Nvidia's Project: Kal-El

NVIDIA have displayed the graphical capabilities of their coming Tegra 3, as the world’s first mobile quad-core processor,'Kal El'. It showing off real time physics and dynamic lighting. Kal-El combines a battery-friendly, powerhouse of a quad-core processor with a 12-core NVIDIA GPU that supports 3D stereo. With the engineering wizardry of NVIDIA combined with quad ARM Cortex A9 cores, NVIDIA may be leading the march into the future of ultra portable devices.

Corsair Reveals Carbide Series PC Case

Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the Carbide Series mid-tower cases. The Carbide Series 400R and 500R have been designed for PC gamers with the same builder-friendly philosophy as the award-winning Obsidian Series and Graphite Series of PC cases, but with a competitive price. New system builds, develops and upgrades are fast and simple, thanks to the easy side panel access and tool-free drive mechanism and removal. Corsair's innovative cable-management system allows for clean-looking builds and increase airflow.

AMD Catalyst™ 11.5b hotfix

AMD was a little too early in May with its monthly Catalyst driver release, with the Catalyst 11.5 WHQL reaching the web as early as 9th May (usually monthly Catalyst updates are released after the 24th). On the same time, AMD also released its first hotfix update for the Catalyst 11.5, the 11.5a Hotfix Update, which packed a number of game-specific performance improvements. Today, AMD released its second update for this month, Catalyst 11.5b Hotfix.

Fable 3 Performance Simple Guide

I was playing on Fable 3 for about 30 minutes this morning and didn't encounter the freezing or performance dip issues even with Shadows set to Very High.
And why?
Well, I re-enabled the game's v-sync option to cap the framerate at 30 fps!!!

If I allow the game to run at 60 fps with the in-game v-sync option disabled and v-sync forced via the driver or D3DOverrider then every time I open a chest or dig for treasure then the framerate plummets to 20 fps from 60 fps and I have to press START twice to fix it.

Corsair Flash Voyager USB 3.0 Family Shipment

Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the shipment of the Flash Voyager USB 3.0 family of USB flash drives. The Corsair Flash Voyager family of USB drives are rugged, stylish, compact, and reliable, making them ideal for transporting MP3s, digital images, presentations and more.

Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the shipment of the Flash Voyager USB 3.0 family of USB flash drives. The Corsair Flash Voyager family of USB drives are rugged, stylish, compact, and reliable, making them ideal for transporting MP3s, digital images, presentations and more.

Corsair White Graphite Series 600T Mid-Tower Case Availability

Corsair, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the availability of the Special Edition White Graphite Series 600T mid-tower PC case. The Graphite Series provides full-tower features in a mid-tower sized case, with an emphasis on performance and style. Whether you are an expert or on your first build, the Graphite Series is designed from the ground up to provide you with an incredible building experience.

The New Revision of Geforce GTX 590

Remember the wildness of GeForce GTX 590 going up in smoke while benching? Well, apparently NVIDIA has found a way to solve this issue completely without doing a quick fix through the drivers.

DotA v6.70c AI (GAGARIN) Rev.2

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human being to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961. Here, 50 years after his space adventure I devote this release to the name: GAGARIN.

Enjoy DotA v6.70c AI Revision 2, codenamed "GAGARIN" !!!

Intel Burn Test v2.3

Intel Burn Test is an extremely stressful program that will put even the most powerful X86/X64 CPU in the world at its knees. Load temp under Linpack will be up to 22^oC higher than the competing software Prime95.

A program that simplifies the usage of Intel(R) Linpack. Linpack by Intel(R) is an extremely stressful program that will put even the most powerful X86/X64 CPU in the world at its knees. Load temp under Linpack will be up to 22^oC higher than the competing software Prime95. This program will make usage of Linpack easier and more practical.

Core Temp 0.99.8

Core Temp is a compact, no fuss, small footprint program to monitor CPU temperature. The uniqueness of it is that it shows the temperature of each individual core in each processor in your system! You can see in real time how the CPU temperature varies when you load your CPU. It's also completely motherboard independent.

AMD Catalyst™ 11.5

This particular software suite updates both the AMD display driver, and the AMD Catalyst Control Center. This unified driver has been updated to provide enhanced level of power, performance, and reliability.

Package Content
The AMD Catalyst software suite 11.5 contains the following:

• AMD display driver version 8.85


• HydraVision™ for Windows® XP, Windows Vista® and Windows 7


• Southbridge/IXP Driver


• AMD Catalyst Control Center version 8.85

Real Temp 3.60

Real Temp is a temperature monitoring program designed for all Intel single Core, Dual Core, Quad Core and Core i7 processors. Each core on these processors has a digital thermal sensor (DTS) that reports temperature data relative to TJMax which is the safe maximum operating core temperature for the CPU. As your CPU heats up, your Distance to TJMax will decrease. If it reaches zero, your processor will start to thermal throttle or slow down so maximizing your distance away from TJMax will help your computer run at full speed and more reliably too.

HWMonitor v1.17

HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed.
The program handles the most common sensor chips, like ITE® IT87 series, most Winbond® ICs, and others. In addition, it can read modern CPUs on-die core thermal sensors, as well has hard drives temperature via S.M.A.R.T, and video card GPU temperature.

