ocz
Latest
OCZ debuts Alchemy gaming peripheral line with Elixir keyboard
OCZ has already made a few forays into gaming peripherals, but it now looks like its attempting to step things up considerably with a whole new line dubbed "Alchemy," which has just made its debut with the Elixir gaming keyboard. This one takes square aim at the likes of Razer's Lycosa, with it offering the same non-slip rubber keys and ten tri-mode programmable macro keys, but a decidedly more budget-minded price: just $30 list. No firm word on any other additions to the Alchemy line just yet, unfortunately, but OCZ assures us that the Elixir is just the "first of many gaming keyboards, mice, another other computer gaming accessories."[Via TrustedReviews]
OCZ reveals Core Series SATA II 2.5 SSDs: 128GB for $479
¡Aye carumba! OCZ Technology just made us do a double take this morning with the introduction of its all new Core Series SATA II 2.5 SSDs. Hailed as the "world's first truly affordable high-performance SSD for consumers," these drives check in at $169 (32GB), $259 (64GB) and $479 (128GB), which -- as you undoubtedly recognize -- are amazing price points. Each unit utilizes NAND flash technology, possesses a 1.5-million hour mean time before failure and delivers 120 - 143Mbps read / 80 - 93Mbps write speeds. The sub-0.35ms seek times are also worthy of a tip of the hat, and the low power consumption just makes things unnecessarily sweeter. OCZ doesn't mention a definitive ship date, but we're hoping that "available" mention means "right now."[Via Electronista]
OCZ's DIY gaming laptop now available
OCZ wasn't exactly forthcoming about pricing or release details when it announced its DIY gaming laptop last month, but it looks like those intrigued by the idea of (partly) building their own system can now get their hands on one courtesy of Buy.com, which is offering up the barebones system for $670 (after a $50 rebate). That'll get you the base 15.4-inch laptop complete with an Intel PM965 chipset, a 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics card and a DVD burner, but you'll have to supply your own processor (any Core 2 Duo is supported), memory (up to 4GB of DDR2-667), and hard drive, not to mention an OS and other "options" like WiFi or Bluetooth. [Via Laptoping]
OCZ's DIY Gaming Notebook
We've seen this attempted a few times before, but it's hard to imagine OCZ's entry into build-it-yourself laptops will be any more successful. The new OCZ DIY Gaming Notebook is a 7 pound 15.4-inch backbreaker, which comes standard with an NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video card, Intel PM965 northbridge, SATA support for hard drives, 8x dual-layer DVD burner, four USB 2.0 ports, ExpressCard and a fingerprint leader. The problem is that the "optional components" are WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 and a TV tuner, with only the last of those being truly optional on a regular enthusiast laptop. It's nice of OCZ to provide documentation and a warranty for those who really want to get under the hood of a modern laptop, but we're guessing most gamers these days would give up a bit of a customization for a straight-up well priced performer. No word on price or availability.
OCZ announces 32, 64GB SATA II SSDs
32 and 64GB capacities aren't all that impressive when it comes to SATA II 2.5-inch solid state drives, but OCZ's new devices do claim 120MBps read and 100MBps write speeds which would put it up there on the ranks. Unfortunately, OCZ neglected to clue anyone in on price or release date for these puppies.
Heads-on with OCZ's Neural Impulse Actuator
If the Neural Impulse Actuator (NIA) from OCZ could really read thoughts, it'd be a little disappointed right now. In our short time with the "brain mouse" controller, we had some difficulty figuring out what exact "thoughts" did what, with our primary accomplishment being repeated backwards jumping motions while getting destroyed in a match of Unreal Tournament 3. To the NIA's credit, however, we could already tell that we were getting a bit of a sixth sense for the controller, and with the hour or so of recommended time for learning, we're sure we could be fragging with the best of them. "Brain mouse" is a bit of a misnomer, since we used the NIA in conjunction with a real mouse for actually looking around. NIA took over everything else, including strafing, jumping, running and even shooting if you concentrate just right. The unit seemed to primarily concern itself with our forehead muscle contractions, but other subtle motions seemed to come out of nowhere when we moved our eyes or concentrated just right. Just for novelty alone we'd say the NIA is worth that $300 pricetag, but we don't expect to be besting Fatal1ty with this strapped to our head.%Gallery-17540%
OCZ set to launch Neural Impulse Actuator "brain mouse"
It's certainly not the first to toy around with mind control as a means of fun and games, but OCZ looks like it may be among the first to actually get a product out the door, with it now set to launch its Neural Impulse Actuator "brain mouse," or NIA for short. According to Daily Tech, the device makes use of a combination of EEG readings, muscle movement, and eye movement to control a given application which, in this case, is mainly intended to be games. Needless to say, the contraption will take a little getting used to, but OCZ says that most users will get the hang of it "within hours" after a little practice, and that they'll eventually even be able to increase their reaction time compared to a standard mouse. You'll also not surprisingly need a fairly decent PC, as the NIA has been designed specifically for multi-core systems, and a good bit cash to spare, with it set to run $300 when it launches sometime in the not too distant future (it's going into production next week).
