Asus Intros First 3D Notebook, TS Mini NAS Drive
You knew it was bound to happen. The 3D revolution started with the TV, but now it's seeping into everything. Cinemas, projectors and now notebook PCs. Before long, we're guessing a 3D version of the Nintendo DSi and Sony PSP will be out and about. All possible kidding aside, Asus has just announced that it'll be matching Acer's 3D laptop launch with one of its own. The G51J 3D is a modified version of the gaming notebook we reviewed just over a week ago, so if it's depth and wild glasses you're after, hopefully
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Sleek Audio's SA1 Earbuds: Wireless, Custom Tuned, Just $80
Headphones and earbuds are a dime a dozen these days, and frankly it's tough to keep track of which ones are worth a listen and which are just worth passing over. Sleek Audio has been a trusted name in the industry for some time now, though most of its loyal fan base were of the affluent type. Sleek's earbuds are generally expensive, and some are custom tunable to give buyers that perfect sound they've been searching for.Now, that same tunable luxury is hitting the lower-end, as the SA1 earbuds are priced for
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AT&T Lands Samsung Go Netbook For $199 On Contract
AT&T sure loves to subsidize netbooks, and we think we know why. Most discounted netbooks are sold for just $100 off of their retail price (most $299 netbooks go for $199 at carriers), while those that purchase one are tied to a pricey data plan for two whole years. It's a much better deal for AT&T, than say, selling someone a discounted iPhone 3G. They lose quite a bit on every iPhone sale, but not so with gently discounted netbooks.Today, AT&T introduced its newest netbook, the Samsung Go. It weighs
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Flash In The Pan: New Adobe Beta Enables GPU Offloading
Whether you hate Flash or, well, hate it less, there's no denying that the multimedia platform has a near-total lock on the development and distribution of rich multimedia content. The rise of Web 2.0 (and its cohort of equally vague cutesy phrases) has resulted in a huge increase in the amount of video published online, whether one considers CNN or YouTube. The fact that Flash is ubiquitous to the point that it's impossible to swing a dead cat more than six inches without smacking into a video of someone swinging
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Asus UL30Vt: A 13" Ultraportable With Switchable GPUs
We had the pleasure of reviewing Asus' UL30A back in September, but now it seems that another model has popped onto the scene. The UL30Vt is landed just after the Windows 7-packed UL80Vt, and just like the others in the UL line, this one also features switchable graphics for those looking to game at times and save battery during the other times.There's also a promised 12 hour battery life (somehow we doubt that'll be true under real-world conditions), a Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor, DDR3 RAM and a chassis that's
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Teens Still Craxy Over Texting While Driving
What seems to be a plethora of studies and research prove that text messaging while driving is dangerous. Despite this, a new Pew Research study (.PDF) shows that 1/3 of teens aged 16 and 17 text while driving. Here are some of the highlights, or rather, lowlights, of the report: 75% of all American teens ages 12-17 own a cell phone, and 66% use their phones to send or receive text messages.Older teens are more likely than younger teens to have cell phones and use text messaging; 82% of teens ages 16-17 have
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ATI Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU Powerhouse Review
AMD's "Sweet Spot" GPU strategy over the last few years has been fairly predictable. Instead of producing the biggest, most powerful GPU possible--yields be damned--the company sets out to produce a relatively high-end GPU, using a cutting edge fabrication process, that hits a proverbial sweet spot between cost and performance. Then derivatives, and even multiples, of that GPU are used to flesh out a top-to-bottom line-up of graphics cards, that hit a broad range of price points. It began with the RV670, which
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New Android Phone From Saygus Features Two-Way Video Calling
Saygus unveiled a new Android equipped smartphone that has two-way video calling capabilities. The Saygus VPhone is expected to be available as a CDMA device through Verizon’s Open Development Initiative (ODI). The VPhone has two cameras—a 5 MP main camera with auto focus and flash and a VGA forward-facing camera for video calling. The phone also offers Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, a slide-out keyboard, and a screen resolution that is twice that of the iPhone. Its long-life battery can provide up to four hours of
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OCZ Ships Pricey Colossus Desktop SSDs In 128GB To 1TB Sizes
OCZ's Colossus has been looming in our "must-have" list for months. We actually saw one in the flesh this past summer, and we heard in August that it would "soon" be shipping in sizes ranging from 128GB to 1TB. With Fusion-io firmly in the consumer business now, it's safe to say that OCZ is probably feeling the pressure with competition nearby. Now, the company is reporting that its high performance desktop replacement drive is now shipping, though Amazon still has it listed with a 1+ month wait. We're guessing
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iPhone Home Button Earrings Mark You ... As A Major Fangirl
... or major fanboy, we suppose. Problem is, this has to be something for the ultimate geek. And the thing is, we normally associate that term with a guy. This isn't exactly a nice small stud a guy can wear. They are iPhone Home Button earrings. Besides the obvious question, which is who would wear these, there's also the other question, which is why did anything think these would sell? Perhaps we am wrong. The site says that even at a pricey $14.95 (for plastic earrings) that:Orders placed will ship on
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AT&T Adds BlackBerry Curve 8520 To Smartphone Lineup
AT&T is adding RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 to its lineup. Like many BlackBerry handhelds, the Curve 8520 features a full QWERTY keyboard and a touch-sensitive trackpad. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, an advanced media player with dedicated media keys, and a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities. Other key specs include a 320x240 display, a 512 MHz processor, and 256 MB of Flash memory. AT&T currently offers more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots for Wi-Fi access. As with other Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry
