard lineups are available in a wide range of capacities from 4 gigabyte (GB) to 64 GB. While SD cards are most often used in digital cameras, DSLR cameras and camcorders, microSD cards are mainly used in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as certain cameras and camcorders with microSD card slots.
Samsung's extensive memory card lineup offers SD cards and microSD cards for use in many different consumer electronic devices. The PRO, EVO and Standard lineups are available in a wide range of capacities from 4 gigabyte (GB) to 64 GB. While SD cards are most often used in digital cameras, DSLR cameras and camcorders, microSD cards are mainly used in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as certain cameras and camcorders with microSD card slots.
Sony Expands Portable Storage Line with New 2 TB Hard Disk Drive
Sony's new 2 TB (terabyte) portable storage hard disk drive takes the worry out of back-up in the field, and gives professionals reliable, bus-powered high-speed storage.
The new 2 TB hard disk drive (PSZ-HA2T) expands Sony's line of portable storage drives, and joins three current models including a 500 GB and 1 TB (PSZ-HA50 and PSZ-HA1T) hard disk model and a 256 GB solid state drive (PSZ-SA25).
The new 2 TB hard disk drive (PSZ-HA2T) expands Sony's line of portable storage drives, and joins three current models including a 500 GB and 1 TB (PSZ-HA50 and PSZ-HA1T) hard disk model and a 256 GB solid state drive (PSZ-SA25).
ECS Intros Socket FM2+ Motherboard Based on AMD A58 Chipset
ECS unveiled its first socket FM2+ motherboard based on AMD's new A58 FCH entry-level chipset, the A58F2P-M4. This narrow micro-ATX motherboard draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 4-pin CPU connectors, and uses a 3+1 phase VRM to condition power for the APU, which is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots, and a PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slot. The only other expansion slot is a PCIe 3.0 x1. Connectivity is fairly basic, with four SATA 3 Gb/s ports, D-Sub and HDMI display outputs, 6-channel HD audio, and gigabit Ethernet. Expect this to go under $50.
SilverStone Unveils NightJar 520W Power Supply
SilverStone unveiled a 520W model of its NightJar line of silent power supplies (model: SST-NJ520). The fully modular, and fan-less power supply boasts of 80 Plus Platinum efficiency rating, and features a single +12V rail design, with a single 43A +12V rail. Cabling includes a 24-pin ATX, 4+4-pin EPS, two 6+2-pin PCIe, six SATA, five Molex, and one Berg. On offer are flat (ribbon) cables that are easier to bend around tight corners in your case. The PSU passively cools all its hot components using chunky heatsinks, and a highly perforated body, which measures 150 mm x 160 mm x 86 mm (WxDxH). SilverStone didn't reveal pricing.
HighPoint Outs Affordable Thunderbolt 2 SATA 6G Adapter
HighPoint Technologies, a pioneering force in the storage industry for the past 19 years, has announced that its latest Thunderbolt 2 Storage Adapter, the RocketStor 6328L, has passed Thunderbolt Certification, and is set for release in 2nd quarter 2014. HighPoint will be unveiling the RocketStor 6328L at this year's NAB show. HighPoint's Rocketstor 6328L, along with the 4-channel RocketStor 6324L are the simplest, most efficient way to integrate Mini-SAS and eSATA storage configurations into Thunderbolt host platforms.
"Thunderbolt delivers unparalleled performance, flexibility and simplicity to personal computing." said Jason Ziller, Intel's director of Thunderbolt Marketing, "Products like the HighPoint RocketStor 6328L help highlight what Thunderbolt 2 makes possible."
"Thunderbolt delivers unparalleled performance, flexibility and simplicity to personal computing." said Jason Ziller, Intel's director of Thunderbolt Marketing, "Products like the HighPoint RocketStor 6328L help highlight what Thunderbolt 2 makes possible."
EVGA Offers ACX Cooling Solution for GeForce TITAN Black
With NVIDIA's restrictions that prevent AIC partners from coming up with custom-design GeForce GTX TITAN Black graphics cards (with the exception of those with factory-fitted full-coverage water-blocks) in place, EVGA is taking a route explored by GIGABYTE last year, when it bundled NVIDIA-kosher (reference design) GTX TITAN cards with its WindForce 450 cooling solution detached, that the users can install by themselves. EVGA's approach is a tiny bit different. Its GTX TITAN Black-branded ACX cooler is sold separately, as an accessory for the company's reference-design cards; at a rather affordable price of US $39.99. The package includes the dual-fan aluminium fin heatsink, and a heatspreader to cool the memory and VRM.
NVIDIA to Launch GeForce 337.50 Beta Later Today
It's now NVIDIA's turn to come up with a 'wonder driver' that introduces large across-the-board performance improvements that could affect performance standings of GeForce GTX GPUs. Bearing the canonical version number GeForce 337.50 Beta, the driver will step up DirectX rendering performance thanks to some fundamental changes in the way the the driver and API handle graphics processing loads for the metal (GPU) to chew on. The difference that makes, according to a leaked NVIDIA press-deck, is that NVIDIA GPUs will offer higher frame-rates than Mantle, while staying in Direct3D mode. Put in numbers, NVIDIA is claiming performance improvements of up to 64% in Total War: Rome II, up to 21% in Star Swarm, and up to 10% in Metro: Last Light.
Sunday, April 6th 2014
HP Unveils New DreamColor Displays Offering Unmatched Color Accuracy
HP today announced two new HP DreamColor Displays, once again disrupting the color-critical display market by achieving new levels of affordability and color accuracy. The HP Z27x and Z24x displays for PCs and Macs feature HP's second-generation DreamColor Engine and provide up to 1.07 billion on-screen colors, achieving color error so small that it is not discernable to the human eye. Compared to the previous-generation product, the new displays include up to 60 percent more pixels, contain up to a 4,000 percent increase in the internal color palette and are up to 57 percent thinner.
LaCie Enables 4K Post-Production with Latest Thunderbolt 2 Storage Solutions
LaCie, the premium brand from Seagate Technology, announced at the 2014 NAB Show three new storage solutions featuring Thunderbolt 2 technology. The LaCie 8big Rack, 5big and 2big feature industry-leading speeds and the latest 6TB hard drives from Seagate. This combination of speed and capacity make these products ideal for 4K workflows. Built-in hardware RAID keeps data safe, while cutting-edge industrial design delivers user efficiency and stunning appearance.
The LaCie 8big Rack Thunderbolt 2 is the company's first Thunderbolt 2 rackmount storage solution. Compact and stylish, the LaCie 8big Rack features up to eight 6 TB 7200 RPM hard drives from Seagate, for an impressive 48 TB in a mere 1U size. Delivering speeds of up to 1330 MB/s, it is the most powerful plug and play rackmount solution for 4K video editing.
The LaCie 8big Rack Thunderbolt 2 is the company's first Thunderbolt 2 rackmount storage solution. Compact and stylish, the LaCie 8big Rack features up to eight 6 TB 7200 RPM hard drives from Seagate, for an impressive 48 TB in a mere 1U size. Delivering speeds of up to 1330 MB/s, it is the most powerful plug and play rackmount solution for 4K video editing.
EK Releases MSI R9 290X Lightning Full-Cover Water Block
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana-based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce the full-cover water cooling solution for the MSI R9 290X LIGHTNING series graphics cards.
EK-FC R9-290X Lightning water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and its VRM to remain stable under high overclocks.
EK-FC R9-290X Lightning water block directly cools the GPU, RAM as well as VRM (voltage regulation module) as water flows directly over these critical areas thus allowing the graphics card and its VRM to remain stable under high overclocks.
