NVIDIA just re-released it's 174.53, this time with Quad SLI support for Windows Vista. Some of the release highlights:

• Added support for GeForce 9800 GX2, including Quad SLI Technology.
• Added new PureVideo HD features for GeForce 9800 GX2:
• Dynamic Contrast Enhancement
• Dynamic Blue, Green & Skin Tone Enhancements
• Dual-Stream Decode Acceleration*
• Microsoft Vista Aero display mode compatibility for Blu-ray & HD DVD playback*

Download:

ForceWare 174.53 XP (32-bit )
ForceWare 174.53 XP (64-bit )
ForceWare 174.53 Vista (64-bit )
ForceWare 174.53 Vista (32-bit )

Product supported are the GeForce 9600 & 9800 series.

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While Panasonic's rugged Toughbook 30 has been strutting its stuff with a Core 2 Duo within, the poor, poor Toughbook 19 has been going without. No more, however, as Panny has just announced that it'll be boosting the speed and expanding the memory available in the beastly convertible tablet. Available now, the 5.1-pound rig is stuffed with a 1.06GHz U7500 processor (2MB L2 cache), up to 4GB of SDRAM, 80GB shock-mounted HDD, 10.4-inch daylight-readable display, a battery good for around seven hours, optional integrated WWAN / GPS / 2-megapixel webcam and a magnesium alloy case that won't mind getting trampled. So, what's the price for such an (almost) impossible-to-destroy machine? $3,199 and up, we're afraid.

Toughbook 19 joins flagship rugged Toughbook 30 in delivering Core 2 Duo technology for mission-critical applications in extreme environments; Eleven independently-verified mil-spec tests and more than 500 internal quality checks combine for unparalleled Panasonic reliability

Secaucus, NJ, March 25, 2008

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Mitsubishi has announced two models from its new "REAL Blu-ray" Blu-ray Disc recorder series. The two models are the "DVR-BZ200" with a 500-Gbyte HDD and the "DVR-BZ100" with a 250-Gbyte HDD. These are Mitsubishi's first Blu-ray recorders. Both models feature two tuners for each of terrestrial digital, BS digital and 110-degree CS digital broadcasts, so they can simultaneously record two digital broadcast programs in high definition (HD) mode. A terrestrial analog tuner is housed as well. For easy playback, recording and other operations, Mitsubishi incorporated its new "REALINK" capability compatible with its "REAL" LCD TVs in the recorders.

In addition to a standard remote controller, the Blu-ray recorders come up with another remote controller equipped with a touch screen LCD panel. To realize even easier operations, this controller displays necessary buttons on the LCD panel in accordance with the option chosen by the user. Mitsubishi REAL Blu-ray" Blu-ray Disc recorders DVR-BZ200 and DVR-BZ100 will be available in Japan from May24, 2008

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The folks over at Gametrailers have published a video-review of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2:


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Ever wanted to prank one of your co-workers? The Phantom Keystroker is your big chance to do so. It resembles a circuit board, but it's really a device of destruction. Well, it can destroy an unsuspecting co-worker's day anyway.

Here's how it works: Attach the Phantom Keystroker to any free USB port on the victim of your choice's computer. The Keystroker is said to emulate a keyboard and mouse and will perform random mouse movements and type out unusual text and phrases on his or her computer. This is the point when your victim will start freaking out and probably call IT.

You control whether you want the device to randomly type weird phrases, perform annoying mouse movements, or both, thanks to the "Jumper" setting. The Phantom Keystroker is compatible with any OS and sells for $24.99

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It's such good news to see broader SSD support. Toshiba announced it started mass production of multi-level cell (MLC) NAND memory based solid state drives. The first models to begin shipping this month have a capacity of 128GB and will feature a lightweight, 15 gram embedded module form factor.

To achieve performance levels of 100MB/second read and 40MB/second write in these first generation drives, Toshiba utilized a SATA II interface and an innovative MLC controller supporting fast read-write speed, parallel data transfer, and wear-leveling. As a result, Toshiba SSDs achieve overall PC Benchmark scores that are better than 5400 rpm and 7200rpm HDDs and comparable to selected SATA SLC NAND SSDs.

The SSD drives excel in Windows Vista boot speed, application loading, general usage and virus scan operations. Compared to hard disk drives, SSDs realize a number of advantages that address needs in the mobile computing market for performance, ruggedness, and lightweight, compact form factors.

