We've mentioned the X2 version of the 5870 a couple of times already. Moments ago some pictures of 'Hemlock' actually surfaced.
The card indeed is slightly longer than the Single GPU based 5870,but seems to have better ventilation. It draws its power from one 6+2 pin and one 6 pin PCI-E power connectors.
To get a rough idea on how the 5870 X2 card will perform, have a look at this article.
Well, go have a look .. click on the thumbnails:
As top computer gamers are demanding only the very best hardware, all manufacturers in the industry are constantly striving for the efficiency and performance to fulfill these needs. In order to adequately cater to these ever increasing performance demands, now MSI, leading graphics cards and mainboard manufacturer has joined forces with the renowned graphics chip manufacturer AMD and today officially launch the next generation MSI R5800 series graphics cards. The 40 nm GPU supports DirectX 11 and a variety of AMD-exclusive audiovisual and performance enhancing technologies, creating an entirely new series of performance oriented craftsmanship.
The brand new MSI R5870/R5850 series uses more advanced 40nm GPU to implement decisively more transistors within the same amount of space and thereby reaching a new level of performance. In addition the modern 40nm process reduces power consumption and brings about a more efficient overall electrical utilization. By using the advantages of this innovative 40nm process technology, the next generation MSI R5870/R5850 series offers outstanding performance of a new kind.
Support a verity of next-generation graphics standards
Apart from the production process advancements, the entire new MSI R5870/R5850 series is already optimized for the upcoming Windows 7 operating system, and the first one to support the new DirectX 11 / Shader 5.0, thereby taking the immersive gaming experience to a new level, dramatically improving special effects enjoyment. Furthermore the MSI R5870/R5850 also provide for more comprehensive graphics software support. Not only is OpenGL 3.1 supported but also the newest OpenCL standard. This allows the powerful graphics processor to not only render visual effects but also being used on general computing matters which helps to reduce CPU usage resulting in turn to a more effective overall performance.
Brand new ATi Eyefinity technology - single-card triple-screen output
For those gamers who concerned about multiple graphics output, the MSI R5870/R5850 series graphics cards already support the new ATi Eyefinity technology, allowing for triple screen output on one single card; The ATi Eyefinity technology breaks with the former limitations that one graphics card could only support a maximum of two outputs. Now, in using ATi Eyefinity gamers can extend their game play to three displays widen visibility and providing excellent views of every angle putting the gamers truly into the game, and also reach a new level of game play.
For the first time ever, motherboard, graphics card manufacturers and users can have the flexibility to use different combinations of GPUs from AMD (ATI) and NVIDIA in notebooks and PCs. The solution delivers faster 3D graphics at consumer price points.
The new HYDRA 200 SoC is Lucid's second generation parallel graphics processor that works with any GPU, CPU or chipset to provide scalable 3D graphics performance in a multi-GPU computing environment. On display for the first time at IDF 2009 (booth 213) HYDRA 200 is faster, more flexible, smaller and more power-efficient than its predecessor silicon, the HYDRA 100.
"We've further refined our HYDRA engine and made it faster and more flexible, allowing for a near limitless combination of GPU's," said Lucid vice president of research and development, David Belz. "HYDRA 200 allows the consumer to get more
The same ergonomic right-handed design remains, as does the 1ms response time. There is a 7-foot braided fiber cable that resists tangling, and a gold-plated USB connector. For easy gliding, the feet are made of Teflon. The updated DeathAdder mouse from Razer is now available, priced at $60.
It's now rumored on the web that the Radeon HD 5870 X2 (dual GPU card) that should arrive in November/December will be selling under $500. Hemlock (codename) would be slightly longer than the Radeon HD 5870 card so it is probably around 12" long.
