Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Qualcomm hires former AMD CTO, makes 'em pay for dropping mobile]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/qualcomm-hires-eric-demers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/qualcomm-hires-eric-demers/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/21/qualcomm-hires-eric-demers/#comments Image

Qualcomm is hiring AMD's former CTO Eric Demers to help the company produce a blockbuster mobile graphics chip. It needs the silicon for its big push for smartphone dominance (and tablets running Windows RT) in the face of strong competition from Imagination Technologies' Series 6 PowerVR and NVIDIA's Tegra 3. Demers' first job will be to merge Qualcomm's in-house Adreno team with ATI's Imageon mobile graphics chip team, which AMD flogged off for $65 million back in 2009 -- a move Sunnyvale is probably regretting now that it too is trying to get its hardware into mobile devices, unless it included a do-over clause in the sales contract.

Qualcomm hires former AMD CTO, makes 'em pay for dropping mobile originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdrenoAMDARMATIATI ImageonAtiImageonBusinessBuyoutEric DemersEricDemersImagination TechnologiesImaginationTechnologiesMergeMobile ChipMobile GraphicsMobileChipMobileGraphicsmobilepostminiPowerVRQualcommQualcomm AdrenoQualcommAdrenoSaleSystem on ChipSystemOnChipWindows on ARMWindows RTWindowsOnArmWindowsRtMon, 21 May 2012 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 review roundup: (usually) worth the one grand]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/nvidia-geforce-gtx-690-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/nvidia-geforce-gtx-690-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/nvidia-geforce-gtx-690-review-roundup/#comments Image

Now that NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 690 is shipping through some vendors, gamers have been wondering if it's worth the wallet-busting $999 to get those higher frame rates. Surprisingly, the answer is "yes." As AnandTech notes, the GTX 690 is often almost as fast or faster than a pair of GTX 680s working together in SLI mode, only using less power and running at cooler and quieter power levels through those two 28-nanometer Kepler chips. Across multiple reviewers, though, the GTX 690 was sometimes slower than two Radeon HD 7970 boards using CrossFire. HotHardware and others found that it's definitely the graphics card of choice for Batman: Arkham City enthusiasts: problems with AMD's CrossFire mode leave a dual Radeon HD 7970 setup running at just half the frame rate of its NVIDIA-made challenger.

Caveats? There are still some worries beyond the price tag, as the twin Radeon cards are as much as three times faster at general-purpose computing tasks than the latest and greatest GeForce. PC Perspective likewise warns that fans of joining three displays together for some 3D Vision Surround action will still take a big frame rate hit when they put the 3D glasses on. Still, the GTX 690 looks to be tops if you're looking to get the fastest single-card gaming on Earth, and as Legit Reviews adds, that trivalent chromium-plated aluminum makes it one of the "better looking" cards, to boot.

Read - AnandTech
Read - HotHardware
Read - Legit Reviews
Read - PC Perspective

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 690 review roundup: (usually) worth the one grand originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d vision surround3dVisionSurroundamdAMD Radeon HD 7970AmdRadeonHd7970aticrossfiregamegamesGeForcegeforce gtx 680GeForce GTX 690GeforceGtx680GeforceGtx690gpgpugtx 680GTX 690Gtx680Gtx690keplernvidiaNVIDIA GeForce GTX 680nvidia geforce gtx 690NvidiaGeforceGtx680NvidiaGeforceGtx690pcradeonradeon hdRadeon HD 7970RadeonHdRadeonHd7970SLIvideo cardvideo cardsVideoCardVideoCardsThu, 03 May 2012 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Eurocom Racer 2.0 laptop receives Ivy Bridge, offers Radeon HD 7970M graphics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/eurocom-racer-2-with-ivy-bridge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/eurocom-racer-2-with-ivy-bridge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/03/eurocom-racer-2-with-ivy-bridge/#comments Eurocom Racer 2.0 laptop receives Ivy Bridge upgrade, offers Radeon HD 7970M graphics

Eurocom calls its Racer 2.0 a small form factor mobile workstation -- by which it means it's a rather sizable laptop, but with plenty of power and decent aesthetics. Known for designing its rigs to be upgradable, the Racer 2.0 is such a recipient, which now offers the Intel HM77 Express chipset and support for both Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge CPUs. It offers a 15.6-inch, 1080p display (in both glossy and matte configurations), which is powered by a 1.5GB GeForce GTX 660M GPU as the basic option. Those desiring even more oomph may opt for the 2GB Radeon HD 7970M, and even those in need of true workstation graphics may select from a lineup of NVIDIA's Quadro GPUs. The four SO-DIMM slots will accommodate up to 32GB of RAM, and it'll even accept two hard drives (in addition to an mSATA SSD), so long as you're willing to fill the optical drive's slot. Naturally, all the upgrades can make the price soar in a hurry, but the base configuration starts at reasonably palatable $1283. Ready to be sold a new laptop? You'll find the PR after the break.

Gallery: Eurocom Racer 2.0

Continue reading Eurocom Racer 2.0 laptop receives Ivy Bridge, offers Radeon HD 7970M graphics

Eurocom Racer 2.0 laptop receives Ivy Bridge, offers Radeon HD 7970M graphics originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 May 2012 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdatieurocomeurocom racer 2.0EurocomRacer2.0GTX 660MGtx660mhm77hm77 expressHm77Expressintelivy bridgeIvyBridgelaptoplaptopsmobile workstationMobileWorkstationmsatanvidiaracerracer 2.0Racer2.0Radeon HD 7970MRadeonHd7970mThu, 03 May 2012 06:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell spreads the Ivy Bridge love to new XPS 8500, Vostro 470 PCs (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/dell-ivy-bridge-hits-xps-and-vostro/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/dell-ivy-bridge-hits-xps-and-vostro/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/dell-ivy-bridge-hits-xps-and-vostro/#comments Image

Not willing to let the new Alienware lineup have all the fun with Intel's Ivy Bridge rollout, Dell has seen fit to trot out a pair of new desktop systems using the new 22-nanometer chips. The XPS 8500 is arguably the center of attention here and comes with your pick of the third-generation, quad-core i5 or i7 processors, along with a new choice for a 32GB or 256GB solid-state drive to cut down on those pesky loading times. The more sober-minded among us can opt for the Vostro 470 business desktop, which skips over the raw video prowess of its rebellious XPS cousin in favor of supporting up to 32GB of RAM, not to mention stacking up the extra security and support that makes IT administrators happy. Should you want to take the plunge, $750 will get you into the XPS 8500 fold, while $550 is all it takes for the Vostro 470 line. Head in past the break for a video peep at both PCs.

Update: we've included the full press release after the break.

Continue reading Dell spreads the Ivy Bridge love to new XPS 8500, Vostro 470 PCs (video)

Dell spreads the Ivy Bridge love to new XPS 8500, Vostro 470 PCs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 06:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMDATIATI Radeon HD 7870AtiRadeonHd7870computercomputersCore i5core i7CoreI5CoreI7DellDell VostroDell XPSDellVostroDellXpsIntelivy bridgeIvyBridgepcRadeonRadeon HDRadeon HD 7870RadeonHdRadeonHd7870videovostroVostro 470Vostro470XPSXPS 8500Xps8500Wed, 02 May 2012 06:41:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD reports net loss of $590 million for Q1 2012, calls that 'solid results']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/amd-reports-net-loss-of-590-million-for-q1-2012-calls-that-so/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/amd-reports-net-loss-of-590-million-for-q1-2012-calls-that-so/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/19/amd-reports-net-loss-of-590-million-for-q1-2012-calls-that-so/#comments AMD reports net loss of $590 million, calls that 'solid results'

We're not sure about you, but we wouldn't call losing over half a billion dollars "solid results." Still, we're not 100 percent ready to rain on AMD's parade yet. The non-GAAP results (which disregard a pile of one-time charges and investments) turn the $590 million loss into a $92 million profit. Still, the GAAP results do make two straight quarters of losses and revenue clearly continued to decline, falling to $1.59 billion. That's down six percent from last quarter and two percent from the same time period last year. Revenue from the graphics division held steady from last quarter, though, it's down seven percent year-over-year. For more financial fun hit up the PR after the break.

