Featured Reviews
Antec Nine Hundred Two Ultimate Gaming Case Review
The best-selling Antec Nine Hundred offers gamers an unbeatable enclosure, one that delivers a combination of cooling, performance and convenience that is better than most competing cases in the same price range. The newer Antech Nine Hundred Two builds on this design with improved airflow and dominating style.
Travel Stix - Pet Care and Travel for Dogs USB Flash Drive
Whether a professional caregiver, friend or relative cares for your pet, make sure they are prepared with important information identifying your pet's veterinarian's contact information, allergies and medical care issues to enable them to address the unforeseen emergency. How do you do this? The Travel Stix USB Flash drive claims to contain all the forms you need for when you travel with or without your pet.
Kingston MobileLite G2 8GB USB Card Reader Review
The Kingston MobileLite G2 card reader is an ultra-portable and compact way to move data to and from a several media card types. Bundled with an 8GB SDHC media card, it makes a nice all-in-one package purchase. We take a look at performance and usability to see if it lives up to the Kingston brand name.
ATI Radeon HD 5450 512MB DDR3 Video Card Review
AMD today announced the introduction of the ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card, which brings full DirectX 11 performance down to the $49 price point. This card also supports ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology and HDMI 1.3a with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreaming support! Read on to see how it performs!
AMD Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz Quad Core Processor Review
The AMD Athlon II X4 635 is the fastest quad-core processor in the Athlon II series with its overall clock frequency of 2.9GHz. With a street price of $127 and just a 100MHz boost over its predecessor is the Athlon II X4 635 worth it? Read on to see how it performs in the benchmarks and to see how it handles being overclocked on our AMD 785G test system.
ECS GeForce GT 240 512MB GDDR5 HDMI Video Card Review
ECS has the solution for HTPC users and gamers on a budget with their take on the GeForce GT 240. By combining the affordable GeForce GT 240 with the an impressive heat sink from Arctic Cooling you have a low cost and high performing combo. Read on to see if this is the solution for your new machine.
Inside Intel and Micron's 25nm NAND Fab - IMFT
Legit Reviews was recently invited to take a tour of IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) in Lehi, Utah to see how NAND Flash memory is manufactured. Read on as we get into a bunny suit to see how 25nm NAND Flash memory wafers are made and then find out what this shrink means to you as a consumer. That 1TB SSD might not be a dream after all.
Legit News
INDILINX JetStream SATA 6Gbps SSD Controller Update
Many of our readers have heard about INDILINX Barefoot and Amigos SSD controllers, but how is INDILINX coming along with the next generation SATA 6Gbps SSD controller called Jetstream? Legit Reviews contacted INDILINX to see how JetStream was coming along and got a response that they are positing their SATA 6Gbps products with corresponding 6Gbps device availability in the market. It looks like we will have to wait a little longer, but JetStream is coming!
"As far as our JetStream product, which is based on 6Gbps interface, we can say that it is on schedule. However, there has been some changes to the schedule not due to the internal resources but due to the market condition and the SATA 6Gbps availability. We are not rushing but carefully going under the development process for Jetstream to match with the availability of host side SATA 6Gbps from major chipset manufacturers. We believe the quality is the number one priority." - Hyun Mun In, VP & General Manager Marketing & Business Development of Indilinx
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 11:21 AM
Aliens vs. Predator - New "Marine" Trailer
Sega has released a new Aliens vs. Predator Trailer this time featuring gameplay from the Marines. The multiplayer demo is out now and the full version hits shelves on February 19:
As the Marine, you'll experience a claustrophobic and terrifying experience where light is your friend, but there's never enough. However, the United States Marine Corps are humanitys last line of defence, and as such they are armed to the teeth with the very latest in high explosive and automatic weaponry.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 11:13 AM
Micron and Nanya Develop a 2Gb DDR3 Memory Device Using 42nm DRAM
Micron Technology and Nanya Technology today announced that they have jointly developed a 2-gigabit (Gb) DDR3 memory device using their new copper-based 42-nanometer (nm) DRAM process technology. The move to smaller process geometries is fundamentally important for maintaining manufacturing cost efficiencies while also providing benefits for customers including lower power, higher performance, greater density, and smaller die sizes. The new 42nm process now makes 1.35-volts the standard, mainstream voltage requirement, compared to 1.5-volt with previous generations. The 1.35 voltage can provide a savings of up to 30-percent in some scenarios!
The new 42nm DRAM process technology uses the more efficient and reliable copper metallization technology, allowing Micron and Nanya to stay on the leading-edge of process scaling. Micron has long recognized the benefits of copper in aiding DRAM scale, and has continued to leverage and refine the technology for nearly a decade. When compared to other metallization techniques, such as aluminum, copper is recognized as the more extendible, reliable and cost-effective approach for advancing process geometries and enhancing product performance. As Micron and Nanya continue to scale, moving to their next-generation 3Xnm process technology, the companies are building on their strong copper foundation to deliver high-quality and highly reliable products.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 11:10 AM
Intel "Lunch Room" 2010 Super Bowl XLIV Commercial Ad
In case you didn't watch the Super Bowl last night here is one of the Intel ads that was shown to the world. Intel was promoting their recently announced 2010 Intel Core processor series in the commercials. Intel was also the title sponsor of the Super Bowl XLIV post-game show. TNS Media Intelligence said that 30-second commercials during the Super Bowl on CBS are selling for between $2.5 million and $2.8 million per 30 second spot. That is about $83,300 a second! I wonder what the feedback on the ads will be and to see if Intel is happy with the results. If they aren't then they should contact Legit Reviews as we have more than 6 million readers a year that love reading our in-depth PC hardware reviews and news! Heck, we might even cut you a better deal thatn ~$83,000 a second while we are at it! You can read our review on an Intel Core 2010 processor based notebook here.
