TechSpot: ATI Radeon HD 5970 Reviewed, Dual-GPU Graphics
As we discussed in our preliminary Radeon 5870 review, on ATI's horizon ATI was a follow-up to the Radeon HD 4870 X2, code-named "Hemlock XT", which in essence would put together a pair of Radeon HD 5870 GPUs on a single PCB.
Today AMD is officially unveiling the Hemlock as the new ATI Radeon HD 5970, hoping to expand its current dominance in single-GPU performance with the fastest single-slot graphics card on the market -- a title that until today was reserved for Nvidia's dual-GPU GeForce GTX 295.
The Radeon HD 5970 looks to be well suited for the job. The GPUs used in this card use exactly the same configuration found on the Radeon HD 5870, while core and memory frequencies match those of the Radeon HD 5850. This provides the HD 5970 with an unmatched memory bandwidth of 256GB/s.
View: ATI Radeon HD 5970 Review
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TechSpot: 7-Way Intel P55 Motherboard Round-Up
One year after its introduction, Intel Core i7 processors remain unchallenged in the high-end desktop segment. However with the recent introduction of the Core i5 and the LGA1156 platform, all of a sudden we no longer feel the need to stretch out the budget and look into buying a Core i7 920 one way or the other.
So, should you decide to go with the Core i5 750 processor, the next and possibly most difficult choice is which motherboard to purchase. Already there are over 40 possible motherboard options to choose from and today we'll be taking a look at quite a few of the better examples.
Our round-up comprises products from the likes of Asrock, Asus, DFI, ECS, EVGA, Gigabyte and MSI. In total we have 7 motherboards ranging in price from $120 to $250, so there should be something for everyone.
View: 7-Way Intel P55 Motherboard Round-Up
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TechSpot: CoD Modern Warfare 2 Graphics Performance
The wait is over as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was released worldwide this week. Developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, this is the sixth installment in the series and a direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
We expect Modern Warfare 2 to be just as hardware friendly as its predecessor despite the numerous engine enhancements. In our graphics card performance evaluation we'll be testing a large range of previous and current generation GPUs, both mainstream and high-end chips from the GeForce 9600GT and Radeon 3000 series, to the recently launched Radeon HD 5000 GPUs, dual GPU cards from Nvidia and ATI, and even a Radeon HD 5770 Crossfire setup to make up for a total of 19 different GPU configurations.
Needless to say, this should give you a perfect picture of how your current or prospective system will perform in Modern Warfare 2.
View: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Graphics Performance
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VESA accepts Apple's Mini DisplayPort standard
The Video Electronics Standards Association (commonly known as VESA) is essentially the deciding factor on new hardware specifications and standards. Earlier today, they announced that they have approved Apple's new Mini DisplayPort standard, helped by the fact that it's a small connector and works well with small devices.
The announcement, found on VESA's website, states that, "Mini DisplayPort meets the need for a smaller form factor connector for devices such as thin portable computers and add-in cards with multiple display interfaces." Apple initially offered the standard in the form of a no-fee license, in which anybody could adopt, but decided to submit it to VESA for inclusion in the next DisplayPort standard update.
The standard was originally developed by Apple for use in its laptop range, such as the MacBook and MacBook Pro, and is progressing nicely; VESA stated that it's currently in the process of approving version 1.2 of the Mini DisplayPort, doubling the available bandwidth (meaning it'll be able to transfer 21.6 Gb/second). All going as planned, this should mean that in the future you might start seeing a lot more devices packing the Mini DisplayPort.... Read on »
TechSpot: Acer Timeline 14" 4810T Notebook Review
With so many different factors to consider when purchasing a laptop, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Portability and battery life are the current trends, along with value of course, which has brought about the recent surge of netbooks. However as I've said before -- and I still stand by the statement -- netbooks are great for simple tasks, but lack the power to be more than a supplement to a real notebook or desktop system.
