Items tagged with systems
It certainly can be a pain to get all the right cables lined up when building a new system, including getting the right cable extensions if you’re working with a larger motherboard and case. NZXT announced a cable starter kit designed to give you all the basics in one package of premium-quality PSU cables. The kit includes: • CB 6V – 6Pin VGA Extension • CB 24P – 24Pin Motherboard Extension • CB 8P – 8Pin Motherboard Extension • CB 8V – 6Pin to 6+2Pin VGA Extension The cables are all 250mm in length, and the kit will be available in March for $24.99. We wonder, though: What would you include or exclude in a kit like this that NZXT didn’t?...
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Zotac is emerging as a major player in the mini PC market and you'll find a boatload of ZBOX units if you visit the company's website. The one we have with us today is the ZBOX ID80 Plus, one of the newer units built around Intel's recently released Atom "Cedar Trail" refresh. It comes equipped with an Intel Atom D2700 processor, 2GB of DDR3-1066 RAM, 320GB hard drive, and an NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M GPU. There's also onboard Wi-Fi, Gigabit LAN, HDMI output, SuperSpeed USB 3.0 support, and an IR receiver with a media remote bundled in. All this and quite a bit more comes packed in a diminutive box that measures 7.40 inches x 7.40 inches x 1.73 inches that you can plop inconspicuously into your...
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A new era of home entertainment is upon us. If you think about how you watch TV today versus 10 or even five years ago, it's probably a completely different experience. Nearly everything is served up in high definition, digital video recorders (DVRs) are now the norm and not the exception, and streaming services are making a big push to be the primary way in which you view content traditionally served up by cable and satellite TV. Unless you live way out in the boonies, you're probably rocking a broadband Internet connection, which is your gateway to any number of streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, VUDU, Pandora, and so forth. With so much online content to choose from, you could...
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AVADirect announced that it now includes ATI HD 7770 and 7750 graphics cards in its product lineup. The company actually has quite a few; there are three 7750s (from ASUS, Gigabyte, and MSI) and no fewer than eight 7770s (from ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, Sapphire, and XFX). AVADirect suggests that the although it’s offering the 7770 and 7750 as alternatives to the NVIDIA GTX 560 Ti and GTX 550 Ti cards, respectively, it doesn’t feel that the performance is exactly comparable and that the value should be measured in terms of dollar value for performance. But for “those on a tight budget, or all you heat-hating enthusiasts that want great performance without the large price tag”,...
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“In every dual-core phone, there’s a PC trying to get out”, says the tagline on Canonical’s Ubuntu for Android page. It’s true that the specs on high-end smartphones these days are impressive to say the least, with more processing cores, better graphics, more storage, and 4G data speeds, but Canonical apparently thinks they have enough horsepower to double as desktop PCs. With Ubuntu for Android, your phone experience is the same Android experience you’d normally get, but when the phone is docked with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, you get a full screen Ubuntu experience. Ubuntu runs simultaneously with Android, so you can access all your contacts, calendars,...
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Origin PC makes some astonishingly powerful systems, and the company isn’t shy about making bold claims, either. Origin claims its new EON17-X3D notebook is the most powerful 3D notebook available today. That just might be true; the beastly thing sports a pair of overclocked GeForce GTX 580M graphics cards in SLI, in addition to already-strong specifications which include Intel hexcore processors, up to 32GB (1333MHz) or 16GB (1866MHz) quad-channel system memory, and as many as three hard drives supporting up to 3TB of storage. Other features include a 1080p 3D display with a built-in emitter, NVIDIA 3D Vision 2 glasses, backlit keyboard with three lighting zones and seven colors. The EON17-X3D...
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OpenXC is an open source connectivity platform developed in tandem by Ford and open source hardware maker Bug Labs. Announced this fall, the platform is designed to allow developers the ability to use an Android- and Arduino-based module to interact with a vehicle’s in-car tech, such as vehicle sensors and GPS units. The OpenXC website succinctly describes the platform as “an API to your car”. Ford announced that OpenXC beta test kits are now shipping to developers worldwide, including U.S. institutions such as MIT and Standford as well as India’s HCL Technologies. The press release specifically mentioned Weather Underground, as well. Further, at the NASSCOM India Leadership...
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With the release of its EarthWatts Platinum line of PSUs, Antec is offering more efficient versions of its EarthWatts lineup. The new PSUs are 80 PLUS Platinum certified and come in 450W, 550W, and 650W models. Features include a 120mm ball-bearing fan (designed for minimal noise with Thermal Manager, Japanese capacitors, and CircuitShield technology that shuts the PSU down to avoid damage if something goes haywire. The PSUs are available now at $109.95 (450W), $119.95 (550W), and $129.95 (650W). Antec Launches EarthWatts Platinum PSU Series 450W, 550W and 650W PSUs provide superior efficiency, reliability and performance at a mainstream price Fremont, CA – February 16, 2012 – Antec,...
