NVIDIA GeForce GTX 200M and GTS 100M GPUs for Notebooks Announced

NVIDIA today introduced GPUs in four separate categories that push performance to the highest levels ever achieved in enthusiast and high-performance notebooks. Included in the group is the fastest notebook GPU in the market, the GeForce GTX 280M, with up to 50% more performance than previous generation enthusiast notebook GPUs.

"These new NVIDIA GeForce GPUs are for those who won't accept compromise in notebook performance," said Rene Haas, general manager of notebook business at NVIDIA. "These new GPUs meet the needs of the most demanding consumers in the marketplace by delivering industry-leading performance at all price segments along with features that go beyond graphics."

The new line-up of notebook GPUs from NVIDIA include:

* GeForce GTX 280M and 260M GPUs for enthusiast notebooks.

* GeForce GTS 160M and 150M GPUs for high-performance, sleek notebooks.

GeForce GTX 200M and GeForce GTS 100M Series GPUs make playing the latest HD games on a portable platform a reality by delivering blistering frame rates that are up to 50% faster than the previous generation products they are replacing, all without increasing overall power consumption. Using NVIDIA SLI technology, which enables close to double the graphics performance over a single GPU, two NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280M GPUs can be paired to offer the fastest notebook graphics solution available today. In order to enable a quiet state and to increase battery life, NVIDIA HybridPower technology can dynamically power down the powerful discreet GPU and transfer graphics operation to the integrated GPU for applications that do not require the high level of graphics horsepower.

GeForce GTX 200M and GeForce GTS 100M Series GPUs feature the NVIDIA CUDA computing architecture and deliver Graphics Plus capabilities not found on competing solutions. Only with NVIDIA GPUs can you experience jaw-dropping NVIDIA PhysX gaming effects and lightning fast video and image processing all accelerated by the GeForce GPU.

Users with notebooks equipped with NVIDIA GPUs have the added flexibility of downloading upgradeable graphics drivers directly from NVIDIA.com so they can immediately take advantage of new features, improved application compatibility, and performance optimizations. NVIDIA is the only GPU manufacturer that offers notebook driver downloads direct to consumers.

ASUS, Clevo and MSI are all showing notebooks based on the new GeForce GTX 200M and GeForce GTS 100M Series GPUs at CeBit. For more information on GeForce GTX 200M and GeForce GTS 100M Series GPUs, please visit http://www.nvidia.com.

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Want Galaxy’s GPU Keychain? You’re in Luck!

NVIDIA has started to sell their G98-based keyrings at $9.99, and now Galaxy also offers a GPU keychain in some regions including China mainland, United States and Japan.

This sounds like a good idea as it helps to prevent pollution by broken graphics cards, and it’s also worthy of collecting. The Galaxy’s GPU keyring measures 1.5 square inch, and its diameter is almost the same as GeForce 9600GT Low Power Low Profile Edtion. Please note this keyring is not necessarily made by G98 chip.

This keyring is not sold at market for now, instead, Galaxy distributes it as prize in the activities held by Galaxy.

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ATI Announces CrossFire Video Card Solution

ATI Technologies has announced details surrounding its asymmetric CrossFire video card solution, which allows users to combine the rendering horsepower of two ATI graphics cards with a third devoted to modeling the environment. In addition, the configuration furthers adds to the PC capabilities made possible through Intel's Core 2 Duo platform.

ATI's CrossFire X1900 multi-GPU solution in combination with Intel Core 2 Duo processors address both CPU and GPU bottlenecks within a PC, producing high image quality and performance in games, while a single ATI Radeon X1K GPU processes realistic physics.

The Radeon X1900 XTX is one the highest performing physics processor available today, delivering 360 Gflops of processing power. The GPU allows for scenes with up to 20-30,000 distinct objects that can now be accurately simulated and rendered at real-time frame rates.

CrossFire offers users a choice of physics configurations rather than being locked into symmetrical setups. This flexible architecture allows asymmetrical configurations as unlike cards can be used for physics processing in both 1+1 and 2+1 setups. Within these configurations, one or two graphics cards are used for game rendering, while another card is used for physics. This open architecture accommodates a wider array of users, whether they want to use a high-end graphics card for physics, or a mainstream card.