Intel will debut two new commercials over three purchased 30-second spots, the first airing during the fourth quarter of the big game on Feb. 7. Each commercial employs a sense of "geek humor" and will center on the 2010 Intel Core Processor family, which announced earlier this month at the International Consumer Electronics Show, delivers unprecedented integration and smart performance, including Intel Turbo Boost Technology1 for laptops, desktops and embedded devices.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 09:37 AM
Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader to hit stores
Bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc said on Monday that its Nook electronic reader would be available in most of its physical stores as of Wednesday, ahead of Valentine's Day, ending weeks of delays. The Nook's in store debut, originally expected in December, was delayed after Barnes & Noble sold out of the device before the holidays and was unable to get production sufficiently ramped up.
The Nook e-reader, which Barnes & Noble launched in October and competes with devices such as Amazon.com Inc's Kindle, had previously only been available for order on the retailer's website or at in-store kiosks as the No. 1 U.S. bookstore chain struggled to meet what it said in late 2009 was strong demand for the e-reader.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 09:15 AM
China: Hacker training site shut down
Police in China shut down what officials think was the largest training Web site for computer hackers, local media said. The Black Hawk Safety Net offered lessons on cyber attacks and sold Trojan software, which allows outside access to a computer when remotely installed, media reports said.
Police arrested three people who ran the Web site and charged 100 to 200 yuan ($14 to $29) for lessons, the China Daily newspaper said. Established in 2005, the site had recruited more than 12,000 paid and 170,000 free members and collected more than 7 million yuan ($1.02 million) in membership fees, the reports said.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 09:15 AM
IBM Launches Power7 Chip and Servers
IBM is launching its long-anticipated Power7 processor and systems based on the chip on Monday. The processor is a huge and risky step for IBM, integrating eight processing cores in one chip package, with each core capable of executing four "threads" helping to turn this individual chip into a virtual 32-core processor. In comparison, Intel's high-end Xeon processors typically have two threads per processing core.
The IBM announcement comes amid a flurry of activity in chips aimed at servers. On Monday, for example, Intel Corp. is expected to introduce a long-delayed version of its high-end Itanium product family, a separate product family from the x86 chips used in most personal computers and lower-priced servers.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 02:04 AM
Samsung Introduces 500GB HDD Pre-Loaded with 'Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT'
Samsung has announced the Samsung S2 Portable, a fully transportable external hard drive, pre-loaded with the movie ‘Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT’. The launch will coincide with the movie’s DVD and Blu-ray release on Feb 22.
Timed with the DVD and Blu-ray Disc(TM) release of ‘Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT’, the pre-loaded external HDD will be available at major European retailers from February 22, 2010. "We are excited to present this movie starring Michael Jackson, the greatest entertainer of all time, pre-loaded on the Samsung S2 Portable," said H.S. Lee, Vice President, Storage Marketing, Samsung Electronics.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 08, 2010 - 01:03 AM
Corsair Announces Nova and Reactor SSDs
Corsair has recently announced two new 2.5-inch form factor SSDS that use the SATA II interface that are worth a closer look! Based on the Indilinx Barefoot controller, a Corsair Nova Series SSD will help your system start-up faster, applications and games load quicker and improve overall system responsiveness. The Nova SSD series used an Indilinx Barefoot controller allows for up to 215MB/s read speeds and 130MB/s write speeds on the 64GB drive. The 128MB drive has better write performance since it uses more NAND and has a write speed of up to 195MB/s. The 64GB version is priced about $230 and the 128GB around $430. Corsair didn't mention which controller was inside the Reactor SSD series, but informed is that the 120GB Reactor SSD series has a read performance rating of up to 250MB/s and a write performance rating of up to 170MB/s. The 60GB has slightly slower write speeds as it is rated up to just 110MB/s. Pricing appears to be around $215 for the 60GB and $420 for the 120GB. Both Reactor and Nova SSDs drives come 2.5” to 3.5” drive adapter brackets for desktop systems and are backed by a two year warranty.
Based on the Indilinx Barefoot controller, a Corsair Nova Series SSD will help your system start-up faster, applications and games load quicker and improve overall system responsiveness. Built using no moving parts, the Nova Series provide quiet and cooler operation for your notebook or desktop systems. Boost your PC’s performance and increase your system’s reliability today with a Nova Series 128GB SSD Corsair Nova Series 64GB SSD. A Corsair Nova Series 64GB SSD is the perfect balance of performance and value for your storage needs
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 05:54 PM
SilverStone HDDBoost - Use an SSD To Improve Your HDD Performance
SilverStone has silently launched a new product called the HDDBOOST that caught our attention this week. The device itself is just a simple 3.5-inch chassis that fits in your desktops drive bay that allows you to lets you plug in any SDD drive your heat desires and then to any standard SATA hard drive. Once these have been linked together you connect the HDDBoost to your motherboard with a second SATA cable and you have a daisy chain storage drive that has better performance than your typical hard drive. SilverStone says that the HDDBoost can improve performance by as much as 70% and that you don't even have to re-install the OS. Not bad for those that want to improve system performance and don't want to mess with re-installing the OS. Rumor has it that these will be available in Europe later this month for around $45.
HDDBOOST is a unique product that combines the best qualities of traditional hard drive and solid state disk (SSD) into one virtual super storage solution. Depending on the speed of the SSD added, the HDDBOOST can increase the performance of an existing host hard drive up to 70%! This speed increase is very noticeable and significant for any PC users that have not experienced using SSD drives before. For those who are not ready to compromise on storage capacity and reliability for speed, HDDBOOST will enable SSD speed on its host hard drive and reduce the write times to SSD’s more fragile flash-based storage system, thus extending its effective lifetime.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 03:26 PM
Arsenal of Democracy Goes Gold!
