AMD to Drop Support for Pre-HD 5000 GPUs with Catalyst 12.7
AMD will conclude driver updates for pre-Evergreen, or pre-Radeon HD 5000 (that's HD 2000, HD 3000, and HD 4000) series GPUs, starting this summer. The change could take effect with Catalyst 12.7 (around July). Users of these older GPUs can use the (then) latest driver (Catalyst 12.6) to run their older DirectX 10/10.1 graphics cards. The elimination of pre-Evergreen GPUs could also slim down the driver package a bit, in terms of file-size.
Source: Phoronix
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Apacer Working on PCIe Cache-SSD
Apacer is working on a hard drive cache-SSD of its own, which is similar in principle to OCZ's Revodrive Hybrid. Called PHFD, the cache-SSD is a full-height PCI-Express 2.0 x1 add-on card, which seats a Marvell 88SE9130 (or similar) 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s controller, with one port wired to an onboard 32 GB SSD subunit, and the other port given out as a standard SATA port (to which you plug your system HDD). Marvell 88SE9130 includes a feature called HyperDuo, which is similar to Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST), it handles the SSD-caching on PFHD. Apacer's solution could end up being a cost-effective solution to systems without Intel RST.
Source: VR-Zone
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AMD Radeon HD 7970M Arrives on 24th
The next "AMD Tuesday" is the coming one, on which the company plans to launch Radeon HD 7970M, its next high-end discrete GPU for notebooks. Codenamed "Thames", the HD 7970M will be based on the 28 nm "Pitcairn" silicon, on which desktop Radeon HD 7800 series, is also based. When launched, the HD 7970M could become the fastest notebook discrete GPU, since NVIDIA's fastest discrete notebook GPU, and the GeForce GTX 675M are based on previous-generation 40 nm GF114, over which Pitcairn already established a performance lead, in the desktop front. We are hearing that notebook vendors already have their designs based on this chip ready in the pipeline.
Source: VR-Zone
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Crysis 3 Debut Trailer Posted
Crysis 3 is real, and although you'll have to wait another year to be able to play it, Crytek began marketing it, and even accepting pre-orders. On Friday, it posted Crysis 3 Debut Trailer (the very first trailer), which reveals quite a bit of action going on, in the game, including the intriguing crossbow weapon. The trailer reveals a sci-fi post-apocalyptic setting in which a city is overrun by vegetation. The baddies appear to have a force-field around the city now. The teaser is just 15 seconds long. A (probably longer) gameplay trailer is slated for Tuesday, the 24th.
The Debut Trailer follows.
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(PR) Overclockers UK Announces 14-day Satisfaction Guarantee Scheme
With a renewed commitment to customer service, OVERCLOCKERS UK are taking this focus on a hassle-free and enjoyable shopping experience one step further by introducing a new 14 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
OVERCLOCKERS UK strives to provide the best customer experience possible and recognising this, puts the customer very first. Wanting to ensure that customers are satisfied and content with their purchase, the new Customer Satisfaction Guarantee aims to take this commitment to the next level. Instead of offering the regular 7 working days to return an order, OVERCLOCKERS UK is now extending the time frame for all their consumers to an incredible 14 days. This service initiative is second to none and the 14 Day Satisfaction Guarantee is a testament to OVERCLOCKERS UK providing the highest possible levels in customer service.
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KFA2 GeForce GTX 680 Hall of Fame Edition Listed
Here are the first pictures of KFA2 GeForce GTX 680 Hall of Fame (HOF) Edition, an exclusive to markets KFA2, Galaxy's Europe brand, has a presence in. British retailer Overclockers UK listed the card for pre-order, it goes for £529.99, including VAT (US $854). The card features non-reference PCB and cooling assembly, its PCB dons a white color, which sets it apart from every other GTX 680 graphics card. The GeForce GTX 680 GPU is accompanied by 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 256-bit wide memory interface. The GPU is overclocked out of the box, with base core speed of 1202 MHz, boost core speed of 1267 MHz, and memory speed of 1502 MHz (6008 MHz GDDR5 effective).
The PCB implements bleeding-edge voltage regulation circuitry, that includes CPL-made single-phase chokes, International Rectifier DirectFET, and tantalum capacitors - stuff that's fit for avionics. The VRM is make up of an 8+2+2 phase circuit. The card draws power from two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. A Galaxy GX31 custom controller governs the VRM, providing software voltage control, voltage monitoring and power draw monitoring over SMBUS. The cooling solution is Galaxy's proven triple-fan cooler, which has been used on older Galaxy/KFA2 graphics cards. The cooler utilizes a long aluminum fin array, to which heat is conveyed by several copper heat pipes. It is then ventilated by three 90 mm LED-lit fans. Display outputs include one standard-sized DisplayPort, and three mini-DisplayPort connectors. According to OCUK, the KFA2 GTX 680 HOF Edition will start shipping on May 11.
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(PR) NVIDIA Emerging Companies Summit to Showcase Biggest Trends in Computing
Dozens of companies from around the world that are committed to transforming industries or creating new ones will participate in NVIDIA's Emerging Companies Summit (ECS) 2012, to be held May 16 at the San Jose Convention Center in San Jose, Calif.
