IT-Code-News: IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 23/10/2010

Saturday, October 23, 2010

IT News HeadLines (TweakTown) 23/10/2010

TweakTown

1120 Shaders on our and others AMD Radeon HD 6850
Word has quickly started to get around regarding the AMD Radeon HD 6850 carrying with it 1120 Shaders. This afternoon when I was testing for my HD 6850 OC article, I noticed that in GPU-Z my HD 6850 was listed as 1120 Shaders. When I realized I double checked the video card to see if it was actually the HD 6850 and it was.

I had a look at my Sapphire card and noticed that it also showed 1120 Shaders. With the version of GPU-Z being brand new, I put it down to nothing more than a software error since both cards showed it. It's becoming widespread that the cards actually have all 1120 Shaders enabled.

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While it doesn't skew our opinion of the HD 6850, it does affect the overall performance. At the moment, though, we don't have a BIOS for the HD 6850 that's only 960 Shaders. Next week when everyone starts to get back to work, namely AMD and its partners we've got samples from, we will speak to them about the situation.

What we want to really find out is can we enable 1120 Shaders on all HD 6850s. We will keep everyone in the loop regarding this and let you know what's going on. Who knows we could be making the 1120 Shader HD 6850 BIOS public next week.

It has got us wondering, though, marketing stunt by AMD? You can kind of imagine it. Oh, people found out about the HD 6850 being able to have all the Shaders unlocked, how terrible the value looks so much better and it makes NVIDIAs cards look worse. Who knows?

Looking around there's editors choice all over these series from 960 Shader samples and 1120 Shader ones - one thing is for sure, these cards still kick butt.

Power Gig music game gets limited edition handmade 6-string wireless guitar controller
There are many music games on the market today with offerings like Rock Band and Guitar Hero at the top of the market. There are other smaller and lesser-known music games though and some of them have some awesome controllers. Power Gig is a music game that works sort of like Guitar Hero in that you have a wireless guitar controller to play with, but Power Gig uses a real six-string guitar.
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Seven45 Studios is the company behind Power Gig and it has announced an awesome new guitar controller is available for the game in versions for the Xbox 360 and for the PS3. The controller works just like the basic six string controllers for the game, only these limited edition controllers are handmade for gamers wanting the best controllers out there. The controllers are made by First Act and look more like real electric guitars than game controllers.

Each of the controllers is made by hand by First Act craftsmen and include a single cutaway basswood body, humbucking pickup, and a maple neck with rosewood fretboard. The sweet controllers each cost $250, which isn't cheap, but man are they awesome. If you have wanted to learn the real guitar, this game and the handmade controller with real guitar playing action might be the perfect way to learn. The game is available right now but the controllers can only be pre-ordered at this time.

Nintendo unveils red Mario Wii bundle and DSi XL bundle
The gaming world has many iconic characters that have been part of some of the most important video games around. A few of these iconic characters include fan favorites like Pac-Man and Mario. Nintendo has been celebrating the 25th birthday of Mario all year long and has offered some cool facts about the game and is offering up some cool new bundles of hardware for Mario fans.
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The latest hardware bundles include special edition glossy red Wii and DSi XL game systems. The red Wii bundle includes a glossy red console, the new Super Mario Bros. Wii game, a red Wii Remote Plus controller with built-in Motion Plus capability, a red nunchuk, and the Wii sports game that typically comes with the Wii. The coolest part is that the special edition console has a price that is affordable at $199.99 while supplies last.

The red DSi XL bundle has Super Mario Bros. themed graphics, includes Mario Kart DS game and a pre-loaded Brain Age Express title. The DSi XL bundle will also be offered only while supplies last and will sell for $179.99. Nintendo has also unveiled a new FlingSmash bundle that has a game with pinball action and the new Wii Remote Plus controller inside for $49.99.

Microsoft is set to relaunch browser-based Games for Windows on demand service
If you are a big fan of PC gaming and arenÂ’t a fan of having to schlep down to the local game store when you need a new title, Microsoft has made a new announcement you might be interested in. The software giant is set to relaunch its Games for Windows Marketplace offering online access to games via a web browser.
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The updated service will offer a streamlined experience that Microsoft built from the ground up for performance and ease of use for gamers. Users will be able to access the service online from anywhere they can get internet access. The store will have fast downloads, fewer clicks to purchase a game, and the ability to redownload games that are purchased if needed.

The service will also offer deals and discounts to gamers with a Deal of the Week offering weekly along with other seasonal offers and more. Users will also be able to search by genre, game title, and more. The store will have games from major studios and games can be purchased with Microsoft Points or a credit card. The updated service is set to launch on November 15.

Hulu Plus subscription may go half price for launch
I have never tried Netflix's streaming content service. I have been on the company's mail order DVD program before and ended up cancelling when the movies I wanted never showed up. I am more interested in streaming content now when I miss a show than going and trying to rent it or waiting for a rerun and when Hulu announced its Plus subscription service I was interested. The price was a bit steep though at $9.99 monthly for access to shows from most of the major networks and older shows that are no longer on TV.
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Hulu has been running a beta of the subscription offering for a while now ironing out all of the kinks before the official launch and getting ready to take the service to the general public. AllThingsD reports that sources have told it that Hulu is considering a much more palatable price for the subscription service. The $9.99 price is apparently hard for the beta users to stomach so Hulu is said to be eying a new price tag of $4.95 per month.

That new price would make the service much more affordable and help to coax users to try it out. The original price at almost $10 monthly was more than you had to spend to get Netflix streaming and some DVDs in the mail as well. We can only wait and see if the sources leaking the info are correct, I hope they are.

AMD Radeon 6850 and 6870 reviews ahoy!! - Round 2
The aftershocks of the big BooM from AMD and its HD 6000 series launch continues :-
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- Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card @ :D
- AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card @ :D
- HIS Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card in Crossfire @ :D

- Radeon HD 6850: Grinding Diamonds @ InsideHW
- AMD 6870 Disassembly Guide @ AtomicMPC
- HIS Radeon HD 6870 1 GB @ Techpowerup
- ASUS Radeon HD 6850 Direct CU 1 GB @ Techpowerup
- HIS Radeon HD 6850 1 GB @ Techpowerup
- AMD Radeon HD 6850 CrossFire @ Techpowerup
- HIS Radeon 6850 & 6870 @ Overclock3D
- Diamond Multimedia HD 6870 @ LANOC
- ASUS HD6870 Crossfire EXCLUSIVE @ Overclock3D
- MSI R6870 @ Vortez UK
- AMD Radeon HD 6870 @ Techspot
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 Video Card @ HiTechLegion
- AMD Radeon HD 6850 & HD 6870 Launch @ Neoseeker
- Sapphire Radeon 6850 1GB @ Pureoverclock
- AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 Video Card @ HiTechLegion
- XFX HD6850 CrossFireX @ Kitguru
- Sapphire Radeon HD6850 and HD6870 @ Kitguru
- ASUS Radeon EAH6870 1GB @ Pureoverclock
- Diamond AMD HD 6870 XOC Video Card @ HiTechLegion
- AMD Radeon 6870 & 6850 Launch Review (XFX, Sapphire, Gigabyte & PowerColor Cards) @ Hardware Heaven
- Gigabyte Radeon 6850 1GB @ Pureoverclock
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card @ ThinkComputers
- AMD 6800 Series @ Overclockers Club
- Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 @ Pro-Clockers

HardOCP
Hexus
VR-Zone
Benchmark Reviews
Bjorn 3D
Hardware Canucks
TechGage
Legit Reviews
PCPer
Guru 3D
Hot Hardware

We're hiring - MySQL and PHP Web Coder and Developer
Listen up! We are hiring. We are looking for a USA or Taiwan (must speak English) based MySQL and PHP coder and developer with very strong skills and experience in this area.
The position is either full time or part time and you would be contracted for a certain amount per month with an initial three month trial. And you also get to work from home.

We have many jobs waiting to be completed and a bunch of new projects and website features in the plans. If you also have web design talent, that won't hurt at all either.

If you are interested in signing up for the position, please contact me and send along your CV along with any other relevant details. If you are selected, you will be required to complete a small sample task first to prove your work.

Download of the Day: Picasa 3.8 Build 117.16
Our Download of the Day today is Picasa 3.8 Build 117.16.
Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized.

