February 26th, 2010
Shuttle's super-slim XS35 media PC can be mounted behind a flat screen
For being tucked inside a case that’s just 1.3 inches thick, the specs for Shuttle’s new XS35, debuting at next week’s CeBIT expo, aren’t half-bad. Of course, it’s no surprise that this media PC runs an Intel Atom processor (the dual-core D510)—the lifeblood of nearly every nettop—but it also includes Nvidia’s Ion 2 graphics (in the form of a GT218 graphics card).
In addition to a 2.5-inch hard drive, the XS35 somehow manages to squeeze in a DVD burner. Connectivity includes HDMI output, five USB ports, multi-format memory-card reader, and, sadly, only a wired Internet jack.
Perhaps the XS35’s coolest feature is also its most perplexing. It’s small enough that it can be installed behind a flat panel display. How convenient it is to access those ports and the optical drive once it’s mounted, however, is the currently unanswered question. Also unknown at this time is the price, though Shuttle says the PC will be available in Q2 2010.
February 26th, 2010
Nvidia's next-gen GPU arrives in March to challenge Radeon 5800 series
Nvidia’s next-generation GeForce GF100 (aka Fermi) GPUs for Windows 7 desktops will finally be available starting March 26. Nvidia will launch its first DirectX 11 GPUs, the GeForce GTX 480 and GTX 470, at a gaming convention in Boston.
Nvidia decided to tip its hand earlier this week after a couple moves generated confusion. First, on Monday Nvidia announced three GeForce GT 300 series GPUs. The company had billed this as a “major announcement,” but these turned out to be renamed versions of existing GT 200 series GPUs, and available only in new PCs, not in retail add-in-boards. Many hardware enthusiasts and tech journalists had assumed that the Fermi GPUs would be the GeForce GT 300 series. Then listings for GeForce GTX 480 boards started popping up on a retail site (don’t try ordering one).
The extent to which the GF100 has been delayed is a matter of debate, but it has certainly had a long gestation period. Nvidia first discussed Fermi at its GPU Technology Conference in September 2009, where the company emphasized features tailored more for high-performance computing than for gaming. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, Nvidia demonstrated what looked like production-level boards on a handful of DirectX 11 games and benchmarks, but still provided few details.
Part of the reason the GF100 has taken so long, as Nvidia engineers have hinted, is that designing a large, complex GPU that is equally suited to both general-purpose computing and 3D gaming isn’t easy (just ask Intel). Fermi is an ambitious undertaking with up to 512 cores and a total of around 2 billion transistors But the GF100 has also been hindered by manufacturing issues. Both AMD and Nvidia use the same semiconductor foundry, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, to manufacture their most advanced GPUs on the latest 40nm technology. TSMC has admitted to trouble getting its 40nm process up and running.
This has clearly affected both AMD and Nvidia. AMD has had lots of time to work out the kinks with 40nm technology. The company launched its first 40nm GPU, the Radeon HD 4770, in April 2008. A couple months later, AMD and TSMC showed off the first 40nm DirectX 11 GPUs, and in September AMD released the ATI Radeon 5800 series. Since then AMD has filled out the line and during the holidays it sold 2 million DirectX 11 GPUs, but executives said they could’ve sold more were it not for manufacturing glitches. This week a TSMC executive said the 40nm manufacturing issues had been resolved, and the foundry planned to double its capacity on that node this year. Separately Nvidia CFO David White said the manufacturing issues would be fully resolved around the middle of the year when Fermi-based boards will be available in volume.
Because of its size and complexity–along with the 40nm manufacturing challenges–there’s some question whether Nvidia will be able to sell these Fermi boards in any large numbers. I’ll leave that debate to others. My only interest is what kind of numbers a GeForce GTX 480 can put up. This isn’t just an issue for gamers. An increasing number of consumer and professional applications are tapping into the GPU to speed-up tasks such as video encoding that can be handled by lots of cores in parallel. At this point, no one outside Nvidia really knows. My guess: the GeForce GTX 480 will do enough to allow Nvidia to claim the fastest single GPU, compared to the Radeon 5870, though it’s not likely to beat out the Radeon 5970, which puts two of the Cypress 5800 series GPUs on a single board. There’s plenty of room for Nvidia to split the difference–graphics cards based on the Radeon 5870 currently start at around $400, while the dual-GPU 5970s with 2GB of graphics memory start around $650.