Continue reading AMD reports net loss of $590 million for Q1 2012, calls that 'solid results'

AMD reports net loss of $590 million for Q1 2012, calls that 'solid results' originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012amdatiearningsfinancialfinancialsnumbersQ1Q1 2012Q12012statsThu, 19 Apr 2012 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo's 14-inch IdeaPad Y470p launches with Radeon HD 7690M GPU]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/lenovo-ideapad-y470p-laptop-radeon-hd-7690m-gpu/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/lenovo-ideapad-y470p-laptop-radeon-hd-7690m-gpu/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/29/lenovo-ideapad-y470p-laptop-radeon-hd-7690m-gpu/#comments Who knew a "p" packed so much punch? Just weeks after Lenovo cut loose with a boatload of new machines, the outfit has quietly slipped out an even newer model tailored for gamers. The 14-inch IdeaPad Y470p looks just about like the existing Y470, but swaps out the middling NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M for a far more potent Radeon HD 7690M. (For those wondering -- yep, that's the same chip in HP's new Envy 15.) There's also a 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, an optional 1TB HDD, JBL speakers and a native 1,366 x 768 screen resolution. The unit tips the scales at 4.85 pounds with a six-cell battery, which is supposedly good for up to four hours of usage (in presumably ideal conditions). Other specs include a Blu-ray Disc drive, a two-megapixel webcam, HDMI out and USB 3.0. For now, at least, it looks as if eager beavers can get one headed their way for as low as $799, but the more specced-out models are reaching well over $1,200.

Continue reading Lenovo's 14-inch IdeaPad Y470p launches with Radeon HD 7690M GPU

Lenovo's 14-inch IdeaPad Y470p launches with Radeon HD 7690M GPU originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>14-inchamdatiideapadIdeaPad Y470pIdeapadY470plaptoplenovoLenovo IdeaPadLenovo IdeaPad Y470pLenovoIdeapadLenovoIdeapadY470pnotebookon saleOnSaleradeonRadeon HD 7690MRadeonHd7690mvideoY470pSun, 29 Jan 2012 08:13:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/amd-q4-2011-earnings/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/amd-q4-2011-earnings/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/amd-q4-2011-earnings/#comments As the quarterly earnings train rolls along, AMD has announced its results for the last three months of 2011, with weaker than expected sales resulting in a net loss of $177 million on revenue of $1.69 billion. Worse, ZDNet mentions AMD expects revenue to continue to decline as 2012 gets started. Of course, there were highlights including sales of more than 30 million Accelerated Processor Units (APU) for the year, resulting in record annual notebook revenue, while CEO Rory Read also noted "re-gained momentum" in its server business. AMD's revenue remained flat YoY at $6.57 billion, but that and all the other dirty financial details are in the press release after the break. For 2012 Read says AMD is "clear on our priorities and opportunities", we'll see if those newly focused initiatives add up to a better result at this time next year.

Continue reading AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year

AMD reports a net loss for Q4 2011, 30 million APUs sold last year originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Micro DevicesAdvancedMicroDevicesamdapuatiearningearningsfinancialsprocessorsq4q4 2011Q42011Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:24:00 EST<![CDATA[HP does the inevitable, announces the TouchSmart 620 with a 3D display and webcam (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/hp-does-the-inevitable-announces-the-touchsmart-620-with-a-3d-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/hp-does-the-inevitable-announces-the-touchsmart-620-with-a-3d-d/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/hp-does-the-inevitable-announces-the-touchsmart-620-with-a-3d-d/#comments
HP's pushed out a raft of all-in-ones this past year, but until today, there was one gimmicky stone it left unturned. Say hello to the TouchSmart 620, the company's first 3D all-in-one. Essentially, it's the 610 with ATI's 3D tech shoehorned inside. Otherwise, it looks the same, with a 23-inch, 1080p panel and that sliding display that reclines at a nearly flat 60-degree angle. In addition to the 3D screen (best viewed when positioned upright), it has a webcam that captures 3D stills and video. At the base level, you'll get a pair of active shutter glasses, TV tuner, a Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 1.5TB HDD and an AMD Radeon HD 6650 card with 1GB of video memory. (For whatever reason, HP didn't add HDMI-in this go 'round.) That starting configuration technically costs $1,900, but HP's going to apply $300 in instant savings when it goes on sale November 15, so for all intents and purposes it starts at $1,600. Full PR after the break, and if you need a refresher on what this thing looks like, we suggest you revisit our review of the 610.

Gallery: HP TouchSmart 620 3D Edition

Continue reading HP does the inevitable, announces the TouchSmart 620 with a 3D display and webcam (video)

HP does the inevitable, announces the TouchSmart 620 with a 3D display and webcam (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>23-inch3D3D all-in-one PC3d desktop3d webcam3dAll-in-onePc3dDesktop3dWebcamall in oneall in one pcall-in-oneall-in-one PCAll-in-onePcAllInOneAllInOnePcatiati 3dAti3ddesktopdesktopsHPHP TouchSmart 620HpTouchsmart620stereoscopic 3DStereoscopic3dTouchSmart 620Touchsmart620videoMon, 07 Nov 2011 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD reports $1.69 billion in revenue for Q3, net income of $97 million]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/amd-reports-1-69-billion-in-revenue-for-q3-net-income-of-97-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/amd-reports-1-69-billion-in-revenue-for-q3-net-income-of-97-m/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/amd-reports-1-69-billion-in-revenue-for-q3-net-income-of-97-m/#comments AMD Things were starting to look pretty bleak in Q2 for AMD, but Q3 is an entirely different story. The company reported a revenue of $1.69 billion, up 7-percent from last quarter. More importantly, net income climbed to $97 million, up from just $61 million in Q2 and a far cry from the $118 million loss posted this time last year. Even the graphics division had good news to share. After the former ATI ran at an operating loss of $7 million last quarter, it netted $12 million in operating income in Q2. We wouldn't exactly call this the second coming of the CPU underdog, but it certainly should make fans and investors sleep a little better at night. Check out the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading AMD reports $1.69 billion in revenue for Q3, net income of $97 million

AMD reports $1.69 billion in revenue for Q3, net income of $97 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Micro DevicesAdvancedMicroDevicesamdATIearningearningsfinancialfinancialsq3q3 2011Q32011Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:39:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD earnings continue to drop despite record CPU sales, GPU business loses $7 million]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/amd-earnings-continue-to-drop-despite-record-cpu-sales-gpu-busi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/amd-earnings-continue-to-drop-despite-record-cpu-sales-gpu-busi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/amd-earnings-continue-to-drop-despite-record-cpu-sales-gpu-busi/#commentsAMD Earnings
Poor AMD. While Chipzilla just keeps shattering its own earnings records, the little company that could from Sunnyvale is struggling to chug its way uphill. Its total revenue of $1.57 billion represents a two-percent drop from the last quarter and five percent from the same time last year. Total profits fell from half a billion in Q1 to just $61 million. News was particularly bad at the graphics division which saw revenues plummet 11 percent from Q1. In total, the former ATI brand lost $7 million. It's not all bad news, though -- the company did ship a record number of mobile CPUs, won some awards, and increased its presence on the top 500 super computer list by 15 percent. That's gotta count for something right?

[Thanks, Matt]

AMD earnings continue to drop despite record CPU sales, GPU business loses $7 million originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdatiearningearningsprofitsq2revenuerevenuesThu, 21 Jul 2011 18:02:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD ships five million Fusion chips, says it's sold out]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/amd-ships-five-million-fusion-chips-says-its-sold-out/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/amd-ships-five-million-fusion-chips-says-its-sold-out/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/28/amd-ships-five-million-fusion-chips-says-its-sold-out/#comments Sounds like Notbooks are making a dent: AMD says it's shipped five million Fusion processors since the architecture's debut, according to a report at CNET. In January, the company said the hybrid CPU / GPU chips had momentum, and as of last month it was quoting 3.9 million APUs out in the wild, but this week AMD says that demand has overtaken supply and it's completely sold out of the Atom alternative. Sounds like Intel's more than justified in seeking out hybrid solutions of its own, no matter where it might have to look to get a leg up in the integrated graphics market. Here's hoping AMD's other Fusion chips show just as much pep per penny (and milliampere-hour) as the original processor.

