VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #28

May 9th, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone

VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
In all fairness this is more of a flaw from Intel's side, as
VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication the company simply hasn't created a platform that provides
covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks. enough PCI Express bandwidth, a re-occurring problem when
it comes to Intel's mass-market platforms. The other three PCI
Express lanes from the chipset are in this case taken up by two
ASRock jumps the gun, USB 3.0 host controllers and one SATA 6Gbps controller. It's
launches Z68 boards early not an ideal situation for anyone intending to use any kind of
PCI Express x1 or PCI expansion cards as well as all three PCI
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asrock-jumps-the-gun-launches-z68-
Express x16 slots, as 500MB/s isn't all that much bandwidth to
boards-early/12118.html
go around once you start dividing it up between three different
May 9th, 2011
things, if not more.
For some very odd reason, ASRock has decided to bundle a
3.5mm audio cable with the Z68 Extreme4 as well, although
It looks like ASRock has had itchy fingers and has launched seemingly neither of the other two boards get one in the box. At
its Z68 boards a little bit on the early side, as all three of its least all three boards will be supplied with Lucid Logix's Virtu
Z68 boards are now listed on its website alongside a dedicated graphics switching software which should be a boon to some.
portal for the boards. We've already covered the boards in Also supplied is a copy of CyberLink's MediaEspresso 6.5, but
pretty good detail, but we missed a couple of things worth sadly this is only a trial version which is limited to 30-days or
pointing out. 50 conversions to H.264.
For those of you interested in getting an idea of what these
boards cost, we can help out with that as well. All three boards
It looks like ASRock has had itchy fingers and has launched are already listed for sale in the UK with the Z68 Extreme4
its Z68 boards a little bit on the early side, as all three of its listed for £145 (S$293), the Z68 Pro3 for £135 (S$273) and the
Z68 boards are now listed on its website alongside a dedicated Z68 Pro3-M for £125 (S$252). We're fairly certain that these
portal for the boards. We've already covered the boards in aren't the final board prices, as the difference between the
pretty good detail, but we missed a couple of things worth models; especially the Z68 Extreme4 is simply just too small.
pointing out.
For starters, ASRock is making a big deal out of the PLX
PEX8608 PCI Express switch on the Z68 Extreme4, although Exclusive: Intel's Cedarview
we're not quite sure what the fuss is about. As the Z68
Extreme4 has a third x16 slot (x4 electrically) the PLX switch
Atom to sport PowerVR
has make do with a single PCI Express lane from the chipset graphics
which is then split between the two x1 PCI Express slots, the Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-intel-s-cedarview-atom-to-
Gigabit Ethernet controller and the PCI bridge chip. ASRock sport-powervr-graphics/12117.html
claims that this is better than solutions where things are May 9th, 2011
disabled when you add a card in the third x16 slot and that
might very well be the case, but we're not sure we'd be willing
to trade down the performance of everything else on the
motherboard for it.

Unlike the current desktop and netbook Atom CPUs, Intel's
next generation of “full fat” Atom processors won't be using
Intel graphics, instead the company has extended its licensing
with PowerVR and we'll be seeing an SGX545 graphics core in
these new Atom processors. This is actually quite a significant
step for Intel as it indicates a move away from its own graphics
IP for the entire Atom series of CPUs.

1


Quick hands on with the
Unlike the current desktop and netbook Atom CPUs, Intel's
next generation of “full fat” Atom processors won't be using Gigabyte GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3
Intel graphics, instead the company has extended its licensing Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/quick-hands-on-with-the-gigabyte-ga-
with PowerVR and we'll be seeing an SGX545 graphics core in z68x-ud3h-b3/12116.html
these new Atom processors. This is actually quite a significant May 9th, 2011
step for Intel as it indicates a move away from its own graphics
IP for the entire Atom series of CPUs.
The good news is that this should at least in theory significantly
boost the performance of the GPU in the upcoming Atom
processors, although PowerVR's SGX545 isn't exactly a cutting
edge GPU design these days. It is in fact similar to what Intel
calls the GMA 500 or GMA 600, both of which are based There has been some "concern" from Gigabyte's competitors
on PowerVR's SGX535 graphics core. New features include that the company wasn't going to offer any Z68 motherboards
DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.0 support (the GPU is capable of with display connectivity, in fact, some of its competitors have
OpenGL 3.2, but Intel seems to only go as far as 3.0) as well been so "concerned" that they've sent out material stating this
as hardware accelerated video decoding for MPEG-2, MPEG-4 to media in certain parts of the world. Well, it turns out that
part 2, VC1, WMV9 and the all-important H.264 codec. it couldn't be further from the truth and yesterday you saw
the GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 and today we have a few hands on
We're looking at different clock speeds depending on if it's a pictures of the GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 for your ogling pleasure.
desktop or mobile CPU and the desktop CPUs will have the
GPU clocked at 640MHz while the mobile CPUs will have it
clocked at 400MHz. At worst this is about twice as fast as There has been some "concern" from Gigabyte's competitors
PowerVR's original 200MHz clock speed that it expected the that the company wasn't going to offer any Z68 motherboards
SGX545 to be clocked at. At 200MHz PowerVR promised a fill with display connectivity, in fact, some of its competitors have
rate of 40 million triangles/s and 1Gpixles/s using a 64-bit bus. been so "concerned" that they've sent out material stating this
So far we can only guess as to how it'll perform in one of Intel's to media in certain parts of the world. Well, it turns out that
new Atom processors. it couldn't be further from the truth and yesterday you saw
the GA-Z68MX-UD2H-B3 and today we have a few hands on
pictures of the GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 for your ogling pleasure.
In fact, we were told by Gigabyte that they're confident to
grab something close to 80 percent of the Z68 motherboard
market at launch, with or without having display connectivity
on its boards. That's a pretty bold figure, although considering
that Gigabyte has already unveiled it will have no less than 11
different boards to choose from once the Z68 chipset launches.
On the other hand, Gigabyte isn't exactly going to be the only
company launching boards this week, so it'll be interesting to
hear if the company manages to reach its goal in the end or not.

Intel has also boosted the graphics support and not only
supports single channel 24-bit LVDS for notebook/netbook
displays with a resolution up to 1440x900, but also eDP
1.1 which means all current and future notebook/netbook
displays are supported. On the external side of things we're
finally getting a couple of digital options to supplement the
good old D-Sub connector with HDMI 1.3a and DisplayPort 1.1
support.
Memory support is still limited to single channel, but Intel
has decided to boost the capacity to 4GB across the board
and some CPUs will also support DDR3 1067MHz memory.
Pretty much everything else remains the same as far as we're But enough talk about market share, let's take a look at the
aware right now, but we're fairly certain things will continue board. The Z68X-UD3H is Gigabyte's only full ATX board with
to change before the launch sometime later this year and display connectivity at launch as far as we're aware, with the
no, it won't be at Computex unless Intel manages to pull off more affordable Z68A-D3H set to follow somewhat later down
something spectacular. the line. It's a fairly feature rich board and we can't see too
many users complaining about what's on offer. The slot layout
is pretty standard with two x16 PCI Express slots that operate

2


in dual x8 mode when both are in use, three x1 PCI Express of their case accessories, the Baymaster S, which promises to
slots and two PCI slots. make the 3.5” bay of your computer case useful again.

