Tech News

Goodbye nForce 570 SLI and 590 SLI…

Posted on October 5, 2006 9:14 AM by Rob Williams

NVIDIA’s new nForce 650i SLI and 680i SLI aren’t exactly new per se but rather a quasi-re-branding of the previously released nForce 570 SLI and 590 SLI Intel Editions. The new nForce 650i SLI SPP pairs with an nForce 430 SLI MCP to provide a total of 29 PCI Express lanes. In SLI mode the nForce 650i SLI delivers two half-speed PCI Express x16 slots.

Recipe: Take a 5 series chipset, chant randomly for a few minutes, and *poof* you will have a 6 series! This change could have been accomplished with a marker or pen, but at least this is a revision rather than nothing at all. Still, clever marketing as such is bothersome…

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Intel to purchase NVIDIA

Posted on October 5, 2006 9:13 AM by Rob Williams

Some observers said that they doubt Intel would buy NVIDIA because it’s too expensive. The company has a stock market capitalization of about $10 billion, which means it would demand a far higher price than what AMD is paying for ATI.

Rumors have been around, but now they are starting to get serious. There’s no sense of even thinking “this will never happen”, because that’s exactly what most thought before AMD bought ATI. If Intel bought NVIDIA, that would bring an extreme twist to the CPU and GPU market.

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Vote No! to video games… on school nights

Posted on October 5, 2006 9:10 AM by Rob Williams

A new study appearing in the October 2006 issue of Pediatrics suggests that any amount of video gaming and TV is too much, if it happens on a school night. The results come from a survey of 4,500 midle-school students in New Hampshire and Vermont.

I’m no parent, but I could have told people this without the effort of a study. I know what I was like in school, and clearly video games > all. Still, maybe this will help some to better understand why this is the case.

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Sony wants to keep controllers affordable

Posted on October 5, 2006 9:07 AM by Rob Williams

Yup. That’s right. Sony is holding off on rumble because they’re very concerned about offering you electronics that aren’t too expensive. I’m glad they’re looking out for our wallets. I’d really hate to have to break the bank so I could play their games.

Ok, before you laugh your ass off… Nevermind, feel free to laugh your ass off, then read this posting. So, they are keeping the motion sensing while ridding the rumble feature… something we’ve had since the original Playstation. Good move there.

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Review Roundup for October 5

Posted on October 5, 2006 9:04 AM by Rob Williams

    Memory & Storage
  • OCZ PC2-6400 Special Ops Edition Urban Elite – Big Bruin

    Motherboards & Processors
  • ABIT AW9D-MAX – TweakTown
  • ECS KA3 MVP Extreme Crossfire Xpress 3200 – PC Stats
  • Foxconn 975X7AA-8EKRS2H 30-day Test Drive – techFEAR

    Peripherals & Power Supplies
  • Coolermaster eXtreme Power Duo RP-600-PCAP PSU – Technic3D
  • NZXT Precise 650w Power Supply – OCIA
  • Seasonic M12 Modular 700W – 3D Gameman
  • SteelSound 5H v2 Headset – XS Reviews

    Displays & Video Cards
  • HIS X1650 Pro IceQ Turbo PCIe – XYZ Computing

    Complete Systems, Competitions & Etcetera
  • Building A Wooden PC – Bjorn3D
  • Cooler Master Mystique 632 Case Give Away – Big Bruin
  • LG KG800 “Chocolate” Phone – UK Gamer
  • Power consumption and Vista’s Aero interface – Tech Report
  • WIRED NextFest 2006 Wrap-up – Digital Trends

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Microsoft Responds to XBOX 360 Price Cut Rumors

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:23 AM by Rob Williams

In the end, it’s all up to Microsoft to decide cut-or-no-cut. At the recent X06 event in Spain, Microsoft’s Peter Moore responded to the question of pending price drops with a succinct “Certainly not.” Microsoft’s explanation is that it still believes that the XBOX 360 offers great value to the consumer, which likely means that it is perfectly happy to sit right between Wii and PlayStation 3.

Good news: The above is true. Bad news: No price cut even still. This holiday season though, it will be either Wii or X360 at your disposal, or the still popular PS2 and Xbox. If only there would be a few more totally kick ass games released for the 360, then it would be an even easier sell.

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What the heck is a .tar.gz file?

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:20 AM by Rob Williams

If you’re new to Linux and intent on peering under the hood a bit to see what makes things work, then you’ve probably encountered a range of files which are compressed in various formats. This guide is meant to be a quick and easy way to distinguish what’s what in compressed files. It’s written on and for Ubuntu but will be very useful for other distributions as well.