The companies will exhibit technologies that use the massive computing power of GPUs in the areas of cloud computing, gesture- and facial-recognition software, biomedical visualization and digital product placement, among others.
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AMD Trinity and Brazos 2.0 Start Shipping to ODMs
AMD announced first shipments of its 2nd generation accelerated processing units (APUs), under its A-Series "Trinity", and E/C-series "Brazos 2.0" lines. The new 2012 APUs by AMD, according to Senior PR Manager Phil Hughes, "improve on virtually every aspect of [the] current A-Series APUs while doubling the performance-per-watt over our previous generation." The APUs are available in FM2 uPGA for desktops, and FS1r2 uPGA, FP2 BGA for notebooks; targeting nearly all PC form-factors. Pictured below, is the very first shipment heading out to ASUSTek.
Source: AMD
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Human Head hasn't Worked on Prey 2 in Months, RUNE Sequel Possible
News that Prey 2 had not been cancelled, but rather delayed, was relieving to fans of the original. However, why has there been such secrecy surrounding the project over the last several months? According to a Shacknews source who asked not to be identified, Human Head was not happy with the terms of its contract with ZeniMax, and deliberately stopped work on the game in November so it could try to negotiate a more favorable deal. While doing that, many on the development team were laid off, with the hope they would be rehired if the contract issue was resolved favorably. The process seemed to be gathering some positive momentum until January when ZeniMax's responses all but stopped, causing some of the laid-off Prey 2 team to wonder if the game would ever see the light of day.
By March 1, the source said, things had progressed a bit, leaving the Prey 2 team hopeful that they would return to work soon. But that quickly soured the following day. The source could provide no further first-hand details after March 2. When contacted for a response, an official at ZeniMax responded that "we aren't commenting on the game's development beyond what was said in the statement that was released this morning." In light of the new information, the official stance that "the delay is due to the fact that game development has not progressed satisfactorily this past year, and the game does not currently meet our quality standards" seems to throw Human Head under the creative bus. With development stalled for months, it's no surprise that the game would be unable to meet so-called "quality standards."
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(PR) N-Control Launches Avenger Elite Gamepad
David Kotkin, the founder of N-Control, the company that manufactures and markets the Avenger Controller, an adapter for the PS3 and Xbox 360, today announced the launch of the Avenger Elite. The company's new product is expected to be popular with gamers worldwide. The Avenger Elite is expected to be released at the end of this month.
Earlier models of the Avenger Controller were well received by gamers and reviewers for gaming publications. The AE remains fully legal for professional gaming competition, as well giving amateur gamers the chance to "up their game." According to Kotkin, "The Avenger Elite adapter may look a lot like previous versions of the Avenger but it represents a major leap forward for what was already a very advanced product. Using extraordinary new alloys and metals made in America specifically for the Elite, the new Avenger also makes use of medical grade nano technology and a new military grade precision hair trigger kit."
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Diablo 3 Open Beta Weekend Starts Today
Today Shacknews is reporting that Diablo III will be open to the public for beta testing. The open beta weekend begins this afternoon at 12:01pm Pacific, then will run until 10:00am on Monday, Blizzard explains in a Diablo blog post. All you need to play is a Battle.net account. You can download the client in advance, so you don't miss a second. The beta is relatively small, packing the first part of Diablo III's first act, but you will be playing Diablo III. Unlike proper closed beta testers, open beta players won't receive 'Beta Bucks' to spend in the auction house and cannot post in the beta forums.
Diablo III launches for PC and Mac on May 15. The closed beta test will wrap up on May 1.
Source: Shacknews
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(PR) ASUS Debuts the SABERTOOTH Z77 Motherboard
ASUS has introduced a new addition to their acclaimed TUF series of motherboards, the SABERTOOTH Z77, based on the latest Intel 3rd Generation Ivy Bridge processors and Z77 Chipset. The TUF Series' commitment to provide users a stable computing experience is built on strong foundations, starting with military-grade components to ensure long-lasting quality and reliability.
The latest iteration features a series of innovative thermal solutions, including a new Thermal Armor design with enhanced cooling of the VRM area and a unique convection hole design, while an upgraded Thermal Radar with a new function called Fan Overtime protects vital system components against overheating after PC shut down. Another design beneficial for the longevity of the motherboard is Dust Defender, which prevents dust accumulation and the interference that could affect the many contact points scattered throughout the motherboard.
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GIGABYTE AIVIA Osmium Gaming Keyboard Detailed
The next big-ticket unveiling by GIGABYTE is a new high-grade gaming keyboard under its AIVIA series, called Osmium. This one of the very few keyboards that come with USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface. While we really can't imagine the keyboard needing the bandwidth that comes with USB 3.0, it's probably the increased power capacity (up to 900 mA) that the keyboard might need, for its power-hungry LED lighting and core-logic. Another possibility is that the keyboard features a USB 3.0 hub.
The AIVIA Osmium is a mechanical gaming keyboard, which is said to utilize the best switches out there, for gaming. The keyboard supports multiple simultaneous key-presses, which is important in gaming scenarios. Apart from a conventional QWERTY layout, the Osmium features several macro-keys, local storage for macro profiles, and quick cycling through macro-profiles. Two scroll-wheels give you analog control over illumination brightness, and volume. The keyboard is illuminated blue, and features a large palm-rest. More details are awaited.