Saturday, April 5th 2014
NVIDIA GPUs Power Latest Adobe Creative Cloud Enhancements
NVIDIA today announced its GPUs are powering the upcoming releases and new GPU-accelerated features of Adobe Creative Cloud video applications, such as Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe After Effects CC, SpeedGrade CC, Adobe Media Encoder (AME), and Adobe Anywhere. The upcoming releases were revealed by Adobe at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.
NVIDIA's GPUs are a "must-have" tool for Adobe video professionals -- enabling the fastest performance across the widest range of Creative Cloud applications, whether working in HD or 4K, desktop or mobile, workstation or cloud. NVIDIA and Adobe have engaged in a long-standing effort to develop unmatched GPU-accelerated features designed for professional Video Editors, VFX artists and Colorists.
NVIDIA's GPUs are a "must-have" tool for Adobe video professionals -- enabling the fastest performance across the widest range of Creative Cloud applications, whether working in HD or 4K, desktop or mobile, workstation or cloud. NVIDIA and Adobe have engaged in a long-standing effort to develop unmatched GPU-accelerated features designed for professional Video Editors, VFX artists and Colorists.
Friday, April 4th 2014
Today's Reviews
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Motherboards
Notebooks
Storage
AMD APUs and GPUs Accelerate Latest Adobe Creative Cloud Tools and Enhancements
AMD today announced its ongoing collaboration with Adobe has yielded numerous performance optimizations for new creative functions and workflow enhancements that will be available soon to video professionals using Adobe Creative Cloud. This latest wave of features includes high performance debayering for RED camera R3D media files, enhanced performance for new masking features, a new time-saving master clip capability and other tools.
Today's announcement builds on the already impressive additions the companies have made available in recent months, which began with OpenCL support through the Adobe Mercury Playback Engine to speed up Adobe Premiere Pro CC workflows. AMD App Acceleration via the open standard OpenCL API brings the massive parallel compute power of AMD A-Series APUs, AMD Radeon graphics, and AMD FirePro professional graphics to bear on the sophisticated capabilities within Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe SpeedGrade CC, and Adobe Media Encoder CC. That performance also scales with AMD dual-GPU configurations, including dual AMD FirePro GPUs for the latest generation Apple Mac Pro systems.
Today's announcement builds on the already impressive additions the companies have made available in recent months, which began with OpenCL support through the Adobe Mercury Playback Engine to speed up Adobe Premiere Pro CC workflows. AMD App Acceleration via the open standard OpenCL API brings the massive parallel compute power of AMD A-Series APUs, AMD Radeon graphics, and AMD FirePro professional graphics to bear on the sophisticated capabilities within Adobe Premiere Pro CC, Adobe SpeedGrade CC, and Adobe Media Encoder CC. That performance also scales with AMD dual-GPU configurations, including dual AMD FirePro GPUs for the latest generation Apple Mac Pro systems.
SAPPHIRE Launches Radeon R9 290 Vapor-X OC
SAPPHIRE technology, the leading manufacturer and global supplier of AMD-based graphics products, has just announced an exciting new model in the successful R9 series of graphics cards. The SAPPHIRE R9 290 Vapor-X OC features several of the company's industry-leading technologies and a factory overclock to deliver best in class performance with very low noise.
Based on the award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture from AMD with 2560 Stream Processors, the SAPPHIRE R9 290 Vapor-X is an Overclocked edition which boasts 4 GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 1400 MHz (5.6 GB/s effective) and high speed engine clocks of 1030 MHz. Together these clocks deliver industry leading performance - but to achieve this performance with stability and reliability demands high quality components throughout the design (especially in the power control circuitry) together with a sophisticated cooling solution.
Based on the award-winning Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture from AMD with 2560 Stream Processors, the SAPPHIRE R9 290 Vapor-X is an Overclocked edition which boasts 4 GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 1400 MHz (5.6 GB/s effective) and high speed engine clocks of 1030 MHz. Together these clocks deliver industry leading performance - but to achieve this performance with stability and reliability demands high quality components throughout the design (especially in the power control circuitry) together with a sophisticated cooling solution.
Four Microsoft Security Updates Coming Next Week
This month's Patch Tuesday (the last one for Windows XP and Office 2003) will see Microsoft roll out four fresh security updates, two rated Critical and two rated Important, targeting remote code execution vulnerabilities found in Windows, Office and Internet Explorer. One of the updates is set to resolve a Word bug that was made public last week (on March 24th) and is known to have been exploited in 'limited, targeted attacks directed at Microsoft Word 2010'.
The April patches will be made available next week on April 8th, at about 10:00 a.m. PDT. For a bit more info check out the Advance Notification published here.
The April patches will be made available next week on April 8th, at about 10:00 a.m. PDT. For a bit more info check out the Advance Notification published here.
XFX Announces its Radeon R5 200 Series
XFX launched no less than five graphics cards based on AMD's new entry-level Radeon R5 230, four based on a low-profile, single-slot PCB, and one on a full-height PCB. All five cards are fan-less (silent), and feature chunky aluminium heatsinks to cool the GPU. All cards stick to the same clock speeds of 625 MHz. Among the low profile cards are the R5-230A-ZLH2 (1 GB DDR3 memory, HDMI, DVI, D-Sub); R5-230A-CLHV (2 GB DDR3 memory, HDMI, DVI, D-Sub); R5-230A-CLHR (same card with AMD freebies); and R5-230A-CLH2. The full height card, the R5-230A-CNH2 uses the added PCB area to just hold a bigger heatsink, and spread components out better. Based on the "Caicos" silicon, the R5 230 features 160 stream processors, and supports DirectX 11.
Thursday, April 3rd 2014
Today's Reviews
Cases
Graphics Cards
Harddisks
Motherboards
Mousepads
Notebooks
SSD
VidaBox OpenSqueeze Network Players Review
VidaBox's new media player, dubbed the OpenSqueeze, fills the gap left by Logitech's Squeezebox devices. The OpenSqueeze is powered by an open source OS and comes with the same functionality as the original Squeeze products.
AMD's Lisa Su Named UBM Executive of the Year
AMD Senior Vice President and General Manager, Global Business Units, Lisa Su has been named a winner in the EE Times and EDN 2014 UBM Tech ACE Awards in the Executive of the Year category. The awards program honors the people and companies behind the technologies and products that are changing the world of electronics.
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony Tuesday, April 1, at The Fairmont San Jose, during EE Live! "I am flattered and honored to be selected for the UBM 'Executive of the Year' award. When I look at the list of this year's nominees and past winners, it is a who's who of the industry's leaders," said Su. "AMD is in the middle of an important and comprehensive transformation, but it is very much a team effort. On behalf of the entire AMD team, we very much appreciate the recognition for the work."
The winners were announced at an awards ceremony Tuesday, April 1, at The Fairmont San Jose, during EE Live! "I am flattered and honored to be selected for the UBM 'Executive of the Year' award. When I look at the list of this year's nominees and past winners, it is a who's who of the industry's leaders," said Su. "AMD is in the middle of an important and comprehensive transformation, but it is very much a team effort. On behalf of the entire AMD team, we very much appreciate the recognition for the work."
EVGA Z87 Motherboards Ready for Upcoming 4th Generation Intel Core CPUs
EVGA Z87 motherboards are now ready for the upcoming 4th Generation Intel Core CPUs with a new BIOS update that is available from EVGA today. This BIOS update is available for free at the EVGA Support page and takes only seconds to install. To download and update your EVGA Z87 motherboard BIOS and get your system ready for the new Intel Core CPUs, please visit the EVGA support page.
BenQ Launches the RL2460HT 24-Inch Gaming Monitor
BenQ, a world-leading human technology and solutions provider and professional gaming monitor pioneer, announced today a new addition to its RL Series: the RL2460HT.
