ATi Demo R520 at E3

ATI is running working R520 silicon behind closed doors at their booth here at E3. The R520 was running in an Intel PCIe system at ATI's booth. The system was used to demonstrate Remedy's upcoming title called Alan Wake. Alan Wake is designed for the next-generation consoles (e.g. Xbox 360 and PS3), and thus wasn't running perfectly smoothly on the R520 but performance was quite respectable. Prey, another title using the Doom 3 engine, may have also been running on R520 silicon. We have received information that ATi will be launching their R520 in August and the versions they are going to have are not finalized yet.

ASUS PR P7F7-E WS SuperComputer Motherboard Leverages the Latest I O Innovations

ASUS Introduces Next-generation Serverboard Connectivity Features
ASUS today announced the launch of the new ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer motherboard which maximizes transmission speeds by integrating the industry's latest I/O technologies such as USB 3.0, SATA 6G storage interface, and IEEE 1394b FireWire standard. Additionally, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer is equipped with the LGA1156 socket and the latest Intel® 3450 chipset with onboard graphics. For extreme gaming enjoyment, up to four ATI® CrossFireX cards or 3-way/2-way NVIDIA® SLI cards can be accommodated to generate smoother and sharper visuals. It also leverages NVIDIA® CUDA(tm) parallel computing architecture to support up to four NVIDIA® Tesla cards with Clarkdale Processors for intensive high-performance computing.

Ultra-fast Throughput with USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s and IEEE 1394b InterfacesThe ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer is the best choice for providing comprehensive I/O support. It includes USB 3.0 ports-the latest connectivity standard with 4.8Gb/s speeds-to support next-generation components and peripherals. USB 3.0 transfers data ten times faster and is backward compatible with USB 2.0 components. Additionally, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer includes Serial ATA (SATA) 6Gb/s storage interfaces for 6.0Gbps data throughput, thus enhancing scalability, accelerating data retrieval, and doubling the bandwidth of current bus systems. To support FireWire-enabled digital video recorders and computers, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer also includes two IEEE 1394b ports supporting up to 800Mb/s speeds-doubling the previous IEEE 1394a speeds.
Massive Computing Power up to 4 Teraflops with CUDA Parallel ProcessingA powerful and efficient platform, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer supports high-performance computing for life sciences research, engineering and financial modeling with its NVIDIA ® CUDA(tm) parallel computing architecture. By accommodating up to four NVIDIA® Tesla cards with built-in Clarkdale processors, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer generates up to 4 Teraflops of processing power from a total of 960 CUDA parallel processing cores.
Stunning Graphics with Multi-GPUs Powered by SLI or CrossFireX(tm) TechnologyThe ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer provides incredible graphics flexibility and enhanced scalability from a single motherboard by supporting either 3-way/2-way SLI or 4-way CrossFireX technology. Users can install up to three SLI-capable GeForce® graphics cards at x16, x8, and x8 connection speeds, or two graphics cards at true x16 connection speeds.
Six Embedded Memory Slots for Flexible Memory OptionsEmbedded with six memory slots, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer can accommodate up to 16GB of DDR3 memory. The flexible options include installing four 4GB modules or two 4GB modules and two 2GB modules. As the price of a 2GB module is 15% less than a 4GB module, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer gives users the flexibility to acquire the most RAM at the lowest cost.
GPU Boost Delivers Free iGPU UpgradeGPU Boost overclocks the integrated GPU in real time for the best graphics performance. The user-friendly UI supports direct frequency and voltage adjustments. Its ability to deliver multiple overclocking profiles also provides rapid and stable system-level upgrades within the OS environment.
Easy Connection of USB-based Devices with Quick GateUsers can directly connect USB-based devices via the on-board Quick Gate interface-without an extension cable. This reinforces the connection link and prevents partial transmissions and loss of data.
SpecificationsModel:P7F7-E WS SuperComputerCPU Socket:1x LGA1156 socket for Intel® Xeon(tm) 3400 series, Core(tm) i7/Core(tm) i5/ Core(tm) i3/Pentium®Supports Intel® Turbo Boost TechnologyChipset:Intel® Ibex Peak 3450 Chipset/ Nvidia NF200*1Memory:6 DIMMs, supporting up to 16GB DDR3 2000(O.C.)*/1600/1333MHz.ECC, un-buffered memoryPower Phase:16 + 3Expansion Slots:2x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ x16 or x8),2x PCIe 2.0 x16 (@ x8),3x PCIe x1 (@ x1)Multi-GPU:Supports 3-way/2-way NVIDIA® Geforce SLI(tm) technology,Supports ATI® CrossFireX(tm) technology, up to Quad CrossFireX(tm)CUDA Support:Support up to 4 NVIDIA GPUs,3x NVIDIA Tesla cards + 1x NVIDIA Quadro fX5800 card up to 960 coresEach core delivers one teraflop of processing powerStorage:2x SATA 6Gb/s, 6x SATA 3Gb/sGigabit LAN:2Audio:10-channel output, DTS encodingOther I/O ports:1*PS/2, 1*IEEE1394a, 2*LAN, 6*USB(4 for USB2.0 and 2 for USB3.0, 1*Optical S/PDIF out, 1*DVI-I output potUSB:2 USB 3.0 ports ( 2 ports at back panel),12 USB 2.0 ports ( 6 ports at back panel, 6 ports at mid-board)1394a:2 1394b ports (2 at back panel) + 1 1394a port (1 at back panel)Form Factor:ATX Form Factor, 12 inches x 9.6 inches ( 30.5cm x 24.5cm )
Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.comfor more details.

