Aussie Flood Appeal Dream System - An update on donations! #2
We are now 22 days into the TweakTown Aussie Flood Appeal and it is time for another update on the donations we have received so far.
At this very moment, the donations total $5,654.17 AUD - yes, some of you donated odd amounts like $11 and $16, but thanks all the same for the extra. It all counts! We have converted to Australian Dollars since that is what will be given.
Happily we are now well above our $5,000 USD minimum, but still a ways short of our target of $10,000 USD. The first end date for the appeal is Feb 26, 2011, but as mentioned in the original news post, we may extend up to March 31st in one week intervals if required.
On behalf of the whole TweakTown team and all of the lovely sponsors involved, I would like to thank each and every one of you for donating so far.
Please remember to tweet, post on Facebook, tell all your friends and scream from your balcony about the TweakTown Aussie Flood Appeal and let's try and hit our amazing target of $10,000 USD for all the people in Australia who have witnessed basically the worst Mother Nature can throw at them.
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Cell phone usage while driving nets New York drivers a stiff penalty
Losing your license and paying higher insurance premiums for driving and talking on your cell phone? That's now a possibility if you're a New Yorker. The state has just put a new law in effect that states that those using handheld phones while driving could not only face a fine of $100, but also get hit with two points on their driving record which could lead to higher insurance rates and even a suspended license.
While New York has had a similar texting and driving law in place since 2009, the overall cell phone ban is being called the toughest in the country. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that distracted driving, which phones can be a huge part of, plays a role in one in five crashes. Other studies refute these claims, but common sense should tell you that not having your mind on the road can get you in trouble.
Don't think that New York cops are going to be afraid to write those tickets; 342,564 tickets were issued in New York for cell phone violations according to the DMV in 2009 when the texting law went into effect. New Yorkers, it looks like it's time to invest in a Bluetooth headset.
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Playstation Network banhammer to drop on PS3 hackers
Sony's cracking down on the PS3 pirate world. In a statement released in the Playstation Blog today, Sony has stated that use of "circumvention devices or running unauthorized or pirated software will have access to the PlayStation Network and access to Qriocity services through PlayStation 3 system terminated permanently."
With all of the back and forth between PS3 firmware patches and jailbreak features being constructed to foil the new security measures, Sony has made it clear that they're not fans of the act. Lockdown of PS3 devices from the Playstation Network is their way of trying to keep cheaters off of online servers and was the focus of the statement. Watch out wallhacker, Sony's coming for you.
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IBM supercomputer "Watson" handily defeats human foes on Jeopardy
In a result that should have surprised no one, IBM's supercomputer "Watson" soundly beat two of the best Jeopardy! contestants at their own game in a three day competition held this week. While the humans were able to put up a battle here and there, Watson's 90 32-core IBM Power 750 Express servers and16 terabytes of memory were too much for the mere human brainpower of Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter.
Rutter, Jeopardy's all time leading money winner and Jennings, who won 74 straight Jeopardy appearances, didn't even come close in the overall tally. Watson's $77,147 in earnings would have beaten the combined totals for Jennings ($24,000) and Rutter ($21,600). Watson's win netted a $1 million prize which IBM is donating to World Vision.
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Download of the Day: ClamWin 0.97
Our Download of the Day today is ClamWin 0.97.
ClamWin is a Free Antivirus program for Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003 and Vista. ClamWin Free Antivirus comes with an easy installer and open source code. You may download and use it absolutely free of charge. It features:
• High detection rates for viruses and spyware;
• Scanning Scheduler;
• Automatic downloads of regularly updated Virus Database;
• Standalone virus scanner and right-click menu integration to Microsoft Windows Explorer;
• Addin to Microsoft Outlook to remove virus-infected attachments automatically.
Please note that ClamWin Free Antivirus does not include an on-access real-time scanner. You need to manually scan a file in order to detect a virus or spyware.
The latest version includes the following changes:
Changes in Version 0.97
- Quarantine Browser with an option to restore quarantined files
- Digital signature verification method to minimize false positive detections
- Other bugfixes and improvements
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Deal of the Day: APC 350VA Back UPS ES Device for Only $29.99
Our Deal of the Day today is the OfficeMax - APC 350VA Back UPS ES Device for Only $29.99.
Offer: A nice price for the back up unit that gives you UPS as well. Redesigned for larger plugs, this well known 350va version of the APC's UPS is one of the easiest ways to protect your gear. I used to use these until they got too pricey but picked up 2 and got the free shipping for these heavy units included! Expires 2/19/11.