Packed with exclusively designed Fighting Mode and HDMI Output for console games, as well as all the latest features from 1 ms GTG to Flicker-free Technology, Black eQualizer, Low Blue Light Technology and Height Adjustment Stand with Precision Scale System, the 24" novelty is the world's first-ever professional gaming monitor dedicated to optimize the experience of high speed gaming. This is also BenQ's first time to work with professional gamers of this exciting genre, inviting console game legend, Justin Wong of Evil Geniuses, to co-develop the new Fighting Mode.
Packed with exclusively designed Fighting Mode and HDMI Output for console games, as well as all the latest features from 1 ms GTG to Flicker-free Technology, Black eQualizer, Low Blue Light Technology and Height Adjustment Stand with Precision Scale System, the 24" novelty is the world's first-ever professional gaming monitor dedicated to optimize the experience of high speed gaming. This is also BenQ's first time to work with professional gamers of this exciting genre, inviting console game legend, Justin Wong of Evil Geniuses, to co-develop the new Fighting Mode.
Micron Reports Results for the Second Quarter of Fiscal 2014
Micron Technology, Inc. today announced results of operations for its second quarter of fiscal 2014, which ended February 27, 2014. Revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $4.11 billion and were 2 percent higher compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and 98 percent higher compared to the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
GAAP Income and Per Share Data - On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Micron shareholders in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $731 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to net income of $358 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and a net loss of ($286) million, or ($0.28) per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
GAAP Income and Per Share Data - On a GAAP basis, net income attributable to Micron shareholders in the second quarter of fiscal 2014 was $731 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, compared to net income of $358 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 and a net loss of ($286) million, or ($0.28) per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock Goes On Sale
Elgato Systems has today expanded its Thunderbolt-supporting product portfolio through the release of the Thunderbolt Dock. Seen below, this 'all-in-one' dock measures 17.8 x 8 x 2.5 cm and includes two Thunderbolt connectors, three USB 3.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, one HDMI 1.4 output (to drive up to 2560x1600-pixel displays), plus a microphone input and an audio output.
Elgato's Thunderbolt Dock comes bundled with a Thunderbolt cable and costs $229.95/€219.95.
Elgato's Thunderbolt Dock comes bundled with a Thunderbolt cable and costs $229.95/€219.95.
AOC Debuts 24-inch 144 Hz Gaming Monitor Built for Speed
AOC, a worldwide leader in monitor display technology, today announces the 24-inch 144 Hz Gaming Monitor (G2460PQU). Designed for high-performance gaming, the AOC G2460PQU delivers a refresh rate of 144 Hz and response time of 1 ms for ultra smooth, crystal clear visuals that give gamers decisive advantages including reduced input lag and more frames per second.
The AOC G2460PQU is the ultimate gaming monitor with ample connectivity options and a sleek design to meet your competitive gaming needs. The wall-mountable monitor has a black hairline textured design with a sleek red bar at the bottom bezel, and comes with Display Port, HDMI, DVI-Dual Link, VGA, with four USB 2.0 ports.
The AOC G2460PQU is the ultimate gaming monitor with ample connectivity options and a sleek design to meet your competitive gaming needs. The wall-mountable monitor has a black hairline textured design with a sleek red bar at the bottom bezel, and comes with Display Port, HDMI, DVI-Dual Link, VGA, with four USB 2.0 ports.
Digital Storm Unveils Four New Gaming Laptops
Digital Storm is excited to unveil four new gaming notebooks - the 15.6 inch Javelin and Lance and the 17.3 inch Krypton and Behemoth. The four laptops provide a variety of sizes, configurations and features to meet the needs of almost any mobile PC gamer.
All four models in Digital Storm's new line feature the new NVIDIA GTX 800M series of graphics cards. The new generation of graphics cards offers improved performance and advanced technology like Battery Boost, to maximize battery life during gaming, and ShadowPlay for recording gameplay streams.
All four models in Digital Storm's new line feature the new NVIDIA GTX 800M series of graphics cards. The new generation of graphics cards offers improved performance and advanced technology like Battery Boost, to maximize battery life during gaming, and ShadowPlay for recording gameplay streams.
Eurocom Launches the World's Most Powerful 13.3" Ultraportable
Eurocom is launching the M4, the world's most powerful 13.3" QHD+ notebook. It is equipped with a breathtaking 3200x1800 QHD+ display, an Intel Core i7 Extreme Processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M Maxwell graphics. The 5,760,000 pixels of the 13.3" 3200x1800 QHD+ display are powered by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics with 2GB DDR5 VRAM, 640 CUDA Cores, with a GPU core able to run at up to 1029MHz +boost. Weighing just two kilograms and being only 1.2 inches thin makes the EUROCOM M4 extremely easy to carry and transport, with no need for a power cord due to the great battery life brought on by supported NVIDIA Optimus Technology.
Gaming is all about refresh rates and great visuals, the M4 does not disappoint with a beautiful 13.3" 3200x1800 QHD+ display powered by powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics. Audio is enhanced thanks to the Sound Blaster Cinema audio platform featuring SBX Pro Studio. Powered by a full line of 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processors utilizing the Intel HM87 Express Chipset including the Intel Core i7-4940MX Processor Extreme with 4 cores and 8 threads running at 3.1 GHz (up to 4 GHz max turbo frequency) with 8 MB L3 cache. A menacing silver Backlit keyboard makes gaming or working in the dark a breeze. Up to 16 GB DDR3-1866 SODIMM memory is supported via two slots with 8 GB modules that are easy to access to upgrade or replace.
Gaming is all about refresh rates and great visuals, the M4 does not disappoint with a beautiful 13.3" 3200x1800 QHD+ display powered by powerful NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M graphics. Audio is enhanced thanks to the Sound Blaster Cinema audio platform featuring SBX Pro Studio. Powered by a full line of 4th Generation Intel Core i7 processors utilizing the Intel HM87 Express Chipset including the Intel Core i7-4940MX Processor Extreme with 4 cores and 8 threads running at 3.1 GHz (up to 4 GHz max turbo frequency) with 8 MB L3 cache. A menacing silver Backlit keyboard makes gaming or working in the dark a breeze. Up to 16 GB DDR3-1866 SODIMM memory is supported via two slots with 8 GB modules that are easy to access to upgrade or replace.
ECS Announces the Whole New AMD FM2+ Platform Motherboards
ECS (Elitegroup Computer Systems) today announced the whole new AMD FM2+ Platform motherboards - A78F2P-M2, A58F2P-M4, and A55F2P-M2 , featuring the new AMD FM2+ APU socket, transcending the already strong performance FM2 motherboards by adding a host of powerful new features from the Kaveri Technology platform. ECS AMD FM2+ motherboards offer native support for PCI Express Gen 3.0 as well as DirectX 11.1 support integrating the high performance "Steamroller" core. In addition, ECS AMD FM2+ motherboards provide native 4K resolution for ultimate visual experience.
ECS FM2+ Motherboards with AMD Radeon Graphics
AMD A-Series APUs with AMD Radeon R7 graphics are designed with game-changing new features that deliver superior computing and heart-pounding gaming performance. AMD Radeon graphics is based on the new intelligent computing architecture to optimize users' visual experience with the most advanced graphical technology.
ECS FM2+ Motherboards with AMD Radeon Graphics
AMD A-Series APUs with AMD Radeon R7 graphics are designed with game-changing new features that deliver superior computing and heart-pounding gaming performance. AMD Radeon graphics is based on the new intelligent computing architecture to optimize users' visual experience with the most advanced graphical technology.
Sapphire Launches R5 Series of Entry Level Graphics Cards
SAPPHIRE Technology has just introduced three new mainstream models to its highly successful R-Series of graphics cards based on AMD Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture. The new SAPPHIRE R5 230 series includes three low profile PCI-Express graphics cards that require no additional power connector, making them ideal for entry level systems or for upgrading existing PC systems and providing additional monitor support. Two basic models have 160 Stream processors and core clocks of 625MHz, and offer a choice of 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 memory to deliver excellent performance and great value. Outputs are Dual-link DVI, VGA and HDMI, supporting a choice of monitor types and the cards ship with optional backplates for use in standard or low-profile chassis.