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It's huge, no doubt. But MIU's HDPC must be to pack such a broad list of specifications. First spotted as a prototype back in 2006, the 163 x 67 x 24.5-mm / 387-gram brick is now expected to go retail in July for up to ₩500,000 or a US-equivalent pricing of just $500. That's dirt cheap for what they seem to promise:

• 4-inch, 800 x 480 pixel touchscreen display which slides out and flips over for the cellphone interface
• Up to a 1GHz VIA C7M ULV processor and 4GB of DDR2 memory
• Dual, Windows XP / Linux Qplus embedded OS
• Unspecified cellphone radio
• Maximum 1.3-inch 60GB hard disk (or 4GB SSD) and miniSD/microSD expansion
• 7-hour battery (or 90-hours at low power)
• 802.11b/g WiFi, Blueooth 2.0
• 2x USB, docking port, stereo speakers, QWERTY thumbpad and mouse
• What looks like a 5 megapixel camera
• DMB mobile television and external GPS add-on

All that tech allows the HDPC to function as a portable SatNav device, handheld gaming rig, cellphone, UMPC, PMP, eBook reader, digital camera, etc. Did we already tell you that it will cost less than $500?

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We're still a little hazy as to exactly what ASUS's new Splendid HD1 "video enhance card" actually does differently than most other 2D-enhanced devices, but the company claims it ratchets up 1080p video quality on both digital and analog outputs, and it'll fit in right along side those Splendid-based Xondar cards. Of course, it's also got HDCP (which is a start), but it's starting to smell a little gimmicky around here, splendid or not.

With the implementation of Asus

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The lightbulb of the future?

Luxim's plasma lightbulb

Silicon Valley's Luxim has developed a lightbulb the size of a Tic Tac that gives off as much light as a streetlight. News.com's Michael Kanellos talks to the company about its technology and its plans to expand into various markets.

http://news.zdnet.com/2422-13568_22-192842.html


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Luxim's plasma lightbulb

Silicon Valley's Luxim has developed a lightbulb the size of a Tic Tac that gives off as much light as a streetlight. News.com's Michael Kanellos talks to the company about its technology and its plans to expand into various markets.

Length: 01:34

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PCs from Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, Lenovo, and other major computer makers that contain a widely used Intel chipset can't be upgraded to Windows Vista Service Pack 1 if they're running certain drivers.
Microsoft has said that Vista SP1 won't work with "a small number of device drivers." The list, however, includes drivers for an Intel chipset that's found in thousands of PCs and laptops.

The affected chipset is Intel's 945G Express series, which is used in computers from virtually all major system vendors. It's also found on standalone motherboards sold by Asus. The 945G Express chipset driver versions between numbers 7.14.10.1322 and 7.14.10.1403 won't work with Vista SP1, according to Microsoft.

Chipsets provide a connection point for all key subsystems within a PC. The 945G Express chipset includes Intel's GMA 950 graphics core, which also won't work with Vista SP1 if those drivers are used.

Microsoft is urging Vista users to update all of their hardware to the latest drivers before even attempting to install SP1.

The service pack also won't work with computers that use certain, widely-deployed audio drivers from Realtek and certain drivers for security devices manufactured by Symantec. Microsoft has published a full list of drivers that are incompatible with the service pack.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is continuing to receive reports from computer users who say Vista SP1 is wreaking havoc on their systems. A user going by the name "Apolauf" said the upgrade caused the mouse cursor on his tablet PC to disappear. The "right-click circle and the special pen mouse cursor ... are no longer functional" as well, said Apolauf, in a post on the Vista team blog. Bob Rife, a user from Canada, said in an e-mail to InformationWeek that SP1 caused one of his computer's two hard drives to become invisible to Windows Explorer and Acronis Disk Director. Rife said he complained to Microsoft, but has yet to receive a response.

Others reported having no problems. A user named "Zandor" said on the Vista team blog that his company successfully upgraded 614 computers to Vista SP1. "Great job, Windows team," wrote Zandor.

Microsoft made Vista SP1 widely available for the first time on Tuesday. The update includes more than 300 hot fixes designed to improve the operating system's speed, security, and stability.

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Gigabyte is going to make its entry in the gamer peripheral market with a mechanical gaming keyboard. The non-click Cherry MX-linear keys will have a life cycle of 60 million keystrokes.

It does have a lot of features but to summarize some of the features

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Dailytech reports that  NVIDIA representatives notified its board partners this week that its new Hybrid SLI technology has been delayed. NVIDIA's Hybrid SLI technology offers an innovative new method to improve power management and performance. However, motherboard vendors will have to wait to implement the new NVIDIA feature.