Akasa is a company with a very wide products range, with most
of them focus around computer cases, accessories, power and
cooling products. Today we are going to have a look at one
of their case accessories, the Baymaster S, which promises to
make the 3.5” bay of your computer case useful again.
Akasa is an old and very well known company; their group
launched back in 1997 and they have been releasing retail
products since 2000. The Baymaster S, which we will review
today, is an upgrade of the highly successful Baymaster which
There are headers for two USB 3.0 ports (via an Etron was not released more than a year ago. Their only difference
controller), eight USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port and a serial is that the new Baymaster S features USB 3.0 support, which
port. Gigabyte has added a pair of extra SATA 6Gbps ports to makes a world of difference in terms of performance.
the board, although you only get seven ports in total, as one
of the Intel SATA 3Gbps ports have been used as an eSATA
port. The VRM design is of a 6+1 type and we're not sold on Manufacturer’s features and specifications
the heatsink which is held in place by two push-pins, but that's
really a minor issue.
• 2.5” SATA HDD / SSD dock
Around the back we have four USB 2.0 ports, a PS/2 port, two
USB 3.0 ports, a FireWire port, the aforementioned eSATA • Super speed USB 3.0 connection
port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, 7.1-channel audio with optical S/ • 4-slots memory card reader
PDIF out and a full set of display connectors which includes
D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort. • Choice of fascia color
• Hot Swappable for quick HDD docking
• All capacity HDD supported
• SDXC supported

Application 3.5" PC bay
Memory card slots 4
Memory card types Memory Stick (MS Pro,
MS Pro Duo, Magic Gate,
On the downside this isn't going to be a super cheap board Extreme, Ultra)
as we've found it listed online already for US$179 (S$221). Secure Digital (SDXC, SDHC,
The Z68A-D3H is a fair bit cheaper at around US$138 (S SD, Ultra, Extreme, Elite Pro,
$170); although we still don't know what features Gigabyte has High Speed, MMC, MMC
dropped apart from using a standard PCB (read less copper per Mobile)
layer). On a side note we also spotted pricing for the Z68MA-
D2H, Gigabyte's budget mATX Z68 board which was listed for Extreme Digital (X card, Type
US$131 (S$162). H, Type M)

M2 (Memory Stick Micro
Review : Akasa Baymaster S M2)
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/review--akasa-baymaster-s/12114.html
May 9th, 2011 microSD (microSDHC, High
Capacity)
Interface HDD Docking: USB 3.0
( 2.0/1.1/1.0 compatible )
Card reader: USB 2.0 (1.1/1.0
compatible)
Data transfer rate HDD docking: up to 5Gb/s
Akasa is a company with a very wide products range, with most (USB 3.0) and 480Mb/s (USB
of them focus around computer cases, accessories, power and 2.0)
cooling products. Today we are going to have a look at one Card reader: up to 480 Mb/s

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LED indication Power On, Card In & Data get my hands on one to review. How will it compare to it's big
Transfer brother, the Dragon Rider? Would it make a good candidate
Power mode USB powered for your next build? Well read on to find out more.
PC connection Internal USB motherboard G.Skill Sniper Series PC3-12800 8GB Kit Review
header, USB3.0 A male Description: While out of the box the G.Skill Sniper Series
connector kit we're looking at today comes with only a 1600MHz DDR
Supported OS Windows 2000 / XP / clock, it does carry with it a 7-8-7-24-1T @ 1.6v setup. These
VISTA / 7 are some tight timings which are made only better by the fact
Plug & Play Supported 1.6v is required and not the typical 1.65v. Being a new series
also means we've got a new heatsink design. The Sniper Series
Product code AK-ICR-10U3
carries with it a heatsink that resembles, well, a sniper rifle. It's
not a bad looking heatsink and the crosshair like bits on each
end add a nice touch.
The Daily VR-Zone News Sapphire Pure Black P67 Hydra Motherboard Review
Summary - 9 May 2011 Description: While Sapphire did a good job with the X58
chipset, we indeed wondered how they'd go when it came to the
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--9-
newer P67 one. While most will argue that the X58 is the much
may-2011/12115.html
better platform with Triple Channel memory and proper x16 /
May 9th, 2011
x16 lane setups, the P67 platform brings a breath of fresh air
into the computer rooms of budding overclockers and general
enthusiasts everywhere thanks to its great overclocking ability
on the Intel i7 2600k processor. With some extremely strong
options already available, the question is, should the Pure
In today's news roundup: Acer's LED-backlit, twisted-
Black P67 Hydra from Sapphire be one we should look at?
nematic, 3D-capable monitor, the HN274H, gets reviewed;
Well, there's only one way to find out, but before we look at the
Antec's latest addition to its HCP line of power supply units
performance side of things let's first have a much closer look
or PSUs, the Antec HCP-1200, gets reviewed; A fundamental
at what exactly the board has to offer.
flaw in the design of most existing graphics APIs used to
enable GPU-accelerated graphics processing on PCs have led Sentey Black Box Series BX1-4284 Mid Tower Case Review @
to the discovery of several low-level security holes in the newly Bigbruin.com
announced WebGL stack for browsers; Electrical engineers in Description: Sentey wants to be considered among the
Korea have reportedly found a way to charge a cellphone by premium do-it-yourself brands, and with the Black Box Series
utilizing sound energy found in ambient noise and standard BX1-4284 mid tower case they are well on their way. Version
phone conversations; Sony has officially confirmed that the 2.1 of their black series case certainly didn't disappoint.
company has no intention of restoring its online PlayStation We were immediately impressed with the fit-and-finish of
Network services until it has fully tested and verified the the overall build and the implementation of the tool-less
integrity of the new security measures implemented to prevent functionality.
such occurances from happening again, and Rumour has it Cooler Master Elite 371 Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
that Microsoft may be attempting to steal some of Nintendo's Description: Not too long ago all custom computer builds
thunder at the upcoming E3 by announcing its own successor where done using beige boxes. Unlike their mass-built cousins,
to the Xbox 360 at the event as well. these cases had very few externally defining features. In the
Hardware news last five years, this has changed with many cases having very
useful features or being very showy. Sadly, this has come at
Acer HN274H 27-inch 120Hz 3D Monitor Review @Hi Tech
price, and with each year the costs of computer enclosures
Legion
have risen. Cooler Master has addressed these rising costs with
Description: The Acer HN274H 3D Monitor is a widescreen
the Elite series of cases and with its newest addition the Elite
monitor with an LED backlit Twisted-Nematic panel. The Acer
371. Priced for only $49.99, Benchmark Reviews determines
HN274H 3D Monitor has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz at
if the Elite 371 has everything that is needed in cases or if too
the native resolution of 1920x1080. Users who have multiple
many corners have been cut for the sake of cost.
devices can make use of the Acer HN274H’s four HDMI 1.4
ports as well as the Dual-Link DVI port for 3D entertainment. Antec HCP-1200 Watt Power Supply Review
At the back of the Acer HN274H, there is a VGA port as well Description: Antec is arguably the most well-known name
as an Audio-in jack for use of the built-in speakers. The 3D in the computer power supply industry and rightfully so.
Vision emitter is also built into the top front bezel of the Acer They've been around since 1986 and have provided quality
HN274H so it is ready to be used with the bundled 3D Vision power supplies, cases, cooling products and more that fit the
glasses right out of the box after the user installs the latest need of just about any type of build for both businesses and
NVIDIA 3D Vision drivers. consumers. Over the last few years we've seen a large refresh in
many of Antec's product lines, especially their power supplies.
In-Win BUC Review
Today we are taking a look at the Antec High Current Pro
Description: In Win recently released their new BUC mid-
1200W power supply, the highest output PSU offered in the
tower case to their DESTINY-Lite series. I was lucky enough to
new HCP series.
4


