NVIDIA Wants to "Open a Can of Whoop Ass"

No one is sure what to make of Intel's upcoming Larrabee platform, but that's simply because it's difficult to predict the future. If done right, Larrabee could prove a true competitor in the discrete graphics market, and neither NVIDIA nor AMD are pleased with the notion, understandably.

During an analyst meeting, DailyTech reports that NVIDIA CEO Jen-Hsun Huang exclaimed that the the company was "Going to open a can of whoop ass". Wow. That's not something you hear from a CEO everyday.

Obviously, Jen-Hsun is a bit perturbed about Intel's claims that discrete graphics as we know them are on the way out, thanks to their lack of scalability. Of course, at Beijing's Intel Developer Forum last month, Pat Gelsinger made it known that Larrabee would not replace mid-range and higher discrete graphics, so NVIDIA has nothing to worry about right now.

Huang argues that not only are Intel's integrated offerings "a joke," but that even if Intel manages increase graphics performance by ten times by 2010, that's barely up to par with current NVIDIA offerings. He claims what passes for average graphics outside of the tech enthusiast crowd should be consider abysmal in the visual computing world.

Source: DailyTech

First "VGA" Rated Video Games Up For Auction

Regardless of what kind of collectible you have, there's likely to exist a service that would be happy to look it over and give it a grade, or rating, based on it's appearance and quality. One type of collectible that has lacked this kind of service, however, is the video game. But as Joystiq reports, the first "VGA" (Video Game Authority) games have been rated, and all are up for grabs on eBay.

The ranking system runs between 10 - 100, with 90 - 100 representing a "Gold" status, but none of the sixteen games on eBay have been blessed with such a rating. But by taking a look at a few rated 80 - 85, you can be assured that 90 and upward would have to be games in immaculate condition.

The original Final Fantasy, as pictured below, is rated VGA 85 and is currently going for $500 in the eBay auction. It makes me regret not taking better care of my copy while growing up, although truth be told, I wouldn't sell it anyway. That game is a true classic! The original Dragon Warrior is only currently $41... seems like such a steal! Sadly, this VGA ranking service is not yet public, but the web site promises to launch "later this month".

After paying a fee, gamers send in their beloved collectibles, which are graded and sealed in tamper-evident acrylic cases, marked with the official hologram of the organization. The first of these VGA-graded items are currently up for auction on eBay.

Source: Joystiq

April 11th Tech Roundup

Motherboards & Processors
• ASUS Striker II NSE - Elite Bastards
• Gigabyte X38-DQ6 - Overclockers Club
• Gigabyte X48T-DQ6 - APHNetworks
• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 - Overclock3D

Displays & Video Cards
• AutumnWave OnAir USB HDTV-GT Tuner - TweakTown
• GIGABYTE ATI Radeon HD 3870 512MB - Virtual-Hideout
• PowerColor Radeon HD 3650 Xtreme Cooling - MVKTech
• RadeonHD 1.2 Linux Driver - Phoronix

Memory & Storage
• Super Talent Pico 8GB Ultra Small Flash Drive - 3D Gameman
• Thermaltake BlacX Hard Drive Docking Station - Hardware Canucks

Peripherals & Gadgets
• Panasonic Lumix L10 DSLR - i4u

Cooling
• Asetek LCLC - Low Cost Liquid Cooling System - HotHardware
• EK Water Blocks EK Supreme - techPowerUp!
• OCZ Vendetta 2 - Overclockers Club

Competitions, Complete Systems & Et cetera
• Toshiba Qosmio G45 Laptop - Digital Trends