NVIDIA BIOS Editor ver. 4.8 Released
NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) is a free third-party tool that makes it easy to tweak the BIOS of most NVIDIA graphics cards, by extracting, manipulating with, and creating custom BIOS ROM files. The application is regularly updated, with support for new GPUs and features added. The newest release, version 4.8 that MVKTech released today broadens support base, providing support for NVIDIA's newest 55nm G200b-based graphics cards.
The support-list now includes several NVIDIA mobile GPUs such as the GeForce 9600M GS, 9650M GT, 9700M GT, 9800M GS and 9800M GT. The desktop GeForce 9500 GS and the anticipated GeForce 9800 GTX+ support are also brought about with the release. Other changes include minor fixes and features that limited support for unknown devices.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA BIOS Editor (NiBiTor) v4.8
Source: MVKTech
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Intel Plans New Stepping for its 2.66GHz Core i7 920 Processor
Intel has announced plans to supply its partners and distributors with a new batch of Core i7 920 processors, that have their stepping updated from the current C-0 to D-0. Ready to ship on March 2nd, the new stepping will feature:
- New S-spec (from SLBCH to SLBEJ) and Material Master numbers for the converting products.
- CPUID will change from 0x000106A4 to 0x000106A5.
- The electrical, mechanical and thermal specifications remain within the current specifications. Intel anticipates no changes to customer platforms designed to previous Intel guidelines.
- Readable serial number will be removed from the package ink swatch to fully mitigate the potential risk of the IHS cosmetically overlapping a marked serial number. There is no change to the ULT matrix content which continues to contain the serial number.
Source: TechConnect Magazine, Intel
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EK WaterBlocks Ready With GeForce GTX 295 Offering
EK WaterBlocks, a well-known name with computer enthusiasts is ready with its offering for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 dual-GPU graphics accelerator. As with any water-block made for the GeForce 9800 GX2 and GeForce GTX 295, this block consists of two cooling surfaces for each of the two PCBs.
EK WaterBlocks' latest unit (model: EK-FC295 GTX SLI) is a monolithic full-coverage block made of copper and acrylic glass. Each of the cooling surfaces has contact points for the various components of the accelerator. The block is available with a whole range of options with its fittings. It is SLI-capable, meaning that its fittings allow its fluid to be relayed to the next accelerator. The block weighs 1.35 kg (around 3 lbs). It will be available from EK WaterBlocks' store starting tomorrow, priced at 125آ€ (around US $172.60).
Source: EK WaterBlocks
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Danger Den Ready With GeForce GTX 295 Water Block
Water cooling specialist Danger Den is ready with its full-coverage water cooling block for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 295 graphics accelerator. Consisting of two PCBs holding a GPU system each, the GeForce GTX 295 is a complex piece of machinery, with regards to installing third-party cooling.
The Danger Den block (model: GPU-6850) is monolithic and is installed in a way that makes it sandwiched between the two PCBs. Contact-points on either sides of the block convey heat from the GPUs, memory chips, VRM, NVIO2 processors and the BR-03 chip. The block is available from Danger Den with a variety of options with regard to the fittings. SLI fittings that relay fluid between accelerators in an SLI system are optional. The block weighs 4 lbs (1.81 kg). It is priced at US $189.95.
Source: Danger Den
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EVGA GeForce GTX 285 Water Block Pictured
NVIDIA's 55nm GeForce GTX 200 series cards seem to be doing well at the markets. Cashing in on their success, EVGA plans to release GeForce GTX 285 and GTX 295 accelerators which are ready for water-cooling. While not much is known about the specifics of water cooling the GTX 295 part comes with, the GTX 285 SKU comes in the form of cards with factory-fitted water blocks.
NVIDIA made several changes to the PCB of its single-GPU G200 PCB, making GeForce GTX 280 water blocks incompatible with the GTX 285 PCB. The new PCB has a rearranged memory layout, with all its memory chips positioned on the business-area of the PCB, and a re-arranged VRM area. The new EVGA Hydro Copper block is designed to be a monolithic full-coverage block with a copper base. The SKU most likely to be carved out using this block could be the EVGA e-GeForce GTX 285 Hydro Copper. The company could take advantage of this superior cooling to set extremely high factory-overclocked parameters to the GPU and memory. This is the same company that released the GeForce GTX 285 FTW with audacious clock speeds of 720/1,620/2,772 MHz (core/shader/memory) using the NVIDIA reference design cooler. As with all water block-fitted graphics cards from EVGA in the past, the company could charge a premium over all its air-cooled GeForce GTX 285 models.