Picasa also makes advanced editing simple by putting one-click fixes and powerful effects at your fingertips. And Picasa makes it a snap to share your pictures, you can email, print photos home, make gift CDs, instantly share your images and albums, and even post pictures on your own blog.

The latest version includes Web Albums (along with other improvements), but requires that you request an account from Google.

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The latest version includes the following changes:

Changes in Version 3.8 Build 117.16

Now available in 38 languages.

Download Now Â– TweakTown Download of the Day

Deal of the Day: Dell Vostro 3500 Laptop with 15.6" Display, Core i3, 2GB of Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW and More for $539 and Ships Tomorrow
Our Deal of the Day today is the Dell Small Business - Vostro 3500 Laptop with 15.6" Display, Core i3, 2GB of Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, DVD+/-RW and More for $539 and Ships Tomorrow!.
Offer: All of the configurations feature the Intel Core i3 processor and give you the option of some nicely configured laptops for just a bit more from the $539 starting price. Or just choose the features you want right off the bat. This is a new page for Dell all designed to make it easy for you to find what you want.

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Check our TweakTown Daily Deals page for more tech bargains!

Friday Morning Roundup
The latest happenings from around the web - October 22nd, 2010
Motherboard

- Asus P6X58D-E: Contemporary and Relatively Inexpensive LGA1366 Mainboard @ XBit Labs
- MSI G31TM-P35 motherboard @ Motherboards-reviews

Video/Monitor

- Dell LEDs the way with their new range of LED backlit LCD displays @ eTeknix
- Farewell to ATI: Radeon HD 5000 Graphics Card Family Roundup @ XBit Labs
- MSI N480GTX Lightning Review @ Overclock3D
- 3DMark 11 Preview @ LostCircuits

Audio/Media

- Xtreamer Pro Media Player @ CDRInfo
- Diamond HD Mini Media Player @ Missing Remote

Cases/Modding/PSU

- Cougar CMX 550 (550W) PSU @ Technic3D
- Danger Den Torture Rack 2 Tech Bench @ RWlabs
- AZZA Hurrican 2000 Full Tower Case @ Techwarelabs
- Desktop Minis: Five Mini-ITX System Cases Reviewed @ XBit Labs
- AZZA Hurrican 2000 Full-Tower Case @ DreamwareComputers
- Lian Li PC-8FI Case @ Hardware Secrets
- Xigmatek Midgard White Knight Chassis Unboxing Video @ eTeknix

Cooling

- Arctic Cooling Freezer 11 LP @ Overclockers Online
- CORSAIR Hydro Series H70 High Performance CPU Cooler @ Futurelooks

Storage

- Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB External Hard Drive @ Bigbruin
- OCZ RevoDrive 120GB PCIe SSD @ Hardware Heaven
- Zalman ZM-MH200 U3 Dual Hard Drive Docking Station @ Tweaknews

Other

- Razer interview at GITEX @ tbreak
- Logitech Wireless Gaming Mouse G700 @ Metku
- SteelSeries ZBoard @ TecCentral
- Time-Saving AutoHotKey Scripts @ Techspot
- Enermax Aurora Micro Wireless - HTPC Keyboard @ TweakPC
- Windows Phone 7 Review: Ladies and Gentlemen, We Have Ourselves a Race @ Gizmodo
- Podcast #127 - WD Caviar Green 3TB Drive, MSI GTX460 HAWK, Radeon HD 6800 series preview and more! @ PC Perspective

Atheros Hybrid Wired/Wireless system gives you network access anywhere in the home
Sometimes living in a big house makes getting wireless signal to all corners of the placea real pain, or youÂ’ve got a room where you want a computer but no way to run the internet without drilling holes or buying a wireless card. Networking is getting quite a bit simpler thanks to AtherosÂ’ Hybrid Networking System.
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The router gives you standard fare: 802.11 Wifi, Ethernet, all the usual goodies. The Homeplug AV powerline networking is where it gets interesting. Simply by plugging in the AC adapter, youÂ’ve instantly got extended wireless signal and even an Ethernet port for network access on a non-wireless capable machine. No word on cost yet for this fun little device, but it is expected to ship by the end of the year.

PS3 Move reportedly flying off the shelves
The Playstation Move has been a hot ticket item for Sony as reports are showing that over a million controllers have been sold in North and Latin America just 30 days after launch. "Retail demand is incredibly strong and we're working hard to keep the product in stock," said SCEA chief executive Jack Tretton.
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The Playstation Move, which is SonyÂ’s answer to Wii motion controls, has two dozen games available for play including Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2011 and Killzone, with 15 more slated for launch by the end of the year. Combine that with a reasonable $99.99 price tag for a startup kit (Eye Camera, Wand, and secondary controller) versus Xbox 360Â’s expected $149.99 pricetag on Kinect when it launches on November 4th, and Sony may be getting even more people on the Move this holiday season.

Windows Phone 7 hits T-Mobile on November 8th with the HD7
AT&T may have been the big face on Windows Phone 7Â’s launch event in the U.S., but that doesnÂ’t mean that other companies are sitting around and letting them have all the fun. On November 8th, the same day AT&T announced they are launching their first WP7 handset, T-Mobile is also joining the game with the HTC HD7.
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This is quite a handset from #4 on the U.S. cellphone food chain. With a huge 4.3Â” screen, 720p recording, and a 16GB card included, the HD7 is bound to be quite a popular item when it hits shelves. The HD7 will retail at the usual smartphone price of $199.99 with a two year contract, so sign up for notifications now via their site to get ready for preorders.

AMD Radeon 6850 and 6870 reviews ahoy!!
Boom.
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That's how a launch is done, AMD has fired off it's second generation DX11 hardware, pushing their knee firmly into NVIDIA's now gushing neck wound.

First off, we have the sexified Shane Baxtor rolling in with some reviews:

TweakTown 6850 Review

TweakTown 6870 Review

HardOCP
Hexus
VR-Zone
Benchmark Reviews
Bjorn 3D
Hardware Canucks
TechGage
Legit Reviews
PCPer
Guru 3D
Hot Hardware

Barnes and Noble event next week most likely centered around Nook Color
Barnes and Noble has a special event planned for next week, and everything is pointing towards a full color version of the Nook e-reader. The current version has a split e-paper and LCD interface.
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The seven inch device will run a version of Android, but no one is really sure where this device will exactly fall between e-reader and full blown tablet. Tablet functions will both differentiate it from AmazonÂ’s highly popular Kindle as well as make the $249 price tag a lot more attractive for those who donÂ’t want to shell out for an iPad or Galaxy Tab. Barnes and Noble is officially staying fairly close-mouthed with the details, but weÂ’ll find out soon enough what the Nook Color is really all about.

Winamp beta gets snuggly with Android
Dammit. The source to this email used my "whipped the Llama's ass" line - oh well.
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If you were a fan of Winamp, and use an Android 2.1 and above device - a beta copy of Winamp has launched on the Android. It's not a barebones release, it actually has some unique features built in.

Winamp on Android will allow you to wirelessly sync your computers mp3 library, it will also fully control that library through a widget and also offers scrobbling support for the Last.fm fans.

I've included the QR code for you to now put your phone to the screen and scan it.

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Angry Birds puts on it's Halloween mask and gives 45 spoooooky new levels
We (well, mostly me and hopefully you!) are fans of Angry Birds - it's such a great casual game that can be played on the iPad, iPhone and now Android devices.
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They're releasing a Halloween update with 45 new levels - obviously Halloween themed.

[video]RWTgarcCWZc[/video]

Android 3.0 "Gingerbread" leaked video
Android fan? Itching to see Gingerbread, Android 3.0 in action?
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There's not much to see, and limited details are available - but a leaked video has been shown, it's very short - but gives you a glimpse at the "turn the screen off" animation - which is pretty slick!

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Google Broadband set for trial at Stanford University
Google is taking another step in completely owning your internet experience with their first trial of an ultra high speed fiber network. Set for testing in Â“a group of approximately 850 faculty and staff-owned homesÂ” on the campus of Stanford University, this is most likely the dry run for their implementation in the winning community of their Â“Google FiberÂ” contest that asked towns to submit themselves for Google Broadband implementation.
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Google has stated that they are not looking to get into the ISP business; instead they are trying to make the internet faster for everyone with this project as well as their own DNS and a replacement for the HTTP protocol. Google Broadband is supposed to be able to offer speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, which would max out most modern Ethernet ports. Anything that can make the Net faster for everyone is okay by me, but you still have to wonder what the bigger plan is here if GoogleÂ’s not planning to hit the ISP scene.