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Battlefield 3 is available for pre-order through the EA Store
Battlefield 3 is now available for pre-order through the EA Store. The upcoming super-soldier FPS title is set to hit in Q4 of this year and is currently available for pre-order of the Limited Edition.
The pre-order includes Limited Edition content which is set to be unveiled at the end of the month. I'm hoping this "Limited Edition" content is moulded in the form of a multiplayer beta like Bad Company 2 included. Hit up the EA Store for your pre-order!
Alternatively, you can wait for the inevitable Steam version which is what I'm personally doing.
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More details on Beavis and Butt-Head, will insult Jersey Shore and YouTube videos
We all know Beavis and Butt-Head are making their way back to our screens but in what way? The new show is set to be very familiar to the 90's classic, MTV president Van Toffler has said: "They'll be self-contained segments with the boys in different situations like they used to be," Toffler says. "But this time around, they'll watch Jersey Shore, UFC matches and user-generated videos from YouTube, in addition to music videos."
All of the content will be displayed on Beavis and Butt-Head's TV, even if it comes from YouTube. Obviously the time in the show would make the duo in their 30's now, but they will still retain their youth and the same intelligence and humor. Toffer goes on to say: "They're the same boneheads sitting on the same couch, commenting on things through a really simple prism."
He goes on to say that he has no fear about younger viewers not responding to the show, "Look how popular South Park and Family Guy are," he says. "These boys are beloved characters, and even if you didn't know them the first time around, it doesn't take more than 30 seconds to fall in love with them."
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Google's licks its own Ice Cream, has flavors of action bar, 'hologram' visual style
Phone Scoop has a scoop of it's own when it comes to Google's Ice Cream by interviewing Google Android Engineering Director Dave Burke who dot pointed a few things which we should expect from the next version of Android.
The new Android OS is tipped to bring an "action bar" at the top of the screen on tablets as well as upcoming phones. What does the action bar do? It provides contextual, app-specific buttong to act on whatever is on the screen at that particular moment, replacing the "press-and-hold" gesture which is meant to be phased out except for drag-and-drop operations.
At the bottom of the screen there will be a "system bar" which may not make its way to phones. The new "Hologram" visual style of Honeycomb will come to phones as well as the multitasking app switcher which shows a small view of each app running.
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Dead Island Announcement trailer
Dead Island is set to be the next Zombie game we all fall in love with. It's a non-linear first-person shooter which finds you on an island which gets overrun by a horde of zombies. It turned out to be the holiday, from hell! Pardon the pun.
Dead Island allows the player to use anything they find in their surroundings as a weapon and looks to have a bit more heart than the usual zombie, invincible-hero type of games. Check out the trailer above, it's quite the trailer!
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Crysis 2 multiplayer 2 hitting PC on March 1
Crytek seem to be unaffected by the recent leak of their latest soon-to-be blockbuster FPS title, Crysis 2 by still keeping to their word and releasing a multiplayer demo of Crysis 2 on PC come March 1.
The download page gone live teasing some of the stuff you'll see in the demo. The Crysis 2 multiplayer demo will include two maps, two modes and hours of insane action and fun. Crytek explain it as:
Players will compete in six vs. six matches set against a war-torn Manhattan in two maps: "Skyline", set on top of the rooftops and interiors of skyscrapers, and "Pier 17", an open environment with limited cover. The demo also features two modes: "Team Instant Action" pits two teams against each other as they kill as many opponents as possible to win the round and "Crash Site," where players will battle for control of alien drop pods, earning points by guarding their pods and keeping enemies at bay.
I'm just looking forward to getting my grubby little hands on it!
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We're Hiring: United States West Coast based News Editor
Listen up folks on the United States West Coast, we want you!
We want to hire a news editor who is based preferably in the San Francisco or Bay Area. Ideally we are looking for someone with previous online news writing experience. You will be required to attend press events and shows and what-not up and down the West coast and also in other areas around the country.
The position is open for discussion, but we are either looking for someone to fill a full time or part time position. You should have experience or good knowledge of "live blogging" events and announcements and a very solid understanding of tech products and the industry. If you have worked at other websites in the past for a considerable amount of time, you will have a better chance at filling our position.
If you believe you are the person for the job, please contact Cameron Wilmot (email address at the link) with your application and resume.