Paradox Interactive announced that development of BL-Logic’s sprawling World War II strategy game, Arsenal of Democracy, has been completed, and will be released on February 23 for $19.99. A new trailer describing the game and its features has also been released:
The game takes players to World War II with total economic, diplomatic and military control over the nation of their choosing, giving them the chance to rewrite history and change the course of history’s greatest global conflict. Arsenal of Democracy offers players unparalleled historical detail alongside the most in-depth and realistic representation of the multitude of challenges faced by the leaders of the time.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 12:08 PM
ATI CATALYST 10.1 Hotfix Takes Care of Grey Screen Issues on Radeon HD 5800 Video Cards
I've heard a ton of buzz about grey screens and system hangs with the new ATI Radeon HD 5000 cards, but luckily we haven't experienced any issues here on our systems. I know many of our readers have Radeon 5000 series cards, so I am curious if any of you have seen it, so be sure to post in the forums if you are having issues. If are impacted by the intermittent grey screen and vertical line corruptions on ATI Radeon HD 5800 series graphics card this is your lucky day. The driver guys at ATI have released a hotfix that helps alleviates some of the corruptions that people are reporting.
Catalyst 10.1 hotfix Features: Alleviates some of the intermittent grey screen and vertical line corruptions that may randomly appear during normal usage when using an ATI Radeon HD 5800 series graphics card
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 11:49 AM
Walton Chaintech launches Apogee SSD Convertor and 606X CompactFlash Memory
To cater to consumer demand for data transfer efficiency, renowned RAM and memory card manufacturer Walton Chaintech is officially launching its new CF card convertor – the Apogee SSD Convertor. Consumers may use the high speed, high capacity CF cards as SSD hard disks, using the Apogee SSD Convertor, to expand the capacity of hard disk while achieving blazingly fast data transfer speed of conventional SSD. The Apogee SSD Convertor offers both performance and upgrade versatility. When paired with Walton Chaintech’s latest CF 606X high speed memory card, users will achieve a perfect match in terms of product compatibility and performance and enjoy velvety-smooth storage and processing experience on their PCs.
The all-new Walton Chaintech Apogee SSD Convertor is built to a standard 2.5” hard disk form factor. It features the high speed SATA II transfer interface and can simultaneously support up to two CF cards on top of Raid 0 and Raid 1 disk array functions. Users can choose to combine the capacity of two CF cards or use them as mirror disks to achieve higher data security based on their own needs. The Apogee SSD Convertor is superior in function to the traditional SSD. The Apogee SSD Convertor is capable of reaching 55MB/sec in actual data read test, which is significantly faster than the 46MB/sec performance of current mainstream 5400-rpm hard disks in terms of transfer efficiency. By choosing high capacity CF cards, users will substantially increase storage capacity without having to replace the convertor, and this greatly boosts the product’s scalability.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 10:19 AM
Sunbeamtech Launches SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Ready Products
Sunbeamtech is releasing a series of USB3.0 products by the end of this February, 2010. The products to be introduced are: 2-Port SuperSpeed expansion card, HDDPAL and Airbox. The transmission speed of SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is more than 10 times faster than USB 2.0. For actual big files transmission demand, USB3.0 products will be able to save users much time. Follow the link below to find out more about these new products.
Have you ever wished that your USB interface could transfer data faster? With a maximum transfer rate of 5Gbps, the USB3.0 Expansion Card was designed to add USB3.0 interface to your computer without your having to upgrade your motherboard.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 10:13 AM
Kingston MobileLite G2 8GB USB Card Reader Review
The Kingston MobileLite G2 card reader is an ultra-portable and compact way to move data to and from a several media card types. Bundled with an 8GB SDHC media card, it makes a nice all-in-one package purchase. We take a look at performance and usability to see if it lives up to the Kingston brand name.
The Kingston MobileLite G2 card reader makes for a nice travel companion for those using one of the variety of cards it supports. If you are compact flash card user, you are out of luck here but that's hardly surprising given the reader is near the same size as a compact flash card. I don't have any real complaints about the reader or the accompanying SDHC card. There was the minor issue with the amount of play with the retractable cover on the card end of the device but this was minimal and at no point was I concerned that it may break or become stuck. For reassurance, Kingston offers a 2-year warranty on the G2 reader and a lifetime warranty on the SDHC card.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 09:24 AM
Apple iPad in Trademark Disputes Nearly Everywhere
Between The Inquirer reporting that Ipad is trademarked in the European Union by a company called ST Microelectronics and Expert Reviews' coverage that Japan's Fujitsu has a pending trademark with the USPTO, it seems Apple is fighting on multiple fronts for the rights to the name of their latest tablet offering after it has already been announced! We shall see if Apple continues to pursue the rights to their new iPad, or if they decide to cut their losses and come up with a better name.
Expensive gadget maker Apple is probably already regretting its daft name for its giant Ipod Touch, but it is looking like it will have a devil of a time using the Ipad name in the EU. ST Microelectronics owns the trademark on the name in the EU on chips sold to mobile phone makers. It stands for Integrated Passive and Active Devices... ST Microelectronics has had the name since September 14, 2001, and the trademark is set to expire on September 1 of this year.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 09:04 AM
Microsoft to Pull Original XBox from XBox Live April 15th
Engadget is reporting that Microsoft has just announced that as of April 15th, original XBox titles will no longer work with the XBox Live service. Now that XBox Live users have a firm date for when the XBox v1 games will cease working with the service, rumors are already circulating around what Microsoft will announce in the coming days during their X10 event in San Francisco.