AMD ships five million Fusion chips, says it's sold out originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 May 2011 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Micro DevicesAdvancedMicroDevicesAMDamd fusionAmdFusionAPUATICPUfusionFusion APUFusionApuGPUgraphicsnetbooknotbookprocessorssalessiliconSat, 28 May 2011 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Leaked AMD roadmap reveals Desna APU, bona fide tablet strategy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/leaked-amd-roadmap-reveals-desna-apu-bona-fide-tablet-strategy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/leaked-amd-roadmap-reveals-desna-apu-bona-fide-tablet-strategy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/27/leaked-amd-roadmap-reveals-desna-apu-bona-fide-tablet-strategy/#comments What's a chip maker to do after successfully hawking five million of its Fusion APUs? Why, expand the line, of course! A leaked slide deck from within the lairs of AMD is showing off quite a bit of the company's upcoming roadmap, and while a good deal of it has already been made public in one way or another, there's one term that's causing all sorts of buzz -- and for good reason. Desna is the name to know, a Z-Series APU that's aimed squarely at the tablet form factor. To date, only a handful of chips have managed to slide into slates, and while we always reckoned that a version of Fusion could really give those ARM-based alternatives a run for their money, it wasn't clear if AMD actually had one that would handle the power and heat requirements. Based on these sheets -- dated this month, for what it's worth -- the Z-Series chip will offer Flash compatibility, DirectX 11 support and IE9 / HTML5 acceleration, and that's just for starters. Head on down to the links below for the full skinny, but make sure you grab a cup of joe and unplug the line first. You'll need a few, to say the least.

Leaked AMD roadmap reveals Desna APU, bona fide tablet strategy originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 May 2011 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdamd fusionAmdFusionapuatic-30c-50DESNAfusionFusion Z-seriesFusionZ-seriesleakleakedradeonroadmapslatetablettablet pcTabletPcz seriesz-seriesZSeriesFri, 27 May 2011 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[New MacBook Pros freezing under heavy load?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/new-macbook-pros-freezing-under-heavy-load/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/new-macbook-pros-freezing-under-heavy-load/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/21/new-macbook-pros-freezing-under-heavy-load/#comments Apple may have dodged the big Sandy Bridge problem with its new MacBook Pros, but it looks like it may now be experiencing some growing pains of an another sort. As evidenced by a 44-page and growing thread on Apple's official support forums, a number of users have been seeing their 15-inch and 17-inch MacBooks freeze up when they're under a heavy load -- encoding a large video file, for instance. That problem seems to be related to the laptops' new AMD graphics, as switching them to integrated-only seems to "fix" the problem for most users, although obviously at some considerably expense to performance. While Apple isn't offering much publicly at the moment, a user that spoke with customer service said that Apple seemed to be aware of the issue, and that they suggested it was a firmware or driver-related problem, and not an actual hardware issue. Unfortunately, there's still no indication as to when it might be fixed. Let us know in comments if you've run into some similar issues.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

New MacBook Pros freezing under heavy load? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdappleatigraphicsissuemacbookmacbook proMacbookProproblemMon, 21 Mar 2011 12:53:00 EST<![CDATA[LucidLogix Virtu in action, discrete graphics and Sandy Bridge together at last]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/lucidlogix-virtu-in-action-discrete-graphics-and-sandy-bridge-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/lucidlogix-virtu-in-action-discrete-graphics-and-sandy-bridge-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/18/lucidlogix-virtu-in-action-discrete-graphics-and-sandy-bridge-t/#comments At CES, LucidLogix's Virtu software solution promised to get discrete and Sandy Bridge GPUs together in graphical harmony -- giving you both Sandy Bridge's greased-lightning video transcoding and the horsepower of an NVIDIA or ATI rig. The code also lets you watch content from Intel's forthcoming Insider movie service while running a discrete GPU. Now that Chipzilla's 2nd-gen Core i5 and i7 CPUs are getting to market en masse, the gang at Hot Hardware put an RC of Virtu through its paces to see what it can do. As expected, the software waxes chumps and smokes fools when encoding HD video, but gaming performance suffered slightly (in FPS and 3DMark 11 tests) with the technology enabled. The other nit to pick was that Virtu renders the control panel of your discrete card unavailable, so any graphics adjustments must be made in-game whenever the software is running. Time will tell if the final release has similar shortcomings. Hit up the source link for the full rundown.

LucidLogix Virtu in action, discrete graphics and Sandy Bridge together at last originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdaticesCES 2011Ces2011core i5core i7CoreI5CoreI7gaminggpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardinsiderintelintel insiderIntelInsiderlucidlucid logixLucidLogixnvidiasandy bridgeSandyBridgesoftwarevirtuvirtualizationFri, 18 Mar 2011 21:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple switching to AMD graphics in 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-switching-to-amd-graphics-in-15-and-17-inch-macbook-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-switching-to-amd-graphics-in-15-and-17-inch-macbook-pros/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/24/apple-switching-to-amd-graphics-in-15-and-17-inch-macbook-pros/#comments Back in December, CNET let loose a rumor claiming that Apple would be ditching NVIDIA in favor of Intel and AMD graphics in its future MacBook lineup. Now, here we are with a credible leak showing an entry level 13.3-inch MacBook Pro sporting a Thunderbolt port, Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor, and Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with the laptop's main memory. Today CNET is repeating its original claim while adding that the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models will feature an automatically switchable AMD discrete GPU that augments the Intel graphics whenever more power is required. Of course, they'll also feature that new Thunderbolt port and 32-nanometer Core i series Sandy Bridge processors for improved performance and power savings. We'll see soon enough, since the whole thing is supposed to get official later today.

Apple switching to AMD graphics in 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 01:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdappleatigpuhd graphics 3000HdGraphics3000intelintel hd graphics 3000IntelHdGraphics3000macbookmacbook proMacbookPronvidiarumorsandy bridgeSandyBridgeswitchable graphicsSwitchableGraphicsThu, 24 Feb 2011 01:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo trots out new ThinkPad T, L, and W series laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/lenovo-trots-out-new-thinkpad-t-l-and-w-series-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/lenovo-trots-out-new-thinkpad-t-l-and-w-series-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/22/lenovo-trots-out-new-thinkpad-t-l-and-w-series-laptops/#comments It feels like just yesterday that Lenovo unleashed a serious amount of Sandy Bridge laptops at CES, but left out of the bunch were the more traditional ThinkPad T, L and W models. Well, Lenovo's got those on its mind right now, and each is being refreshed with Intel's latest Core 2011 processors, NVIDIA Optimus or ATI discrete graphics, and improved VoIP features. One even promises 30 hours of battery life! Yep, there are a few key updates coming to each series, so hit the break for a short breakdown of each of those, and don't forget to peruse the glossy press shots below.

Gallery: Lenovo T Series press shots


Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad L and W Series

Continue reading Lenovo trots out new ThinkPad T, L, and W series laptops

Lenovo trots out new ThinkPad T, L, and W series laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atiCore 2011Core2011L420L520LenovoLenovo ThinkpadLenovoThinkpadnvidiaSandy BridgeSandyBridgeT420T420sT520thinkpadThinkPad L420ThinkPad L520ThinkPad T420ThinkPad T420sThinkPad T520ThinkPad W520ThinkpadL420ThinkpadL520ThinkpadT420ThinkpadT420sThinkpadT520ThinkpadW520W520Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/lucidlogix-virtualization-tech-enables-amd-and-nvidia-gpus-to-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/lucidlogix-virtualization-tech-enables-amd-and-nvidia-gpus-to-pl/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/30/lucidlogix-virtualization-tech-enables-amd-and-nvidia-gpus-to-pl/#commentsIt's baaack. We've gone well over half a year without hearing a peep from black magic makers LucidLogix, but here on the doorstep of CES 2011, the company has resurfaced just in time to ride on the coattails of Intel's forthcoming Sandy Bridge platform. Sandy is expected to take over CES when companies start to introduce new PCs in just a few days, and thanks to Lucid's virtualization software, we wouldn't be surprised if a few are served with NVIDIA and AMD GPUs. This here technology enables the two to play nice, making the outlandish fantasy of using a multi-GPU, multi-vendor setup a reality. DirectX 11 is also supported, with the only real requirement being to "connect the display screen directly to the motherboard's Sandy Bridge display output." We'll be taking a closer look at the peacemaker once we land in Vegas, but for now, go ahead and prepare yourself for a beta version of 'Virtu' -- it'll hit at some point next month.

