Computer Hardware Reviews Daily Tech News

Corsair today announced the availability of 2000MHz versions of the award-winning Vengeance family of DDR3 memory. The new 2000MHz kits are equipped with aluminum heat spreaders anodized in Jet Black. They join the 1600MHz Vengeance DDR3 memory kits, which are available in either Jet Black or Cerulean Blue, and the 1866MHz Vengeance DDR3 kit, available in Jet Black. The new 2000MHz kits have SPD timings of 9-9-9-24 and operate at just 1.5V.

"Our new 2000MHz Vengeance memory is perfect for PC gamers and enthusiasts, as well as systems integrators who value the outstanding overclockability of the Vengeance family, and are looking for even more speed." said Thi La, Vice President of Memory Products at Corsair. "They're a great choice for anyone looking to make the most of their high-performance system."

In a continuous effort to provide a wide array of power supplies that integrate high-grade features into a value-aware package, Cooler Master’s GX Series unveils its GX450W power supply. Casual users and budget gamers alike will enjoy the quality construction and extensive features that make the GX Power Supply Series reliable, efficient, and cost-effective. The GX Series carries a MSRP of $49.99 and will be available on March 29th.

An included double-layer EMI filter, intelligent 120mm controllable fan, and an active PFC/PWM combo controller all contribute to the overall efficiency of the power supply. All of the many features found within the GX Series contribute to its 80 Plus Certification. This efficiency allows the power supply to utilize most of the power it takes in with minimal waste, saving your electric bill. It makes the GX450W a perfect addition to a home theater PC or mid-range computer setup.

Lenovo announced a couple of heavy-duty machines this morning: the ThinkStation E30 workstation and ThinkCentre M81 desktop. Both machines are powered by 2nd generation Intel Core processors that are better known as 'Sandy Bridge' CPUS. The ThinkStation E30 workstation will be available starting in May and late April for the ThinkCentre M81 desktop. Pricing for models starts at approximately $629 and $599, respectively.

Lenovo ThinkCentre M81 desktop Features:

• SATA III, optional USB 3.0
• Genuine Windows 7 Professional
• Toolless expansion
• Available as tower (25L) or small form factor (11L)
• 2nd generation Intel Core processor family
• Integrated Intel HD graphics (VGA + DP), discrete ATI Radeon HD5450 (DVI + DP) graphics
• Boot in as few as 23.43 seconds with Lenovo EE 2.0 with RapidDrive
• Up to 2TB HDD space (Tower with two 1TB drives via special bid), 160GB Flash SSD
• Up to 16GB DDR3

Lexar Media recently introduced the Crucial Ballistix Sport memory series designed to provide mainstream users, gamers, and general PC enthusiasts with a reliable, no-hassle gaming experience. The new Crucial Ballistix Sport memory supports today’s latest AMD and Intel platforms, including 2nd Generation Intel Core processor (formerly codenamed Sandy Bridge) technology. It also features a stylish new heat spreader design, along with standard timings and voltages, providing maximum memory stability and system compatibility. The Ballistix Sport line is available in both DDR2 & DDR3 standards and come back with a lifetime warranty. Memory timings range between CL9 to CL10 for DDR3 with 1.5V and CL5 to CL7 for DDR2 with 1.8V.

“Over the years, Crucial Ballistix memory has earned a reputation amongst gamers and enthusiasts as high-quality, high-performance, reliable memory,” said Jeremy Mortenson, senior product manager. “The Crucial Ballistix Sport series offers casual gamers an accessible, easy-to-use Ballistix memory product at an affordable price. This new Ballistix offering is part of our broader product strategy and a commitment to satisfy the needs of our customers.”

Netbook Navigator today announced the launch of the NAV7 Slate PC. Powered by Windows 7 and loaded with innovative best-in-class features, this cutting-edge new tablet redefines the concept of wireless PC mobility. Weighing just 1.25 lbs and equipped with a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor, up to 2GB RAM, 1.8" Solid State hard drive with up to 64GB of storage, 2 USB ports, front-side webcam, WIFI, Bluetooth and optional embedded 3G broadband. Battery life is so-so, as the device has a swappable battery good for roughly 4 hours of use per charge. The NAV7 is now available for pre-order in limited quantities on first come, first serve basis with over 30 different configuration options starting from $649. Orders placed in March are expected to ship in May 2011.

"We are really excited about the launch of our NAV7 tablet," said Matthew Gross, CEO and Founder of Netbook Navigator. "Unlike most other tablets on the market, the NAV7 offers the ability to run multiple applications simultaneously on a single screen without any limitations whatsoever. With millions of PC applications to choose from, the possibilities are endless."