Geez there is a lot of good Linux related news today… don’t think I am doing this on purpose in order to convert some of you. Fact is, Linux can be quite a learning curve, especially when dealing with compressed formats. This article will help enlighten you to make your visit or transition much smoother.

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Crossover Linux and Mac beta available

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:18 AM by Rob Williams

Codeweavers has just launched a free beta to their Crossover Linux and Mac software. What in Linux isn’t beta? The “trial” is for 60 days, and supposedly is quite good, especially when it comes to getting Half-Life 2 working. I plan on giving this a go in the next few days and if successful, will compose up an article about my experiences. Grab the beta here!

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Judging a game by its cover

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:12 AM by Rob Williams

Wen it comes to advertising, videogames aren’t exactly like other forms of media. Television commercials are relatively rare. Outside of videogame magazines, print advertisements are pretty scarce. For uninformed customers, the first impression most shoppers get is from looking at the box cover. Because of this, creating an attractive image is one of the most important aspects of selling a game.

How true that statement is. 1UP once again does a good job of bringing us through memory lane, and giving a perspective on how game covers are designed and decided upon.

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Mandriva 2007 (finally) released!

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:09 AM by Rob Williams

The final version of Mandriva Linux 2007 is now available for all, including 16 different Mandriva One CDs with more than 80 languages, a complete CD set and a dual arch DVD. The commercial versions with additional software and/or services are also available immediately for download from the Mandriva Store, and directly offered to select Mandriva Club members.

I plan to check out the new version and see what it offers, and you may want to do the same. Following that link will give you lots of info, including download links.

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OCZ Technology Announces PC2-8500 NVIDIA SLI-Ready Modules

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:08 AM by Rob Williams

Sunnyvale, CA—October 3, 2006—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the next addition to OCZ’s line of NVIDIA® certified Platinum DDR2 memory modules. The new PC2-8500 series is SLI™ certified ensuring ultimate breakthrough compatibility for advanced SLI platform performance.

You can read the full press release here.

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Nikon Canada Announces Holiday Line-Up

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:08 AM by Rob Williams

Mississauga, ON, October 3, 2006 – Nikon Canada today announced its 2006 holiday product line-up. This holiday season, digital photography lets users see and share the world from entirely new angles. Nikon Canada’s new compact and digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera offerings are reaching new heights of performance, making great gift ideas for photographers of any skill level.

You can read the full press release here.

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Review Roundup for October 04

Posted on October 4, 2006 8:07 AM by Rob Williams
    Cooling
  • Thermaltake Bigwater 735 Water Cooling System – TweakNews

    Memory & Storage
  • A-DATA FP1 Biometric Thumb Drive – TweakTown

    Motherboards & Processors

    Mli>Albatron KI51PV-754 – Tech Report

  • Foxconn P9657AA-8KS2H P965 Express Core 2 Duo – PC Stats
  • Intel’s Quiet Investments – HotHardware

    Displays & Video Cards
  • ATI Radeon X1650 PRO 3-way shootout – Hexus
  • Radeon X1950XTX Duel – Sapphire & Visiontek – Boot Daily

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Zune Wireless: Worthless

Posted on October 3, 2006 9:12 AM by Rob Williams

Well, it turns out that a Zune employee by the name of David Caulton thought it’d be worth putting together a cogent explanation of what the Zune wireless connection can and can’t do.

At launch, the Zune will have basic interaction capabilities with other Zunes, but the unit cannot go online. It would be cool to see this integrated later on though. It would be great to log on and download new songs right through the device itself.

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Slackware Linux 11 released

Posted on October 3, 2006 9:08 AM by Rob Williams

The first Slackware release more than a year in the making, this
edition of Slackware combines Slackware’s legendary simplicity,
stability, and security with some of the latest advances in Linux
technology. Expect no less than the best Slackware yet.

The long awaited release it here! If you are a Slackware user, you can read up on what’s new on the official site.

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EA Officially Picks Up DICE

Posted on October 3, 2006 9:07 AM by Rob Williams

Electronic Arts announced today that it has officially completed the acquisition of Battlefield series developer Digital Illusions CE (DICE) after a long courtship. The agreement will have the Stockholm, Sweden-based DICE become a fully integrated EA Studio.

DICE was hardly bad off by themselves, but hopefully now under EA’s wing things could even get better. Now we just have to wait for the Mythic acquisition to complete.

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GPU Folding client now available

Posted on October 3, 2006 9:05 AM by Rob Williams

We posted yesterday regarding a new client for Folding@Home that allowed for extreme pushing power by using your GPU. Well, the client has been made available and you can grab it here. It’s currently only for Windows XP, but hopefully there will be a Linux and Mac version soon.