AMD Unveils New Consumer Products In Singapore, Under Vision Brand

Tomo Kamiya, Regional Vice President of AMD, South Asia, was present at the event.

"What we want to make sure is when a customer has a purpose to buy a PC, it will be easy for them. When they purchase one with an AMD platform, we want to give them the best visual experience they can find. You won't see a single processor or RAM details; you will see Vision, Vision Premium, Vision Ultimate and Vision Black" says Kamiya.

Some of the laptops showcased at the AMD event, including a Toshiba with AMD Triple Core processor. Other models include Fujitsu Lifebook LH520, ThinkPad x100eand ASUS N61da.

AMD will also have a booth at the PC Show tomorrow and you can expect to see PC makers selling the laptops and desktops with AMD Vision. Check it out if you're there.

ASUS P5B Deluxe w C.G.I Technology

Asus Technology Pte Ltd (ASUS), the worldwide leader of motherboards is proudto announce the self-developed Cross Graphics Impeller (C.G.I.) technology,which provides a significant performance increase over competing Intel P965/ATICrossFire motherboards without this advanced innovation. C.G.I is now availableon the ASUS P5B Deluxe and P5B Deluxe/WiFi-AP motherboards.

C.G.I found exclusively in ASUS P965 motherboards

CrossFire performance optimization offered by C.G.I occurs in Direct MediaInterface (DMI) between the P965 Northbridge, which carries one x16 PCI Expressslot (x16 PCI Express Lanes) , and ICH8R Southbridge, where another x16 PCIExpress slot (x4 PCI Express Lanes) resides. C.G.I streamlines data transferbetween the Northbridge and Southbridge, delivering enhanced performance duringCrossfire dual-GPU mode.

Simple upgrade

Users of the two ASUS motherboards can upgrade to C.G.I by dowlonding the latestBIOS on the ASUS support website, www.support.asus.com, with the friendlyLiveUpdate utility for BIOS reflash. C.G.I is automatically activated whenCrossFire graphics cards are installed.

P5W DH Deluxe (975X)P5B Deluxe with C.G.I

P965 motherboard without C.G.I3DMark051730816021156323DMark061007191828948

AMD to Drop ATi's Brand Name

It looks like the acquisition just might be the death of ATI. At least as a brand name, that is. CustomPC had the chance to interview AMD's Gareth Carter, who stated assuredly that after the deal is finished, "The new company will be called AMD."

Richard Baker, Marketing Manager for AMD in Northern Europe, also weighed in during the interview, saying that it was unknown whether the familiar Radeon brand name would bite the dust as well. "'We haven't made any final decisions yet," he said. "But I'd personally be very surprised if we dropped any of those product names. The ATI company name is definitely going, though."

Baker went out of his way during the interview to stress the fact that the AMD/ATI deal was in no way a merger, but instead a complete takeover. Therefore, it is sensible that AMD would no longer retain the monikers of the acquired company, instead opting for a uniform brand-name throughout its products.

Chris Hook, Head of European PR at ATI, also provided a response to CustomPC on the name dump, stating "I don't have a personal emotional attachment to it, one way or another." He then moved topics to talking a little bit about what is to (hopefully) come of the acquisition:
"I think the important thing is that we're going to make good products. ATI may be gone, but certainly lots of discussion is going to come over the next few days about the rest of our brands and their strengths."