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ORIGIN Custom Gaming PCs Offer Unlimited Options
Alienware, Dell, HP, Falcon Northwest--the list goes on and on. But really, can there ever be enough gaming PCs? We think not. Today, a new company has broken out by the name of ORIGIN, and it's hoping to provide custom gaming machines to those with specific requests and the money to pay for 'em.The new company is also unveiling its first two machines, the GENESIS desktop and EON18 notebook. The idea here is pretty unique--for the desktop, you choose any chassis on the market, any paint you want and pretty much
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Microsoft Co-Founder Sees Recurrence of Cancer
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). This is a recurrence of the disease; Allen previously fought and beat NHL after being diagnosed in 1983, the year he left Microsoft.Since leaving Microsoft, Paul Allen has purchased three pro sports teams: the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, and MLS's Seattle Sounders that began playing in the 2009 season. Additionally, he is the founder and chairman of
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Zotac GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition Review
NVIDIA is launching a new mainstream graphics card today, aimed squarely at consumers in the market for a relatively low-cost upgrade from an integrated graphics solution or older entry-level GPU. The new GeForce GT 240, features a GPU outfitted with 96 processor cores, 8 ROP units, and 32 texture filtering units. In addition, the GT 240 GPU is manufactured using a 40nm process, it features a GDDR5 memory controller (that's also compatible with GDDR3), and unlike NVIDIA's current high-end GPUs, the GT 240 is
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ATI Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU Powerhouse Review
AMD's "Sweet Spot" GPU strategy over the last few years has been fairly predictable. Instead of producing the biggest, most powerful GPU possible--yields be damned--the company sets out to produce a relatively high-end GPU, using a cutting edge fabrication process, that hits a proverbial sweet spot between cost and performance. Then derivatives, and even multiples, of that GPU are used to flesh out a top-to-bottom line-up of graphics cards, that hit a broad range of price points.It began with the RV670, which
Read More ...
Zotac GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition Review
NVIDIA is launching a new mainstream graphics card today, aimed squarely at consumers in the market for a relatively low-cost upgrade from an integrated graphics solution or older entry-level GPU. The new GeForce GT 240, features a GPU outfitted with 96 processor cores, 8 ROP units, and 32 texture filtering units. In addition, the GT 240 GPU is manufactured using a 40nm process, it features a GDDR5 memory controller (that's also compatible with GDDR3), and unlike NVIDIA's current high-end GPUs, the GT
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Teens Still Craxy Over Texting While Driving
What seems to be a plethora of studies and research prove that text messaging while driving is dangerous. Despite this, a new Pew Research study (.PDF) shows that 1/3 of teens aged 16 and 17 text while driving.Here are some of the highlights, or rather, lowlights, of the report:
- 75% of all American teens ages 12-17 own a cell phone, and 66% use their phones to send or receive text messages.
- Older teens are more likely than younger teens to have cell phones and use text messaging; 82% of teens ages 16-17 have a cell phone and 76% of that cohort are cell texters.
- One in three (34%) texting teens ages 16-17 say they have texted while driving. That translates into 26% of all American teens ages 16-17.
- Half (52%) of cell-owning teens ages 16-17 say they have talked on a cell phone while driving. That translates into 43% of all American teens ages 16-17.
- 48% of all teens ages 12-17 say they have been in a car when the driver was texting.
- 40% say they have been in a car when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put themselves or others in danger.
Said one high-school aged boy: “I think it’s fine ... And I wear sunglasses so the cops don’t see [my eyes looking down].†Likewise, another high school-aged girl wrote that she texts “all the time,†and that “everybody texts while they drive (.,.) like when I’m driving by myself I’ll call people or text them â€کcause I get bored.†One older high school-aged boy explained that he limits his texting while driving only if his parents are around: “I’m fine with it, just not with my mom and dad in the car. Like when I’m with my brother, I do it.â€It's actually not much better to read vs. write when texting while driving. In either case, your attention is diverted from the road in front of you and onto your device's screen.
Teens did make a distinction between reading text messages and sending them. “There’s a difference, I think,†said one older high school boy. “Because just reading a text isn’t that bad, it’s just reading and then moving on. If you’re texting, it’s going to take more time when you’re supposed to be driving, and that’s when most people get in accidents.â€
Fortunately, not all are so casual about texting while driving. One high school boy in a focus group, when asked about riding with drivers who text, said: “Not if they know what’s good for them. I’ll snatch the phone out of your hands – don’t be driving in the car with me and doing that ... I want to live until the end of this car ride.â€
The study is based on a telephone survey on teens’ and parents’ use of mobile phones and 9 focus groups conducted in 4 U.S. cities between June and October 2009 with teens between the ages of 12 and 18. The quantitative results in this study were based on data from telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research International between June 26 and September 24, 2009, among a sample of 800 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian.
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ATI Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU Powerhouse Review
AMD's "Sweet Spot" GPU strategy over the last few years has been fairly predictable. Instead of producing the biggest, most powerful GPU possible--yields be damned--the company sets out to produce a relatively high-end GPU, using a cutting edge fabrication process, that hits a proverbial sweet spot between cost and performance. Then derivatives, and even multiples, of that GPU are used to flesh out a top-to-bottom line-up of graphics cards, that hit a broad range of price points.