Source: Fudzilla
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Intel Scraps 45 nm Nehalem Dual-Core Chips, Plans Replacement
Grappling with a deteriorating world economy, and overstocked inventories with current-generation Core 2 platforms, Intel seems to have had a change of plans with regards to its dual-core Nehalem-derivatives. Company roadmaps originally pointed at two chips, codenamed Havendale and Auburndale to be the dual-core MCM implementations of the Nehalem architecture, for desktops and notebooks respectively. The "MCM" (multi-chip module) part comes to light in the way the chips were originally conceived: two dice on a package, one holding the CPU complex and the other holding the northbridge, consisting of a memory controller, PCI-Express root complex, and a graphics controller.
Theo Valich, noted industry commentator, in his latest blog post in Theo's Bright Side of IT, mentions that Intel scrapped Havendale and Auburndale in its conceived form. The two were set to make possible Intel Core i4 and i3 SKUs. Instead, Intel is working to push forward the launch of their common successor by six months: the Arandale core. Arandale features in the future series of Nehalem-derived processors to be built on the 32nm high-K silicon process, slated for 2010. Arandale from all that is known thus far is the dual-core Nehalem implementation on 32nm lithography, apart from speculation of it holding a higher amount of L3 cache: possibly 6 MB against 4 MB on the Havendale/Auburndale. The Arandale core was originally slated for "back to school" season, 2010 (around September~October). After rescheduling the launch, it could arrive by March.
Source: Theo's Bright Side of IT
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Scythe Preparing Katana III Cooler
After a host of new CPU coolers rolling out of Scythe's stables, the latest one in the making is the Katana III. The cooler seems to have been designed keeping the latest Core i7 and Phenom II processors in mind. It sports a strange, audacious yet familiar design: an aluminum-fin array propagating diagonally. A CPU contact block that doubles up as a small heatsink, forms are a starting-point, rather than mid-point of six copper heatpipes. These heatpipes convey heat to the fin array. This design is somewhat similar to that of the Gelid Silent-Spirit except for that the latter makes a more acute angle with the plane of the motherboard.
The cooler measures 143mm أ— 108mm أ— 94mm and weighs 495g (1.09 lbs). It makes use of a single 92mm PWM-controlled fan that rotates at speeds between 300 and 2,500 rpm to push 6.7 to 55.5 CFM of air. Accordingly, its noise levels range between 7.2 and 31.07 dBA. The Katana III is compatible with all standard desktop sockets including Intel LGA-1366, LGA-775 and AMD AM2(+)/AM3. Scythe is expected to announce this cooler soon.
Source: CPUsers.gr
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AMD To Crank Up Phenom II Clock-Speeds Upto 3.50 GHz, Planning New Models
Beating its chest on the "massive headroom" (read: clock speed increment potential) its newest line of processors, the Phenom II have, it was about time the company utilized the said headroom to carve out new SKUs. With the AM2+ exclusive Phenom II X4 940 already showing impressive overclocking potential, while shipping with a clock speed of 3.00 GHz, the company is planning to increase stock clock speeds in increments of 100 MHz (0.5x multiplier) with a string of SKUs post Phenom II X4 950. This according to the insider sources a German website called AMD News caught up with.
All the upcoming processors will be built on the AM3 package, making them compatible with DDR3 and DDR2 memory standards. With the Phenom II X4 950 being clocked at 3.10 GHz, succeeding SKUs take 100 MHz steps, starting from a Phenom II X4 960 at 3.20 GHz to a Phenom II X4 990 at 3.50 GHz. Despite the high clock speeds, the chips will continue to maintain rated TDPs of 125W. At some point within the succession, AMD will crank up the HyperTransport interconnect speed from 1,800 MHz to 2,000 MHz. The launch-schedule for these processors will be spread throughout 2009.
