Tech Link: Diablo III May 15 [yeah, 2012]

So finally, this long awaited game will be released. I have my pre-order since last year placed on Amazon. Here's hoping I can get it by May 15. Been a heck of a loooooong wait since D2, and I can hardly wait for this next installment!

Tech Link (Gaming): Blizzard DOTA (!?#@)

This has got to be one of the coolest thing Blizzard will be making as one of their official maps. I have always been a fan of DOTA, and with Blizzard releasing their very own version, with heroes and such, I can't be any happier. I am pretty sure that Blizzard will ensure that heroes will be fairly balanced, easy to play and learn, and like their other games, hard to master. I am not surprised, when there's actually full games released based on DOTA, Blizzard should have done this as well a looooong time ago.

Tech Link (Industry): "TRON:Legacy" movie brings video game world to life

Wow, I am so excited to learn about this cool stuff. I have been an avid fan of the original TRON movie, it was so cool back in the days. The great about this movie is that, well, we're now well matured in digital animation and movie technology and many people are now more aware of "computers". I mean, back then, when you speak computer, I remember my parents asked me, "what's that?".

Brag: And I just paid my Pre-Order Fee

I got a call from DataBlitz earlier, informing me that I finally got my "Pre-Order" approved for Starcraft 2: Collector's Edition. However, they won't accept full payment even after I insisted. They accepted 3k, and gave me a receipt and a "pre-order" form but I still can't say it's 100% sure.

Tech Link (Game): SC2 on June 11?

You know how it is for Fanboys, we get excited for anything and everything related to the things we love. So apparently, a German site found out something about the release date of Starcraft II. Of course, me being not included with CB (Close Beta) is really gearing up for this game. After all, the last Blizzard I played is Warcraft III (yeah, I played WoW but I never got past the free trial days). Expand to read on more...

Tech Link (Mobile): Alienware M11x: World’s Smallest Gaming Laptop

Anandtech has a new review up for a gaming laptop, dubbed as "World's Smallest Gaming" laptop. I guess it sounded like something that should go for Guinness Records only that it's less awesome-sounding. And oh, if you've been away of Anandtech for a while, don't be surprised with their new layout: gay!

Tech Link (Processor): New Crysis Video: Game kicks a$$ on Intel's Penryn Quad Core

Yeehaw, watch and see how smooth the game play is with the new Penryn-based quad core system. It's like you're watching a movie rather than playing a game, no stall, hiccups, or stutter whatsoever. This platform rocks. The specs is as follows:

System configuration:

Intel Penryn 45nm "Yorkfield"
quad core CPU @ 3.2GHz
Intel 975BX2 Motherboard
NVIDIA 8800GTX
2GB RAM, 250GB HDD
Windows XP



Source:New Crysis Video: Game kicks a$$ on Intel's Penryn Quad Core

Tech Link (Game): Starcraft 2 is real!

This must be the best news ever for the long time fans of the Starcraft game. I, for one, am so delighted to know that the successor to the one of most succesful RTS game of all time is more than just a rumor, but a reality. This announcement renewed my excitement as a gamer, as I have been lagging behind in playing any kind of game.

The announcement is actually just part of my excitement, but what really blows my mind the fact that it is still an RTS. World of Warcraft is a big dissapointment for me, after Blizzard decided to port this game into MMORPG, I begun to shy away from the game. Warcraft III and Frozen Throne are great games, but WoW is just a bummer for me.

Of course, I am not saying Blizzard is a bad company for wanting to make money, it's the fact of life that business is there to make money. They are living up to their promise of providing great game, and my friends who are WoW players swear how good it is. Of course, there are quirks, but nothing is perfect. I tried it for 10days, then played with it whenever I can (usually, less than an two hours per month) before I gave up as I don't really like that genre.

Anyway, I will surely be refreshing the official website from time to time to read up more on the developments of the game. And don't forget to watch out the game trailers and demo gameplay, it rocks big time.

Check out more about this game on Blizzard.

Press Release: Intel Delivers Its Fastest Enthusiast Quad-Core Processor

I posted the breaking news yesterday, but here is the official info from Intel. When I check Intel web site yesterday, the info is not yet out, probably because it wasn't April 09 yet across the globe yay, hurray for GMT+8 in my location. Anyway, I have copy/paste the official info from Chipzilla, so if you want to check it out, you can expand for more.

Intel Delivers Its Fastest Enthusiast Quad-Core Processor
Added Performance Welcomed by 'Hardcore' PC Users and Developers
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Apr. 9, 2007 – Intel Corporation today advanced its enthusiast-level quad-core processor family with the introduction of the Intel® Core™ 2 Extreme processor QX6800, the company's twelfth quad-core processor offering. Running at 2.93 GHz -- the fastest native clock speed yet reached with the Intel® Core™ microarchitecture for the quad-core desktop -- this addition to Intel's innovative processor family sets new standards for desktop PC performance. The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is ideal for those gamers, digital design professionals and enthusiasts who crave the highest performing computers they can get their hands on.