Synology America has announced the release of the RS2211RP+ Rack-Mount NAS and its companion RX1211RP. The RS2211RP+ offers affordable performance, scalability, and redundancy in a 2U configuration. The native 10-bay server pairs seamlessly with the RX1211RP, for on-the-fly expansion up to 22 drives. That makes for up to 66TB storage. The RS2211RP+ boasts write speeds of up to 166MB/s and up to 198MB/s read speeds, which is respectable for a device like this. The RS2211RP+ is scheduled to be released in mid to late April for under $3000.

"This new RackStation makes for a very affordable addition to the server room," said Doug Self, Product Marketing Manager at Synology America Corp. "The performance and scalable capacity can't be beat in this price range."

Transcend today announced the addition of 64GB models to its Ultra Speed series USB flash drives. Transcend says their Ultra Speed series Flash drives us dual-channel technology and have read speeds of up to 32MB/s and write speeds of up to 18 MB/s. The outstanding performance dramatically shortens the transfer time, making it ideal for transferring large amounts of data such as music, digital photos and even Full HD videos. Both the sleek black JetFlash 600 and the gloss white JetFlash 620 are now offered in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities, and carry Transcend’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

It is hard to imagine how many files and data one can operate in this age of information explosion. Transcend’s Ultra Speed USB flash drives now come in an enormous 64 GB of storage capacity, enabling users to store over 16,000 high-quality pictures or songs, 640 minutes of Full HD videos, or seemingly limitless amount of documents—all in a tiny thumb-sized storage device.

AMD has just released Catalyst 10.11 video card drivers to the public for download. This release of AMD Catalyst brings performance improvements in two game title along with numerous resolved issues and new features for all Windows operating systems. If you want the latest driver be sure to download it from here! The full AMD Catalyst Software Suite Version 10.11 Release Notes can be found here if you want to read them.

Performance Highlights of the AMD Catalyst 10.11 release include:

• Battleforge - Performance increases up to 3% on ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series single and CrossFire configurations with anti-aliasing disabled.
• STALKER – Call of Pripyat benchmark - Performance increases up to 5% on ATI Radeon™ HD 5800 Series single and CrossFire configurations.

Resolved issue highlights:

• Enabling Overdrive through the Catalyst™ Control Center for single display systems no longer results in GPU clocks running at high levels in non-GPU intensive scenarios
• Mouse cursor no longer flickers and disappears in World of Warcraft when hardware cursor is enabled when playing in Stereo 3D mode
• Primary display no longer blanks out when playing World in Conflict Soviet Assault DX10 with Dual Monitor enabled in CrossFire mode
• CrossFire no longer becomes disabled in Battlefield Bad Company 2 after performing a task switch
• The "Contrast" value for the display is no longer set to zero after CrossFire is disabled for the first time
• Alien blood is now rendered properly in Aliens vs Predator with Anti-Aliasing enabled

We just caught wind that GM is now talking about processing power on their new cars! GM stated in a press released that the 2011 Buick Regal’s Ecotec 2.0L engine microcontroller is the fastest in the industry. The company said that the 32-bit chip can do 125 million operations per second and that it features three megabytes of integrated flash memory. For the Regal driver, this means more precise fuel delivery for the best-possible fuel economy, emissions and performance. GM even said that their microcontroller has some similarities with the central processor unit (CPU) in a home computer but is optimized specially for engine control. We aren't sure about overclocking, but down the road we are sure that you'll be able to do more with these Engine Control Modules (ECM) that each and every modern car contains.

“The ECM’s microcontroller executes the commands such as when to inject fuel into the engine’s combustion chambers,” said Karla Wallace, GM senior manager, global powertrain electronics engineering. “The software executed by the microcontroller comes from almost a million lines of code developed by GM and uses over 300 kilobytes of calibration data.”

Antec today announced the formation of soundscience, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Antec, and introduces the all new soundscience rockus 3D | 2.1 speaker system. The soundscience rockus 3D |2.1 speaker system is designed to create a personal theater experience, bringing the power and realism of 3D sound together with the clarity and accuracy of high-fidelity audio, making it an ideal solution for experiencing game and movie sound in 3D. The soundscience rockus 3D |2.1 speaker system is backed by Antec’s Quality 2-Year (AQ2) Limited Warranty on parts and labor, and is available now for an estimated price of $249.99.

Key Features:

• Anodized aluminum satellites that reduce vibration and minimize distortion, resulting in clear mid and sparkling high-range sound
• Active subwoofer with passive radiator technology, delivering an expansive range of bass comparable to larger footprint subwoofers
• 3D-tuned drivers to deliver audio optimized for soundscience’s 3Dsst technology
• Dual-mode operation: 3D mode for enveloping games and movies, and music mode for faithful stereo music playback
• Optical input for playback of digital audio from game consoles (Xbox 360, PS3,) and other, similarly equipped devices
• Remote control pod for volume adjustment, 3D/music mode selection, muting and digital/analog input selection

PNY Technologies recently announced the availability of DDR3 8GB Memory Kits and 4GB Memory Modules in both 1333MHz desktop and 1066MHz notebook configurations. PNY’s highest capacity memory kit, the 8GB (2 x 4GB) dual channel DDR3 memory kit and the 4GB DDR3 memory module are both available in a desktop option at 1333MHz and a notebook option at 1066MHz operating speeds. The DDR3 8GB kits and 4GB modules are available now for purchase at PNY.com. The 8GB kit is priced at $129.99, but for some reason the landing page for this specific product doesn't mention the timings it comes with.

