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Intel's Performance Maximizer tool overclocks CPUs with one click
Intel has launched a new feature designed to make overclocking more straightforward. Called the "Intel Performance Maximizer," the tool examines your processor's individual settings, then uses what Intel calls "hyper-intelligent automation" to tweak them for a performance boost. Basically, it's overclocking without having to fiddle around with custom settings in BIOS yourself.
Gaming smartphones are still a thing in China
If you've been searching for a crossover between a smartphone and a PS Vita, look no further. In China, a company by the name of iReadyGo had been making Android-powered gaming handhelds for years -- you may recall its shameless PS Vita ripoff back in 2011. The manufacturer then went on to release several dedicated gaming smartphones and was eventually acquired by Snail Mobile, a local gaming-centric mobile virtual network operator, in mid-2014. Following the W3D from 2015, the company plans to release a new Android smartphone at the ChinaJoy expo later this month, but I managed to spot one lurking around at MWC Shanghai. This upcoming Snail Mobile i7 is a surprisingly well-specced gaming phone for its 1,899 yuan (about $280) price point, especially with its 6-inch 1080p touchscreen, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, stereo speakers, dual SIM slots and removable 6,000 mAh battery.
ASUS reveals ROG TYTAN G70 gaming desktop
Didn't snag one of the ROG TYTAN G30s ASUS announced in June? Don't sweat it because the Taiwanese manufacturer has already one-upped itself, combining the transforming case of last year's TYTAN CG8890 with the G30's major features -- water-cooled Core i7-4770K, one-touch overclocking, multi-monitor and surround sound support. Just for good measure, an available Nvidia GTX780 can replace the '30's GTX 680. Sure, the G70 is Haswell-equipped, but that's not nearly as impressive as activating "Turbo Gear" on it is: Push a button and the system overclocks, then its side and top panels extend outward automatically, exposing the rig's 10 fans. How cool is that? As frosty as this tower's innards we'd imagine. If that wasn't enough to push you over the edge, it'll wirelessly charge any Qi-compatible devices you might have as well. This beast of a rig should be available soon at retailers near you, but ASUS hasn't provided pricing. We're guessing it's probably expensive -- call it a hunch.
Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands
HTC's closure of its South Korean office may seem yet another blow to the company this year, but don't be alarmed: we saw it coming. It's a given that Peter Chou's gang is cutting back in response to its recent weak performance, but the more interesting takeaway here is the fact that the South Korean smartphone market is one tough nut for foreign brands to crack open. Just walk into any carrier shop in Seoul and you'll see the shelves dominated by devices from Samsung, LG and Pantech. If you're lucky, you may spot the odd Sony, Motorola and HTC phones cowering in a corner. So why is that the case? Let's take a look at the how it all started.
iBuyPower rides new Valkyrie line of gaming laptops
Not content with the unveiling of its Chimera 4 and Erebus GT desktops, iBuyPower is turning its attention to gamers of a more mobile persuasion with the launch of its new Valkyrie line of gaming laptops. For $1,299, the base Valkyrie CZ-17 features a third-generation Intel Core i7-3610QM CPU, 8GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M GPU, 500GB 5,400 RPM hard drive, LAN E2200 module, backlit keyboard and a 17.3-inch, 1080p display. Folks who want to channel their inner Rich Uncle Pennybags can also configure the Valkyrie with more options such as an i7-3820QM processor, up to 32GB of RAM, dual HDD/SSD storage and a Blu-Ray drive. iBuyPower says the Valkyrie line is part of efforts to beef up its laptop offerings in order to compete with the likes of Dell/Alienware and ASUS. In the meantime, folks who've got Elmer Fudd's rendition of "Kill the Wabbit" stuck in their heads after reading the word "Valkyrie" can clear their minds by perusing the PR after the break.