It's been no secret that original Xbox games have been the vestigial limb holding back much wanted features including raising the limit on our friends list to over 100 or mobile tie-ins, and on April 15 all that will come to an end. Even those Xbox Originals downloaded to the 360 or played via backwards compatibility will be cut off, so we'd suggest getting those last few rounds of Halo 2 in now or at least look into an alternative solution like XBConnect. Affected users should keep an eye on their inbox, Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten has promised "details and opportunities" to come for you as partners in this process -- we're figuring a coupon or two or an extended XBL subscription as the lights are turned out is the least they can do.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 08:11 AM
February 5 News from Around the Web
AZZA Solano 1000R Full-Tower Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews and other reviews from around the web can be found by visiting our forums!
AZZA have taken a few steps away from what is considered conventional with the Solano 1000R (model: CSAZ-1000R) and gave it an extreme bright red interior. The AZZA Solano also boasts "maximum thermal management with fans installed everywhere" to keep your high end hardware cool. In sum, a total of two 230mm fans, two 140mm fans and one 120mm fan work in harmony to provide you maximum airflow. This full tower case supports E-ATX, ATX, and Micro ATX motherboards and the thumb screw design allows for easy installation of seven PCI expansion cards. A plethora of drive bays, including up to ten 5.25" and eight 3.5" bays, allow you to grow your system over time. All the bays have a thumb screw design for easy assembly as well. Are you looking for a new case? Join Benchmark Reviews as we examine the Solano 1000R ATX full-tower ATX case.
Posted by | Fri, Feb 05, 2010 - 07:34 AM
Aliens Versus Predator Demo Available Now!
Sega & Rebellion have released the Demo version of the highly anticipated Aliens Versus Predator. You can now get your copy of the demo from Microsoft’s Xbox Live Marketplace for your Xbox 360, Sony’s PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3, and Steam for your PC. The PC demo is running in DX 9 for those looking to exercise their new video cards. The official DX 11 AvP title will be released on February 16 in the US and February 19 in Europe. Which will you be? Hunter, Prey, or Survivor?
Bringing the legendary war between two of science-fiction's most popular characters to FPS fans, AvP delivers three outstanding single player campaigns and provides untold hours of unique 3-way multiplayer gaming. Experience distinctly new and thrilling first person gameplay as you survive, hunt and prey in the deadly jungles and swamps surrounding the damned colony of Freya's Prospect.
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 04:28 PM
NZXT Unveils Line of Premium Cables and Performance Fans
NZXT just announced its new line of premium cables and performance fans for PC enthusiasts. The new lineup premium cables consists of VGA, PSU, and HDD cables that are individually sleeved in a black enclosure to provide a sleeker look that seamlessly integrates into the case’s interior. The additional benefit from incorporating these premium sleeved cables into your rig is enhanced cable management which is crucial for optimal airflow. NZXT’s line of high performance fans includes a 120mm, 140mm, and 200mm version. Each fan has rifle bearings and 9 blade fins. NZXT’s premium cables and performance fans will be available in February from $2.99 to $14.99.
“For the avid PC enthusiast, effective cable management is a significant, yet time consuming stage of the build” said Johnny Hou, Chief Designer at NZXT. “Our new line of premium cables eliminates the need to sleeve cables on your own and provides a simple solution that will enhance aesthetics, improve cable management and increase airflow so internal temps remain low . Additionally, our new high performance fans provide our enthusiast community additional options when choosing effective airflow for their rig.”
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 03:25 PM
Google And The NSA Team Up For Cyberattacks - Defense Partnership
Te world's largest Internet search company and the world's most powerful electronic surveillance organization are teaming up in the name of cybersecurity. Under an agreement that is still being finalized, the National Security Agency would help Google analyze a major corporate espionage attack that the firm said originated in China and targeted its computer networks, according to cybersecurity experts familiar with the matter. The objective is to better defend Google -- and its users -- from future attack.
Google and the NSA declined to comment on the partnership. But sources with knowledge of the arrangement, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the alliance is being designed to allow the two organizations to share critical information without violating Google's policies or laws that protect the privacy of Americans' online communications. The sources said the deal does not mean the NSA will be viewing users' searches or e-mail accounts or that Google will be sharing proprietary data.
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 10:05 AM
ASUS Would Like To Ship 20 Million Notebooks in 2010
Asustek Computer is aiming for annual notebook shipments of 20 million units in 2010, surpassing Toshiba and Lenovo to become the fifth largest vendor worldwide, according to Shien-yueh Hsu, general manager of Asustek's notebook division.
Of the 20 million units, Asustek expects 12 million units will be traditional notebooks, with the other eight million units Eee PCs. Asustek recently launched a USB 3.0-ready notebook and expects related models to account for 30% of its total shipments. Asustek is currently using chips from NEC to provide USB 3.0 capability, but is planning to gradually turn to using chips from its subsidiary ASMedia Technology around May or June, Hsu noted.
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 09:58 AM
HIS Introduces HIS Radeon HD 5450 Series Video Cards
Today HIS unveils the HIS Radeon HD 5450 1GB/512MB DDR3 Series, offering the most features and functionality in their class. Loaded with complete DirectX 11 support, ATI Stream technology and ATI Eyefinity Multi-display technology (H545H1GDL - DisplayPort version only), the Radeon HD 5450 graphics card delivers a state-of-the-art HD multimedia and medium gaming experience at a value price. With the silent passive cooling heatsink implemented, HIS Radeon HD 5450 Series are your ultimate media center companion at a value price!
The HIS Radeon HD 5450 Series is designed to give you stunning high definition entertainment from your PC, whether Blu-ray/HD DVD discs or other HD sources. Gamers will get an uncompromising Microsoft Windows 7 experience, play the most popular games online and watch HD video with incredible realism. Besides, it consumes less than 20 watts under full load, eliminating the need for an external power connection and making installation snap.