In about a month we’ll know just what kind of fight Fermi has in it. I look forward to testing out the first GTX 480 boards.
February 24th, 2010
Is Nvidia Ion 2's graphics performance for netbooks a bust?
Nvidia designed its Ion platform to provide netbooks with the graphic boost that they lacked from their Intel integrated graphics. Nvidia has Ion 2 ready to go even though systems with first-generation Ion graphics just recently hit the market. But based on findings from a German Web site, the graphics giant may want to take its sweet time letting Ion 2 reach consumers.
Netbooknews.de put Acer’s forthcoming and Ion 2-packing Aspire One 532G (which I posted about last week) on the bench against the Samsung N510, which uses the original Ion graphics. On the 3DMark03 graphics performance benchmark, the Acer actually scored 15 percent lower than the N510—3513 to 3049. Fudzilla points out that Nvidia can still improve the drivers supporting Ion 2 to boost performance, but it’s not often that a “bigger-and-better” solution doesn’t beat its predecessor, even if by a little, right out of the box. Needless to say, Ion 2 will now get a lot of scrutiny when more reviewers get their hands on test units.
February 22nd, 2010
Intel will sell as many boxed Pentium CPUs as Core-based processors in Q1 2010
While it’s fun to benchmark the latest Intel “Extreme” processor and hear about the performance tweaks that have been implemented over the previous iteration, the fact is that most buyers can’t afford to drop $1,000 on a CPU, or even $200-$300 for its still-powerful but more affordable siblings. Even Intel apparently is aware that people are still satisfied with a Pentium dual-core processor instead of a Core i5; according to Fudzilla, Intel projects that Pentiums not only will outsell Core i3s, i5s, and i7s this first quarter of 2010, but also Core 2 Duos and Core 2 Quads. In other words, the company’s humbler offerings will outpace all of the other boxed Intel CPUs, including the few bargain-priced (and -powered) Celerons that will still be available.
We can all pretty much guess why this is the case. While the latest games and certain applications like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere Pro can make use of some of that extra processing horsepower, most people are using Microsoft Office, surfing the Web, and maybe doing their taxes on their PCs. They can run multiple apps like these at the same time and use Windows 7 with a Pentium-based PC. Most users don’t need Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies, and certainly won’t pay for them with the economy still in flux.
In case you’re curious, here’s the approximate breakdown in terms of projected sales of Intel’s other boxed processors: Celeron (both single and dual core), 11%; Core 2 Duo, 12%; Core 2 Quad, 7%; Core i3, 5%; Core i5, 5%; Core i7, 2%; and the forthcoming Core i9, 4%. If you plan on doing an Intel-based processor upgrade soon, let us know in the TalkBack section which CPU you’re choosing.
February 21st, 2010
Clevo's X8100 loaded gaming laptop packs mobile Core i7, Nvidia GTX 285M graphics
If you’re not a notebook fanatic, you may not be aware of the Clevo brand, though you may be familiar with its laptops if you purchase a system from Sager or Prostar (which merely rebrand Clevo machines). You’ll have to go the boutique vendor (like AVADirect, Malibal, XoticPC) to get hold of a Clevo au naturel, but if you’re a hardcore gamer, you might want to track down the just released X8100.
Clearly throwing down against Alienware’s finest, this “portable” monstrosity is available with a choice of Intel’s new Core i7 mobile processors, including the i7-920XM “extreme” version, and comes equipped with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 285M graphics—or a pair in SLI configuration if you have even more money to spend. It also comes with a mammoth 18.4-inch LED-backlit display (1,920×1,080 resolution), eight programmable gaming keys, and support for three hard drives.
If you’re asking, “How much does this weigh?” or “How much does this cost?”, then this isn’t the system for you. But since you’ve asked, it weights in at a hefty, hefty, hefty 12.5 pounds with battery, and costs more than $2,000 for the base configuration—and much more if you’re going with the extreme CPU, 8GB of DDR3 RAM, additional hard drives or SSD drives, Blu-ray drive, and so forth. You’ll also want to have your health insurance premiums paid up for the hernia surgery you might need after lugging this thing around.