Fujitsu unveils two new LifeBooks, shows some Ivy Bridge zen
Fujitsu's teased us before with Intel's hot new chipset, but now it's getting ready to actually ship two notebooks with Intel's third-gen Core i7 CPU. The first, like others before it, will be a refresh of an older model, the LifeBook LH532, with its last-gen i7 tech swapped out for Ivy Bridge. Other specs will stay the same, with 2GB of system memory, NVIDIA GeForce GT620M graphics with 2GB of VRAM and a 15.6 14-inch 1366x768 high definition TFT LED wide screen. The LifeBook LH772, on the other hand, is an all-new model which will have the same Ivy Bridge i7 horsepower and screen, but the addition of a 2GB NVIDIA Optimus graphics and 4GB of RAM. Being more upmarket than its cousin, it'll have added touches like Onkyo Box Speakers, a DTS UltraPC II Plus sound system and a fingerprint sensor. Both LifeBooks will have Fujitsu's Face Sense utility, which uses a front facing camera to detect your presence, and pause the system if you're not there. Fujitsu is also touting its Takumi design philosophy, supposedly offering zen-like simplicity and attention to detail -- with features like multiple color choices, rounded keyboard outlines, leveled palm rests and dichromatic keys. Fujitsu hasn't announced pricing yet, but if you need to hit your tasks quickly but harmoniously, check the PR below for more details. Update: The Lifebook LH532 is a 14" model, not 15.6". Apologies for any confusion.
AT-AT PC Case Mod: and you thought it was just geeky on the outside
This isn't the first Star Wars-themed peripheral we've featured. Not by a long shot. Not even today. It's not even the first AT-AT case mod we've had, but we can safely say it poses the most danger to the alliance. With a mini-ITX mainboard, Intel Core i7-2600K CPU and 8GB of RAM, this walker might actually have enough brains to avoid a harpoon and tow cable, and with elaborate watercooling the Hasbro plastic shouldn't get scorched either. The icing on the imperial cake is weapons and interior that light up with the touch of a remote. Want to see how modder Asphiax made it happen? Then pewpew the source link.
Samsung's 17-inch Series 7 Chronos dances over the Ivy Bridge
Since Ivy Bridge finally trotted down the yellow brick road, there's been a growing number of tin-men waiting for their hearts. Samsung's 17-inch Series 7 Chronos, it seems, was also a member of that club. We first saw the desktop replacement back at CES, and that "next-gen" processor we reported is confirmed as a 2.3GHz i7 3615QM, while the suspected ATI GPU seems to have been switched out for an NVIDIA GeForce 650M. Memory and storage are taken care of by 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB SATA HDD respectively. For your human inputs, that 17.3-inch (1920 x 1080) non-reflective screen will fill your eyes, while JBL speakers take care of your ears. As for the computer's, there's HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports, a pair of standard USB ports and a memory card slot, not forgetting the Blu-ray drive too -- if you like things optical. If this is enough to make you put your desktop to sleep, then get ready to lay down the (to be determined) asking price once it's set free from the Witch's castle factory (at some point in the near future).
HP sneaks out new dv4, dv6, dv7 and g4 Pavilion laptops, Ivy Bridge in tow (video)
We know Ivy Bridge is close to landing, but when damn it, when? Until we know for sure, what about these new notebooks from HP that sneaked out with barely a flicker of ballyhoo. There are four new Pavilions on their way, the dv4-5000, dv6-7000, dv7-6000 and g4-2000. All of them are getting the Ivy Bridge treatment bar the g4, which sticks with Sandy Bridge. The dv4 and dv6 both sport 2.3GHz i7-3610QM processors, GeForce GT630M graphics, Beats Audio and 14-inch or 15.6-inch (1366 x 768) displays respectively. The dv7 model steps things up with a 2.6GHZ i7-3720QM chip, GeForce GT 650M graphics and 17.3-inches of 1920 x 1080 screen. The g4, on the other hand, comes in a range of processing flavors, including the i3-2350M and i5-2450M Sandy Bridge variants and a 14-inch screen. The g-series will likely carry a £399 (about $630) price-tag, while the dv6 and dv7 are rumored start around £599 ($940) when they eventually land potentially in April -- but don't count your chickens. Full specs in the source, and promo videos after the break.[Thanks Andrew]
Maingear's Titan 17 has a change of heart, keyboard
Maingear has been tickling us with its gaming PCs for a while, and now it's adding some extra muscle to its catalog. The company's Titan 17 notebook is hitting the operating table for a processor transplant, the previous Intel i7-990X being swapped out for either the i7-3930K or i7-3960X. But what good is an internal update without some external flourish so folk know where you stand on the spec table? Maingear appreciates this, and that's why it's throwing a backlit keyboard into the mix. The souped-up Titan is up for pre-order now, with prices starting at $3,499. Tap the PR after the break for the full specs.