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Test Drive Unlimited 2 Xbox 360 Review
I was a huge Test Drive Unlimited fan. Sure, there were some areas that other "racing" games did better in, but what TDU did was bring with it not just a racing game, but a life style game. TDU2 hopes to take that experience to the next level and in some areas they have; in others, not so much.
From the start you get what the whole game is about and you understand that it's not just another racing game. As you find yourself day dreaming in a Ferrari to then be snapped back to reality as the owner comes to the car, you get a little tingle thinking how you've dreamt this as well.
The reality check is short lived, though, as you're given the opportunity to take the owner to a location in her Ferrari. Once that's done, the story begins and you start on your TDU adventure with an old Mustang in my case, and a home that consists of a trailer.
I made the mistake of not test driving the other options when it came to picking my first car and instead chose based on the roar of that V8. It was my biggest mistake, as I found myself playing for hours hating what was on offer. Poor handling made even worse on a wet road made for a game that was no fun at all.
The controls were twitchy and inside the cockpit the head movement as you move around corners is horrible, as you find yourself over correcting to then end up in a ditch. The best view is no doubt the hood or the front nose, but with some great detail given to the cockpit it's tempting to jump in there on long straight roads.
I really had trouble stomaching the game initially as I was grinding through championship races and random odd jobs for the people of Ibiza. The Mustang handling was just so terrible, and ultimately just ruined the whole experience for me.
With enough money finally saved, though, I found myself in the Audi TT RS and OMG, I couldn't get over the difference. Four wheels in perfect harmony on the road meant that everything just felt so much better. Turning was better and driving at high speeds even better again.
As I talk to people who play the game today, though, the handling of cars continue to be an issue, and while no doubt it isn't no Forza or Gran Turismo, I think the bar was set so low on the Mustang I first drove that when jumping into some of these better handling cars the experience is just 10 fold better. If you opted for something like the Lancia off the bat, though, the appreciation won't be as great when getting into an AWD car.
TDU 2 driving is all about rolling into corners. The first one was very much the same; avoid the edge, don't brake or accelerate and just roll around and you'll find yourself killing it in no time. The problem lays ultimately in this hybrid Simulation / Arcade style racing which creates a bit of a mess.
Graphically the game looks good; pop-in can be an issue as you see trees start to appear in the horizon, but it comes as little surprise considering the massive open world environment. Frame rates are the biggest issue and console users will indeed feel the slow down at points; something that isn't as prominent on the PC version. Dynamic weather along with day and night cycles exist, as does damage, but only in the form of cosmetics. Your handling doesn't get affected, and to be honest it's appreciated as someone online slams into you at 150 Mph.
It's also the little things in the game that make it graphically appealing, like the ability to put the top up and down on convertibles and put the windows up and down. It's just so cool to move to the back camera, adjust it to the side and put the top down on your Ferrari California or Audi R8.
Audio is good; the radio stations aren't bad, but I found myself with them off most of the time and just enjoying the range of car engines on offer. The Mustang has that V8 rumble, the Ferraris have that high pitched whine as you hit the high RPM and the Mercedes V8 has that growl while at the same time not being over powered like the Mustang. You'll be able to hear all that in our own in game footage that was captured using the Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle.
Outside of the driving, though, is what makes TDU 2 so great. Buying houses and decorating them, changing your clothes, getting plastic surgery to change your look, discovering roads and dealerships, sitting in cars at a dealership and revving the engine just to hear that purr. TDU 2 isn't just about the driving, but also about the life style that is associated with people who could afford this kind of car collection, and this is what makes the game so special.
Since launch the servers have been absolutely smashed and getting online has been an issue. While doable at times, it's indeed been a hit and miss affair for the last week.
The same multiplayer style of games is there, and you can flick your lights at someone and challenge them to an instant race. Clubs exist, but due to an exploit they have been shut down temporarily. They could well be back up, though, by the time this goes live.
The Casino has been a mess. For starters, it's frustrating that something ready at launch has to be paid for, and with the need to be online to really play there, people have reported huge loss of chips during play as the servers boot them. Outside of those issues, though, the Casino is a blast and again reminds us of what makes TDU 2 so special.
There are indeed issues with TDU 2, but the bottom line is I constantly find myself drawn to playing it; not because I have to so I can review it, but because I want to. There's something about buying a water front house and housing your Ferrari, RUF, Audi and Mercedes in it that makes the game feel so special. Throw in the inclusion of the original Oahu Island being present with the new Ibiza and you've just got so many roads to explore.