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 09:56 AM
VIA Launches Pico-ITXe Platform for Fleet Vehicles
VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced its latest technology platform for fleet management device designs. The VIA EPIA-P710-D is a Pico-ITXe expansion module that allows system integrators to easily create cutting-edge fleet management devices that incorporate a range of the latest communication and intelligent management technologies. The VIA EPIA P710-D works in tandem with the Pico-ITXe-based VIA EPIA-P710 board, adding an I/O feature set tailor-made for fleet management device design. These include three Mini PCI Express slots that can be used to employ a wide range of Wi-Fi, GSM, 3G/3.5G, GPS and GPRS modules depending on specific regional and application requirements. This platform can be seen in the picture below.
"The VIA EPIA-P710-D can be used to create a range of incredibly versatile and full featured in-vehicle devices that can communicate and increasingly make intelligent management decisions," said Daniel Wu, Vice President, VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "The Pico-ITXe standard also offers a uniquely modular approach to platform design, facilitating faster time-to-market and design cycles."
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 09:13 AM
February 4 News from Around the Web
MSI Wind U135 Review - An Intel Pinetrail Netbook @ Madshrimps and other reviews from around the web can be found by visiting our forums!
The new model from MSI is a special edition based on Intel´s latest Pinetrail platform to celebrate the sale of one million 10-inch U100 Wind netbooks.The special edition is available in either blue or red.
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 08:08 AM
3D Portion of HDMI Specification Version 1.4 Announced - HDMI 1.4a Coming Soon
HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification, today announced that it has made the 3D portion of the HDMI Specification Version 1.4 available for public download on the HDMI Web site at hdmi.org.
The HDMI Consortium recognizes the importance of standardized 3D formats for movies, gaming and broadcast content and the need for non-adopter companies and organizations to have access to that portion of the HDMI Specification,” says Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “As the mainstream adoption of 3D is gaining momentum and content providers define and expand their 3D roadmaps, HDMI is ready to support this major market development.”
Posted by | Thu, Feb 04, 2010 - 05:58 AM
ATI Radeon HD 5450 Graphics Card Brings DirectX 11 To All
AMD today announced the introduction of the ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card, the latest addition to the award-winning line-up of ATI Radeon HD 5000 Series graphics cards. The ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card delivers a state-of-the-art HD multimedia and game experience at a value price. Sharing the same leading edge features found in the critically-acclaimed ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series - support for DirectX 11, ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology and ATI Stream technology - the ATI Radeon HD 5450 provides an uncompromising Microsoft Windows 7 experience.
Cutting-edge technology for today’s software: The ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card offers great performance, allowing users to get the true Windows 7 experience2 with full DirectX 11 support, for less than USD $60 for a 512MB memory configuration. Expanded productivity with multi-display technology: Featuring support for ATI Eyefinity multi-monitor technology, the ATI Radeon HD 5450 graphics card helps users be more productive in today’s visually rich applications by expanding their on-screen real estate, putting more information at their fingertips. Silent running: Offering leading-edge performance per watt, the ATI Radeon HD 5450 redefines entry level performance and ultra-low
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 11:25 PM
EA Predicts New Orleans Saints Defeat Indianapolis Colts
According to EA Sports, Predicts the New Orleans Saints will defeat the Indianapolis Colts 35-31 at this year’s Super Bowl XLIV. For those skeptics out there, the good folks at EA, using a simulation on the Madden NFL 10 on Xbox 360, were able to accurately predict the outcome of both the NFC and AFC Championship games.
The New Orleans Saints pull the upset and march to a victory over the Indianapolis Colts with a score of 35-31 at Super Bowl XLIV, according to the official Electronic Arts simulation run by the award-winning Madden NFL 10 on Xbox 360. The first three quarters display the offensive fireworks that both teams have become known for, with the Colts leading 24-21. A nail biting fourth quarter begins with a big play, courtesy of the Saints’ special teams, when Reggie Bush returns a punt for a 42-yard touchdown. However, with minutes left in the game the duo of Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning put the Colts back on top with a go-ahead touchdown pass. With the game hanging in the balance, Drew Brees hits David Thomas for an 11-yard touchdown and the game winning score. Drew Brees takes home MVP honors as the Saints earn their first Super Bowl Championship title in the franchise's 46 year history.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 04:13 PM
U.S. Transportation Secretary Warns Toyota Drivers Not to Drive Their Cars
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is telling owners of recalled Toyotas to stop driving the vehicles and get them fixed. LaHood is advising owners of the eight recalled models to park them and not drive them until they can be fixed. Most of the problems from the recall center on the Toyota’s accelerator pedals.
The affected vehicles are listed below, and if you're a current owner you can find more information about the recall here.
- 2007-10 Camry
- 2009-10 RAV4
- 2009-10 Corolla
- 2009-10 Matrix
- 2005-10 Avalon
- 2010 Highlander
- 2007-10 Tundra
- 2008-10 Sequoia
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 11:22 AM
BioShock 2 to Have Midnight Launch February 9th
2K Games’ highly anticipated shooter, BioShock 2, will be available at midnight at GameStop and Best Buy stores nationwide. 2K announced the midnight openings in conjunction with a brand new trailer that debuted last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Hoping to pile some extra coal into the hype train's engine, 2K took up the whole first commercial block of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon with a 3-minute-15-second launch trailer. It's a cool clip, but we get the uneasy feeling that the heavy reliance on non-gameplay, first-person action is just a touch misleading. That said, it's just a couple of inches above this sentence, so you can judge for yourself.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 10:49 AM
Patriot Announces Sector 5 Series 2250MHz DDR3 Memory
Patriot Memory, a global pioneer in high-performance memory, NAND flash and computer technology, today announced the launch of its new Sector 5 Series Extreme Performance DDR3 memory. Designed specifically for overclockers and enthusiasts using Intel based platforms, the Sector 5 boasts an amazing 2250MHz with timings of 9-9-9-27. Individually hand tested on the Intel P55 chipset platform; the Sector 5 modules offer incredible performance for users looking to reach new heights in overclocking and benchmarking. Engineered for the gaming enthusiast and intense overclocker, the Sector 5 is one of the fastest modules on the market and will be offered as a 4GB kit (2 x 2GB modules) under the part number PVV34G2250LLK.