The basics of Hybrid SLI aren't very difficult to understand. The term itself envelopes two different NVIDIA technologies, GeForce Boost and HybridPower. GeForce Boost allows for a single discrete NVIDIA graphics card to be paired with an NVIDIA motherboard's integrated graphics. HybridPower, on the other hand, dynamically adjusts graphics speed, noise and power consumption according to the task at hand.

The delay notification reads, "We are still experiencing delays in getting the kits sent as the product is experiencing delays, drivers are being fine-tuned and sales tools are being finalized."

NVIDIA goes on to promise that Hybrid SLI samples will reach vendors in the second half of April, which means retail availability has been pushed into late May. The company does not state the reason for the delay.

Cards that currently support Hybrid SLI include the GeForce 8500 GT as well as the GeForce 8400 GS. The chipsets that support Hybrid SLI include the NVIDIA nForce 720a and the nForce 730a.

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To be able to compete with NVIDIA's GeForce 8600 GTS in price and performance, AMD will launch a new model in the HD 3800 series with a more modest configuration than its two older counterparts.

AMD's Radeon HD 3830 is a spin-off chip based on the RV670 core and will feature a 128-bit memory bus, potentially providing roughly half the memory bandwidth of the HD 3850 and 3870 depending on the type and speed of memory used. All other features of the 55nm RV670 core are still included: DirectX 10.1, PCIe 2.0 and UVD.  The GPU still features 320 stream processors like the HD 3850 and HD 3870 revisions.

According to recent reports, the HD 3830 will feature up to 256 MB of memory and come with 320 stream processors as well as 16 texture filtering units and 16 raster operators to match the HD 3850/3870 models. This is compared to the 32 stream processors, 16 texture filtering units and 8 raster operators of the 8600GTS's G84 core.

Pricing of the Radeon HD 3830 scheduled on roadmaps in the $120-130 range, however with Radeon HD 3850 prices quickly approaching that, 3830 street prices could easily hit the $100 price point. 

AMD roadmaps peg the launch of Radeon HD 3830 at mid-April, with initial shipments likely not hitting the U.S. until several weeks later. 

Looks like a nice enough card, and if it does hyrbrid crossfire with the 780G amd boards, should be real nice combo to own.

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Realtek updated it's Audio HD driver for both Windows XP & Vista . Our download contains both the XP and Vista drivers (32 & 64-bit).

Chipsets supported:

1. Windows Vista WHQL: ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC861VD, ALC660, ALC662, ALC260,ALC262,ALC267, ALC268, ALC 269
2. Windows 2000/XP WHQL: ALC880, ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC888, ALC861VC, ALC861VD,ALC660, ALC662, ALC260, ALC262, ALC267,ALC268, ALC269
3. HDMI Device WHQL Support: ATI HDMI Devices

Changes in Version 1.89:

• Support "Event/Notification mode" under Vista.
• Fix Vista GUI issue when video adapter's resolution is low.
• Customizations.

Package:

• Uninstallation language selected by OS system .
• "Uninstall" word issue in Japanese language .

> Download

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S3 Graphics today announced the S3 Graphics Chrome 430 GT desktop cards, now available at online retail affiliate GStore. The first of the S3 Graphics Chrome 400 Series to market, the Chrome 430 GT combines advanced 3D graphics and incredible HD multimedia performance with extreme power-efficiency and rigidly low thermal specifications, breaking new ground in the highly competitive graphics industry. Based on the low profile PCI Express Gen 2 graphics card specification, the Chrome 430 GT is ideally suited for small form factor PC designs and energy-conscious PC users who wish to upgrade their PC to provide incredible HD playback and the latest DirectX 10.1 graphics engine.

The S3 Graphics Chrome 430 GT outperforms the current market leader in its class by over 20% in 3D benchmarks and rendered frames-per-second in the most popular DX10 and DX9 games. Using proven low power 65nm process technology from Fujitsu, the Chrome 430 GT remains power efficient with low thermal emissions when rendering Microsoft DirectX 10.1/OpenGL 2.1 graphics applications or providing users with true Hi-Def 1080p Blu-ray entertainment. The S3 Graphics Chrome 430GT is priced at $59 and is currently available online from GStore, S3 Graphics

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Engineers harnessing the same physical property that drives silent household air purifiers have created a miniaturized device that is now ready for testing as a silent, ultra-thin, low-power and low maintenance cooling system for laptop computers and other electronic devices.

The compact, solid-state fan, developed with support from NSF's Small Business Innovation Research program, is the most powerful and energy efficient fan of its size. It produces three times the flow rate of a typical small mechanical fan and is one-fourth the size.