Mobile App of the Day: Winamp for Android
Our Mobile App of the Day today is Winamp for Android.
Winamp has been on the music player scene since 1997, offering desktop users a pretty nice alternative to the standard fare like Windows Media Player. Winamp has now gone mobile; announcing availability on the Android platform today.

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Not only does Winamp for Android offer up a Â“complete media management solutionÂ” for your Android device, but you can also sync via Wi-Fi or USB or to your desktop library if you are running the Winamp 5.59 beta on your PC. Scrobbling with Last.fm is also supported, as well as a widget to run Winamp from your home screen and even your lock screen. The PC beta required for sync can be downloaded here, and you can search the Android Market for Winamp to grab the app or scan the QR code after the break.

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Ergo tablet coming to Italy soon
It's not uncommon for a notebook or other device to be unveiled by a large supplier that ends up being rebranded and sold by a bunch of different companies all around the world. Such is the case with the Pegatron tablet that has been sold as the WePad, Masterpad, and under other names so far. That same tablet is being rebranded and shipped over to Italy as the Ergo tablet.
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The Ergo will run Windows 7 and while most of the features are the same as its brethren under other names, the Ergo does have a few unique features. Ergo had Pegatron add a 2MP camera rather than the 1.3MP the other versions use. The Ergo also gets GPS, ambient light sensor, and 3G connectivity that are missing on some other versions.

The common features include the 11.6-inch screen, Intel Atom N455 processor, 1GB of RAM, and storage is to 32GB or 64GB SSDs. The Ergo also has dual USB ports and a mini-HDMI output. The tablet will go for five hours on a single charge of the battery. Pricing and availability information on the Ergo are unknown at this time.

GeForce GTX 580 pegged to be 20% faster than the GTX 480
NVIDIA is always at work on new video cards and GPUs for different user groups that it can sell and put on the market to fight AMD and its ATI video cards. One of the better cards from NVIDIA over the last few years was the GTX 480 and if you were a fan of that card's performance, you will really like the GTX 580 that is coming according to DigiTimes.
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The GTX 580 is supposed to offer 20% faster performance than the GTX 480 it will replace according to DigiTimes sources at video card manufacturers. The 580 will be a GF110-based video card and is expected by the end of November or the beginning of December according to sources. NVIDIA will also reportedly have new GPU families coming out next year.

The same sources to DigiTimes that in 2011 NVIDIA would be offering new GF112, GF115, and GF119 GPU families. NVIDIA is also expected to unveil the new Kepler GPU by the end of 2011 and the successor to the Kepler GPU called Maxwell is also reportedly in development already. AMD also has new products coming in November or December according to the sources.

HIS Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card in Crossfire
Having checked out both the new HD 6850 and HD 6870 cards separately, itÂ’s now time to turn our attention to other areas of interest with the new models. First up? Some HD 6850 Crossfire goodness thanks to HIS coming aboard. Has scaling improved?

Sapphire Radeon HD 6850 1GB Video Card
Joining the launch of the HD 6870 today is its little brother in the HD 6850. Let's take a ride in Sapphire style and see if it can impress.

AMD Radeon HD 6870 1GB Video Card
We check out the big brother to the new HD 6850 thatÂ’s also been launched today; the HD 6870. WhereÂ’s it sit and howÂ’s it go?

Microsoft Brings Games on Demand to the Web With New PC Game Store
Microsoft Brings Games on Demand to the Web With New PC Game Store
New Games for Windows Marketplace makes buying great PC games easier than ever.

REDMOND, Wash. Â— Oct. 22, 2010 Â— Microsoft Corp. today announced the Games for Windows Marketplace, a new online PC games store that combines the convenience of the Web with the power of Games on Demand online distribution. Launching Nov. 15, the Games for Windows Marketplace will offer PC gamers a robust lineup of games they love, easier navigation and purchase, and recurring specials such as Deal of the Week.

Â“With Games for Windows Marketplace, we set out to create a digital store built for PC gamers end-to-end,Â” said Kevin Unangst, senior global director, PC and Mobile Gaming, at Microsoft. Â“And by integrating with our existing Xbox LIVE and Windows Live services, weÂ’ve made it easier than ever for millions of gamers to see for themselves how easy buying PC games can be.Â”

A Streamlined Experience

Built from the ground up for convenience and performance, the Games for Windows Marketplace (http://www.gamesforwindows.com) will remove the barriers between gamers and the games they love by offering the following:

Â• Online access, anywhere. Optimized for speed, the store allows for ultra-fast downloads; this means fewer clicks to purchase and download, delivering faster turnaround for gameplay. And since the service lives on the Web, gamers can download games on a PC, anytime, and can easily redownload games they purchase if needed.

Â• Deals and discounts galore. Gamers can check out screaming deals on select games every time they visit the Marketplace, as well as the Deal of The Week and other recurring and seasonal offers.

Â• Game search functionality. Gamers can search by titles or genres to quickly find the games they want; they can even find new games from their favorite publishers with dedicated publisher pages.

Â• Fresh design. The clean, intuitive look and feel makes browsing for games a simple, enjoyable experience. Gamers can easily navigate between pages as they search for the perfect game.

A Growing Portfolio

Games for Windows Marketplace will launch with a managed portfolio of 100 top-quality titles. The launch roster includes blockbuster games such as Â“Fable: The Lost ChaptersÂ” (Microsoft Game Studios) and Â“Grand Theft Auto IIIÂ” (Rockstar Games Inc.) from some of the industryÂ’s biggest developers, such as Capcom Entertainment Inc., 2K Games, Square Enix Co. Ltd. and more. In addition to top retail games, the portfolio will bring new indie titles to the forefront and continue to grow with many of the best games in the industry including titles such as Â“Lego UniverseÂ” (Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) and Â“CarneyValeÂ” (Microsoft Game Studios), which will hit the Games for Windows Marketplace and retail stores at the same time and date; recent hits such as Â“Dead Rising 2Â” and Â“Lost Planet 2Â” (both from Capcom); and perennial best-sellers such as Â“Max PayneÂ” (Rockstar) and Â“Deus Ex: Game of the Year EditionÂ” (Square Enix).

Â“We plan to deliver some of our biggest and best PC franchises on Games for Windows Marketplace from day one,Â” said Christian Svensson, corporate officer and vice president of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom. Â“Digital distribution continues to drive growth in PC gaming, and weÂ’re excited to partner with Microsoft and bring amazing games to this growing marketplace.Â”

Games for Windows Marketplace will also be the place to find iconic franchises from Microsoft Game Studios, such as Â“Flight Simulator,Â” Â“Gears of War,Â” Â“HaloÂ” and Â“Zoo Tycoon,Â” as well as upcoming blockbusters Â“Fable III,Â” Â“Age of Empires OnlineÂ” and Â“Microsoft Flight.Â”

Easy Access to a Massive Gamer Community

Using the new marketplace is a breeze: anyone with a Windows Live ID (Windows Live, Xbox LIVE, Games for Windows Â– LIVE or Zune account) can login and immediately start shopping in the Games for Windows Marketplace. The new store also supports Microsoft Points (as well as credit card purchasing), allowing the more than 25 million users of Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace and Games for Windows Â— LIVE to use their Microsoft Points balance seamlessly across platforms.

The new Games for Windows Marketplace launches Nov. 15 at http://www.gamesforwindows.com.

XFX Adds a New Dimension with its AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850
XFX Adds a New Dimension with its AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850
Industry leader XFX has added a new dimension to gaming with its XFX AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 graphics cards. This latest series of AMD Radeon graphics cards is AMDÂ’s first introduction of a 3-D gaming and multi-media solution for desktop computers, plus one of the first HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 solutions for Stereoscopic 3-D on the market.

This advance into Stereoscopic 3-D ushers in a new era of gaming that takes it to the next level. With up to 120 Hz active shutter technology, the quality of 3-D achievable with the AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 is unprecedented in comparison to previous 3-D solutions created by other manufacturers. The AMD 3-D experience is truly immersive and seamless.