Logic assumes that you can expect 2 versions; Radeon HD 5870 X2 and HD 5850 X2. From a leaked screenshot VRZone claims that from the CCC (control panel, you can see that the card in the machine is clocked at 725MHz core and 1GHz memory and comes with 1GB GDDR5 memories so probably this is the 5850 X2 version. Note that AMD is still finalizing on the clocks and other details so nothing is confirmed at this point of time.
I've tried to cleaup the photo's a little with photoshop to make them a t elast a little bit readable.
OCZ released two new dual-channel 4GB Black Edition DDR3 memory kits for AMD's Phenom II processors, these modules run at 1600MHz and are available with CL7 or CL8 latencies.
OCZ Technology Group, a worldwide leader in innovative, ultra-high performance and high reliability memory, today expanded their lineup of DDR3 to include certified OCZ Black Edition 4GB kits for ultimate compatibility with AMD
Ooh, sahky cam footage of the first mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has leaked onto the Internet today. good stuff ? :P
Modern Warfare 2 is slated to arrive on November 10, 2009. Check it out, if you like spoilers of course.
As the dust settles from yesterdays Radeon series 5800 graphics cards release today we'll look into Radeon HD 5870 CrossfireX performance and scaling in a dedicated article covering a large benchmark test suite.
The fun thing about this article will be the fact that it will almost EXACTLY tell us the performance of the upcoming Radeon HD 5870 X2 as well, which is one of the most anticipated cards by Guru3D aficionado's, oh dude come on admit it. Let's head on over to the article where we'll tell a little about Multi-GPU gaming, and then directly without any technical stuff dive into performance.
You can find this article right here.
Our colleagues from TPU released a new versuin of GPU-Z. GPU-Z is a lightweight utility designed to give you all information about your video card and GPU.
A new update on GPU-Z is out and it supports the latest catalyst & latest forceware drivers. Here is the list of changes :
Download : click here
Sapphire is prepping a Sapphire HD 5870 Vapor-X graphics cards. This picture shows the cooler fitted on the AMD reference PCB. Looks cool, and we just love Vapor-X coolers, we hope its real good.
Running an actual pre-production Larrabee graphics card Sean Maloney treated press on a single demo - a motionless camera looking over a shipwrecked boat with pretty water effects and the odd helicopter flying overhead.
This video is from IDF 2009 demonstrating real-time ray tracing on the Larrabee. Let's hope intel has a little more to show next year than just this.
For this interested until we can safely release Rivatuner 2.25, here is the Overclocking and Monitoring Tool from AMD lets you overclock the HD 5870, also you can change the voltages and monitor sensors.
[0.9.25.1] July 17, 2009
- test build - disable device ID check on VBIOS images obtained via ATRM method
[0.9.25.2] July 21, 2009
- test build - Cypress/Juniper thermal sensors
[0.9.26] July 23, 2009
- release build with Cypress/Juniper support
You can now download NVIDIA ForceWare 191.00 for Windows XP, 7 and Vista :
New in Release 191.00:
Existing Support:
Download:
ForceWare 191.00 WindowsXP (32-bit)
ForceWare 191.00 Windows 7 | Vista (32-bit)
ForceWare 191.00 Windows 7 | Vista (64-bit)
Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini displayed a silicon wafer containing the worlds first working chips built on 22nm process technology at IDF, San Francisco yesterday. The 22nm test circuits include both SRAM memory as well as logic circuits to be used in future Intel microprocessors.
"At Intel, Moores Law is alive and thriving," said Otellini. "Weve begun production of the worlds first 32nm microprocessor, which is also the first high-performance processor to integrate graphics with the CPU. At the same time, were already moving ahead with development of our 22nm manufacturing technology and have built working chips that will pave the way for production of still more powerful and more capable processors."
The 22nm wafer displayed by Otellini is made up of individual die containing 364 million bits of SRAM memory and has more than 2.9 billion transistors packed into an area the size of a fingernail. The chips contain the smallest SRAM cell used in working circuits ever reported at .092 square microns. The devices rely on a third-generation high-k metal gate transistor technology for improved performance and lower leakage power.