At the recent Game Developer's Conference* in San Francisco, several software developers demonstrated new games that have been "threaded" to take advantage of multiple processor cores and threads. This increased performance can help deliver smoother gameplay, more realistic game effects and more lifelike artificial intelligence. Some of the most exciting titles of the year such as Crytek’s Crysis*, Gas Powered Games’ Supreme Commander* and Flagship's Hellgate London* have undergone substantial joint engineering efforts with Intel to use more than two processing threads to their advantage.

One of the first games ever developed for the PC is also entering the quad-core era. "The latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator* X, Service Pack One (SP1), due out later this month, is a great match for the extreme multi-core processing delivered by the new Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor," said Phil Taylor, Flight Sim Program Manager, Microsoft Game Studios. "Flight Sim X SP1 greatly increases multicore utilization and will scale as more threads are available leading to reduced load times as well as frame rate improvements and greater visual complexity during flight. The Flight Simulator team at Microsoft is pleased to work with Intel to provide our end users with a great gaming experience."

In addition to delivering adrenaline to hardcore gamers, the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is also being embraced by media users and developers. Adobe*, Cakewalk*, DivX*, Sony Creative Software* and dozens of other developers have delivered applications that use all four cores, enabling media professionals to do what they do best-- capture creativity quickly and reliably. For example, the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6800 is up to 65% faster1 than the Intel Core 2 Extreme dual-core processor X6800 on video encoding. This is a key capability as more households are recording and editing high-definition video to capture, preserve and share memories.

"The performance and technology leadership we are delivering with our enthusiast quad-core processor lineup is a direct result of the reliability provided by Intel's manufacturing and engineering strength," said Eric Kim, senior vice president and general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group. "This translates to user benefits such as better gameplay with more intelligent computer-generated opponents and less wait time for demanding high-definition media editing."

The Intel Core 2 Extreme processor QX6800 is produced on Intel's industry-leading 65 nanometer process, key to enabling the large 8 megabyte cache. A 1066 MHz system bus is supported and the processor is available now at a cost of $1,199.

Source:Intel Delivers Its Fastest Enthusiast Quad-Core Processor

Press Release: Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

Hot off the press, Microsoft* released official info that their latest "Elite" series gaming console, aptly named, Xbox 360 Elite is more than just a hoax. I am glad this is released earlier, because I was thinking the rumor is actually just an early April Fool's joke. Here are some teaser pictures:

Box, Controller, Headset, Play and Charge, More...

Check out the full press release by expanding the news post.

Newsflash:
Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

Redmond, Washington—Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that includes a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller, and Xbox Live® headset.

_{The sleek Xbox 360 Elite is a digital entertainment powerhouse.}

Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox Live Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox Live Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience.

Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit, and the Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

"Today's games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "Xbox 360 Elite's larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer."

Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of $479.99 (U.S.), and comes packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:

• Xbox 360 Elite console: The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.


• Xbox 360 120GB hard drive: The 120GB detachable hard drive lets you save your games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos, and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).


• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black): This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).


• Xbox 360 headset (black): Now available in black, the headset lets you strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox Live.


• Xbox 360 HDMI cable: New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows you to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.


• Xbox Live Silver Membership: With this, you can chat with friends online, collect achievements and gamerscores, send and receive voice and text messages, and access Xbox Live Marketplace content such as gme demos, HD movies and TV, as well as the best in downloadable games from Xbox Live Arcade.


• One-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold: An Xbox Live Gold Membership provides a complete online entertainment experience. Subscribe to this premium service and engage in competitive online multiplayer matches, tailor your matchmaking via feedback and accomplishments, chat with more than one person at a time, and take advantage of unique privileges in the Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox Live Arcade.

The following accessories for the Xbox 360 Elite console will only be sold separately:

• Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit: Complete with a charging cable and a black rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit lets you recharge your Xbox 360 Wireless Controller without interrupting your game.it is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $19.99 (U.S.).


• Xbox 360 rechargeable battery pack (black): The rechargeable battery pack provides more than 25 hours of gameplay per charge. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $11.99 (U.S.).

Source:Microsoft Unveils Xbox 360 Elite

Tech Link (GPU): Real-World Gaming CPU Comparison with 8800 GTX SLI

[H] has some hot article posted about gaming experience. I never liked their reviews anymore, but I guess I like Intel processor winning so I am posting this tech news. Expand if you like to read their analysis...

Gameplay Analysis
From our experiences playing at 2560x1600 on the Dell 3007WFP 30” LCD with two BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTXs in SLI we can definitely see a trend. Quite simply the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 is bottlenecking the 8800 GTX SLI to varying degrees. In Flight Simulator X and Medieval II: Total War we find it bottlenecking SLI to a very high degree. The Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 allowed us to obtain “free” 8X AA on the BFGTech GeForce 8800 GTX SLI in Flight Simulator X and also run at the “Medium High” scenery setting. With the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 we had to lower the AA setting to 2X AA and reduce the scenery settings.

