Wednesday, February 10, 2016

IT News Head Lines (techPowerUp) 11/02/2016

techPowerUp!



Rise of the Tomb Raider to Get DirectX 12 Eye Candy Soon?
Rise of Tomb Raider could be among the first AAA games that take advantage of DirectX 12, with developer Crystal Dynamics planning a massive update that adds a new renderer, and new content (VFX, geometry, textures). The latest version of the game features an ominously named "DX12.dll" library in its folder, and while it doesn't support DirectX 12 at the moment, a renderer selection has appeared in the game's launcher. DirectX 12 is currently only offered on Windows 10, with hardware support on NVIDIA "Kepler" and "Maxwell" GPUs, and on AMD Graphics CoreNext 1.1 and 1.2 GPUs.




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GIGABYTE Intros F2A88X-D3HP Motherboard
GIGABYTE unveiled the F2A88X-D3HP mid-range socket FM2+ motherboard, based on AMD A88X chipset. Built in the ATX form-factor, the board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and 8-pin EPS power connectors; conditioning it for the APU with a 6-phase VRM. Expansion slots include one PCI-Express 3.0 x16, a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x4), two legacy PCI, and three PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.



The board supports up to 64 GB of dual-channel DDR3-2400 memory. Storage connectivity includes eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Modern connectivity includes two USB 3.1 (10 Gb/s) ports, with one each of type-A and type-C; and four USB 3.0 ports (two on the rear panel, two via headers). Display outputs include HDMI 1.4a, dual-link DVI, and D-Sub. 8-channel HD audio with ground-layer isolation and electrolytic capacitors; and gigabit Ethernet, make for the rest of its connectivity. The board is driven by UEFI BIOS, with GIGABYTE's proprietary Dual-UEFI technology.


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(PR) Patriot DDR4 SODIMMs Approved for Intel Gen 6 Skylake NUCs
Patriot, a long time, leading manufacturer of computer memory has announced the qualification of their 4GB and 8GB DDR4 2133MHz SODIMMs for compatibility with Intel's latest GEN 6 i3 NUC (Next Unit of Computing) and GEN 6 i5 NUC.



The qualification of Patriot's 4GB and 8GB SODIMMs was completed by CMTL, an independent compatibility testing lab used by Intel to qualify memory for their motherboards and platforms. Each DIMM submitted by Patriot was put through rigorous physical and environmental testing in order to be qualified as compatible with Intel's GEN 6 NUC, mini PC. Both the i3 and i5 models of the Intel GEN 6 NUCs have a maximum capacity of 32GB between its two DIMM slots and up to 2133MHz making Patriot a first rate option for a computer memory solution.


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Intel Pushes CPU Microcode Update which Cripples Overclocking Non-K Skylake CPUs
Intel pushed a CPU microcode update to its motherboard partners, which "plugs a loophole," which allowed people to overclock Core "Skylake" processors, other than those with the "K" brand extensions. The PC enthusiast community rejoiced what it felt was a comeback of base-clock overclocking on non-enthusiast Intel chips, with the advent of the company's 6th generation Core "Skylake" architecture. Apparently, Intel sees it as a flawed CPU micro-code which allowed overclocking, and which some motherboard vendors even built marketing campaigns around.



In an interview with PC World, a company spokesperson stated: "Intel regularly issues updates for our processors which our partners voluntarily incorporate into their BIOS," an Intel spokesman said. "The latest update provided to partners includes, among other things, code that aligns with the position that we do not recommend overclocking processors that have not been designed to do so. Additionally, Intel does not warranty the operation of the processor beyond its specifications." So how does this micro-code update work? For starters, it will work only if you want it to. If your motherboard currently supports overclocking, then it will continue to do so, until you update its BIOS. Intel will push the new micro-code to its motherboard partners, who in turn will deploy it on their latest production batches, and to their customers through DIY BIOS updates.




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Plextor Unveils the M6S Plus Series SSD
Plextor announced the M6S Plus line of performance consumer SSDs, succeeding the company's current M6S lineup. The drives implement Toshiba A19 toggle NAND flash memory built on the 15 nm process, and are driven by Marvell 88SS9188 controllers. Available in 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB variants, the drives serve up sequential transfer rates of up to 520 MB/s reads on all three variants, and up to 300 MB/s, 420 MB/s, and 440 MB/s writes, respectively. Random access speeds range up to 90,000 IOPS reads, with up to 80,000 IOPS writes. Plextor's proprietary PlexTurbo data-caching and PlexCompressor data-compression tech carries over from the M6S. Built in the 7 mm thick, 2.5-inch form-factor, the drives feature SATA 6 Gb/s interface.