OCZ unveils "world's first" Intel Extreme Memory Modules
Get ready, OCZ is comin' atcha with some newfangled RAM technology that's likely to scare off the very market it's hoping to attract, but we're here to break things down for digestion. Put (sort of) simply, the firm's DDR3 PC3-12800 Intel XMP Ready Titanium Edition RAM will become the first memory to feature Intel Extreme Memory Profiles, which work exclusively with Intel's X38 chipset to enable the average joe (or jane) to overclock their RAM without even knowing what latency means. The sticks will come configured to run 8-8-8 latencies, but a secondary profile featuring a 7-6-6 latency can be easily activated if ran on an X38 chipset to squeeze a bit more performance out of the setup. There, that wasn't too hard, now was it?[Via TrustedReviews]
OCZ offers up rugged ATV / ATV Turbo USB flash drives
We wouldn't guesstimate that OCZ's newest duo of flash drives were the toughest we've ever seen, but the styling alone is pretty intimidating, we must say. Both drives reportedly tout weatherproof "rubber tread" housings and can withstand being submerged in water, and while the ATV will hum along "at mainstream speeds," the ATV Turbo promises read rates of up to 35MB/per second and write rates of up to 30MB/per second. No official pricing details look to be available just yet, but both iterations should be available shortly in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB sizes.[Via SlashGear]
OCZ intros 1800MHz DDR3 RAM modules
OCZ is upping the DDR3 RAM ante yet again, besting its own recently introduced modules with its new 1800MHz PC3-14400 modules. Apparently the first modules of their kind to go into production, these will be available in both single 1GB modules and 2x1GB dual channel kits, with 'em boasting a peak bandwidth of 14400MB (or 14.4GB) per second and latencies "comparable to the fastest offerings of DDR or DDR2." Otherwise, you'll get OCZ's proprietary platinum-mirrored XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreader to keep the modules cool, along with a lifetime warranty for a little extra insurance.[Via The Inquirer]
OCZ announces PC3-8500 and PC3-10666 DDR3 RAM modules
Don't look now Kingston, but OCZ is already going mano-a-mano with your DDR3 offering by introducing PC3-8500 (1066MHz) and PC3-10666 (1333MHz) RAM modules of its own. Designed to play nice with Intel's Bearlake chipset, the noticeably flashy DIMMs will be offered initially in in 2 x 512MB and 2 x 1024MB dual channel kits. The Gold DDR3 modules will sport the outfit's proprietary gold-mirrored XTC (Xtreme Thermal Convection) heatspreaders for boosting their heat dissipation abilities, and as with other premium products from OCZ, these too come with a lifetime warranty. Interestingly, the company claims that these are currently available but in "limited quantities," which means that you'll probably want to hold up on busting out your credit card if at all possible.[Via TGDaily]
OCZ intros "world's fastest" 1200MHz PC2-9600 Flex XLC RAM
Champs don't stay that way long in the computer hardware biz, but one way to ensure that the crown stays in the same camp is to one-up yourself before another firm can beat you to the punch. OCZ seems to be feelin' said mantra, as the company's latest Flex XLC RAM overtakes the previous rendition to claim the "world's fastest" title at 1,200MHz. Of course, we've seen quicker memory stuffed onto graphics cards, but the new motherboard-ready PC2-9600 Flex XLC modules sport a svelte hybrid cooling system that melds passive air and liquid injection systems to give you all the bragging rights you'd ever need. The DDR2-1200 modules are currently available in 2GB (2 x 1,024MB) kits, come with a lifetime warranty, and will run you right around $250.[Via Gearlog]
OCZ Trifecta SD card pulls triple duty
Although it's far from being the first USB-enabled SD card to grace store shelves, we're giving OCZ a bit of a break considering that its rendition of the multi-faceted flash card also handles microSD on the side. The aptly-dubbed Trifecta purportedly functions as any standard SD card should in your camera, PMP, or toilet, but it also acts as a flash card reader or USB thumb drive without any extra fuss. The three-in-one device will be shipping in both 1GB and 2GB flavors before any additional expansion via microSD, will sport a 66x read rate, and will be covered by a five-year warranty to boot. Unfortunately, we've no idea when to expect these little guys to actually arrive, nor how much they'll run when that day comes.[Via EverythingUSB]