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As part of the AMD Open Stereo 3-D initiative, AMD has teamed up with other Open 3-D ecosystem partners to provide consumers with Â“more choice, more innovation and lower cost.Â”

These standards help make AMD Radeon solutions more readily compatible with a broader range of choices for building a computer with a stereo 3-D solution including hardware, software, middleware, glasses as well as displays.

XFX AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 graphics cards kick down the doors into a new realm of gaming as the second generation of DirectX 11-capable graphics cards. 1 GB DDR5 ram is filling enough for even the most hungry gamer and the core speed (775 MHz in the HD 6850, 900 MHz in the HD 6870) can keep up even in the most intense of gaming scenarios.

Shaders at speeds of up to 800 in the HD 6850 and 960 in the HD 6870, ensure that graphics are consistent, crisp and life-like. The chipset is based on the previous dual engine architecture, but itÂ’s been revamped for improved gaming action.

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With the new series XFX debuts the XFX 3E Technology, a new trilogy that incorporates AMD Eye-Definition, AMD Eyefinity and AMD EyeSpeed.

AMD Eye-Definition, which utilizes AMDÂ’s HD3D technology, supports rich, life-like visuals and offers explosive HD gaming performance.

These high-powered cards feature exclusive AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology that expands the view of the gaming landscape for the ultimate immersive entertainment.

AMD EyeSpeed Visual Acceleration Technology improves video image quality and application performance for crisp, incredible video, 3-D photos and Blu-ray 3-D. This cutting edge technology also accelerates video formats like DiVX and DivX Plus HD and features improved performance with applications like Microsoft Office 2010, Internet Explorer 9 and Mozilla Firefox 4.

Enrich your online video and Blu-ray 3-D viewing experience with unrivaled, smooth performance and stunning visuals.

The AMD Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 graphics cards are 3-D ready and offer no-compromise performance with a flawless image quality for even the most demanding games. AMDÂ’s HD3D technology fully supports Stereoscopic 3-D gaming, so users arenÂ’t just playing the game Â– theyÂ’re in it.

ASUS Releases New EAH6800 Series Graphics Cards
ASUS Releases New EAH6800 Series Graphics Cards
Featuring even more processing power than the successful EAH5000 Series of graphics cards, the new ASUS EAH6800 Series continues to serve PC enthusiasts with cutting-edge technology and a range of exclusive performance-boosting improvements to the AMD reference design.

Both the EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 and EAH6870/2DI2S/1GD5 cards feature AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD HD3D technology and DirectX 11 support. In addition, exclusive Voltage Tweak overclocking technology offers a 50% performance boost over the reference design. The EAH6850 DirectCU and EAH6870 also ship with factory overclocked cores set to 790MHz and 913MHz.

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The ASUS EAH6850 DirectCU also incorporates exclusive DirectCU cooling that uses custom-flattened, all-copper heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU core. This improves cooling by 20%* compared to the reference design and offers quiet operation when the card is idle. The ASUS EAH6870 is equipped with an aluminum fan cover that improves cooling efficiency and reduces surface temperatures by 14 degrees Celsius, compared to the reference designÂ’s plastic cover.

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Product Highlights

Â• Exclusive ASUS Voltage Tweak technology offers real-time voltage adjustment of various GPU components, including the core and video memory, making ASUS EAH6800 Series graphics cards 50% faster than the reference design.
Â• The EAH6850 DirectCU is factory overclocked to perform at 790MHz. This is 15MHz higher than stock performance, resulting in higher frame rates in games.
Â• ASUS proprietary cooling technology, DirectCU, puts copper heat pipes in direct contact with the GPU core. This results in the EAH6850 DirectCU running 20% cooler than the reference design.
Â• The EAH6870 features a stylish aluminum fan cover that dissipates heat more efficiently. This lowers surface temperatures by 14 degrees Celsius, compared to the reference designÂ’s plastic cover.
Â• Proprietary AMD Eyefinity technology supports up to six displays for a fully immersive viewing experience.
Â• AMD HD3D technology for stereoscopic 3D gaming and movie watching.

PowerColor Announces Trio of Radeon HD 6800 Series Graphics Cards
PowerColor Announces Trio of Radeon HD 6800 Series Graphics Cards
TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, today announces the latest video card series: the PowerColor HD6800 series. Following the award-winning HD5000 series, the advanced HD6800 series features all the essential technology that can immerse the gaming experience and speed up all the daily applications, aim to bring all gamers the most incredible gaming performance.

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PowerColorÂ’s HD6800 series includes the HD6870 and HD6850. The HD6870 has an unparalleled 1120 stream processors, clocks in at 900MHz core speed and 1050MHz of memory speed; accelerating your PC with 2.0 teraFLOPs of computing power. The HD6850 comes in a Premium Edition and Standard Edition. The PowerColor HD 6850 Premium edition features factory overclocked settings and well-known ZEROtherm cooling system. The standard edition clocks in at 775MHz and 1000MHz GPU and memory clock speeds respectively, both are loaded with the latest features and technology for immersive computing.

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The HD6800 series supports AMD Eyefinity Technology, enabling gamers to expand their gaming view across up to 4 displays with the HD6870. Also, with DirectX 11 technology support, the HD6800 series allows ultra-realistic effects and lightning fast frame rates for the ultimate HD gaming experience. It also features AMDÂ’s Accelerated Parallel Processing technology, maximizing your daily applications to do more and faster.

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Â“The PowerColor HD6800 series has not only the most advanced technology, but also the excellent performance with reasonable price position,Â” says Ted Chen, CEO of TUL Corporation. Â“WeÂ’re sure that there are more and more qualified products with outstanding performance will be released in the coming future to satisfy different gamers demand.Â”

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NVIDIA 3DTV Play Software Now Available, Bringing 3D Games, 3D Photos and Blu-ray 3D Movies to 3D HDTVs
NVIDIA 3DTV Play Software Now Available, Bringing 3D Games, 3D Photos and Blu-ray 3D Movies to 3D HDTVs
Available Now With New Dell XPS Laptops and as Free Upgrade for Existing 3D Vision Customers; Soon to Be Available for Purchase by Others at NVIDIA.com

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SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/21/2010 -- NVIDIA today announced the availability of its highly anticipated NVIDIAÂ® 3DTV PlayÂ™ software, which allows users to connect NVIDIA 3D VisionÂ™-enabled notebooks and desktops to 3D HDTVs for the ultimate high-definition, big-screen entertainment experience.

With NVIDIA 3DTV Play software, any compatible NVIDIA GeForceÂ® GPU-powered system can be connected to a HDMI 1.4 3D HDTV. The combination enables users to view 3D photos and videos, and play nearly 500 games in breathtaking 3D environments, including StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, Mafia II, and Call of Duty: Black Ops. When using compatible video playback software(1), NVIDIA 3DTV Play software users can watch Blu-ray 3D blockbusters on 3D HDTVs in full 1080p stereoscopic 3D, enjoying rich, HD digital surround sound through an HDMI connection to a compatible audio/video receiver(2).

NVIDIA 3DTV Play software is bundled with a new family of Dell XPS laptops announced today, which also includes high-performance NVIDIA GeForce 400M GPUs and battery-friendly NVIDIA OptimusÂ™ technology. The new systems, which come in 14-, 15- and 17-inch screen sizes, provide a powerful multimedia system for consumers to enjoy their 3D content on 3D HDTVs.

"The new family of XPS systems provides the best sound and video ever offered in Dell laptops," said Sam Burd, vice president, Dell Consumer & SMB Product Group. "And now with the addition of NVIDIA's 3DTV Play software, we can bring the thrilling 3D experience to an entirely new market by enabling consumers to enjoy life-like, 3D entertainment in the comfort of their living rooms."

Starting today, NVIDIA 3DTV Play software is available to consumers in three convenient ways:

Â• Free upgrade to NVIDIA 3D Vision PCs - NVIDIA 3DTV Play software is available as a free upgrade for all 3D Vision PCs via the latest Release 260 GeForce drivers for desktop GPUs, and Release 260 Verde Notebooks drivers for notebook GPUs. Download the latest drivers at http://www.nvidia.com/drivers.

