http://www.tcmagazine.com Techconnect Magazine Feed en-us 60 http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/logo.gif http://www.tcmagazine.com http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32565&catid=6 Hybrid SLI is dead, long live Optimus, that's the basic tagline of Nvidia's latest announcement which is about a new switchable graphics technology. Hybrid SLI was a flop to say the least but with Optimus, Nvidia aims to really make an impact on the mobile market and enable us to have portable PCs (notebooks, netbooks) with a long battery life that can also handle more intense graphics.<br /> <br /> What Optimus does is to bring switchable graphics to a new level through the combination of an Nvidia discrete GPU and an Intel processor with integrated graphics, like the latest Atoms and the new 32nm Core chips. A lot of people like their laptop to have good overall performance, including in games, but unfortunately, discrete graphics is known to be crippling to battery life. What Optimus does is preserve battery life when that's possible and inject additional graphics power when that is required.<br /> <br /> An Optimus-enabled machine, which contains an Intel CPU and an Nvidia 300M/200M/ION GPU, will only use the CPU-integrated graphics core for things like browsing, text editing and power up the discrete graphics solution automatically, when running a game or a CUDA-supporting application (video converters, players, etc). The switch from the Intel IGP to the Nvidia IGP/GPU is done almost instantly and without screen flickering, user intervention being minimal to none. We say minimal because driver support is required for the switch and if, for example, a game isn't recognized, you'll have to add an Optimus profile for it manually. Hopefully this won't be a problem as Nvidia plans to provide a steady stream of driver updates.<br /> <br /> To see what Optimus can do check out the articles posted by:<br /> <br /> - <a href="http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=3737&p=1" target="_blank">AnandTech</a><br /> - <a href="http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1211/1/" target="_blank">Legit Reviews</a> <br /> - <a href="http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=868&type=expert" target="_blank">PC Perspective</a> <br /> - <a href="http://techreport.com/articles.x/18443" target="_blank">The Tech Report</a><br /> - <a href="http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=22326" target="_blank">Hexus</a><br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Nvidia/Nvidia_Optimus_chart_01.jpg" /></center> http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32564&catid=2 Cayman Islands-abandoning storage company Seagate Technology has initiated shipments of its newest 2.5-inch enterprise hard drive which goes by the name of Savvio 10K.4 and comes in 450GB and 600GB capacities. The fresh HDDs work at 10,000 RPM (rotations per minute), have a MTBF (mean time before failure) of 2 million hours, 16MB of cache, are available with either 6 Gbps SAS or 4 Gb/s Fiber Channel, and boast an average latency of 3ms.<br /> <br /> "Our customers face challenging storage needs requiring the most efficient use of space and power while maintaining the highest performance possible," said Howard Shoobe, senior manager, Dell Storage Product Management. "The new 2.5-inch 10K-rpm 600GB capacity point allows a doubling of capacity within the same rack space of current 3.5-inch 15K 600GB drives while increasing overall system-level performance and decreasing power usage."<br /> <br /> The Savvio 10K.4 drives are available with self-encrypting drive (SED) and Protection Information (PI) options that provide enhanced data protection and integrity and are backed by a five-year warranty.<br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Seagate/Seagate_Savvio_10K.4_HDD_01.jpg" /></center> http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32563&catid=3 REALiX has just rolled out the 3.40 version of its HWiNFO32, its free utility which provides system information, monitoring options and even a few benchmarks. Available <a href="http://www.hwinfo.com/download32.html" target="_blank">here</a>, this latest release comes with the following updates:<br /> <br /> - Added reporting of TRIM command capability (for SSD).<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Giga-Byte series: H55, 790FXTA.<br /> - Improved support of nVidia GT21x series.<br /> - Fixed support of several nVidia GPU sensors.<br /> - Added monitoring of nVidia GPU temperature for G92, G94, GT200, GT21x.<br /> - Added reporting of ATA drive media rotation rate in RPM (if drive supports reporting).<br /> - Fixed detection of first DIMM on certain nVidia chipsets.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for MSI series: Big Bang Trinergy (MS-7580), P55-GD80 (MS-7581), P55-GD65 (MS-7583), P55-CD53 (MS-7586), H57M-ED65 (MS-7587), P55M-GD41/45 (MS-7588).