“DDR3 has become the sought after memory for consumers and we’re excited to add these new options to our product line,” said Nicholas Mauro, senior marketing manager, PC components for PNY. “The 8GB kit is now the highest capacity memory in our line-up and also the ideal upgrade for Windows 7 and Mac users, so we’re able to reach a broad range of consumers seeking to upgrade their desktop or notebook, whether for mainstream gaming, photo/video editing, media PC, or everyday use.”

Antec today announced its newest premium line of consumer power supplies, the High Current Pro series. Available in four 80 PLUS Gold certified models, the HCP-750, HCP-850, HCP-1000 and HCP-1200 with 750 watts, 850 watts, 1000 watts and 1200 watts of Continuous Power.

All four of these new PSUs achieve the 80 PLUS Gold certification level, delivering power with up to 92% efficiency. The entire High Current Pro series will be available through major retailers, e-tailers and distributors later this month.

The High Current Pro series’ high levels of power are delivered with overcurrent-protected +12V rails. There are four rails on the HCP-750, HCP-850 and HCP-1000, and a massive eight rails on the HCP-1200, all with specialized High Current outputs and heavy-gauge 16 AWG high-current lines at the CPU connector. The HCP-750, HCP-850 and HCP-1000 models feature unique 10-pin High Current Hybrid Cable Management connectors (while the HCP-1200 utilizes an 8-pin design,) reducing cable clutter and improving airflow throughout the chassis. All models are fitted with a double-layer printed circuit board design, and the HCP-750, HCP-850 and HCP-1000 models feature a 135 mm Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) double-ball bearing fan – for operation up to 50 percent quieter than traditional voltage-controlled fans.

ZOTAC today reinvigorates the DVD-format with the new ZBOX DVD series mini-PCs. The new ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series packs energy-efficiency, hardware high-definition streaming acceleration and advanced video processing capabilities into a slim chassis to create the perfect home theater PC for DVD aficionados. The PC is powered by a Next-Generation NVIDIA ION graphics processor and a dual-core Intel Atom D525 processor.

ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series General Features

• Intel Atom D525 processor (1.8 GHz, dual-core)
• Next-Generation NVIDIA ION GPU (16 unified shaders, 512MB DDR3)
• HDMI, DVI and VGA (with included adapter) outputs
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 & Onboard 802.11n WiFi
• 250GB 5400RPM HDD & 1GB DDR2-800

“Whether it’s DVD playback capabilities, connectivity to the latest and greatest or older displays, internal and external expansion capabilities, or wired and wireless network support, the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series is a flexible mini-PC that will accommodate your home theater PC demands,” Mr. Berger added. Two models are available in the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD series – the ID31 and ID31 Plus -- the ZOTAC ZBOX DVD ID31 is a customizable mini-PC that requires user-installed memory and hard drive while the ZBOX DVD ID31 Plus includes a 250GB hard drive and 1GB of DDR2 memory.

GIGABYTE has announced the arrival of their black GM-M7800S Elegant Vogue Wireless Mouse. First announced in June 2009, the black’s predecessor GM-M7800S Brown has surprised the world with its elegant and luxurious design. Made with CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski elements and exquisite black leather, the long-awaited GM-M7800S Black is ready to tickle your fashion sense again.

Gigabyte GM-M7800S Elegant Vogue Wireless Mouse Features:

• Made with CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements
• Made of exquisite leather
• Ultra-precise laser engine
• Reliable 2.4GHz wireless connection
• Portable nano transceiver
• 800/1600 DPI switch
• 4-way scrolling
• Browser back & forward button

Just in time for the holiday buying season, Intel Corporation has lowered prices and introduced a new model of its award-winning Intel Solid-State Drive (SSD) product line. SSDs can replace hard disk drives in a PC and provide a substantial performance boost for a notebook or desktop PC, making SSDs one of the hottest new waves in personal computing. Users can double the storage capacity with a 160GB X25-M drive for $415. The company has also added a new 120GB version of the Intel X25-M for $249, which offers the best dollar-per-GB value in the Intel X25-M SSD line.

Intel SSDs can be purchased at Best Buy or Fry’s Electronics nationwide or online from Internet outlets such as Amazon.com or newegg.com. An entry-level 40GB Intel X25-V “boot drive,” at a suggested U.S. resell price of $99, is another option for desktop users that allows the operating system and favorite applications to be installed on the SSD for faster performance, while keeping the HDD for further storage.