Patriot Viper 3 Series Black Mamba PC3-19200 16GB Review
Taking a look at Patriot's Viper 3 Series Black Mamba DDR3 2400Mhz Cas 10 16GB memory for Z87 platforms.
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Thermaltake BigTyp Revo CPU Cooler Review
Thermaltake Big Typ Revo CPU Cooler Review
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Saints Row IV Review
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ECS L337 GANK Machine Z87H3-A2X Extreme Review
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Thermaltake BAHAMUT External Sound Card Review
Thermaltake BAHAMUT External Sound Card Review
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ROCCAT Into Street-Proof Messenger Bag Review
A close look at the ROCCAT Into Street-Proof Messenger Bag
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Mirror's Edge - 4 Years Later Review
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ASUS ROG Maximus VI Extreme Review
Putting ASUS ROG Maximus VI Extreme through its paces to see if ASUS earns your money with this top shelf motherboard.
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Lian Li PC-9N Review
A closer look at the Lian Li PC-9N.
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DefenderPad Laptop Radiation and Heat Shield Review
DefenderPad Laptop Radiation and Heat Shield Review
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TITAN Taichi TP-15TC & TP-25TC 2-in-1 USB Charger Review
TITAN Taichi TP-15TC & TP-25TC 2-in-1 USB charger Review
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UtechSmart Gaming Mice Roundup Review
UtechSmart Gaming Mice Roundup Review
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Gigabyte Updates BRIX Compact PC
The BRIX is a small form factor PC from Gigabyte and it is receiving an upgrade in the form of the latest Intel Core processors. A total of four new models will be built around the Haswell processors and will boast improved CPU and graphics performance along with native 4K resolution support. The small size of the BRIX doesn't limit its options as it features connections for USB 3.0, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, and supports both Wi-Fi and wired networking. VP of the Motherboard Business Unit Henry Kao said, "We’re confident end users will enjoy the improved overall performance that the latest Intel Core processors offer, as well as additional upgrades we have made regarding audio and USB connectivity."
Source: Press Release
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X2 Launches the SolarBlast Gaming Headset
X2 may be relatively new over here, but this Netherlands-based company is looking to change that. It recently introduced its new SolarBlast gaming headset that's designed for long-term comfort during all your gaming sessions. The SolarBlast headset connects via a USB port and supplies virtual 7.1 surround sound, so you never have to miss a moment of action. A volume control dial is on the left ear cup, as well as a bass boost button if the explosions need to really rock your senses. The attached microphone lets all your buddies hear your voice clearly, and can even fold into the ear cup so you can easily keep it out of the way when needed.
The X2 SolarBlast gaming headset should be available soon for $59.95 / €49.95. It's backed by a two-year manufacturer warranty and works with any USB 2.0/3.0 port on Windows XP and higher systems. An extra set of ear cushions are included with the SolarBlast, as is a carry on pouch.
Source: Press Release
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Old Solar-Twin Found
Sometimes to learn about something close to us, we have to look far away. This is the case with the Sun as it is very hard to determine its history and predict its future with only 400 years of telescopic observations. To answer some of those outstanding questions, astronomers look for other stars that are nearly identical to our own, which are called solar twins.
Recently two solar twins were found; one younger and one older. The younger is just 2.9 billion years old, while the older is 8.6 billion years old, compared to the Sun's age of 4.6 billion years. That is still young enough that it has not exhausted its hydrogen fuel and expanded as it started fusing helium. However, its chemistry has changed in a way astrophysicists are keenly interested in.
Measurements of the Sun reveal that it has less lithium than some models suggest, but this older solar-twin has even less. The younger solar-twin though has considerably more lithium, so this suggests that, by some mechanism, lithium is burned away as stars age. Interestingly, the chemistry of the older star is also similar to the Sun's in such a way as to suggest it may have formed rocky planets, similar to Earth.