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(PR) ASUS Announces the RP-AC68U Gaming Router
ASUS today announced RP-AC68U, its top-of-the-range 802.11ac (AC1900) dual-band Wi-Fi repeater. The compact and stylish RP-AC68U features four internal high-performance antennas (3 transmit, 4 receive) and allows users to easily extend coverage of an existing 802.11ac Wi-Fi network with ultra-fast speeds of up to 1900 Mbps. RP-AC68U is equipped with a USB 3.0 port for connecting storage devices. This high-performance port supports ASUS AiCloud and delivers up to 10-times (10X) faster data transfers than USB 2.0.



Five Gigabit Ethernet ports add great flexibility for connecting wired devices, and combined with the convenient Media Bridge mode they allow users to convert any wired network devices to wireless operation. RP-AC68U can also be used in Access Point mode to add ultra-fast Wi-Fi convenience to any existing wired network. The compact RP-AC68U has a sophisticated and stylish design, with illuminated red accents that can be turned on or off by a convenient touch sensor incorporated in the ASUS logo on the front. With its simple one-touch setup and LED signal strength indicators for optimized installation, RP-AC68U is the hassle-free way to extend ultra-fast Wi-Fi coverage to any part of a home or office.


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(PR) Patriot Develops New Enhancements to V560 Gaming Mouse Software
Patriot, a leading manufacturer of computer memory, SSDs, flash storage solutions, mobile accessories and gaming peripherals has released a new version of its V560 gaming mouse software.



The V560, Patriot's first offering in the gaming mouse market and part of the company's Viper line, made its debut to the public in early November. Initially featuring 8200DPI, five customizable profiles with color indicator, nine programmable buttons, up to 29.4g of adjustable weights and two interchangeable grips for even more customization, the V560 was set at a starting MSRP of $49.99.


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(PR) Kingston Digital Acquires USB Technology and Assets of IronKey from Imation
Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it has acquired the USB technology and assets of IronKey from Imation Corp. Kingston has been at the forefront of encrypted portable solutions for businesses since it launched its first DataTraveler encrypted USB Flash drive over 10 years ago. IronKey, one of the leading alternative brands in encrypted USB Flash drive solutions for many years, has been part of the Imation family since 2011. The acquisition provides customers with a more comprehensive portfolio of products and services, and demonstrates Kingston's commitment as the global leader in trusted encrypted solutions for mobile data.



During this integration process, Kingston wants to assure all parties that there will be no immediate changes to the way business is transacted by channel partners currently supporting IronKey products. Kingston is known worldwide for its dedication and level of service to its partners, resellers and distributors, and our goal is to maintain strong communication and customer relationships during this time.


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(PR) GIGABYTE FORCE H7 and H5 Gaming Headsets Now Available
GIGABYTE, the world's leading premium hardware brand, today announced the availability of the FORCE H7 and H5, two high-end gaming headsets integrating superior comfort and acoustic performance to deliver rich, clear and premium sound that pushes immersive gaming experience to a new level.



Featuring true 5.1 Surround Sound, the FORCE H7 boasts a total of 8 speaker drivers to bring out the finest audio quality available in today's popular game titles for creating a true-to-life gaming environment. The gold-plated dual subwoofer drivers are added to the mix to allow gamers to get blown away by the rumble of gunfire and explosions. The embedded USB sound card ensures the surround sound is pure and interference-free, while the audio equalizer enables gamers to customize audio settings based on individual preferences.


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(PR) ViewSonic High Performance XG Gaming Monitors Now Shipping
ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solution products, announces its new XG Series of professional-level gaming monitors, the XG2401, XG2701 and XG2700-4K, are now shipping. ViewSonic's XG Series of high-performance gaming monitors deliver essential technologies and features ideal for gamers, and are available through all major e-tail sites.



The XG2401 is a 24-inch Full HD monitor packed with features like a 144 Hz refresh rate, and AMD's FreeSync variable refresh rate technology that eliminate screen tearing and stuttering for fluid gameplay during fast-paced action scenes. A blazing-fast 1ms response time and low input lag provides smooth screen performance - even in the most graphic-intense sequences. For optimum speed and performance, SmartSync technology automatically selects the best refresh rate, response time, and lowest input lag needed in FPS games. A black stabilization function helps players spot enemies lurking in the dark, while maintaining brilliant rich colors and contrast.


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Available Tags:GIGABYTE , DDR4 , Intel , CPU , SSD , ASUS , Gaming , Router , Kingston , USB , ViewSonic

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