The third model is the R5 230 FleX, which also has 160 Stream processors and 625MHz core clocks, but has 1GB of DDR3 memory with the enhanced clock speed of 800MHz (1600MHz effective). The FleX model adds the SAPPHIRE exclusive ability to support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode without the need for any active adapters and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area. The first two monitors are connected to the two DVI outputs. A third DVI monitor can be connected to the HDMI output with the passive cable adapter supplied.
The third model is the R5 230 FleX, which also has 160 Stream processors and 625MHz core clocks, but has 1GB of DDR3 memory with the enhanced clock speed of 800MHz (1600MHz effective). The FleX model adds the SAPPHIRE exclusive ability to support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode without the need for any active adapters and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area. The first two monitors are connected to the two DVI outputs. A third DVI monitor can be connected to the HDMI output with the passive cable adapter supplied.
Club 3D Introduces Its Radeon R5 Series Graphics Cards
Club 3D, the renowned Dutch manufacturer of AMD based graphics cards is proud to announce the completion of our range of graphics cards. At the end of 2013, the incredibly powerful 'Hawaii' GPU marked the debut of the brand new Radeon R9 series. After several generations AMD dropped the 'HD xxx' model names in favor of the new R- series structure.
The R series consists of the R9 high performance graphics cards targeted at the most demanding PC gamers. Next is the R7 series. Cards in the R7 series are capable all-rounders with the power to do it all. So far there was no part of the R series aimed at entry level cards. This is about to change with the launch of the Radeon R5 series.
The R series consists of the R9 high performance graphics cards targeted at the most demanding PC gamers. Next is the R7 series. Cards in the R7 series are capable all-rounders with the power to do it all. So far there was no part of the R series aimed at entry level cards. This is about to change with the launch of the Radeon R5 series.
Thecus Expands SMB and Enterprise NAS Line with 10GbE Ready N7710 and N8810U
Thecus is pleased to announce the expansion on the company's SMB and Enterprise NAS line with the 10GbE Ready N7710 and N8810U. These new models offer identical hardware and performance to the recently released N7710-G and N8810U-G, differing only in stock support for 10GbE connectivity. These models offer excellent value for companies who do not currently have the need or infrastructure for 10GbE speeds, and are looking for powerful performance and an attractive architecture. Both units are fully upgradable if a company decides to make the jump to 10GbE down the line.
Be Quiet! Power Zone, Dark Rock 3, and Pure Wings 2 win at Red Dot Design Awards
Be quiet!, for eight years in succession PC power supply market leader in Germany*, has won three of the sought-after Red Dot Design Awards. The Power Zone power supply series, the Dark Rock 3 CPU cooler series and the Pure Wings 2 fan in 120 mm convinced the 40 members of the Red Dot jury. Henceforth these be quiet! products may be adorned with the globally recognized quality seal and they are immortalized in the Red Dot yearbook.
The goal during development of the Power Zone power supply was to provide a PSU series with the best possible combination of performance and features for gamers, CPU overclockers and PC enthusiasts, at an affordable price. The powder-coated metal surfaces of the power supply housing, which makes it appealingly tactile, also won over the Red Dot jurors. The engraved and colorful be quiet! logo rounds off the elegant visual impression. The ribbed structure of the surfaces and the balanced combination of metal and plastic components is purposely reminiscent of a car motor, because in a PC the power supply performs a similar function to a drive unit. The built-in Silent Wings fan, whose airflow optimized blades minimize noise-generating turbulences, is also sure to have appealed. The power supplies are energy saving and environment friendly with an extremely low stand-by power need and 80PLUS Bronze efficiency certification. In addition, completely detachable and sleeved cables enhance the handling convenience and simplify component installation.
The goal during development of the Power Zone power supply was to provide a PSU series with the best possible combination of performance and features for gamers, CPU overclockers and PC enthusiasts, at an affordable price. The powder-coated metal surfaces of the power supply housing, which makes it appealingly tactile, also won over the Red Dot jurors. The engraved and colorful be quiet! logo rounds off the elegant visual impression. The ribbed structure of the surfaces and the balanced combination of metal and plastic components is purposely reminiscent of a car motor, because in a PC the power supply performs a similar function to a drive unit. The built-in Silent Wings fan, whose airflow optimized blades minimize noise-generating turbulences, is also sure to have appealed. The power supplies are energy saving and environment friendly with an extremely low stand-by power need and 80PLUS Bronze efficiency certification. In addition, completely detachable and sleeved cables enhance the handling convenience and simplify component installation.
Plextor Announces Worldwide Release of M6e PCI Express SSD
Plextor, a leading developer of high-performance digital storage technology, announces the worldwide availability of the M6e PCIe SSD, the first SSD specifically designed to meet the demanding requirements of the gaming community. The M6e will be available exclusively at NewEgg from April 7 through April 13.
The ultimate PC upgrade, the M6e delivers faster boot up speeds, shorter application load times, and improved system responsiveness for the ultimate performance. Power users can experience speeds up to 50% faster compared to regular SATA-based SSDs.
The ultimate PC upgrade, the M6e delivers faster boot up speeds, shorter application load times, and improved system responsiveness for the ultimate performance. Power users can experience speeds up to 50% faster compared to regular SATA-based SSDs.
AMD Launches Radeon R5 230 in the Retail Channel, Gigabyte Outs its Offering
AMD launched a new entry-level GPU for those who need a bare-essentials graphics card for their desktop, which so happens to lack integrated graphics (think Intel HEDT platform). Called the Radeon R5 230, the chip is based on the "Caicos" silicon, and features 160 stream processors, 8 TMUs, and 4 ROPs. It supports DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.3. Its core is clocked at 625 MHz. It features a 64-bit wide DDR3 memory interface, holding 1 GB of memory, clocked at 1066 MHz. Pictured below is the first AIB-branded R5 230 card for the retail channel, Gigabyte's R523D3-1GL, with a single-slot, half-height built, and a tiny fan-heatsink keeping its GPU cool. AMD could price the card around the $50 mark.
EIZO Announces Two New 24.1-Inch ColorEdge Monitors
EIZO Corporation today introduced two 24.1-inch monitors to its ColorEdge series of graphics monitors and an industry-first cloud-based solution that reduces maintenance costs and unifies color by centralizing color management of all ColorEdge monitors.
The new monitors are the ColorEdge CG247 and the ColorEdge CX241. Both models feature a new wide-gamut IPS (in-plane switching) panel that reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB color space. The ColorEdge CG247 comes with a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration and is targeted at professionals in photography, prepress, and post production. The ColorEdge CX241 houses an internal correction sensor that maintains the calibration results after the monitor has been calibrated with an external calibration sensor and is ideal for professionals and prosumers.
The new monitors are the ColorEdge CG247 and the ColorEdge CX241. Both models feature a new wide-gamut IPS (in-plane switching) panel that reproduces 99% of the Adobe RGB color space. The ColorEdge CG247 comes with a built-in calibration sensor for self-calibration and is targeted at professionals in photography, prepress, and post production. The ColorEdge CX241 houses an internal correction sensor that maintains the calibration results after the monitor has been calibrated with an external calibration sensor and is ideal for professionals and prosumers.