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GIGABYTE SkyVision WS100 WHDI Kit Pictured, Too
GIGABYTE also showed off its SkyVision WS100 WHDI kit, which lets you transmit a full-HD video/audio stream wirelessly, over short distances. Compliant with WHDI 1.0 specifications, the SkyVision WS100 consists of two components a transmitter, and a receiver. The transmitter is shaped like a dongle, it plugs into a standard-size HDMI connector of the source device (PC, notebook, disc/media player). It probably draws power from a USB connection, an AC adapter could also work. On the receiving end, there's a small box-shaped device that has the output HDMI port, it draws power from a small AC adapter. The kit allows wireless transmission of video with resolution up to 1920x1080 @ 60 Hz, with 7.1 channel lossless HD audio over small distances, such as across the board room.
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(PR) Team Group's Full Lineup Compatible with 7-series Chipset using XMP 1.3
Team Group Inc., one of the leading memory storage manufacturers in the world, pronounces that all memory module series, including Xtreem and Elite, now provide complete supports for the latest Series 7 chipsets of Intel! Meticulous verification tests have proven that Team Group's modules are perfectly compatible with major motherboards available in the market. This is a major performance improvement, and brings out the best of the new generation Core processor.
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GIGABYTE AIVIA Krypton Gaming Mouse Pictured
GIGABYTE unveiled its newest high-end gaming mouse under its AIVIA gaming peripherals brand. Called AIVIA Krypton, the mouse is designed to be an ambidextrous. It features a multi-macro button layout that's symmetrical. We spy six six macro buttons apart from the three top primary buttons, a scroll-wheel, and function buttons that adjust tracking resolution on the fly, and switch between macro profiles.
The main USPs of Krypton, apart from its ambidextrous design, are a very high tracking resolution (exact figure not known); a "gliding feet" design that suspends the mouse slightly higher, with lower surface contact, to reduce friction; and of course adjustable weight. More details are awaited.
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GIGABYTE WindForce 5X Cooling Solution on GTX 680 SOC Pictured - 5 Fan Mayhem
Here are the first pictures of GIGABYTE's new WindForce 5X graphics card cooling solution, which will likely feature on its upcoming GeForce GTX 680 SuperOverclock graphics card. It turns out that the "5X" in its name indeed denotes the presence of five fans. It's the arrangement of the fans that is its defining feature. While most graphics cards have their fan(s) arranged along the plane of the PCB, on the obverse side of the card, the WindForce 5X cooler has five 40 mm fans (the ones usually featured in rack servers) arranged perpendicular to the plane of the PCB, on the top side of the card.
This unique arrangement of fans ensures that hot air from the heatsinks are ventilated in a single direction and not all over the card (like with WindForce 3X), heating other components on the motherboard. The front-side of the card has just a swanky-looking molded brushed aluminum shroud. On the flip-side, the card spans across three expansion slots, and appears to be both taller and longer than reference design. GIGABYTE's GeForce GTX 680, featuring this cooling solution, and aggressive clock speeds, will be launched very soon.
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(PR) DTS to Acquire SRS Labs in Cash-and-Stock Transaction
DTS, Inc., a leader in high-definition audio, and SRS Labs, Inc., a leader in audio processing and enhancement technologies, today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which DTS will acquire all outstanding shares of SRS Labs in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at $9.50 per share, or a total of approximately $148 million in aggregate equity value, including acquired net cash of approximately $38 million as of December 31, 2011. The consideration represents a premium of 38% per share over SRS Labs' stock price as of the close of trading on April 16, 2012.
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(PR) ASUS Announces the GeForce GTX 680 DirectCU II TOP
The ASUS GeForce GTX 680 DirectCU II TOP graphics card delivers a true flagship product for dedicated PC gamers and performance enthusiasts. The TOP-selected 28 nm NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 GPU has been overclocked by ASUS to 1201 MHz to boost frame rates in games, offering users 143 MHz over reference. Its ASUS-designed DirectCU II thermal design runs 20% cooler than stock, while the twin 100 mm fans keep noise at bay with 14 dB quieter operation.
ASUS has added 10-phase DIGI+ VRM digitally regulated power delivery with 30% noise reduction, working in tandem with durable Super Alloy Power components that last 2.5 longer than reference. Users can tap the greater overclocking and overvolting capabilities of the card through both the hardware-level VGA Hotwire and the software-level GPU Tweak utility. Also released is the ASUS GeForce GTX 680 DirectCU II OC edition, with a 1019 MHz core capable of a 1084 MHz boost clock. This card uses the same DirectCU II cooler and PCB as the TOP version.
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(PR) Fusion-io Software Development Kit Enables Native Flash Memory Access
Fusion-io announced the first software development kit (SDK) to provide software developers with native access to the ioMemory flash platform. By integrating applications directly with this new persistent memory tier, developers will be able to optimize enterprise, web, and big data applications through direct programmatic access to the ioMemory computing layer for the first time.
"Our January demonstration of one billion IOPS running on Auto Commit Memory, and Atomic Writes demonstrated the potential power of running applications natively on ioMemory. With our SDK, we are now making these tools available to software developers," said David Flynn, Fusion-io CEO and Chairman. "The ioMemory SDK and APIs reduce application complexity and speed development while accelerating time to market with fewer engineering requirements. When you get rid of that complexity, the resulting application is much more reliable and can leverage the full potential of ioMemory to run much faster."