Toshiba reveals the Qosmio F750 glasses-free 3D laptop, we go hands on (video)
Toshiba just unveiled what it claims is the world's first glasses-free 3D laptop, the Qosmio F750. It's a heavy-set beast dedicated to gaming and movies, with a 15.6-inch Full HD lenticular screen that can display 2D and 3D simultaneously in separate windows. It also rocks an HD webcam that follows your movements and adjusts the 3D effect accordingly, so you can peek at the that lovely third dimension from almost any angle you like. Innovative stuff indeed, but we were underwhelmed when we caught a glimpse of Toshiba's concept model back in January. So, has the technology improved since then? Check out our hands-on impressions and video after the break. %Gallery-127693%
Sony's ultraslim 13-inch VAIO Z laptop revealed in Europe, packs external GPU for power on demand
Turns out those leaked shots we saw of Sony's new VAIO Z laptop were right on the money as the company showed it off officially today for the European press. The specs reveal a 13.1-inch "ultramobile" notebook that comes in at under 1.2kg with a 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, 1600x900 screen and sheet battery borrowed from the earlier VAIO S for up to 7 hours of computing. Onboard it features only Intel's HD Graphics 3000 solution but the VAIO Z beats other ultralights with its Power Media Dock, which contributes the power of an AMD Radeon 6650M GPU with 1GB of dedicated memory connected via "the architecture codenamed Light Peak" -- Sony can't call it Thunderbolt -- when more polygons have to be pushed. The dock sports one USB 3.0 hookup plus additional USB, VGA and HDMI ports, and a slot for either a DVD or Blu-ray drive. There's no word on a price yet, but it is promised to ship by the end of July in Europe so if the full specs (included after the break) are appealing then you don't have much time to save up. Update: Head over to the Sony UK site to configure one yourself -- pricing starts at £1,434 ($2,294) with a Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM and no PMD. The dock is a £400 ($640) option with no optical drive included, while upgrading to a 1080p 13.1-inch LCD is a mere £40 extra. %Gallery-127266%
Acer unveils Aspire Ethos laptops built to please eyes and ears in the US and Canada
We got acquainted with Acer's new Aspire Ethos 8951G and 5951G laptops a week ago, and told you all about its hot hardware and its £999 price in the UK. Well, now these marvelous multimedia machines have journeyed across the Atlantic and brought their nifty detachable touchpads, which double as multimedia remotes, with them. The North American versions (named AS8951G and AS5951G) also pack the same 18.4-inch and 15.6-inch HD displays and USB 3.0 ports as their British counterparts. There's Core i5 and Core i7 Sandy Bridge silicon and GeForce GT 555M graphics to give you plenty gaming grunt, and to ensure that the sounds match the visuals, both models pump out 5.1 channel surround sound. Low end audio in the AS5951G comes courtesy of a bass booster, while its big brother has a small subwoofer stuffed in its underside. So, what's the damage to your wallet for these two black beauties? The AS5951G and AS8951G run $1,400 and $1,600, respectively, here in the States, while prices start at $1,200 and $1,500 CAD for our friends in the Great White North. Interested parties can find the full nitty gritty in the PR after the break. %Gallery-126513%
Evolve III prices triple-booting Maestro S and swiveling Maestro C tablets, unveils cordless NGen desktop (video)
We knew Evolve III had some major plans in store for this year and now, we've found out a little more about the company's latest creations. First up is the Maestro S -- a triple-booting slate that, as promised, can now support Android, Windows 7 and Meego. Rocking a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 capacitive touchscreen, the Maestro is powered by an Intel Z670 Oak Trail processor clocking in at 1.5GHz and runs on a battery that can last for up to ten hours per charge when running on Windows 7, or up to 18 hours when in Meego mode. The Maestro C will give you all of this, plus that swiveling kickstand we heard about last month. Designed with frequent flyers in mind, the convertible tablet also comes with a wireless keyboard that can serve as a protective, hardshell case. Rounding out the troika is the NGen -- a next-generation, "all-in-one" PC, powered by an Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPU. The WiDi-enabled desktop boasts a 21.