The inclusion of 4WDs now also bring with it so much more road to explore as you take your $100,000 4WD to the dirt. Of course it gets dirty, and it's time to take it back to the car wash for some bikini clad ladies to wash, as seen at the end of our in game footage.
In the end you feel if you could get that Forza 3 mechanics combined with the experience that TDU 2 gives you, we'd have the ultimate driving game. If you're a fan of the original this is a highly recommended pick up as it expands upon what made the game so great. If you instead find yourself playing games like Forza 3 or Gran Turismo 5 exclusively, the handling could well be an issue. The same goes for fans of Need for Speed; there's no hitting your hand brake as you hit a corner and a 200 ft drift taking place.
The game feels as if it's not made for just fans of the racing genre, but a group within the racing genre that is looking for something else. I find myself in that group and for that reason I find myself in love with what TDU 2 is offering. I can understand, though, that if you're not in this group the handling, frame rate issues and constant online experience is something you won't enjoy. The first is something you get used to. The second is something you don't see too often, and the third is what makes the game so great.
The ability to try the game out before purchasing if you're new to the TDU series is probably highly recommended. Just make sure you don't find yourself in a rear wheel drive V8 on a wet road. Honestly, though, as you drive more and more with the better cars and you learn the "driving style" associated with TDU 2, driving those cars that don't handle so well becomes a lot easier and more enjoyable.
Outside of all the championships which are indeed the best way to get money, you have to love the laziness of the people of Ibiza who can't be bothered taking their car to get serviced and instead pay you $10,000 to drive their Ferrari F430 Scuderia, or the fact that you feel like you're going to be busted for solicitation as a young female can't be bothered walking anymore and asks you for a lift. It's the little things that make TDU 2 so great and there are a lot of them. The game is indeed not without its flaws, though.
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AMD Catalyst 11.2 Windows 7 Driver Analysis
Far Cry 2
Version and / or Patch Used: 1.01
Timedemo or Level Used: Ranch Long
Developer Homepage: http://www.ubi.com/
Product Homepage: http://www.farcry2.com/
Buy It Here
The Dunia Engine was built specifically for Far Cry® 2 by the award-winning Ubisoft Montréal development team. It delivers the most realistic destructible environments, amazing special effects such as dynamic fire propagation and storm effects, real-time night-and-day cycle, dynamic music system, non-scripted enemy A.I. and so much more.
HD 6970 - Here we see no real change.
HD 6870 - Performance has seemed to drop just slightly.
HD 5870 - Here we see no real change.
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Gainward GeForce GTX 570 1280MB Phantom Video Card Review
Introduction
We haven't seen a lot of the GTX 570 since it was launched. Apart from the reference card we saw from MSI and the original overclocked one from Gainward, there hasn't been much else to look at.
Today, though, we're looking at another one, albeit from Gainward again. This one's a little more interesting, though, as it carries with it a new series name. We're not too sure what to expect from the new Phantom series, but this is our first take at it; although we've seen that Gainward have also launched a GTX 560 Ti under the same series.
So the question is, what does the "Phantom" series bring to the table and is it something we should be interested in? Are we going to want to look at more cards from the Phantom series or would we prefer to stick to our ole' faithful ones like the Goes Like Hell Editions which have been a bit of a personal favorite for a while now.
Well, before we get into the fun stuff like the performance, we'll first check out the package; from there we'll have a look at the card and the specifications of it. Then we'll get into the fun stuff and see what kind of performance the model is able to give us.
Package
Looking at the package, there's not much that you wouldn't have seen before from a Gainward bundle. The normal paperwork and driver CD, DVI to VGA connector, dual 6-Pin PCI-E to 8-Pin PCI-E and a little discount voucher for some software we've never actually paid any real attention to.
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PhotoFast GMonster3 XV2 – New 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbps SSD
PhotoFast GMonster3 XV2 - New 2.5" SATA 6Gbps SSD
Taipei, Taiwan. Feb. 17th 2011 - PhotoFast Global Inc. a pioneer in creative, high quality and extreme performance flash-based storage manufacturer, today revealed its new line up of SATA 6.0 Gbps SSDs. Relied the new partner in Japan, a fresh new company in SSD controller industry, who has been working closely with us since early 2009. PhotoFast demand to bring a perfect balance of performance and cost.
SATA 6.0 Gbps SSD has been available on the market for months, with the performance just above SATA 3.0 Gbps bottleneck. Now we have pushed the new drive over the limit, closer to the theoretically 500MB/s. At the final version shipping firmware, improved NCQ command support would obvious be on QD32.