Â• Available on 3DTV Play PCs - NVIDIA 3DTV Play software is bundled on preconfigured PCs and notebooks. This includes select Dell XPS notebook models, and home theater PC (HTPCs) models from ASRock and Zotac. NVIDIA 3DTV Play software will also be bundled with a variety of new computer systems that will be announced in the coming months.

Â• Available for Purchase in November 2010 - NVIDIA 3DTV Play software will be available for sale next month at NVIDIA.com as an upgrade for existing PCs that include an NVIDIA GeForce GPU and Microsoft Windows 7.

"3D Games, video and photos on a big screen 3D HDTV is an amazing experience," said Phil Eisler, general manager of 3D Vision at NVIDIA. "GeForce PCs with 3DTV Play software enable users to play nearly 500 games on a 3D TV. That's far more than any other platform."

NVIDIA 3DTV Play software, a feature of NVIDIA's award-winning 3D Vision technology, is designed and supported by NVIDIA to ensure the highest standards of quality, delivering industry-leading performance, capabilities and reliability. It supports industry-standard HDMI 1.4 3D HDTVs and compatible 3D glasses from all major TV manufacturers, and runs on Microsoft Windows Vista and Windows 7 PCs. With the addition of compatible playback software and A/V receivers, NVIDIA Fermi architecture-based GeForce GPUs users can experience HD 24-bit multi-channel audio at up to 192 KHz, or lossless DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD audio bit streaming.

A complete list of NVIDIA 3DTV Play software-supported 3D HDTVs and A/V receivers can be found at: www.nvidia.com/3dtvplay.

About NVIDIA 3D Vision

3D Vision is the worldwide leader in 3D technology for personal computers. It delivers breathtaking stereoscopic 3D images for gamers, movie-lovers and photo enthusiasts when configured with NVIDIA 3D Vision software and advanced active shutter glasses, NVIDIA GPUs, and a 3D display or projector. 3D Vision supports the richest array of 3D content available, including nearly 500 games, Blu-ray 3D movies, 3D photos and video files. 3D Vision also enables users to view 3D video trailers, videos, sports, shorts, and more at NVIDIA's 3D Vision Live, the world's first 3D streaming Web channel.

About NVIDIA

NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) awakened the world to the power of computer graphics when it invented the GPU in 1999. Since then, it has consistently set new standards in visual computing with breathtaking, interactive graphics available on devices ranging from tablets and portable media players to notebooks and workstations. NVIDIA's expertise in programmable GPUs has led to breakthroughs in parallel processing which make supercomputing inexpensive and widely accessible. The Company holds more than 1,600 patents worldwide, including ones covering designs and insights that are essential to modern computing. For more information, see www.nvidia.com.

The MSI GE603 is your top choice for mobile gaming - Powerful and Light
The MSI GE603 is your top choice for mobile gaming - Powerful and Light
MSI unveiled the GE603, its newest 15.6-inch gaming notebook computer, featuring Intel's powerful Core i5 processor with nVidia GeForce GT 425M discrete graphics card to maximize your mobile gaming and multimedia entertainment experience.

TaipeiÂ—Once again demonstrating its outstanding R&D capabilities, MSI rolled out the revolutionary GE603 laptop designed specifically with the gamer in mind. It packs the high-performance Intel Core i5 CPU with the powerful nVidia GeForce GT 425M discrete graphics card which supports DirectX 11. What's more, to enhance the layered wrap around cinema sound, it is equipped with SRS Premium SoundÂ™ which boasts powerful processing capabilities and supports 7.1 channel output. This unbeatable gaming computer is also very light and comes with the best multimedia components available, making it the ideal entertainment center for the individual on-the-go.

MSI Marketing Director Sam Chern points out that responding to consumer needs, MSI is introducing the high-performance 15.6" GE603 gaming laptop with cutting edge hardware and software as well as an all-new exterior, a high-definition 720p webcam, and the latest SRS Premium SoundÂ™ to provide consumers with a highly mobile gaming machine.

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Top choice for gamers
IntelÂ® Core i5Â™ processor: The MSI GE603 boasts under the hood the power-sipping, high-performance Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Turbo Boost and IntelÂ® Hyper-Threading technology for dynamic enhanced processing efficiency which throttles up for load-hungry games, handling much larger amounts of data and greatly enhancing overall system performance.

nVidiaÂ® GeForceÂ® GT 425M discrete graphics card (1GB GDDR3 VRAM): To provide consumers the best multimedia entertainment performance available, the MSI GE603 features the nVidia GeForce GT 425M discrete graphics card with 1GB GDDR3 of display memory for higher display performance and lower power consumption. It also supports DirectX 11 to maximize 3D graphics for smooth, true-to-life visuals, no matter what game you're playing.

SRS Premium SoundÂ™: In addition to superior display performance, the GE603 has two cinema-grade speakers, SRS Premium SoundÂ™, and 7.1 channel output for ultimate sound.

Plenty of battery power
ECO engine power saving technology: The GE603 also comes with MSIÂ’s own ECO engine power saving technology which allows you to select from among five power management levelsÂ—Video Game, Film, Presentation, Word Processing, and Turbo Battery, at the touch of a button.

Cinema Pro technology: The MSI GE603's powerful hardware not only optimizes your gaming experience, when the magic wands and battle axes are put away, it's the ideal medium for viewing films. One touch of the Cinema Pro button switches you over to film mode for higher display resolution and richer colors. It works together with the SRS Premium SoundÂ™ and woofer to further enhance your multimedia entertainment experience.

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MSI launches R6800-series graphics cards support exclusive
MSI launches R6800-series graphics cards support exclusive "Pipe Touching" technology
Decreasing 10% cooler of GPU core temperature!!

[Taipei-Taiwan] The world-class graphics card and mainboard manufacturer MSI officially launches the R6800 series graphics cards supporting DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a output. The R6800 family includes R6870-2PM2D1GD5 using the AMD RadeonTM HD 6870 GPU and R6850-PM2D1GD5 using the AMD AMD RadeonTM HD 6850 GPU. New "Pipe Touching" technology made 10% lower core temperature! Both of them not only support 3D-Stereoscopic format, but also AMD's Eyefinity multi-display output technology, providing the unique visual experience. The brand new MSI R6800 series graphics card also supports MSIÂ’s exclusive Afterburner software, allowing adjustment of fan speed and provides saved setting profiles. All solid capacitors onboard enhance stability and lifespan. The MSI R6800 series is the epitome of new-generation immersive gaming graphics card.

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Exclusive "Pipe Touching" technology

R6850-PM2D1GD5 uses "Pipe Touch" technology, which has the heat pipe contacting the GPU surface directly for better heat dissipation, and 9cm PWM fan provides 50% more airflow than 8cm fan and improves thermal performance to make 10% lower graphics card core temperature. MSI R6800 graphics card leverages MSI's exclusive Afterburner software, allowing adjustment of fan speed by different loading. Moreover, Afterburner can save up to 5 overclock setting profiles, achieving the perfect balance between performance and tranquility.

Supports multi-display and 3D format

The eww MSI R6870-2PM2D1GD5 graphics card allows 4-screen display from a single card* via AMD's exclusive Eyefinity Technology. DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a supports not only 3D-Strereoscopic format, but also 7.1 non-distortion high-quality sound format transmissions, providing consumers the best audio/visual experience possible.

Military class solid capacitors

For the most excellent stability, MSI R6800 series graphics cards adopt all-solid capacitors for extreme stability in high-loading during long hour operation. There is no need to worry about downtime or system instability by overheating, ensuring the most stable user experience.

SAPPHIRE Launches 2nd Generation of DX 11 Graphics Cards
SAPPHIRE Launches 2nd Generation of DX 11 Graphics Cards
HD 6800 Series brings new features including support for 3D displays

SAPPHIRE Technology, the largest manufacturer and supplier worldwide of graphics solutions based on AMD technology is announcing the first products in a second generation of video cards to support the advanced graphical features of Microsoft DirectX 11 and delivering spectacular video clarity, speed and visual effects, including over multiple monitors and 3D stereoscopic displays.

The SAPPHIRE HD 6800 series features the second generation of graphics technology from AMD designed to support all the features of Microsoft DirectX 11 and DirectCompute 11. The new GPUÂ’s are built in AMDÂ’s 40nm process to deliver high performance with low power consumption. Advanced hardware features include an enhanced Tesselation unit, dedicated HDR Texture compression, multi-threaded communication with system CPU cores, embedded support for many of the DirectCompute 11 instructions, 3D stereoscopic support and HDMI 1.4a.