Dan Schlitz and Vishal Singhal of Thorrn Micro Technologies, Inc., of Marietta, Ga. will present their RSD5 solid-state fan at the 24th Annual Semiconductor Thermal Measurement, Modeling and Management Symposium (Semi-Therm) in San Jose, Calif., on March 17, 2008. The device is the culmination of six years of research that began while the researchers were NSF-supported graduate students at Purdue University.

"The RSD5 is one of the most significant advancements in electronics cooling since heat pipes. It could change the cooling paradigm for mobile electronics," said Singhal.

The RSD5 incorporates a series of live wires that generate a micro-scale plasma (an ion-rich gas that has free electrons that conduct electricity). The wires lie within un-charged conducting plates that are contoured into half-cylindrical shape to partially envelop the wires.

Within the intense electric field that results, ions push neutral air molecules from the wire to the plate, generating a wind. The phenomenon is called corona wind.

"The technology is a breakthrough in the design and development of semiconductors as it brings an elegant and cost effective solution to the heating problems that have plagued the industry," said Juan Figueroa, the NSF SBIR program officer who oversaw the research.

With the breakthrough of the contoured surface, the researchers were able to control the micro-scale discharge to produce maximum airflow without risk of sparks or electrical arcing. As a result, the new device yields a breeze as swift as 2.4 meters per second, as compared to airflows of 0.7 to 1.7 meters per second from larger, mechanical fans.

The contoured platform is a part of the device heat sink, a trick that enabled Schlitz and Singhal to both eliminate some of the device's bulk and increase the effectiveness of the airflow.

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ASUS announced its new ASUS Xonar DX PCI Express 7.1 Audio Card earlier this year. The company makes the bold statement that the new sound card delivers 35 times cleaner audio compared to onboard audio built into your mainboard.

The new Xonar DX card is tuned for audio quality with 116dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and features other sound enhancing technologies like Dolby Home Theater and DS3D GX. To compare ASUS says that the typical on-board audio solution has 85dB SNR.

The Xonar DX uses the CirrusLogics CS4398 audio DAC that is typically used in Hi-Fi devices. The card is also able to take advantage of the latest DirectSound and EAX 5.0 sound effects in PC games for Windows Vista. ASUS also integrates its VocalFX technology that allows for users voices to be integrated into games via VoiceEX and to emulate background scenes in online chats (ChatEX).

Other features include support for Dolby Digital Live, Dolby Headphone, Dolby Virtual Speaker, and Dolby Pro Logix IIx. The audio processor used for the card is the ASUS AV100 High-Definition Sound Processor. The analog playback sample rate and resolution s 44.1K/48K/96K/192KHz at 16/24 bits. The analog recording sample rate and resolution is the same. A digital S/PDIF Digital Output is featured as well with Dolby Digital and DTS.

The best news for PC users that like the specifications of the Xonar DX is that the card will retail for only $89. The new Xonar DX will fit into the ASUS line alongside the previously announced Xonar sound cards including the Xonar U1 external audio processor, Xonar D2 and the Xonar D2K.

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French publisher Ubisoft has announced that it has acquired all intellectual property rights to the name 'Tom Clancy' from the thriller author (Rainbow Six Vegas 2 etc).

These newly acquired rights, which help to guarantee an important multi-franchise product for the publisher, extend on a perpetual basis, free of any future royalty payments, and include use in video games and related products including books, movies and merchandising. The price of the all cash acquisition has not been disclosed explicitly, but Ubisoft implied in its announcement that the initial payment in this fiscal year was of 20 million euros ($30 million). Additional payments are to also be made in the fiscal years of 2008-09 and 2009-10. Hot on the heels of this announcement comes word that they are using that name to build themselves a Tom Clancy MMO.

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Codemasters have released a new trailer for their upcoming racer called Race Driver: G.R.I.D, and it looks really really good! Check it out.


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Recently Tuniq (part of Sunbeamtech) released a trio of power supplies. The Ensemble comes in 1200 and 1000 Watt versions, and their "lower" specced Miniplant is "only" a 950 Watt animal. Despite the fact that the PSU can suck up 950 Watts, this actually is an energy friendly product .. it has everything to do with it's high efficiency topping out at 80%+, no worries though, we'll explain and demonstrate that over the next few pages. According to the specs it's rated at ~87%, which is quite notable and surely important as Energy consumption of our PC's has grown massively over the past year or two. Right, let's head to the next page where we'll discuss some of the features after which we'll dive into a photo shoot, test and verdict.

You can read the article right here:

http://www.guru3d.com/article/psu/503/

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