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ASUS Readies AMD-Powered K53TK Notebook
ASUS is working on an AMD-powered notebook under the K53TK line. The K53TK-SX0A8 from ASUS is a 15.6-inch notebook that incorporates AMD A8-3520M "Llano", which is a quad-core APU clocked at 1.60 GHz, with Radeon HD 6620G graphics. The APU's integrated graphics works in tandem with a discrete Radeon HD 7670M GPU, that has 2 GB of dedicated memory. Other vital components include 8 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1333 MHz memory, and AMD A70M FCH chipset.
The 15.6-inch display packs 1366x768 pixels resolution. Display outputs include D-sub and HDMI. Storage is care of a 750 GB HDD and DVD SuperMulti drive. Connectivity includes 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, gigabit Ethernet, SD/SDHC/MMC card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, 1.3 MP webcam, and FireWire. The battery powering the beast can run it for 4 hours before needing a recharge. Measuring 391 x 266 x 30.5 ~ 40.5 mm (WxDxH), the notebook weighs 2.7 kg. Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit operating system comes pre-loaded. It will be priced around 79,800 JPY (US $970).
Source: PCWatch
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ASRock X79 Fatal1ty Champion Motherboard Detailed
ASRock is readying its second Fatal1ty-branded socket LGA2011 motherboard, the X79 Fatal1ty Champion. The company's first LGA2011 Fatal1ty motherboard is the X79 Fatal1ty Professional, which was launched in February. The new X79 Fatal1ty Champion will be launched on April 27. Those familiar with Creative Sound Blaster Fatal1ty line of sound cards will note Fatal1ty Champion as being a more feature-rich version of Fatal1ty Professional. In this case, the X79 Fatal1ty Champion is based on a completely new PCB, with the design idea of more expansion, and the latest Creative Sound Core3D audio solution.
The X79 Fatal1ty Champion features eight DDR3 DIMM slots (X79 Fatal1ty Professional has four), and a PCIe-only expansion slot layout. The LGA2011 socket is powered by a 12-phase DigiPower VRM, similar to the one on the Professional. The VRM heatsink is assisted by two other secondary heatsinks, to which heat is conveyed by a heat-pipe. One of these is connected to the PCH heatsink. Power is drawn by 24-pin ATX, 8-pin EPS, and one 4-pin Molex (angled, optional). The board features consolidated voltage measurement points, which are socketed to hold your multimeter's leads in place. The board will be augmented by a feature-rich UEFI BIOS setup program, and ASRock-exclusive features such as XFastLAN, XFastUSB, and XFastRAM will be included.
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(PR) VLI Launches Third Generation USB Hub Controller
VIA Labs, Inc., a leading supplier of USB 3.0 integrated circuit controllers, today announced its 3rd generation USB 3.0 hub controller, the VIA Labs VL812. The VL812 USB 3.0 Hub Controller utilizes a new low-power design and features an industry-first integrated 5V DC-DC switching regulator, offering a single-chip solution that achieves both high power efficiency and greater system integration for further reduced BOM.
In typical configurations, the VIA Labs VL812 USB 3.0 Hub Controller consumes less than 0.5w under load, making it one of the market's low-power leaders. The low operational power consumption of the new VIA Labs VL812 USB 3.0 Hub allows users to attach an external 2.5" USB 3.0 hard drive, USB 2.0 Flash drive, and a USB Mouse simultaneously without the need for an AC adapter, when connected to a regular USB 3.0 port.
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(PR) MSI Launches GE60 and GE70 Gaming Notebooks
MSI has received high marks from all quarters for its high-end gaming laptops, including being selected for Innovations Honorees at the CES 2012, the IT industry's equivalent of an Oscar. Now, MSI is introducing the GE60 and GE70-the ultimate in next generation gaming notebooks. They feature Intel's latest quad core processor and new generation NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M discrete graphics card. Specially designed to meet the extreme demands of extreme gamers around the world. These killer notebooks also boast awesome peripherals.
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(PR) SanDisk Announces First Quarter 2012 Financial Results
SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, announced today results for the first quarter ended April 1, 2012. Total first quarter revenue of $1.21 billion declined 7% on a year-over-year basis and declined 24% on a sequential basis.
On a GAAP basis, first quarter net income was $114 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, compared to net income of $224 million, or $0.92, per diluted share in the first quarter of fiscal 2011 and $281 million, or $1.14 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.
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(PR) PNY Adds a Golden Touch with the HPv218g / HPv228g Dragon USB Flash Drive
PNY worldwide leader in USB flash drives, PNY technologies, the leading manufacturer in memory products, To commemorate the auspicious lunar dragon year, PNY technologies, world renowned brand in USB devices has debuted its specially designed HP v218g / HP v228g USB flash drive. The limited edition flash drive is the first ever USB drive enveloped in 24 karat gold coating highlighting the taste and identity of the drive as a festive gift ceremony while offering the ultimate in storage of digital files and more.