In Medieval II: Total War we experienced a smoother gameplay experience with the Intel Core 2 Duo X6800, especially with thousands of characters onscreen at the same time. With the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 we had to reduce the character detail as well as the antialiasing setting. These two games were by far the largest differences we saw between both platforms. They greatly demonstrate how SLI needs a fast CPU to feed it at high resolutions.

We also saw a distinct performance difference in Oblivion. However, it was not enough to impact our visual quality settings. The gameplay experience was “smoother” on the Intel Core 2 Duo X6800 and the framerates did not drop down as low, but the game was still playable on the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62. It is very impressive to see Oblivion at 2560x1600 with 2X AA and HDR with maximum in-game settings; this really shows the power that 8800 GTX SLI can provide in games.

Battlefield 2142 also showed us a distinct performance difference, but the framerates were so high that it didn’t matter. We were consistently experiencing framerates above 60 FPS with the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 at 2048x1536 with 16X TR SSAA. That is quite incredible; 16X TR SSAA at 2048x1536 and above 60 FPS! F.E.A.R. Extraction Point, Need for Speed Carbon and World of Warcraft showed us smaller differences that simply translated to no true differences in-game.

Conclusion
Do we need more graphics memory?

In this evaluation, especially under Oblivion and some other games, we talked about some odd performance experiences. We said that at certain very high settings we experienced a “choppy” or “laggy” feeling in the game even though the framerate indicated playable framerates. It may be that the games are able to render fast enough with 8800 GTX SLI but it may not be able to dump that information to video card memory fast enough, or, it may be running out of framebuffer space on the video card. Could it be that 768 MB of RAM on the video card is simply not enough for certain settings like 2560x1600 4X AA in Oblivion or motion blur being enabled in Need for Speed Carbon?


It may very well not be enough considering how much demand is on the memory at those settings. Perhaps 1 GB or more of graphics memory on video cards doesn’t sound so unorthodox now. Certainly it may not benefit single-GPU video cards as much right now, but with two 8800 GTXs in SLI running at 2560x1600 1 GB or more of graphics card RAM per video card, with more memory bandwidth may just be the ticket for letting the 8800 GTX GPU in SLI really shine. We saw the framerates it can render, but we just can’t play at those levels yet with the current bottlenecks, whatever they may be.

Source:Real-World Gaming CPU Comparison with 8800 GTX SLI

Press Release: Get Ready for i-Chill !

One of my favorite brand because it is available locally, Inno3D, is releasing a nice new video card based on their “i-Chill” series. This means they will employ custom made cooling (versus reference), improve system acoustics and thermal dissipation, better packaging, more stable components such as solid capacitors and gold-plated DVI connector, and superb overclockability. Now, that's something to look forward to! Expand to read more...

Hong Kong 19th January 2007 – InnoVISION™ Multimedia Limited introduces a prestige new range in 2007 – the Inno3D® “i-Chill” series for state-of-the-art top quality performance to target the thirsty gamers who are always craving for more. The strong demand for high performance graphics is becoming extremely fierce in the market and to target these gamers “i-Chill” is the only solution.

“i-Chill” offers an amazing 3 years warranty that consists of top quality solid capacitor for stable power voltage and advanced durability. We have gathered a team of experts to manufacturer a never before seen top quality graphics range and included a unique Gold plated DVI connector that allows better signal quality and less oxidization.

The “i-Chill” range is built with enhanced overclocking, systematic noise reduction and custom made cooling solutions. We have joined forces with industry’s top thermal cooling leaders and created innovating new designs.

Our creative team has designed a new brand logo and packaging in order to target the enthusiast market to our innovating new range. The eye catching image will build stronger brand awareness and lead us to achieve a prestige differentiation from our competitors.

So make sure your geared up to play all the latest games in 2007 with the extraordinary “i-Chill” series that is ready for DX10 and Microsoft Windows Vista. With more speed and advance cooling, gaming will never be the same once you have tried the “i-Chill” series. For more information please visit our website http://www.ivmm.com or http://www.inno3d.com

Source:Get Ready for i-Chill !

Tech Link (Graphics): The Silent XFX Fatal1ty GeForce 7600GT

If you are looking for a nice video card that will not break the bank, then HardwareUpgrade might just have what you are looking for. It is passively cooled (aka silent) and comes factory overclocked so it's a plus. The video card looks really cool, but only because of the passive cooler and color and not necessarily because of the Fatal1ty logo. Check it out...

Conclusion
Thanks to the faster operating frequencies of the XFX Fatal1ty 7600 GT, it is able to outperform the reference NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT along with all three Radeon X1650XT contenders. Through Newegg, the video card is currently available for $179.99. Most Radeon X1650XT cards run for around $20 less, but the passive cooling solution of the XFX Fatal1ty 7600 GT makes it worth the 20 bucks more.

The video card is factory overclocked and is the most factory overclocked and guaranteed video card currently available. Even though it is already overclocked, we tried to increase its operating frequencies even further, but didn’t get very far compared to the factory overclock. The maximum we reached was 670 MHz for the core and 1635 MHz for memory.