Apple iOS and Android tied in Christmas sales

Apple iOS and Android devices were popular Christmas gifts throughout the world, with the two rivals virtually tied in the heated battle for holiday sales.

There were 12 times more new devices using the mobile operating systems form Apple and Google over the Christmas weekend compared to previous weekends, according to mobile app analytics firm Localytics.Despite the two platforms being roughly neck and neck, their popularity differed greatly from region to region. For example, Apple devices sold best in the US and Germany, while Android devices did better in South Korea and Sweden.iOS devices were up 12.5 times, with a 14 times increase in iPhone sales, but a massive 21 times increase in iPods, showing that Apples classic music player still has some life in it.Androids increase was not far behind at 12 times more sales, but Android now leads in more markets than Apple, ruling 14 of the top 20 global markets, which will likely see it become the overall market leader in the months and years to come.South Korea was a particularly strong victory for Android, with a lead of over 80 percent compared to iOS. Sweden and Japan also saw huge gaps between the two, with Android leading by 45 percent and 50 percent respectively.

Apple released codes for Grand Central Dispatch

Snow Leopard's new Grand Central Dispatch feature, which serves as a system-wide mechanism for managing parallel task execution across multiple processor cores for developers, involves multiple components in the operating system.

The user-space implementation of the Grand Central Dispatch services API, called libdispatch, has been delivered as its own open source project, joining with other components that are part of projects Apple has already designated as open, including the kernel components in the Darwin OS XNU kernel and the blocks runtime that is part of the LLVM project.

Apple's code giveaway was "something of a surprise," according to MacResearch, a website covering the use of Apple technologies in the scientific research community, because the new feature of Snow Leopard "could be seen to give Apple a competitive edge in the new world of multi-core."

However, opening the code to the community could help pave the way for its adoption. Writing for MacResearch, Drew McCormack noted, "Until today, it would have been very unlikely that any new UNIX tools would be developed on Mac OS X using Grand Central, simply because they would only run on the Mac. With the possibility that Grand Central will become available on other UNIX systems, the likelihood that Grand Central will be incorporated into command line tools is greatly increased."

McCormack said there was little risk to Apple of sharing its new code, saying that it was "unlikely that Grand Central would be used by any direct competitor to Apple, like Microsoft," and noting that its adoption by other Uunix and Linux systems would not "really pose a threat to Apple’s consumer-based business."

Apple contributes to and runs a variety of open source projects, from WebKit to CUPS. Some efforts to open source its code have been wildly successful, while other have seen little enthusiasm. For example, there has been no real interest in Apple's launchd among the greater open source community out side of Mac OS X, in large measure because it would require a massive reworking of Linux in order to put it to use.

Open source support for other Apple code that is easier for others to use has been a mixed bag. There has been some limited use of Darwin Streaming Server, Apple's RTSP streaming project incorporated in Mac OS X Server as QuickTime Streaming Server. Webkit has been wildly successful, particularly in the mobile arena. Bonjour has been implemented for Linux, and taken in new directions.

Significant new outside interest in Grand Central Dispatch could result in a wider support base for building parallelism compatible with Apple's other open technologies, such as OpenCL. The availability of the dispatcher on Linux and other Unix operating systems would also help generate demand for other command line utilities that tap into its power. That would help Apple leverage its technologies in markets where it has a minority position, such as in the enterprise and supercomputing.

Source: AppleInsider

Apple customer satisfaction plummets in last 18 months

Apple remains the industry leader in terms of customer service quality, but that may soon change, as customer support satisfaction has been steadily dropping for the company over the past 18 months, according to a report by Vocal Laboratories.

During the second half of 2011 Apples support call satisfaction, where customers said they were “very satisfied,” was down to 54 percent, a huge drop from its 73 percent satisfaction in the first half of 2010.This still leaves Apple ahead of the competition, such as HP with 49 percent and Dell with 44 percent, but the gap between them is significantly narrower than it was before, and such a large drop in such a short space of time presents a worrying future for the customer satisfaction rating of the company.“Despite its significant decline, Apple continues to lead our survey in overall tech support quality,” said Peter Leppik, CEO of Vocal Laboratories. “But where Apple used to be well ahead in nearly every measure of service quality, there are now areas where Apple is tied with, or even behind, its competitors.”In terms of customer complaints, only one percent complained about the language skills of their support technician, compared to 10 percent for HP and eight percent for Dell. Likewise, one percent complained about costs, compared to six percent for the rival companies.Apple has prided itself on a consistently high rating of customer satisfaction, but as competition mounts in many of its dominant sectors, the crown could finally be slipping.