In addition, ATI also announced today that it is working with middleware provider Havok, and that the firm's Havok FX software allows developers to enable more convincing detailed environments.

Finally, ATI announced that it has ramped up the CrossFire certification program to make it easier for consumers to recognize what products are CrossFire-ready. To ensure compatibility of components, and strong performance for CrossFire systems, over 90 products have been tested and certified since the program's inception in March. Interested users can find the most up-to-date list of CrossFire certified components, including graphics cards, motherboards, power supplies, and memory, at on the CrossFire website

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ATI Radeon HD 4890: Playing To Win Or Played Again? : Introduction

Introduction

So far, this year has been a real bore with regard to graphics launches, don't you think?

True, we’re only four months in to 2009. But we’ve already seen Nvidia reclaim the “fastest card” title with its GeForce GTX 295—a dual-card solution with two chips somewhere in between the nearly year-old GeForce GTX 280 and GTX 260. The company followed up with a rebranding of its GeForce 9800 GTX+ in the GeForce GTS 250.

To Nvidia’s credit, it has kept a steady stream of those GeForce GTX 295s in stock at e-tail, despite all of the whining elsewhere on the Web about that being a stunt card. If I’m a gamer and I can buy one right now online, then that’s all I care about.

And we’re hearing rumblings now of a GeForce GTX 275—in essence, a GeForce GTX 295 cut in half (just one of those in-between GPUs). And oh, look at what just arrived via Fed Ex—a GeForce GTX 275. You’ll want to read that story when you’re done with this one for the scoop on Nvidia’s newest mid-range offering.

A Little Action From The Other Side

Today isn’t about Nvidia, though (Ed.: As suggested above, it turns out that Nvidia is out to steal the red team’s thunder with its GeForce GTX 275. We’ve written that one up in a separate story). Rather, it’s ATI’s turn to respond. And while AMD has commanded the organization’s spotlight through the start of ’09 with its Phenom II processor, the graphics division has a little something up its sleeve, too.

I say ‘little’ because today’s launch of the Radeon HD 4890 is, like Nvidia’s recent string of unveilings, decidedly evolutionary in nature. To ATI’s credit, its latest is based on a re-spun GPU, so it’s no RV770 plus a few megahertz. But if you were hoping for something that could kill a Radeon HD 4870 X2, you’ll be a bit disappointed.

I say ‘a bit’ because, while it won’t break past any existing speed records, the Radeon HD 4890 is notably faster than the single-GPU flagship preceding it. And while enthusiasts are expected to pay a premium for the new, faster processor and higher-clocked GDDR5 memory, the 4890’s real purpose is to bridge a gaping hole in ATI’s lineup between its $180-ish Radeon HD 4870 and the ~$400-ish Radeon HD 4870 X2.

To that end, the company is forecasting a roughly $249 price tag on this new solution. We think that number needs to come down a bit, though, to reflect the very-competitive sub-$200 prices on Radeon HD 4870 1 GB and GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 cards.

AMD’s reasoning on the price point is that the company is refreshing its “sweet-spot strategy,” which saw it launch RV770 last year, adapting the architecture down to the mainstream and up to the high-end. Since then, competitive pressure has pushed prices on those Radeon HD 4780/4850 cards down a bit. Now, it says, is its chance to re-establish a product at a crucial demand peak, as seen in the Mercury Research Data from Q4 ’08.

Our problem with that parallel is this: when RV770 launched, Nvidia was still trying to sell GTX 280s for $649 and 260s for $399. As a result, the AMD offerings looked like tremendous values. After a series of drastic cuts on Nvidia’s end, the competition is far tighter. So where, exactly, does the Radeon HD 4890 fall with regard to AMD’s own lineup and Nvidia’s contenders? Let’s take a closer look at the card, its GPU, DirectX 10.1, overclocking, and the always-telling benchmarks!

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Next-Generation Intel PC Chips to Carry Intel Core Name

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Aug. 11, 2008 – Intel Corporation announced today that desktop processors based on the company's upcoming new microarchitecture (codenamed "Nehalem") will be formally branded "Intel® Core™ processor." The first products in this new family of processors, including an "Extreme Edition" version, will carry an "i7" identifier and will be formally branded as "Intel® Core™ i7 processor." This is the first of several new identifiers to come as different products launch over the next year.

