Cupertino is unsurprisingly tight-of-lip on when it plans to add Ivy Bridge to its desktop and laptop line, but we think that's not far off: we've even seen some benchmarks. Now, in a move that smacks of inventory clearing but could equally mean nothing, Best Buy has hacked between $20 and $200 from its Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro offerings. If you're into a bargain, then head down to your nearest big blue-and-yellow store -- and we'll let you know as soon as we see the yellow sticky-note.

Best Buy Mac discounts hint at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Okay, it may not be one of the sleekest laptops we've seen of late, but Panasonic's B11 is packing a hefty amount of horsepower underneath that beastly shell to make you forget its looks. This Let's Note B11 is a worthy refresh to the B10 series we showed you a while back -- although aesthetically it didn't change much. Inside the Japan-bound B11 is Intel's latest Core i7-3615QM chip, which you can pair alongside a 750GB hard drive or a 256GB SSD. You can also choose up to 16GB of RAM if you go the quiet route, while the HDD configuration only allows a maximum of 8GB of memory. The 15.6-inch (1920 x 1080) B11 is set to hit Japanese shelves on May 18th, with pricing ranging from a whopping 170,000 to 250,000 yen (around $3,100) depending on how you set it up.

Panasonic outs Let's Note B11 laptop series in Japan, Ivy Bridge in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Samsung's outed its massive 17-inch Series 7 Chronos desktop-killing laptop. The portable behemoth arrives packing a 2.6GHz Core i7 Ivy Bridge CPU, 8GB of RAM and NVIDIA's GeForce GT650M with a further 2GB of memory to itself. You'll be able to relax in front of that 17.3-inch, 300 nit, 1920 x 1080 display and listen to 2.1 surround thanks to some JBL speakers and a subwoofer. The seven-pound device is rated for up to eight hours of battery life and will comfortably hold 1TB of storage, depending on the size of your spreadsheet. It's available from today from all good retailers (and most of the bad ones too) for $1,500.

Continue reading Samsung's $1,500, 17-inch Series 7 Chronos arrives, UPS employees check their spine insurance

Samsung's $1,500, 17-inch Series 7 Chronos arrives, UPS employees check their spine insurance originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 May 2012 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We saw a lot of things back at CES, and from the PC makers, it was mainly new Ultrabooks. Samsung, however, did present a pair of "regular" notebooks, and it looks like they're just about to stretch their legs in the UK. The Series 5 550P is available in 15- and 17-inch varieties, sporting 1366 x 768 and 1600 x 900 displays respectively. Calling the shots will be quad-core Ivy Bridge Core i7 chips supported by 8GB of RAM. Graphics are dished up by a 2GB GeForce GT 650M, and there's a Blu-ray optical drive plus capacity for up to 2TB of storage. Like the Series 7, sound is handled by integrated JBL speakers complete with "Max Bass Boost" subwoofer -- crikey! Lower specification models will also be available (swapping the Blu-ray for DVD, and using shared graphics) when they hit UK stores this month.

Continue reading Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard

Samsung outs new Series 5 550P notebook in the UK, Ivy Bridge and numeric keypad onboard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Lenovo's going all-out on Ivy Bridge-based ThinkCentre pro desktop updates this evening, and the centerpiece is the smallest of the lot. The ThinkCentre M92p Tiny -- yes, it's officially nicknamed Tiny -- is about as thick as a golf ball at 1.4 inches and ready to tuck behind your display, but packs up to a third-generation Intel Core chip, vPro for IT control and your choice of spinning or solid-state hard drives. The M92p Tiny and a lower-end M72e should arrive in June, although what the respective $799 and $499 prices will get you are still mysteries.