The new GMonster3 XV2 isn't aimed for just enthusiast but also consumers. When SATA 6.0 Gbps motherboards are ready, they deserve something to pair up. The beauty of the drive is that it's sequential
MSRP :
64GB USD 110
128GB USD 200
256GB USD 400
512GB USD 800
Start shipping to Japan in April 2011.
For more information, please visit our webpage.
Product Page: http://www.photofast.tw/products/ssd-GMXV2.html
Features
- Nearly 500MB/s, pushed to the bottleneck.
- Great cost/performance ratio
- No performance degrades on incompressible data.
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/ CORRECTIONN - NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011
/ CORRECTIONN - NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011
SANTA CLARA, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 02/16/2011 -- In the news release, "NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2011," issued earlier today by NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA), we are advised by the company that, in the release's final section entitled "Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2011 and Recent Highlights," the second bullet point's first sentence should begin: "Customers announced a number of products incorporating the Tegra® 2 mobile processor, including Acer, with its Iconia A100 and A500 tablets; ASUS, with its EeePad Slider and EeePad Transformer tablets; ..." (Rather than "Customers announced a number of products incorporating the Tegra® 2 mobile processor, including Acer, with its EeePad Slider, EeePad Transformer and Iconia A500 tablets; ..." as originally issued.)
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Kingston Digital Delivers a Fully Managed and Cost-Effective Secure USB for Enterprise Solutions
Kingston Digital Delivers a Fully Managed and Cost-Effective Secure USB for Enterprise Solutions
• FIPS 140-2, Military-grade Security Available to Businesses of Any Size
• Best-in-class Security Management from BlockMaster Provides Industry's Most Detailed Control and Protection
• Kingston's Memory Expertise, Chip-Buying Power and Distribution Channels Allow for Worldwide Availability, Delivery, Customer Service
Sydney, Australia -- February 17, 2011 - Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced a series of portable data security solutions — the DataTraveler 4000 (DT4000) and DataTraveler Vault-Privacy Managed (DTVPM) — offering enterprises the most flexible, cost-effective USB options that also deliver unmatched security control. A leader in memory solutions since 1987, Kingston delivers these new products as part of the industry's only secure USB family ranging from general purpose business use to flexible, managed enterprise offerings, and to platforms for the most secure and rigid government standards.
While many organisations depend on the portability and simplicity of USBs for data management, removable media became an unfortunate focal point in 2010 for some of the most troubling security events — from Stuxnet to Wikileaks — and consumerisation only served to raise further issues of control. However, when deployed correctly, the portability and simplicity that characterize USB risk can be its greatest asset, enabling it to serve as a strategic security tool.
Currently, enterprise USB options are limited in their ability to offer both flexibility and stringent security. Existing solutions range from expensive and rigid platforms built to adhere to the highest government security certifications, to lightweight security offerings that offer little in the way of specific device management and are being loosely managed with general purpose endpoint security software. Kingston's new offerings draw from the company's unparalleled expertise with field-proven, government-tested and internationally deployed platforms supported with the industry's best warranty, service and support. The major features include:
- DT4000: brings military-grade encryption to corporations such as finance and healthcare, which require high-level protection for sensitive information. The DT4000 is FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated for the entire cryptographic module - not just the security processor as with some other solutions. The DT4000 will also be available as a centrally-managed drive later this year.
- DTVPM: offers corporate customers centralised control of all USB activity. Leveraging the world-class SafeConsole server software from BlockMaster, a company with the broadest and most mature management offering on the market, the DTVPM solution offers advanced features including password control, device state management, file audit log and file restrictor options to control what file types may be saved to the drive.
"Managed secure USB drives are a necessity within many professional organisations," said Anders Kjellander, Chief Security Officer at BlockMaster. "The financial, legal and truly practical benefits of getting in control of USB drive usage are driving this movement. BlockMaster's strong relationship with a global leader as Kingston will make managed secure USB drives highly available to customers."
"Kingston is known the world over as the memory company of choice among the Fortune 500. Our expertise in high-level encryption standards, worldwide access to controllers and NAND Flash combined with tremendous purchasing power and distribution channels allow us to extend our heritage further into the corporate space with our secure USB offerings," said Nathan Su, Flash Memory Sales Director, APAC Region, Kingston. "In addition to the DT4000, our relationship with a software security leader like BlockMaster gives our global customer base a back-end, centralized management solution for portable data peace of mind and protection."