G.Skill RipjawsX 2133 MHz review (German) Description: We're still not sure what's stylistic about Smart
Description: (Machine translation) The G.SKILL RipjawsX Card readers, fingerprint scanners and TPM modules, but you
4GB DDR3-2133 CL9 Memory-Kit arrived Technic3D. won't find them in many slates, so if you've been considering
Technic3D will see as good they are on Windows 7 64 Bit, the Fujitsu Q550 -- which has one of each -- today's your lucky
Ubuntu 10.10 and the Gigabyte X58-UD7 Mainboard. You can day. The Oak Trail-powered Windows 7 tablet with a 10.1-inch,
see 2.133MHz (1,65V) with 9-10-9-28 (2T) and more in the 1280 x 800 IPS screen is ready for US pre-orders today, with
following Review. $729 bringing you the base model with a 30GB solid state drive
and a two-cell rechargeable battery. $849 upgrades the slate
Consumer Electronics and Software News
to 62GB of storage and four cells worth of swappable Lithium-
Security flaws in new WebGL technology put PCs and data at ion joy, while both sport front and rear cameras, HDMI out, a
risk bootable USB 2.0 port, a full-size SD slot and dual-band 802.11
Description: Researchers at Context Information Security, an a/b/g/n WiFi. Let's just hope the UI is a tad more optimized
international security consultancy, have uncovered serious than last time.
security flaws in the new WebGL technology that creates
Gaming news
3D graphics in a browser with the same speed and detail
as hardware-accelerated PC games and applications. Context Razer Onza Tournament Edition Review - XSReviews
says that design level security issues give potentially malicious Description: Hardcore PC gamers will certainly be no
web pages low level access to graphics cards that could provide strangers to Razer and their gaming peripherals. Founded
a ‘back door’ for hackers and compromise data stored on in 1998 to create the Boomslang mouse, the company has
internet-connected machines. exclusively worked on PC peripherals until 2009, when they
announced the first of a new range of console accessories: the
Essential Windows 7 Tweaks: Part 3 @ Computing on Demand
Razer Chimera 5.1 gaming headset and the Razer Onza, an
Description: Every person has different tastes when it comes
XBox 360 controller. Read on to find out how the Onza stacks
to their installation of Windows. Through the years that have
up against the official Microsoft variants.
been many things that I do right off the bat when getting
my install "just right". In the XP days, the first thing I would PSN Security Still Being Tested, Waiting Continues
do was to stretch the taskbar, enable Quick Launch, add Description: As one would expect following a debacle like
an address bar, unlock it, then move those around a bit. If what's happened with the PlayStation Network, Sony has
my taskbar wasn't set up this way, I HATED IT... in fact, I made security its top priority. As such, that means it won't just
would move other people's around when I worked on their throw PSN back online without thoroughly testing the strength
computers! Windows 7 is no different for me, however, the of PSN's infrastructure. In other words, the waiting continues
list isn't as exhaustive yet. We covered Part 1 and Part 2 of a after 16 days.
multipart series, here is Part 3 Rumor: Microsoft Preparing to Announce Xbox 360 Successor
Amazon Cloud Player Quietly Begins Working On iOS Devices! at E3 in June
Description: Back in March, alongside the roll out of Amazon’s Description: Nintendo plans to unveil its Wii successor at
new cloud-based music upload/player service, we noted one E3 in June, and according to one report, it might not be
glaring problem: it didn’t work on iOS devices. You might the only console maker revealing next gen hardware on
think this had to due with Flash or another technology that iOS gaming's biggest stage. UK publication Develop is reporting
wasn’t compatible with, but it wasn’t. It looked like something that Microsoft could be preparing to counter Nintendo's
else was simply blocking it from working. Well, good news. Project Cafe with its Xbox 360 successor at E3.
That’s no longer the case.
Korean technology could power phones by talking
Description: Electrical engineers in Korea have created a
Xperia arc smartphone heads
method of recharging a cellphone by sound. This could for Japan, gets a name change
include ambient noise, music or even speech so a user
having a conversation would charge the battery, UK daily The in the process
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/xperia-arc-smartphone-heads-for-
Telegraph reported this weekend. The louder the noise, the
japan-gets-a-name-change-in-the-process/12112.html
more electricity flows into the battery as well.
May 9th, 2011
Windows Phone 7 Mango: more features leaked
Description: Earlier today, we reported about what new
features the Windows Phone 7 Mango update would bring,
well it turns out that it wasn’t the last of what has been
revealed. A Chinese website called Cnblogs.com has leaked The Xperia arc may have had its time in the headlines for a
new footage of what WP7 Mango will be bringing. Even though while already, but for reasons unknown, the Android-powered
the images from the site have been removed, the folks over smartphone produced by Sony Ericsson has yet to see the light
at LiveSide.net managed to save the images before they were of day in Japan, in spite of the joint venture between Ericsson
taken down. and Japan's electronics giant. That is all set to change though:
Fujitsu's Stylistic Q550 business slate up for US pre-orders, apparently, Sony Ericsson has confirmed that the Xperia arc
starting at $729 will get its day in the Japanese market...with a few Japanese-
centric tweaks, of course. Read on to find out more.