Two new cards

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The SAPPHIRE HD 6870 has a new architecture with a total of 1120 stream processors and 56 texture units delivering massively parallel computing power for graphics and other accelerated applications. Its core clock speed of 900MHz, together with a dedicated high speed interface to 1GB of GDDR5 memory running at 1050MHz (4.2 Gb/s effective) delivers class leading performance. It boasts a very modest active power consumption and, using Dynamic Power Management, the card has a super low-power idle mode.

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At the same time, SAPPHIRE will introduce the SAPPHIRE HD 6850, with the slightly smaller configuration of 960 stream processors and 48 texture processing units. Clock speeds of 775MHz for the core and 1000Mhz (4 Gb/sec effective) for the memory give users access to excellent performance at a lower price point with full DirectX 11 support and all the features of this new generation of technology.

Video, audio and 3D

Like previous generations, the SAPPHIRE HD 6800 series has an on board hardware UVD (Unified Video decoder) Â– this technology is now in its third generation, considerably reducing CPU load and delivering smooth decoding of Blu-rayÂ™ and HD DVD content for both VC-1 and H.264 codecs, as well as Mpeg files, and now introducing support for Multiple Video Coding for Blu-Ray 3D.

Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio is supported, and HDMI capability has also been upgraded to HDMI 1.4a. This now provides deep colour, enhanced high resolution output for Digital Theatre applications and 3D stereoscopic support as well as 7.1 high bit-rate audio.

Eyefinity

In addition to spectacular image clarity, speed and visual effects, the SAPPHIRE HD 6800 series supports the AMD multi-monitor mode known as Eyefinity. This allows a single GPU to display images over an array of several monitors, opening up exciting possibilities not just for multi-screen gaming but also for information systems, multimedia systems and promotional displays.

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The HD 6870 has two DVI, one HDMI and two mini-DisplayPort outputs, allowing a wide choice of monitor configurations to be used. The HD 6850 has two DVI, one HDMI and a single DisplayPort output. With the release of the DisplayPort v1.2 drivers, it will be possible to daisy chain several DisplayPort v1.2 monitors from each DisplayPort output.

Accelerated applications

The multiple stream processors of the HD 6800 series can be used to accelerate other applications such as video transcoding. The latest generation of web browsers can be GPU accelerated, and this is also supported for enhanced productivity in Microsoft Office 2010.

The SAPPHIRE HD 6800 series is supported by AMD's DirectX 11 WHQL certified graphics driver which delivers support for all of the key DirectX 11 level features required for enhanced gaming experiences as well as GPU acceleration of supported applications.

For more information please visit www.sapphiretech.com

Lantic launches its AMD Radeon HD 6870/HD 6850
Lantic launches its AMD Radeon HD 6870/HD 6850
Today Lantic launches its HD 6850 and HD 6870. With the unveiling of AMD Radeon HD 6000 series, we have known that Radeon HD 6850 and 6870 are codenamed Â“Bart XTÂ” and "Bart pro" from the "Norther Island" series. Basic on the original design, HD 6870 uses 40nm chipset with 1120 built-in stream processors. It equips with a 256-bit 1GB GDDR5 memory, and core/memory clock reached to 930/4200MHz. HD 6850 with 960 built-in stream processors, 1GB GDDR5 memory, and its core clock reach to 775MHz.

Lantic Radeon HD 6850 and 6870 support AMD HD3D technology for 3D gaming, CrossFireX, and the Eyefinity multi-monitor solution. And they also provide integrated display output include dual-link DVI output with HDCP, DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4a with support for stereoscopic 3D and VGA output.

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About Lantic Technology

Lantic Technology is a developer of 3D graphics processing technology. By drawing on its extensive past experience in Europe and around the world, Lantic seeks to help consumers overcome bottlenecks in technology. The company offers consumers a comprehensive sales and distribution network that will, in the future, be backed by a complete sales and support network. Lantic develops custom products tailored to meet consumer requirements on quality, price and service. With Lantic products, consumers can expect the best user experience and product guarantees. The perfect balance between performance, quality, price and service is the goal of Lantic as well as the pursuit of extreme performance and overclockability. Only the best materials and latest technologies are used to deliver the highest cost-to-performance ratios. With 24-hour customer support and courier pick-up throughout Taiwan, Lantic insists on the highest standards every step of the way.

HIS introduces the HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870, accelerates your system with HD3D, Eyefinity, Eye-Definition & Eyespeed Technology
HIS introduces the HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870, accelerates your system with HD3D, Eyefinity, Eye-Definition & Eyespeed Technology
TODAY, Hightech Information System Limited is proud to unleash the revolutionary new HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870 graphics card. Loaded with HD3D stereoscopic technology and three main pillars - Eyefinity, EyeDefinition and EyeSpeed, the new HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870 bring an incredible experience of application performance and flawless high-resolution imagery for fully immersive gameplay.

Whether itÂ’s enthusiastic gamers hungry for the latest and coolest technology to win virtually at every game, or PC users who want a fast system for their multi-tasking, the new HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870 are without a doubt the best solution around. The HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870 not only offer incredible HD gaming performance on all the latest games and DirectXÂ®11 support, but also makes multi-tasking easier with features like Eyefinity technology. So get ready as we bring our all-in-one technology - HD3D, Eyefinity, EyeDefinition and EyeSpeed- right into your home.

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HD3D Stereoscopic Technology

HD3D technology transmits two separate images to each of your eyes at the same time at a resolution beyond 1080p. Supported with HD3D glasses, this technological innovation comes with Stereo 3D gaming, Blu-rayTM 3D, 3rd Party Stereo 3D middleware software and 6800 Series GPU support. The S3D glasses is the best synchronization between display and eyewear; it is easy to use and excellent in conveying brighter and better images. To meet the ever-increasing demand of hi-tech consumers, HD3D technology streams stunning visuals and offers an unrivaled audio experience with compatible displays - HDMI 1.4a Legacy 3D TVs, 3D projectors and 3D Monitors.

The Three Pillars

Get immersed with AMD Eyefinity technology

An immersive experience that expands your game across multiple displays. Welcome to surround sight.

Get amazing EyeDefinition graphics with DirectXÂ® 11 technology

Play the latest DirectXÂ® 11-capable games in true Â“EyeDefinitionÂ” with the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 Series graphics. AMDÂ’s second-generation DirectXÂ® 11-capable architecture enables ultra-realistic effects and lightning fast frame rates for the ultimate HD gaming experience.

Speed up applications and enjoy brilliant video with AMD EyeSpeed technology

Get fast applications and incredible video with AMD EyeSpeed technology. Get more from your system than just great gaming with AMD EyeSpeed visual acceleration technology. Experience enhanced application performance and incredible video quality online or with your favorite Blu-ray movie.

HIS 6870
http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-574.shtml

HIS 6850
http://www.hisdigital.com/un/product2-572.shtml

About HIS

Founded in Hong Kong in 1987, Hightech Information System Ltd. is an internationally acclaimed graphics cards manufacturer. Commitment to Excellence is the bedrock of the company. HIS is proud to be ATI's Authorized 1st Tier AIB Partner, Certified Partner and Launching Partner. Up to the third quarter of 2010, HIS has won over 1,100 awards with ATI graphic solutions from major media all around the world. The performance-leading and award-winning models range from entry level to the most professional level products. HIS have proven to offer far superior, cooler, quieter and faster graphic cards than any other leading rivals. For further information, please visit the web site at http://www.hisdigital.com.

MAINGEAR HITS GAMERS SWEET SPOT WITH AMD'S NEW RADEONTM HD 6800 SERIES GRAPHICS
MAINGEAR HITS GAMERS SWEET SPOT WITH AMD'S NEW RADEONTM HD 6800 SERIES GRAPHICS
MAINGEAR launches AMD's new RADEONTM HD 6800 video card options on their award-winning desktops that are optimized using lower power consumption without sacrificing performance or price.

