System Diary Technology News Blog

Truly powerful gaming laptops are always expensive. A performance of the adapters that are installed in inexpensive laptops, many are missing. However, now there is a solution: a hybrid AMD Fusion processors in combination with an external graphics provide very good performance in games. It is this combination and found in the HP Pavilion dv6-6b06er.

The result of the first test of laptops with AMD Fusion processors has become such a conclusion: not all laptops with hybrid AMD processors are equally useful. It is difficult to say with what exactly it is related, but some manufacturers get to unlock the full potential of the mobile platform AMD, and some can not. Of course, Intel-based laptops is also not identical to each other, but their difference is not significant and more predictable.

As a result of testing several models for ultra-Brazos platform, we found that the best managed “to travel the” new AMD hardware company HP. Even at the time of the announcement of Sabine platform to discover new chips, we would like to start with one of the laptops HP. But for some reason something went wrong – and did not develop a surprisingly long time. The first HP laptop with an AMD A-series we have been able to get only at the end of December. However, better late than never.

If Apple has once again there will be no difficulties, this year we will see a new iPhone. It is still too early to tell how it will be ubiquitous insiders have not been able to get any credible information about its technical characteristics, but the designers of Conceptual always willing to share their humble considerations, a new concept introduced the iPhone 5 designer Chris Groen (Kris Groen).

The main finding of this concept is the transfer of the HOME button on the front panel on the side faces. It is possible to free space for the display, which eventually grew to the size of the respective needs of the times, as well as easier to work with the phone. Calling home screen is now done by pressing the two side buttons, the difference is that the fingers of the user in a natural position are always on these buttons. This is a simple squeezing motion, proposed by Synaptics Fuse concept in a couple of years ago. By the way, you can press the button and one by one, it gives you access to features and allows multi-tasking turning the pages home screen.

Range of advanced mobile devices includes a variety of toys: laptops, tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras and more. Many modern people somehow collect a complete collection of these gadgets. It turns out sort of division of labor between the electronics, each device performs its task, each of which may be necessary at any moment, only to carry all that heap with a not very convenient.

Designer Prashant Chandra on behalf of (Prashant Chandra) introduced the concept of computer Fujitsu Lifebook, a laptop, which had room for three small mobile gadgets: Tablet, smartphone and camera. The entire quartet can work together or when the devices complement each other, or one at a time. For example, a tablet computer (judging by the illustrations, 7-inch) works as a stand-alone gadget for the standard “tablet” features, including surfing the web and mobile games. And he plays the role of touch QWERTY-keyboard for your laptop, your laptop at no. To do this, on the notebook chassis has a special slot on the 16-pin dock connector.

Smartphone, in addition to their usual stand-alone functions, plays a role in the overall system drive for him in the notebook chassis also has a groove in which the mobile phone is fully immersed. And finally, on top of the lid there is a receptacle for the fine camera that is used as a storage system snapshots. Combining all these components in a computer Fujitsu Lifebook decides mainly two problems. First, charging their batteries simultaneously from a single connector, and secondly, the synchronization of all data is instantly connect, all you need is a user at your fingertips. The compact, easy to transport package.

Press Service GIGABYTE Technology announced the availability for purchase throughout the world a new portable computer GIGABYTE Booktop T1132N Category 3-in-1.

Enclosed in an attractive model for the execution of shell and equipped with a rotating 180 degrees to 11.6-inch multitouch LCD screen, through which easily transforms from a notebook into a tablet. If the proposed use of the original optional docking station with swivel base and interfaces USB 3.0, HDMI, D-Sub, as well as connecting to her low-profile external DVD-drive, this mobile computer can be effortlessly transformed into a table. The machine is built for Intel Core i5 processor and second-generation, among other things, is equipped with a discrete graphics adapter NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M with a gigabyte of video memory and support of technology NVIDIA Optimus, as well as audio subsystem with built-in speakers and Technology THX TruStudio Pro.

The International Consumer Electronics Show CES 2012 for many manufacturers of electronic equipment has become a unique set of offensive advertising purposes. For other visitors – a perfect place for a fascinating tour of the spectacular stands of large manufacturers. All these different visitors share a love for high technology and great curiosity.

Features of Windows 8 have been one of the most curious and, consequently, the topics discussed at CES 2012. Expected yield many new OS from MIcrosoft announcement was cause a large number of mobile devices with support for Windows 8. Many have already had an opportunity to draw first in the imagination of a superficial idea of testing a beta build of Windows 8, focused on a Tablet PC.

At issue is when this stage arrives, the Director of Public Relations Microsoft Janelle Poole (Janelle Poole) said that the transition to the next stage of development will take place by the end of February, and will allow consumers to pick up a new wave of testing.
Poole also has an interesting history of output MIcrosoft. The bottom line is that the emergence of the next operating system has always been determined the three-year intervals. And this, in 2012, in October, the statute of limitations release of Windows 7 will be exactly 3 years. The coincidence is quite impressive, if the event does come to pass.