Source: European Southern Observatory
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Hardware Roundup: Friday Edition
The first full week of September is drawing to a close, and we have some articles for you to check out before it does. Cooler Master's CM Storm QuickFire line of mechanical keyboards is one of the more popular types around, and today there's a look at the QuickFire XT. It's a full 104-key variety of the tenkeyless QuickFire Rapid, but still has a variety of switches and that same great reliability as the smaller model. If you instead need some CPU cooling, then perhaps a roundup of the ten best CPU coolers from the likes of Noctua, Thermaltake, Xigmatek, and Thermalright, to name a few, is just what you need. There's also a new podcast covering the latest news and reviews from the PC Perspective gang.
CPU Cooling
The Best CPU Coolers: 10-Way Roundup @ TechSpot
Keyboards/Mice
CM Storm QuickFire XT Mechanical Keyboard @ Benchmark Reviews
Miscellany
Podcast #267 @ PC Perspective
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Quantum Computing Chip to be Connected to Internet
There is a new age coming to the world in the form of quantum computing. Quantum computers will have the ability to run algorithms modern electronic computers cannot, and right now there are very few people who can write these algorithms. As reported by New Scientist, researchers at the University of Bristol have decided to start preparing developers for the quantum age by setting up a quantum simulator for the public to test algorithms on, before running them on a real quantum chip.
At the heart of quantum computers are quantum bits, or qubits which can be made to exist in multiple states at the time, and to have their states strongly entangled with each other. This allows the computers to run algorithms electronic computers cannot approach. This also means many computer engineers cannot code for quantum computers, so if quantum computing were here tomorrow, the world would be unprepared. This is why the researchers have built a simulator for anyone to practice with online, so the user can learn the principles of developing for a quantum computer. Once they have become skilled enough, their project will be run on a real quantum chip the researchers built, and the results will be returned to the user via the Internet.
The quantum chip the researchers are putting online only has two qubits, so it is not particularly powerful, even compared to modern electronic computers. The researchers are currently working on six and eight-qubit computers, so they are happy to let the older design be freely used by an interested public.
The simulator is already online, but the chip will not be connected until September 20.
Source: New Scientist
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High-Speed NVIDIA SHIELD Teardown
Want to know what NVIDIA put into its SHIELD handheld device, but did not want to spend the time taking one apart? Neither did these guys:
Source: NVIDIA's YouTube Channel
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Unconventional Material for High-Temperature Supercapacitors
Energy storage technology is a big deal as without the ability to store electricity for later use many other technologies could not exist. Some of these technologies are also exposed to extreme temperatures that few energy storage systems can survive. Researchers at Rice University though have discovered a new material to use in supercapacitors that will allow them to operate at temperatures as high as 200 and 300 ºC.
Capacitors store energy in electric fields formed between two electrodes, with an insulator in the middle. Supercapacitors simply store a great deal of energy. The material placed between the electrodes is of great importance, as it is what keeps the energy from being discharged when it is not wanted. The Rice researchers have discovered a new composite material for this purpose that combines room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) and clay. The RTILs were original developed by European and Australian researchers and serve as an electrolyte, while the Bentonite clay acts as an insulator.
When combined in equal amounts, the electrolyte/insulator system was able to be heated to 300 ºC without undergoing much change, and was stable for 10,000 charge/discharge cycles. Such resilience and stability will make this supercapacitor design very useful for use in oil drilling as well as space and military applications.
Source: Rice University
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Thermaltake Announces Software Controlled Power Supply
The Toughpower DPS is the latest power supply from Thermaltake and will be available with capacities of 750W and 850W. This new PSU has a unique digital control system, using the Thermaltake DPSApp software to monitor and control its operation. The software enables users to monitor their electricity usage and cost, monitor changes in wattage, efficiency, and voltage during different applications, and share the data in the cloud with other users. Users will also be able to change the speed of the included fan based on individual needs, and a fully modular cable design allows for only the required cables to be used.