Wednesday, April 2nd 2014
Today's Reviews
Accessories
Graphics Cards
Headphones
Keyboards
SSD
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 256GB ComputerBase (de)
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 512GB HardwareCanucks
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 512GB HotHardware
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 1TB SSDReview
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 512GB Tech Report
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 512GB Technologix
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 512GB Tom's Hardware
- ADATA Premier Pro SP920 1TB Tweaktown
- Intel SSD 730 480GB Guru3D
- Kingston SSDNow KC300 240GB i2Hard (ru)
- SanDisk Extreme II and Ultra Plus HT4U (de)
- SanDisk Extreme II 240GB RAID Tweaktown
Seasonic S12G 450 W Review
Seasonic is one of the best PSU OEMs and has lately been trying to improve its presence in the mainstream and lower-end segments by releasing affordable products. Today, we will evaluate the S12G 450 W which is essentially a G series PSU without modular cables.
Radeon R9 295X2 Press Deck Leaked
Here are some of the key slides from AMD's press-deck (presentation) for reviewers, for the Radeon R9 295X2 dual-GPU graphics card, ahead of its April 8 launch. The slides confirm specifications that surfaced earlier this week, which describe the card as bearing the codename "Vesuvius," having two 28 nm "Hawaii" GPUs, and all 2,816 stream processors on the chips being enabled, next to 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 512-bit wide GDDR5 memory interfaces. Two such chips are wired to a PLX PEX8747 PCI-Express 3.0 x48 bridge chip. There's a total of 8 GB of memory on board, 4 GB per GPU. Lastly, clock speeds are revealed. The GPUs are clocked as high as 1018 MHz, and memory at 5.00 GHz (GDDR5-effective). The total memory bandwidth of the card is hence 640 GB/s.
The Radeon R9 295X2 indeed looks like the card which was pictured earlier this week, by members of the ChipHell tech community. It features an air+liquid hybrid cooling solution, much like the ROG ARES II by ASUS. The cooling solution is co-developed by AMD and Asetek. It features a couple of pump-blocks cooling the GPUs, which are plumbed with a common coolant channel running through a single 120 mm radiator+reservoir unit. A 120 mm fan is included. A centrally located fan on the card ventilates heatsinks that cool the VRM, memory, and the PCIe bridge chip.
The Radeon R9 295X2 indeed looks like the card which was pictured earlier this week, by members of the ChipHell tech community. It features an air+liquid hybrid cooling solution, much like the ROG ARES II by ASUS. The cooling solution is co-developed by AMD and Asetek. It features a couple of pump-blocks cooling the GPUs, which are plumbed with a common coolant channel running through a single 120 mm radiator+reservoir unit. A 120 mm fan is included. A centrally located fan on the card ventilates heatsinks that cool the VRM, memory, and the PCIe bridge chip.
Microsoft Showcases Latest Updates to Windows
Wednesday at Build 2014, Microsoft Corp.'s developer conference, the company announced several advances to Windows including Windows Phone 8.1, the availability of Windows 8.1 Update, a converged developer platform, and a $0 royalty licensing program for OEM and ODM partners developing smartphones and tablets with screens under nine inches.
Microsoft detailed new developer opportunities on the Windows platform with a common platform across devices, a single toolset, a common infrastructure across the Windows and Windows Phone stores, and a clear commitment to interoperability. The announcements highlight Microsoft's continued commitment to its partners and the developer community by maximizing opportunities across the broadest range of devices and services. Also as a part of the conference, Nokia announced three new Lumia smartphones for Windows Phone 8.1, including the flagship Lumia 930, the affordable Lumia 635 and the first dual-SIM Lumia 630.
Microsoft detailed new developer opportunities on the Windows platform with a common platform across devices, a single toolset, a common infrastructure across the Windows and Windows Phone stores, and a clear commitment to interoperability. The announcements highlight Microsoft's continued commitment to its partners and the developer community by maximizing opportunities across the broadest range of devices and services. Also as a part of the conference, Nokia announced three new Lumia smartphones for Windows Phone 8.1, including the flagship Lumia 930, the affordable Lumia 635 and the first dual-SIM Lumia 630.
ADATA Moves Quickly on New DDR4 Specification
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, has announced the launch of new DDR4 modules. Working in close cooperation with Intel, ADATA has successfully developed and launched DDR4 RDIMM (ECC Registered DIMM) that are fully compatible with the newly announced, next generation platform of Intel Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family.
Coming in densities of 4, 8 & 16 gigabytes, the new modules run at 1.2 volts, and at a frequency of 2133 MHz. The higher clock frequencies, faster data transfer rates, and low voltage operation of DDR4 memory make it especially suited for use in the growing cloud server, storage and networking application fields.
Coming in densities of 4, 8 & 16 gigabytes, the new modules run at 1.2 volts, and at a frequency of 2133 MHz. The higher clock frequencies, faster data transfer rates, and low voltage operation of DDR4 memory make it especially suited for use in the growing cloud server, storage and networking application fields.
NEC Announces the MultiSync E232WMT Multi-Touch Monitor
NEC Display Solutions of America, a leading provider of commercial LCD display and projector solutions, announced today the multi-touch, LED-backlit MultiSync E232WMT display with full-HD AH-IPS panel designed for environmentally conscious business professionals.
With 10-point multi-touch control, the E232WMT display comes with full-HD camera, speakers and adjustable stand, and the 23-inch model also possesses wide viewing angles and ergonomic adjustability.
With 10-point multi-touch control, the E232WMT display comes with full-HD camera, speakers and adjustable stand, and the 23-inch model also possesses wide viewing angles and ergonomic adjustability.
NZXT Unveils the Sentry 3 Touchscreen Fan Controller
Take your build to new heights with the Sentry 3's perfect blend of precision and power. The Sentry 3 combines five powerful fan channels with an extraordinarily intuitive UI, giving you complete control over your entire rig's cooling with the swipe of a finger.
The Sentry 3's huge 5.4 inch color touchscreen is 33% larger than any other single bay fan controller screen on the market. The newly introduced PowerSlide Bar gives you ultimate control over your fan channels, letting you adjust speed on the fly. Channel linking allows you to join any of the five fan channels together and control the link group simultaneously.
The Sentry 3's huge 5.4 inch color touchscreen is 33% larger than any other single bay fan controller screen on the market. The newly introduced PowerSlide Bar gives you ultimate control over your fan channels, letting you adjust speed on the fly. Channel linking allows you to join any of the five fan channels together and control the link group simultaneously.
Club 3D Announces Three New Multi Stream Transport Hub Models
The Club 3D Multi Stream Transport (MST) Hub is the MST Hub pioneer in the market and was introduced during CeBIT 2013.
Since the worldwide market launch 9 months ago, its popularity has grown and with the launch of three new models the Club 3D MST Hub is becoming a product family.
The Club 3D MST Hub may look like a simple hub but this product represents an important step into the future of display connectivity and we are taking it farther - by announcing the worlds' first MST Hub with HDMI outputs!
Since the worldwide market launch 9 months ago, its popularity has grown and with the launch of three new models the Club 3D MST Hub is becoming a product family.
The Club 3D MST Hub may look like a simple hub but this product represents an important step into the future of display connectivity and we are taking it farther - by announcing the worlds' first MST Hub with HDMI outputs!
EK Introduces Single 5.25-Inch Drive Bay DDC Combo Unit
EK Water Blocks, Ljubljana based premium water cooling gear manufacturer, is proud to introduce the latest 5.25" drive bay pump / reservoir combo unit.
EK-SBAY DDC 3.2 is high-performance hydraulically improved pump top (volute) for DDC series water pumps with integrated reservoir in a two-slot 5.25" drive bay form factor. This type of design makes the use of now almost abandoned 5.25" drive bay slot in order to provide more room for other components when facing limited space constraints. Made from a high quality POM Acetal this sturdy, monoblock design guarantees maximum reliability and rigidity!
EK-SBAY DDC 3.2 is high-performance hydraulically improved pump top (volute) for DDC series water pumps with integrated reservoir in a two-slot 5.25" drive bay form factor. This type of design makes the use of now almost abandoned 5.25" drive bay slot in order to provide more room for other components when facing limited space constraints. Made from a high quality POM Acetal this sturdy, monoblock design guarantees maximum reliability and rigidity!
