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.

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.

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.

ASUS is working on updating its notebook portfolio with several new models based on the 22-nm processors, Intel Ivy Bridge, which will work with 28-nm graphics NVIDIA Kepler. Taiwanese manufacturer will provide, at least three such models: from multimedia to gaming.

The most perfect laptop will be released in a series of ASUS G, and, according to ComputerBase, he will receive a graphic accelerator NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M, one of the most powerful mobile graphics chip maker in Santa Clara. The other models will be the video card series GeForce 600M, including 660M.
About what exactly processors Intel Ivy Bridge will be used until the data are not available, but you can expect a wide range of choice of Intel Core i3 to i7. All laptops are expected to be presented in April, along with the announcement of the first line of chips Ivy Bridge. Judging by the soaring web rumors, the announcement of a 22-nm processors scheduled for April 8.
Layouts notebooks were shown at CES 2012 where ASUS told reporters ComputerBase, that is ready to give laptops to production, as will be holding a sufficient number of processors Ivy Bridge.

According to the analytical agency DRAMeXchange, in the first half of January, contract prices for DRAM-memory stability were noted, and even some growth. In February, experts expect further price increases.

At the end of last year and the beginning of the new prices for DRAM-market reached historic lows. OEM-PC makers, using the situation to actively fill their inventory. Suppliers of chip RAM, in turn, is planning to soon reduce the volume of output, which will raise the price of memory in February.
Also, analysts note that the situation in the sector hard disk drives will soon stabilize, and it will allow PC manufacturers to enter the previous levels of supply. If the DRAM industry players will control the volumes of chips, then prices will increase significantly.
Earlier this month, contract prices for the 2GB DDR3-modules remained unchanged – at an average of $ 9.25. The average price of a 4-GB chips were $ 16.5. The fall in prices stopped in the second half of December.

Is not there a trick? It is known that the GeForce GTX 560 Ti are based on the chip GF114, but he was nowhere near a full-fledged GF110, which is used in the GTX 580. But let the strange name of GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores not fool you. In fact, a special version of GTX 570, which for some marketing reasons recorded in the family GTX 560.

As you might guess, GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores differ from GTX 570 the number of active stream processors: 448 against 480. 56 texture units instead of 60 at the GTX 570. But the number of pipelines ROP remained the same, as well as the memory bus width. The standard version of the GTX 560 Ti chip GF114 is much weaker than in all of these parameters, although the default operating at higher frequencies. The table below shows the characteristics of the four top models in the line of NVIDIA.
And the most delicious – the price. At the time of this writing, GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores has not been in the Russian retail, but NVIDIA recommends selling them at 8699 rubles. For the GTX 570 in Moscow, asking an average of 12 thousand, and for the GTX 580 – 16-17. The difference in performance between the GTX 580 and GTX 560 Ti 448 Cores, you know, not twice.