By continuing to lead in manufacturing technology Intel is able to innovate and integrate new features and functions into its processors. Intels 32nm process is now certified and Westmere processor wafers are moving through the factory in support of planned fourth quarter revenue production. Following the move to 32nm Intel will subsequently introduce Sandy Bridge, Intels next new microarchitecture. Sandy Bridge will feature a sixth generation graphics core on the same die as the processor core and includes AVX instructions for floating point, media, and processor intensive software.
By continuing to drive the pace of innovation Intel is addressing the needs of entirely new market segments including netbooks, handhelds, consumer electronics and embedded applications. "Intel Core and Atom-based processors have generated unprecedented excitement and opportunities in our key growth areas," Otellini said. "To build on this momentum, were working on ways to create a seamless Internet experience for people across all their computing devices. Today were announcing a program to encourage development of software applications that can be written once, but run on Windows and Moblin devices ?expanding their reach to more devices and consumers."
The Intel Atom Developer Program provides a framework for independent software vendors (ISVs) and software developers to create and sell applications for netbooks and other Intel
I think we already showcased these at Computex when they where in development, but Zalman has introduced the ZM-RC1000, the company's first memory cooler. Two colors are available, titanium and blue. The cooler dimentions are 66 (L) x 155 (W) x 70 (H) mm.
You'll spot 60mm ball bearing @ 2700 RPM with a low noise output of around 25dBA. These little memory coolers are delivered in a tool-free design for easy installation.
The cooler already seems to be shipping in Europe for around 16 EUR.
ASUS introduced the HP-100U, a new headphone set that aims to deliver a personal Dolby home theater experience to PC and Mac systems. ASUS, the leader in computer-based Hi-Fi solutions and acclaimed producer of CES award-winning Xonar audio products, today launched its innovative HP-100U personal Dolby home theater set. Comprising a gorgeous, lab-tuned pair of headphones, a Xonar U1 external audio device and a high quality array microphone, the HP-100U is the total audio solution for discerning listeners who brook no compromise when it comes to PC or Mac audio.
Outstanding Home Theater Sound
The HP-100U comes with the lauded Xonar U1, a uniquely-styled external audio device that harnesses the power of four major Dolby technologies to deliver high fidelity, interference-free PC audio. Furthermore, it supports DirectSound, EAX 2.0 and Open AL acceleration for the best audio experience in Windows Vista
We already mentioned in our Phenom II X4 965 that the next logical step for AMD is to intro six-core processors. It is now confirmed that the company will indeed release six-core desktop processors next year, the processor will be backwards compatible with existing AM3 and AM2+ motherboards.
AMD's chip is codenamed Thuban and will feature all six cores on single 45nm die. Thuban will feature an integrated DDR3 controller. The company didn't confirm branding but the chip is expected to be labeled as the Phenom II X6. The chip is derivative of the six-core Opteron chip which made its earlier this summer.
Extrapolating from the hexa-core Opteron, Thuban is likely to be a 346mm2 chip and have a massive 904 million transistors. As a comparison, Intel's Core i7-975 Extreme Editions have 731 million transistors on a 262mm2 die, the Core i5-750 has 774 million transistors with 296mm2 die and the Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 758 million transistors on a 258mm2 die.
The chip is expected to have 3MB of L2 and 6MB of L3 cache. The company did not specific initial clock speeds but they are not expected to be as high as the quad-core parts. That's likely due to added thermal output from the two additional cores.
Thuban is not due until sometime next year and is unlikely to beat Intel's Gulftown to stores shelves. Intel's Gulftown, likely to be called Core i9, when it is released, will slip into existing LGA1366 boards and will offer 12-threads to the OS with six of those coming from cores, and the other six from HyperThreading.
NVIDIA issued a new batch of PhysX drivers. It contains updated .dlls for SDK 2.8.1 and runtimes for new SDK 2.8.3. Another feature