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NVIDIA Slips-In PhysX 9.09.0121 System Software
NVIDIA made its latest version of the PhysX system software available today, version 9.09.0121. The update aims to fix several issues with the older 9.09.0010, relating to its installation, runtime environment, game-specific and graphics accelerator-specific. To begin with, this version of the software resolves issues noted during installation on some non-English versions of Windows. It resolves issues relating to the PhysX SDK runtime with multi-GPU configurations. It fixes an issue with the game Mirror's Edge where occasional crashes were seen. Performance increments are in store for users of GeForce GTX 285 and GeForce GTX 295 accelerators.
DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.09.0121 WHQL
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RV790 Makes Radeon HD 4900 Series, Led by HD 4995 X2?
After RV740, the next AMD venture on the 40nm silicon process will be the company's next flagship GPU: the RV790. With this core AMD hopes to reclaim the performance and value crowns, more importantly, energy efficiency the newer fab process hopes to bring to the current-generation GPU.
Quite obviously, AMD will assign new SKUs to the products based on the RV790. The safest guess would be the formation of a new sub-series under Radeon 4000, the Radeon HD 4900 series. German website ATi Forum has learned that indeed AMD planning on a new sub-series based on the new GPU, following scoops on RV740 making the Radeon HD 4700 series. Once again, AMD might create two products based on a single GPU and one flagship dual-GPU accelerator, to begin with. The company's lackluster optimism in the R700 Pro (Radeon HD 4850 X2), has shown on the upcoming series with no mention of a second-inline dual GPU accelerator. In ATi Forum's theory, the RV790XT gets HD 4970, RV790Pro gets HD 4950 and the dual-GPU flagship SKU could be named Radeon HD 4995 X2. Talk about competitive naming.
Source: ATi Forum
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Intel SSD Roadmap Leaked
The guys over at VRZone have got their hands on the roadmap for Intel's SSD products. It has been said that Intel will be moving to a smaller fabrication process from 50 nm to 34 nm by Q4 2009 with capacities available up to 320 GB. The successor to Intel Turbo Memory has also been detailed, known as Braidwood and set for release in Q1 2010, it is said to, "provide SSD-like performance on second generation Ibex Peak chipsets like Q57, P57 and H57." Though to use Braidwood you will need, "Firmware support, Intel Rapid Storage Technology as well as the Braidwood module." These come in smaller capacities ranging from 4 GB to 16 GB, and will also be based on Intel's new 34 nm fabrication process. There is no official word on pricing as yet, but these new products are not expected to be cheap.
Source: VRZone
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(PR) Acer Presents the New Aspire One with a 10-inch Form Factor
Acer, today presented an all-new 10" Aspire One netbook, complete with a 10-inch screen, Windows XP and integrated Bluetooth, and designed for a fast, simple and utterly cool online life.
Only one year after first appearing on the market, netbooks have totally revolutionized the PC market, helping to form an entirely new market segment that users themselves created through a real need to be online all the time and to socialize around the clock.
Acer, thanks to its unique ability to read market trends and anticipate user needs, rapidly introduced the Aspire One, the world's most popular netbook.
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(PR) Acer Presents the Ferrari 1200
Acer, today presented the new Ferrari 1200, an all-new notebook series designed to deliver mobile computing superiority in an exclusive style.
In the true spirit of the Ferrari racing team, the Acer Ferrari 1200 notebook combines powerful performance and extreme portability with the excellence of design. From the choice of materials to the smallest detail, the Ferrari 1200 conveys the look and feel of a F1 racecar. The carbon-fibre cover, a material actually used in racecars, is lighter yet stronger than magnesium alloy, making the Ferrari 1200 the perfect travel companion. Unique ventilation design echoes the exhaust pipes of F1 cars and the anodized-metal touchpad resembles the brake and acceleration pedals of a Ferrari car. A tasteful wave pattern embellishes the cover, while the soft-touch coating and the velvety texture of the interior ensure ergonomic comfort.
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Apple Takes Down NVIDIA Graphics Update 2009
A few days ago, we covered the release of an NVIDIA graphics update from Apple, which was intended to address issues when using the Apple Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI adapter on MacBook Air, MacBook and MacBook Pro and improve cursor movement and playback of HD videos running on systems with NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT or GeForce 9600M graphics. Within just two days of the update being posted, the page and downloads were removed from Apple's site, for initially unknown reasons. It seems that not long after the update was released, the Apple discussion forums started filling up with people having either the same, or in some cases, worse problems following the graphics update. According to CNET, "This issue only affects those with the MacBooks, MacBook Airs or MacBook Pros redesigned in October, and it seems to only be a problem when running the integrated graphics on those machines."