Source: Press Release
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Three New 128GB Flash Drives From Patriot
Patriot has announced a trio of 128GB flash drives that are being added to the Supersonic drive family. The NAND flash drives use USB 3.0 and offer different form factors and read speeds. The Supersonic RAGE XT can read up to 180 MB/s and has a sliding form factor to decrease the size of the drive. The Supersonic Boost XT can reach speeds up to 150 MB/s and features a water resistant rubberized housing. The Supersonic Pulse has transfer speeds up to 120 MB/s and is targeted at budget minded consumers. The drives come with a five year warranty and out of the box support for all major operating systems.
Source: Press Release
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Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition
We have a nice selection of reviews and articles for you to check out today, including a couple different SilverStone models. One is the new Raven RV04 case that changes things so the motherboard mounts upside down, yet offers improved thermal performance. The other SilverStone product is the SST-AR03 CPU cooler, which is the top model in the company's Argon line of coolers. There's a look at the Razer Tiamat 2.2 gaming headset with an extra 40mm driver in each ear for even better bass response. We have another take on the ROCCAT Into Street-Proof messenger bag to see how the company's take on a laptop bag stacks up. Keeping your electronic devices ready to go without a jumble of cables is where the wireless charging pad from TYLT comes into play. To round things off, there's an article examining how the future really is Fusion for AMD and what that all entails.
Cases
SilverStone Raven RV04 @ [H]ardOCP
CPU Cooling
SilverStone SST-AR03 @ Benchmark Reviews
Speakers/Headphones
Razer Tiamat 2.2 Gaming Headset @ Madshrimps
Gadgets
TYLT VÜ wireless charging pad @ LanOC Reviews
ROCCAT Into Street-Proof Messenger Bag @ Neoseeker
Miscellany
AMD's Processor Shift: The Future Really is Fusion @ PC Perspective
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New Kind of Electronic Diode Created
Silicon resides at the heart of most of our technology, thanks to its semiconducting nature. While it has served us well for multiple decades, we are approaching its limit, so alternatives are being developed. One such alternative are metal-insulator-metal diodes, which Oregon State University have recently made an important advance with.
Metal-insulator-metal, or MIM diodes have an insulating layer sandwiched between two conducting layers, causing electrons to tunnel through the insulator to complete a circuit. As electrons can potentially tunnel faster than they can travel through silicon, this design has a speed advantage over the semiconductor. The Oregon researchers have improved the design further by adding a second insulator layer, making an MIIM diode. This second layer allows step tunneling to occur, so electrons can tunnel through one or both layers. This is helpful as it allow for better control of diode asymmetry, to ensure the electrical current can only travel in one direction.
Potentially this design could be applied to many electronic technologies, including computers that could operate significantly faster than those currently available. Fortunately the materials used in the MIIM diode are inexpensive enough that the diodes could be mass produced at low cost.
Source: Oregon State University
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Intel's New Extreme Processors Announced
Intel has now announced the fourth generation of Core i7 Extreme processors. These new processors are based on the Ivy Bridge-E architecture and uses the LGA 2011 socket found on X79 motherboards. The processors will feature an improved architecture, new extensions to the x86 instrution set, VTx and VT-d technologies, and support for AVX instructions. Furthermore, the processors officially support 3.0 PCI Express, which should remove any bottleneck imposed by any graphics card or other PCI Express card setup currently available on the market, along with a quad-channel memory controller that supports DDR3-1866 memory. The stock speeds on the processors have also been increased by either 100 MHz or 200 MHz depending on the SKU, and this is done while maintaining the same TDP of 130 W found on older Extreme processors.
The prices will range between $310 and $990, and the processors should be launched next week during Intel Development Forum.
Model |
Cores/Threads |
Frequency |
Turbo frequency |
L3 Cache |
Memory |
TDP |
Core i7-4820K |
4/8 |
3.7 GHz |
3.9 GHz |
10 MB |
DDR3-1866 |
130 W |
Core i7-4930K |
6/12 |
3.4 GHz |
3.9 GHz |
12 MB |
DDR3-1866 |
130 W |
Core i7-4960X |
6/12 |
3.6 GHz |
4.0 GHz |
15 MB |
DDR3-1866 |
130 W |
Source: CPU World
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