Other upcoming Kingston secure USB Flash drives include a centrally managed version of the DataTraveler 4000 for corporations requiring FIPS 140-2 Level 2 security. For more specific product information, please visit: http://www.kingston.com/asia/flash/secure_usb.asp.
Like all Kingston DataTraveler products, Kingston DataTraveler 4000 and DataTraveler Vault-Privacy Managed USB Flash drives carry a guaranteed five-year warranty and free technical support services. For more details, please visit Kingston website: www.kingston.com/anz
Pricing and Availability
Manufacturer: Kingston Digital
Product Name: DataTraveler 4000 (DT4000) and DataTraveler Vault-Privacy Managed (DTVPM)
About Kingston Digital, Inc.
Kingston Digital, Inc. ("KDI") is the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the world's largest independent manufacturer of memory products. Established in 2008, KDI is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, USA. For more information, please visit www.kingston.com/anz.
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MSI to Show 5 NB Series, 20-plus Models at CeBIT 2011
MSI to Show 5 NB Series, 20-plus Models at CeBIT 2011
Employing rock-solid R&D capabilities, MSI rolled out a complete array of new notebook computers packing the new generation of CPU platforms introduced in 2011. It will be parading them March 1-5 at CeBIT, the international computer electronics exhibition in Hanover, Germany. MSI's wares will be displayed in Booth C38, Hall 17. Come to MSI's booth to see world gaming champions Fnatic.MSI as well as the MSI GT680—the world's fastest notebook computer. There'll be plenty of exciting things at the MSI booth to wow the crowds.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, noted that the 20+ additions to be shown will include the awesome G Series gaming laptops, the high performance F Series, the deluxe multimedia C Series, the gorgeously slender X Series, and the highly mobile U netbook series. These stylish machines all pack the newest generation of either Intel or AMD's CPUs and advanced visual-display units. Most models also come with MSI Premium Sound—the best wrap around sound out there. Like supercar-class Dynaudio, cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro, and premium multimedia SRS PC Sound for the home, programs designed to satisfy the audio-visual entertainment needs of users from around the world, will be on display in Hanover.
Gaming laptops to awe crowds at CeBIT
Kuo went on to say that G Series laptops with 2nd generation Intel Core i7 quad core processors to be displayed at CeBIT 2011 will include the 17.3-inch GT780 and GX780 as well as the 15.6-inch GT680, GX680, and GE620. They all pack high-end discrete graphics cards, some come with MSI's exclusive overclocking technology, and top models also sport accelerated dual solid state drive (SSD) architecture. The awesome computing power of these machines is expected to awe CeBIT visitors.
Intel® Core™ i7 quad core processor: The six new additions to MSI's G Series of gaming laptops—the GT680, GX680, GT780, GX780, GR620, and GE620, all feature Intel's most advanced 2nd generation Intel Core i7 quad core processor. The GT680, GX680, GT780, and GX780 also sport the nVidia GeForce GTX series discrete graphics card, while the GE620 packs the top-end nVidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics card. The impressive hardware is one reason these NB computers are the ideal choice for serious gamers.
TDE overclocking technology: The GT680, GX680, GT780, and GX780 feature MSI's own TDE overclocking technology (Turbo Drive Engine technology) designed to throttle up system speed. The GT680, in particular, recorded the highest laptop score ever (18,162 points) on the PCMark Vantage test, making it the world's fastest notebook computer.
MSI Premium Sound: If you're of the opinion that laptop computers just can't offer an enjoyable audio experience, then think again. The MSI G Series is going to shatter that stereotype. Driven by unmatched technical expertise and strict sound quality standards, MSI created Premium Sound technology for laptops to satisfy even the most demanding audiophiles. Now, you can experience sound performance like never before. MSI also worked closely with world-renowned sound system designers at Dynaudio to carry out extensive study and countless calculations to find the perfect location for speakers and to obtain obstruction-free sound transmission on the GT680, GX680, GT780, and GX780.
THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound: The GT680, GX680, GT780, GX780, GR620, and GE620 laptops come equipped with professional cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro smart wrap around sound that, along with the internal speakers, allow G Series NBs to faithfully reproduce every note played on them regardless of music type or frequency band.
Superior performance from new F Series laptops
Kuo pointed out that MSI will be showing at CeBIT 2011 three new additions to its F Series, including the 15.6-inch FX620DX and the 17.3-inch FX720 and FR720. They all come equipped with the high-performance Intel second generation Core i5 processor. The FX620DX and FX720, in particular, come with the nVidia GeForce GT Series discrete graphics card with 1GB of display memory and support DirectX11 which greatly enhances picture resolution for a richer multimedia and game experience. The FR720 comes with Intel's built-in HD Graphics 3000 display chip. These powerful new chip provide improved display performance on par with that of discrete graphics cards.