Products based on the new microarchitecture will deliver high performance and energy efficiency. This "best of both worlds" approach is expected to extend Intel's processor leadership in future mobile, desktop and server market segments.

"The Core name is and will be our flagship PC processor brand going forward," said Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation executive vice president and general manager, Sales and Marketing Group. "Expect Intel to focus even more marketing resources around that name and the Core i7 products starting now."

The Intel Core processor brand name has gained broad awareness, preference, and market momentum over the past several years. The Intel Core name remains the logical choice for Intel's latest family of processors. The Intel Core i7 processor brand logo will be available for high-performance desktop PCs with a separate black logo for Intel's highest-end "Extreme Edition." Intel will include processor model numbers to differentiate each chip.

Initial products based on this microarchitecture are expected to be in production in the fourth quarter of this year. These processors will feature Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology, also known as simultaneous multi-threading, and are capable of handling eight software "threads" on four processor cores.

About Intel

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC), the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live. Additional information about Intel is available at www.intel.com/pressroom and blogs.intel.com.

Intel, the Intel logo and Core are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries.

* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.

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Blu-ray Disc

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.

While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-ray Discs to hold 25GB/50GB. Recent development by Pioneer has pushed the storage capacity to 500GB on a single disc by using 20 layers.

Blu-ray is currently supported by about 200 of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game and music companies. The format also has support from all Hollywood studios and countless smaller studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD, as well as a continuous slate of catalog titles every month. For more information about Blu-ray movies, check out our Blu-ray movies and Blu-ray reviews section which offers information about new and upcoming Blu-ray releases, as well as what movies are currently available in the Blu-ray format.

For more information about Blu-ray, please see our Blu-ray FAQ.

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Nvidia Officially Introduces GeForce 9, nForce 790i Platforms For Gaming PCs

officially announced today the new Nvidia GeForce and nForce products, including the new GeForce 9800 GX2, GeForce 9800 GTX, GeForce 9600 GT GPUs, along with the nForce 790i Ultra SLI media and communications processor (MCP).

The GeForce 9800 GX2 GPU is designed for running today?s graphically-intensive games, 3D applications, and HD movies at extreme resolutions. They offer 256 processing cores on a single board and is available today with a suggested retail MSRP of $599.00 USD. By pairing two GeForce 9800 GX2 GPU-based add-in cards with NVIDIA SLI technology users can take advantage of NVIDIA Quad SLI technology for Windows Vista for even greater performance.

In addition to the GeForce 9800 GX2 GPU, NVIDIA recently introduced the GeForce 9800 GTX GPU which features 128 processor cores and is available in the $299-349 price range. The GeForce 9800 GTX GPU supports both 2-Way and 3-Way SLI technology. And with the GeForce 9600 GT GPU, immersive gaming is now within the reach and budget of PC gamers for less than $199 USD.

The foundation for all NVIDIA GeForce 9 Series GPUs is a new motherboard based on the new NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI MCP. Designed for current and next-generation Intel CPUs, including those that support a 1600MHz frontside bus (FSB), the nForce 790i Ultra SLI MCP supports DDR3 memory, PCI Express Gen 2.0, and the new Enthusiast System Architecture (ESA) communications protocol for the real-time monitoring and control of PC components. The nForce 790i Ultra SLI MCP is also certified to run 2-Way, 3-Way, and Quad SLI GPU configurations. nForce 790i Ultra SLI MCP-based motherboards are available now with a MSRP of $300+ USD.

NVIDIA GeForce 9 Series GPUs are available now from add-in card partners including: Albatron, ASUS, BFG, ECS, EVGA, Gainward, Galaxy, Gigabyte, Innovision, Leadtek, MSI, Sparkle, Palit, PC Partner/Zotac, PNY, Point of View, XFX, and Zogis.

Motherboards featuring the NVIDIA nForce 790i Series MCPs are available now from motherboard manufacturers including: ASUS, DFI, EVGA, Foxconn, Gigabyte, MSI, PC Partner, and XFX.

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