ASUS launches P6X58-E WS workstation motherboard

Singapore (March 15, 2011) - Proving the Intel® X58 architectures enduring potential and value, the P6X58-E WS ships with multi-GPU support for both NVIDIA® SLI™ and AMD CrossFireX™, SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0. It also includes built-in server-class Intel® LAN, as well as ASUS-developed highlights such as Xtreme Phase power delivery and EPU energy consumption optimization. The new board ships with the ASUS 24X24 pledge, meaning 24-hour non-stop operation and 24-month guaranteed market availability to reduce costs due to involuntary product replacement.

Flexible multi-GPU configuration

A dedicated expansion slot controller ensures increased bandwidth availability for each connected graphics card, hence the P6X58-E WS supports up to 3-way NVIDIA® SLI™, with each of the triple PCI-E channels working at full X16 speeds. For AMD CrossFireX™, the P6X58-E WS offers up to quad-GPU arrangements, with each PCI-E channel working in X16.

This graphics flexibility and capacity aims to serve the needs of workstation users who require advanced graphics processing capabilities for professional ventures, including computer-aided design, graphics rendering, high definition video editing, animation, engineering and modeling.

SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0

The P6X58-E WS represents the first appearance of SATA 6Gb/s and USB 3.0 data transfer standards on an Intel® X58-based workstation motherboard. USB 3.0 works up to ten times faster than USB 2.0, offering significant time savings when handling large amounts of data. SATA 6Gb/s likewise doubles the throughput of SATA 3Gb/s, expediting transfer rates and creating a more reliable and efficient work environment.

Dual server-class Intel® Gigabit LAN

Two hardware-accelerated Intel® Gigabit LAN ports double the connection bandwidth available to users, while at the same time reducing CPU utilization. The implementation by ASUS of server-grade Intel® LAN reduces CPU load in half when compared with competing workstation motherboards by carrying out net-related calculations off the main processor. As a consequence, connections become faster and more stable, featuring reduced packet loss and lower latency. Users also benefit from an overall faster system, as greater CPU resources remain free to tackle other tasks. These accelerated Gigabit ports support dedicated server operating systems as well as VMWare® virtualization for increased functionality and efficiency on streamlined hardware.

Exclusive ASUS Features

To better handle professional applications, the P6X58-E WS features ASUS Xtreme Phase power delivery components for more efficient, cleaner power, improved stability and increased reliability. Users also benefit from the inclusion of the exclusive Energy Processing Unit, or EPU, a proprietary ASUS programmable microchip that supervises energy consumption across the system to reduce power wastage. The AI Suite II application center brings together a wide range of utilities and ASUS tools, offering users greater control over system performance, capabilities and features, among them the versatile TurboV overclocking interface.

Specifications

CPU

1 x Socket LGA1366

Intel® Core™ i7 desktop processors
Intel® Xeon 5500 / 5600 / 3500 / 3600 series server processors

Chipset

Intel® X58 Express
NVIDIA® NF200

Memory

6 x DIMM, max 24GB

DDR3 2000(OC)/ 1866(OC) / 1800(OC) / 1600 (OC) / 1333 / 1066MHz, ECC / non-ECC unbuffered memory

Power delivery

Xtreme Phase 16+2

Expansion slots

2 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@x16 or x8)
2 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@ x8)
1 x PCI-E 2.0 x16 (@ x16)
1 x PCI-E x1 (@ x1)

Multi-GPU support

NVIDIA® 3-Way GeForce SLI™
AMD® quad CrossFireX™

CUDA support

Up to 4 NVIDIA® Tesla™ GPUs

Gigabit LAN

2 x Intel® 82574L

Storage

2 x SATA 6.0 Gb/s
6 x SATA 3.0 Gb/s

USB

2 x USB 3.0 (at back panel)
12 x USB 2.0 (6 ports at mid-board, 6 ports at back panel)

Audio

Realtek ALC889, 8-channel HD

Firewire

2 x 1394a (1 port at mid-board, 1 port at back panel)