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Coming this April to a retailer near you will be the AOC e2752Vh monitor, which features a 27-inch display, 2ms response time, and a 20,000,000:1 contrast ratio. The device also features built-in 2.5-watt speakers with SRS sound in an effort to relieve the user of the need for external speakers while gaming or watching movies. With a 1920x1080 resolution at 60Hz, and its ports include DVI-D and HDMI, both with HDCP. The e2752Vh is designed to be green; the LED has no mercury, it has a power conservation mode for when the computer is off, and it’s ENERGY STAR compliant. Projected retail price for the e2752Vh will be $299.99. AOC Unveils 27-inch High Definition LED Monitor with 2ms Response...
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It's amazing what you can discover by digging around the Web. Head over to the FCC's website, for example, and you might stumble upon an intriguing Fusion-powered nettop from Sapphire. Rather than release another pint-sized system with an Intel Atom processor and Nvidia Ion graphics running the show, Sapphire's upcoming Edge-HD3 Mini PC will roll with an AMD E-450 dual-core processor and integrated Radeon HD 6320 graphics. Credit goes to Liliputing for discovering the FCC page, which seems to have to have disappeared, but not before a few specs and several pictures could be pulled from the site. According to the original listing, the Edge-HD3 Mini PC supports up to 4GB of RAM and up to 500GB...
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It’s HD 7770 and HD 7750 day here on the Internet, and MAINGEAR turned out to celebrate by offering the AMD Radeon HD 7700 series graphics cards in its systems. The HD 7770 occupies two slots and features 1GB DDR5 memory and a 1GHz core clock with DVI, HMDI, and two mini-DisplayPorts, while the single-slot HD 7750 has the same memory and ports but with a core clock of 800Mhz and one fewer DisplayPort. For now, the cards are available in the SHIFT and F131 systems, although MAINGEAR says it’s coming next year for the VYBE and EPIC products. MAINGEAR ADDS AMD RADEON HD 7700 SERIES GRAPHICS ON DESKTOPS TO OFFER REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE Kenilworth,...
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“All-in-one” and “workstation” are generally not terms one would use in the same sentence (unless that sentence was “I wish I could get an all-in-one that’s as powerful as a real workstation computer”), but HP is trying to change that with the release of a 27-inch AIO with impressive specs. The HP Z1 Workstation has plenty of configuration options and supports quad-core Intel Xeon processors; NVIDIA Quadro graphics; up to 32GB of total system memory (DDR3-1600MHz); up to 2TB (7200RPM) HDD, 600GB (10,000RPM) HDD, or 300GB SSD; DVD+/-RW or Blu-ray writer slot-loading ODD; and four expansion slots (one PCI-E x16, three PCI-E x16 miniPCI-E). It also has a...
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Custom PC maker iBUYPOWER is now including the Intel Core i7-3820 (3.6GHz) processor a an option for its Chimera 4, Paladin XLC, and Erebus Custom Liquid Cooling systems, replacing the X58-based CPUs the company was offering. In the emailed press release, Vice President of iBUYPOWER Darren Su, said, “We are excited to offer these speedy new CPUs that are faster than the previous generation but more efficient. Best of all the Intel Core i7 3820 is priced similarly to the slower previous generation, allowing us to pass that savings on to our customers.” The new CPU option is available today, so go get ‘em while they’re hot. Paladin D875 iBUYPOWER Incorporates New Intel Core...
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According to a report from Apple Insider, Apple will be revamping its entire MacBook Pro line this year. In a nutshell, it sounds like the new MacBook Pros will essentially be souped-up MacBook Airs. The new Pros will feature the Air’s all-aluminum unibody design and slim down by eliminating ODDs and HDDs in favor of reliance upon Apple’s cloud-based services (iCloud, Mac App Store, etc.) and flash-based SSDs. They’ll also reportedly feature Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture and Thunderbolt interface. Image credit: Apple Insider The rumor suggests that the 15-inch model will be out first, followed by the 17-inch model. There’s no word on a 13-inch version, although...
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Intel recently unveiled a special warranty plan that allows users a one-time replacement for a processor they inadvertently cook while overclocking, but it cost a (relatively) small fee--between $20-35, depending on your particular CPU. Gigabyte and CyberpowerPC have partnered to offer Intel’s plan, called the Intel Performance Tuning Protection Plan, in some CybewrpowerPC systems for free. The freebie will apply only to systems with certain Intel X or K chips (per the original plan conditions) and Gigabyte Z68 motherboards. Users can redeem their replacement CPU through CyberpowerPC’s customer service. Intel’s protection plan is by no means expensive, but it’s still nice...