It began with the RV670, which powered the single-GPU based Radeon HD 3870 and dual-GPU Radeon HD 3870 X2--hence the X2. Then came the RV770, which powered the Radeon HD 4870 and eventually the Radeon HD 4870 X2. The strategy has obviously paid off, as AMD is once again a price/performance leader in the GPU space, after some not-so-great performances like the R600, better known as the Radeon HD 2900 XT. Knowing their strategy, it should almost come as no surprise that the graphics card we'll be showing you today, the Radeon HD 5970, has come to fruition. Although it doesn't follow the same naming convention as AMD's previous dual-GPU powered cards, the Radeon HD 5970 is nonetheless powered by a pair of ATI "Cypress" Radeon HD 5800 series GPUs, linked together on a single PCB by a PCI Express bridge, very much like previous X2 iterations. Come on by and check it out...
ATI Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU Powerhouse Review 
AMD Radeon HD 5970 Dual-GPU DirectX 11 Graphics Card
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ORIGIN Custom Gaming PCs Offer Unlimited Options
Alienware, Dell, HP, Falcon Northwest--the list goes on and on. But really, can there ever be enough gaming PCs? We think not. Today, a new company has broken out by the name of ORIGIN, and it's hoping to provide custom gaming machines to those with specific requests and the money to pay for 'em.The new company is also unveiling its first two machines, the GENESIS desktop and EON18 notebook. The idea here is pretty unique--for the desktop, you choose any chassis on the market, any paint you want and pretty much any hardware, with prices starting at $1699. Obviously things will get pretty expensive if you choose wild stuff, but at least the option is there. Have a look at the first two options below, and get ready for the custom PC market to get a lot more interesting.آ
Perhaps what's interesting out of the gate is that these folks are ex-Alienware team members.آ Now gunning for Dell?آ You betcha...
Gaming PC Executives Respawn with ORIGIN Custom Gaming PCs
- Each ORIGIN Co-Founder Brings over a Decade of Industry Experience
- True Customization with Unlimited Color and Airbrush Design Options
- Guaranteed Overclocking, Liquid Cooled Desktops, and Dual GPU Laptops
- Personalized Lifetime Phone/Online Support and Lifetime Labor for Repairs and Upgrades
- Strategic Partnerships with Fatal1tyآ® and Killer Paint
MIAMI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ORIGIN, a new custom gaming PC manufacturer, has unveiled the GENESIS and EON18 systems, featuring levels of customization, aggressive design, personalized support and performance, the likes of which the PC gaming industry has never seen.
Much like its desktops and notebooks, ORIGIN PC was built from the ground up by PC experts, each with over 10 years of experience at the forefront of the gaming PC explosion, and each one holding executive titles of Dell’s acquired gaming arm, Alienware. ORIGIN gives hardcore gamers an unsurpassed level of customization, allowing customers to send in any desktop chassis on the market and build their custom GENESIS in that chassis.
In a partnership that truly unites gaming and artistry, ORIGIN is bringing in the expert airbrushing talents of Killer Paint, best known for their custom paint jobs in the automotive industry and innovative True Fireآ® effect. Killer Paint will airbrush each chassis by hand with standard colors, metallic colors, or artistic designs. For true personalization, buyers can send in their own design or work with a design specialist who will build a system that will encompass the individuality and personal flair of its owner.
For the ultimate in performance, ORIGIN has joined forces with leading PC gaming brands, such as Fatal1ty, to offer its customers the very best hardware available. From the fastest processors to Fatal1ty branded graphics, memory and sound cards, ORIGIN systems prepare gamers for the best gaming experience possible.
ORIGIN’s commitment to gamers does not end with performance and design; build quality, system testing and service are just as important. Every ORIGIN system is put through an intensive three day burn-in testing process that includes game benchmarking and installing all the latest drivers, to ensure stable gameplay and performance. Add to the mix lifetime phone/online support along with lifetime labor provided by a personalized team of experts, and it’s clear that the brand is serious about its commitment to gamers.
“Many boutique computer makers have lost their way, forgetting what’s important to gamers and becoming just another corporate entity,†says Kevin Wasielewski, CEO/Co-Founder of ORIGIN PC. “ORIGIN is the return of the real gaming PC giving gamers exactly what they want with the most customizable, best performing, hand painted and hand built gaming PCs available.â€
“I have known the founders of ORIGIN for several years and have selected them as my premier gaming PC partner,†said Johnathan “Fatal1ty†Wendel, the world's leading professional gamer. “With ORIGIN, I want to focus on what true, hardcore gamers and enthusiasts want from their gaming PC: high-performance, personal customization, and a PC that delivers the best gaming experience in collaboration with my licensed partners.â€
“With decades of experience building some of the best gaming PCs on the market, ORIGIN is one gaming PC manufacturer to be taken seriously,†says Eddie O’Brien, VP of Microsoft - US OEM. “The winning combination of Windows 7’s performance and stability along with ORIGIN's customization and service is something gamers worldwide will want to experience.â€
ORIGIN PC has brought together the best hardware in the computer gaming industry with original paint and design options to deliver a powerful, yet one of a kind gaming computer. ORIGIN is initially offering their GENESIS custom desktop and EON18 laptop, which are available in the United States starting today and Australia and Japan soon. Key specifications for each system are listed below:
GENESIS Custom Gaming Desktop
- Chassis: Choose any chassis on the market
- Paint: Unlimited color and design options
- CPU: Guaranteed overclocked Intel or AMD processors
- GPU: Dual or Tri NVIDIA or ATI video cards
- Memory: Dual or Triple Channel DDR3 2000MHz RAM
- Optical: Dual-layer Blu-ray disc burner
- Price: Starting at US $1,699
EON18 Custom Gaming Notebook
- Chassis: Programmable gaming buttons; Touch sensitive access buttons
- Paint: Unlimited Color and Design Options
- Display: 18.4†FullHD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LCD
- CPU: Intelآ®آ CoreTMآ 2 Extreme processors
- GPU: Dual NVIDIAآ®آ GeForceآ®آ GTX 280M
- Memory: 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 1333MHz
- Storage: Three hard drives w/RAID configurations
- Optical: Dual-layer Blu-ray disc burner
- Starting at US $2,599
Links:
Website: ORIGINPC.com
Twitter: twitter.com/originpc
Facebook: facebook.com/originpcAbout ORIGIN:
ORIGIN builds custom, high-performance desktops and laptops for hardcore enthusiasts and gamers. ORIGIN PCs are hand built, tested, and serviced by knowledgeable gaming enthusiasts, industry veterans, and award winning system integrators. ORIGIN is located in Miami, FL and ships to North America, Australia, and Japan. For more information, please visit www.ORIGINpc.com or call 1-877-ORIGIN-أک.