There's no shortage if you prefer your desktops slightly more upsized. The all-in-one pack is topped by the 21.5-inch ThinkCentre Edge M92z, an uncommonly thin (2.5 inches) desktop using an IPS-based LCD with optional multi-touch that's due in July for $699. The 20- and 23-inch M92z AIO models start off at $799 for their June releases and pack up to 1TB of storage and dedicated AMD Radeon HD graphics, while a more modestly equipped, 20-inch M72z AIO will appear the same month for $599. And if you've just got to have a traditional box, Lenovo will gladly sell you the budget ThinkCentre Edge 72 ($439) or slightly uprated ThinkCentre M82 ($599). Everyone has the option of the 23-inch ThinkVision LT2323z display, which touts an IPS-based LCD and a webcam with Lync VoIP-certified, noise-cancelling microphones. The screen's price hasn't been set, but it does have a locked-in June release. You can delve into the full details of Lenovo's massive ThinkCentre revamp in the releases after the break.

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkCentre May 2012 updates

Continue reading Lenovo swings out diminutive ThinkCentre M92p Tiny, bevy of all-in-ones and VoIP-ready ThinkVision display

Lenovo swings out diminutive ThinkCentre M92p Tiny, bevy of all-in-ones and VoIP-ready ThinkVision display originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Most laptops being updated to Intel's Ivy Bridge processors have come from international brands, so it may be some relief to European PC buyers that Acer's local Packard Bell badge has made the leap as well. The 15.6-inch EasyNote TV and 17.3-inch LV will each use the new 22-nanometer processors both to push performance that little bit farther as well as get a middling five hours of battery life. NVIDIA graphics in GeForce GT 620M and 630M flavors will spruce up the gaming side, however, and Packard Bell is delivering a 20 percent more responsive multi-touch trackpad, dedicated music / social keys and a bamboo-like lid pattern to add a little dose of style. The duo will surface in Europe during June at prices starting from €499 ($656). Acer has sometimes brought Packard Bell PCs to the US as roughly equivalent Gateway models and vice versa, so Americans shouldn't be surprised if they get counterpart laptops before long.

Packard Bell EasyNote LV, TV laptops bring Ivy Bridge to speed-hungry Europeans originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 May 2012 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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.

Who could forget that marigold yellow gaming laptop sitting around Samsung's booth at CES? Though the Series 7 Gamer has been available in Europe since last fall, the company decided to wait until Intel made its big Ivy Bridge reveal before introducing its first gaming laptop here in the states. Now that those chips are starting to ship, the Series 7 Gamer is at last on sale here in the US, available in a single configuration that'll set you back $1,900. (Sorry, folks, it will only be sold in black.) Though that price is slightly higher than the estimate we heard four months ago, the specs are also beefier than we were expecting. For the money, you'll get a 2.3GHz i7-3610QM Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GTX675M GPU, a 1.5TB 7,200RPM hard drive and a 400-nit, 17.3-inch, 1080p display. Like that other Series 7 laptop we reviewed recently, that HDD is paired with 8GB of flash memory to help cut start-up and application launch times. At its best, the battery is rated to last 3.7 hours -- not bad for a 13.34 8.39-pound system -- and you can exert some control over the runtime by selecting from one of four power modes using an analog dial. All the major e-tailers like Amazon and NewEgg will carry it, and feel free to revisit our hands-on from CES if you need a few close-up shots to jog your memory.

Update: Though the press material Samsung sent to reporters listed the weight as 13.34 pounds, the product page below says it weighs 8.39 pounds, which sounds far more likely, if you ask us.

Continue reading Samsung Series 7 Gamer laptop goes on sale in the US for $1,900

Samsung Series 7 Gamer laptop goes on sale in the US for $1,900 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Intel's bridge is a popular one and, while we don't know just what the toll to cross is, today the gatekeeper has a little extra change jingling in his pocket. Samsung is announcing that its 15-inch Series 7 Chronos laptops now offer Ivy Bridge processors, joining the 17-inch models that have already have made their way across. Thanks to a Samsung Canada leak last week, we knew the slightly more portable flavor wouldn't be far behind. NVIDIA graphics are onboard, joining the Core i7 processors and 1TB hard drives plus other pleasantries like backlit keyboards. No word on when these machines and their "uncompromised performance" will arrive at retail, but we hear getting over that bridge is the tricky part, so it shouldn't be long now.