The video card is a definite plus for use in HTPCs. Completely silent, it comes with NVIDIA PureVideo support and also support High Defintion videos. As we said before, it would fit perfectly into a home theater environment. The only limitation of this product, however, is that it doesn’t have any HDCP support and therefore cannot play protected high definition content at full resolution and instead only at standard definition.

Source:The Silent XFX Fatal1ty GeForce 7600GT

Press Release: WORLD OF WARCRAFT:® THE BURNING CRUSADE™ NOW AVAILABLE

My favorite game developer, Blizzard*, has just announced today that the first expansion to their world-reknowned game WoW, Burning Crusade, is now available at your nearest favorite store. I always love Blizzard* titles, except that time is not something I always have nowadays, at least, time for myself. In any case, if you are not in the situation as I am, you may want to get addicted more and more by diving in with the expansion.

First expansion for Blizzard Entertainment®'s massively multiplayer online role-playing game launches in multiple regions
IRVINE, Calif. – January 16, 2007 – Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. announced today that World of Warcraft®: The Burning Crusade™, the first expansion set for the world's leading subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game, World of Warcraft, is now on sale throughout North America and Europe. The expansion will be available in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand on January 17, with availability in mainland China and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau to be announced at a later date. World of Warcraft is played by more than 8 million gamers around the world.

"The Burning Crusade is the single largest expansion we've ever created, and we're grateful for the support shown by our beta testers and the millions of World of Warcraft players worldwide during its development," said Mike Morhaime, president and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment®. "We're excited to share all of the new content with players, and we're certain that they'll enjoy the quality and breadth of new experiences that The Burning Crusade offers."

World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade adds a tremendous amount of new features and content to World of Warcraft, including Outland, a massive new continent for players to explore, as well as flying mounts, which will allow players to reach locations in Outland that would be otherwise inaccessible. Over the course of their new adventures, players will be able to take their characters up to level 70, gaining powerful new abilities along the way. Hundreds of new quests and monsters and several unexplored dungeons will offer exciting new challenges, while the new Blood Elf and Draenei races, each with capital cities and starting zones, promise a fresh start to current and new players alike. The jewelcrafting profession, socketed items, and expansive new player-vs.-player features round out the offering in World of Warcraft's first expansion. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade is now available at retailers nationwide for Windows® 2000/XP and Macintosh® at a suggested retail price of $39.99. A special Collector's Edition of the expansion is also available, at a suggested retail price of $69.99. This limited-edition package includes the expansion on both CD-ROM and DVD, the Art of The Burning Crusade coffee table book, an exclusive in-game pet, a behind-the-scenes DVD, two World of Warcraft Trading Card Game card packs and three exclusive cards, a map of Outland mouse pad, and the official soundtrack CD. The World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade expansion requires the original World of Warcraft game, which is now selling for a suggested retail price of $19.99. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade has received a Teen rating from the ESRB.

For more information on World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, please visit the official website for the expansion at www.worldofwarcraft.com/burningcrusade.

Source:WORLD OF WARCRAFT:® THE BURNING CRUSADE™ NOW AVAILABLE

Press Release: ASUS XG Station Empowers Upgradeable Graphics Power for Notebook Computers

This is a very nice innovation from Asus*. I remember I used to have add-on graphics card with my Toshiba Portege 660CDT laptop docking station. It was great, even adding capability for add-on PCI devices. This new device looks like to be a hit for laptop lovers like me, but prefers better graphics and gaming capabilities.

It accepts standard PCIe x16 Video Card, so it'll be flexible enough to accept current and future graphics card. It is externally powered, which will be reasonable enough for such application, and dedicated power is good anyway, specially with high end video cards. User can also monitor FPS, temperature, and can even overclock the GPU via round knob controller.

Pretty neat idea, I just hope this will become available locally! Expand to read the full Asus scoop!

Enjoy up to 10-times faster graphics power boost with cinematic audio performance

Taipei, Taiwan, January 6, 2007 –ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS), the leading provider of high-performance graphics solutions, today launched the XG Station as the industry’s first public demonstration of the world’s first external graphics card station for notebook computers. Equipped with Express Card interface, USB 2.0 and Dolby headphones, the XG station seamlessly integrates notebook computing with PC graphics power.

Engage Mobility with Powerful Graphics Processing
As technology advances to accommodate all aspects of modern life styles, digital devices are often merged or connected for a combined maximum benefit. As with the case of mobile notebook computing and high powered 3D gaming or multimedia experience, a balance is established with the exclusive ASUS XG Station.


When on the go, compact notebook makes work efficient without adding extra pounds, while at home, large LCD monitor is preferred for enhanced visual enjoyment. ASUS XG Station brings the power of a dedicated 3D graphics engine, providing users with the best of both worlds. Simply plug in the XG Station to the LCD monitor and connect the notebook via an Express Card connector and get ready to game!

