Computer Hardware Reviews Daily Tech News

Corsair today announced three additions to its ultra high-speed Force Series SSDs. The additions to this product family include the F60, F120, and F240 Force Series SSDs, sporting densities of 60GB, 120GB, and 240GB respectively. The F60, F120, and F240 Force Series SSDs all support the maximum throughput specification of 285MB/s read and 275MB/s write. With no drop-off in performance when moving down to 60GB, the F60 is an ideal boot drive for a performance system, especially when combined with traditional spinning media for mass storage.

All Corsair Force Series SSDs are built using the Sandforce SF-1200 SSD Processors, which provide unparalleled write endurance, superior ECC data protection, and outstanding performance. Corsair engineers worked closely with Sandforce to implement and qualify firmware which guarantees the unusually fast 4K random write performance of 180 MB/s, measured using the ATTO benchmark. This elevated 4K write speed generates 15K IOPs, resulting in excellent system performance and responsiveness. All Force Series SSDs implement the ATA TRIM command, supported by Windows® 7, which helps to maintain optimal performance over the drive’s lifetime.

TUL Corporation today announced the most affordable GDDR5 graphics solution in the value segment: PCS+ HD5550. Embedded with the PCS+ series feature, the PCS+ HD5550 features an ultra quite 92mm cooling fan which is made of a low-noise impeller, leading to a cool and low-noise working environment measured under 30dB at load.

“This is the very first time we are bringing the PCS+ series to the value segment,” said Ted Chen, CEO of TUL Corporation. “With superior overclocking ability and advanced GDDR5 onboard memory, the PCS+ HD5550 creates out-of-the-box gaming performance. This will bring this value segment solution a new level.”

ASUS recently unveiled brand new additions to its Designo Series range—the MS248, MS238, MS228 and MS208 LED monitors. These eco-friendly, ultra-slim monitors feature 16.5mm profiles and 20" to 23.6" displays that deliver uncompromised performance and mind-blowing visuals. The cutting-edge MS Series LED monitors deliver a benchmark 10,000,000:1 contrast ratio for more lifelike images. Retaining the binary state-inspired concept that incorporates the numbers 1 and 0 into an ultra-slim design, these LED monitors come with a glittering sapphire blue rear bezel. They also retain the original's iconic Ergo-Fit Technology spherical ring stand that lets users adjust the monitor's tilt angle with just one finger. Each of these mercury-free LED monitors reduce energy consumption by up to 45%, and lowers annual CO₂ emissions by 23.6kg.

Users will be treated to true-to-life visuals thanks to the exclusive ASUS Smart Contrast Ratio (ASCR) Technology, which enables the Designo MS Series LED monitors to deliver an industry contrast ratio benchmark of 10,000,000:1. LED-backlit panels provide flicker-free images, minimizing eye fatigue even after prolonged use. Full HD (1920x1080) and HDMI compatibility allows for high definition video playback while a 2ms (GTG) response time delivers crisp and sharp video. ASUS Splendid Video Intelligence Technology optimizes color fidelity with five pre-set modes (gaming, theater, night view, scenery and standard), fulfilling users' visual needs with a touch of a button

Crucial has released a newly revised Crucial RealSSD C300 firmware update tool that is now available for download. The Crucial Performance Lab, in conjunction with the Micron Compatibility Lab, has performed extensive testing of the new update tool functionality, and they've confirmed it works properly across multiple platforms. I'm not sure why they didn't do this the first time around, but numerous companies have screwed up SSD firmware updates over the past couple years. You can download the new firmware update here.

Before implementing our revised C300 firmware update, please take the following items into consideration and under advisement:

• The upgrade requires a Low Level Format to the SSD which will erase any data on the drive. Please ensure that your data is backed up prior to performing the Firmware Update. We are hopeful that future Firmware revisions/updates will not be destructive.
• The upgrade needs to be implemented using a native 3.0Gb/s SATA port. It will not work in a 6.0Gb/s SATA port. However, once the upgrade is complete, the SSD will run as a 6.0Gb/s drive in a 6.0Gb/s port.
• The upgrade needs to be done directly in the motherboard, not via Host Bus Adapters (HBA). Again, once the upgrade has been completed, the C300 drive can be utilized in an HBA.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed today that it will pass on the opportunity to build their new sedan, the Model S, in Southern California. Rather, they have chosen to purchase the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California. Bigger news still is that they have also announced a new partnership with Toyota Motors in the collaboration of electric vehicles, parts, and production. Following this agreement, Toyota has purchased $50 million of Tesla’s common stock. Impressive.