5


Silicon Power to showcase
next gen. memory products at
Computex 2011
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/silicon-power-to-showcase-next-gen.-
memory-products-at-computex-2011/12110.html
May 9th, 2011

The Xperia arc may be a popular smartphone in its own right,
but chances are most people will be raising a few eyebrows
upon learning of the fact that the smartphone has yet to
be introduced to the Japanese market. After all, the general
sentiment is that the Xperia arc is a Sony Ericsson product,
which in turn is a joint venture between Ericsson and one of
During COMPUTEX, SILICON POWER is going to display
Japan's most powerful electronics company; as such, Japan
a full range of next generation products such as the latest
should be entitled to first dibs on any new Sony Ericsson phone
"chameleon" Blaze series USB 3.0 flash drive, military-grade
that leaves the factory.
external hard drive Armor A15 series, Stream S20 PHD
However, it would seem that Japanese keen on getting their that is designed in semblance with Italian sports car with
own Xperia arc smartphone may not have to wait long, as Sony super fast speed, Diamond D10 features classic checkered
Ericsson has announced a similar smartphone will indeed design bringing stylish and elegant looks, CF600X memory
be released for the Japanese market, along with a slightly cards with 64GB , USB3.0 card reader, overclocking memory
different name. Say, would you happen to fancy an Xperia modules with unique heat sink design as well as new SSDs
acro? using SandForce controllers.
From May 31st to June 4th, 2011 SILICON POWER is going to
participate in 2011 Taipei COMPUTEX and express vivid and
bright spirit bringing visitors absolutely new feeling!

With the mission of creating unique experience for users
SILICON POWER will present a full range of memory products
at the exhibition, including the various memory cards that
have already won trust and recognition among consumers.
Besides high speed performance and wide range of storage
According to Sony Ericsson, the new Xperia acro will come capacities SILICON POWER memory cards also have the
bundled with key features such as a 4.2-inch Reality Display, space for users to mark the card with own labeling words
a Mobile BRAVIA Engine, "Exmor R for mobile" technology to easily find the most beautiful shots. Moreover, SILICON
that supposedly allows for low-noise images captured by the POWER is going to demonstrate a wide variety of USB
acro's 8.1-megapixel camera, and Android 2.3 preloaded into flash drives and portable hard drives featuring various styles,
it. However, it does not change the fact that we are essentially no matter what the consumers strive for - higher security
describing the specifications of Xperia arc, of which the acro is and protection, fashionable looks or sporty style, they can
essentially a carbon copy. easily express individual style with the full range of SILICON
POWER storage devices. If you would like to witness all
Still, the Xperia acro does come with a couple of features that the vibrant and unique products, welcome to visit SILICON
were not present in the Xperia arc's global release; for one, the POWER booth at 2011 Taipei COMPUTEX.
acro sports mobile TV functionality which allows for viewing of
live TV broadcasts, as well as an infrared port for data sharing
between devices over short range distances. Last but not least, SILICON POWER Nangang Exhibition Hall (Booth number?
Sony Ericsson claims that the Xperia acro will feature a 'mobile J608, J616, J708, J716)
wallet' that allows consumers to use their smartphone to "pay
for a wide range of digital and hard goods", which suggests that
users of the Xperia acro may get to play with NFC technology
when the phone hits retail shelves in Japan from summer During COMPUTEX SILICON POWER with its new and
onwards. vivid brand image is going to display a full range of next
generation products. Driven by innovation new products are
meant to change consumer technology life. You are welcomed
to experience all that at SILICON POWER booth!

Total upgrade to USB 3.0 for super-speed data transfer

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use the latest controller Sandforce and demonstrate high
speed performance!
USB 3.0 interface moves towards popularization, its features
bandwidth that is 10 times the bandwidth of traditional
interface. SILICON POWER being a leading manufacture With the mission of creating unique consumer experience
introduces new super-speed UFD, PHD and card readers. SILICON POWER will exhibit key products in new
High resolution videos, photos, music and other files are demonstration area. Please visit SILICON POWER booth and
transferred at extremely high speeds! experience new vibrant products and the latest technology
trends!

Jabra FREEWAY review: your
hands or the freeway
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/jabra-freeway-review-your-hands-or-
the-freeway/12087.html
May 9th, 2011

The latest "chameleon" Blaze series USB flash drive has front
design pattern using heat-sensitive ink; at the time when users
experience super-fast data transfer color of the pattern will Like it or not, most owners of mobile phones are now slaves
change and make file transfer more unique and more fun. to their devices, and it shows. Now that workiing schedules
have become tighter and workers are expected to be able to
answer work-related phone calls regardless of time, location
This time SILICON POWER is going to announce new addition and occasion, it would make sense that the need to be always
of award winning military-grade external hard drive series! connected has reached the point whereby even an activity such
Besides shock proof features of Armor A15 has LED indicators as driving now has to play host to the act of answering a phone
of capacity usage that let users to check available capacity at call. So how can drivers safely deal with calls while ensuring
a glance! that their hands remain on the wheel at all times? Simple; they
use a wireless in-car, voice-controlled speaker system, like the
FREEWAY which we have here from Jabra.
Meeting needs of personal style expression SILICON POWER
introduces Stream S20 PHD that is designed in semblance
with Italian sports car with super fast speed combining
powerful performance and style! Diamond D10 features classic
checkered design bringing stylish and elegant looks for users
to enjoy high performance and experience new technology
combined with fashion.

Professional photographers and amateurs would be interested
in new upgrade of CF600X memory cards with 64GB
that enables photographers to exploit their potential to the
maximum and enjoy exciting high-definition moments. In
addition to high-speed memory cards SILICON POWER will
display USB3.0 card reader that not only supports majority of Everybody knows that the mobile phone is one of
memory cards but also reads SDXC UHS-I high-speed cards; the most important gadgets for maintaining constant
moreover, it allows high-end memory cards to demonstrate telecommunication in today's highly connected world.
their transfer speeds! However, it is also an open secret that the easy accessibility
that comes with a mobile phone can also be seen as the biggest
curse to ever befall man. And this is especially true if one
Upgrade DRAM?SSD meeting gamer needs considers how phones are now being left on 24 hours a day for
SILICON POWER overclocking memory modules with unique all 365 days in the year, simply because one can never know
heat sink design have already received wide recognition when an emergency phone call willcome in.
among gamers and overclocking fans. This time at SILICON Unfortunately, this has also resulted in people forming an
POWER is going to present new heat sink design that addiction to their mobile phones up to the point where one
significantly improves thermal dissipation. In addition Solid would commonly find anxious mobile phone owners yapping
State Drives (SSD) meant to enhance computer performance or typing away on the mobile phones even while driving, in

7


spite of its obvious illegality. This is where Jabra's FREEWAY the Data Storage Products Area (1F / NANGANG Exhibition
in-car speaker comes in; a nifty device which allows users to hall).
remotely control their mobile phones with nothing more than
voice commands, thus eliminating the need for fiddling with
their handsets while on the move (and keeping themselves on You will be able to sample the latest storage technology at MX
the right side of the law). So how does the FREEWAY fair? VR- booth. Static and live demos are planned showcasing the most
Zone puts it to the test. recent SATA3 SSDs, high-end USB 3.0 pendrives, low-latency
overclocking DDR3 memory. In addition you will be able to
Before that, a quick introduction of the Jabra FREEWAY's find out more about MX Industrial SSD solutions in a special
specifications is in order: designated area showcasing a wide variety of interfaces, form
Jabra FREEWAY Bluetooth factors and capacities.
in-car speaker specifications
Bluetooth version v2.1 + EDR specification
COMPUTEX at A Glance:
Supported Bluetooth profiles A2DP 1.2, AVRCP 1.0, HFP
(Hands Free Profile v1.5), • Event: COMPUTEX 2011 (Taipei, Taiwan)
HFP (Headset profile), PBAP
• When: May 31st – June 4th
Supported modes EDR (2 and 3 Mb), SCO,
eSCO, Sniff mode • Where: NANGANG Hall 1F
Operating range Up to 10m • Booth: K0202 (Data Storage Products Area)
Maximum number of paired Up to 8 devices or 2 active at
devices the same time
Battery life Up to 14 hours talktime, up to HP introduces new stylish
20 days standby
Microphones SLR = 16 dB +/- 3 dB
laptops and convertible tablet
2 x 4mm Omni-directional in Singapore
microphone Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-introduces-new-stylish-laptops-
Speakers 300 - 18.000 Hz and-convertible-tablet-in-singapore/12106.html
RLR = 0 dB +/- 3 dB May 9th, 2011