Gold has always been denoted as a symbol of wealth and majestic royalty. The HP v218g and HP v228g embraces the regal and luxurious appeal of Chinese culture and fabricates it into the drive. The reflective mirror like smooth and lustrous surface encased in 24 karat gold coating ensures protection from any external collisions and has dustproof and waterproof characteristics. The back of the drive includes a clip on feature that allows it to be clipped on to your ties, pockets or any accessory of choice lending an elegant and professional look. The engraved black dragon art demands power and respect, as the mythological creature is famously known for. The streamlined appearance and slim design makes it a compact and fashionable device that offers you unrestricted performance.
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(PR) AMD Reports First Quarter Results
AMD today announced revenue for the first quarter of 2012 of $1.59 billion, net loss of $590 million, or $0.80 per share, and operating loss of $580 million. The company reported non-GAAP net income of $92 million, or $0.12 per share, and non-GAAP operating income of $138 million. First quarter non-GAAP net income excludes: the previously disclosed charge of $703 million for a limited waiver of exclusivity of certain 28 nanometer (nm) APU products from GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc. (GF) related to the 2012 Amendment to the Wafer Supply Agreement; amortization of acquired intangible assets of $1 million; a restructuring charge of $8 million; SeaMicro, Inc. (SeaMicro) acquisition costs of $6 million, and a tax benefit related to the SeaMicro acquisition of $36 million.
"AMD delivered solid results in the first quarter as we remain focused on improving our execution, delivering innovative products, and building a company around a strategy to deliver strong cash flow and earnings growth," said Rory Read, AMD president and CEO. "A complete top-to-bottom introduction of new APU offerings, combined with ample product supply resulting from continued progress with our manufacturing partners, positions us to win and grow."
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(PR) Microsoft Reports Record Third-Quarter Revenue
Microsoft Corp. today announced quarterly revenue of $17.41 billion for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2012, a 6% increase from the prior year period. Operating income was $6.37 billion, up 12% from the prior year period.
Net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $5.11 billion and $0.60 per share, compared with $5.23 billion and $0.61 per share, respectively, in the prior year period. Prior year net income and diluted earnings per share included a $461 million or $0.05 per share tax benefit primarily related to a tax settlement with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
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(PR) Satechi Audio Cube Bluetooth Speaker Now Available
Satechi, a leading mobile accessories manufacturer, is excited to announce the availability of the new Audio Cube Bluetooth Speaker. Featuring a unique and portable design, the Satechi Audio Cube Bluetooth Speaker delivers 2 x 2 watts of exceptional audio performance compatible with any Bluetooth-enabled device including iPhone 4S, Android phones, new iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, MacBook Pro and more.
The new Audio Cube Bluetooth Speaker weighs only 9.6 oz. and has a built-in rechargeable battery for 6 hours of playtime, making it the perfect audio solution when on the go. The new Bluetooth speaker boasts a dual-channel speaker system with each channel output providing two watts of power for optimum sound quality. Additionally, the compact enclosure contains large speakers that significantly enhance low-end bass frequencies.
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Codemasters To Focus On Racing Games
Codemasters is giving up on action genre games such as Operation Flashpoint, to focus on its star racing game franchises such as DiRT, F1, and Grid. The British game studio will release make new installments to the three franchises under a new banner, Codemasters Racing. One of the first Codemasters Racing titles will be DiRT Showdown, slated for May 25. "Racing is our DNA, it is our heritage, it is our specialisation and it is our absolute focus going forward," said Codemasters communications chief Rich Eddy.
"We have kept our reputation for delivering best-in-class racing games, And best-in-class racing games is now our razor focus going forward. In racing, we are No.2 in Europe and that's not good enough. We want to take racing games across multiple platforms and genres. So that players can play anytime, anywhere and on any device," Eddy added. Codemasters is also setting up a free online community for players of DiRT, F1, and Grid, which gives them a single portable profile between the games, with a few added incentives. This online service is called Codemasters Racenet.
Source: MCV
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(PR) Fujitsu Introduces the LIFEBOOK AH532 and LIFEBOOK LH532 Notebooks
Fujitsu today introduced the LIFEBOOK AH532 desktop alternative notebook and the LIFEBOOK LH532 thin and light notebook, which are among the first systems to incorporate the new mobile Intel platform.
Powered by the next-generation mobile Intel HM76 Express chipsets and the Intel Core i3-2350M Processor, the 15.6" LIFEBOOK AH532 and the 14" LIFEBOOK LH532 notebooks with Microsoft Windows 7 are enhanced with a performance boost, improved multitasking, stunning visuals, the latest Intel WiDi (Wireless Display), and better energy efficiency.
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NVIDIA to Launch GeForce GTX 690 Before May 5
It turns out that the cryptic picture posted on NVIDIA GeForce Facebook page indeed is a teaser for NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690, a dual-GPU graphics card based on two GK104 GPUs. Several independent sources told SweClockers that NVIDIA is preparing to launch this SKU "in the week beginning April 30," i.e., no later than May 5. It is quite possible that NVIDIA launches it on the 30th, to share the limelight with Intel's new 3rd Generation Core "Ivy Bridge" processors, which will be released to market on the 29th. The card will feature a total of 3072 CUDA cores, and 4 GB of GDDR5 memory. We haven't heard much about its competitor, the Radeon HD 7990.