Fast and Upgradeable Graphics Power
The XG Station is the world’s first docking station to provide a standard PCI Express slot for additional graphics computing power on notebook computers with Express Card slot, delivering VISTA Premium performance. The device also conveniently accommodates future graphics technology such as, HDCP and HDMI upgrades possibility. Lab experiments on a notebook based on Intel 945GM graphics connected to the XG station with a ASUS EN7900GS graphics card showed an astounding 9 times faster acceleration.

Sensational AV Enjoyment
XG Station also features enhanced audio and video functions. With Dolby® Headphone technology any headphone is capable to delivers cinematic 5.1-channel surround sound for a dynamic true-to-life quality during PC game play and music or video playback. Real-time Overclocking is easily controlled with the ergonomic knob design for simple GPU clock speed adjustments.

Large Information Display and Easy Control
XG Station is designed with ease of use in mind. A large LED screen is adopted to provide clear display of critical system status statistics including the following:

System master volume
GPU clock speed
Current GPU temperature
Dolby® Headphone feature status
Current actual Frames Per Second (FPS) information
GPU fan speed Indicator
The XG Station also has a dedicated control panel to let users control the settings through the GUI based interface and easily switch modes between the notebook screen and the external LCD monitor.

The XG Station is currently scheduled to be released at the beginning of Q2 2007. A full package will include the XG Station graphics docking station, one ASUS EN7900GS graphics card and assorted accessories.

Source:ASUS XG Station Empowers Upgradeable Graphics Power for Notebook Computers

Press Release: OCZ Technology Launches the Highly Anticipated OCZ GeForce 8800 GTX GPU, Hand-Selected for the Extreme Enthusiast and Gamer

The inevitable happened, OCZ has joined the market of serving uber individuals with the best handpicked NVIDIA 8800GTX video card. I seem to remember NVIDIA having a negative stance about overclocking their card, so if I recall it correctly, then OCZ might be treading on thin line here since they are actually promoting to overclock it, and with lifetime warranty and technical support.

That's just hard to beat, even if there are others doing similar lifetime warranty, I haven't seen video manufacturers actually supporting customers to overclock their video card. And while there are manufacturers releasing a factory-overclocked video cards, OCZ is releasing it on stock speed (575MHz core, 1.8GHz GDDR3) but touting a better headroom for overclocking with the usual support and warranty. Expand to check out the full release.

OCZ Technology Launches the Highly Anticipated OCZ GeForce 8800 GTX GPU, Hand-Selected for the Extreme Enthusiast and Gamer
2006-12-28

Sunnyvale, CA—December 28, 2006—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced their exciting return to the world of graphics cards. Leveraging a strong expertise in high performance overclocking memory and the unique needs of PC enthusiasts, OCZ is prepared to deliver a differentiated GPU solution to gamers and enthusiasts with the launch of the OCZ NVIDIA GeForce® 8800 GTX 768MB PCI Express®.

Separating OCZ’s GPU from the rest is the stringent requirement for the highest level of performance and stability. Each and every 8800 GTX card offers more overclocking headroom by means of premium GDDR3 memory and an advanced screening process in which only the best complete cards make it into the systems of worldwide gamers.

Based on the ground-breaking NVIDIA GeForce 8 unified architecture, the OCZ 8800 GTX delivers an incredibly realistic gaming and visual experience thanks to a wealth of unparalleled features. As the world’s first DirectX® 10 compatible GPU, the 8800 GTX with full Shader Model 4.0 support and NVIDIA Quantum Effects™ enhances graphics quality and realism to unprecedented levels.

"The graphics sector is currently the technology sector with the most direct impact on the gaming experience," commented Dr. Michael Schuette, VP of Technology Development at OCZ Technology. "It has become a logical step for OCZ Technology to get back in the game, and naturally, we are doing it with the highest end solution currently available. The OCZ 8800GTX is a limited edition of hand-selected GeForce 8800 GTX, featuring a 1350 MHz 128bit stream processor and a core clocked at 575 MHz, interfaced with the frame buffer consisting of 1800 MHz GDDR3 through a 384 bit wide data path. What sets the OCZ 8800GTX apart from the competition is the uncompromised commitment to delivering the highest possible headroom for overclocking that all OCZ products are known for."

With the addition of OCZ Geforce 8800 GTX GPUs to an industry leading line-up of OCZ SLI-Ready power supplies and memory, OCZ provides the total solution for the hardcore gamer. As a premium OCZ product, the OCZ 8800 GTX is backed by a Lifetime Warranty for unparalleled piece of mind.

For complete specification information and additional product material on the OCZ GeForce 8800 GTX Graphics Card, please visit our product page here.

Source:OCZ Technology Launches the Highly Anticipated OCZ GeForce 8800 GTX GPU, Hand-Selected for the Extreme Enthusiast and Gamer

Press Release: ASUS Commando Gaming Motherboard Enables System Bus Overclock up to 2,280MHz for Smooth Graphics Performance

Woah, this is going to be my next board from Asus. I have posted some early reviews and benchmarks of this board, and if you haven't seen it yet, better check it out and start saving up. Aside from the all-solid capacitor and on-board switches, the CPU socket area is free of capacitors! Way to go Asus!

