ASUS Unveils Trio of PCI-Express 3.0 Motherboards Based on Intel Z68 Chipset

ASUS unveiled a trio of socket LGA1155 motherboards based on the Intel Z68 chipset, which feature PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated). The new motherboards are PCI-Express Gen 3.0 specifications compliant, complete with switches and electrical components. Leading the pack is the P8Z68 DELUXE/Gen3 in the $250-segement, followed by the P8Z68-V PRO/Gen3 in the $200-segment, and the P8Z68-V/Gen3 in the sub-$200 segment.

All three feature 16-phase Digi+ CPU VRM, an Intel-made gigabit Ethernet controller, and Lucid Virtu support. All three feature the same expansion slot loadout, with two PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (x16/NC or x8/x8), one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical 2.0 x4), and two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x1 and legacy PCI wired to an ASMedia-made bridge chip.

The P8Z68 DELUXE/Gen3 is loaded with features, but lacks display connectivity, the bundled Lucid Virtu only works in D-mode, providing load-balancing between multiple installed GPUs. The lack of display connectors creates room for an additional gigabit Ethernet + USB 3.0 port cluster. The second gigabit Ethernet connection is controlled by Realtek 8111E. A PLX-made PCI-Express 2.0 bridge chip is used to create additional PCI-Express 2.0 x1 internal ports, driving additional USB 3.0 and SATA controllers. While the other two boards in this series use ASMedia-made USB 3.0 controllers, the P8Z68 DELUXE/Gen3 uses NEC/Renesas-made ones. Other connectivity includes HD audio, Bluetooth 3.0, and FireWire.

The P8Z68-V PRO/Gen3 is a tiny step down in terms of connectivity options, it gets rid of the RTL8111E-driven gigabit Ethernet connection the DELUXE variant has, makes room for iGPU display connectivity including DVI, HDMI, and D-Sub, and has one fewer eSATA port. The P8Z68-V/Gen3 is even slimmer, its HD audio CODEC lacks DTS decode feature, and it has two fewer SATA 6 Gb/s ports.

Source: TechConnect Magazine

Intel Intros New Z68-based Extreme Series Desktop Boards

Intel released two new Desktop Board Extreme Series motherboards based on the Z68 chipset, supporting Core processors in the LGA1155 package, the DZ68ZV and DZ68BC. The DZ68ZV uses the same exact PCB as the DP67BG, replacing the P67 PCH with Z68 (they're pin-compatible). It lacks display connectivity. The only plus here is support for Intel Smart Response Technology. It uses a 8-phase active-swiching/load-balancing digital PWM power circuitry for the CPU, and quite a few overclocking features. Expansion slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x16, three PCIe x1, and two PCI. Storage connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gb/s four SATA 3 Gb/s and one eSATA 3 Gb/s. Then there's 8-channel HD audio, USB 3.0, and Intel GbE controller.

The DZ68BC is a completely new design that is tailored for the Z68 chipset, complete with overclocking features, as well as display connectivity. The CPU is powered by an 8-phase digital PWM VRM, makes use of improved VRM cooling, expansion slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x16, three PCI and two PCIe x1, storage connectors consist of four SATA 6 Gb/s, four SATA 3 Gb/s, and two eSATA. There's 8-channel HD audio, Intel GbE connections, display IO that includes DVI, D-Sub, and HDMI, USB 3.0, and possibly FireWire. Lucid Virtu comes bundled, that provides active switching between the integrated and discrete GPUs.

Source: VR-Zone

Firefox in Warp Zone, Updated to Version 7.0

A little over a month after releasing Firefox 6.0, and quickly following it up with two minor updates (6.0.1 and 6.0.2), Mozilla released its next "major" version, Firefox 7.0 into the release channel. It is now clear that Mozilla Firefox is playing catch-up with other popular web-browsers in some sort of a version number game. The three year old Google Chrome is already into version 14, with version 16 already in the dev channel.