Continue reading LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge

LucidLogix virtualization tech enables AMD and NVIDIA GPUs to play together with Sandy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdaticesces 2011Ces2011gaminggpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardintelLucidLogixmulti-gpunvidiaplatformsandy bridgeSandyBridgesoftwarevirtualizationThu, 30 Dec 2010 08:59:00 EST<![CDATA[VisionTek Killer HD 5770 combo NIC / GPU hikes frame rates, lowers ping times for $200]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/visiontek-killer-hd-5770-combo-nic-gpu-hikes-frame-rates-lowe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/visiontek-killer-hd-5770-combo-nic-gpu-hikes-frame-rates-lowe/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/visiontek-killer-hd-5770-combo-nic-gpu-hikes-frame-rates-lowe/#comments Mama always said that one was never enough, and just five months after revealing its first NIC / GPU combo card to us at Computex, Bigfoot Networks has taken the wraps off of its second. This go 'round, the outfit is partnering with VisionTek to produce the VisionTek Killer HD 5770, a single PCIe card that combines an AMD Radeon HD 5770 GPU (with 1GB of GDDR5 memory) and a Killer E2100 networking card. All told, buyers are presented with two DVI ports, a single HDMI output and a gigabit Ethernet jack. The card is compatible with Windows 7, Vista and XP, and put simply, it's designed to both improve your frame rates (that's AMD's role) and lower your latency / jitter (hello, Bigfoot!). The NIC portion actually has a 400MHz onboard processor that helps minimize the impact of slight changes in your connection, and Bigfoot's management software will be thrown in for good measure. The board is expected to hit North American retail shops within a fortnight or so, with the $199.99 asking price representing a ~$10 savings compared to buying an HD 5770 GPU and Killer 2100 separately. Oh, and you get a pretty sick dragon, too.

Gallery: VisionTek Killer HD 5770 combo NIC / GPU

Continue reading VisionTek Killer HD 5770 combo NIC / GPU hikes frame rates, lowers ping times for $200

VisionTek Killer HD 5770 combo NIC / GPU hikes frame rates, lowers ping times for $200 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdatibigfootbigfoot networksBigfootNetworkscombo cardComboCarde2100ethernetgpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardkillerKiller HD 5770KillerHd5770latencynetwork cardNetworkCardnetworkingnicpci epci expressPciEPciExpressradeonradeon hd 5000RadeonHd5000VisionTekVisionTek Killer HD 5770VisiontekKillerHd5770Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iBuyPower revamps Gamer Mage / Paladin desktops with Radeon HD 6800 GPUs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/ibuypower-revamps-gamer-mage-paladin-desktops-with-radeon-hd-6/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/ibuypower-revamps-gamer-mage-paladin-desktops-with-radeon-hd-6/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/28/ibuypower-revamps-gamer-mage-paladin-desktops-with-radeon-hd-6/#commentsYou're already sold on ATI's new Radeon HD 6800 series, but your existing motherboard and CPU just feel too aged to become home to such a shiny, fresh piece of silicon. We hear you. So does iBuyPower. Rather than forking out and upgrading just your GPU, these guys are hoping you'll ogle the newly revised Gamer Mage D295, Gamer Mage D355, and Gamer Paladin F820, all three of which are available with the HD 6870 and HD 6850. The Gamer Mage D295 gets housed in a Thermaltake V9 enclosure and ships with a liquid cooled Athlon II X4 640 quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, a Radeon HD 6850 (1GB), LG Blu-ray reader / DVD combo drive, 1TB of HDD space and a 700 watt power supply -- all for the low, low price of $899. The D335 (starts at $1,239) steps up to a liquid cool Phenom II X6 1055T, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a Radeon HD 6870 GPU, 64GB SSD and an 800 watt PSU, while the F280 (starts at $1,369) goes all-out with a liquid cooled Core i7 950, 6GB of DDR3 memory, an HD 6870 GPU and NZXT's Guardian 921 R case. Hit the links below to get your customization on.

Gallery: iBuyPower Gamer Mage and Paladin gaming desktops

Continue reading iBuyPower revamps Gamer Mage / Paladin desktops with Radeon HD 6800 GPUs

iBuyPower revamps Gamer Mage / Paladin desktops with Radeon HD 6800 GPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdatidesktopGamer Mage D295Gamer Mage D355Gamer Paladin F820GamerMageD295gaming desktopgaming pcgaming rigGamingDesktopGamingPcGamingRigHD 6850HD 6870Hd6850Hd6870iBuyPowermagepcradeonradeon HD 6850Radeon HD 6870RadeonHd6850RadeonHd6870Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:49:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 reviewed, deemed worthy of the midrange]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ati-radeon-hd-6870-and-hd-6850-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ati-radeon-hd-6870-and-hd-6850-review-roundup/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/21/ati-radeon-hd-6870-and-hd-6850-review-roundup/#comments AMD's Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 graphics cards are here, but they might not be what you expect -- though alphanumerics suggest they'd succeed the lauded Radeon HD 5870 and 5850, these new "Bart" chips are actually a pair of solid plays for the PC gaming mainstream. $180 buys you a Radeon HD 6850 with 960 stream processors, a 775MHz core clock and 1GB of GDDR5 memory at a 1GHz effective rate, and $240 nets the HD 6870 with 1120 stream processors and 900MHz / 1,050 MHz clocks respectively. On paper that puts them a good bit behind the finest, but a collection of reviews show they can keep up with the pack, as the 6870 consistently manages to surpass the framerates possible with NVIDIA's $200 GeForce GTX 460, and even the cheaper 6850 can do the same in certain games. Some reports indicate they run a good bit hotter than their predecessors, however, so despite the bevy of ports they're probably not right for your next HTPC. Hit up the reviews below for some promising benchmarks, and if you aren't turned away by AMD's lipsticking of the pig, you'll find ten varieties already for sale at our source link. PR after the break.

Update: NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 460 768MB now sells for $170, so there's definitely still some mid-range muscle in the green camp.

Read - AnandTech
Read (1), (2) - Guru3D
Read - HardOCP
Read (1), (2) - Bit-tech
Read - Hot Hardware
Read - PC Perspective
Read - Legit Reviews
Read - Techgage
Read (1), (2) - TweakTown
Read - Hexus
Read (1), (2) - TechPowerUp
Read - HotHardware
Read - TechSpot
Read - Vortez

Continue reading ATI Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 reviewed, deemed worthy of the midrange

ATI Radeon HD 6870 and HD 6850 reviewed, deemed worthy of the midrange originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6750677068506870AMDATIATI RadeonAtiRadeongfxgpugraphicsgraphics cardgraphics cardsGraphicsCardGraphicsCardsHD 6750HD 6770hd 6850hd 6870Hd6750Hd6770Hd6850Hd6870neweggnorthern islandsNorthernIslandsnow shippingNowShippingRadeonRadeon HDRadeon HD 6850radeon hd 6870RadeonHdRadeonHd6850RadeonHd6870review roundupreviewedReviewRoundupspecsThu, 21 Oct 2010 23:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: best gaming graphics card for under $150?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/15/ask-engadget-best-gaming-graphics-card-for-under-150/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/15/ask-engadget-best-gaming-graphics-card-for-under-150/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/15/ask-engadget-best-gaming-graphics-card-for-under-150/#comments We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget question is coming to us from Dylan, who needs a serious frame rate boost at a serious bargain. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"I was wondering what the best video card would be that I could buy on the market for cheap (the highest I would be willing to go is $150, and that is if I absolutely need to). I'm trying to make Dead Rising 2 (and similar) look good. By the way, my computer is running a Biostar T-series TA785G3 motherboard with a AMD Phenom II processor on Windows 7, for what it's worth. Thanks!"
Look, not everyone can just go blow $400 on the latest and greatest overclocked slab of silicon, and the lower-end market has definitely been heating up of late. Got any solid recommendations for this fellow? Recommended places to buy? Drop a note in comments below -- we're sure your next deathmatch can wait ten seconds.