Source: CNET
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Campaign Calls for Early Windows 7 Release
A website has emerged campaigning for Microsoft to step up development of Windows 7 and launch it earlier than planned. The beta released in the last month has created much excitement across the tech world, and many people are eager for the release of Microsoft's new OS, currently slated for Q4 2009 to Q1 2010. Many websites are posting positive reviews of the public beta, a reason behind this movement. The founder of the site, Kelly Poe has said,
At the time of writing the site had a backing of 646 votes, which was constantly growing. You can find the website and join the campaign at releasewindows7.com
I'm a BIG Windows fan and have been loving what Microsoft has done with the recent Beta Release of Windows 7. There have been so many great reviews from people like Leo Laporte (twit.tv, TWIT Podcast) and Paul Thurrott (www.winsupersite.com, Windows Weekly podcast), needless to say I'm jones'n for the release of Windows 7.
So here we are...let's join together and get Microsoft to release Windows 7...enough with this Beta stuff...release it already!!! Let the beautiful little birdy (with the odd name) fly!!!
Source: PCWorld
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Intel to Unveil Octo-Core Xeon Next Month
Sitting tight on the desktop and server performance thrones with the Core i7 and Xeon Dunnington series procesors, Intel is looking to carry on with its product launch-cycle with the introduction of octo-core (8 cores) enterprise processors later this year. The company is expected to detail the industry about this upcoming processor series as early as next month at the Solid State Circuits conference in San Fransisco between February 8 and 12.
The processor in question will be based on the Intel Nehalem architecture and will consist of eight x86 processing cores, a massive transistor-count of 2.3 billion, and will be built on the company's current 45nm manufacturing process. It will hold 24 MB of L3 cache, a quad-channel memory interface and QuickPath Interconnect system interface. Furthermore, it is aimed at quad-socket server platforms. Intel will keep this only upto a presentation level at the conference and not a launch. It is expected to start off with quad-core Xeon processors based on the new architecture later in this quarter.
Source: TechConnect Magazine
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(PR) Razer and Raptr Join Forces
Razer, the world's leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, today announced a new partnership with Raptr, the first social platform that allows users to know, in real-time, what games they and their friends are playing across multiple platforms. When combined with Razer's precision keyboards and mice, the joint offering provides Razer's millions of customers the opportunity to seamlessly join Raptr's community and build friendships, compete and connect while gaming.
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AMD Releases Special Catalyst 9.1 for Sapphire HD 4850 X2
Although the Radeon HD 4850 X2 is an official SKU by AMD, launched (rather paper-launched) by the company along with the HD 4870 X2, Sapphire ended up being the only company to come up with an HD 4850 X2 series product line, since AMD didn't specify a reference design of its own. Sapphire went on to launch 1GB (2x 512MB) and 2GB (2x 1GB) variants of the said accelerator.
In AMD's latest release of the Catalyst driver suite (version 9.1), the HD 4850 X2 was excluded from the supported hardware list. Instead the company now released a special release of Catalyst 9.1 for the Radeon HD 4850 X2 series. The driver provides the same feature-set and list of fixes as described in the original release notes document for Catalyst 9.1, albeit being specific for the said accelerator. The WHQL-signed drivers are available for Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems from the AMD website here.
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Scythe Prepares KillerWhale CPU Cooler
After introducing some of the most efficient CPU coolers, the Japanese cooling specialist, Scythe, is now planning to launch a new cooler named KillerWhale, designed and manufactured originally by DeepCool, distributed by Scythe. This cooler is specifically designed keeping the Intel LGA-1366 socket in mind, where a slightly bigger, rectangular base serves the application better.
The most characteristic feature of this cooler is its large, rather thick fan and sweep area. Its construction seems fairly simple: six heatpipes arise from a rectangular copper CPU contact block, which convey heat to an aluminum fin array that propagates along the plane of the motherboard. The entire cooler measures 54.5 x 143 x 143.5 mm, and weighs 900g (around 2 lbs). The 120mm fan rotates at speeds between 800 and 1800 rpm to dole out up to 78.32 CFM of air. The KillerWhale supports Intel LGA-1366, LGA-775, AMD AM3, AM2+, AM2, 940 and 939 sockets. It will hit stores soon.