While Firefox users will not be in for a different user interface (it's bad to drastically change it from time to time), Firefox 7 does seem to come with several under-the-hood changes. To begin with, the Windows version features a brand-new rendering back-end that speeds up Canvas, a tweaked Sync system that instantly syncs changes to bookmarks and saved passwords, support for text-overflow: ellipsis, compliance with the Web Timing specification, WebSocket protocol updated from version 7 to 8, and improved support for MathML. The only UI change is that the protocol of the page loaded is hidden. The full URL will be copied when you copy the address in the bar. Firefox 7 is launched for all platforms it's available in: Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android.

DOWNLOAD: Mozilla Firefox 7

PC Gaming to Overtake Consoles Gaming by 2014

Console gamers have long mocked their PC brethren, saying that we were living in a post PC gaming era. However, a new report by DFC Intelligence, commissioned by Nvidia, says that PC gaming revenue is set to overtake that of consoles by 2014.
This report also mentioned that current generation PCs are 10x as powerful as the current generation of consoles. Although we don’t have access to the full report, the below graphics tell enough of a story.
What do you think?

 

EA Posts Recommended System Specification for Battlefield 3

EA has posted the recommended system specs for Battlefield 3 over on the beta website:
OS: WINDOWS 7 64-BIT
PROCESSOR: QUAD-CORE CPU
MEMORY: 4 GB
HARD DRIVE: 20 GB
GRAPHICS CARD: DIRECTX 11 COMPATIBLE WITH 1024 MB RAM (NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 560 OR ATI RADEON 6950)
SOUND CARD: DIRECTX COMPATIBLE
KEYBOARD AND MOUSE
DVD ROM DRIVE

Cooler Master Announces Hyper TX3 EVO and Hyper 212 EVO CPU Coolers

Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, signals the rebirth of two household names in computing, the Hyper 212 EVO and Hyper TX3 EVO CPU Coolers. They come packed with an improved tower fin design, heat pipe layout, upgraded fans, and fan brackets. All of which provides an even more extreme value for end-users of all types.

Improved Cooling Design
The Hyper 212 & TX3 EVO cooling systems are designed and optimized to provide the best user experience and cooling potential for a new generation of processors. The Hyper 212 EVO now features four Cooler Master patented Continuous Direct Contact (CDC) heat pipes that are tightly packed into a flat array on the CPU Cooler base. This acts as a virtual vapor chamber that dissipates a large amount of heat. The aluminum fin structure has been optimized to provide the perfect performance balance between high and low speed fan operations.

Optimized for current and future generation sockets, the Hyper TX3 EVO sees improvement in its Direct Contact heat pipe performance, expanded socket support, and a higher quality 92mm wide-range PWM fan.

Simple Installation / Dual Fan Design
A high performance PWM fan with anti-vibration rubber pads and a set of quick-snap brackets are included with each CPU cooler. In addition, an extra set of quick-snap brackets and anti-vibration rubber pads come standard to give users the option of enabling even greater cooling performance by installing another fan. The quick-snap brackets make changing, adding, and cleaning fans an easy task that requires only a few seconds. Dynamically control the included PWM fan via BIOS or OS-based motherboard tuning applications. There is no need to choose between overclocking performance and stock stability, the Hyper 212 & TX3 EVO are a versatile pair that tailor noise and performance to any need.

Find the new legend, the Hyper 212 & TX3 EVO, at online and retail locations that sell your favorite Cooler Master, CM Storm, and Choiix products. They will be available in October 2011.

Cooler Master Announces CM Storm Trooper Premium Gaming Chassis

CM Storm, of the Cooler Master Group, unleashes a truly magnificent feat of engineering into an arena that represents the future of warfare; the Trooper full-tower chassis. Capable of lightning fast redeployment, it’s the first in its class to include an ultra-strong carrying handle; allowing a gamer to travel with the finest system configurations available with relative ease. CM Storm Trooper includes features that are most coveted by gaming enthusiasts in that it has full dust filter coverage, a fan controller, an external SSD drive hot-swap dock and two uniquely designed modular hard drive cages. These features give CM Storm Trooper the ability to adapt to workstation or water-cooled gaming configurations easily.