"Our goal is to provide the hardcore enthusiast with a performance module that is actually going to perform at the specified timing with stability", says Les Henry, Patriot's VP of Engineering. "Consumers can feel confident that what we advertise for our speeds and timing is true to the specifications. Additionally, users can expect headroom to reach faster speeds. We have been able to hit speeds over 2400MHz with these modules in our lab."
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 09:51 AM
AMD Athlon II X4 635 2.9GHz Quad Core Processor Review
The AMD Athlon II X4 635 is the fastest quad-core processor in the Athlon II series with its overall clock frequency of 2.9GHz. With a street price of $127 and just a 100MHz boost over its predecessor is the Athlon II X4 635 worth it? Read on to see how it performs in the benchmarks and to see how it handles being overclocked on our AMD 785G test system.
"The AMD Athlon II X4 635 is the latest and greatest quad-core Athlon II processor to be released. The AMD Athlon II X4 635 comes priced at a low price of $125.99 plus shipping. Based on the Propus Die, the Athlon II X4 635 has a clock speed of 2.9GHz with a 2000MHz HT link and memory support for both DDR2 and DDR3. The chips overall clock frequency is just 100MHz faster than the AMD Athlon II X4 630, which costs $108.99 plus shipping. For an extra ~$20 you get another 100MHz speed bump, which might make some of you yawn, but at least AMD is headed in the right direction. Both the AMD Athlon II X4 630 and 635 processors are great quad-core CPUs that are ideal for someone looking for the threaded performance that only a quad-core processor can offer..."
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 09:25 AM
File-Sharing Scam Targets Twitter
Beware of file sharing sites (again)! Hackers are skimming Twitter log in and password info knowing that users recycle their passwords and are using the information gleaned to do some dirty deeds. Browse smart and don't engage in risky online behavior to ensure security of your private information kids.
Twitter has identified a scheme that uses compromised file-sharing sites to steal the log on information of users. The service said it had discovered a number of compromised "torrent" sites that had been set up specifically to skim usernames and passwords.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 09:17 AM
Apple's iPhone OS 3.1.3 Upgrade Has a Security Fix
Apple on Tuesday issued a point update to its iPhone OS, making only a few fixes to the phone's software despite not having patched it in months. It's likely there won't be a major fix until the release of OS 3.2, which will likely coincide with the release of the iPad slated for later in March. OS 3.1.3 fixes not only the iPhone but the iPod Touch as well. According to the release notes, there are four security vulnerabilities addressed in the update. One prevents buffer overflow from a maliciously crafted mp4 audio file, which may allow for arbitrary code execution.
There are also some bug fixes. One improves the accuracy of the reported battery level on the iPhone 3GS, another resolves an issue where third-party apps would not launch in some instances, and the final fix addresses a bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard. As always, Apple does not issue just upgraded files. It puts the whole disk image online and updates everything, which means a 291MB download.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 07:47 AM
February 3 News from Around the Web
Crucial RealSSD C300 256GB SATA 6Gbps Solid State Disk @ TweakTown and other reviews from around thew web can be found by visiting our forums!
"At this point do we really even need an intro for the Crucial RealSSD C300? For months Crucial has taunted us with videos, screen shots and snippets of information. At Storage Visions just days before CES we met with Crucial and they were waving a drive around; our eyes were like a dog fixated on its master swinging around a fresh piece of bacon. You can look, you can touch, you can take pictures but you can’t plug it in. Damn it man, stop with the cruelty! Today Crucial finally let a RealSSD C300 out of their grasp and somehow we managed to have it land on our doorstep. The RealSSD C300 uses Marvell’s new SATA 6Gbps solid state drive controller, the first of its kind. Crucial took Marvell’s hardware and let Crucial engineers produce the firmware for the drive."
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 07:43 AM
FurMark 1.8.0 Hot Like Hell Edition Available
We just got word that the first 2010 edition of FurMark is available for download. And this new 1.8.0 version is said to overheat your GPU(s) like hell and will help heat up your room this winter. For those who don't know what this application does, FurMark is a popular OpenGL graphics card overclocking validation utility that push to the max your graphics adapter. FurMark is a quick way to check the stability of your graphics card after an overclocking.
I updated the post-processing effect (post FX) to simulate an intense heat around the torus. I also added a new effect based on vertex displacement mapping to increase the global workload of fur rendering. The displacement mapping controls the height of fur and you’ll see some parts of the torus with very short fur. This new version is targeted to recent graphics cards with an increased rendering workload. The scores you’ll get with your graphics card will be lower than the ones got with previous versions of FurMark.
Posted by | Wed, Feb 03, 2010 - 07:41 AM
Rumor: Aliens Versus Predator Demo To Arrive This Week!
According to internet rumors, sources say that Sega & Rebellion will reportedly announced that the demo to the highly anticipated Aliens versus Predator will be released February 4, this Thursday. We expect to see the demo available on Sony's PlayStation Network (PSN), Xbox 360 Dashboard, and Steam for the PC.