Source: Donanim Haber
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(PR) Unreal Tournament 3 With Steamworks
In preparation for the massive update coming for Unreal Tournament 3, those who own a retail copy may now register it with Steam, free of charge.
The latest installment in the legendary online action series from Epic will be updated automatically via Steam and introduce support for Steamworks Achievements (with over 50 Achievements), plus a host of new features and enhancements in AI, Server Browsing, Demo Recording, Mod Support, and more.
For more information or to register your copy of UT3 with Steam, please visit steamgames.com
Source: Steam
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(PR) iZ3D Announces a Demo Day at Fryآ’s Electronics and MicroCenter
iZ3D, Inc., designer, developer and pioneer of advanced stereoscopic 3D visualization systems, is pleased to announce that a hands on demonstration of it’s popular 22-inch switchable 3D/2D monitor display system will be featured at all Fry’s Electronics and MicroCenter stores this Saturday, January 31, 2009.
The iZ3D display is the only true full resolution 3D display with a 170-degree 3D viewing angle so the whole family can play together. The only thing you need is a pair of iZ3D passive polarized glasses that virtually eliminate headaches, fatigue, or eye-strain common with other 3D displays. Three pairs of glasses are included with each monitor and additional pairs are available for $9.99. The company’s industry-leading 3D software display drivers are also included and offer users more software control over the 3D effect and the ability to toggle between 2D and 3D on the iZ3D monitor making it the ideal overall display solution for the home.
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AMD Releases ATI Catalyst 9.1 Driver Suite
AMD today released its timely update to the ATI Catalyst system drivers package that provides drivers driver support for ATI Radeon graphics accelerators, AMD 7-series chipset with integrated graphics. The drivers are effictive for Windows XP, Windows Vista and Linux operating systems.
The new release expands the feature-set of the ATI Catalyst, along with a set of fixes as described in the release notes (PDF). The fixes mostly revolve around Catalyst Control Center and the video acceleration features of the driver. To begin with, the new driver provides full OpenGL 3.0 support, including a few new GL extensions. The release also favours Linux by providing support for Hybrid CrossFireX. More importantly, the Linux version of the driver, provides MultiView support, that enables using independent display-heads on setups with multiple ATI GPUs. It is supported by any combination of ATI Radeon GPUs, Radeon HD 2000 series and later.
DOWNLOAD: ATI Catalyst 9.1 for Windows XP (32bit) | Windows XP (64bit) | Windows Vista (32bit) | Windows Vista (64bit)
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RV740 to Make Radeon HD 4730, HD 4750 SKUs?
AMD is on course of releasing the industry's first GPU built on the 40nm silicon process: the RV740. Its specifications make it a cheap yet powerful GPU for the segment it is about to cater to. With the earliest pointers hinting at 640 stream processors and a 128-bit wide GDDR5 memory interface. The GPU also marks the industry's first mainstream implementation of the GDDR5 standard.
Fresh details emerging out of the inspection of the driver information files of ATI Catalyst version 9.1, as German website ATI Forum finds out, hints at the possibility of the RV740 being implemented in two SKUs: the Radeon HD 4730 and Radeon HD 4750. While in the driver file, the device string lists with "RV630", it can be seen throughout the file that several strings are assigned to the same RV630, and is merely a means to identifying a whole class or generation of graphics processors to the driver. Additionally, the string bears the device ID of the RV670, again, that's not relevant. The strings are what matter. The RV740 is not very far away from large scale production. It should become a reality by the upcoming CeBIT event, in March. From the view of being a mere postulation, RV740 being the GPU that goes into making the new SKUs, does end up sounding plausible. When released, these cards are intended to further strengthen AMD's market position in the sub-US $150 market.
Source: ATi Forum
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(PR) WD Officially Launches Industry's First 2 TB 3.5-inch Hard Drive
WD today announced the first 2 terabyte (TB) hard drive - the world's highest capacity drive and the latest addition to WD's popular, environmentally friendly, cool and quiet, WD Caviar Green hard drive family. This new 3.5-inch platform is based on WD's industry-leading 500 GB/platter technology (with 400 Gb/in2 areal density) with 32MB cache, producing drives with capacities of up to 2TB.
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