Ask Engadget: best gaming graphics card for under $150? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 01:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdaskAsk EngadgetAskEngadgetatibudgetcheapfeaturedgeforcegpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardinexpensivenvidiaFri, 15 Oct 2010 01:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo's 3D IdeaPad Y560d reviewed: for three-dee fanatics only]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-reviewed-for-three-dee-fanatics-only/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-reviewed-for-three-dee-fanatics-only/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-reviewed-for-three-dee-fanatics-only/#commentsIf you had any doubts that the 3D bandwagon was taking no prisoners in an attempt to fill up and overflow, look no further than Lenovo's 3D IdeaPad Y560d. Yeah, a 3D laptop from Lenovo. The folks over at Hot Hardware were able to spend a bit of quality time with this beast, but unlike many of Lenovo's machines, this one wasn't exactly an easy sell. In fact, they firmly stated that it's only a surefire recommendation to those who will be utilizing the 3D panel with great frequency, noting that the decision to toss a power-hungry Core i7 into an otherwise portable machine led to subpar battery life that would frustrate frequent travelers. Gaming performance was found to be satisfactory, though, and while the overall performance seemed fine, the 7200RPM hard drive in their test unit is apparently unavailable in the shipping unit (which holds a 5400RPM drive). At any rate, they did state that other units in the Y560 line would be better options for more well-rounded consumers, so unless you plan on living with a set of 3D glasses on, you're probably better off passing over this one. Hit the source for the full skinny.

Lenovo's 3D IdeaPad Y560d reviewed: for three-dee fanatics only originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d laptop3dLaptopaticore i7CoreI7ideapadideapad y560dIdeapadY560dintelLenovoLenovo IdeaPad Y560dLenovoIdeapadLenovoIdeapadY560dnow availableNowAvailableon saleOnSaleorderreviewedtrideftridef 3dTridef3dY560dThu, 07 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[ElcomSoft turns your laptop into a one-touch WiFi cracking system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/elcomsoft-turns-your-laptop-into-a-one-touch-wifi-cracking-syste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/elcomsoft-turns-your-laptop-into-a-one-touch-wifi-cracking-syste/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/25/elcomsoft-turns-your-laptop-into-a-one-touch-wifi-cracking-syste/#comments
It's been a few years since we checked in with Elcomsoft's Wireless Security Auditor WiFi cracking software. As you'd expect, things have become easier, much easier. Elcomsoft now has an all-in-one solution that will locate wireless networks, intercept data packets, and crack WAP/WPA2 PSK passwords from any modern laptop with a discrete ATI AMD or NVIDIA graphics card. Here's the quote IT nerds will surely we love:
Today, ElcomSoft is integrating a wireless sniffer into Elcomsoft Wireless Security Auditor. The integrated sniffer turns Elcomsoft Wireless Security Auditor into a one-button, all-in-one solution ready to be used by corporate security officers without specific experience in information security.
Call us crazy, but if you're a C-level security officer with no specific information security experience then maybe you shouldn't be sniffing people's data packets. Then again, we're sure ElcomSoft will happily sell their $1,199 pro software or $399 standard edition to any hacker willing to pay, white hat or not.

Continue reading ElcomSoft turns your laptop into a one-touch WiFi cracking system

ElcomSoft turns your laptop into a one-touch WiFi cracking system originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 03:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdaticrackcudadistributed password recoveryDistributedPasswordRecoveryelcomsoftelcomsoft distributed password recoveryElcomsoftDistributedPasswordRecoveryGPUGPU accelerationGpuAccelerationhacknvidiapassword crackPasswordCrackwifiwifi crackWifiCrackWireless Security AuditorWirelessSecurityAuditorwpawpa2Sat, 25 Sep 2010 03:36:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/ati-firepro-v9800-runs-out-of-ideas-shoots-up-with-4gb-of-gddr5/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/ati-firepro-v9800-runs-out-of-ideas-shoots-up-with-4gb-of-gddr5/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/09/ati-firepro-v9800-runs-out-of-ideas-shoots-up-with-4gb-of-gddr5/#comments If somehow you were able to choke up the FirePro V8800 and its 2GB of graphics buffer -- traveling across an autobahn-wide 147.2GBps interface -- here's the card for you. ATI has just announced the V9800, which doubles its predecessor's memory allowance to a mighty 4GB of GDDR5, but otherwise looks an almost identical beast. It maintains the 1,600 stream processor count of the V8800 and makes some small advances in performance and power efficiency, but on the whole it's the same card, just strapped up with more buffer muscle. We shouldn't neglect the new array of six mini DisplayPorts -- the retail package will include six DVI adapters, worry not -- which will let you have your full six-screen Eyefinity cake driven by just this one card. So, is this future collector's item worth your time? Well, at $3,499, the V9800 is a whole two thousand dollars pricier than the V8800, but then if you have the highly specialized needs it's looking to cater for, we're guessing that won't be too much of a hurdle for you.

Update: Oh, about the price, AMD just got in touch to say it'll suggest a $3,499 tithe, not the $2.5K indicated on the slide below. Sorry is we misled you into selling up your entire 3D rendering farm with the lower price we had before.

Continue reading ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts

ATI FirePro V9800 runs out of ideas, shoots up with 4GB of GDDR5 and six mini DisplayPorts originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>40nmamdatiati fireproati firepro v9800AtiFireproAtiFireproV9800crossfire proCrossfireProcypressdirectx 11Directx11evergreeneyefinityfireprofirepro v9800FireproV9800gpugraphicsgraphics cardGraphicsCardhardwarehigh endHighEndmini displayportMiniDisplayportpro graphicsprofessionalProGraphicsv9800workstationThu, 09 Sep 2010 07:45:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD makes Eyefinity easier with line of budget-minded active DisplayPort-to-DVI adapters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/amd-makes-eyefinity-easier-with-line-of-budget-minded-active-dis/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/amd-makes-eyefinity-easier-with-line-of-budget-minded-active-dis/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/02/amd-makes-eyefinity-easier-with-line-of-budget-minded-active-dis/#commentsAMD makes Eyefinity easier with line of budget-minded active DisplayPort-to-DVI adapters AMD's Eyefinity technology is one of the best ways to fill every inch of your peripheral vision with pixels. However, it's certainly not the cheapest, relying on DisplayPort-capable monitors -- inputs that even some current models lack. This has left many gamers buying $100 DisplayPort-to-DVI adapters, significantly raising the cost of adoption, but AMD has announced an unusual plan to tackle that: cheap adapters. The company is helping to develop converters that are expected to retail for just $30, still not as disposable as the VGA-to-DVI blocks you have cluttering up your junk drawer, but considering these are active plugs it's probably about as good as we're going to get. So, who's up for some six-monitor Starcraft II?

Continue reading AMD makes Eyefinity easier with line of budget-minded active DisplayPort-to-DVI adapters

AMD makes Eyefinity easier with line of budget-minded active DisplayPort-to-DVI adapters originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>active adapterActiveAdapteradapteramdatidisplayportdisplayport adapterDisplayportAdapterdvieyefinitymulti-monitormulti-monitor gamingMulti-monitorGamingThu, 02 Sep 2010 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[AMD kills ATI brand, you can look forward to blood-stained Radeons]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/amd-kills-ati-brand-you-can-look-forward-to-blood-stained-radeo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/amd-kills-ati-brand-you-can-look-forward-to-blood-stained-radeo/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/amd-kills-ati-brand-you-can-look-forward-to-blood-stained-radeo/#comments This, dear friends, is a sad, sad day. ATI, the name of hope for all PC gamers who were sick and tired of NVIDIA rebadging the same GPU over the past couple of years, is to be no more. The callous souls over at AMD have decided that our little consumer brains aren't sophisticated enough to handle two awesome brands, so they're just axing the use of the ATI moniker from here on out. Product line names will be retained, with the Radeon and FirePro branding still intact, but ATI Eyefinity will now be known as AMD Eyefinity. The first graphics cards to, erm, benefit from the new nomenclature will ship "later this year," and the whole thing is said to have been motivated by AMD's move to Fusion APUs -- hybrid CPU and GPU chips -- where it's considered beneficial to have a unified branding strategy. Great, but did anyone consider the fact that the graphics wars will now be fought between two teams wearing green jerseys?