<br /> - Improved general handling of sensor monitoring, added possibility to clear stored preferences.<br /> - Enhanced reporting of PCIe properties for GPU.<br /> - Added preliminary Sandy Bridge support.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Biostar series: TPower I55 and X58.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for MSI series: MS-7032, MS-7046, MS-7100, MS-7185, MS-7204, MS-7236, MS-7250, MS-7260, MS-7267, MS-7327, MS-7350, MS-7369, MS-7373, MS-7376, MS-7388, MS-7501, MS-7577, MS-9130.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Gigabyte series: 945P, 945G, 946, G31MX, 965P, 965Q, N650SLI, M55S, M57SLI, M56S, M61P, M61SME, M61VME, M68SM.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for ECS series: 945P, P55H, X58, RS480, RS482, RS485, A740GM, A785GM, A790GXM.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for DFI series: CFX3200, RDX200, NF590, NF4, 790FX.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Biostar series: N750, TA780, TP35.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Foxconn series: 945, 946, 965, 975, P31, G31, G33, P35, X38, G41, Q45, G43, P43, P55, C55, MARS, BlackOps.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Foxconn series: CK804, VX800, RS690, RS740, RS780, RX780, RD790, RS880, A79A, N570, C51G, MCP55, MCP61, MCP65, MCP68, MCP72, MCP78, MCP73, MCP7A.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Biostar series: NF520, NF560, TA770, TF520, TF560, TF570, TF7025, TF7050, TF7100, TF7150.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for several Supermicro and ASUS workstation boards using W83793 and W83795 sensors.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Intel series: DX58, D5400XS (SkullTrail).<br /> - Added identification of nVidia MCP89.<br /> - Added support of Fintek F71872F and F75334DG sensors.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for several EPoX motherboards.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for EVGA series: E173, E178, E179, E180.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Foxconn series: BLOODRAGE, Flaming Blade, Destroyer.<br /> - Added preliminary support of AMD Hudson FCH.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Supermicro series: C2SBX, X8SII, X8SIL.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Albatron series: PX975X.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for JW series: 780G, 790G.<br /> - Improved sensor monitoring for Shuttle series: P35, X38.<br /> - Added new AMD Family 10h CPU models.<br /> - Fixed reporting of temperatures in Farhenheit in tray.<br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Software/HWiNFO32_3.40_01.jpg" /></center> http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32562&catid=2 Memory maker Silicon Power has today announced the new Helios 101 flash drives which come in two colors - apple green and ocean blue, and in 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32GB capacities. Seen below, the drives measure 55.5 x 19.0 x 7.1 mm and weight 10 grams, have a polished aluminum casing that's both scratch and fingerprint resistant, a USB 2.0/1.1 interface, and are Plug & play compatible.<br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Silicon_Power/Silicon_Power_Helios_101_01.jpg" /></center><br /> <br /> The Helios 101 flash drives are backed by a lifetime warranty and are set to become available in the coming weeks. http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32561&catid=2 Through a newly-issued Asus has declared itself a launch partner for the Nvidia Optimus technology and revealed several N, U and UL series laptops which make use of it. Optimus is a re-enacting of Hybrid SLI, a solution that combines Intel's new 32nm processors which feature integrated graphics, with Nvidia-branded discrete GPUs to enable the making of laptops that have a longer battery life but, when needed, can also handle some more serious gaming.<br /> <br /> Optimus-enhanced laptops will basically utilize CPU-integrated graphics when browsing, writing up documents, but will activate the discrete GPU when playing games and/or running CUDA-enabled apps. The switch from integrated to discrete is done automatically so the user doesn't have to anything but enjoy the 'ride'. <br /> <br /> The first Asus laptops to feature Optimus technology are the N61Jv, N71Jv, N82Jv, U30Jc and UL50Vf. http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32560&catid=2 Taiwanese company SilverStone Technology has constructed a third Precision series PC case, which goes by the codename PS03 and is currently preparing to make its international debut. The new chassis is colored black inside and out, it measures 200 (W) x 472 (H) x 471 (D) mm, has four exposed 5.25-inch bays, top-mounted USB 2.0 (x4) and audio (x2) ports, and a tool-free design which enables the easy installation of optical and hard drives. <br /> <br /> The Precision PS03 comes with a 120mm rear fan and can be equipped with another 120mm spinner in front and a 120/140mm fan on top. SilverStone's case is likely to become available later this month.