1 x 4 Ohm / 2 x 6 Ohm

COMPUTEX :Mach Xtreme to
demo SATA3 SSDs and Low HP has introduced their new laptops and convertible ProBook
5330m, the EliteBook 2560p and 2760p, and ENVY14 Beats
Latency Memory edition notebook PC. The new mobile computers will be
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/computex-mach-xtreme-to-demo- available from mid May to June.
sata3-ssds-and-low-latency-memory/12109.html
May 9th, 2011

You will be able to sample the latest storage technology
at MX booth at Nangang Hall 1F, K0202. Static and live
demos are planned showcasing the most recent SATA3 SSDs,
high-end USB 3.0 pendrives, low-latency overclocking DDR3
memory. In addition you will be able to find out more about
MX Industrial SSD solutions in a special designated area
showcasing a wide variety of interfaces, form factors and
capacities.
Taipei, Taiwan—May 9, 2011— Mach Xtreme Technology Inc., Today, HP unveiled their sleek and ultra-portable notebook
a leading provider of top performance, user-friendly designed PCs and a convertible tablet PC that aim to deliver enhanced
PC components and solid state drives for industrial solutions, mobile experience for users on the move. The new products
invites you to visit us at COMPUTEX 2011. The exhibition include the HP ProBook m-series and EliteBook p-series
is one of the world’s largest gathering of IT manufacturers, models, and the refreshed HP ENVY14 Beats Edition
distributors and system integrators of industrial PCs. MX will Notebook PC.
showcase its complete retail and industrial product line-up in HP ProBook 5330m – thin, stylish and affordable

8


Designed for business professionals who want style,
performance and affordability, the HP ProBook 5330m
measures less than 1-inch thick, and weighs approximately
1.8kg. Besides a 13.3-inch diagonal HD screen, it also has
a backlit keyboard, making it easier to type in low-light
environments.
The new ProBook is powered by the latest second-
generation Intel Core i5 and i3 dual-core standard voltage
processors delivering solid performance, includes the Infineon
Professional TPM Package for enhanced hardware-based data
security. Optional Intel vPro technology is also available
to improve security and remote manageability for on-the-go
professionals.
HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition Notebook PC
The HP ENVY14 Beats edition notebook PC features HP
CoolSense 2.0 technology and utilizes advanced hardware and
intelligent software for a noticeably cooler notebook. The HP
CoolSense 2.0 automatically adjusts and delivers optimum
level of comfort according to the user’s personal preferences. It
also comes with the second-generation Intel Core processors
and an updated clickpad with integrated buttons. The
premium machine boasts a precision-etched metal alloy case
with a 14.5-inch diagonal, HD BrightView Infinity LED display
for an eye-popping viewing experience and Beats Audio for
richer, more detailed sound.
Pricing and availability
HP EliteBook 2560p and 2760p – light, powerful and travel- - The HP ProBook 5330m starts at US$799 and is expected to
ready be available in mid May.
In a stylish platinum finish, the HP EliteBook 2560p and - The HP EliteBook 2560p starts at US$1,299 and is expected
EliteBook 2760p tablet PC are ideal for enterprises and users to be available in late May; the HP EliteBook 2760p starts at
who need a rugged and highly mobile notebook. The HP US$1,399 and is expected to be available in mid May.
EliteBook 2560p sports a thin, clamshell form factor, 12.5- - Pricing and availability for the HP 2560p Docking Station in
inch LED-backlit HD 16-inch x 9-inch display. Despite its APJ will be announced at a later date.
small size, users can take advantage of the EliteBook’s optical
drive for added on-the-go convenience. Offering the same - The ENVY14 Beats Edition Notebook PC starts at US$1,799
functionality as a conventional business notebook along with and is expected to be available from 10 June.
the flexibility of a writing tablet, the HP EliteBook 2760p
allows for pen use or finger touch.
Biostar to demo AMD 900
Both EliteBook models offer second-generation Intel Core i7
or i5 dual-core processors, Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 Series Gaming PCs at
and vPro technology, allowing for enhanced performance and Computex 2011
responsiveness. They also feature full-size 7200 RPM hard Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/biostar-to-demo-amd-900-series-
drives and Solid State Drives (SSDs). gaming-pcs-at-computex-2011/12108.html
The new ProBook and EliteBook notebooks also offer HP’s May 9th, 2011
full proprietary innovations, including HP QuickWeb 3.0, HP
Power Assistant, HP Connection Manager, HP ProtectTools
and HP Fingerprint Sensor.
Docking solutions for a customized workspace
The new HP 2560p Docking Station makes it easy for business
professionals to maintain the connectivity and comfort of
Biostar will be at Nangang Exhibition Hall - 4th
notebook usage while working from a fixed station. The
Floor, L1317a and you’ll find the newest product launch
docking station offers four USB ports, eSATA, DisplayPort
from Intel, AMD and Nvidia, as well as BIOSTAR Cloud
and VGA ports for added connectivity to peripherals and
Operation product portfolios. Visitors will find a “iCafe Area”
compatibility with an array of video devices.
where they have teamed up with Thermaltake to show off
BIOSTAR gaming PCs built by Intel Z68/P67/H67 and AMD
990FX/970X/A75 chipset motherboards. Biostar also plans
to showcase a complete line-up of compact, all-in-one, cost

9


effective motherboards that perfectly designed for “Home in early Q3. The dual-Barts card is expected to be revealed at
Entertainment PC”. Computex, in three weeks' time.