Today we will be looking at the Acer Timeline 4810T notebook, a 14-inch ultra-portable that aims to bridge the gap between underpowered netbooks and bulky notebooks, while retaining the battery longevity found in the latest generation of netbooks. The Timeline has an incredible claimed battery life of over eight hours.
The 4810T is powered by an Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor operating at 1.4GHz, 4GB of DDR3 memory (expandable to 8GB), a 320GB hard drive, Intel GS45 chipset with 4500MHD integrated graphics and Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100 that support Draft-N connectivity.
View: Acer Timeline 14" 4810T Notebook Review
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TechSpot: Asus P7P55D Deluxe Motherboard Review
Asus anticipates selling nearly half a million P55 motherboards by the end of the year. If this is the case, it will mean that P55 products alone will have accounted for 10% of the annual motherboard shipments for the Taiwanese manufacturer.
In other words, there is quite a bit on the line for both Asus and its competitors. In an effort to meet the diverse demand expected for P55 products, Asus released a total of nine P55-based motherboards on the platform's launch day, ranging in price from $135 for the basic P7P55D LE to ~$250 for the Maximus III Formula and P7P55 WS SuperComputer.
The P7P55D series sits at the center of Asus' P55 line-up, and the $220 P7P55D Deluxe we are reviewing today is meant to be your no-nonsense choice if you are looking for an integral P55 solution. Then the obvious question has to be what exactly makes this motherboard special?
View: Asus P7P55D Deluxe Motherboard Review
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TechSpot: Averatec N3400 13.3" Ultraportable Notebook Review
Netbooks have quite a few things going for them. They are extremely lightweight and portable, typically affordable, and more recent models come with full size keyboards, larger displays and great battery life. But for all their advantages and evolution in recent years, they still lack in one key category: processing power.
Today we'll be taking a look at their affordable N3400 Series Ultraportable Notebook, a 13.3-inch model boasting an Intel dual-core processor and a thin aluminum shell that shares some styling cues from Apple's MacBook Air.
Weighing in at only 3.8 pounds, the N3400 is powered by an Intel Pentium Dual Core T3400 CPU operating at 2.16 GHz, 3GB of DDR2 (expandable to 8GB), a 250GB hard drive spinning at 5400 RPM, 13.3" WXGA LCD display (1280 x 800), Intel GMA4500 graphics, 802.11n Wi-Fi and a 2-cell 5000mAh battery.
View: Averatec N3400 13.3" Ultraportable Notebook Review
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Magnetic-based HDDs still cheapest in 2020
A new study has found that if magnetic-based hard disk drives (HDDs) continue to progress at their current rate then by 2020 we'll see a 2.5" HDD with a capacity of more than 14TB at a cost of about $US40. Flash memory will also become cheaper, but will reach terminal limits before 2020 keeping the ultra-fast technology from replacing HDDs.
The study by Professor Mark Kryder and Chan Soo Kim of Carnegie Mellon University, published in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics, showed that in fact most technologies wouldn't be able to compete with HDDs on a cost-per-TB basis by 2020. That is, except for two new technologies: phase change random access memory (PCRAM) and spin transfer torque random access memory (STTRAM).
PCRAM is based on a technology involving heat and chalcogenide glass. Heating the glass switches between both an amorphous and crystalline state that can be used as memory. The downside is this technology takes a lot of power to sustain.
STTRAM uses a spin-polarized current that writes data by reorienting states of a magnetic tunnel. The technology is more power conscious than PCRAM, but at this point it has less potential for higher capacities of data.
Commenting on the study, Kryder said, "We were surprised to find that the study indicated that, even in 2020, HDDs were likely to be considerably less expensive on a cost per terabyte basis than any of the competing technologies."
Kryder also went on to say that he found it surprising that the technical limits and potential of certain technologies weren't reflective of where the industry is investing its research dollars. Rather, Kryder believes the industry invests where they have the most current knowledge.
Kryder hopes the study will focus the industry in evaluating technologies that have significant potential long-term - i.e. PCRAM and STTRAM.