Dell Introduces Latitude Rugged Extreme Lineup
Dell today announced the launch of both the Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme notebook and the Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme convertible notebook for customers who require powerful solutions that can survive unforgiving conditions.
"With new ground-up design and industry-first innovations, the Latitude 12 and 14 Rugged Extreme mark the beginning of a renewed and expanded commitment by Dell to the rugged space," said Kirk Schell, former officer, United States Navy and vice president, commercial PCs, client solutions group, Dell. "The Rugged Extreme line is backed by the Latitude promise of reliable, secure and manageable commercial PCs and can move easily from the boardroom to the battlefield or wherever the job takes you-an assurance unmatched by the competition."
"With new ground-up design and industry-first innovations, the Latitude 12 and 14 Rugged Extreme mark the beginning of a renewed and expanded commitment by Dell to the rugged space," said Kirk Schell, former officer, United States Navy and vice president, commercial PCs, client solutions group, Dell. "The Rugged Extreme line is backed by the Latitude promise of reliable, secure and manageable commercial PCs and can move easily from the boardroom to the battlefield or wherever the job takes you-an assurance unmatched by the competition."
Rapoo Releases the 8900P Wireless Mouse and Keyboard Set
The Rapoo 8900P, an Advanced Wireless Mouse and Keyboard Set, is the ultimate desktop set for the power user. Combining a slim, intelligent keyboard that has topped the IF Product Design Awards, and a wireless mouse fitted with a high-definition laser, this bundle adds style, and optimizes productivity in your home or office. The 8900P is available now.
The first part of the 8900P package is the E9270P, an ultra-slim touch keyboard with intelligent, multimedia touch keys. Crafted from stainless steel and aluminum alloy (only 4 mm thick), this keyboard's elegant look earned it a coveted IF Product Design Award 2013. Users can type comfortably and accurately for long periods of time because of the scissor key structure and floating chiclet keys.
The first part of the 8900P package is the E9270P, an ultra-slim touch keyboard with intelligent, multimedia touch keys. Crafted from stainless steel and aluminum alloy (only 4 mm thick), this keyboard's elegant look earned it a coveted IF Product Design Award 2013. Users can type comfortably and accurately for long periods of time because of the scissor key structure and floating chiclet keys.
Roccat Syva In-ear Gaming Headset Now Available
ROCCAT studios, German manufacturer of high-quality gaming peripherals, announces the availability of the Syva, a high-performance in-ear gaming headset that combines exceptional gaming style with exquisite sound quality that satisfies even the most demanding audio connoisseurs. Designed for the hardcore gamer and the avid music listener, the Syva delivers deep bass and crisp trebles through 10mm drivers in each ear bud. ROCCAT's newest earphone is the ideal choice for mobile gamers and users who want to experience remarkable audio quality while on the go.
The Syva comes with an omni-directional microphone integrated into the stylish, tangle-resistant ribbon cable that gives users the ability to answer phone calls or communicate with teammates during multiplayer gaming sessions. It also features a call/play button and noise-canceling technology to block out background noise and enhance call clarity.
The Syva comes with an omni-directional microphone integrated into the stylish, tangle-resistant ribbon cable that gives users the ability to answer phone calls or communicate with teammates during multiplayer gaming sessions. It also features a call/play button and noise-canceling technology to block out background noise and enhance call clarity.
Micron Technology Debuts DDR4 Modules for Intel Xeon E5-2600 v3 Systems
Micron Technology, Inc., a leading provider of advanced memory and storage solutions for enterprise data centers and high-performance computing applications, today announced it is ramping production of DDR4 memory to support upcoming Intel CPU launches. The improved power and performance of DDR4 technology is a critical requirement for the growing enterprise computing market, delivering a power improvement of up to 35% compared to standard DDR3.
Micron is ramping its 4 Gb-based DDR4 module production at 2133 megatransfers per second (MT/s) in support of Intel's Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family-based systems. Micron is also sampling a 2400 MT/s device in anticipation of follow-on products targeted for 2015.
Micron is ramping its 4 Gb-based DDR4 module production at 2133 megatransfers per second (MT/s) in support of Intel's Xeon processor E5-2600 v3 product family-based systems. Micron is also sampling a 2400 MT/s device in anticipation of follow-on products targeted for 2015.
Sony Introduces the World's First 9.1ch Digital Surround Wireless Headphones
Get a cinematic sound experience all to yourself in the comfort of your home with the new MDR-HW700DS digital surround wireless headphones system from Sony. Explosive surround sound is delivered via the world's first 9.1ch digital surround headphones. Adding more depth to the headphones system is a choice of sound effect modes that allow you to optimise the listening quality for movies, gaming or news- and talk shows.
The new "Cinema" mode, produced with the expertise of Sony Pictures Entertainments' very own Academy Award winning Supervising Sound Editor Tom McCarthy, recreates a feeling of being at the cinema. You can enjoy premium detailed uncompressed multi-channel surround sound via the digital wireless transmission that eliminates noise and interference from other devices in the home.
The new "Cinema" mode, produced with the expertise of Sony Pictures Entertainments' very own Academy Award winning Supervising Sound Editor Tom McCarthy, recreates a feeling of being at the cinema. You can enjoy premium detailed uncompressed multi-channel surround sound via the digital wireless transmission that eliminates noise and interference from other devices in the home.
MSI Announces ProBox23 Desktop Barebone
MSI announced the ProBox line of compact desktop barebones, the first of which is the ProBox23. Its chassis, which measures 202 mm x 204 mm x 54.8 mm (WxDxH), includes a slim mini-ITX motherboard based on the Intel H81 Express chipset, supporting LGA1150 processors (TDP of up to 65W), room for up to two DDR3 SO-DIMM slots, two 2.5-inch SATA drives, and an mSATA slot. A half-height mPCIe x1 slot is also featured, so you can drop in your own wireless communications card. The unit draws power from an external power brick. Connectivity includes stereo HD audio, gigabit Ethernet, two USB 3.0 ports, six USB 2.0 ports (two on the rear panel, four on the front), eSATA 3 Gb/s, and HDMI display output.
Tesoro Releases Tizona Mechanical Keyboard and Tizona Mechanical Numpad
Tesoro Technology USA Inc. - leading American manufacturer of high-tech gaming products, expands its catalog with a new series of tenkeyless mechanical keyboards with optional mechanical numpad named after famous sword of magic, Tizona. Tizona is named after famous sword of magic, owned by El Cid, which was used to fight the Moors in Spain. It is considered now one of the Spain's most cherished relics.
Tesoro known for its high quality workmanship bring Tizona to the top level of build quality for Tizona series with strong plastic top enclosure. Although the build is designed to be slim, it includes built in metal plates to maximize durability of the keyboard for the most extensive and rigorous gaming session at the comfort of home or on-the-go. Metal plates also ensure that keyboard is heavy, ensuring stability on the desk and help accidental damage while the keys are hit with high force. The keycaps itself come with highest quality ABS material, and the letters are custom-cut with laser to correspond to user country layout and ensure that they will not be erased even after years of service. Additionally, Tizona include detachable braided cable with gold-plated USB connector, rubber tilt feet and strong base for additional guarantee to durability.
Tesoro known for its high quality workmanship bring Tizona to the top level of build quality for Tizona series with strong plastic top enclosure. Although the build is designed to be slim, it includes built in metal plates to maximize durability of the keyboard for the most extensive and rigorous gaming session at the comfort of home or on-the-go. Metal plates also ensure that keyboard is heavy, ensuring stability on the desk and help accidental damage while the keys are hit with high force. The keycaps itself come with highest quality ABS material, and the letters are custom-cut with laser to correspond to user country layout and ensure that they will not be erased even after years of service. Additionally, Tizona include detachable braided cable with gold-plated USB connector, rubber tilt feet and strong base for additional guarantee to durability.