In the short term, Tesla is purchasing the former NUMMI factory in Fremont, California in order to build the Model S sedan and other "future Tesla vehicles," which should employ around 1,000 workers now to produce around 20,000 cars per year. For those unaware, the NUMMI facility was recently vacated, leaving 4,500 Toyota employees holding pink slips and ginormous frowns; Tesla CEO Elon Musk did confirm, however, that some of those have already been rehired.

The guys over at NZXT have offered some great gaming hardware to giveaway to our community this month. This month we are giving away the NZXT Hades gaming PC case, NZXT Sentry 2 bay fan controller and a set of NZXR Premium Cables! These prizes have a retail value of nearly $200, so this is a great spring drawing to be having! NZXT has been a supporter of Legit Reviews for a long time and this is going to be a great drawing! The contest is to all forum members with shipping addresses in North America and our forum is free to join!

NZXT, a company built upon gamers dreams, hopes to create products that put consumers first. With the objective of designing unique products catered for hardware enthusiasts and gamers, NZXT has grown into a globally renowned brand recognized for dedication towards creating the next great gaming product. NZXT has won numerous awards from media and publications from across the globe with a product line spanning from gaming chassis, power, and gaming input devices. As a corporation formed by gamers, NZXT continues to expand into new horizons and push the limits further with each product unveiling.

OCZ Technology unveiled the Fatal1ty 750 Watt power supply, a new high-performance PSU targeted at gamers and enthusiasts that prefer modular cabling. The Fatal1ty 750W features a single +12V rail for maximum and efficient power distribution, a thermally controlled 135mm double-ball bearing fan for airflow at near-silent audible noise levels, and an array of connectors for multiple power-hungry drives and video cards. Offering excellent energy and cost-savings, the Fatal1ty 750W has an 80-Plus Bronze certification, converting up to a full 85% of AC to DC power at typical loads.

OCZ is dedicated to delivering premium power solutions, and the new 750W was co-developed with Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, twelve-time World champion, to meet the specific needs of fellow gamers. Featuring new “low-profile” flat modular cabling with efficiencies in airflow and control, the Fatal1ty 750W PSU not only provides stable, efficient power, but also unique, user-friendly connectors that promote greater flexibility and organization inside the PC case. Featuring glowing red LED lights to add style, Fatal1ty power supplies are an ideal upgrade for users who need a computer setup able to take on hours of non-stop gaming. Additionally, Fatal1ty 750W power supplies are designed to perform even at elevated temperatures of up to 45°C, nearly twice that of the industry standard.

The CX623, the 15.6” laptop with discrete graphics card has been recently added to MSI's Classic series lineup. Equipped with the latest Intel Core processor and the nVidia GeForce 310M discrete graphics card (DDR3 1GB VRAM), the CX623 offers the best multimedia processing capabilities out there. What's more, the CX623 comes with MSI’s own color film print coating with cross-hatch design and MSI's chiclet keyboard, accentuating its minimalist, stylish exterior.

All new Intel Core processor: The CX623 comes equipped with Intel's latest Arrandale platform with advanced Intel Core processor and HM55 chipset with Intel Hyper-Threading technology (Intel Core i5 processor model) and integrates the graphics core into the processor for less power consumption than previous generations of processor platforms, giving it 15% more battery life. The vastly enhanced integrated graphics core performance gives the CX623 unparalleled multimedia and processing performance. nVidia GeForce 310M discrete graphics card (with DDR3 1GB VRAM): The CX623 comes with nVidia's latest GeForce 310M discrete graphics card with 1GB DDR3 of display memory. Graphics core performance is better than that of previous generations, offering a superior visual experience with enhanced display performance consisting of crisper picture and sharper colors.

We have screenshots for you today for the newly-announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Pack. This will be the second pack of new multiplayer maps for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. We have posted up all five screen shots in the forums, but here is a quick look at the MW2 Resurgence Pack map called Vacant.

Featuring five maps, the Resurgence Pack follows on the heels of the record-setting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package. The second pack of multiplayer maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will hit first on Xbox LIVE on June 3rd.

Sales of video game hardware and software plunged 26 percent in April, industry tracker NPD said on Thursday, one of the largest declines over the past decade. The research group said sales in the United States, the world's largest market, fell to $766.2 million.

Software sales dropped 22 percent, while hardware sales tumbled 37 percent. The overall decline was the fourth-largest since September 2000, NPD said. Ubisoft's "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction" was the best-selling game in April, with nearly 500,000 units sold.