The study can be read in the IEEE Transactions on Magnetics journal, Vol. 45, No. 10, October 2009.... Read on »
Barnes & Noble enters the e-book reader market
There is a new e-book reader literally every month and the U.S. has many e-reader devices, each with its own share of pros and cons. Yet another big player, Barnes and Noble, has entered the market with very interesting hardware.
According to the Codex Group, a consultant to the publishing industry, Amazon has sold about 945,000 units, compared with 525,000 units of the Sony reader. Now Barnes & Noble, one of the largest bookstore chains in the U.S., released their own e-book reader, the Nook, for pre-order; the company launched an e-bookstore in July.
Users have access to over one million books, magazines, and newspapers, which can be downloaded with the integrated Wi-Fi and 3G. Its full-color touchscreen makes it easy to bookmark, make annotations, and highlight passages. This is one of two innovative software features; the other is the ability to share e-books with friends for up to 14 days. What is really cool about this is that it's open to any and all devices, including the iPhone, Blackberry and the PC.
In any of the chain's 1,300 bookstores, consumers can download e-books for free on the in-store Wi-Fi network. Outside the stores, consumers can access the e-bookstore on AT&T's 3G network, which Barnes & Noble touts as the nation's fastest. The Nook also has software which detects when a consumer walks into a store so that it can offer coupons and other promotions. It also has the largest built-in memory of any device with 2GB.
The Nook will start shipping in late November for $259.
Also read the hands-on impressions from the Frankfurt book fair.
... Read on »
Frankfurt Book Fair: e-book readers gaining a foothold.
The e-book is on the rise. Last week everyone who cares about books went to the Frankfurt book fair. Three devices in particular seemed the most interesting. Here are some impressions, including snippets from two interviews.
Lawrent Picard, co-founder of Bookeen, is confident that e-book technology will continue to gain momentum over the next few years. Long before Amazon launched the greatly successful Kindle, Bookeen brought out their first device in 2000. Seven years later, just three weeks before Amazon, they released another device, the Cybook Gen3. Now at the book fair they presented their latest model, the Cybook Opus. It's significantly smaller, sporting a shiny white housing with rounded edges. Mr. Picard's opinion on the competition is that Amazon wants a monopoly and Sony simply wants part of the business, but Bookeen is focusing just on e-book readers. "We offer a very intuitive device, which is simple to use," he says, "and we know our customers very well."
Simplicity seems to be the biggest selling point for all the e-readers on the market at the moment. Sony, Bookeen and italica all declare their products as the easiest to use. Even a well known device such as the iPhone cannot claim the e-book market for itself. A free program called Stanza, available for Apple's popular mobile platforms, has been downloaded over 500,000 times. A few months ago, Amazon bought Lexcycle, the company which makes Stanza. This backs Mr. Picard's opinion on Amazon's scheme to monopolize the e-book market. Germany is already the second largest e-book market, behind the U.S., but still only less than 60,000 titles are available.
Reading habits are changing rapidly. At the beginning it was necessary to explain want an e-book actually is. Ciando, a German online marketplace, has been selling e-books since 2001. They have split their business operations into three sections. Consumers being the first and primary focus, the second and third being wholesalers and libraries. When asked about the similarities between the publishing and music industry, Ciando says that the former is much more fragmented. In music there really are only a few big players whereas in publishing big and small publishing houses coexist on the market.
At the book fair several new e-book readers were presented. Sony's reader Touch Edition, Bookeen's Cybook Opus and the italica reader are only three from a handful to choose from. The latter is a product from a German start-up company, which caught me by surprise. Although technically not the most advanced, it is aesthetically the most pleasing. While, Sony offers a touch-screen based device, and Bookeen the smallest of the three, italica reader certainly is the one that fits comfortably in your hand. All three products definitely shows that e-book technology is on the right track to fully mature in 2010. Pricewise the Cybook Opus is the cheapest at $ 250 and it has also the largest internal memory with 1GB. All of them share the same high-contrast e-ink displays, which allow for comfortable reading even in direct sunlight. Another advantage all three e-book readers share is the extremely long battery life of up to two weeks. Also, unlike the Kindle, all three devices are open-ended, so you can buy e-books anywhere you like.