15-inch Samsung Series 7 laptops follow big brother across Intel's Ivy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

When it rains it pours. Hot on the heels of announcing that 17-inch Series 7 Chronos laptop it teased back at CES, Samsung is doing the predictable sensible thing and refreshing the 15-inch version with an Ivy Bridge processor as well. So far, we see it listed on Samsung's Canadian site with a 1GB NVIDIA GT640M GPU and a quad-core Core i7-3615QM CPU (remember that Intel hasn't announced its dual-core variants yet). Curiously, though, we don't actually see it for sale online anywhere, it's unclear how much it costs and that Ivy Bridge configuration isn't even listed as an option on the company's US site. We've emailed Samsung for clarification, but in the meantime you may as well consider this a placeholder -- and will yourself to hold off a little longer before pulling the trigger on a mid-sized laptop.

[Thanks, Hugo]

15-inch Series 7 Chronos with Ivy Bridge surfaces on Samsung's Canadian site originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Today is officially Ivy Bridge day, in case you didn't already know. Intel took the wraps off the latest member of its processor family and the internet wasted no time putting the flagship Core i7-3770K through its paces. The 3.5GHz quad-core desktop chip comes packing not only some architectural tweaks, but a brand new integrated GPU in the form of the HD 4000. Oh, and it does all this using a brand new 22nm manufacturing process and 3D "Tri-Gate" transistors. What does that mean for you, the user? Lower power consumption, better performance and, surprisingly, unbelievably fast media transcoding. When AnandTech turned its eyes towards Quick Sync, the on-die media transcode engine introduced with Sandy Bridge, the 3770K practically buried the competition. Using Cyberlink Media Espresso the new chip turned a DRM-stripped Blu-ray of Harry Potter (130 minutes of 1080p video) into an iPad friendly format in just seven minutes without taxing the CPU.

At idle, power consumption hasn't changed much, but when TechSpot put the pedal to the metal things looked quite a bit different. The new i7-3770K sucked down just 147 watts, which was even four watts less than lower clocked i5-2500K. And, of course, it delivered much better performance. In fact, in Bit-Tech's tests, the only chip that was able to routinely best it was the hexa-core 3960X Extreme Edition -- and even that CPU barely eked out its victories. While AMD's offerings simply can't compete with Intel's on pure performance or power consumption, it does still outrun run Chipzilla's GPU. The HD 4000 is, undeniably, a huge step forward for the Core line, but it falls just short of matching the A8's integrated Radeon on Tech Report's tests. For more benchmarks than your heart can handle check out the pile of links below.

Read - AnandTech
Read - Bit-Tech
Read - TechSpot
Read - Tech Report
Read - Hot Hardware

Intel Core i7-3770K CPU review roundup: crossing the Ivy Bridge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We hear that pilgrims have already started flocking to the town of Ivybridge (population 12,056) in the forested depths of southwest England. Very soon though, you'll be able to pay homage to Moore's law without travelling further than your favorite online retailer, because the third generation of Intel Core processors has just launched and should be available to buy before the end of this month. These include eight different variants of Core i7 for desktops and notebooks (including Ultrabooks of course), plus five types of Core i5 destined for desktops only. Those watching out for cheaper dual-core i5, i3 and Pentium-branded options will have to wait a little longer, because today's launch is all about the high-end. And just how high is 'high'? Judging from the gossip we've heard, and from benchmarks of leaked desktop and notebook chips, we're looking a significant improvement over Sandy Bridge. But if you want the first official boasts, then read on.

Gallery: Intel Ivy Bridge official slides and benchmarks

Continue reading Intel puts Ivy Bridge on the map: first 22nm product, decent official benchmarks, desktop quad-cores from $174

Intel puts Ivy Bridge on the map: first 22nm product, decent official benchmarks, desktop quad-cores from $174 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