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/SilverStone/SilverStone_Precision_PS03_01.jpg" /></center><br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/SilverStone/SilverStone_Precision_PS03_02.jpg" /></center><br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/SilverStone/SilverStone_Precision_PS03_03.jpg" /></center> http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32559&catid=2 Present at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco, AMD has given out a new more details on its first Fusion chip, the Llano APU (Accelerated Processing Unit). Expected to debut in 2011 as part of the 'Sabine' notebook platform and the 'Lynx' mainstream desktop platform, Llano is a 32nm processor featuring four x86 cores, one integrated DirectX 11 GPU and a DDR3 memory controller, that can clock over 3 GHz and operate at 0.8V to 1.3V.<br /> <br /> Llano will lack L3 cache but include 4MB of L2 cache (1MB per core), have a TDP of 2.5W to 25W, and make use of a power gating technology that can shut down cores that are not used to reduce consumption and leakage, as well as of a digital power management module.<br /> <br /> AMD is going to start sampling Llano during this first half of this year, as opposed to the previous plan which was for 2H 2010, and will release the APU in 1H 2011. http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32558&catid=2 Gigabyte took its time with the Cedar GPU but has this week stepped up and let loose two cards based on the AMD-designed and TSMC-manufactured 40nm chip, the GV-R545SC-1GI and GV-R545OC-512I. Both Radeon HD 5450s have an Ultra Durable 2 design, a 64-bit memory interface, 80 Stream Processors, DirectX 11 support, a memory clock of 1600 MHz, and D-Sub, DVI, HDMI outputs.<br /> <br /> The GV-R545SC-1GI packs 1GB of memory, a GPU frequency of 650 MHz and is equipped with a passive cooler, while the GV-R545OC-512I includes 512MB DDR3 VRAM, a GPU clock of 700 MHz and an active cooler.<br /> <br /> The GV-R545SC-1GI and GV-R545OC-512I are backed by a three-year warranty and can be found <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125313" target="_blank">@ $65</a> and <a href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125314" target="_blank">@ $55</a>, respectively.<br /> <br /> <center><b>GV-R545SC-1GI</b></center><br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Gigabyte/Gigabyte_GV-R545SC-1GI_01.jpg" /></center><br /> <br /> <center><b>GV-R545OC-512I</b></center><br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/Gigabyte/Gigabyte_GV-R545OC-512I_01.jpg" /></center> http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32557&catid=3 Still in cvasi-closed (invites only) testing, the Google Voice and Wave communication and collaborating services are expected to pick up pace this year when Google wants them to be available to the general public and especially to business users. <a href="http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Messaging-and-Collaboration/Google-to-Push-Google-Voice-Google-Wave-to-Businesses-336221/" target="_blank">According to</a> Dave Girouard, President of Google's enterprise business, both Voice and Wave, as well as Google Apps, will attempt a big offensive into the business segment which is currently dominated by IBM and Microsoft solutions. Unfortunately, Girouard hasn't actually said when Voice and Wave will go public.<br /> <br /> Google Voice is a free service which enables users to have one number for all their phones and provides them with calling features like voicemail (with transcriptions), call blocking and screening, call conferencing and low-priced international calls. As for Wave, this one is a HTML5 tool that provides users with a multitude of applications and services including email, instant messaging, text and photo editing. http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?id=32556&catid=2 LG has now taken the veil off its new GD880 aka Mini mobile phone which features a slim, head-turning design and is supposed to easily fit in pockets and purses. This sleek phone features a shiny black coating backed by textured metal inserts, a button-less face with a 3.2-inch 16:9 touchscreen, a 5.0 megapixel camera, 7.2 Mbps HSDPA support, WiFi, a built-in GPS, an FM radio, and a microSD card slot.<br /> <br /> "We developed the LG Mini in response to specific requests from actual consumers who were unhappy with current full touchscreen phones that are too bulky, too clunky and too expensive," said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "The easily pocketable LG Mini delivers great looks at a reasonable price, along with the trendy features that people want."<br /> <br /> The LG Mini also comes pre-loaded with Facebook and Twitter applications, and is scheduled to debut in Europe next month.<br /> <br /> <center><img src="http://www.tcmagazine.com/images/news/Hardware/LG/LG_Mini_GD880_01.jpg" /></center>