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 LED, supports Intel HD graphics and packs a 2.0-megapixel, front-facing camera. Weighing in at a little under 13-pounds, the cordless NGen can be folded up for quick transport, or mounted on a wall. Content can also be synced across all three devices, with a Wormhole connecting cord. As far as pricing goes, the Maestro S and C are running for 800 AUD (about $860) and 825 AUD (around $886), respectively, while the NGen, according to an Evolve III representative, will retail for about $1,500 of the green stuff. Unfortunately, this lineup won't be available Stateside until later this year, but you can find out more in the video that awaits you, after the break. [Thanks, Nicholas]
Pioneer's Discussion Table gets a thumping $37,000 price tag, taken for a spin (video)
We thought the latest version of Microsoft's Surface was pricey at $7,600, but it's cheapo IKEA compared to Pioneer's WWS-DT101 Discussion Table. We just reported that this beast is due to hit the Japanese market in July, but now we discover you might need as much as ¥3million (around $37,000) plus van hire before you can cart it away. Acknowledged, it has a bigger screen and better all-round specs than Microsoft's SUR40, and it looks pretty damn responsive judging from the video after the break. But it's still an unlikely amount to spend on a piece of furniture that can't even play Dungeons and Dragons.
Eight-core Intel Sandy Bridge E chips listed on, pulled from eBay
What's this? A listing for an unreleased Intel chip on eBay? This purported eight-core, hyper-threaded Sandy Bridge E-series processor is apparently a third party tester unit, hence the cloak and dagger "Intel Confidential" stamped in the middle of the thing. The "E" in the series, as previously stated, stands for "Enthusiast," especially fitting in the case of a $1,360 dollar piece of near-future tech with a strict no refund / return policy. Not surprisingly, the sale has been shutdown prematurely. Whether it was pulled by the seller or at the strong urging of Intel will have to remain a mystery for now, as will those blazingly fast speeds we've read so much about -- at least until it pops up again on Craigslist. Update: To be clear, the "ES" on the chip stands for "Engineering Sample" but the "E" in the series name stands for "Enthusiast." [Thanks, Lars]
Macworld publishes first round of benchmark results for new iMac
Macworld posted the results of its first benchmark tests for the newly updated family of iMacs this morning. The publication's tests found Apple's latest iMacs to be generally faster than previous iMacs, although certain build-to-order (BTO) models from 2010 still outperformed the new family of iMacs in some tests. The new top-of-the-line, quad-core 3.1 GHz i5 iMac bested the previous high-end model, a quad-core 2.8 GHz i5 iMac, in every test. Notably, the 3.1 GHz iMac performed 16% faster in the Speedmark 6.5 test and 22% faster in Macworld's iTunes encode test. The results were mixed when comparing the new iMac to powerfully configured BTO models from last year. When pitted against a quad-core 2.93 GHz Core i7 BTO iMac from 2010, the new 3.1 GHz iMac performed about equivalently in the Speedmark test but fell short in applications like Cinebench and MathematicaMark. The older, i7-based iMac offered Hyper Threading, a technology that virtually doubled the number of processor cores seen by the operating system; apps that took advantage of this technology worked better on the older machine. When compared to a dual-core 3.6 GHz i5 BTO iMac from 2010, the current 3.1 Ghz iMac edged out its older relative by 14% in overall performance and finished tasks in Mathematica, an app that makes use of multiple processing cores, up to 67% faster. In many cases, however, the faster clock speed of the older machine helped it complete certain tasks more quickly. Overall, the new iMacs seem to offer generally better performance in a more affordable package. But, if you frequently use software optimized for fast clock speeds or Hyper Threading technology and don't need any of the new gadgetry in the newest machines, it may be worth tracking down a 2010 BTO iMac with a 3.6 GHz i5 or 2.93 GHz i7 inside.