Back I/O

1 x PS/2 KB / Mouse, 1 x IEEE1394a, 2 x Intel LAN, 1 x S/PDIF Out (optical and coaxial), 8 x USB (2 for USB 3.0 and 6 for USB 2.0), 1 x 8-channel audio

Form factorATX, 12" x 9.6"

Source: ASUS Press Release

Apple's iPhone 5 will not support NFC technology

Yep, you read the headline right. After months of speculation about the various kinds of technology Apple may support with their upcoming smartphone, the iPhone 5, it seems that the latest turn of events have proven once again that the truth can sometime hurt. Apparently, all the rumours about the iPhone 5 featuring a Near Field Communications (NFC) module has been overturned, thanks to a news report made by the Independent.

According to the report, several large mobile operators in the UK have disclosed to the Independent that Apple has confirmed the lack of NFC support on the iPhone 5, with the Cupertino giant attributing its reluctance solely to the "lack of a clear standard across the industry".

Ironically, Apple has been said to be working on its own implementation of NFC which will allow an upcoming version of its smartphone to link purchases via its iTunes software, and is likely to be a proprietary implementation at that.

Source: Independent

Antec Releases New mini-ITX PC Chassis

Antec ISK300-150

Antec has unveiled two new mini-ITX chassis, the ISK 300-150 and ISK 310-150, adding on to its line-up of compact chassis.


ISK300-150 - Black Matte Front Bezel


ISK310-150


ISK310-150 - Silver Front Bezel

Measuring 96 x 222 x 328mm and weighing 2.5kg, the steelchassis have one 5.25” bay, two 3.5” bays, a 150W PSU and a front sidepanel with two USB 2.0 ports, eSATA and audio connectors. Available intwo colors (ISK300-150, black matte front bezel and ISK310-150, silverfront bezel), both chassis are equipped with side-placed 80mm TriCoolfans for cooling. Backed by a three year warranty, they can be purchasedfrom major retailers and e-tailers at a MSRP of USD 99.95/ £69.


"Boththe ISK 300-150 and ISK 310-150 deliver efficient cooling andversatility, all within a petite design that's perfect for Mini-ITXusers," said Scott Richards, Senior Vice President at Antec. "With anincluded 150-watt power supply and a refreshed look, these cases giveusers a reliable, compact and convenient system with the flexibility tofit in either an office or home environment."


News via [Techconnect]

Android 4.0 ICS update slowly rolling out for Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi

Motorola Xoom Wi-Fi owners in US are getting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update, starting last night. The company has promised an update the Android ICS six weeks after receiving the core code, though the update is reportedly to be for the Wi-Fi version of the Xoom tablet at this point in time. To receive the update, you need to be connected over a Wi-Fi connection. If you are not connected via Wi-Fi, or your Motorola XOOM is off when the notification arrives, you will see the notification when you next connect to a Wi-Fi network.

Source: wireless and mobile news

ARCTIC Breeze - Portable USB Desktop Fan

This summer is going to be hot, hot and hot! Of course you need to keep yourprecious CPU and VGA coolers nice and cool during the summer, but how aboutbuying yourself a cool gadget as well? Don’t you want to breathe some fresh andcool air while you are gaming or working hard?

Stay cool this summer with ARCTIC COOLING’s latest ARCTIC Breeze, a cool,quiet and portable USB desktop fan offering refreshing breeze in hot, sunnyweather!

What a cool fan!
The ARCTIC Breeze outperforms other USB fans in the market. Same as other ARCTICCOOLING products, the 92mm fan is equipped with a low noise impeller, making ita quiet fan at all speed.

Whether it is warm or hot, the ARCTIC Breeze offers you the cooling you need.The fan comes with two levels of speed – 1200 rpm and 2000 rpm. With the fanspeed switch, users can adjust the speed to their preferable level easily,offering the lowest noise level possible.

While other USB fans provide only a USB connector, the ARCTIC Breeze providesan on/off switch. Users can switch on and off the fan simply by one click,instead of plugging and unplugging the entire fan. The 1.5m long cable is longenough for your PC case underneath the table. Excess cable can be rolled upunder the fan base, keeping your desk nice and tidy. Installation cannot beeasier. Just plug the fan directly into a USB port, then you are ready to playwith the wind! The ARCTIC Breeze offers a 2-year limited warranty. It will beavailable in June 2008. The MSRP is US$ 15.95 and 9.95€ (excl. VAT).