OCZ shows off Rally 2 FireWire thumbdrives at CeBIT
If you're like us, you've probably filled all your USB ports long ago -- we're daisy-chaining hubs at this point -- and yet most of our FireWire jacks, including the front panel one, remain perpetually unoccupied. So instead of doing the four port shuffle every time you want to load up a thumb drive, why not get a model that connects via FireWire instead? OCZ is showing off a pair of its Rally 2 drives that do just that, with one featuring dual 4-pin and 6-pin FireWire 400 plugs and the other sporting a single FireWire 800 connector. Sustained transfer rates on both devices promise to outperform USB 2.0 versions, so you're getting both speed and convenience here. No word on cost or availability, but you can't really put a price on freed-up USB ports anyway.[Via Engadget Japanese]
OCZ gets into peripheral biz with gaming mouse
OCZ may currently be best known for its high-end memory and other internal components, but the company's apparently gotten tired of treading the same territory over and over again, now hopping into the ever-crowded peripheral biz with its Equalizer Laser Mouse. While the mouse's specs appear to be decent enough, with a maximum 2500 DPI resolution and six selectable levels, OCZ doesn't seem to be taking any chances with its introductory offering, decking the mouse out in a garish color scheme that's sure to stand out from the other, subtler mice lining store shelves. Taking a cure from NES controllers of yore, the mouse also packs a so-called "Triple Threat" button, which will let you get off three shots with a single click, or cut those exhausting double-clicking tasks in half. Those that prefer their gaming on a slightly smaller scale also aren't out of luck, with OCZ releasing the mouse in both desktop and laptop versions, each setting you back about fifty bucks when they're released next week.[Via TG Daily]
OCZ kicks out liquid-cooled PC2-9200 FlexXLC Edition memory
Sure, liquid-cooling your gadgetry is oftentimes done to prove your 1337-ness, but in cases like Apple's oh-so-toasty Dual G5 PowerMac and Microsoft's notoriously warm Xbox 360, we consider the task quite appropriate. In OCZ's case, however, we're leaning towards the unnecessarily flashy side, as the company's PC2-9200 FlexXLC (Xtreme Liquid Convention) Edition memory touts both air and water cooling possibilities. Dubbed the "world's fastest DDR2 RAM" at 1,150MHz, the modules feature an eight-layer PCB which hinders crosstalk and improves signal integrity, and sports a "fin-like heatsink" to waft warmth away from the components. Moreover, it also boasts liquid-dispersing units that pass water across copper lines to cool things off when taxing your system. While we're not sure how much this showstopping memory will run you, it does feature a lifetime warranty in case the liquid decides to boil over and create a bonafide disaster.[Via Electronista]
OCZ's Mini-Kart USB flash drive
We've seen plenty of tiny USB flash drives, not to mention all those SD cards with built-in USB connectors, so we thought that portable storage had finally gotten small enough for everyone to be happy. Storage device manufacturer OCZ doesn't think so, however, and are hoping that their Mini-Kart USB flash -- available now in sizes up to 2GB for around $60 -- will lure consumers away from other Lililiputian options on the market. The folks at XYZ Computing broke out a magnifying glass and took one of the little drives for a spin, finding that the transfer rate was slower than on a larger drive -- but apparently, they were willing to live with the trade-off for the smaller size and coolness factor. We say that since you'll probably just end up losing this thing anyway, you're better off keeping your most sensitive data more tightly guarded -- like by wrapping it around your wrist.