Taipei, Taiwan, December 18, 2006 – ASUSTeK Computer Inc. (ASUS), the worldwide leader of motherboards, today introduced the Commando, a new addition to its R.O.G (Republic of Gamers) family of gaming motherboards. The Commando provides extreme overclock ability for enhanced performance, and unique features to jazz up the gaming features and simplify the DIY process.

Overclock system bus up to 2,280MHz
Supporting the Intel® P965 Express Chipset, maximum 8GB dual-channel DDR2 architecture, PCI Express x16 graphics and multi-core CPU, the Commando is ready for the latest computing hardware and software specifications. With superior engineering, the Commando provides unmatched overclockability, taking FSB and memory up to 2,280MHz and 1,300MHz, respectively.

Extreme Tweaker – One stop performance tune-up
Extreme Tweaker is a one stop solution for fine-tuning system performance. Frequency adjustment, over-voltage options, memory settings etc. can all be tweaked with this feature, which is found exclusively in ASUS motherboards.

8-phase cap-less power – Reliable power supply and longer component life
The 8-phase cap-less power design demonstrates two hardcore commitments of R.O.G.: ultimate overclocking capability, and trustworthy stability. 8-phase cap-less power yields unparalleled superiority in the overclocking arena, while the EL cap-less design removes any worries of capacitor problems once and for all.

Onboard Switch – Turn system on/off, reset and clear CMOS with one push of a button
Overclockers and power users typically build systems outside of the case, and hence they need to short the front panel pins to power up or restart the system, switch jumpers, and pop the battery to clear CMOS. With the Commando, doing all that is now just a push of a button.

LCD Poster – Easy System Tweaking with Style
Most hardcore users and engineers install a debug card, which displays a two-digit code that enables them to recognize which part of the system is responsible for hanging the system during boot-up. LCD Poster, located at the back I/O, displays the names of each boot-process instead of using codes. When system hangs due to faulty connection or configuration, the LCD Poster will freeze on the displayed process name that caused the hang up, allowing users to know exactly what needs to be fixed.

For more information on the Commando and other R.O.G motherboards, please visit the company website at www.asus.com.

Specification summary
CPU: LGA 775 Core2Duo, Quad-Core CPU
DDR2: 800/667/533
FSB: 1066/800
Chipsets: Intel P965 + ICH8R
6 SATA II 3Gb/s
Supports ATI Crossfire Graphics
SupremeFX Featuring ADI 1988b
Extreme Tweaker
LCD Poster
8 phase capless power design
Onboard switches

Source:ASUS Commando Gaming Motherboard Enables System Bus Overclock up to 2,280MHz for Smooth Graphics Performance

Tech Link (Utility): RivaTuner Version 2.0 Final Release

RivaTuner 2.0 has been released by Guru3D. This provides support for the lates 97.xx nvidia drivers and with really lots of new improvements. I dare not copy the whole list, so just check it out and download the utility over to Guru3D.

Welcome to the rivatuner English homepage. Guru3D.com is the official hosting partner for this software. Webmaster, RivaTuner can be only distributed electronically through either Guru3D.com or nvworld.ru

Distribution though other websites or in any other form without the author's permission is prohibited.

RivaTuner is a complete powerful tweaking environment, providing you everything you may need to tune NVIDIA GPU based display adapters. The widest driver-level Direct3D / OpenGL and system tuning options, flexible profiling system allowing to make custom settings on per-application basis, both driver-level and low-level hardware access modes, unique diagnostic and realtime hardware monitoring features and exclusive power user oriented tools like built-in registry editor and patch script engine make RivaTuner's feature set absolutely unmatched.
RivaTuner supports all NVIDIA display adapters starting from Riva TNT family up to the latest GeForce 7 series and widest range of NVIDIA drivers starting from the oldest Detonator 2.08 up to the newest ForceWare drivers family.

In addition to complete NVIDIA hardware support, RivaTuner also provides limited support for display adapters based upon ATI RADEON 8500 and newer ATI graphics processors. All RivaTuner's features besides driver-level tuning options are also available on supported ATI hardware.

Source:RivaTuner Version 2.0 Final Release

Press Release: Intel Ignites Quad-Core Era

Ok, today is the day that marks the new era of computing power for the world. Chipzilla first introduced dual core on the desktop, and now, they are again the first to issue the power of four cores computing to the desktop. Expand to check out the full press release.

Intel Ignites Quad-Core Era
World’s Best Microprocessor Gets Even Better
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 14, 2006 – Intel Corporation today kicked off the computer industry’s multi-core PC era by delivering four computing “brains” inside a single microprocessor with the introduction of the Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® 5300 and Intel Core™2 Extreme quad-core processor families. These products deliver immense speed and responsiveness for general purpose servers and workstations and for digital media creation, high-end gaming and other market segments that crave absolute performance.