آ©2009 ORIGIN PC Corporation all rights reserved - ORIGIN and the ORIGIN “O†symbol are trademarks of ORIGIN PC Corporation - Fatal1ty, the Fatal1ty “F†and Certified logos are trademarks of Fatal1ty, Inc., and are used with permission. www.fatal1ty.com
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Sleek Audio's SA1 Earbuds: Wireless, Custom Tuned, Just $80
Headphones and earbuds are a dime a dozen these days, and frankly it's tough to keep track of which ones are worth a listen and which are just worth passing over. Sleek Audio has been a trusted name in the industry for some time now, though most of its loyal fan base were of the affluent type. Sleek's earbuds are generally expensive, and some are custom tunable to give buyers that perfect sound they've been searching for.Now, that same tunable luxury is hitting the lower-end, as the SA1 earbuds are priced for just about anyone. Or at least anyone that would seriously consider investing in a good pair of 'buds. Another interesting tidbit about the SA1s are that these have wireless capabilities thanks to Kleer technology, which actually enables users to listen without those dangling cables around their neck.
They're available to order right now for $79.99.
The SA1’s wooden body features the same patented cable design as the SA6 and CT6 and is compatible with Sleek Audio’s Kleer wireless system. For sound, the SA1 utilizes a first-of-its-kind, custom tuned 6mm dynamic driver for surprising bass impact, stunning clarity and balanced sound signatures. It is also part of the VQ system line and allows listeners to adjust the frequency response of the earphone with treble tuning options.
“It can be a wireless earphone or wired earphone, we leave the choice up to the listener. Our products are about options, and allowing our customers to find what works best for them,†added Krywko.
The SA1 is now shipping and can be found online at www.sleek-audio.com as well as through many of the world’s top audio e-tailors.
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OCZ Ships Pricey Colossus Desktop SSDs In 128GB To 1TB Sizes
OCZ's Colossus has been looming in our "must-have" list for months. We actually saw one in the flesh this past summer, and we heard in August that it would "soon" be shipping in sizes ranging from 128GB to 1TB. With Fusion-io firmly in the consumer business now, it's safe to say that OCZ is probably feeling the pressure with competition nearby. Now, the company is reporting that its high performance desktop replacement drive is now shipping, though Amazon still has it listed with a 1+ month wait. We're guessing the retailer just hasn't received the memo (or their first batch), but it looks like resellers should have stock soon to sell to those with enough cash.The Colossus SSD is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solutions to accommodate a broader spectrum of applications than current 2.5†SSD products; the 3.5†housing is a straight drop in for many existing rack systems. Pricing details aren't mentioned, but from what we've seen on Amazon, they won't be for the "average Joe." Not like you'd expect anything differently from a product with "SSD" in the model name though, huh?
OCZ Technology Launches Cutting-Edge High-Capacity Colossus 3.5†SSD Line with up to One Terabyte of Storage
SanJose, Calif.—November 17, 2009—OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a worldwideleader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliabilitymemory and flash-based storage as an alternative to hard disk drives(HDDs), today released the Colossus 3.5†Solid State Drive (SSD)Series, designed to meet the performance and storage demands ofhigh-end desktop users and enterprise clients. Available in up to oneterabyte configurations, the Colossus Series marks a milestone in solidstate drive technology, making it possible to have both highperformance and high capacity in one solution.
“The new Colossus Series is designed to boost desktop and workstationperformance and is for high power users that put a premium on speed,reliability and maximum storage capacity,†said Eugene Chang, VP ofProduct Management at the OCZ Technology Group. “The Colossuscore-architecture is also available to enterprise clients with lockedBOMs (build of materials) and customized firmware to match their uniqueapplications.â€
In addition to ample capacity, the OCZ Colossus deliversexcellent performance made possible by an internal RAID 0 architecture.Excelling at small file processes during common tasks such as emailing,web browsing, and file transfer, Colossus allows for a state-of-the-artcomputing experience from basic to complex applications:
For enterprise applications, Colossus SSDs not onlydiminish performance bottlenecks suffered by mechanical hard driveinfrastructures, but reduce both heat and noise and provide a moredurable alternative. This translates into exceptional energy-savingsand reduced maintenance costs. Furthermore, the Colossus line is builtwith cost-effective multi-level cell (MLC) flash to make it a viableoption for enterprise clients hesitant to adopt competing products dueto the higher costs.