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Antec announced the Antec One enclosure, a gaming case designed to offer solid features and performance for those on a budget--even a small budget, as the street price looks to be around $60. (Two special versions of the case, the One S and One S3 are forthcoming and will cost a bit less.) For cooling, the One can accommodate a total of 5 fans (2 are included) and features a perforated mesh design to optimize front-to-back airflow. It also supports water coolers. The case features three 5.25-inch drive bays, two dedicated 2.5-inch drive bays, and five 3.5-inch drive bays; seven expansion slots; support for ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX motherboards; and a pair of USB 3.0 ports and audio in/out...
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MAINGEAR has given its TITAN 17 Notebook a little facelift as well as some new parts under the hood. It now sports an Intel Core i7 3930K or 3960X Extreme Edition, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M (with SLI support) or Quadro 5010M, and a full-size backlit keyboard and numpad. Other specs include up to 32GB of DDR3 system memory, up to three HDDs or SSDs with RAID support, and an optical drive option. It also has a slew of I/O ports including HMDI, DVI-D, and DisplayPort; two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and a FireWire port; and S/PDIF, RJ-45 LAN, and eSATA. The TITAN 17 starts at $3,499 and is available now for pre-order with free shipping. The machine comes with Jagged Alliance: Back in Action...
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Sandy Bridge-E chip? Check. X79 chipset? Check. Customizable gaming notebook? Check. AVADirect is clearly pleased to be offering systems based on the Clevo P270WM gaming notebook. The notebook replaces the Clevo X7200 and features the above CPU and chipset along with a trio of hard drives (with RAID options), the NVIDIA GTX 580M (2GB) or Quadro 5010M (4GN), and up to 32GB of 1866MHz quad-channel DDR3 RAM over four slots. Also look for two USB ports, SLI support, and HDMI. You’ll definitely pay for all those specs, though; the base price for the notebook is $3,000, with room to go up depending on configuration. The notebook is available today. AVADirect First To Offer X79 Gaming Notebook,...
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A new iMac Touch model could be in the works over at Apple. Maybe. That's the speculation after the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that describes a desktop system with virtual control on a touchscreen. It's far too early to tell if that's what Apple is up to, but with so many all-in-one (AIO) PCs now supporting touchscreen input, it makes sense that Apple would add one of its own. Of course, Apple never seems to do anything without adding a twist, and this is no exception. According to Patently Apple, the patent application has to do with a new hybrid knob/slider control that would replace traditional knob controls (see illustration below). Source:...
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Antec is replacing its High Current Gamer PSU line with the High Current Gamer M series, with the primary difference being that the latter has hybrid modularity. Available in 400W ($89.95), 520W ($99.95), and 620W ($119.95) models, the series of PSUs will be available in “early February” (which is technically now). Antec revealed the cable configuration for the 620W version, so you can extrapolate these specs for the other two. The PSU will have: Fixed cables: 1 x 24(20+4)-pin main connector, 1 x 8(4+4)-pin ATX12V/EPS12V Modular cables: 2 x 8(6+2)-pin PCI-E, 1 x FDD + 3 x Molex, 3 x Molex (1 each), 2 x SATA (3 each) The mid-range PSUs will also feature 80 PLUS Bronze certification,...
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The PC building gurus at Maingear wasted no time in jumping on the official release of AMD's new Radeon HD 7950 graphics cards (see our official review here), which are now offered on Maingear's line of desktop PCs. And if you really want to get wild, you can combine the new offering with Maingear's EPIC 180 liquid cooling solution and EPIC Audio Engine for what the company claims is a one of a kind gaming experience. "High performance PC users looking for a no-compromise solution need to look no further than a Maingear system equipped with our custom EPIC solutions and an AMD Radeon HD 7900 series graphics card," said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of Maingear. We'll forgive Maingear for the...
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Embedded computing manufacturer Habey USA announced the BIS-6630, a small, fanless embedded computer with an Intel Atom N2800 (1.83 GHz) or D2700 (2.13 GHz) at its core. The D2700 version also has a PowerVR SGX545 GPU (640MHz) which purports to offer 60% improvement in graphics performance over previous Atoms. Features of the 12W, 7.5x7.5x2.5-inch BIS-6630 include 6 USB ports, 6 COM ports, a VGA port, a DVI-D port, and support for a 2.5-inch SATA drive with the option to use mSATA. For connectivity, it also has dual Gigabit Ethernet, a 3G/4G SIM socket, and a pair of mini PCI-E slots that can be configured with WiFi. The BIS-6630 supports several operating systems including Windows 7 Embedded,...
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