Intel began the transition to multi-core technology 4 years ago with Hyper-Threading Technology (HT Technology), followed by the introduction of the industry’s first dual-core PC processors in April last year. Intel recently refreshed its entire product line by introducing over 40 new processors, including those based on the revolutionary Intel® Core™ microarchitecture, a more powerful yet energy-efficient design.

“Today’s announcement ushers in another new era in computing,” said Paul Otellini, Intel’s president and CEO. “The capabilities of quad-core microprocessors will bring new possibilities for science, entertainment and business. I’m incredibly proud of what Intel’s employees have achieved with these new products.”

Intel has made this next step in the computer’s ongoing evolution as fast and easy as possible through continued investment in silicon process and manufacturing technology, innovative and tailored product design, and a myriad of software developer tools and programs.

Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series

Extending the leadership established by the Dual-Core Intel Xeon 5100 series processors, the new Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series sets new world records** on key industry standard benchmarks:


A Dell PowerEdge 2950 server running BEA JRockit JVM delivered a record breaking SPECjbb2005 result of 210,065** BOPS, as much as 61 percent better than the next result.
Using the SPECint_rate_base2000 benchmark, which measures integer throughput, Fujitsu-Siemens PRIMERGY TX300 S3 set a new world record with a score of 200**, up to 63 percent better than the previous record.
A HP ProLiant ML370 G5 server running TPC-C benchmark, which measures database performance, shattered the previous record by as much as 42 percent with a score of 240,737** tpmC at $1.85/tpmC.
An IBM System x3650 server running the LS-DYNA 3-vehicle-collision workload, a leading high-performance computing benchmark, set a new record for a single-node performance**.

In addition, OEMs have published record-breaking** results on SAP-SD 2-Tier**, SPECWeb 2005**, SPECfp _rate_base2000**, Fluent** and SPECapc 3dsmax Rendering** benchmarks. The chips deliver up to 2.5 times the performance of the fastest competing processor** for the ultimate in powerful, dense and energy-efficient general purpose servers.

Quad-core Intel Xeon Processor 5300 series servers provide more headroom for server virtualization than any other two-processor, standard, high-volume server platform. The new processors deliver up to 50 percent faster** performance within the same thermal envelope and at the same cost as the previous generation Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series launched less than 5 months ago.

Four Intel Xeon processors are launching today at clock speeds ranging from 1.60GHz to 2.66GHz, with front side bus (FSB) speeds ranging from 1066MHz to 1333MHz, and thermal design power (TDP) of either 80 watts or a performance-optimized 120 watt option. In the first quarter next year, Intel will launch two more quad-core Xeon processors – a low-voltage version for ultra-dense deployments with a TDP of only 50 watts and a processor designed for single-socket workstations and servers.

Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700

The world’s best desktop processor for multimedia applications, the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700 is up to 80 percent faster** than the company’s current Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor X6800.

This is the world’s first quad-core desktop processor available for unmatched, highly threaded performance. Ideal for today's games with incredible performance for tomorrow’s highly threaded games; the Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700 is available at 2.66GHz with a 1066MHz FSB. The processor runs on Intel’s existing 975X Express chipset family.

The company plans to offer a mainstream quad-core processor starting in the first quarter next year under the Intel Core 2 Quad processor brand name. The processor will be an ideal choice for processor-intensive, highly threaded programs such as entertainment, gaming and multimedia activities.

Pricing and Availability

Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor X5355 2.66GHz 1333MHz 8MB 120W
$1172

Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5345 2.33GHz 1333MHz 8MB 80W
$851

Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5320 1.86GHz 1066MHz 8MB 80W
$690

Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor E5310 1.60GHz 1066MHz 8MB 80W
$455

Intel Core 2 Extreme quad-core processor QX6700 2.66GHz 1066MHz 8MB 130W
$999



Additional information and resources in the Quad-Core Media Kit

Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom.


Intel, Intel Core, Xeon and the Intel logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Source:Intel Ignites Quad-Core Era

Press Release: New NVIDIA Products Transform the PC Into the Definitive Gaming Platform

I've read several reviews already and if all of them are right to the target, then this is a winner. I will not be quick to judge the final verdict, in the end, user experience will still play a big role whether this new solution is going to be a success or not. Expand for more...

New NVIDIA GeForce 8800 and NVIDIA nForce 680 Redefine Reality on the PC

For further information, contact:

Bryan Del Rizzo
NVIDIA Corporation
(408) 486-2772
bdelrizzo@nvidia.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SANTA CLARA, CA—NOVEMBER 8, 2006—PC enthusiasts around the world have a lot to be excited about today as NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in programmable graphics processor technologies, introduced two new product families that transform the PC into the premier gaming platform: the GeForce® 8800 graphics processing unit (GPU), and the NVIDIA nForce® 680i SLI media and communications processor (MCP) designed specifically for Intel® Core™ 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors. These two new product families represent the hardware foundation that allows users to start building their own definitive gaming PC platforms to experience high-resolution, high-performance gaming and stellar high-definition visuals.