The Colossus SSD is available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB solutionsto accommodate a broader spectrum of applications than current 2.5†SSDproducts; the 3.5†housing is a straight drop in for many existing racksystems. The Colossus SSD series has an excellent 1.5 million hour meantime between failures (MTBF) and comes backed by a leading 3-yearwarranty and dedicated technical support, ensuring peace of mind overthe long term. Additionally, OCZ offers unique customization optionsfor OEM clients that may require tailored hardware and firmwaresolutions for their unique business.
For more information on the OCZ Colossus SSD Series, please visit our product page here.
About OCZ Technology
OCZ Technology Group, a member of JEDEC, designs, develops, andmanufactures ground-breaking, high performance memory and premiumcomputer components, including solid state drives and computer powersupplies. OCZ products are the first choice for enterprise andconsumers needing high-reliability, premium-grade solutions. OCZ’scontinually invests in R&D to continuously push the limits ofperformance, speed, and value for consumers, system integrators, andOEM clients. For more information visit our website at www.ocztechnology.com
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Bob needs help
Ok so I moved my computer and everytime it gets unplugged it starts up and shuts back down then reboots again telling me that the overclock was not stable and asking if I would like to load failsafe settings or boot as is. I always boot as is since it's not overclocked right now and I it works fine. This time it did that then loads up windows. I start to type my password and shuts off. Now it won't respond to the power button on the case or the motherboard and when I unplug it and plug it back in(or flip the psu switch) it cuts on for 3 seconds then off again.
I have reset cmos jumper, switched out memory one at a time(Even tried my old kingston sticks), reset CPU and northbridge coolers, and switched out graphics cards.
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ottoyu34's Asus xtreme design submission / Work log - Project Transforming Cube
submission by ottoyu34
Introduction:
My design is the transforming cube. As a computer enthusiast, I always feel that computer cases always limits users from achieving better performance. For instance, Gamers might be satisfied with a mid-tower case; High-end enthusiast might want a full-tower for water-cooling and flexibility; Extreme overclockers with opt with bench setups. There are always tradeoffs between features. I would like to introduce my design allowing usability for any users by satisfying their needs, while having all the features in one case.
Design concept:
The first prototype was to build the acrylic cube case from scratch. But after many considerations, I’ve found the perfect case which is available on the market. Think of it this way, how many cases on the market have designed with gamers, enthusiast and extreme overclockers in mind. I can’t find many. What if, you’re just new to computer hardware, but you would plan to be an enthusiast and overclocker? You won’t need to upgrade cases along your way if you have this one. Also, many of us are not lucky enough to be sponsored. But we would still want to enjoy the fun of extreme overclocking while using the same system for regular usage and gaming, since many won’t buy two core i7 systems for each task. Hence, with this case, you could be fraging at a lan party one day and extreme overclocking the other day with the same hardware with this case ; maximizing the hardware.
Design detail:
This case could be among a few in the world with a convertible top, which allows quick easy access to the entire motherboard and connections. An opened top also means that user won’t be limited by any cooling method. They could snap on an air cooler, water block or even liquid nitrogen cooling. The possibilities are limitless. The motherboard tray below the northbridge and CPU area will cut out allowing quick access to mount aftermarket coolers accordingly. A horizontal orientation of the motherboard tray allows users to swap hardware quickly without rotating case from vertical position when using a traditional case. When the convertible top is closed, it maximizes protection from elements. The convertible top will be added with a 200mm and/or 120mm from additional cooling. Also, the xtreme design logo is will be on the top. Two 120mm LED fans for ventilation across the motherboard, much like what extreme overclockers do. Another extreme overclocking feature is using modified motherboard standoffs allowing quick swap of motherboard. Samsung SSD will be mounted along the drive bays to show off its present. This case is a bench system and an everyday case, depending how users use it.
Samsung SSD mounted and motherboard tray cut-out.
Hardware (adding):
- Choice of best air-cooler and water-cooling at the time of purchase.
- High performance silent fans(120mm&200mm)
- Sunbeam UFO acrylic cube case
- Special motherboard standoffs
Hardware (already supplied):
- A transparent case fully demonstrates the eye catching Asus motherboard while Antec power supply keeps cables at minimum.
- G.skill providing highest performace memory kits with ram cooling fan ensures maximum benchmark results.
- Nvidia Geforce GPUs provides best gaming and benchmarking performance.
- Samsung SSD equips with the latest hard drive technologies and 6Gb/s SATA3 is futureproofing.
- Razer gaming devices allow users to have an edge in games and maximize gaming experience.
- Antec power supply making sure hardware has enough juice.
- Intel Core i7 is the fastest cpu achieving highest FPS in games and best scores in benchmarking.
Rear view of the case. The top cover with xtreme design logo.
Goals:
- Proving the cooling abilities of this case, our main goal is to rank top 20 fastest core i7 860 CPU (according to HWbots.org).
- Achieve maximum overclock for CPU & GPU for everyday and benchmark purpose.
- Demonstrate the lightness of the case for ease of transport.
- Demonstrate the benefits SSD comparing to traditional HDD.
Front view with sponsors logo, letting others know what inside.