Each GPU consists of 1GB GDDR5. The surprise is the power
configuration - 2 x 8-pin. Considering the Radeon HD 6870's
TDP of 150W, this suggests that the PowerColor board is
either very overclocking friendly or features overclocked Barts
GPUs. Either way, the dual-Barts board will be no slouch,
Taipei, Taiwan - May 9, 2011 - Biostar Microtech Int’l Corp. a outperforming the likes of HD 6970 and even the GTX 580
processional manufacturer of Motherboard, Graphic Card and in most benchamrks. Of course, it will be no match for the
Embedded solutions, once again has its sights set on making GTX 590 or HD 6990. Considering a Radeon HD 6870 sells
a big splash at Computex 2011 between May 31st to June 4th in the ~$200 range, this card has the potential to undercut
in Taipei, Taiwan. the GTX 580 significantly, while offering better performance.
Pricing it lower than $400 will likely cannibalize HD 6970
sales, however.
In recent years, Biostar motherboard has successfully build
up its reputation known as “the best performance and value Visually, the card is very long - possibly in the 11" range. The
motherboard provider”. This year at Computex, we’d like two GPUs are much closer to each other than on the HD 6990,
to invite you visit us at “Nangang Exhibition Hall - 4th suggesting PowerColor is not opting for the middle fan design.
Floor, L1317a”; you’ll find the newest product launch from The card is unnamed and this leaves a branding dillemma.
Intel, AMD and Nvidia, as well as BIOSTAR Cloud Operation Initially, the rumour mill had previously decided to call dual-
product portfolios. Barts the HD 6890. However, in terms of performance, HD
6980 wil be more accurate.

With the focus and success in specific PC applications, The dual-Barts cards will be followed by dual-GF114 in Q3.
visitors will find a “iCafe Area” where we strategic alliance While the GF114 based solution might end up faster, it will use
with Thermaltake to show off BIOSTAR gaming PCs built a lot more power and likely cost more.
by Intel Z68/P67/H67 and AMD 990FX/970X/A75 chipset
motherboards. Meanwhile, we also showcase a complete line-
up of compact, all-in-one, cost effective motherboards that
AT&T set to launch Samsung
perfectly designed for “Home Entertainment PC”. Infuse 4G smartphone in US
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/at-t-set-to-launch-samsung-infuse-4g-
smartphone-in-us/12105.html
May 9th, 2011
Powercolor Barts/6800 Dual-
GPU Pictured
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/powercolor-barts6800-dual-gpu-
pictured/12107.html
May 9th, 2011
If you think smartphones with 4-inch displays are quite huge
for the hand, wait till you see the new Samsung Infuse 4G.
The Infuse 4G sports a giant 4.5-inch screen and AT&T will be
retailing this smartphone in US soon.
SemiAccurate have leaked a pictured of Powercolor Dual-GPU
board based on Barts / 6800. Both dual-Barts and dual-GF114
are on the cards (no pun intended), with a release scheduled

10


even some decent overclocking. What really caught our eye
though was the three x16 slots of which two are switchable in
dual x8 mode and the third one being a x4 slot. In theory you
could run three graphics cards in this board, but at least two of
them would have to be single slot cards. There's also a single
x1 PCI Express slot available.

AT&T has announced the Samsung Infuse 4G, which the telco
operator claimed to be its fastest HSPA+ smartphone yet. The
smartphone is AT&T's only HSPA+ phone certified at HSDPA
CAT 14 (downlink, 14 Mbps) and HSUPA CAT 6 (uplink, 6
Mbps).

Moving on we have a header for two front USB 3.0 ports via an
Measuring 8.99mm thin, the Samsung Infuse 4G is powered Etron host controller, no less than five headers for 10 USB 2.0
by 1.2GHz processor and sports a huge 4.5-inch Super ports, seven SATA ports of which three are SATA 3Gbps and
AMOLED Plus touchscreen. It runs Android 2.2 (Froyo) four are SATA 6Gbps and for some reason a serial port header.
and features 8-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front-
facing camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a 2GB MicroSD card Around the back we have four USB 2.0 ports, another two
(expandable up to 32GB). USB 3.0 ports using another Etron controller, an eSATA port,
a Gigabit Ethernet port, a PS/2 port, 7.1-channel audio with
The Samsung Infuse 4G will be available in AT&T stores and optical S/PDIF out and a set of four display ports consisting of
online on 15 May at US$199.99 with a two-year contract. a D-Sub, DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort.

Exclusive: Gigabyte GA-
Z68MX-UD2H-B3 pictures
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-gigabyte-ga-z68mx-ud2h-b3-
pictures/12102.html
May 9th, 2011 Overall an impressive mATX board and it's so far only the
third mATX Z68 board we've seen to date. It compares well
in terms of features with both MSI and ASRock and we can
see this being a popular choice for those that are looking for
a compact gaming rig. The board is already listed with some
online retailers in Italy for around €140 (S$249) which seems
a little bit on the pricey side, but you do get a lot of features for
We're now merely days from the Z68 chipset launch which will your money and it's on par with what ASRock's Z68 Pro3-M is
officially take place on the 11th, but the leaks keep on coming listed for. Only a few more days to go now…
and we can now as first publication show a couple of pictures
of Gigabyte's upcoming mATX Z68 board, the GA-Z68MX-
UD2H-B3. The board is actually quite unusual for a mATX
First Look: MSI Z68A-GD80
board and it's packed to the brim with features, in fact, we'd (Updated)
daresay that it's one of Gigabyte's best Z68 boards. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/first-look-msi-z68a-gd80-
updated-/12035.html
May 9th, 2011
We're now merely days from the Z68 chipset launch which will
officially take place on the 11th, but the leaks keep on coming
and we can now as first publication show a couple of pictures
of Gigabyte's upcoming mATX Z68 board, the GA-Z68MX-
UD2H-B3. The board is actually quite unusual for a mATX
board and it's packed to the brim with features, in fact, we'd
daresay that it's one of Gigabyte's best Z68 boards. Joining the Intel Z68 club is MSI's Z68A-GD80. We take a
It might not have the most advanced VRM design with a 6+1 peek at the features with which MSI hopes to make its board
setup, but this should still be plenty for a mATX board and
11


stand out from the rest. (Updated with BIOS pictures & SSD will improve the overclocking capabilities of installed graphics
caching preview!) cards.
Several of the MSI Z68A-GD80's features are prominently
advertised on its box, including of course the assurance that
you are getting the trouble-free stepping of the chipset.

Next, we'll be looking at the onboard features and expansion
options offered by this motherboard.

The Z68 PCH is passively cooled, which should come as no
surprise given that the TDPs of Intel's recent chipsets have all
EKL Releases New VGA Cooler
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/ekl-releases-new-vga-
come in under 10 watts. The CPU power delivery system, on
cooler/12100.html
the other hand, gets a more elaborate cooling solution.
May 9th, 2011

German based EKL has launched the Alpenfohn Peter,
expanding its portfolio of performance VGA coolers.
Measuring 253.8 x 44 x 100mm and weighinh 590g, the
nickel plated cooler boasts a copper base, twelve 6mm copper
pipes, 84 aluminum fins, and supports up to four 140mm fans
(with a PCI mounting bracket). The Alpenföhn Peter, bundled
30 small heatsinks (for components on the graphic card), is
compatible with most graphic accelerators out in the market
The MSI Z68A-GD80 provides 12-phase power to the CPU today and will be available come 18 May at a MSRP of 54.90
using MSI's DrMOS system. DrMOS uses integrated circuits Euro at www.caseking.de.
that combine the MOSFET and its driver into a single chip, EKL PRESS RELEASE
which MSI claims achieves 96% efficiency. By reducing the
number of phases active when the system is not under load,
power consumption can also be reduced. The number of active
phases is indicated by a row of LEDs along the top edge of the
motherboard.