While they may not be the Sony ultrabooks we're still all itching to see, the company's E Series 14P laptops have reappeared with some Ivy Bridge bones. According to Sony Australia, the previously Intel Core i3 processor has been bulked up to a third-generation 2.1GHz Core i7-3612QM, capable of 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost. That's not the only difference, with the 14-inch display boosted to 1600 x 900 and a new choice between AMD'S Radeon HD 7670M or Intel's HD Graphics 4000 to provide the graphical horse power in the updated hardware. The aluminum-splashed laptops, priced at $1,500 AUD (around $1,608 USD), will still house Sony's Gesture Control functions. This should allow you to navigate around websites and media playback with some arm flailing -- provided you're using Microsoft perennials like Internet Explorer 9 and Windows Media Player. These updated specs are tinged with some (minor) bad news; it looks like the pink iteration won't be getting the same improvements seen on the black and white models. Regardless, monochrome fans can hit up the source for all the new details.

Sony VAIO E Series 14P gets Ivy Bridge processor nudge, improved display originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back in January, we got our first glimpse of BryteWerks' Model One projector, albeit in render form only. Well, today at DEMO, we finally saw the thing in person and uncovered a bit more info about its innards. It still pumps out 11,000 lumens and throws images on the wall in 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it turns out to have a range of Intel silicon at its disposal: everything from a humble 1.6GHz Atom up to a 3.6GHZ Core i7. There are also multiple storage options, as the Model One comes with an Intel 320 SSD (60 or 120GB) -- where the OS resides to ensure super fast boot times -- and up to a 2TB HDD, so you have plenty of room for all your media. Speaking of the OS, it turns out the projector/HTPC has two: a customized version of XBMC and Windows 7, plus a custom GUI (currently in development) to make calibrating the projector dead simple. Because the projector's 1200-watt metal halide bulb generates so much heat, the internal chassis is built of aluminum and houses the components into four individually cooled chambers. That way, all the PC parts can stay cool on the bottom even while the projector's running full bore.

Gallery: Brytewerks Model One eyes-on

We got to see a hand-built prototype in person, and the Model One strikes an imposing, if elegant figure. It's roughly a foot and a half square cube, with a black brushed metal exterior devoid of any branding or other ornamentation, save for the silver ring around the lens. The power, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 and four RCA connections are situated in the black plastic feet to keep cord clutter to a minimum, and the lens up front is magnetically attached to make swapping it out a simple affair. We got to speak with its creator, Justin Evans, about the genesis of the device, and he informed us that he's but a humble filmmaker who's trying to help out independent theaters, film festivals, filmmakers, and consumers. His goal was to create a projector that's both easy to use and cheap as chips (comparatively speaking) to enable film editing on the big screen and make high quality movie projection available to the masses. Given that the Model One is set to start shipping in six to eight weeks at an asking price of $2999, we'd say he's hit the mark -- assuming the image quality is as good as he says it is, and the build quality of the production model's up to snuff, of course. Here's hoping we get to see the thing in action sometime soon.

Continue reading Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo

Eyes-on Brytewerks Model One high-def projector and HTPC combo originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dell's XPS 13 Ultrabook

Dell XPS 13 Ultrabook shipping now, starts at $999

HP Folio 13 review

Gallery: Dell XPS 13 review

Continue reading Dell XPS 13 review

Dell XPS 13 review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Razer's Project Fiona hands-on

Continue reading Razer's Project Fiona hands-on (video)

Razer's Project Fiona hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Project Fiona

Continue reading Project Fiona raises the stakes for gaming tablets, packs Ivy Bridge, Windows 8 and integrated controllers

Project Fiona raises the stakes for gaming tablets, packs Ivy Bridge, Windows 8 and integrated controllers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading ViewSonic EXOdesk announced, puts Surface on notice

ViewSonic EXOdesk announced, puts Surface on notice originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

LG reveals X-Note Z330 Ultrabook, claims it cold boots in ten seconds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Leaked Intel roadmap hints at Ivy Bridge's future originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In need of a new liquid cooled gaming tower to help you incinerate those pesky adversaries? Perhaps you're just a fan of the fire motif? Either way, iBuyPower has introduced its new batch of fire starters: the Chimera 4 line. Take your pick of four fully loaded gaming machines, each built to suit your needs. The entire fleet sports a 120mm liquid cooling system, a Level 1 PowerDrive for overclocking and a 64GB ADATA SSD S596 Turbo. But if you're really serious about that Battlefield 3 habit, you'll splurge for the Chimera 4-V1 that houses a Intel Core i7, 8GB of RAM, an 800w power supply and an AMD Radeon 6950 2GB graphics card. The aforementioned beast will set you back $1659, while the more casual gamer can pick up less expensive models -- based on level of commitment, of course. For a closer look, take a peek at the gallery below before adding one to your Christmas list.