2nd generation Intel Core processor: The FX620DX, FX720, and FR720 all feature the 2nd generation Intel Core i5 processor for better performance and the new generation Turbo Boost 2.0 vastly enhances performance in each core. The Quick Sync Video revs up efficiency when ripping, synchronizing, and editing multimedia files.
GPU Boost: Discrete-graphics models FX620DX and FX720 feature nVidia GeForce GT540M and GeForce GT520M, respectively, and support DirectX 11 high performance nVidia GeForce GT520M discrete graphics card with 1GB of display memory. What's more, the automatic graphics switching in MSI's GPU Boost technology kicks them over to discrete graphics card mode to kick graphics processing up a notch or two. When performing general word processing tasks or browsing the Internet, it automatically cuts to the power-sipping integrated graphics chip mode, striking the ideal balance between performance and battery life. THX smart wrap around sound: To meet the highest standards of sound quality, MSI developed Premium Sound for laptops. It also worked closely with internationally renowned sound designers at Creative to develop top-end, cinema-grade THX TruStudio Pro which produces high-quality wrap around sound, so you are guaranteed crystal clear sound regardless of the music type or frequency band your laptop is cranking out. While the speakers reproduce each note faithfully, the Smart Volume and Surround technologies let you to create the perfect ambiance to go with it.
MSI C Series—Superior multimedia and style
Kuo explained that MSI will show three new C Series laptops at CeBIT 2011—the 15.6-inch CX640, CR640, and CR650. The CR650 features AMD's latest dual core E-350 processor with AMD Radeon HD 6310 Discrete-Class display chip for the ultimate in display performance. The CX640 and CR640 come with the latest generation, high-performance second generation Intel Core i3 processors and MSI's own fast boot technology. The powerful CX640 and CR640 boot up in half the time required by conventional laptops, so you don't have to sit around twiddling your thumbs.
Flat black metal brush finish: Inspired by the latest trend in high-end sports cars, MSI's design team incorporated a chic flat black texture into the CX640 and CR640, giving them a unique flat black metal brush finish. So not only do these NBs exude a metallic luster, their touch control panels have also undergone crystal diamond polishing and the recessed speakers give them a layered look. The way the brush finish plays with the light and shadows is sure to catch the eyes of visitors to CeBIT.
Push start power button: Taking inspiration from F1 racecars, the design team opted to incorporate a push start power button into the side of the CX640 and CR640, so that turning them on is evocative of firing up a racecar.
2nd generation Intel Core processor: The CX640 and CR640 feature Intel's more powerful second generation Core i5 processor and new generation Turbo Boost 2.0 technology to accelerate the computing capabilities of all cores. The Quick Sync Video technology enhances multimedia file computing performance during conversion, synchronization, and compilation. In addition, MSI's fast boot technology gets the CX640 and CR640 up and running in half the time that it takes other laptop computers. *Performance will vary with different hardware specs and environments.
New AMD APU architecture processor: The CR650 is equipped with AMD's new generation (2011) dual core E-350 processor. In addition to packing x86 architecture core, the APU (Accelerated Processing Units) processor sports the AMD Radeon™ HD 6310 discrete class display chip which supports DirectX 11, offering powerful processing and display performance on par with discrete graphics cards.
SRS PC Sound: The CR650, CX640, and CR640 come with the new generation SRS PC Sound for natural, wrap around, high fidelity sound whether you use the built-in speakers, external ones, or headsets. This laptop is designed to satisfy your need for crisp, clear sound quality.
Slender, but not lightweights—the U and X Series
Kuo noted also that MSI will be displaying notebooks ideal for the on-the-go urban lifestyle, including the Wind U270, U160MX, and X-Slim X370. The Wind U270 and X-Slim X370 feature AMD's newest epoch-making dual core E-350 processor with DirectX 11-supporting AMD Radeon HD 6310 discrete class graphics display chip. Not only do they mark tremendous advances in processing power and battery life in high-mobility laptops, they are also equipped to meet the demand for the latest HD digital multimedia entertainment, so you can use them all day out-of-doors without worrying about running out of power.
Superior display and multimedia performance: The U270 and X370 are equipped with AMD's new generation dual core E-350 processor the AMD Radeon™ HD 6310 discrete class graphics display chip, offering enhanced processing and display performance on par with that of discrete graphics cards.