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Kenilworth, New Jersey - October 21st - MAINGEAR, an award-winning PC system builder of custom desktops, notebooks, workstations and media centers, gives pc enthusiasts a reason to grin about by offering the new AMD RADEONTMHD 6850 and AMD RADEONTM HD 6870 graphics solutions on their award-winning desktop systems.

The new AMD RADEONTMHD 6800 series graphics offer the fastest sub-150 watt graphics performance, providing both a lower power consumption and a lower price that appeal to gamers and PC enthusiasts alike. The AMD RAEDONTM HD 6850 and HD 6870 both support DirectX Â® 11 and come equipped with AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology for immersive entertainment and enhanced productivity. Both graphics solutions also offer 1GB DDR5 video memory, 2 DVI, 2 mini-display ports and 1 HDMI output while the AMD RADEONTM HD 6870 offers a higher core clock speed of 900 MHz and more stream processors totaling 1120 for increased performance.

These powerful yet affordable graphics solutions will be available on all MAINGEAR desktops; although consumers looking for a great price to performance system will be looking specifically at the MAINGEAR VYBE and X-CUBE. The VYBE will offer a single card solution of both video cards and the X-CUBE will offer both the HD 6850 and HD 6870 in a CrossFirexTM technology configuration.

Vybe Highlights:

Â• MAINGEAR Vybe full ATX expansion with a Micro-ATX footprint
Â• 100% brushed aluminum for sturdy lightweight and cool enclosure
Â• CPU overclocking with the IntelÂ® CoreTM i7-875k Extreme Edition processor
Â• Single graphics solutions of AMD RADEONTM HD 6850 or HD 6870
Â• Up to 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory
Â• Offer Solid State hard drives up to 512GB or 2TB 7200RPM HD in Supporting RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1+0, and RAID 5
Â• Up to three noise-dampening hard drive mounting to keep vibrations to a minimum and reducing noise
Â• Up to a 750W power supply
Â• Acoustic Dampening to lower the overall system noise
Â• Starting at price of SHIFT is $775

X-Cube Highlights:

Â• A no-compromise, fully-featured high performance PC in a box about the size of a shoebox
Â• Unique ventilation draws in air from the sides and is exhausted through the graphics card, power supply, and a top-mounted fan - keep your system 100% even during intense computational activities.
Â• Choice of the IntelÂ® CoreTM i5 and i7 processors or AMD Athlon II X4 and Phenom II X4 processors
Â• Single or dual graphics solutions of AMD RADEONTM HD 6850 or HD 6870
Â• Up to 24GB DDR3-1600MHz
Â• Offer Solid State hard drives up to 256GB, or up to 2TB of 7200RPM HD in RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 1+0, and RAID 5
Â• Optional cross-flow fan for added cooling
Â• Front access ports USB, Firewire, mic and headphone
Â• Starting at price of SHIFT is $845

"With AMD's RadeonTM HD 6800 series graphics, our customers will have even more options to customize a price to performance system." said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR. "With its affordable price, customers have the freedom to increase their memory, hard drive or processor capabilities."

"MAINGEAR desktops with AMD RadeonTM HD 6800 series graphics cards can help gamers take their play to the next level with industry-leading image quality, support for the immersive, wraparound experience of AMD Eyefinity technology, and the full spectrum of DirectX 11 technologies that developers have embraced faster than any other DirectX API before it," said David Cummings, director, Product Management, AMD GPU Business. "Users of MAINGEAR desktop products with AMD RadeonTM HD 6800 series graphics can be certain they are getting a cutting edge gaming rig that is ready for today's DirectX 11 titles."

All of MAINGEAR products are supported with lifetime labor and phone support with one to three year hardware warranty. For more information about MAINGEAR's desktops with AMD Radeon HD 6800 graphic solutions, click here

For an in-depth MAINGEAR comparison review, click here to see what MAINGEAR tests reveal about the new cards on our community site!

AMD Fusion APU Codenamed Llano Demonstrated at 6th Annual AMD Technical Forum & Exhibition 2010
AMD Fusion APU Codenamed "Llano" Demonstrated at 6th Annual AMD Technical Forum & Exhibition 2010
First Public Demonstration of 32nm "Llano" Unveils High-Performance AMD Fusion APU's Heterogeneous Computing Power for Taiwan Ecosystem Partners marketwire

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Sydney, Australia - October 22 2010 - At the 6th Annual AMD Technical Forum & Exhibition 2010, AMD showcased for its ecosystem partners the first public demonstration of the forthcoming AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) codenamed "Llano," designed for notebook, ultrathin and desktop PCs. AMD demonstrated the accelerated single-chip processing muscle of Llano by simultaneously processing three separate compute-and graphics-intensive workloads.

"The serial and powerful parallel processing capability of the Llano APU has the potential to make OEMs and consumers re-think their computing experience," said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and general manager, client division, AMD. "The experience potential of Llano is truly incredible, and the demos we showed today on stage provide a glimpse of what this processor is capable of delivering in sleek form factors with long battery life. Everything consumers love about their digital lifestyles today -- social networking, gaming, consuming and creating media -- can be enhanced with Llano, enabling a more interactive, vivid and immersive experience."

The Llano APU demo showed three compute-intensive workloads simultaneously on Microsoft WindowsÂ® 7, including calculating the value of Pi to 32 million decimal places, and decoding HD video from a Blu-rayÂ™ disc. Running concurrent to the CPU and HD video playback applications, Microsoft's nBody DirectCompute application is shown achieving around 30 GFLOPS (as reported in the application) a relative measure of the available capacity to post-process video during playback, play a DirectX11 game, or assist the CPU cores to accelerate a non-graphics application. The demonstration represents a preview of Llano's raw compute power enabling new levels of experience computing that AMD aims to bring to mainstream PC users in 2011.

Held annually in Taiwan, the AMD Technical Forum & Exhibition is an ecosystem partner event that focuses on addressing the world's most complex technology challenges, and spotlighting technology breakthroughs. Exhibitors span academia, hardware and software industries, fostering a healthy, open ecosystem for the AMD Fusion family of APUs.

For more information please visit http://fusion.amd.com

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit amd.com

AMD Aims to Deliver Â“Perfect Graphics CardsÂ” for Gamers with New AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 Series
AMD Aims to Deliver Â“Perfect Graphics CardsÂ” for Gamers with New AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 Series
Next-generation graphics cards introduce unprecedented levels of game performance, best-in-class energy efficiency, and an unmatched feature set starting at $1791

SUNNYVALE, Calif. Â—10/21/2010

AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced the next generation of PC gaming, the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series, designed to be Â“perfect graphics cardsÂ” for gamers by delivering unprecedented game performance starting at $179 SEP.2 The new AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards provide more than 30 percent greater game performance than competing products, harnessing AMDÂ’s second-generation Microsoft DirectXÂ® 11-capable architecture, best-in-class energy efficiency, and an unmatched feature set, including AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology. The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series is available immediately from etailers worldwide.

Â“AMD is the market share leader by a landslide in DirectXÂ® 11 graphics,Â” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, GPU Division, AMD. Â“Through our sweet spot strategy and our open, industry standards approach, weÂ’ve worked to deliver the best possible experience for gamers. Today, our laser focus on gamers continues with the introduction of what we think is far and away the best graphics card series today, the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series. With exceptional game performance, an unrivaled feature set including breathtaking DirectXÂ® 11 gaming, AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing, and more, the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series will have all gamers wanting to get RadeonÂ™ in their systems.Â”

Â“One of the great advantages of PC gaming is the rapid pace at which the experiences evolve and improve, and the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series delivers on the promise of DirectXÂ® 11 gaming with significantly improved visuals and enhanced performance,Â” said Craig Owens, marketing director, EA. Â“With Medal of Honor, EA is pushing the boundaries of gaming technology to deliver a whole new online experience, and it only makes sense that we leverage the latest DirectXÂ® 11 technology supported by AMD RadeonÂ™ graphics cards to deliver an amazing experience for gamers.Â”

Leading DirectXÂ® 11 Performance and Eye-Definition Graphics

Ultimate efficiency for ultimate performance: With the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series, AMD aims to recreate the same incredible value proposition of the original Â“sweet spotÂ” products, the ATI RadeonÂ™ HD 4800 series graphics cards. Taking full advantage of AMDÂ’s experience with DirectXÂ® 11, the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series is AMDÂ’s second-generation DirectXÂ® 11-enabled chip designed to deliver more than 30 percent greater game performance over the closest competing products in their class and even faster tessellation for a more realistic gaming experience.1,3 The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 seriesÂ’ architectural efficiency and advances in power management technology deliver in best-in-class energy efficiency.1

New and improved image quality features: AMD RadeonÂ™ 6800 series graphics cards feature improved image quality, including all-new morphological anti-aliasing compatible with DirectXÂ® 9, DirectXÂ® 10, or DirectXÂ® 11 applications, and improved anisotropic filtering.