Sitting down at Rebellion’s Oxford HQ to play Aliens vs Predator on a projector the size of my flat was an unnerving experience – and that’s a sentence which I’ve put together very carefully because it tells you nearly all you need to know about the game. The most important thing in it is that the game is unnerving rather than explicitly scary. It’s tense, not terrifying and that in itself marks a rather dramatic departure from Rebellion’s previous AVP game.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 05:35 PM
EA Forced to Change 'Dante's' Super Bowl Ad
Electronic Arts has been forced to change its Super Bowl advert for action game Dante's Inferno following concerns raised by broadcaster CBS. Yesterday, EA announced that the 30-second ad will air during the fourth quarter of the NFL's showpiece final on February 7. Dante's Inferno will be released two days later on the PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 platforms, but CBS took offense with its tagline 'Go To Hell'.
The "Hell Awaits" ad will introduce many football fans to the "hack and slash" adventure based on Dante Aligheri's The Divine Comedy. The game features lead character Dante as he descends through the nine circles of hell in search of his companion Beatrice.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 05:23 PM
Cooler Master GX Power Supply Series Announced
Cooler Master just announced three new power supplies that are going to be part of the GX Power Supply series. The models come in your choice of 550W, 650W and 750W and all are targeted at upper mid-range to high-end gaming systems. The three models in the GX series are known as the GX 550W (RS-550-ACAA-E3), the GX 650W (RS-650-ACAA-E3) and the GX 750W (RS-750-ACAA-E3). Cooler Master informed Legit Reviews that the GX-Series will be available in the United States, but only the 650W and 750W. The 550W power supply will be carried in other regions. All models in the GX series also comes backed with a five year warranty. No word on pricing at this time.
The Cooler Master GX series comes with a range of advanced features such as a powerful single +12V rail, huge bulk capacitors with a >17ms hold up time which means that the power supply will be able to handle peak loads better, low noise dual layer EMI filters that reduces noise in the power lines, an energy efficient dual mode Active PFC/PWM controller, an efficient transformer that reduces the 5Vsb power loss when the system is in standby mode and a wide range of protection designs that will prevent damage to the system in case of a malfunction.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 04:06 PM
New ‘Underwater Plane’ To Explore Ocean Depths
Care to take a "flight" to view the Titanic at 12,600ft down in the cold Atlantic? No problem at all for the Necker Nymph which is a three person submersible capable of reaching depths of 36,000ft! How much you say? Just a paltry $88,000 a week to rent the Necker Belle, the luxury liner that carries the Necker Nymph which is available for and extra $25,000 per week.
A new "underwater plane" will plunge wealthy riders down into the ocean depths for a hefty fee. U.K. company Virgin Limited Edition recently announced the Necker Nymph, a three-person "aero-submarine" that can dive to depths of 36,000 feet – which is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 03:37 PM
Could NASA be Grounded Indefinitely?
According to a Time article, Obama's latest budget proposal would provide over $100 billion in funding to NASA, but does not allocate any of it to continue the Ares rocket testing through the Constellation-project which was geared toward a 21st century lunar landing and eventually Mars. Projects the $100 billion would be allocated for include extending the life of the ISS (International Space Station), better robotics, new flight techniques, and unmanned spacecraft. Sound off in our Forums and let us know what you think!
The initiative, for now at least, is more about what NASA plans to cancel than what it plans to pursue. The six-year-old Constellation program, which had been focused on developing new boosters, Apollo-like orbiters and a 21st century lunar lander, all with the goal of making long-term stays on the moon possible, will be scrapped, after $9 billion and a single flight of the Ares 1 booster last October. The longer-term goal of venturing out to Mars is being tabled along with it.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 03:06 PM
Study: 73% Use Bank Password Everywhere
The more technology driven we become, the more passwords we'll have to memorize or safely store to maintain access to various systems, devices, and financial accounts. To make this easier, it seems a large percentage of people are just recycling the same password for multiple accounts. Protect your money and identity by varying your passwords! In other news, the moon is not actually made of cheese.
For years computer security experts have been preaching that users should never share the same password across their connected lives -- at online banking sites, at Amazon, on their Web mail services, even on their cell phones. Apparently, most people ignore that advice.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 12:16 PM
February 2 News from Around the Web
OCZ 4GB DDR3 PC3-15000 Platinum Low Voltage Dual Channel memory kit review @ Elite Bastards and other reviews from around the web can be found by visiting our forums!
"A peek at the label of these PC3 15000 modules gives us a little more information about them - As you'd expect, this 4GB dual channel kit comprises of two modules sporting 2GB of DDR3 memory each, while these modules are designed to run at the low voltage of 1.65v in line with Intel's latest chipsets and CPUs. Timing wise, the key ratings of these modules are 9-9-9 If you're looking for a little further information on this memory kit, then some further investigation shows it to have CAS-TRCD-TRP-TRAS timings of 9-9-9-27, while the modules are also rated to operate using these timings at 1,866MHz, giving us a fair amount of overclocking headroom without the need to compromise on other aspects of memory performance."
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 09:50 AM
Online gamers set for consolidation wave in 2010
Consolidation among online gaming firms is set to spark into life in 2010 with a possible deal between PartyGaming and Austria's bwin seen as the potential catalyst for a wave of takeover activity. bwin Interactive Entertainment AG offers sports betting, poker, casino games, and soft games with most revenue coming from poker and sports betting.