The cooling specialist Alpenföhn presents the successor of the
Heidi VGA Cooler. The new cooler called Alpenföhn Peter
utilizes twelve heatpipes and offers a much larger cooling area
The memory and chipset each get 2-phase power. There is also than the Heidi. In addition, the fan rail allows for up to four
an additional PCIe 6-pin power connector, which MSI claims fans to be installed, so that the Peter is capable of dissipating

12


up to 420 Watt of heat. For a clean look, the entire surface of
the VGA cooler has been Nickle plated.

Modern graphic cards are very complex pieces of engineering,
always pushing the envelope in speed, power consumption and
thermal design power (TDP). In addition to this, graphic cards
have to be cooled while keeping the cooling unit within the
constrains of one or two PCI slots, so that it does not block any
additional expansion slots of the mainboard. To generate the
required cooling performance in such tight quarters a noisy
high speed fan tends to be the only option.

An aftermarket cooler like the Alpenföhn Peter in turn is
capable of taking on up to 420 Watt, making it the perfect
fit for many high-end graphic cards like the AMD RADEON
HD6970 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580. To guarantee the best
compatibility, the Alpenföhn Peter includes various mounting
materials which are to be placed on the underside of the cooler.
Such a system also makes the Peter future-proof as it can be
installed on upcoming cards by simply acquiring the newest
mounting brackets.

Twelve Nickle plated, copper heatpipes with a diameter of 6
millimeters guarantee the most efficient transport of heat from
the GPU to the cooling fins of the Peter. 84 such Aluminum
fins take the heat and pass it on to the surrounding air. This
effect is catalyzed with the optional fans. To keep the strain of
such the cooler on the mainboard to a minimum, Alpenföhn
has included a mounting rail to hold these fans in place.

This rail is attached to the PCI slots and can take up to four 140
mm fans. In such a configuration, two of the cooling units will
be placed right above the cooling fins, while the other two are
attached facing the side of the heatsink. These are especially
effective with cases which feature an opening in the side panel
to allow for fresh air to be pulled into the case. You are also free
to install smaller fans - if your chassis does not offer enough
space for example.

Due to this system of customization, the user is free to create a
unique configuration to suit the requirements. This allows for
users who prefer silence as well as overclockers to pick their
desired fans to cool the Alpenföhn Peter within their system.
At launch, Caseking will be offering eight different cooler &
fan bundles for the various needs and application scenarios.
Besides the Alpenföhn Peter, the user will also receive a set
of 30 small heatsinks, which are intended to cool the various
components on the graphic card. A mix of different shapes and
sizes guarantees the utmost compatibility.
The Alpenföhn Peter - Universal High-End VGA Cooler will
be available in mid May, for a price of 54.90 Euro at
www.caseking.de. Various bundles containing the Alpenföhn
Peter and between two and four fans, for both silent and
performance applications will also be available from Caseking
at that time. An overview of the various bundles can be found
at www.caseking.depeter. A detailed compatibility list can be

13


viewed in the product description of the Alpenföhn Peter on important parts of Intel's GPU. This means that transcoding/
the Caseking website. encoding using the Intel GPU will be available on the P8Z67
Deluxe without the need of the display connectors.

Exclusive: Asus' P8Z68 Deluxe Want some more ROG series info? Well, ok then, we're going
to be nice and share what little we know. The first board will be
and P8Z68-V specs leaked called the Maximus IV Extreme-Z and we have a feeling that
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-asus-p8z68-deluxe-and- this will just be a Maximus IV Extreme with the Z68 chipset
p8z68-v-specs-leaked/12099.html instead of the P67 chipset. The other board is a new addition
May 9th, 2011 and it's a mATX board called the Maximus IV Gene-Z and
it's most likely going to launch at Computex. We might end
up with display connectors on this board as it's a brand new
product, so fingers crossed for something different here. Once
again it simply comes down to patience being a virtue, at least
if you really want to get an ROG Z68 board.

Intel SSD 311 Series Larson
There has already been a fair few previews of Asus' upcoming
P8Z68-V Pro board, including our own preview of the board,
however not much has been know about Asus other upcoming Creek Pictured and Priced
Z68 boards, at least not until now. Surprisingly it appears that Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/intel-ssd-311-series-larson-creek-
Asus is only set to launch a total of three Z68 boards next week, pictured-and-priced/12097.html
although the company is planning a pair of ROG boards for a May 9th, 2011
slightly later launch according to launch details we've seen.
There has already been a fair few previews of Asus' upcoming
P8Z68-V Pro board, including our own preview of the board,
however not much has been know about Asus other upcoming
Z68 boards, at least not until now. Surprisingly it appears that
Asus is only set to launch a total of three Z68 boards next week,
although the company is planning a pair of ROG boards for a Information about Intel new SSD 311 Larson Creek 20GB has
slightly later launch according to launch details we've seen. creeped out last week and now we saw some photos of this
SLC based SSD floating around the internet and even got
Starting with the P8Z68-V, we have a "feature light" version of
benchmarked. As mentioned, Intel is going to pair this up with
the P8Z68-V Pro in essence, so the board lacks FireWire and
their Z68 Express chipset to be launched on May 11th and
the two extra SATA 6Gbps ports. Asus has also removed the
we have already gone through in detailed about Intel Smart
bundled USB 3.0 bracket, but kindly left the extra two ports in
Response Technology, a hard drive caching algorithm which is
place. Otherwise the feature set is more or less the same, with
part of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology v10.5
three x16 slots that work in dual x8 more for the first two and
the last one is either a x4 or a x1 slot. You still get HDMI, DVI
and D-Sub connectivity, Intel Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth, 7.1-
channel audio, an eSATA port and of course two rear USB 3.0
ports.

Information about Intel new SSD 311 Larson Creek 20GB has
creeped out last week and now we saw some photos of this
SLC based SSD floating around the internet and even got
benchmarked. As mentioned, Intel is going to pair this up with
The P8Z68 Deluxe on the other hand is a reworked P8P67 their Z68 Express chipset to be launched on May 11th and
Deluxe so it lacks the display connectors. On the other hand we have already gone through in detailed about Intel Smart
it had dual Gigabit Ethernet and four SATA 6Gbps ports Response Technology, a hard drive caching algorithm which is
ports as well as a bundled drive bay adapter for two USB part of the Intel Rapid Storage Technology v10.5
3.0 ports. Interestingly, Asus has still managed to make this
board work with Lucid Logix Virtu software, although only in
what's known as d-mode, but it should allow for access to the
14


There are two form factors available for SSD 311 series; 2.5" May 9th, 2011
SATA and 2.5" mSATA. The key features of these SSDs are as
follow :