Continue reading AMD kills ATI brand, you can look forward to blood-stained Radeons

AMD kills ATI brand, you can look forward to blood-stained Radeons originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdamd eyefinityamd radeonAmdEyefinityAmdRadeonatiati eyefinityati fireproati radeonAtiEyefinityAtiFireproAtiRadeonbrandbrandingfireprogpugraphicsgraphics cardsGraphicsCardsnamenamingnomenclatureradeonMon, 30 Aug 2010 03:10:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI leaks out Southern Islands codenames for next-gen GPUs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/ati-leaks-out-southern-islands-codenames-for-next-gen-gpus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/ati-leaks-out-southern-islands-codenames-for-next-gen-gpus/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/27/ati-leaks-out-southern-islands-codenames-for-next-gen-gpus/#comments Um, oops? ATI's latest Catalyst driver release has dished out some info that we imagine the company didn't want to reveal quite yet. The names of some Southern Islands have been spotted -- Cayman and Antilles appear to be the flagship chips -- suggesting a refresh to the critically acclaimed Evergreen line of GPUs may not be far off. Rumors have been swirling for a while about ATI's reputed shift to island-based nomenclature, and while hard specs are nowhere to be found, we can see that the Red Team is planning an overhaul with no less than 10 new additions to its roster. Hardly unpredictable, but good to know that ATI has something to counter NVIDIA's heart-stealing GTX 460.

[Thanks, Jack]

ATI leaks out Southern Islands codenames for next-gen GPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdantillesatibartsblackcombcaicoscatalystcaymancodenamecodenamesdrivergpugraphicsgraphics cardgraphics cardsGraphicsCardGraphicsCardsleaknamingnext-gennorthern islandsNorthernIslandsonegaradeonsouthern islandsSouthernIslandsturkswhistlerFri, 27 Aug 2010 04:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Eurocom serves up GTX 480M SLI and HD 5870 CrossFireX options, seasons with Core i7-980X]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/eurocom-serves-up-gtx-480m-sli-and-hd-5870-crossfirex-options-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/eurocom-serves-up-gtx-480m-sli-and-hd-5870-crossfirex-options-s/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/17/eurocom-serves-up-gtx-480m-sli-and-hd-5870-crossfirex-options-s/#comments It boggles the mind to think that one Fermi GPU could be fit inside a laptop, but two? Eurocom has just outed its 17.3-inch Panther 2.0 mobile gaming station -- which looks like a straight rebadge of the Clevo X7200 -- with the most overpowered set of component choices we've yet seen. You can go SLI with the GTX 480M or NVIDIA's more professionally minded Quadro 5000M, crank up CPU speed to 3.33GHz and beyond with the Core i7-980X from Intel (yes, the desktop variant), stash up to 24GB of onboard RAM, and jack in up to four storage drives, our preference being for the 2TB of SSD goodness option. Of course, if you prefer ATI's Evergreen side of the fence, dual Mobility Radeon HD 5870 GPUs are on tap as well. Sadly, we've no idea how much these spectacular specs will set you back, but launch is set for later this month and you can always call up and get yourself a quote; we're guessing it'll be in five figures.

Continue reading Eurocom serves up GTX 480M SLI and HD 5870 CrossFireX options, seasons with Core i7-980X

Eurocom serves up GTX 480M SLI and HD 5870 CrossFireX options, seasons with Core i7-980X originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5000maticlevoclevo x7200ClevoX7200Core i7-980XCoreI7-980xcrossfirecrossfirexdirectx 11Directx11dual gpuDualGpudx 11Dx11eurocomeurocom pantherEurocomPantherevergreenfermigaming laptopGamingLaptopgpugraphicsgtx 480mGtx480mhd 5870Hd5870laptopmobile gamingmobile gpuMobileGamingMobileGpunvidiaoverpoweredpantherpowerfulquadroquadro 5000mQuadro5000mradeonradeon mobilityRadeonMobilityretailsliworkstationxeonTue, 17 Aug 2010 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Verizon FiOS Simulcrypt rollout will break most CableCARD tuners]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-fios-simulcrypt-rollout-will-break-most-cablecard-tuners/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-fios-simulcrypt-rollout-will-break-most-cablecard-tuners/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/verizon-fios-simulcrypt-rollout-will-break-most-cablecard-tuners/#commentsATI Digital Cable Tuner There comes a time in any electronic gadget's life when it becomes useless and although it's inevitable, the length of the useful lifespan can vary greatly. In recent years firmware updates have really helped extend the life of devices, but when the manufacturer has no financial incentive to support older products, it can mean a premature end (at least from the customer's perspective). Well after three years that time has apparently come for FiOS TV subscribers who own ATI Digital Cable Tuners (and many other CableCARD devices). Now before you get too up in arms about this, it isn't really Verizon's fault, you see said company wants to be able to use Cisco and Motorola devices in the same area and this means it needs a tech called Simulcrypt. This is good for most customers as it will likely bring better prices and selection. And although this is a CableLabs certified technology, a firmware update is required to ensure the device handles the encryption properly. So while a company like Ceton or TiVo has already released updates for its devices, ATI and other TV manufactures have long since given up on the CableCARD market, and hence, supporting any legacy devices. The only good news is that you now have the perfect excuse to justify replacing your obsolete device. Don't like this option? Well you can get a FiOS DVR (with it's 2002 circa 160GB HDD) or just file a complaint to the FCC -- this won't do much, but might make you feel better.

[Thanks, Scott!]

Verizon FiOS Simulcrypt rollout will break most CableCARD tuners originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATIATI DCTAtiDctCableCARDCetonCeton CorpCetonCorpDCTDigital Cable TunerDigitalCableTunerFiOSFiOS TVFiosTvOCURTiVoVerizonVerizon FiOS TVVerizonFiosTvMon, 16 Aug 2010 22:08:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI CrossFireX versus NVIDIA SLI: performance scaling showdown]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ati-crossfirex-versus-nvidia-sli-performance-scaling-showdown/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ati-crossfirex-versus-nvidia-sli-performance-scaling-showdown/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/ati-crossfirex-versus-nvidia-sli-performance-scaling-showdown/#comments We know who the daddy is when it comes to single-card graphics performance, and we've even witnessed NVIDIA and ATI duking it out with multiple cards before, but this here roundup is what you might call comprehensive. Comparing a mind-boggling 23 different configurations, the Tech Report guys set out to determine the best bang for your DirectX 11 buck. Their conclusion won't shock those of you who've been following the recent love affair between reviewers and NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 460: a pair of these eminently affordable cards regularly outpaced the best single-GPU solutions out there. Slightly more intriguing, however, was the discovery that its elder siblings, the GTX 470 and 480, have improved in performance to the point of being markedly ahead of ATI's Radeon HD 5870, with the blame for this shift being put squarely on the shoulders of NVIDIA's driver update team. Hurry up and give the source a read while it's still fresh, we can't imagine ATI letting this be the status quo for too much longer.