Comparing the old iMacs with today's new models
Earlier today, Apple updated the iMac line with Thunderbolt, quad-core processors across the line and a HD camera for FaceTime. Prices start at US$1,199 for the 21.5", 2.5 GHz model and climb to $1,999 for the big daddy. How do the specs compare to the previous models? Here are some of the highlights. Processor There are still two basic models: 21.5" and 27". Each starts with two configurations, beginning with the processor. As of January 2010, the 21.5" model sold with a 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 or a 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3, while the 27" model featured either a 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 or a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5. Today, the 21.5" machine offers either a 2.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 or a 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5, while the 27" iMac features a 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 or a 3.1 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5. That's the first time quad-core has been available across the entire iMac line. (The previous 27" model had an i7 build-to-order option, but that processor wasn't the current Sandy Bridge variety.) Additionally, the previous models featured a 3 MB shared L2 cache, with a build-to-order 8 MB shared L3 cache option for the 27" iMac. Current models feature a 6 MB on-chip shared L3 cache across the board. Display The display resolution is the same as it's been. The current options are 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution for the 21.5" model and 2650 x 1440 pixel resolution for the 27" iMac. Apple notes that the current iMac displays feature "in-plane switching," or IPS. Originally designed by Hitachi in 1996, IPS improves color and contrast at sharp viewing angles. RAM Current models all start with 4 GB of RAM, just as previous models did. The current 21.5" models are upgradable to 8 GB of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM from Apple, while the 27" models can house up to 16 GB of the same. Graphics Previous models featured either a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M or an ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB on the 21.5" model, while the 27" model offered the ATI Radeon HD 4670 or an ATI Radeon HD 4850 with 512 MB. The new iMacs are clearly improved. The base 21.5" model sports either an AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512 MB or an AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 512 MB, while the 27" starts with either that same Radeon 6770M or an AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 1 GB. All this at the same price points. The new iMac line is clearly compelling. Maybe I'll finally replace my long-suffering G4.
Stealth unveils the LPC-670 mini-PC: small in size, vast in price
Stealth has been in the compact computing game for some time, and the company has just rolled out its most powerful pint-sized PC to date, the LPC-670. Packing Intel's Arrandale Core i5-520M, Core i5-580M, or Core i7-620M silicon, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, a DVD or Blu-ray burner, a max 750GB 2.5-inch HDD or 128GB SSD, optional 802.11g WiFi, gigabit Ethernet, HDMI and DVI connections, Stealth's new mini-PC has the brawn of much bigger machines. The price of such lilliputian luxury? An account-emptying $1650, and that's just for the base model -- check the right option boxes and the final tally will run you over three grand. That should ensure the customer base will be just like the machine itself... tiny. Press release is after the break. %Gallery-120754%
Alienware's M14x revealed: classic middle-child overachiever, none of the simmering sibling resentment
First, Alienware's M17x got a bit of spit and polish with a new Sandy Bridge CPU and a 3D display, then the M11x got Intel's speedy new silicon too. Now, the middle alien child appears to have gotten a similar makeover. Christened the M14x, rumor has it that Alienware's newest portable rig packs an Intel Core i7-2820QM 2.3 GHz CPU, up to a 750GB 7200RPM HDD, 256GB SATA2 or SATA3 SDD, a robust NVIDIA GT555M GPU, LTE or WiMAX connectivity, and your choice of 14-inch screens: either a 1366 x 768 display or a Full HD 1920 x 1080 LCD. Following its big brother's lead, the M14x also rolls with a pair of Klipsch speakers for hi-fi fragging. No word on when this mothership lands, but with those specs, we wouldn't mind making first contact -- would you?