When it rains, it pours and the leaks about AMD's upcoming
900-series of AM3+ chipsets are now appearing on a daily
basis. A detailed spec sheet of Asus' six upcoming AMD 900-
series chipset motherboards have tipped up on a Swedish
website and although we have no idea what any of the boards
except the already leaked M5A99X EVO will look like, we do
at least know what features they'll come with.
When it rains, it pours and the leaks about AMD's upcoming
900-series of AM3+ chipsets are now appearing on a daily
basis. A detailed spec sheet of Asus' six upcoming AMD 900-
series chipset motherboards have tipped up on a Swedish
website and although we have no idea what any of the boards
• Intel® X25-M SSD 80GB performance with the
except the already leaked M5A99X EVO will look like, we do
convenience of a single drive letter (C:)
at least know what features they'll come with.
• SATA 3Gb/s (SATA Revision 2.0)
So first up we have three AMD 970 boards, all three are full
• 20GB capacity, 2.5” 9.5mm and mSATA ATX boards and all three has a pair of x16 slots configured
• Up to 60% performance improvement over a desktop in x16 and x4 mode. The entry level model is the M5A97
7200 rpm hard drive which has a 4+2 VRM design and it has six SATA 6Gbps ports
and three headers for six USB 2.0 ports as far as internal
• Built with Intel 34nm SLC Compute NAND Flash connectors are concerned. Around the back we're looking at
Memory – higher performance, endurance two USB 3.0 ports, six USB 2.0 ports, 7.1-channel audio and
• Compatible with Intel 6 Series Express Chipsets: Z68, Gigabit Ethernet. This board doesn't feature Digi+VRM , but
HM67, QM67 has all of the other common Asus features.
Next up we have the M5A97 Pro and Evo, both featuring a 6+2
Last but not least, the Intel SSD 311 Larson Creek 20GB is phase Digi+ VRM design, six intenral SATA 6Gbps ports, three
expected to cost you around USD119 and expect availability at headers for six internal USB 2.0 ports and the EVO model
launch. also has an internal pin header for two USB 3.0 ports and a
FireWire port. Around the back we have two USB 3.0 ports,
eight USB 2.0 ports, two eSATA ports, Gigabit Ethernet and
7.1-channel audio with the EVO board also sporting a FireWire
port.
The M5A99X EVO we've already seen thanks to the leaked
image on Thursday, although it seems like we got a couple
of specs slightly wrong. It turns out that the board has two
internal SATA 3Gbps ports, not two SATA 6Gbps ports as we
thought. It also has a rear eSATA and an eSATAp (powered
eSATA/USB combo port), but the rest was pretty much spot
on except the VRM design which is 6+2 rather than 8 phases.

Asus' AMD 900-series
motherboard specs unveiled
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-amd-900-series-motherboard-
specs-unveiled/12098.html

15


On the high-end side we have the TUF Sabertooth 990FX glimpse into what AMD's Fusion motherboards for the FM1
which as the name gives away is based on the 990FX chipset. socket will have to offer.
Here we're looking at an 8+2 Digi+ VRM design, four x16 PCI
Express slots in a dual x16 or x16 plus dual x8 and a x4 slot.
Internally we again have six SATA 6Gbps ports, two SATA
3Gbps ports, headers for four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0
ports and a FireWire port. Around the back the board has two
USB 3.0 ports, 10 USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA, one eSATAp,
Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire port and 7.1-channel audio.
Special features includes a return of Asus' CeraM!X heatsinks,
the TUF Thermal Radar, the various TUF components and a
range of other more or less important stuff.
Finally we have the ROG Crosshair V Formula which as
expected is the top of the range board, which is another 990FX
board. We have the same slot configuration here as on the
TUF board with four x16 slots in either dual x16 or x16 plus
As you can see from the picture, AMD's test board doesn't
dual x8 and one x4 slot. On-board connectors consist of seven
exactly look like a retail board and it has a lot of test points
SATA 6Gbps ports and two front USB 3.0 ports. Around the
for oscilloscopes and other types of test equipment. However,
back we have four USB 3.0 ports, 12 USB 2.0 ports, although
what we can see is that the board has native USB 3.0 support
one of them is dedicated to ROG connect, one eSATAp 6Gbps
thanks to the internal USB 3.0 header so this is most like an
port, Intel powered Gigabit Ethernet and 7.1-channel audio
FCH A75 based board. As it should be, it's a single chipset
with SupremeFX X-Fi 2. This board will also ship with Asus'
board, although it appears that the FCH A75 requires active
ROG ThunderBolt and comes with all the usual ROG features
cooling which is somewhat disappointing. That said, hopefully
you'd expect to find.
a larger passive cooler will be enough on retail boards, or at
Overall a pretty decent line-up of boards, we'll just have to wait least that's what we're hoping for.
and see what the final boards look like. It's anyone's guess what
The board clearly has an HDMI, DisplayPort and D-sub
these boards will be priced at, but we're hearing rumours of
connector and it should also have a pair of rear USB 3.0 ports
some very and we mean VERY competitive pricing on AMD's
alongside what we'd guess are four USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit
upcoming AM3+ CPUs in as much as you'll get an eight core
Ethernet port, six audio jacks and what appears to be a vertical
AMD CPU for about the same price you'd pick up a Core i7
eSATA connector. The slots on the board appears to be a single
2600K. That sounds like a pretty good bargain to us, especially
x16 PCI Express slot, two open ended x4 PCI Express slots, a
as most of the other CPUs will be priced lower than that.
mini PCI Express slot and a PCI slot, as well as a x1 PCI Express
slot located at the centre of the board.
Exclusive: AMD's FM1 desktop Surprisingly the board has a very small VRM design with what
test board pictured looks like a 3+2 phase design. Considering that the APUs will
have a pretty powerful GPU inside them, we expected a more
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/exclusive-amd-s-fm1-desktop-test-
advanced VRM design. Apart from that there isn't much to say,
board-pictured/12096.html
the board has four DIMM slots, five internal SATA connectors
May 9th, 2011
and a lot of pin headers that we can't really make out what
they're for. One final note would be the CPU retention, or the
lack of one. There appears to be space for one that would be
similar to the AM3+ split design we've seen from ASRock and
Asus, but we're just going to have to wait and see what AMD
comes up with.

We've seen pictures of the FM1 socket, the FM1 CPUs and even
the mobile test board from AMD, but what we have for you The Daily VR-Zone News
today is the first picture of AMD's FM1 desktop test board.
Please keep in mind that this is not an indication of what final
Summary - 6 May 2011
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--6-
production motherboards will look like, nor does it represent
may-2011/12094.html
a final product by any means, but what it does give us is a
May 9th, 2011
glimpse into what AMD's Fusion motherboards for the FM1
socket will have to offer.
We've seen pictures of the FM1 socket, the FM1 CPUs and even
the mobile test board from AMD, but what we have for you
today is the first picture of AMD's FM1 desktop test board.
Please keep in mind that this is not an indication of what final
production motherboards will look like, nor does it represent
a final product by any means, but what it does give us is a
16

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #28

VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #28

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VR-Zone Technology News | Stuff for the Geeks! Issue #28