NVIDIA reported revenue of $1.0 billion for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 ended May 2, 2010, up 2 percent from the prior quarter and up 51 percent from $664.2 million in the same period a year earlier. The outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2011 is that revenue is expected to be down seasonally 3 to 5 percent from the first quarter.

"With our new Fermi-class GPUs in full production, NVIDIA's key profit drivers are fully engaged," said Jen-Hsun Huang, NVIDIA CEO and president. "We shipped a few hundred thousand Fermi processors into strong consumer demand. Our Quadro business for workstations grew strongly, fueled by pent up demand from enterprise customers and new growth markets like video editing. And we had record revenue from Tesla processors for high-end servers. We anticipate continued strength in these businesses over the coming quarters."

Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white gown, but not the wedding conductor, because she was bolted to her chair. The nuptials at this ceremony were led by "I-Fairy," a 4-foot (1.5-meter) tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic pigtails. Sunday's wedding was the first time a marriage had been led by a robot, according to manufacturer Kokoro Co.

The wedding took place at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, where the I-Fairy wore a wreath of flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires led out from beneath it to a black curtain a few feet (meters) away, where a man crouched and clicked commands into a computer. Japan has one of the most advanced robotics industries in the world, with the government actively supporting the field for future growth. Industrial models in factories are now standard, but recently Japanese companies are making a push to inject robots into everyday life.

The people over at Taoviet in Vietnam have gotten their hands on another iPhone prototype that is a little different from the one found in a bar several weeks ago in California. They have posted very detailed pics and a video. For those awaiting its imminent release, this is a tantalizing nugget as it seems to be featuring a similar processor to what is found in the iPad.

The kids at Taoviet have really outdone themselves. From the looks of these images, the Vietnamese site has nabbed an honest to goodness 4th generation iPhone -- a 16GB model to be exact. It's clearly pre-production judging by the XXX placeholders on the backside stamp and likely lacks any OS other than a "Bonfire" test routine. Nevertheless, it looks authentic enough that we expect Apple's henchmen to be busting down the guy's door before he pries it open to reveal Apple's chipset of choice.

GIGABYTE has unleashed their latest monster performance GA-X58A-UD9 motherboard, featuring a revolutionary new 24 phase Unlocked Power design, 4-way graphics support including NVIDIA SLI and ATI CrossFireX, as well as a host of unique GIGABYTE features such as 333 Onboard Acceleration and On/Off Charge. No word on pricing, but with the Gigabyte GX-X58A-UD7 having an MSRP of $349.99 we can only assume that this board will be listed even higher.

"GIGABYTE set out to completely redefine what is possible performance and feature-wise on the X58 platform, and the GA-X58A-UD9 truly delivers on both fronts," commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of Motherboard Marketing at GIGABYTE Technology Co. Ltd. "Providing the industry's highest caliber CPU power delivery with our unique 24 phase Unlocked Power design and including all of the features which set GIGABYTE motherboards apart from the competition, the GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD9 fits into a whole new first class category all its own."

Patriot Memory today announced the immediate availability of the Inferno series to its family of solid-state-drives (SSDs). Patriot’s Inferno series, available in 100GB and 200GB capacities, is designed around the highly acclaimed SF-1200 processor series. Paired with specially screened MLC NAND Flash the Inferno drives deliver class leading performance with sequential read and write speeds of 285MB/s and 275MB/s respectively. The Inferno family of SSDs provide incredible performance, reliability and a 5-year warranty. Each Inferno SSD ships with a 2.5” to 3.5” adapter simplifying installation into desktop PCs.

“The Inferno series of SSDs are the fastest and most exciting that Patriot has yet brought to market,” states Les Henry, Vice President of Engineering at Patriot. “We have been pleased to work with SandForce to bring these enterprise level SSDs to the mainstream market at a fraction of the costs. We are very impressed with the performance numbers based on the SandForce SSD Processor. This solution fits well with our objective of offering the latest technology and best performance in our product lineup.”

Corsair today announced that the Corsair Dominator GTX4 ultra-high-performance memory module has achieved a new world record for dual-channel memory frequency on AMD processors. Using an AMD Phenom II X6 Black Edition CPU, Corsair Hydro Series H50 CPU cooler, and a pair of Corsair Dominator GTX4 memory DIMMs with Airflow memory fan, Corsair Labs was able to achieve the world-record memory frequency of 2287.6MHz. Independent validation of this achievement can be found here.