Source: SweClockers
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(PR) iBUYPOWER Announces Availability of Intel's Performance Tuning Protection Plan
iBUYPOWER, a leading innovator in gaming PCs, is excited to announce the availability of Intel's Performance Tuning Protection Plan on all new iBUYPOWER gaming systems. The plan offers iBUYPOWER customers a one-time replacement for a CPU that is internally damaged by operating the processor outside of Intel's published specifications.
The protection plan will be available at no additional charge with the order of any Intel Z68-based iBUYPOWER system featuring an Intel Core K Series processor. This includes iBUYPOWER's popular Chimera, LAN Warrior II and Erebus systems. The company also offers free liquid CPU cooling on all new desktop systems.
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Intel Prepares to Phase Out Six Entry-Level CPUs
Intel is preparing to phase out six entry-level mobile processor models across its Core i3, Pentium, and Celeron brands. The phase-out is part of Intel's natural product development cycle, as scores of new processor models will be introduced this year. Intel announced the phase-out of the following six models in its latest product change notification: Celeron P4600 (PGA988, 2.00 GHz); Pentium P6100, P6200, P6300 (2.00, 2.13, 2.20 GHz, respectively); Core i3-370M, i3-390M (2.13, 2.20 GHz, respectively).
The PCN mentions that customers can continue to place orders for these chips with the option to cancel orders, till 10/16/2012, beyond which orders can't be cancelled, the last shipments of these chips will be out in 2013.
Source: VR-Zone
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(PR) PQI Releases All-New U280L Traveling Disk
Power Quotient International (PQI) has just announced the launch of its all-new U280L USB Traveling Disk today. The device's small and compact design was inspired by computer keyboards and, at a mere 0.68 cm thick, is roughly the same size as a single key. When plugged into an Ultrabook, Notebook, or Tablet PC, it remains firmly attached and takes up almost no extra space. This streamlined design eliminates cluttering issues common among other bulky flash drives. In addition, its compact low-profile makes it a durable and resilient partner, ensuring that data remains safe and secure wherever the user takes it.
The PQI U280L features a special sandblasted plastic exterior that is both sturdy and attractive. The casing is reminiscent of morning mist, and comes in two colors: aurora white and storm black. In addition, a glowing red LED indicator at the end of the drive flashes during data transfers to clearly signal the device's operation status. The U280L also comes with a free multipurpose chain which enables the device to be conveniently carried around as a stylish charm by attaching it to other personal items such as mobile phones, cameras, backpacks, and more.
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(PR) Sony Computer Entertainment Unveils PlayStation Suite SDK Open-Beta
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that the open beta of Developer Program for PlayStation Suite (PS Suite) is available to the public starting today. The PS Suite initiative delivers the world of PlayStation to open operating system based portable devices.
With the aim of offering a more streamlined development environment for creating content for portable devices, Developer Program for PS Suite provides developers with an early version of PlayStation Suite SDK (PS Suite SDK) before the official launch later this year. Developers are also able to receive technical support from SCE through the developers forum where developers can exchange useful information.
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Killer Technology Launches New Killer High-Performance Network Controllers
Killer Technology (formerly Bigfoot Networks, before its Qualcomm buyout), launched two new network interface solutions aimed at gaming and enthusiast PCs, these include the Killer Wireless-N 1202, and Killer E2200 gigabit Ethernet, which are successors of Killer Wireless-N 1102/1103 and Killer E2100, respectively. Built in the mPCIe card form-factor, the Killer Wireless-N E1202 has quite a bit of Atheros DNA loaded into it (another subsidiary of Qualcomm), apart from Wireless-N, the E1202 also includes a Bluetooth controller. The Killer E2200 high-performance gigabit Ethernet controller will be available as both PCIe add-on card and embedded form (for motherboard manufacturers), it could be a refined, performance-optimized successor of the Killer E2100. Killer's USP is high performance using advanced offload of the network stack to a native application processor, resulting in lower pings that could help in multiplayer gaming. Both solutions will be available soon.
Source: Engadget
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Intel Xeon E3 "Ivy Bridge" Processors Start Shipping in June
Intel is expected to start shipping Xeon E3 processors based on 22 nm "Ivy Bridge" silicon within June, according to a DigiTimes report. A key feature of the new Xeon chips driving its advent is support for PCI-Express 3.0, which could greatly increase bandwidth for compatible add-on cards and controllers. Ivy Bridge allows PCI-Express lanes from the processor root complex to be split into x16, x8, and even x4 links, which greatly increase bandwidth from previous-generation PCI-Express 2.0 bus. Built in the LGA1155 package, the new Xeon chips will be compatible with existing platforms that run Xeon Sandy Bridge processors, as well as new lines of server/workstation motherboards that feature PCI-Express 3.0 expansion. We know from a slightly older report that Intel will launch low-voltage Xeon processors around this time.
Source: DigiTimes
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ASUS G55VW (Ivy Bridge-Based) Gaming Laptop Up for Pre-Order
Not waiting on Intel to launch its Ivy Bridge line-up, HIDevolution.com has went ahead and put up a pre-order page for the ASUS G55VW-DS71 gaming laptop which is powered by the Core i7-3610M processor. Beside packing a 3rd-generation Core chip, ASUS' new ROG-branded mobile machine features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) display, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M 2 GB graphics card, up to 16 GB of RAM, and up to three storage drives (HDD, HHD, SSD options are available).