"I think 2010 is going to be the determining year," said one senior executive of an online gaming group who asked not be named. "I do think there's going to be a domino effect, meaning the first deal gets everybody else to run. You don't want to be the last one left without a partner." If a merger of Party and bwin were to materialize, it could cajole the likes of 888, Sportingbet and Playtech into tie-ups.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 09:30 AM
Samsung Announces 2TB EcoGreen F3EG Hard Drive
Samsung Electronics recently announced the F3EG, its new high-performance environmentally-friendly HDD (hard disk drive) for the desktop market. The EcoGreen F3EG, a higher capacity model from its predecessor the F2EG, features 2TB capacity with 500GB per disk that is capable of storing up to 880 hours of DVD video or 500,000 or more songs in MP3 format. With increased recording density, the EcoGreen F3 drive is more power efficient by supporting a capacity up to 2TB with four disks. The F3EG incorporates a 3.0Gbps SATA interface, Native Command Queuing features and a 16MB/32MB buffer memory. The 3.5” F3EG drive is available in 1.5TB and 2TB capacities in the United States and EU markets with a MSRP of $179.99.
“Storage-hungry multimedia professionals, gamers and home PC users continue to increase the amount of video, music, photo and other personal data they store and back-up,” said In Cheol Park, vice president, Storage Sales, Samsung Electronics. “The F3EG delivers all the benefits of a low-power drive yet features high performance and is environmentally friendly.”
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 09:08 AM
ASRock aims to ship 9 million motherboards in 2010
ASRock expects to ship nine million motherboards in 2010, an increase on shipments of seven million units in 2009, according to chairman Ted Hsu. If the company successfully achieves its shipment goal for 2010, it will be become the third largest vendor after Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology, Hsu noted.
However, Hsu pointed out that ASRock currently does not have plans to enter the graphics card market since competition is too fierce. ASRock is currently working on building brand recognition and expects its branded PC business to see sales growth in 2010, largely in Europe, Hsu noted. ASRock will also start up a smart surveillance system product line.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 08:56 AM
ECS GeForce GT 240 512MB GDDR5 HDMI Video Card Review
ECS has the solution for HTPC users and gamers on a budget with their take on the GeForce GT 240. By combining the affordable GeForce GT 240 with the an impressive heat sink from Arctic Cooling you have a low cost and high performing combo. Read on to see if this is the solution for your new machine.
If your looking for a graphics card to use in an HTPC the ECS GeForce GT 240 would be ideal as the Arctic Cooling heat sink does a great job of keeping the card cool. The best part is that it's nearly silent in operation and would not be distracting at all in a quiet room. While we don't have an official statement from NVIDIA, we have it on good authority that the GeForce GT 240 will support 3D Blu-ray. The only thing keeping it from being the perfect HTPC card is the lack of bit streaming HD audio...
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 08:52 AM
The Hardware Industry Loses Chris Arthington - ChrisRay
I just wanted to give our forum members here at Legit Reviews here a heads up that longtime member of the NVIDIA user group member Chris “ChrisRay” Arthington passed away last week of pneumonia. He was only 27. If you wish to help, we encourage you to visit the memorial page and make a donation to benefit Chris’s mother, who relied on him for support. NVIDIA worked with NVNews to set up a memorial page for Chris here. The picture below shows from left to right, Nathan Kirsch of Legit Reviews, Daniela Kustre and Theo Valich of Bright Side of News, Chris, and Ken Brown of NVIDIA. This picture was taken the last night Chris felt well and was just after a dinner we had together at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, January 11, 2010. Chris was a great guy and he will be missed.
Chris was a longtime graphics enthusiast, nZone moderator, and frequent contributor on a number of forums including NVnews, SLIzone, EVGA, Rage3D, Anandtech, and others. He loved graphics technology and had a sincere desire to help people by sharing information, trouble-shooting, and reporting issues to NVIDIA. As a member of our user group, he helped us evaluate new hardware and advocated for improvements like advanced anti-aliasing and improved multi-GPU scaling. His Twitter (ChrisRaySLI) bio states: “Goal: Help all Nvidia users by improving their experience with Nvidia hardware.” He did that in a big way.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 08:46 AM
Inventor Unveils $7,000 Talking Sex Robot
While Legit Reviews was at CES Las Vegas ogling the new hardware, elsewhere in Vegas, others were revealing new hardware of their own. Douglas Hines, the inventor of Roxxxy the talking sex robot, has unveiled the naughty automaton to the world with the notion that there will be a large demand for such a thing. I can understand the sex part...but the talking?
To some men, she might seem like the perfect woman: She's a willowy 5 feet 7 and 120 pounds. She'll chat with you endlessly about your interests. And she'll have sex whenever you please -- as long as her battery doesn't run out. Meet Roxxxy, who may be the world's most sophisticated talking female sex robot. For $7,000, she's all yours. "She doesn't vacuum or cook, but she does almost everything else," said her inventor, Douglas Hines, who unveiled Roxxxy last month at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Posted by | Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 08:19 AM
Inside Intel and Micron's 25nm NAND Fab - IMFT
Legit Reviews was recently invited to take a tour of IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) in Lehi, Utah to see how NAND Flash memory is manufactured. Read on as we get into a bunny suit to see how 25nm NAND Flash memory wafers are made and then find out what this shrink means to you as a consumer. That 1TB SSD might not be a dream after all.
This shrink is important as the new 25nm process reduces chip count by 50 percent compared to previous process generations, allowing for smaller, yet higher density designs and greater cost efficiencies. This is great news as that means IMFT will be able to get twice as many NAND Flash chips per wafer. Intel said that performance would be comparable to 34nm speeds today, but that endurance and reliability would be improved. Since devices like SSDs can be built using less 'chips' now you can expect to see SSD capacities increasing in the months to come. Micron even mentioned that 1TB 2.5" SSDs will be a possibility in 2010 thanks to the move down to 25nm.
Posted by | Mon, Feb 01, 2010 - 11:10 PM
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