Gallery: iBuyPower Chimera 4

iBuyPower intros Chimera 4 line, looks to set WoW ablaze originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook with Intel Core i7 can be yours now, SSD in tow

Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook with Intel Core i7 can be yours now, SSD in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Maingear and Origin PC shove Intel's Core i7 2700K into gaming rigs, overclock it beyond 5GHz

Maingear and Origin PC shove Intel's Core i7 2700K into gaming rigs, overclock it beyond 5GHz originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

They may have barely finished component convalescence after being kitted out with NVIDIA's GTX 570M, but MSI's GT780DXR and GT683DXR are getting yet another technical leg-up. This time, the processors are being nudged up to an Intel Core i7-2670QM, replacing the Core i7-2630QM we found on these gaming rigs last time we met. The ultra slim X460 series will also get the same CPU refresh. We'll admit, it's a pretty gentle update, but it should help keep MSI's latest offerings close to the bleeding edge of high-end laptops.

Continue reading MSI infuses more gaming juice into its G Series notebooks with processor refresh

MSI infuses more gaming juice into its G Series notebooks with processor refresh originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading AMD FX processor brings eight cores to battle, we go eyes-on (video)

AMD FX processor brings eight cores to battle, we go eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Razer Blade: hands-on with 17 inches of gaming greatness

NVIDIA reports Q3 earnings

ASUS G74SX-A1 gaming laptop gets rated, loves a bit of Battleship

While the jury might still be out on whether you can have a thin-and-light coupled with gaming prowess, over at MSI, it's pretty much business as usual. It's that kind of mantra that's produced the GT683DXR that lays before you, a rehash of the existing GT680 but with gussied-up internals, spearheaded by NVIDIA's GTX 570M. In our brief overview several weeks ago, we were impressed with its performance, but dismayed with its flimsy keyboard, possessed trackpad and general girthiness. So, were we completely off the mark? Or did our impressions change after spending a little more time coddled by its side? Join us in finding out, after the break.

Gallery: MSI GT680DXR review

Continue reading MSI GT683DXR review

MSI GT683DXR review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Toshiba DX735 multitouch all-in-one

Continue reading Toshiba adds 23-inch DX735 to its multitouch all-in-one family

Toshiba adds 23-inch DX735 to its multitouch all-in-one family originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

About a month ago, we got handsy with a certain 15.6-inch Samsung Series 7 laptop. Now, it appears that svelte, quad-core notebook's ready to flood the mass marketplace. Up for pre-order on Best Buy, Sammy's 4G WiMAX-enabled entry for the "design conscious" will cost you about $880 -- already chopped down from its near $1,000 price tag. For that handful of Benjamins, you can look forward to a 2.2GHz Core i7-2675QM, a 1600 x 900 HD matte display, 750GB of storage, 6GB of DDR3 RAM, a couple of USB 3.0 ports, an optical disk drive and Windows 7 Home pre-installed. If you were hoping to get your game on, then we'd advise you to hold out for the company's other Series 7 family member slated to hit this fall. You can get a head start on the anorexic goods by hitting up the source link below.