Chromebook Shipments Reach 2.1 Million for 2013, Says ABI Research
An estimated 2.1 million Chromebooks shipped in 2013 with nearly 89% of total shipments reaching North America, according to market intelligence firm ABI Research. As Chromebook shipments expand globally, ABI Research forecasts an increase of CAGR 28% to 11 million in 2019.
"ABI Research tracked Chromebooks across six regions and found the average selling price (ASP) to be US$338," says research analyst Stephanie Van Vactor. "This truly budget-driven device is a disruptive force to the portable PC market." The ASP and shipment growth of Chromebooks shows the market responding to products for the budget conscious; a reaction from a slowly reviving economy along with interest from the education business vertical.
"ABI Research tracked Chromebooks across six regions and found the average selling price (ASP) to be US$338," says research analyst Stephanie Van Vactor. "This truly budget-driven device is a disruptive force to the portable PC market." The ASP and shipment growth of Chromebooks shows the market responding to products for the budget conscious; a reaction from a slowly reviving economy along with interest from the education business vertical.
Cooler Master Announces CM Storm QuickFire Rapid i Keyboard
Cooler Master, a leading creator, innovator and manufacturer of desktop components, mobile accessories, and gaming peripherals, today announced the much requested Quick Fire Rapid i, a fully featured and backlit mechanical keyboard. Quick Fire Rapid i builds upon its predecessor's legacy with full keyboard illumination and unique lighting effects.
Information on the new Quick Fire Rapid-i, including features and notification of availability can be found here. This signup page lets you find out about one of the five unique LED backlight modes on the Rapid i called ActivLite. ActivLite means that every individual LED can be controlled separately. The mode as shown on the micro-site shows the backlight illumination upon each key press and fade out softly as your fingers move to the next key.
Information on the new Quick Fire Rapid-i, including features and notification of availability can be found here. This signup page lets you find out about one of the five unique LED backlight modes on the Rapid i called ActivLite. ActivLite means that every individual LED can be controlled separately. The mode as shown on the micro-site shows the backlight illumination upon each key press and fade out softly as your fingers move to the next key.
Thermaltake Unveils the BlacX Urban Wi-Fi Docking Station
Thermaltake, being an industry leader in computer chassis, thermal solutions, and power supply units introduces BlacX Urban Wi-Fi Docking Station. A complete and easy way to access all files stored on your hard drives. With Wi-Fi integration, the BlacX Urban provides quick access to your data through your personal Smart Phone or Tablet. Whether it is an iOS or an Android device, simply download the "TtCloud" App through the App Store or Google Play Store and you are ready to go! The BlacX Urban also supports UPnP for seamless device compatibility to allow you to easily enjoy your home theater experience.
ATP Showcases New Industrial Grade mSATA and SlimSATA Solutions
ATP, the leading manufacturer of embedded Flash, ruggedized SSD and DRAM modules , renewed its commitment to strongly support its customers with this latest generation of mSATA and SlimSATA with a line up of reliable, high performance solid state storage specifically suited for embedded, networking, server platforms, automation and transportation markets. This product introduction is especially well-timed due to dwindling supplies in the market for both mSATA and SlimSATA products and solutions. The ATP mSATA and SlimSATA products are available in densities ranging from 4GB to 128GB, and will be showcased along with other ATP memory solutions at the S.E.E. 2014, from April 8 to 10, in Stockholm, booth #C09:51.
"ATP understands customers and market requirements for both mSATA and SlimSATA form factor solutions in its focus markets", said Alex Lee, PM Director of ATP, "Even though other suppliers are phasing out these solutions regardless of customers' long product life cycle needs, ATP reaffirms its position to continue its strong support on these products so customers can rest assure that they will be properly support for years to come."
"ATP understands customers and market requirements for both mSATA and SlimSATA form factor solutions in its focus markets", said Alex Lee, PM Director of ATP, "Even though other suppliers are phasing out these solutions regardless of customers' long product life cycle needs, ATP reaffirms its position to continue its strong support on these products so customers can rest assure that they will be properly support for years to come."
Intel CEO Outlines New Computing Opportunities with China Technology Ecosystem
As the computing industry landscape undergoes rapid transformation, Intel Corporation CEO Brian Krzanich today outlined the company's plans to build upon its nearly 30-year history in China, and collaborate with the growing technology ecosystem, particularly in Shenzhen, to accelerate new innovation and reshape the computing industry.
During his keynote, Krzanich discussed how Intel and the Shenzhen technology ecosystem can re-ignite growth - both locally and globally - and deliver differentiated computing products and experiences, spanning multiple market segments, operating systems and price points. Underscoring this point, he announced the establishment of an Intel Smart Device Innovation Center in Shenzhen and a US$100 million Intel Capital China Smart Device Innovation Fund.
During his keynote, Krzanich discussed how Intel and the Shenzhen technology ecosystem can re-ignite growth - both locally and globally - and deliver differentiated computing products and experiences, spanning multiple market segments, operating systems and price points. Underscoring this point, he announced the establishment of an Intel Smart Device Innovation Center in Shenzhen and a US$100 million Intel Capital China Smart Device Innovation Fund.
Buffalo Announces HD-LLU3 Series External HDD with Easy Auto-lock
Buffalo announced the HD-LLU3 line of external hard drives. Built in the familiar Buffalo chassis measuring 39 mm x 187 mm x 120 mm (WxDxH), and weighing in at 1 kg, these drives are available in glossy white and black color options; and capacities of 1 TB, 2 TB, 3 TB, and 4 TB. They use a single USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connection for both power and host-connectivity. A striking feature is the "Easy Lock" function, which password-locks data even when you yank the cable to disconnect. The drives are slated for late April, and should start at 13,600¥ (US $130).
ADATA Announces Premier Pro SP920 Series SSD
ADATA Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, today announced the launch of the Premier Pro series SP920 solid state drive (SSD). Designed to meet the high-performance requirements of multimedia file transfers, the SP920 comes in a 2.5" form factor, and is equipped with the latest generation Marvell controller implementing the SATA 6 Gb/sec specification.
SSD continue to become mainstream storage selections for a cross-section of user types, largely due to the higher demands placed on primary system disks by operating systems, games, and high definition media. The SP920 is designed for high performance across a wide range of demanding applications, but it is especially fast in the transmission of multimedia files (uncompressed data). 4 KB random read / write speeds are as high as 98,000/88,000 IOPS, with sequential read and write speeds of up to 560 MB/s and 500 MB/s, respectively. In addition to these impressive numbers, the SP920 maintains consistently high read and write speeds even when the disk is 90% full. This is in contrast to some solid state drives that suffer performance degradation as the drive nears capacity.
SSD continue to become mainstream storage selections for a cross-section of user types, largely due to the higher demands placed on primary system disks by operating systems, games, and high definition media. The SP920 is designed for high performance across a wide range of demanding applications, but it is especially fast in the transmission of multimedia files (uncompressed data). 4 KB random read / write speeds are as high as 98,000/88,000 IOPS, with sequential read and write speeds of up to 560 MB/s and 500 MB/s, respectively. In addition to these impressive numbers, the SP920 maintains consistently high read and write speeds even when the disk is 90% full. This is in contrast to some solid state drives that suffer performance degradation as the drive nears capacity.
Tuesday, April 1st 2014
Today's Reviews
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Crucial M550 512 GB Review
Crucial's new M550 SSD is based on an updated version of the Marvell controller, which means it no longer uses overprovisioning: you get to use the whole capacity. In our real-life testing we also see a slight performance improvement, which is great, especially considering the M550's competitive pricing.