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Logitech Pushes the Edge with Stunning New Keyboard Design

Posted on October 3, 2006 9:03 AM by Rob Williams

FREMONT, Calif. — Oct. 3, 2006 — It’s more than a keyboard – it’s a minimalist work of high-technology art. Today, Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) unveiled the Logitech® diNovo™ Edge keyboard, a cutting-edge blend of refined design and breakthrough innovation. Following the design legacy of Logitech’s original, award-winning diNovo™ Media Desktop® (2003), the diNovo Edge reflects the growing importance and visibility of the PC in today’s home.

You can read the full press release here.

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OCZ Technology Unveils the 8-Gigabyte Ultra-Slim Mega-Kart…

Posted on October 3, 2006 8:59 AM by Rob Williams

Sunnyvale, CA—October 22, 2006—OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today announced the Mega-Kart, a ultra-high capacity USB flash drive. With 8GBs of memory, the OCZ Mega-Kart series is the ultimate data storage solution for today’s computer enthusiasts and business professionals on the go. The beauty of the new Mega-Kart series is the unparalleled, ultra-slim architecture that is thin enough to carry in a wallet.

You can read the full press release here.

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AGEIA PhysX SDK v2.6 Brings Dynamic, Interactive Realism…

Posted on October 3, 2006 8:57 AM by Rob Williams

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – October 3, 2006 – AGEIA™ Technologies, Inc., the pioneer in hardware-accelerated physics for games, today announced availability of the AGEIA PhysX™ SDK v2.6. The latest version of its acclaimed physics API and runtime engine dramatically enhances and accelerates the development of cutting edge games with complex physics-based environments that feature real-time dynamic motion and interaction on a massive, persistent scale.

You can read the full press release here.

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Seagate Introduces New Maxtor Desktop and Notebook Hard Drives…

Posted on October 3, 2006 8:55 AM by Rob Williams

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. — October 2, 2006 — Seagate Technology (NYSE:STX) today announced the availability of new Maxtor-branded desktop and notebook PC hard drives to the worldwide distribution channel in a move that gives system builders and resellers a broader selection of product features, warranties, service and support, and pricing. Designed and manufactured with Seagate’s hallmark quality and reliability, the Maxtor DiamondMax desktop and MobileMax notebook disc drives will enable system builders to reach a wider range of customers.

You can check the full press release here.

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Review Roundup for October 3

Posted on October 3, 2006 8:53 AM by Rob Williams

    Cooling
  • Sytrin SHF1 Ultra – Phoronix

    Complete Systems, Competitions & Etcetera
  • CoolerMaster & OCIA.net October Virtual Pumpkin Carving – OCIA
  • Knowing your Power Supply – Tech Nibble
  • LIX Systems LX8100-AM2BB-M2NPV – Phoronix
  • Nokia 3250 XpressMusic, 5200, and 5300 – Digital Trends
  • Overclock, Benchmark, Diagnostic Software and Tools Roundup – OC Insider
  • Samsung Blu-Ray Gambit – UK Gamer
  • Samsung Trace – Digital Trends
  • transtec SENYO 600 Mini-PC – EPIA Center

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How to have a 43 hour day

Posted on October 2, 2006 8:02 AM by Rob Williams

Rather than changing around your sleep schedule to squeeze in those extra hours, Yahoo thinks you should just be multitasking. According to a new study (sponsored by Yahoo) new technologies allow families to cram 43 hours of activity into a single day.

Yahoo could have just asked me how I do things, since I’ve been doing most of what they have mentioned for a while. Sadly, I still never seem to get work done.

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Faster Folding@Home?

Posted on October 2, 2006 8:01 AM by Rob Williams

Stream Computing uses the GPU as a compute engine rather than strictly for graphics. If you have a problem set that maps to a GPU, it will absolutely scream when compared to a plain old CPU. If you look at the architecture of a GPU, it is a bunch of shaders, tens of them in most cases, each of which can crunch a lot of heavy sums, or at least certain types of heavy sum.

Regardless of whether you run Folding or not, a 30x increase is an incredible gain for the amount of cash it requires. Not to mention having a great gaming card on the side as a benefit! But as we all know… Folders don’t game.

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Apple Updates Mac OS X to 10.4.8

Posted on October 2, 2006 7:58 AM by Rob Williams

The new update introduces fixes and tweaks for a number of applications included in OS X: iPhoto, Finder, Safari, Dashboard and several other applications. More critical updates include drivers for wireless access, which has been causing a number of users to experience random disconnects and signal drops on the MacBook Pro, MacBook and iMac computers. Apple identified that several of the included system updates would improve performance in Rosetta as well.

If you are an Apple user and love keeping up to date, then get on er! More discussion on the updates can be had here.

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