Samsung Series 7 laptop now available for pre-order at Best Buy originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: ASUS UX31 & UX21 hands-on at IDF 2011

Continue reading Asus UX31 vs. UX21... fight! (video)

Asus UX31 vs. UX21... fight! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Intel hypes Ivy Bridge, leaves poor old Sandy in its wake originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm1 (late 2011)

Gallery: HP Pavilion dm1 hands-on (late 2011)

Continue reading HP refreshes the Pavilion dm1 with a new design, optional Intel ULV Core i3 CPU (video)

HP refreshes the Pavilion dm1 with a new design, optional Intel ULV Core i3 CPU (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We might still be smitten with a certain svelte ebony beaut, but we're aware some of you require absolute maximum performance from your "portable" gaming rig. Here to heed your call for blistering frame rates is MSI, which has gone and refreshed two laptops from its gaming lineup: the 15.6-inch GT683DXR and its big brother, the 17.3-inch GT730DXR. While both retain the Core i7-2630QM from their forebears, the duo now feature NVIDIA's beefy GTX 570M with 1.5GB GDDR5. And just like their predecessors, either can be stuffed with up to 16GB of RAM, dual 500GB or 750GB drives and a Blu-ray burner. Also on board is a premium sound system from Dynaudio, four USB ports (two of the 3.0 variety), Gigabit Ethernet, VGA and HDMI sockets and, of course, 802.11b/g/n WiFi.

They're on sale now, starting at $1,699 for the 15-incher and $1,799 for the 17-inch variant. MSI was kind enough to send us the smaller and lighter of the two, so hop on past the break for our brief impressions.

Gallery: MSI G Series gaming laptops

Gallery: MSI GT683DXR hands-on

Continue reading MSI's GT683DXR and GT780DXR shred pixels with NVIDIA's GTX 570M (hands-on)

MSI's GT683DXR and GT780DXR shred pixels with NVIDIA's GTX 570M (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you've been hunting for a new Windows 7 gaming rig, we've got good news: Maingear's just stepped up its line of Vybe desktops and it sure looks appetizing. Like before, there's a trio of pre-fabricated variants, but the goodies are now packed within a redesigned shell finished in black or white (SE and SS models only). The $949 Vybe S starts things off admirably with an overclocked 2.9GHz Intel Core i5 2310 rated at 3.3GHz (capable of turbo-boosting to 3.7GHz). It's further loaded with a 1GB NVIDIA GTS 450 GPU, 4GB of RAM, a 1TB 7,200RPM HDD, 7-in-1 card reader, 7.1 surround sound support and a 24x DVD burner that's all hooked into a USB 3.0 / SATA 6G Intel DP67BA motherboard. The $1,129 SE spices things up with an overclocked i5 2500 rated at 3.7GHz (boosting up to 4.1GHz) and a 1GB GTX 560 GPU that's connected to an SSD-toting Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 motherboard. Lastly, there's the $1,699 Vybe SS for those who like their noob-slaying experience with extra picante. It's packing an overclocked and water-cooled 4.5GHz+ Core i7 2600K, a duo of those GTX 560 GPUs and 8GB of RAM to make sure you won't experience any hang-ups running Crysis.

You can opt to customize the SE and SS rigs with more powerful parts, although you'll be waiting a bit longer for shipping. You'll find details at the source and healthy serving of eye candy in the gallery below.

Gallery: Maingear Vybe SS

Continue reading Maingear intros redesigned Vybe gaming desktops, stuffs 'em with updated internals

Maingear intros redesigned Vybe gaming desktops, stuffs 'em with updated internals originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Intel adds 16 CPUs to Sandy Bridge stable, slashes prices on some older silicon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ASUS G74SX-A1 gaming laptop gets rated, loves a bit of Battleship originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Lenovo U Series hands-on

Continue reading Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video)

Lenovo announces U300s Ultrabook, U300 and U400 IdeaPads, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony VAIO F Series review (late 2011)

Sony Vaio Z gets the in-house teardown treatment (video)

Acer announces redesigned Aspire TimelineX Series laptops, prices start at $599

Gallery: Sony VAIO S-Series (15-inch)

Continue reading Sony VAIO SE Series review

Sony VAIO SE Series review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Sony Vaio S line gets mild refresh with second-gen Core CPUs

Sony Vaio S line gets mild refresh with second-gen Core CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Samsung Series 7 Laptops

Continue reading Samsung unveils Series 7 laptops, we go hands-on

Samsung unveils Series 7 laptops, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.