New 12" Wind U270: The Wind U270, which features a comfortable 12-inch 16:9 ratio wide screen, tips the scales at a mere 1.3Kg and is less than one inch thick. It also comes with MSI's ECO power saving technology, giving it more than twice the battery life of conventional notebooks. It is also sheathed in stylish color film print to protect against smudging and wear. It's ideal for the style-conscious, on-the-go city dweller as it can be taken around all day without running out of power.
Attractive new 13" X-Slim X370: To meet the needs of active city dwellers for thin, light, stylish laptops that are large enough to be comfortably used, MSI introduces its all-new eye-pleasing X370. A mere 1.4Kg, it is highly portable, boasts high performance multimedia and processing, and is sheathed in MSI's own chic crystal diamond seal technology and color film print. The X370 is expected to steal the spotlight in the category of high mobility technology at this year's CeBIT. *Actual battery time will vary with differences in computer use and settings.
Chic new 10" Wind U160MX netbook: Ultra-light and ultra-slim, the U160MX is less than one inch thin and tips the scales at just 1Kg. It features a unique display axle with the round power button at one extreme, reminiscent of the sun at dawn. The U160MX is a classic piece of craftsmanship. And not only is it chic, under the hood, it packs Intel's latest Atom N455 dual core processor with advanced integrated chip architecture to make it more powerful, while using less power. This netbook is the perfect partner for the on-the-go urbanite.
Unbounded entertainment—MSI WindPad
Associate Vice President Eric Kuo pointed out that during CeBIT 2011, MSI will be showing two new generation WindPad tablet computers, one model packing the Win-Tel platform and the other the Android platform. Both models come with the G-Sensor gravity detecting device, an ALS light sensor, and Wi-Fi. Superb examples of advanced technology, they both boast a stylish new look, underscoring MSI's innovative R&D capabilities.
MSI WindPad 100A tablet: Featuring Google newest Android operating system, the 100A is equipped with a 10.1-inch screen with the multipoint touchpad function, an ARM processor, an electronic compass, GPS, the G-Sensor gravity detecting device, an ALS light sensor, and Wi-Fi. 3G is also optional. Weighing in at 800 grams and 15mm at its thinnest point, it boasts 8 to 10 hours of battery time.
MSI WindPad 100W tablet: Pre-loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium, the 100W not only comes with a 10.1-inch screen that supports the multipoint touchpad function, it also sports Intel's processor for handheld devices, a 32Gb solid state drive, the G-Sensor gravity detecting device, an ALS light sensor, and Wi-Fi. The 100W also comes equipped with MSI Wind Touch software which allows you to switch between "Work" and "Entertainment" with one touch.
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GIGABYTE Announces “AMD Highest Clock (ever) Contest!” Winners on HWBOT
-- GIGABYTE Announces "AMD Highest Clock (ever) Contest!" Winners on HWBOT --
-- Mad222 Takes Top Spot with His GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD7 --
City of Industry, California, February 16, 2011- GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards and other computing hardware solutions today announced Madd22, MILANS, and chew* as the winners of the "AMD Highest Clock (ever) Contest!" hosted by HWBOT.org.
Running from January 1st to January 31st, the contest was split into 2 stages, Max validation and SuperPI 1M. Mad222 from Hong Kong, MILANS from Poland, and chew* from the US came in 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively, with each using a GIGABYTE GA-890FXA-UD7 motherboard. The top 3 point earners each will receive a new GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3 Mini-ITX motherboard. To show our appreciation for everyone participating in this month's contest, GIGABYTE has chosen at random two lucky participants will also receive the GA-E350N-USB3. They are: LopezDaVinci and Rsannino.
About the GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3
The new addition to GIGABYTE's small form factor HTPC motherboard range features AMD Fusion™ Technology with DirectX® 11, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0), SATA 6Gbps, an HDMI interface, as well as a host of unique high-end GIGABYTE features such as Ultra Durable™ 3 Classic, 3x USB Power and On/Off Charge for quick charging iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch devices. Powered by the AMD E-350 Dual-Core Processor with AMD Radeon™ HD 6310 graphics (DX11), the GIGABYTE GA-E350N-USB3 motherboard provides exceptional Blu-ray high definition content playback unmatched by previous integrated graphics solutions.
For complete contest details and rules, please visit: http://hwbot.org/competition/gbt_amd_highclock
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