The throng waiting to gaze the new e-book readers made it impossible to take each device for an extensive test drive. However, initial impressions, albeit brief, are positive with all them. As you might gather this is a topic impossible to generalize. At the moment, there are so many devices on the market, with new ones appearing every week. Consumers must have a difficult job choosing which e-book reader best meets their personal preferences. Choice is a good thing, of course; many of the smaller companies will find it hard to gain momentum on the market, though. For now, the European market is open. Yet, very soon a leader will emerge.
Bookeen Cybook Opus
Sony Reader Touch Edition
italica Reader
... Read on »
TechSpot: OCZ Agility EX 60GB SLC SSD Review
OCZ is showing strong commitment to be at the forefront of SSD technology. Over the past year the company has released nearly a dozen different series targeting every possible market, from affordable netbook oriented products to enterprise-grade solid state drives for servers and data warehouses.
They have had a great deal of success with multi-level cell (MLC) drives such as the Vertex we reviewed a few months ago. At the other side of the spectrum, single-level cell (SLC) solid state drives tend to sell for more outrageous prices.
OCZ has been working on making this technology a bit kinder on your bank account. Their latest 2.5" consumer drive is known under the Agility EX moniker, and is touted as the most cost-efficient SSD based on single-level cell memory with a cost per gigabyte at around $6.65 -- or 40% less than the Vertex EX and other similarly equipped SLC solid state drives.
View: OCZ Agility EX 60GB SLC SSD Review
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85% of Mac owners have Windows too
According to a study done by the NPD group, 85% of people who own a Mac, also own a Windows based PC in their home. Approximately 12% of homes in the U.S. own a Mac computer, up from 9% in 2008, and out of that 12%, approximately 85% own a Windows PC.
The study reveals that the explanation behind Mac users owning both a Mac computer and a Windows PC is that they tend to own more computers. According to the NPD group study, 66% of Mac households have three or more computers, compared to only 29% of Windows households.
The study also showed that 36% of Mac households have an income greater than $100,000, compared to only 21% of Windows households. Mac users also own more laptops than Windows users, with 72% of Mac users owning a laptop, compared to only 50% of the Windows PC households.
Mac users also tend to own more electronics, 63% own electronics such as iPods and 50% own some kind of electronic navigation system, compared to 36% of Windows PC owners have iPods and 30% own a GPS. The average Mac household owns approximately 48 consumer electronic devices, compared with an average of 24 in computer-owning households.... Read on »
Amazon Kindle to launch in UK soon
Amazon will launch the Kindle in the UK, possibly as early as next month, The Times reports. According to the leading publishing trade magazine The Bookseller, the highly successful reading device will hit shelves as early as October. An official announcement from Amazon could come as early as next week.
It was only a matter of time before Amazon would launch the Kindle outside the US. They just never divulged a possible timeframe. Last week Amazon.co.uk secured a UK manufacturer for the device. Amazon expects to sell a million in the US before year end. Bringing the device to the UK will definitely help them gain more market share. The Association of American Publishers says that eBook sales in July were up 213 per cent compared with July last year.
Qualcomm have worked out a solution to offer the whispernet wireless service in the UK. Over the 3G network connection users can buy and download new eBooks wirelessly. However, Amazon will meet a stiff competition, since its biggest rival Sony has a device on the market with Waterstone's, W H Smith and Play.com, selling the Sony Reader. The Bookseller also reports that Blackwell's offers exclusively the BeBook in all its stores since August. Borders launched the Elonex e-book reader into all of its stores last month. Priced £189, it is the cheapest device on the high street.
It remains unclear what the Kindle will cost when it launches in the UK. The newest Sony Reader, named Daily Edition, offers both wireless syncing and a touch screen, which analysts call a great advantage over the Kindle. Students have not been impressed by the Kindle, though. The Wall Street Journal reports a lackluster response to it.