ATI CrossFireX versus NVIDIA SLI: performance scaling showdown originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 09:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atibenchmarkingbenchmarkscomparisoncrossfirecrossfire xCrossfireXdesktop graphicsDesktopGraphicsdirectx 11Directx11dx 11Dx11faceofffermifightgeforcegf100gf104gfxgpugraphicsgraphics cardgraphics cardsGraphicsCardGraphicsCardsgtx 460gtx 470gtx 480Gtx460Gtx470Gtx480hd 5770hd 5870Hd5770Hd5870nvidiaradeonshowdownslivalueThu, 12 Aug 2010 09:47:00 EST<![CDATA[HP Envy 14 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/03/hp-envy-14-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/03/hp-envy-14-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/03/hp-envy-14-review/#comments The HP Envy 14 is like the final revision of a C+ term paper that always had potential, but just needed an bit of extra information and refinement to get an A. In fact, when HP introduced the Envy 14, the company was rather blunt about the fact that many of the issues that plagued the original Envy systems had been addressed, including the lack of an optical drive and backlight keyboard, the frustrating touchpad and the heat caused by the Core i7 processor. On paper, the 14.5-inch Envy 14 has everything we wanted to see in those first models while still maintaining its beautiful yet tough etched aluminum chassis. It's also got a new lower $999 starting price, though our review unit rang up at $1,290. So, has the Envy 14 finally make its way to the head of the class? We've spent some quality time with the rig to find out.

Gallery: HP Envy 14 review

Continue reading HP Envy 14 review

HP Envy 14 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atiATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650ATI RadeonAtiMobilityRadeonHd5650AtiRadeonbeatsBeats Audiobeats by dr. dreBeatsAudioBeatsByDr.DreCore i5Core i5-450MCoreI5CoreI5-450menvy 14Envy14hpHP Envyhp envy 14HpEnvyHpEnvy14laptoplaptopsreviewTue, 03 Aug 2010 16:25:00 EST<![CDATA[ATI overtakes NVIDIA in discrete GPU shipments]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/ati-overtakes-nvidia-in-discrete-gpu-shipments/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/ati-overtakes-nvidia-in-discrete-gpu-shipments/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/30/ati-overtakes-nvidia-in-discrete-gpu-shipments/#comments You'd think with ATI having the performance, value and power efficiency lead for so long -- at least since the Radeon HD 4000 series -- NVIDIA would be in all kinds of trouble, but it's only now that AMD's graphics division has finally taken the lead in quarterly shipments. This is according to Mercury Research, whose analysts place the split at 51 to 49 percent in favor of ATI -- still a tightly contested thing, but it compares very favorably to the Red Team's 41% share in the same quarter last year. This data is concerned with discrete GPU shipments only (laptops included), whereas on the integrated front Intel continues to reign supreme with 54 percent of the market shipping its cheap and cheerful IGP units. ATI has made forward strides there as well, however, with 24.5% ranking ahead of NVIDIA's 19.8%. If Apple shifting its iMac and Mac Pro lines away from the Green livery wasn't enough, perhaps these numbers will finally start ringing some alarm bells over at NV HQ.

[Thanks, Zubayer]

ATI overtakes NVIDIA in discrete GPU shipments originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdanalystsatidesktop graphicsDesktopGraphicsdiscretediscrete gpudiscrete graphicsDiscreteGpuDiscreteGraphicsgeforcegfxgpugraphicsgraphics cardsGraphicsCardsigpmarketmarket shareMarketSharemercurymercury researchMercuryResearchnvidiaradeonresearchshareshipmentsFri, 30 Jul 2010 05:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Mac Pro line overhauled with 12 processing cores, arriving in August for $4,999]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/apple-mac-pro-line-overhauled-with-new-design-and-12-core-proces/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/apple-mac-pro-line-overhauled-with-new-design-and-12-core-proces/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/apple-mac-pro-line-overhauled-with-new-design-and-12-core-proces/#comments So shall it be written, so shall it be done. The Mac Pro has at long last proven rumors of its impending refresh accurate, as Apple has just updated its most powerful hardware with even more grunt. As we'd heard previously, that means you can now get dual-CPU rigs that offer a full dozen cores to play with, courtesy of Intel's Xeon server-class chips, though in order to get in on that game you'll have to splash a cool $4,999 entry fee. The quad-core starting price is still $2,499, though the eight-core machines have jumped up to $3,499, with both variants getting mild speed bumps to 2.8GHz and 2.4GHz, respectively.

Perhaps the most welcome upgrade is on the graphical front, where the Radeon HD 5770 takes up the mantle of default GPU, with additional options for a pair of such cards or a step up to a 1GB HD 5870 alternative if you're keen on maxing out those frame rates. Memory isn't neglected either, with choices ranging all the way up to 32GB of RAM, 4TB of conventional HDD storage, or an array of four 512GB SSDs -- though you're probably better off not asking how much that last one will set you back. The comprehensive specs can be found in the full press release after the break.

Gallery: Apple Mac Pro - August 2010

Continue reading Apple Mac Pro line overhauled with 12 processing cores, arriving in August for $4,999

Apple Mac Pro line overhauled with 12 processing cores, arriving in August for $4,999 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12-core20106-coreappleapple mac proAppleMacProatibreaking newsBreakingNewscomputercrossfiredesktophd 5770Hd5770hexacoreintelintel xeonIntelXeonmacmac proMacPropcprofessionalradeonradeon hd 5770RadeonHd5770refreshsix-coretowerupdateupgradeworkstationxeonTue, 27 Jul 2010 08:34:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS ARES cries havoc, lets slip the GPUs of war: a review roundup of the world's fastest graphics card]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/asus-ares-cries-havoc-lets-slip-the-gpus-of-war-a-review-round/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/asus-ares-cries-havoc-lets-slip-the-gpus-of-war-a-review-round/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/asus-ares-cries-havoc-lets-slip-the-gpus-of-war-a-review-round/#comments When you name your graphics card after the God of War, you'd better hope it brings some heat, but judging by early reviews, that's just what ASUS has done. The three slot monstrosity above is the ARES, a $1200 limited edition, fully custom board, sporting twin Radeon HD 5870 GPUs, four gigabytes of GDDR5 memory and practically enough raw copper to smelt a sword. We're not joking: the thing weighs nearly five pounds and requires a 750 watt power supply with three power connectors (two 8-pin, one 6-pin) to even run. Of course, you're getting a graphical behemoth for that kind of price, steamrolling every other GPU on the planet -- paired with even a 3.8GHz Core i7-930 CPU in 3DMark Vantage (on Extreme settings), Overclock 3D racked up a fairly ludicrous 15,000 score, and the card ripped past 25,000 with a Core i7-980X and a second ARES in CrossFire. The card was less impressive in actual gameplay, merely spanking the (much cheaper) Radeon 5970 and GeForce GTX 480 by a modest amount, and several reviewers complained it was fairly loud... but as the old adage goes, nobody needs a Ferrari to drive the speed limit, but we'll all drool over them anyhow. Bring on the liquid nitrogen, folks.

Read - Legit Reviews
Read - Overclock3D
Read - Guru3D
Read - PC Perspective
Read - TechPowerUp
Read - Hot Hardware

ASUS ARES cries havoc, lets slip the GPUs of war: a review roundup of the world's fastest graphics card originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5870AMDAMD crossfireAmdCrossfireARESASUSASUS ARESAsusAresATIATI crossifreATI RadeonATI Radeon HD 5870AtiCrossifreAtiRadeonAtiRadeonHd5870benchmarkbenchmarkedbenchmarkscrossfireGPUgraphicsgraphics cardgraphics cardsGraphicsCardGraphicsCardsRadeonRadeon HD 5870RadeonHd5870review roundupReviewRoundupThu, 08 Jul 2010 03:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Lenovo's 3D IdeaPad Y560d laptop now available for multi-dimensionists]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-laptop-now-available-for-multi-dimensi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-laptop-now-available-for-multi-dimensi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/02/lenovos-3d-ideapad-y560d-laptop-now-available-for-multi-dimensi/#comments Television may be rotting the brain of existing generations, but it's highly likely that 3D will indeed be the downfall of mankind. Or Double Stuff Oreo cookies, one. Either way, the former is finally joining the latter in terms of availability, with Lenovo's first 3D lappie up for order on the outfit's webstore. $1,499 nets you the IdeaPad Y560d, equipped with a 1.6GHz Core i7-720QM CPU, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), 4GB of DDR3 memory, a 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730, 500GB hard drive (5,400rpm), a dual-layer DVD writer, 6-cell battery, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and copious amounts of bragging rights. Oh, and did we mention you'll need to pack along those 3D glasses in order to see the effect when soaring through your robust library of 3D games? We'll leave it to you -- we know you'll do the right thing.