Built for DirectXÂ®11 games and more: DirectXÂ®11 has quickly become the new standard for PC games. The majority of game developers chose AMD RadeonÂ™ graphics cards as their development platform of choice for their DirectXÂ® 11 games, and today AMD continues to enjoy strong relationships with those developers and many more. Beyond DirectXÂ® 11 games, the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series also delivers an exceptional game play experience in DirectXÂ® 9, DirectXÂ® 10, DirectXÂ® 10.1 and OpenGL titles in single card or multi-card AMD CrossFireXÂ™ configurations.4

Expand Your Experience with AMD Eyefinity Technology and Leading Display Technologies

Continued industry leadership in multi-display computing: The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards are the first in the industry to offer support for both DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a, providing PC users with expanded options for multi-monitor configurations, display selection, and new DisplayPort audio features.

Simple, flexible, affordable multi-display computing with AMD Eyefinity: AMD Eyefinity technology continues to be the most affordable multi-display solution available, offering incredible choice in display compatibility and configurations.5 More than 45 game titles have been AMD Eyefinity-validated or are AMD Eyefinity-ready titles, and there are hundreds of more games that are AMD Eyefinity-compatible. Additionally, continuing improvements to AMD CatalystÂ™ graphics drivers may unlock new functionality and flexibility in AMD Eyefinity features and configurations.

AMD HD3D technology for even more choice in 3D entertainment: With the AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards, AMD is introducing AMD HD3D technology, the result of our open 3D initiative for stereo 3D gaming and movies. AMD HD3D technology supports over 400 titles through its partners, and AMDÂ’s open 3D ecosystem approach encourages the broadest selection of 3D solutions, available at the most affordable cost.6

Live Life at EyeSpeed with AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing

Do more, faster with AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) technology: Enjoy new features, functionality and improved performance in top media, entertainment and productivity applications made possible by AMD APP technology.7

Enhanced video quality features: The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards features Unified Video Decoder 3 (UVD), a dedicated video playback accelerator that enables users to get the most out of Blu-rayÂ™ 3D movies, other HD video formats, and online video, while enjoying video quality improvements such as advanced post-processing and scaling, dynamic contrast enhancement, color correction and more.

Extensive support of industry standards: The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards fully support both DirectCompute and OpenCLÂ™, ensuring broad application support.

Partner Support

The AMD RadeonÂ™ HD 6800 series graphics cards is supported by a dozen add-in-board companies, including ASUS, Club 3D, Diamond Multimedia, Force3D, GIGABYTE, HIS (Hightech Information Systems), MSI, PowerColor, SAPPHIRE Technology, VisionTek and XFX.

About AMD

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) is an innovative technology company dedicated to collaborating with customers and technology partners to ignite the next generation of computing and graphics solutions at work, home and play. For more information, visit http://www.amd.com.

Gigabyte Announces GeForce GTX 460 Super Overclock Graphics Card-----
Gigabyte Announces GeForce GTX 460 Super Overclock Graphics Card
GIGABYTE, a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, introduces a powerful new addition to its Super Overclock Series: GTX 460 SOC (GV-N460SO-1GI). To qualify for Super Overclock Series, a GPU must go through GIGABYTEÂ’s innovative GPU Gauntlet Sorting process and it must be equipped with Ultra Durable VGA or VGA+ boards. Designed specifically for overclocking competition and gaming battle, GIGABYTEÂ’s secret weapon GTX 460 Super Overclock Edition is built with NVDIA GeForce GTX 460 GPU.

Based on 40nm processor and advanced GDDR5 memory technology, the powerful new GPU consists of ground-breaking features including Microsoft DirectX 11 and NVIDIA PhysX which leads to incredibly immersive HD gaming experience and unrivaled performance. GV-N460SO-1GI also features WINDFORCE 2X, 7 phase PWM design, OC Guru graphic card smart tuner and voltage read point.

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WINDFORCE Â– GIGABYTEÂ’s Latest Cooling Solution

GIGABYTE introduces WINDFORCE, the latest cooling technology that differentiates the brandÂ’s graphics cards from the rest. GIGABYTE understands that a fan is crucial to the graphics card, so only the fan with the most efficiency is selected for WINDFORCE. To qualify for WINDFORCE, the cooling solution must be equipped with anti-turbulence inclined-fin, ultra quiet PWM fan and pure copper heat pipe. Inclined-fins redirect airflow and help to reduce excessive heat and turbulence. Depending on its orientation, there are 3 types of inclined-fin designs: parallel-inclined, mirroring-inclined and 3D-inclined. Each type contributes to generating excellent exterior airflow for efficient heat dissipation from the interior GPU core.

WINDFORCE 2X: Anti-turbulence Cooling

GV-N460SO-1GI is equipped with WINDFORCE 2X cooling solution. The special inclined dual fan design effectively minimizes the flow of turbulence between two fans and enhances heat dissipation of hot area right underneath each fan. By unique design, WINDFORCE 2X even enlarges air channel on the graphics card vents and creates a more effective air flow system in chassis. This special design helps heat dissipate quickly from GPU. In addition, WINDFORCE 2X is equipped with 2 copper heat-pipes which strengthen the speed of heat dissipation.

Pure Power Architecture

GV-N460SO-1GI has incredibly pure power. It is compatible with ATX standard length PCB. 6 phase PWM design includes 6 for GPU, 1 for memory. The 6 power phase status LED indicators indicate graphics cardÂ’s current power phase, helping users monitor power consumption. This feature ensures a more stable system and better overclocking capability.

GPU Gauntlet Sorting

GIGABYTEÂ’s very own GPU Gauntlet Sorting process is the key to the best GPUs for Super Overclock Series. A GPU must pass a sequence of tests to be selected. This unique process offers three major advantages. First, full-throttle performance tuning improves overclocking ability by at least 10% to 30%. Second, optimized thermal efficiency lowers extra temperatures by 5% to 10%. Fan speed is guaranteed at standard rpm in high-rated 3D and physics-accelerated games to reduce noise for an absolutely quiet environment. Lastly, expert power switching lowers power switching loss by 10% to 30%. With GPU Gauntlet Sorting, GIGABYTE SOC graphics card guarantees higher overclocking ability.

Ultra Durable VGA+

Thanks to Ultra Durable VGA+ that features 5+1 quality components, the Super Overclock Series supports top performance in graphics benchmarking. GIGABYTE Ultra Durable VGA+Â’s 1 proadlizer on GV-N460SO-1GI graphics cards is able to provide purer power supply compared to traditional power design (zero proadlizers).

One of the quality components of Ultra Durable VGA+ is GIGABYTEÂ’s exclusive use of proadlizers. On GV-N460SO-1GI graphics cards, GIGABYTE uses one NEC Proadlizer, also known as film capacitor, to provide amazing current capacity and extremely low ESL/ESR for super overclocking ability. The added proadlizer transmits more stable power even during heavy loading.

OC Guru Â– Graphic Card Smart Tuner

GIGABYTE proudly improves its graphics card smart tuner OC Guru. This graphics card tweaking utility puts together the best combination of software/hardware overclocking. It now features 3 profiles: OC (for overclocking mode), Gaming (for gaming mode), and Green (for power saving mode). The different modes cater to usersÂ’ different needs. GIGABYTEÂ’s distinctive adjustable software offers gamers to adjust tuners for memory, voltage, and fan speed. OC Guru, the user-friendly software, gives hardcore gamers liberty when overclocking.

Voltage Read Point

GIGABYTEÂ’s specific voltage read point supplies hardcore gamers an ultimate benching experience at overclocking competition. Heavy users can change the voltage simply through software instead of manually adjusting any components on PCB. It is easy for overclockers to master the platform and monitor GPU workload at any time just through voltage read point.

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