February 18th, 2010
Shuttle to offer limited edition Clash of the Titans desktops
Forget the gods being crazy: I might be a little nuts thinking Shuttle has an odd promotional tie-in with the upcoming remake of Clash of the Titans. It’s releasing limited editions of its new J Series small-form-factor desktop and X50 V2 all-in-one PC with designs based on the movie. The systems will be wrapped in a heroic-based skin and come pre-loaded with movies and wallpaper from the film, which will be opening on April 2 in 3D.
Beneath the (ancient Greek) Olympian-themed skin, the X50 V2 is based around the Intel “Pinetrail” Atom D510 dual-core CPU and GMA3150 integrated graphics. The first release features a 15.6-inch touchscreen, with multitouch support still to come. In contrast, the J Series is designed more for performance: While the entry-level SG41J1 supports last-generation Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad processors, the SH55J2 can handle new Core i3 and i5 CPUs, and the SX58J3 is able to pack the latest Core i7 processors and supports ATI CrossFireX and Nvidia SLI multiple graphics card solutions.
Personally, I wouldn’t want any kind of special design on my PC, but I can see the appeal of limited-edition cases that are based on the buyer’s favorite computer game. But the Clash of Titans videogame is a console-only release, so is there really a lot of pent-up anticipation for the movie that people will be expressing by buying one of these systems? Would you ever buy a new computer with a limited-edition design? Let us know what you think in the TalkBack section.
February 17th, 2010
AMD's big bet on Llano CPU+GPU
Last week I was at ISSCC, an annual chip conference in San Francisco. Intel tends to dominate these conferences, not only because it is the largest semiconductor company in the world, but also because it is the only one shipping a 32nm microprocessor–and still the only one manufacturing chips using high-k material and metal gates in high-volume. (Earlier I previewed Intel’s Westmere presentation at ISSCC.) While Intel may own the present, AMD believes the future belongs to Fusion. And at the conference AMD provided the first glimpse of some of the components that will go into its first Fusion APU, or Accelerated Processing Unit, slated to ship in 2011.
The idea of an APU is to combine an x86 processor with a capable graphics processing unit (GPU) on a single silicon die. AMD argues that simply adding more and more general-purpose x86 cores to a chip will yield diminishing returns since many–though certainly not all–tasks can be handled more efficiently by a highly-parallel processor with lots of little cores such as a GPU. AMD happens to have a capable DirectX 11 GPU, the ATI Radeon 5000 series.
This is not a new concept. It’s the same idea behind GPU computing, but unlike Nvidia, AMD is in a position to physically combine the CPU and GPU. Intel already sells processors with a graphics controller–its Core i3 and Core i5 dual-core laptop and desktop chips–but it’s not a single chip. Rather Intel combines a 32nm CPU with a 45nm GPU into one multi-chip package. Like AMD, Intel plans to put both on the same physical die, but the timing is unclear.
AMD first APU, code-named Llano, will also be the company’s first processor manufactured at 32nm using high-k and metal gates. Llano will consist of four x86 cores, a DirectX 11 GPU and a DDR3 memory controller. It will be part of Sabine platform for desktop replacements and thin-and-light laptops. AMD will have a separate platform (Brazos) for ultraportables and netbooks with a new x86 design known Bobcat. This is also scheduled to ship in 2011, but AMD hasn’t announced what process node will be used. Llano will also be used in mainstream desktops while another new core, Bulldozer, will show up in four- and eight-core processors for high-end desktops. Both will be 32nm processors and will be available in 2011.
Given all of the changes in Llano-a new process node and new materials on the first monolithic CPU and GPU–it’s little wonder that AMD has largely stuck with the same design for the x86 as the current 45nm cores. AMD isn’t ready to discuss the entire APU; instead it focused on these cores, each of which contains about 35 million transistors and occupies about 10 square millimeters (not counting the 1MB of L2 cache). Of course when you combine four of those with lots of cache, a GPU, memory controller and peripheral circuitry, the final APU will be much larger. AMD has previously said it will have around 1 billion total transistors at 32nm.
Most of the changes to the core have to do with better power management. For example, individual cores can be completely disconnected from the power supply when not in use to minimize power. The cores in Llano will operate at 3GHz or faster while using anywhere from 2.5 to 25 watts. AMD also talked about some of the changes in the circuit design required to make the design work with the high-k dielectric and metal gates. But the bigger questions surrounding the integration of the GPU remain a mystery for now.