Lenovo's 3D IdeaPad Y560d laptop now available for multi-dimensionists originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d laptop3dLaptopaticore i7CoreI7ideapadideapad y560dIdeapadY560dintelLenovoLenovo IdeaPad Y560dLenovoIdeapadLenovoIdeapadY560dnow availableNowAvailableon saleOnSaleordertrideftridef 3dTridef3dY560dFri, 02 Jul 2010 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer Aspire One 521 and 721 review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/01/acer-aspire-one-521-and-721-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/01/acer-aspire-one-521-and-721-review/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/01/acer-aspire-one-521-and-721-review/#comments
On the surface Acer's 10.1-inch Aspire One 521 and 11.6-inch Aspire One 721 appear to be fairly run-of-the-mill netbooks -- or ultraportables for those that are morally opposed to calling a laptop with a 11.6-inch display a netbook. They're rather small machines, measure just about an inch thick, and ring up at under $430. But there's a lot more than meets the eye with this Aspire One duo - instead of Intel Atom or ULV processors, both are powered by a new AMD 1.7GHz Athlon II Neo K125 processor and promise 1080p playback thanks to ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. We've certainly been pumped about these two systems since their French debut, but fear of AMD's usually poor battery life and scorching temperatures have been holding us back from all-out excitement. Do we have nothing to fear but fear itself? We've spent the last few days with these two systems, and will reveal all in our full review after the break.

Gallery: Acer Aspire One 521 and 721 review

Continue reading Acer Aspire One 521 and 721 review

Acer Aspire One 521 and 721 review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>521721aceracer aspire oneAcerAspireOneamdAMD Athlon II NeoAMD K125AmdAthlonIiNeoAmdK125aspire oneaspire one 521aspire one 751AspireOneAspireOne521AspireOne751Athlon II NeoAthlon II Neo K125AthlonIiNeoAthlonIiNeoK125atiATI Radeon HD 4225AtiRadeonAtiRadeonHd4225netbookNetBooksnotbookreviewultraportableultraportablesThu, 01 Jul 2010 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming a reality with a single video card]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/sapphire-makes-multi-monitor-3d-gaming-a-reality-with-a-single-v/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/sapphire-makes-multi-monitor-3d-gaming-a-reality-with-a-single-v/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/26/sapphire-makes-multi-monitor-3d-gaming-a-reality-with-a-single-v/#comments Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming from a single video card a reality Multi-monitor gaming is hardly uncommon these days, but 3D gaming on the PC is, well, decidedly less common. Perhaps it will be the merging of the two immersive approaches that finally gets 3D going on the PC, and Sapphire is showing that it's possible. A single ATI-based Sapphire graphics card with Eyefinity support powered these three Zalman Trimon 3D displays, which use simple (and cheap) polarized glasses to make those boomers in Left4Dead really pop. No word on the overall cost of the system, but we'd hazard a guess it wouldn't be significantly higher than a triple-monitor setup woefully stuck in just two dimensions.

Sapphire makes multi-monitor 3D gaming a reality with a single video card originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d gaming3d pc3dGaming3dPcatiati eyefinityAtiEyefinitymulti-monitormulti-monitor 3dMulti-monitor3dsapphirezalmanzalman trimonZalmanTrimonSat, 26 Jun 2010 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony selling AMD powered VAIOs for the first time in years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/sony-selling-amd-powered-vaios-for-the-first-time-in-years/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/sony-selling-amd-powered-vaios-for-the-first-time-in-years/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/sony-selling-amd-powered-vaios-for-the-first-time-in-years/#comments We've been keeping a close eye on AMD's big laptop comeback over the last couple of months, and in addition to gaining steam with HP, Dell, Toshiba and Lenovo, it appears AMD's also gotten Sony back into its court. Both Fry's and Best Buy are now carrying AMD Athlon II X2-powered machines, and as you may expect, the prices are quite tempting. Conversely, the Intel-based lineup ranges from $699 to $799, but until we get our hands on one of these ourselves, there isn't exactly a fair comparison to draw at this point. You can hit the source links for the complete specs, but the 15.4-inch EE Series with 4GB of RAM / 320GB of storage and a Blu-ray player is going for $650 while the 17.3-inch EF with a 500GB hard drive for $720. Both also have integrated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 graphics, but regardless, the move certainly bodes well for AMD's newest processor / graphics, since it appears that Sony hasn't used AMD in its systems since 2005. We guess a welcome back hug is in order.

Sony selling AMD powered VAIOs for the first time in years originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amdamd athlon iiAMD Athlon II NeoAMD AThlon II x2amd neoamd neo dual coreAmdAthlonIiAmdAthlonIiNeoAmdAthlonIiX2AmdNeoAmdNeoDualCoreatiATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250ATI RadeonAtiMobilityRadeonHd4250AtiRadeonbest buyBestBuyfrysFrysElectronicsSONYsony vaioSony Vaio ESony VAIO EFSonyVaioSonyVaioESonyVaioEfvaioMon, 21 Jun 2010 19:10:00 EST<![CDATA[New Xbox 360 gets a proper teardown analysis: power and noise reductions confirmed]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/new-xbox-360-gets-a-proper-teardown-analysis-power-and-noise-re/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/new-xbox-360-gets-a-proper-teardown-analysis-power-and-noise-re/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/18/new-xbox-360-gets-a-proper-teardown-analysis-power-and-noise-re/#comments Anyone can take a hammer and rib-spreader to a new piece of hardware. But it takes someone like Anand Shimpi, the man behind Anandtech who has personally suffered through four out-of-warranty Xbox 360 failures, to bring sage analysis to a teardown of the new Xbox 360. His reluctant sixth Xbox 360 is the new slimster (codename Valhalla) which, for the first time, combines the CPU, GPU, and eDRAM onto a single chip -- previous Xbox 360 motherboards featured two discrete packages that split the CPU from the ATI designed Xenos GPU and eDRAM. The design allows for a single heatsink to be cooled by a single, larger fan making the new Xbox "noticeably quieter," measured at 45dB when idle or 51dB with the 1.5Gbps SATA Hitachi HTS545025B9SA00 with 8MB buffer spinning at 5400RPM -- that's down from 50dB and 54dB, respectively, as measured on late 2008 through 2010 Jasper-class 360s. Regarding power consumption, Anand measured a 50% reduction from the original 2005 Xbox 360 (25% less than Jasper-class rigs at idle, or 20% to 17% less under load) and pulled just 0.6W when "totally off" compared to the 2W of vampire power pulled by older 360s. Anand speculates that Microsoft might finally be using cheaper 40nm components. However, we shouldn't expect to see a price cut anytime soon as it will take Microsoft awhile to ramp up the material and manufacturing cost savings. Regardless, with Kinect and several new game titles on the horizon, Anand concludes that there's still plenty of life left in the old Xbox 360 platform for those looking to make the jump.

New Xbox 360 gets a proper teardown analysis: power and noise reductions confirmed originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atinew xbox 360NewXbox360noisepowersoundteardownValhallaxboxxbox 360 sXbox-360Xbox360SXenosFri, 18 Jun 2010 05:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Valve says Apple, NVIDIA and ATI are working to improve Mac gaming performance]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/valve-says-apple-nvidia-and-ati-are-working-to-improve-mac-gami/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/valve-says-apple-nvidia-and-ati-are-working-to-improve-mac-gami/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/17/valve-says-apple-nvidia-and-ati-are-working-to-improve-mac-gami/#comments We've already seen some evidence that Macs running Steam are generally more powerful than PCs running Steam, and it looks like Apple is busily working to make sure that all potential performance is put to good use. As Valve's Rob Barris has confirmed on the company's forums, Apple, ATI and NVIDIA are all "involved" in improving Mac gaming performance, and that "performance is going to improve as drivers are updated." Barris further went on to say that he expects "modest improvements in short term and larger ones in longer term," but wouldn't offer any specific dates as to when some of those updates might roll out.

Valve says Apple, NVIDIA and ATI are working to improve Mac gaming performance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 20:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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