Cutting-edge Innovations
CM Storm Trooper exterior features a damage-resistant rubberized coating that will protect the case during transport. Things heat up as gaming becomes more intense. The included front panel connections and controls provide a user with the ability to make on-the-fly changes to fan speed and case LEDs while USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, and audio connections are also provided as an added means of convenience. This is topped off by a 2.5” HDD/SSD X-dock that makes mounting extra drives as easy as loading a Blu-ray/DVD. Changing settings at a moment’s notice becomes a simple matter of a quick button press with CM Storm Trooper.

Versatile Configurations
CM Storm Trooper contains two modular HDD cages which can hold 4HDDs and a120mm fan for cooling each. These modular units can be rotated, front to back, side to side or removed altogether. CM Storm Trooper is the first chassis to allow fully modular hard drive configuration with no modification required. CM Storm Trooper can be equipped with multiple watercooling radiators.

Creatively mounting a vertical water-cooling radiator is possible with the removal of the hard drive cages and panels. CM Storm Trooper has nine expansion slots providing support for multi-GPUs in SLI or Crossfire, space for up to 14 hard drives, and a motherboard tray that supports up to XL-ATX. The Trooper is an ideal mobile arsenal to house and transport the most advanced system and cooling setups.

Cable Management & Storage
A professional cable management look is possible by utilizing the myriad cable tie zones and cable management holes available in the CM Storm Trooper. Smarter and larger placements of these areas allow for efficiently routing cables directly to their intended destinations. In an effort to reduce installation times, a great number of hardware can be mounted tool-free via the use of the included locking mechanisms or trays. A very large CPU heat sink retention hole has been placed in the motherboard tray to allow it to be compatible with most types of CPU and motherboard layouts. Prepare for the unexpected as seasoned operative would with a hidden drawer placed behind a false panel. The bottom panel removes to reveal a storage drawer to keep private effects safe from prying eyes until they are needed.

CM Storm will be launching CM Storm Trooper at a MSRP of 149€ in Europe. Expect to see it at retailers and online locations that sell your favorite Cooler Master, CM Storm, and Choiix gear by November 4th 2011 in Europe. Availability, and pricing will vary based on geographical region, please contact your local Cooler Master approved reseller or distributor in your country for more information.

Thermaltake Introduces the Overseer RX-I eSports Chassis

Thermaltake, the leader and pioneer in PC thermal solutions, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, with “delivering the perfect user experiences” as our mission. The new Thermaltake Overseer RX-I e-Sports chassis’s global market launch commences in mid-September. The most invaluable full-tower chassis made for e-Sports fanatics to govern and benefit from all valuable resources while in or out of the game. It is an unprecedented e-Sports chassis that is designed for gaming purists looking for the ultimate gaming performance, ensure true enjoyment.

Features of the Overseer RX-I e-Sports chassis include:

• Distinguishable breath lighting effect
• Exquisite front bezel and black coating inside
• USB 3.0 SuperSpeed
• Top-mounted HDD Docking Station enables blazing fast file transfer and effortless hot-swap capability
• Bottom-placed PSU design for better and easier installation
• Supports most advanced AMD & NVIDIA graphics cards up to 12.5"/32 cm long

Superb Exterior & Interior Design
The exterior of the new Thermaltake Overseer RX-I e-Sports chassis continues the breathtaking design idiom, and prominent stylistic features include its six of 3.5” hard disk and three of 5.25” optical disk tool-free drivers’ bays with an e-Sports gaming design chassis. The chassis itself is armored with two exquisite front bezel and top bezels with a distinguishable breath light effect present a tender e-Sports gaming sensation to e-Sports fanatics. Moreover, an extra large interior room with full black coating, smart cable management and bottom-placed power supply unit design that not only offer the flexibility to support extended ATX motherboards and the most advanced AMD & NVIDIA graphic cards up to 12.5”/34cm long (i.e. AMD Radeon HD 6990 & NVIDIA Geforce GTX 590) but also gives an unify overall appearance from inside to outside of the chassis.