AMD Amends Wafer Supply Agreement With GLOBALFOUNDRIES
AMD today announced that it amended its Wafer Supply Agreement (WSA) with GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. for 2014. Under the terms of the amendment, AMD and GLOBALFOUNDRIES agreed on purchase commitments for 2014 and established fixed pricing and other terms of the WSA which apply to products AMD will purchase from GLOBALFOUNDRIES.
Under this amendment AMD expects to pay GLOBALFOUNDRIES approximately $1.2 billion in 2014. These purchases contemplate AMD's current PC market expectations and the manufacturing of certain Graphics Processor Units (GPUs) and semi-custom game console products at GLOBALFOUNDRIES in 2014. The 2014 amendment does not impact AMD's 2014 financial goals including gross margin.
Under this amendment AMD expects to pay GLOBALFOUNDRIES approximately $1.2 billion in 2014. These purchases contemplate AMD's current PC market expectations and the manufacturing of certain Graphics Processor Units (GPUs) and semi-custom game console products at GLOBALFOUNDRIES in 2014. The 2014 amendment does not impact AMD's 2014 financial goals including gross margin.
Sony MDR-ZX750BN Wireless Headphones Released in the US
Sony Electronics today announced the MDR-ZX750BN over-the-head headphones, offering music lovers wireless freedom, precision noise cancelling, superior comfort and unmistakable sound. The MDR-ZX750BN headphones are available now for about $199.99.
The MDR-ZX750BN headphones offer the flexibility of wirelessly connecting to your tablet or smartphone using Bluetooth with Near Field Communication (NFC) while also reducing 98% ambient noise. Audiophiles will also enjoy strong bass response thanks to large 40mm drivers with Beat Response Control.
The MDR-ZX750BN headphones offer the flexibility of wirelessly connecting to your tablet or smartphone using Bluetooth with Near Field Communication (NFC) while also reducing 98% ambient noise. Audiophiles will also enjoy strong bass response thanks to large 40mm drivers with Beat Response Control.
AMD and Mentor Graphics Accelerating Open-Source Development for Embedded Systems
AMD today announced a multi-year agreement with Mentor Graphics Corporation to expand availability of open-source embedded Linux development for heterogeneous and multi-core processors from AMD. Dedicated to providing embedded developers with a more manageable and focused open source framework, the agreement will provide embedded developers with more supported processor options, robust development tools, and greater speed in open platform development.
As a Yocto Project compatible product, Mentor Embedded Linux will now bring standardized features and tools, and ensure quick access to the latest Board Support Packages (BSPs) for AMD 64-bit x86 architecture beginning with the upcoming AMD Embedded G-Series system-on-a-chip (SoC) (codenamed: "Steppe Eagle") and AMD Embedded R-Series APU/CPU (codenamed: "Bald Eagle").
As a Yocto Project compatible product, Mentor Embedded Linux will now bring standardized features and tools, and ensure quick access to the latest Board Support Packages (BSPs) for AMD 64-bit x86 architecture beginning with the upcoming AMD Embedded G-Series system-on-a-chip (SoC) (codenamed: "Steppe Eagle") and AMD Embedded R-Series APU/CPU (codenamed: "Bald Eagle").
Radeon R9 295X2 Pictured in the Flesh, Specs Leaked
Here it is, folks! The first pictures of what you get inside the steel briefcase AMD ships the Radeon R9 295X2 in. AMD got over the stonewall of having to cool two 250W GPUs with a single two-slot cooling solution, by making it an air+liquid hybrid. The cooler appears to have been designed by any of the major water-cooling OEMs (such as Asetek, Akasa, etc.), and most likely consists of a pair of pump-blocks plumbed to a single 120 x 120 mm radiator, over a single coolant loop. The coolant channel, we imagine, could be identical to that of the ROG ARES 2 by ASUS. There's also a 90 mm fan, but that probably cools heatsinks covering the memory, VRM, and PCIe bridge. The card draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors, which as you'll soon find out, are running at off-specs.
The Radeon R9 295X2, codenamed "Vesuvius," runs a pair of 28 nm "Hawaii" chips, routed to a PLX PEX8747 PCIe bridge. Each of the two have all 2,816 stream processors enabled, totaling the count to 5,632. The two also have 352 TMUs, and 128 ROPs between them. The entire 512-bit memory bus width is enabled, and each GPU is wired to 4 GB of memory totaling 8 GB on the card. Clock speeds remain a mystery, and probably hold the key to a lot of things, such as power draw and cooling. Lastly, there's the price. AMD could price the R9 295X2 at US $1,499, half that of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX TITAN-Z. In that price difference, heck, even for $500, you could probably buy yourself a full-coverage water block, and a full-fledged loop, complete with a meaty 3 x 120 mm radiator.
The Radeon R9 295X2, codenamed "Vesuvius," runs a pair of 28 nm "Hawaii" chips, routed to a PLX PEX8747 PCIe bridge. Each of the two have all 2,816 stream processors enabled, totaling the count to 5,632. The two also have 352 TMUs, and 128 ROPs between them. The entire 512-bit memory bus width is enabled, and each GPU is wired to 4 GB of memory totaling 8 GB on the card. Clock speeds remain a mystery, and probably hold the key to a lot of things, such as power draw and cooling. Lastly, there's the price. AMD could price the R9 295X2 at US $1,499, half that of NVIDIA's GeForce GTX TITAN-Z. In that price difference, heck, even for $500, you could probably buy yourself a full-coverage water block, and a full-fledged loop, complete with a meaty 3 x 120 mm radiator.
Axiomtek Releases the IMB211 Industrial-Grade ATX LGA1150 Motherboard
Axiomtek, one of the world's leading designers and manufacturers of innovative, high performance and reliable PC-based industrial computer products, announced the arrival of the IMB211, an industrial-grade ATX motherboard with a full-range of integrated peripherals for general industrial and embedded applications.
The IMB211 is based on 4th Generation Intel Core i7/i5/i3/ Celeron processors in LGA1150 socket with Intel Q87 Express chipset. Four 204-pin DDR3-1333/1600 slots provide a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB to improve overall system performance. This industrial-grade high performance motherboard also supports Intel Active Management Technology 9.0 (iAMT 9.0), SATA RAID, and triple-display capability through DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-I interface. The board helps users to deploy more responsive, high-performance, graphic performance systems for advanced communication, gaming, industrial and automation applications.
The IMB211 is based on 4th Generation Intel Core i7/i5/i3/ Celeron processors in LGA1150 socket with Intel Q87 Express chipset. Four 204-pin DDR3-1333/1600 slots provide a maximum memory capacity of 32 GB to improve overall system performance. This industrial-grade high performance motherboard also supports Intel Active Management Technology 9.0 (iAMT 9.0), SATA RAID, and triple-display capability through DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI-I interface. The board helps users to deploy more responsive, high-performance, graphic performance systems for advanced communication, gaming, industrial and automation applications.
More Details of Radeon R9 295X2 Emerge
More details of AMD's upcoming dual-GPU graphics cards based on the "Hawaii" silicon emerged, in the run up to its April 8 launch. That's right, AMD plans to launch the card exactly one week from now. The card will bear the name Radeon R9 295X2, after all. The $3,000 pricing set by NVIDIA for its GTX TITAN-Z graphics card will be taken advantage of AMD, which will splurge on stuff such as a metal briefcase to ship the card in (with two combi-locks no less!), possibly high-quality (expensive) cooler shroud materials, and more. The card will be cooled by an air+liquid hybrid cooling solution, much like the ASUS ROG ARES 2. A factory-fitted (AIO) liquid cooling loop will handle the two 250W GPUs, while a fan-heatsink will cool the memory, VRM, and PCIe bridge chip. AMD will not chase down the ludicrous 12 GB memory amount of GTX TITAN-Z despite its wider memory bus, and will instead equip it with 8 GB (4 GB per GPU). And lastly, the card will have a total of five display outputs, including four mini-DP and one dual-link DVI-D (digital-only).
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