_{Say hello to 'Adrianne', the world's first real-time, virtual celebrity based on model and actress Adrianne Curry, all rendered on the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX graphics processing unit (GPU).}

"We set out to build the ultimate platform for PC gaming and high-definition video," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO at NVIDIA. "There is no better way to experience Windows Vista, DirectX 10, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray than with a PC powered by GeForce 8800 and nForce 680i SLI. Our announcement today is the culmination of four years of research and development and represents the biggest technological leap we have ever made. Gamers are going to be blown away."

The GeForce 8800 GPUs are the world's first to support Microsoft® DirectX® 10, the next-generation programming interface that will be introduced with the upcoming Microsoft Vista™ operating system. The GeForce 8800 GPUs feature a number of groundbreaking technologies including:

• A revolutionary new unified shader architecture comprised of up to 128-parallel, 1.35GHz stream processors that deliver amazing floating point processing power for unmatched gaming performance


• NVIDIA Quantum Effects physics processing technology that ushers in a new generation of visual effects and graphics realism


• Simultaneous 16x anti-aliasing and 128-bit High Dynamic Range (HDR) lighting for unparalleled image quality

"The raw performance and visual effects of the new GeForce 8800 GTX is just going to knock your socks off," said Pat Gelsinger, Senior Vice President, General Manager, Digital Enterprise Group at Intel. "Intel's Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo combined with the GeForce 8800 GTX and SLI technology delivers the most compelling visual experience the world has ever seen."


_{The hardware foundation for the Definitive Gaming Platform is the NVIDIA nForce 680 media and communications processor--an advanced overclocking motherboard solution for Intel Core 2 Quad and Intel Core 2 Duo-based PCs.}

Throughout the GeForce 8800's development process, NVIDIA worked in close partnership with the world's top game designers to develop next-generation DirectX 10 titles on next-generation NVIDIA GPUs, enabling them to take full advantage of the increased performance and new features. As a result, more than 20 next-generation titles, including Crysis, Hellgate: London, World in Conflict, Company of Heroes, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, and Age of Conan—all with jaw-dropping visuals, were on display at the Company's official unveiling which took place today in San Jose, CA—all running on new GeForce 8800 GTX GPUs.

"NVIDIA has placed the industry's first DirectX 10 graphics processors into the hands of the world's leading game developers, representing a significant milestone in the DirectX 10 game development cycle," said Peter Moore, Corporate Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "The GeForce 8 series, combined with the unparalleled graphical capabilities of DirectX 10 and Windows Vista—built from the ground up for games—will give game developers a virtually unlimited platform for realizing their gaming vision."

The other half of the definitive gaming platform is the new NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP, which was designed to deliver the highest performance for Intel Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo-based PCs. Aimed squarely at the hard-core enthusiast, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP is a motherboard solution that provides extensive support for the latest cutting-edge technologies—including enhanced support for NVIDIA SLI multi-GPU technology. With its dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and advanced storage features, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP can, in about one second, send a 30-minute television show between PCs and store hundreds of high-definition movies. Featuring what customers are saying is the most advanced overclocking solution in the market, the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP can more than double the front-side bus (FSB) speed of many Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs. Also included is support for SLI-Ready high-performance memory DIMMs, and a third PCIe graphics slot for extended multi-display environments or future physics processing.

In addition to providing silicon to the world's leading motherboard manufacturers, NVIDIA also announced today it has started to design and manufacture its own line of enthusiast-class NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards, which are being offered as a turnkey solution for select channel partners. This "Designed by NVIDIA" program allows NVIDIA partners—such as EVGA and others, to bring NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards to market faster than ever before, and lets consumers know that the motherboard they are purchasing fully supports all of the hardware and software features that are offered with the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP.

"EVGA is proud to be a launch partner for the new NVIDIA GeForce 8800 series and we are beyond ecstatic to be the first company to bring an NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboard to the enthusiast market," said Andrew Han, President and CEO of EVGA. "EVGA would like to applaud NVIDIA for the astonishing performance enhancements found in both the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI core logic and GeForce 8800 GTX graphics solutions."

GeForce 8 series GPUs, including the GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS, NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboards, and fully-equipped Windows-based PCs are now available from leading retail outlets, system builders, and OEMS.

"We're very excited about bringing the definitive gaming platform to Velocity Micro customers. The superior overclockability of the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI-based motherboard combined with the graphics power of the GeForce 8800 GTX GPU are at the bleeding edge—nothing less than what our customers demand," said Randy Copeland, CEO of Velocity Micro. "NVIDIA continues to demonstrate why they are the leader in the enthusiast space, and we are excited to deliver this phenomenal level of performance and functionality in our new line of Raptor gaming PCs, which are available to consumers today."

For a full list of NVIDIA partners or for more technical information on the GeForce 8800 GTX and GeForce 8800 GTS GPUs or the NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI MCP, please visit www.nvidia.com.

Source:New NVIDIA Products Transform the PC Into the Definitive Gaming Platform