From a user standpoint all that really matters is whether AMD can successfully deliver Llano on time. There’s no doubt Llano represents a big technical challenge with a new process technology, new materials, and what looks like the first on-die GPU–all produced under a new manufacturing arrangement with the spin-off of GlobalFoundries. But the AMD has been talking about Fusion since it acquired ATI in 2006, and with Intel already shipping 32nm processors for the same mainstream laptops, AMD can’t get there soon enough. If Llano arrives on-time, and it improves performance per watt and demonstrates the benefits of combining x86 cores with a powerful GPU, it should do a lot to make AMD more competitive.
February 16th, 2010
MSI releases four new budget laptops, including Blu-ray model for $699.99
The Windows 7 budget laptop onslaught continues, this time courtesy of MSI, which has launched four new systems that all run Windows 7 Home Premium. One of them even includes a Blu-ray reader/DVD writer combo drive for under $700. Two are currently available at Newegg.com.
While three of the notebooks use the new Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, the cheapest, the
$529.99 CR600 is powered by a Pentium Dual Core T4500 CPU. It’s also the only one using Nvidia GeForce 8200M integrated graphics and comes with 3GB of RAM instead of 4GB. On the other hand, the CR600 is the sole one of the four with a 16-inch display instead of a 15.6-inch screen.
The CR620-030 and CR620-033 both come with the Core i3-330M CPU, along with a 320GB hard drive. The CR620-030 costs $649.99, but the CR620-033 is priced $50 higher due to its Blu-ray combo drive. At $729.99, the CR620-031 sports the Core i5-430M and 500GB hard drive, but lacks that Blu-ray drive, leaving the potential buyer to decide if the more powerful processor is more important than Blu-ray.
February 15th, 2010
New Asus Eee PC T101MT is a multi-touch convertible Windows 7 tablet/netbook
Asus kicked off the netbook craze about 18 months ago with its original Eee PC, and now the line has graduated to Windows 7 and a multi-touch, swiveling screen that turns the T101MT into a tablet PC. The T91 was the first Eee PC that worked as a convertible tablet, but it had a smaller 8.9-inch screen and ran Windows XP, which of course lacks multi-touch capabilities.
The T101MT comes with a 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen that works with the bundled touch-based software as well as PenWrite technology for stylus-based interaction. It sports the Intel Atom N540 CPU, though it sadly doesn’t pair that with Nvidia Ion graphics platform. You can get it with 1GB or 2GB of RAM, a 160GB or 320GB hard drive, and your choice of Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, or Windows 7 Home Premium. There are the other netbook accoutrements, like built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, three USB ports, SD/MMC card reader, and so.
But, most importantly, with its multi-touch and tablet features, the T101MT makes for an interesting iPad alternative that runs your Windows programs out of the gate and offers a physical keyboard built in when you need it. No release date or pricing info is available yet, but it should be competitive with Apple’s tablet device given the T91’s $500 price.
[Via HotHardware]
February 15th, 2010
Acer announces first Nvidia Ion 2 netbook: Aspire One 532G
Nvidia’s Ion graphics solution for netbooks provides the extra video power that’s lacking from Intel’s current Atom processor. It can handle Direct X graphics as well as 1080p “full” HD. After taking a while to get Ion-based products to market, Nvidia is already back with Ion 2, though the company is keeping it low-key as the first generation of Ion systems is still selling. Ion 2 may pack 5-10 times as much graphics power as Intel’s new “Pine Trail” Atom processor.
While there were rumors that Asus would release an Ion 2-based EEE netbook in April, it hasn’t been officially confirmed. But the Acer Aspire One 532G now has, making it the first official Ion 2 netbook to be announced. It makes use of Nvidia’s new Optimus switchable graphics technology, which means the Ion 2 graphics turn on to handle gaming and other graphics-heavy chores, while less demanding tasks are handled by the onboard graphics of the Atom N540 processor. It otherwise comes with the usual specs for a netbook: a 10.1-inch LED-backlit screen, built-in Wi-Fi, and option for 3G connectivity, and 10 hours of battery life. The 532G is offered in three color choices: red, blue, and silver.
No pricing has been detailed, but Acer says the system will be available sometime during the first quarter of 2010. Then Ion 2’s gaming prowess will be put to the test to see if you can do “real” gaming on it.
[Via CNET UK]
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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