Challenges:
- After initial calculations the Geforce 260 video card will have tight fit with the case.
- Modifying the acrylic case without disturbing main structures and weaken strength.
How ASUS' "Xtreme Design" motherboard features help your system and daily life? With Turbo V and Turbo V remote: I will be able to switch between my overclocking profiles. I could use a lower overclock for regular usage such as web surfing (to conserve energy) and use a higher overclock for gaming. I won’t have to record down my settings on paper anymore. System stability and longevity heavily depends on the quality of components used on the motherboard. Asus always build with the highest quality capacitors and VRM allowing maximum overclock and stability. Asus’ hybrid phase will monitor and control the VRM, so I won’t have to worry about during overclocking. MemOK function allows me to get my system startup quickly in case of a Ram issue. Q-design is one of the best functions here and allows me to swap out components quickly and get back to tuning. 6Gbps SATA capability ensures this system will support the latest hard drives. Asus has packed everything a High-End motherboard should have allows users to push the system to the maximum. Small details such as eSATA at the I/O panel show that even small details are taken care of. Anything else that convinces us to pick your idea from the participating forums? I have been building computers for more than 10 years and I demand the highest performance computing experience through overclocking and quality components. I joined HWbot.org recently and currently I rank #79 in Canada. I will continue to gain positions with more overclocking planned coming up. I love to build unique computers with high-performance and good looks. This passion has made me a computer builder building many computers over the years. Other than pushing hardware; I also push myself to learn more daily about hardware tuning such as Extreme overclocking (LN2), watercooling and craftsmanship. Other than that, I’m an active member in many forums including Xtremesystems.org, Guru3d.com and hothardware.com. I always enjoy sharing experiences and helping others.
Conclusion:
Thanks for reading and the chance to take part of this event. Hopefully I could demostrate how xtreme the hardware is. Good luck to everyone!
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ASUS Participants and Winners
52 players came forward and here are your 20 winners as best as I can find (subject to any further disqualifications, of course.) Looks like HH raked up, I hope some of the new members are ringers, at least that way we'll see some of these systems get built before St. Swithin's Day.
PC Perspective
http://forums.pcper.com/forumdisplay.php?f=111
1. MFRS Oct. 24
---------------------------2. TimShadler (PcPerspective) Oct. 25 - CONFIRMED Nov. 13
---------------------------Tim Shadler (second entry) Oct. 31
3. Pyrohyde Oct. 30
4. viperxt Oct. 30
----------------------------5. Optimusprime235 (PCPerspective) Oct. 31 CONFIRMED Nov. 16
----------------------------6. DOHCDragon (PcPerspective) Nov. 2 CONFIRMED Nov. 13
7. Windrunner Nov. 3
8. AnomalousX Nov. 3
-----------------------------9. modscases Nov. 4 CONFIRMED Nov. 14
-----------------------------modscases Nov. 11 (second entry)
10. LaTerry Nov. 9
11. Scratchdesk Nov. 12-13
Hot Hardware
12. rapid 1 Oct. 26
------------------------------13. SFanatics (Hothardware) Oct. 26 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 17
------------------------------14. DuoPlus (Hothardware) Oct. 27 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 13
------------------------------15. tech-daddy Oct. 27 (New Member - CONFIRMED Nov. 13 see Modders Inc.)
------------------------------16. Nelsoncp21(HotHardware) (Mod) Oct. 27 CONFIRMED Nov. 16
17. eunoia Oct. 29
-------------------------------Optimus Prime (Nov. 2) (New member) (duplicate on PC Perspective CONFIRMED Nov. 16)
18. RyuGTX Nov. 2
-------------------------------19. Ottoyu34 (Hothardware) Nov. 3 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 16
-------------------------------20. KLSi (Hothardware) KLSi (Kelvin Lo) Nov. 3 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 16
-------------------------------modscases.com Nov. 4 (New Member) (CONFIRMED Nov. 14 duplicate on PC Perspective)
-------------------------------21. Ragafoo (Hothardware) Nov. 4 (New Member) (two parts on same page) CONFIRMED Nov. 17
22. My_lil_pwny Nov. 10 (New Member)
-------------------------------23. Zads (Hothardware) Nov.11 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 14
24. moon Nov. 12 (New Member)
Overclockers Club
25. behemoth777 Oct. 26
26. Neo182 Oct. 30 (New Member)
27. andenario Oct. 30 (New member)
28. xchrissypoox Oct. 30 (*personal favourite entry)
29. Overrated Nov. 1 (New Member)
--------------------------ModsCases.com (OverClockersClub) Nov. 4 (New Member) (CONFIRMED Nov. 14 - duplicates everywhere)
--------------------------modscases.com Nov. 10 (New Member) (duplicates on PC Perspective)
30. tacohunter52 Nov. 4
31. tkrow21 Nov. 6 CONFIRMED Nov. 16 then DISQUALIFIED?
---------------------------32. Redtigerdragon (OverclockersClub) Nov.11 CONFIRMED Nov. 16
33. Seventh_Sliver Nov. 12 (New member)
Firing Squad
---------------------------34. Lemiwinks (Firingsquad) Oct. 26 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 16
35. Deux Nov. 2
36. slugbug Nov. 11
37. mikearmour Nov. 12
38. jarrodhome Nov. 13
Tech Report
39. donkeycrock Nov. 1
----------------------------40. Lowermain (Techreport) Nov. 3 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 17
41. farmpuma Nov. 8
Silent PC Review
----------------------------42. ShadyB (SilentPCReview) Oct. 25 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 13
43. colm Oct. 30
----------------------------44. Rockitman (SilentPCReview) Nov. 1 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 17
45. max_powers Nov. 4
----------------------------46. FPSrandy(SilentPCReview) Nov. 6 (New Member) CONFIRMED Nov. 16
47. NJBeachGirl330 (New Member)
Modders Inc.