The G55VW-DS71 also has Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, an 8-in-1 card reader, a 2.0 megapixel webcam, a HDMI output, a Thunderbolt port, one USB 3.0 connector, and an 8-cell (5200 mAh / 75 Whr) battery. ASUS' laptop runs Windows 7 (Home Premium or Ultimate) and starts at $1,475.
Source: Laptoping
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(PR) IDT Introduces Low-power, High-accuracy Temperature Sensor for Solid State Drives
Integrated Device Technology, Inc. (IDT), the Analog and Digital Company delivering essential mixed-signal semiconductor solutions, today announced a new family of precision temperature sensors targeted at ultra-low-power solid state drive applications. This new family of devices minimizes power consumption and optimizes bill-of-materials (BOM) costs while maintaining compatibility with existing standards for high-volume memory modules.
The IDT TS3000GB0A0 is a low-power, high-accuracy temperature sensor for enterprise server and storage applications. It supports a 1.8 V power supply for reduced power consumption and compatibility with the existing supply voltage for SSD memory modules, eliminating the need for additional voltage regulators.
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(PR) Linux Creator Linus Torvalds Receives One of World's Highest Technology Honors
The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced that Linux Creator and Linux Foundation Fellow Linus Torvalds is a Millennium Technology Prize laureate. This prize, determined by the Technology Academy of Finland, is one of the world's largest such prizes with candidates sought from across the world and from all fields of technology.
The Millennium Technology Prize is awarded every two years for innovations improving the quality of human life and encouraging sustainable development. Universities, research institutions, scientific and engineering academies, and high-tech companies from around the globe make nominations. The International Selection Committee, nominated by TAF Board, reviews the nominations and determines the year's laureates. The Board makes the final decision on who will be the recipients of the prize, which is together established by Finnish industry and state.
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(PR) Genius Announces Professional FPS Gaming Mouse for the GX Gaming Series - Maurus
Genius, a leading maker of computer peripherals, today announces the Maurus professional gaming mouse to the North American market. This new programmable five-button mouse designed for FPS/RTS gamers adds even more variety to the ever growing GX Gaming Series.
Featuring numerous customizable features, the Genius Maurus gives gamers a personalized experience in gaming. The Scorpion UI lets you set up to 21 macros, giving you a competitive edge in the heat of battle. These macros and other settings are always in the on-board memory, so even when switching computers at LAN parties or competitions no time is lost tweaking exactly how you like to play. Additionally, the Maurus' buttons, with default settings of left, right, middle with scroll, next page, and last page, are programmable giving gamers even more customizable control.
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Logitec Unveils Wireless HDMI Kit
Japanese company Logitec unveiled the LDE-WHDI202TR wireless HDMI (WHDI compliant) kit that lets you transmit a full-HD video stream over small distances (inside your home, between rooms). The kit consists of an transmission dongle that plugs into media players, PCs, and tablets that have a USB port (for power, optional AC-USB adapters can also be used) and a conventional HDMI port; and a receiver that gives the output to an HDMI display (TV, monitor) or projector. The receiver draws power from an AC adapter.
The digital HD video stream is transmitted over 4.90~5.90 GHz band, over short distances, up to 7 meters. The transmission supports resolutions as high as 1920x1080 @ 60 FPS. Apart from video, the wireless stream also transports 7.1 channel audio with quality as high as 24-bit/192 kHz, with support for DTS, AC3, and PCM formats. The transmitter measures 30 x 83.2 x 17.1 mm (WxDxH), while the receiver measures 95 x 95 x 31.2 mm. The LDE-WHDI202TR wireless HDMI kit from Logitec is priced at 25,200 JPY (US $309).
Source: Hermitage Akihabara
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(PR) In Win Officially Unveils the GreenMe Power Supplies
In-Win Development Inc has today announced its environmentally conscious range of GreenMe power supplies that are designed from the ground up with green credentials.
In-Win describes its new GreenMe concept as "designed to protect our environment, our goal to create a bigger change with every subsequent step we take towards greater environmental responsibility." To reinforce this philosophy, In-Win is committed to donating US$1 of every unit sold to WWF, to further protect the environment.
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(PR) OWC Demos Jupiter mini-SAS Shared SAN Solution at NAB
Other World Computing (OWC) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac and PC technology company, announced today it will showcase its new line of Jupiter mini-SAS shared storage solutions at NAB this week. Built upon the mini-SAS interface for blazing bandwidth up to 48 Gb/s, the Jupiter family of racks, towers, and workgroup switches combine the highest level of data sharing performance and scalable capacity of up to 3600 TB at a cost that is up to 6x less than fibre channel infrastructures.
The Jupiter mini-SAS solutions also offer straight-forward installation in Mac and Windows OS environments with the simplicity of direct attached storage (DAS) using a single cable connection. OWC will demonstrate the high performance and scalability of the Jupiter mini-SAS shared storage solution at its NAB booth #14110 in the lower level of the LVCC's South Hall.
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(PR) MSI Launches New Radeon Power Edition Series Graphics Cards
Leading international graphics card maker MSI today officially released three R7000 Power Edition graphics cards: the R7850 Power Edition 2GD5/OC, R7770 Power Edition 1GD5/OC and R7750 Power Edition 1GD5/OC. The MSI Power Edition cards all support MSI's exclusive Triple Overvoltage function and improved PWM to boost over clocking potential up to 45%1. The R7850 Power Edition 2GD5/OC is equipped with MSI's new Twin Frozr IV Thermal Design recently exclusive to the R7970 Lightning.