Of course, the plans have the ability to change, and this argument can be an example of output of consumer versions of Windows Vista, which actually went into circulation not in October, and by the end of January 2007.

Last month, Microsoft released the hardware requirements for Windows logo certification at 8. This documentation included a number of recommendations for the creation of systems that satisfy the requirements of quality, performance and functionality of the Windows device the next generation. Blogosphere mainly drew attention to the requirements relating to requirements for Secure Boot platform ARM, missing the more interesting the information specified in the document. It should fix it.

5-point digital converter
Microsoft requires that a PC based on Windows 8 with support for touch input can detect at least 5 simultaneous key presses. Thus, all the computers with the Windows logo 8 and touch screen will automatically support the multi-point control. It is interesting that many modern PCs do not have such opportunities. For example, even the latest HP TouchSmart PCs can only recognize two simultaneous touches.

“Tags of touches» NFC
Microsoft requires that devices with Windows 8 that support NFC, had a special “touch marks”. That is, the PC (or rather, any tablet) should have a sign or label, giving to understand where you want to bring another device with support for NFC. To this requirement should pay some attention, as if in the case of almost all smartphone device can receive, transfer, in the case of the larger form-factor data transmission at the near distance can be really difficult. In the latter case, information about the physical location of the sensor can be very useful, has saved the user from unnecessary movements stupid when trying to transfer data over the NFC with one plate to another.

Hardware buttons
Microsoft requires in tablets and laptops-transformer based on Windows 8 having five hardware buttons: power, lock the screen orientation, the key Windows, volume up, volume down. In this case the Windows key must be at least 10.5 mm in diameter, but can take any shape (circle, rectangle, square …).

The new shortcut to replace the «CTRL + ALT + DEL»
In Windows 8 will continue to support the system will remain a combination of Ctrl + Alt + Del, so any user known operating system from Microsoft. However, the new operating system is designed on the device without a physical keyboard. Of course, it is possible to use the onscreen keyboard, but it would be more reliable and faster method – simultaneously pressing physical keys supply, and Windows.

The minimum set of components for Tablet PC and Transformers
Microsoft Corporation requires that each tablet PC or convertible with Windows 8 had a minimal set of features and components. System requirements for the partners is not something fundamentally new, but now we can assume what would be the simplest system that fully satisfy the requirements of Windows 8. Thus,

The minimum requirements for the tablets on Windows 8
At least 10 GB of free disk space after installing the operating system and associated components;
type of system firmware – UEFI;
Wi-Fi support and Bluetooth 4.0 + LE (energy efficiency);
graphic accelerator supporting Direct3D 10 and driver WDDM 1.2;
screen resolution – 1366×768;
Touchscreen must pass all the tests and maintain recognition of five simultaneous touches;
built-in camera should have a resolution of 720p;
The ambient light sensor must maintain a luxury-30K with a dynamic range 5-60K;
magnetometer;
triaxial accelerometer with data-rate not less than 50 Hz;
gyroscope;
USB 2.0: at least one controller and an output port;
audio speakers.

Updating drivers without rebooting the system
Microsoft requires that the PC-based Windows 8 support update drivers for graphics cards without having to reboot. Although it is still supported in Windows Vista WDDM drivers update without a reboot, this requirement is often violated in the unified driver, containing both XDDM, and WDDM-driver. With the cessation of support XDDM-drivers in Windows 8, this requirement is quite natural.

2 seconds to resume operation of the OS … but not for the ARM
Microsoft does not require that computers based on ARM-version of Windows 8 could resume work from a deep sleep mode for two seconds or less. Only PC-based chips that are compatible with x86, should satisfy this requirement. It is also worth remembering that the maximum yield of 2 seconds mode Standby (S3) existed since Windows 7. But it must be assumed that the ARM-systems, this requirement is not spelled out solely because of the variability architectures ARM, as well as, perhaps, from a simple lack of data from Microsoft on this issue. In the future, such a requirement would undoubtedly emerge.

AMD introduced a document which is intended to help software developers make today to optimize their products for the processor architecture Bulldozer and future chips. This document is interesting from the standpoint of what he describes architectural features Piledriver, as well as chips based on it, including the Trinity, Vishera, Terramar and Sepang.
Following the Piledriver, as already known from previous announcements AMD, will be released architectures like Steamroller and Excavator. AMD’s plans for the next three years in the field of processors are saturated and clear. Objective – increase performance per watt of its processor cores middle and high class of about 10-15% annually.
In practice, this should result in 33-52% advantage in speed architecture Excavator compared with the first generation Bulldozer while keeping power consumption at the same level. In terms of technology AMD is going to increase the number of instructions executed per cycle while reducing energy consumption, which will reach higher clock speeds.

