TurionX2
Latest
ASUS intros HDMI-equipped Xonar HDAV1.3 sound card
Worried about getting lossless digital audio from your BD-playin' HTPC via HDMI, are you? Fret no longer, as ASUS has just introduced your solution at Computex. Hailed as the "world's first HDMI 1.3a compliant audio / video enhancement combo card," the Xonar HDAV1.3 is both Protected Audio Playback Systems (PAPS) and Advanced Access Content System (AACS) certified, enabling it to pipe out bitstreamed multi-channel HD audio from Blu-ray Discs through a single cable. Yep, with some help of a special version of ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theater, it's also fully capable of decoding BD titles and taking full advantage of Dolby TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio -- not limited to 16bit like previous solutions -- and just so you know, the firm is also offering up a Xonar HDAV1.3 Deluxe (shown after the cut) which allows users to get 7.1-channels of audio the analog way. Pricing? Pssh -- this is ASUS we're talking about here.[Via DailyTech]
Puma-based Toshiba Satellite A305 benchmarked and photographed
Well, would you look at this? Toshiba's Puma-equipped Satellite A305 hasn't even left the floor of Computex and it has already been benchmarked. Kudos to NotebookReview for snagging some quality hands-on / testing time with the 15.4-incher, which came stocked with a 2.1GHz CPU, 2GB of DDR2 RAM, a 320GB hard drive, dual-layer DVD writer, 1.3-megapixel camera and Windows Vista Home Premium. You know you can't wait for all the dirty details and pics to boot, so head on down to the read link and save yourself a trip to Taipei.[Thanks, Kevin]
AMD launches Puma platform with Turion X2 Ultra CPUs -- garrowel
While you won't fine a "Puma" sticker anywhere at Computex, rest assured that AMD's latest laptop platform is now official. Instead you'll be looking for AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core processors, the 780 chipset, and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000-series graphics on the manufacturer's spec sheet. Come to think of it, a sticker on the 100 or so Puma laptops lined up from HP, Dell, Acer, Asus and others might be easier to spot when the new lappies hit the market as early as this week.[Via PCWorld]
Averatec goes dual-core with ultraportable 2300
After blessing its slightly larger offerings with that dual-core goodness, Averatec is finally looking after the little guy by upping the innards of its slim and trim 2200. The 2300 retains the same 1.3-inch thickness and four pound weight as before, while receiving a welcome upgrade in the CPU department. Still sporting the tantamount 12.1-inch WXGA AveraBrite LCD, the machine boasts an 1.6GHz AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-50 dual-core processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, 100GB 5400RPM SATA hard drive, 802.11b/g, and a dual-layer DVD burner. It also packs a plethora of ports for its size, including gigabit Ethernet, 56k modem, audio in / out, 4-in-1 flash card reader, VGA output, 4-pin FireWire, a trio of USB 2.0 connectors, and a snazzy ExpressCard slot to boot. To top it off, Averatec coupled the boosted specs with a drop in price -- the 2300 ranges from just $849.99 to $949.99, depending on those BTO add-ons.[Via Laptoping]