The dual 8cm Propeller Blade technology fans create powerful airflow and rapid heat dissipation to reduce GPU temperature by up to 22℃2. The R7770 Power Edition 1GD5/OC and R7750 Power Edition 1GD5/OC feature the all new MSI TransThermal thermal design. The MSI TransThermal thermal design allows customization of their graphics cards fan setup: Single fan, Dual fan and Stacked fan setup3. MSI's TransThermal comes with both Dust Removal and Propeller Blade technologies. Fans can also The MSI R7000 Power Edition series graphics cards' exceptional overclocking performance, all-new cooling module design and the latest Military Class III components make it the best choice for gamers.
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(PR) OWC Announces the Mercury Accelsior PCIe Solid State Drive
Other World Computing (OWC) http://www.macsales.com, a leading zero emissions Mac and PC technology company, today introduced the OWC Mercury Accelsior, the industry's first both Mac-bootable and PC-bootable, fully supported PCIe SSD card.
By utilizing the fastest data interface available in a Mac Pro or PC-the PCIe slot-the Mercury Accelsior offers nearly 3x the performance vs. an SSD in a SATA 2.0 3 Gb/s drive bay with well beyond even 6 Gb/s speeds of up to 780 MB/s. Now owners of PCs and Apple Mac Pros can stop waiting for I/O-intensive apps like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Pro Tools to render, capture or process; and can experience near instantaneous booting and application launches. The Mercury Accelsior will be highlighted along with other OWC storage solutions in booth #SL14110 during the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show being held this week in Las Vegas.
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PowerColor Intros Radeon HD 7750 Go! Green Passive-Cooled, Energy-Efficient VGA
PowerColor launched its second Radeon HD 7750 graphics card, a Go! Green variant. Models of this series tend to be energy-efficient (with slightly lowered voltages, reducing power draw), while maintaining reference clock speeds. Another striking feature of Go! Green variants is their silent passive-heatsink that cools the GPU and VRM. To maintain high temperature tolerance, and energy-efficiency, PowerColor tends to employ high-grade voltage regulation components on their Go! Green cards. In case of this card, it is said to utilize PowerPAK SO-8 MOSFETs, shielded chokes, and conductive-polymer capacitors.
The card sticks to reference clock speeds of 800 MHz (core) and 1125 MHz / 4.50 GHz effective (memory), packs 512 Graphics CoreNext stream processors, and 1 GB of GDDR5 memory over a 128-bit wide memory interface. The cooler is similar to the one featured on previous-generation Go! Green cards from PowerColor, it consists of a dense aluminum fin heatsink, to which heat is conveyed by copper heat pipes that draw head directly off the core. Heat dissipation happens passively. Expect the card to charge a tiny premium over other Radeon HD 7750 cards in the market.
Source: Kitguru
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Kingston Launches New System-Specific Memory Packages for Notebooks
Kingston launched a fleet of new system-specific SO-DIMM memory packages. Each of these packages contain memory that's tested for 100% compatibility and rated performance on the notebook makes they're specific to. These include HP, Dell, Apple, Lenovo, Sony, and Toshiba. The new packages make it easy for ground-store buyers to pick the right memory for their notebooks off the rack, with minimal help from the storekeepers. Newer batches of Kingston DDR3 SO-DIMM memory for notebooks will implement the new packaging.
Source: Hermitage Akihabara
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 To Be Revealed on May 2
This year's addition to the Call of Duty franchise is going to be Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, a sequel to the 2010 game developed by Treyarch. A source among retailers leaked a poster to Kotaku, which flashes a date, 05-02-12, along with a caption that reads "Return for Debriefing". Kotaku predicts that the date on the poster is more likely a reveal date than a release date. On a reveal date, Activision could post a reveal trailer of the game, along with sketchy information about the premise of the game's single-player campaign.
Source: Kotaku
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ASUS Maximus V Gene Helps Crack DDR3-3256 Dual-Channel 16 GB Memory
An anonymous overclocker cracked a staggering DRAM speed (for dual-channel), using Intel Core i7-3770K processor (engineering sample) and ASUS Maximus V Gene motherboard, at DDR3-3256 MHz. The overclocker started off at DDR3-3153 (~1576 MHz actual) on boot, and carefully notched it up to DDR3-3256 (1628 MHz actual) in Windows. 16 GB of memory of an unknown make, was used.
What makes the feat impressive is that such DRAM clock speeds are difficult for dual-channel/multiple-module setups, and reserved only for single-module feats. Ahead of the launch of the 3rd Generation Core "Ivy Bridge" platform, every motherboard vendor is covertly showing off similar overclocking feats.
A video recording of the feat follows.
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Available Tags:AMD , Catalyst , Radeon , Overclockers , UK , GeForce , GTX , NVIDIA , ASUS , GIGABYTE , Gaming , Keyboard , Notebook , ASRock , USB , MSI , Microsoft , Fujitsu , Intel , Sony , Ivy Bridge , Intel , Xeon , Ivy Bridge , Linux , Wireless , Kingston ,
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