From the published document by staff CPU-World fished information on chips with cores Piledriver – generations of processors numbered 10h-1fh (1xh) and 20h-2Fh (2xh). Already released to market the chips belong to the range names 00h-0fh (0xh); mentioned numbers and 30h-3fh and 40h-4fh, but not completely clear whether the latest chips belong to the families of the upcoming Steamroller and Excavator, or is it a Processors Steamroller for desktop and server segments.
Among the features of the architecture Piledriver, tagged resources CPU-World, is mentioned twice the size of the buffer L1 TLB (from 16 to 32) increased from 40 to 44 queue depth FPU, and instruction FMA3, BMI, TBM. The chips can be equipped models 1xh no more than 4 cores. These decisions will depend on the 2-channel memory controller and cache memory are equipped with L3. All this suggests that it is a hybrid chip Trinity.

But the document referred to in the decision 2xh can use up to five modules, that is, up to 10 cores and are equipped with a 4-channel memory controller and cache L3. We are talking about processors, codenamed Vishera (the next generation of desktop chips FX), Sepang (single-chip Opteron processors for the motherboard with one or two pads) and Terramar (dual-chip Opteron processors to motherboards with 2-4 pads). Interestingly, the earlier mentioned the presence of Vishera no more than 8 cores.
By the way, if 2xh chips will be equipped with a 4-channel memory controller, it will create a server with a very high bandwidth. Indeed, for systems with 4 pads is possible in this case, the appearance of a 20-core processor Opteron with 8-channel memory controllers.

It is not entirely clear whether the desktop processors Vishera, compatible with the existing contact area AM3 +, offer consumers a 4-channel memory controller, DDR3, or the option will be disabled in the crystal, and the chips will continue to rely on 2-channel controller.

The developers of Rockstar Games said bad news for fans of the series Max Payne. The fact that the company had to move the premiere of the third part of the game from March to May 2012.

According to experts, the extra month they want to spend on polishing the project. Recently, experts have also moved the release shooter XCOM. Journalists and users still have not received an intelligible explanation of the transfer date of release of this game. It is expected that this policy will greatly affect the situation of the company. The most conservative estimate, up to March 31, 2012 revenues of $ 210-230 million instead of the claimed $ 1 billion

However, the situation has changed sharply in fiscal 2013 with the release of BioShock Infinite, Borderlands 2, Spec Ops: The Line, XCOM and XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

According to Taiwan’s Digitimes resource, citing sources from the medium manufacturers of graphics cards, AMD after 28 nm of Radeon HD 7970 is aimed at launching the next 28-nm card Radeon HD 7950, which will take place in late January. Meanwhile, NVIDIA plans to release its 28-nanometer solutions, when will accumulate significant reserves, and the release level of suitable crystals reach the desired mark. It is reported that the yield of Kepler on the market will be held no later than April.

Sources point out that NVIDIA wants to ensure that energy and process technology is very good, but after that will produce 28-nm map. Given the fact that NVIDIA plans to launch 28-nm cards at the same time as the 22-nanometer chips Intel Ivy Bridge, sources suggest that a series of accelerators Kepler could benefit from increased demand for processors Intel.
NVIDIA plans to release several 28-nm accelerators Kepler, including the GK104, which will replace existing GeForce GTX 560Ti; GK107, aimed at entry-level PC market; GK106, aimed at primary and secondary levels. It is also expected to launch dual-GPU accelerators GK110 (two chips GK104) and a more powerful card GK112, which can be released at the end of this year or early 2013.
In addition to desktop card Radeon HD 7000, AMD has released a series of mobile graphics cards Radeon HD 7000M, which includes a variety of solutions up to the series 7600M. They are all based on the old 40-nm process technology and rely on the architecture VLIW5. In the second quarter should go mobile 28-nm card architecture GCN, which form a series of Radeon HD 7900M/7800M/7700M.

Press office of the company Shuttle announced a new compact desktop barebone-system performance in a thin, “sharpened” under CPU Sandy Bridge generation of Intel.

The system is built on the motherboard Shuttle FH61 format Mini-ITX with Intel H61 Express chipset and ready to take on the Intel family of Celeron, Pentium or Core i3/i5/i7 Socket LGA1155 socket for a TDP of up to 65 Watts. Even in the arsenal of a duo of 240-pin DIMM-slots to accommodate up to 16 GB of dual channel DDR3-1066 / 1333 MHz, the internal seat for one 2.5-inch SATA-HDD, audio codec Realtek ALC887, Gigabit Ethernet-controller Realtek RTL8111E, as well as on the rear panel ports HDMI 1.4 and D-Sub, four-port USB 2.0, RJ-45 ports, two PS / 2 and three standard audio jack. The package, among other things, includes an AC adapter 90 watt, and as an additional option offered support for vertical positioning of the computer desktop and VESA-mount.