... Read on »
TechSpot: OCZ Sabre OLED Gaming Keyboard review
Art Lebedev Studio created a whirlwind of excitement when their Optimus Maximus keyboard concept surfaced in 2005. The peripheral touted a full set of OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) buttons that were 100% user-customizable and downright amazing-looking.
I had the opportunity to see it in person at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show as well as get some hands-on time with its little brother, the Mini Three. The hype was real and the technology very cool indeed. I wanted one, as did nearly everyone else -- that is, until the company revealed how much it would cost. Priced at over $1,400, the Optimus Maximus remains more fantasy than reality, as the closest most users will come to it are the photos and videos available online.
Fortunately for those interested in OLED keyboard technology, Art Lebedev isn't the only player around. OCZ Technology recently released their Sabre OLED Gaming Keyboard, which features a bank of nine programmable OLED keys and a significantly cheaper price tag.
View: OCZ Sabre OLED Gaming Keyboard review These articles are brought to you in partnership with TechSpot... Read on »
Dell Latitude Z introduces wireless charging
Dell's new Latitude Z brings new light to the laptop market, with wireless charging, allowing users to cut the cord. The tiny form factor comes in at 16" across and 14 millimeters at the most narrow point, weighing 4.5lbs, being the world's thinnest and lightest laptop, also including instant-on technology.
The completely wireless laptop comes with a inductive pad built into the bottom of it, which allows for a full charge when placed on the wireless charging stand, giving a full charge in about the same amount of time as wired.
The Dell Latitude Z also comes with sliding touch controls on the right side, bringing up customized controls for volume adjustment, screen brightness or even quick access to specific applications. The sliding touch can also be used to scroll up and down in a browser window or applications such as Word and Excel are in use.
The Latitude Z comes equipped with Instant-on technology, which uses a separate smaller motherboard and ARM processor, through a non-Windows interface, providing users with access to Email, contacts, calendars and a Firefox-based web browser. The smaller ARM processor does not have access to the ports on the main motherboard.
Instant-on capability gets up to two days of battery life usage from a single full charge, but only a four hour usage using Windows on the Core 2 Duo processor.
The Latitude Z comes with either 1.4 GHz SU9400 Core 2 Duo with 2GB DDR3 integrated memory or 1.6 GHz SU9600 Core 2 Duo with 4GB DDR3 integrated memory. The laptop also comes with a variety of other customizable choices including one or two solid state drives in 64GB, 128GB or 256GB encrypted.
View: Latitude Z at Dell.com
... Read on »
Intel shows off new Light Peak 10Gbps optical connector
At the IDF right now, the big talk is about USB 3.0, and for good reason. It's a fantastic improvement to the current USB 2.0 technology, and it's now beginning to show its head in the consumer world. This may be a great improvement, but it certainly isn't all that technology enthusiasts have to look forward to in the future. Intel's just unveiled a new form of optical connector, dubbed Light Peak, capable of some pretty impressive things.
What makes this so special is that it can carry 10Gbps of data, both ways, simultaneously. Even better, it can carry data through cable that's up to 100 metres in length, with Intel hoping that the cable will progress to being able to transfer up to 100 gigabits per second in the future. Dadi Perlmutter, who is the co-general manager of Intel's Architecture Group, said that Intel hopes to just see one universal cable for computers a bit later on. The reason for this is because smaller laptops can have their usefulness hindered by the need for many cables attached to the sides, for various devices.
The cables are very durable, as people can quite happily tie knots with them and they still work perfectly. To make things better, Intel is planning to combine the technology with copper, so it can be used to power devices at the same time. The long-term vision of Intel's, as mentioned, is for Light Peak to become a universal port on computers, which would certainly be a good thing for most people.
If you're excited about this, which we hope you are, you'll still have to wait a little while for it to become available; Intel's working to standardize it currently, and the components needed for it will be available in 2010. That doesn't mean you'll see it on shelves by then, though. ... Read on »