----------------------------Tech-Daddy (Modders INC) Oct. 29 (home forum added to contest - duplicate on Hot Hardware) CONFIRMED Nov. 13
48. Eden999 Oct. 30 (New Member)
http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3906
49. outlawtrd Oct. 29
-----------------------------modscases Nov. 4 (New Member) (duplicate on PC Perspective)
and:
http://www.modders-inc.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=3892&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15
50. lhatt Nov. 4 (New Member)
-----------------------------51. TiTON (Modders INC) Nov. 6 CONFIRMED Nov. 1
-----------------------------52. Darthbeavis (Modders INC) Nov. 10 CONFIRMED Nov. 17
Glad it's finally over.
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iPhone Home Button Earrings Mark You ... As A Major Fangirl
... or major fanboy, we suppose.آ Problem is, this has to be something for the ultimate geek. And the thing is, we normally associate that term with a guy. This isn't exactly a nice small stud a guy can wear.They are iPhone Home Button earrings. Besides the obvious question, which is who would wear these, there's also the other question, which is why did anything think these would sell?
Perhaps we am wrong. The site says that even at a pricey $14.95 (for plastic earrings) that:
Orders placed will ship on Nov 19th - Nov 20th due to very high demand.
High demand?آ Well, if you really, really have to have all things iPhone, we suppose it's a must have.
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Zotac GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition Review
NVIDIA is launching a new mainstream graphics card today, aimed squarely at consumers in the market for a relatively low-cost upgrade from an integrated graphics solution or older entry-level GPU. The new GeForce GT 240, features a GPU outfitted with 96 processor cores, 8 ROP units, and 32 texture filtering units. In addition, the GT 240 GPU is manufactured using a 40nm process, it features a GDDR5 memory controller (that's also compatible with GDDR3), and unlike NVIDIA's current high-end GPUs, the GT 240 is DirectX 10.1 compatible.
Although its specifications aren't terribly high-end in light of NVIDIA's more powerful GeForces, the GT 240 is actually more advanced than its counterparts in a number of respects. Click the link belowآ and check it out...
Zotac GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition Review
آ 
Zotac's GeForce GT 240 AMP! Edition
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Project: Blade
I wanted to finish this project so here it is:
Only an Asus Xtreme motherboard with it's plethora of over-clocking abilities and and performance features that are not only present but also transparent, is worthy of this build. The system will be animatronic and will open up when in performance-mode to give the liquid-cooling system the additional air-flow it needs to keep up with the Asus over-clocking.
Blade is sort of a group project. I enlisted a modder buddy, geno@boxgods.com, to design a Blade-themed case. He took my basic idea and really ran with it (putting in over 300 hours of highly-professional work).
The rig will be two gaming rigs in one case with a removable file server on the top. The shape of the build is a cross. The arms of the cross contain two 20" LCD monitors in the 'top' and 'bottom' arm of the cross. When the rig is turned on the cross arms turn to gaming mode by rotating 90 degree so you can see two monitors from the front and two from the back. The tower portion of the case has a radiator box that moves forward, rotates to display the Blade's sword with the radiator behind it (fan grills made from polished aluminum bars will be between the rad and sword and will look like the grill on Blade's car).
There is a glitch in my Solidworks install that make the screws big so disregard that .
Video of basic animatronics:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6IeEgiFT6A
http://www.facebook.com/surroz?v=app_2392950137&ref=name#/video/video.php?v=1241674492973
http://outoftheboxmods.com/2009/11/10/blade-design-for-asus-mod-contest/
I am still considering materials however the base material will likely be dark blue acrylic.
If you want to know what I am about, go to www.outoftheboxmods.com
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Microsoft Co-Founder Sees Recurrence of Cancer
Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft in 1975 with Bill Gates, has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (NHL).آ This is a recurrence of the disease;آ Allen previously fought and beat NHL after being diagnosed in 1983, the year he left Microsoft.Since leaving Microsoft, Paul Allen has purchased three pro sports teams: the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, and MLS's Seattle Sounders that began playing in the 2009 season.آ Additionally, he is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc., his private asset management company.
A memo was sent to employees of Vulcan, as well as the media, by Vulcan CEO Jody Allen, who is also Paul Allen's sister:
To employees of Vulcan and affiliates:According to the American Cancer Society, there has been a general decline in Hodgkins lymphoma rates over the past 30 years, this disease now accounts for only 1 percent of all cancers. At the same time, rates of NHL have increased by more than 70 percent during this same period. NHL is currently the fifth most common type of cancer in the U.S. and accounts for about 4 percent of all cancers.
آ آ I want to let you know that Paul was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
آ آ He received the diagnosis early this month and has begun chemotherapy. Doctors say he has diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, a relatively common form of lymphoma.
آ آ This is tough news for Paul and the family. But for those who know Paul's story, you know he beat Hodgkin's a little more than 25 years ago and he is optimistic he can beat this, too.