Extensive Compatibility and Expandability
The Overseer RX-I e-Sports chassis geared up with internal USB 3.0 SuperSpeed and top-mounted HDD docking station which enables blazing fast file transfer and effortless hot-swap capability. Furthermore, four heighten foot stands with excessive ventilation designs plus the detachable front, side and PSU dust filer provide an clean air flow with excellent internal environment, allow e-Sports fanatics to bolt through games and battles without any hiccup. Last but not least, reserved holes for liquid cooling system, offer the versatility for overclocking fanatics who wish to push performance to the limit.

No matter if you are just an ordinary e-Sports player or an extreme e-Sports fanatic, Thermaltake Overseer RX-I e-Sports chassis has all the abilities with affordable value to govern all your important resources that will boost your games to a whole new level!

For more information, visit the product page.

Intel Slip Up Discloses Core i7-2700K

A slip-up by Intel revealed its next high-performance socket LGA1155 processor, the Core i7-2700K. The box part product code of the new chip was disclosed in the latest material deceleration datasheet (MDS) document, as BX80623I72700K, carrying the spec code SR0DG. From the given product code, one can deduce the SKU as Core i7-2700K. No other specifications were given out, but given that Core i5 2000 and Core i7 2000 quad-core models are spaced out in steps of 100 MHz, one can only guess that the i7-2700K carries a clock speed of 3.50 GHz, with 3.90 GHz Turbo Boost. In all likelihood, the release of this new chip could be timed to coincide with AMD FX 8150, displacing the Core i7-2600K from its existing price-point, and making the 2600K compete with the FX-8150 at a more competitive price.

Source: CPU World

Razer to Design The Ultimate Arcade Stick for The XBOX 360 with The Community

Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, just announced a program to co-develop the ultimate arcade stick for the Xbox 360 together with the arcade stick community. The arcade stick, developed with pro-gamer feedback, is currently at the prototype stage. For the finishing touches, up to 200+ specially selected top-seed Street Fighter IV pro-gamers, influential modders, and members of the arcade enthusiast community will each be given a Razer arcade stick to test and provide feedback to further improve it to perfection, whereupon the final design will then proceed to production.

Since the company’s beginnings in ’98, Razer has continually taken pro-gamer feedback and validation during the product development phase to ensure that the design for every gaming product shipped is the absolute best for the competitive edge in tournament-grade play. But in an unprecedented move in the gaming hardware space, Razer is now reaching out to the entire arcade stick community to help make this yet-to-be-named product the best arcade stick in the world. Their feedback will be a huge influencing factor in the design of the final product.

“Razer is for gamers, by gamers. We’ve been taking feedback from our professional players on products for years and now we want to open it up to the community. That’s why we want every arcade enthusiast and modder’s input in the development of this special arcade stick,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, President, Razer USA. “In this way, it’s not just our arcade stick; it’s the community’s arcade stick. Together, we will create a weapon that delivers the best fighting performance for every gamer and allows modding to the individual’s exact specifications. We’re not just asking people for input on the paint job, we’re after serious hardware feedback.”

Members of the arcade community worldwide interested in participating in this beta program are encouraged to contribute ideas at www.razerzone.com/bredtofight, along with a short description as to why they should be selected for prototype testing. Registrants can also nominate other people to the program. Up to 200+ successful applicants worldwide will receive an arcade stick prototype delivered directly to their homes.

Razer will be launching this non-retail arcade stick closed beta community program at Tokyo Game Show, the heart of the professional console fighting scene. Select pro-gamers and key modders will also be approached very soon to begin beta testing the prototype.

For more information on the arcade stick or the community program and how to get involved, please visit this page.

Please note, the pictures depict a preliminary design, the actual product may differ from what's shown in the pictures.