آ آ Paul is feeling OK and remains upbeat. He continues to work and he has no plans to change his role at Vulcan. His health comes first, though, and we'll be sure that nothing intrudes on that.
آ آ We would ask you to respect Paul's privacy and not discuss this outside of the office.
آ آ If you have any questions, please ask your EC member.
آ آ Thank you in advance for what I know will be all your good thoughts for Paul.
آ آ Jody
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AT&T Lands Samsung Go Netbook For $199 On Contract
AT&T sure loves to subsidize netbooks, and we think we know why. Most discounted netbooks are sold for just $100 off of their retail price (most $299 netbooks go for $199 at carriers), while those that purchase one are tied to a pricey data plan for two whole years. It's a much better deal for AT&T, than say, selling someone a discounted iPhone 3G. They lose quite a bit on every iPhone sale, but not so with gently discounted netbooks.Today, AT&T introduced its newest netbook, the Samsung Go. It weighs in at 2.8 pounds and can connect to AT&T's data network (where available), sports an eye-catching midnight blue color, a soft texture design, LED-backlit, borderless glass display (which is scratch resistant, by the way) and comes with a 4-cell battery. There's also 3 USB sockets, a 160GB hard drive, Windows 7 Starter, a 1.3MP camera and an Atom N270 CPU.
The Samsung Go is available beginning Nov. 22 through AT&T retail locations or online at www.att.com/netbooks for $199 after a mail-in rebate and with the purchase of a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, with pricing starting at $35 per month (for 200MB) and going to $60 per month for 5GB of data.
Key features and specifications of the Samsung Go include:
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Starter Edition
- Processor: Intelآ® Atomâ„¢ processor N270
- Webcam: 1.3 MP
- Storage: 1GB of system memory, 160 GB HDD
- Battery: 4-cell (4000 mAh)
- I/O Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, external VGA port, headphone/speaker/line-out port, microphone-in jack
- Communication:
- WWAN: Option GTM382W module (based on Qualcomm MSN 7225)
- HSPA (7.2/5.1 Mbps): 850/1900/2100 MHz
- GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- SIM lock (device locked to AT&T network)
- WLAN:
- 802.11 b/g WiFi
- Other:
- Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
- Display: 10.1†1024 x 600 pixel resolution
- Dimensions: 10.3†x 7.3†x 1.1â€
Pricing & Availability
The Samsung Go is available beginning Nov. 22 through AT&T retail locations or online at www.att.com/netbooks for $199 after a mail-in rebate and with the purchase of a 2-year AT&T DataConnect service agreement, with pricing starting at $35 per month.
For more information on AT&T netbook offerings, visit www.att.com/netbooks.
For more information and detailed disclaimer information, please review this announcement in the AT&T newsroom at http://www.att.com/newsroom.
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New Android Phone From Saygus Features Two-Way Video Calling
Saygus unveiled a new Android equipped smartphone that has two-way video calling capabilities. The Saygus VPhone is expected to be available as a CDMA device through Verizon’s Open Development Initiative (ODI).The VPhone has two cameras—a 5 MP main camera with auto focus and flash and a VGA forward-facing camera for video calling. The phone also offers Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth, a slide-out keyboard, and a screen resolution that is twice that of the iPhone. Its long-life battery can provide up to four hours of video calling and seven hours of talk time.
Using major U.S. cellular networks, Saygus has achieved two-way cellular video calls at 24 to 30 frames per second using its low bandwidth video calling technology. The company has tested its technology on other devices and other cellular networks implementing video calling at 2.5G EDGE data rates.
آ آ آ آ 
VPhone features:
- Video Calling. Saygus VPhone includes Saygus' proprietary video calling technology for the world’s first low bandwidth two-way cellular video calling
- Tethering. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB tethering for up to eight devices
- 1500 mAh Battery. Supports up to four hours of video calling and seven hours of talk time
- QWERTY Slide-Out Keyboard. Large keyboard area with raised keys for ease of use
- Multi-Touch Screen. High-resolution 3.5-inch 800 x 480 capacitive multi-touch capable screen
- 624Mhz Marvell PXA310 processor
- Dual Cameras. 5 MP main camera with auto focus and flash and VGA forward-facing camera for two-way video calling
- CDMA EVDO Rev A
- USB Charging. Host and client capability
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AT&T Adds BlackBerry Curve 8520 To Smartphone Lineup
AT&T is adding RIM's BlackBerry Curve 8520 to its lineup. Like many BlackBerry handhelds, the Curve 8520 features a full QWERTY keyboard and a touch-sensitive trackpad. It also has built-in Wi-Fi, an advanced media player with dedicated media keys, and a 2 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities. Other key specs include a 320x240 display, a 512 MHz processor, and 256 MB of Flash memory.AT&T currently offers more than 20,000 U.S. hotspots for Wi-Fi access. As with other Wi-Fi enabled BlackBerry smartphones from AT&T, BlackBerry Curve 8520 users with a qualifying data plan get unlimited access to these domestic hotspots at no additional cost. All consumer BlackBerry unlimited data plans qualify for this access. When traveling outside the U.S., AT&T provides access to wireless voice coverage in more than 215 countries and wireless data coverage in more than 185 countries.
The Curve 8520 gives users the ability to edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files using the DataViz Documents to Go suite. The Curve 8520 also comes preloaded with Facebook and My Space applications.
The BlackBerry Curve 8520 smartphone will be available in the coming weeks for $99.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate. A two-year agreement and a minimum service plan of $69.99 are required.
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