MSI Afterburner v2.1.0

MSI Afterburner features :

• Triple Over-Voltage : World-First Triple Over-Voltage. Voltage adjustment on GPU/Memory/PLL to unleash the overall power of graphic card


• Benchmark : Powered by FurMark Technology; Based on OpenGL 2/3/4 and DX 9/10/11, Benchmark mode (KMark); Demo mode and online submission.


• Overclocking : Up to 93% performance boost; Over voltage function to significantly increase overclocking potential; Core/Shader/Memory clock adjustment.


• Hardware Monitor : Clock/Voltage/Temperatures/Fan Speed/Fan Tachometer/Frame Rate real-time monitor; Real-time On-Screen-Display information in games.


• Custom Profile : MSI Afterburner have 5 profiles for save/load customize settings; Profile hot-key for easy and quick switch in games; 2D/3D automatic profile switching for difference scenarios.


• Video Capture - Predator : supports .mpg and .avi format; Customized quality and frame rate to control size; multi-thread supported.


• Special Function : Advanced fan speed control for different speed under different temperature trigger points; Multi-GPU independent or synchronous control for clock/voltage/fan speed; Information button for driver version, BIOS version, identification, OSD Status and update link; User customized skin function; Apply overclocking setting at system start up; Multi-language support.

Thermaltake announces Chaser MK-1

Few days ago Thermaltake has announced their newest full-tower case, the Chaser MK-1. The product is painted black (even the interior), has a transparent side windows, features four 5.25” external bays, one 3.5” external bay (converted from one of the 5.25” external bays), six 3.5”/2.5” internal bays, eight slots for expansion cards, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, one eSATA port, a hot-swap SATA HDD Dock with easy access from the top of the case (supporting 3.5”/2.5” devices), and holes through which to pass liquid cooling tubes.

Nvidia Forceware 270.61 WHQL

This driver package supports GeForce 6, 7, 8, 9, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500-series desktop GPUs as well as ION desktop GPUs. This driver package also includes the 3D Vision Controller driver.

New in Release 270.61

GPU Support

• Adds support for the newly released GeForce GTX 590, GeForce GTX 560 Ti and GeForce GTX 550 Ti GPUs.

CPU-Z v1.57

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system. This software is an application that displays in-depth information about the goings on and goings on of your machine. CPU-Z is a free of charge program produced by CPUID that will provide you comprehensive info about important components on your computer.

Nvidia Forceware 266.58 WHQL

Performance

• Increases performance for GeForce 400 Series and 500 Series GPUs in several PC games vs. the latest Release 260 drivers. The following are examples of some of the most significant improvements measured on Windows 7. Results will vary depending on your GPU and system configuration:

GeForce GTX 580:

• 
  
  
  
  • Up to 7% in Battlefield Bad Company 2 (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  • Up to 12% in Battleforge (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF Very High)
  
  
  • Up to 11% in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  • Up to 7% in Dirt 2 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  • Up to 7% in Far Cry 2 (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  • Up to 5% in Just Cause 2 (1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF Dark Tower)
  
  
  • Up to 5% in S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat (SLI – 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  • Up to 9% in Stone Giant (SLI 1920x1200, DOF on)
  
  
  • Up to 8% in Unigine Heaven v2.1 (SLI 1920x1200 4xAA/16xAF)
  
  
  
  

• Improves performance in Final Fantasy XI on GeForce 400 Series and 500 Series GPUs.

AMD Catalyst™ 11.4 WHQL

This particular software suite updates both the AMD display driver, and the AMD Catalyst Control Center. This unified driver has been updated to provide enhanced level of power, performance, and reliability.

The AMD Catalyst software suite 11.4 contains the following:

• AMD display driver version 8.841


• AMD HydraVision for Windows® XP, Windows Vista® and Windows 7


• Southbridge / IXP Driver


• AMD Catalyst Control Center version 8.841

Adrenaline Crysis 2 Benchmark Tool

Adrenaline Crysis 2 Benchmark Tool gives users a great choice for measuring hardware performance in Crysis 2. It allows them to choose between several maps, picture quality settings and resolution, with a simple and intuitive interface. It Allows Them to Choose Between Several maps, picture quality settings and resolution, with a simple and intuitive interface. Tests can be sequentially executed, making the process easier for hardcore users and professional reviewers. Tests can be executed sequentially, making the process cutting easier for hardcore users and professional reviewers.

Key features:

• Portuguese and English versions (software detects automatically your system language);


• Supports several resolutions in sequence;


• Supports three picture quality settings (HIGH, VERY HIGH and EXTREME);


• Supports Anti-Aliasing filters;


• Allows choices of several game maps;


• Allows users to choose how many sequential tests the tool will run within the same resolution (loops).

Save Your Money by Using Microsoft Security Essentials

Over the past 12 months, this free software - Microsoft Security Essentials - has proven itself as effective as anything you would pay for and now is also available at no charge to small businesses. Microsoft Security Essentials was released one year ago and if you’re among those who continue to make annual payments for commercial antivirus software, it’s time to put that money in your pocket, delete whatever you’re using, and install Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE).

I still hear from some who are reluctant to pull the plug on McAfee or Norton because MSE doesn’t scan e-mail. But it doesn’t have to. Nothing in an e-mail message itself can harm your computer. It’s what might be attached to e-mail that poses a risk and MSE, as with other antivirus software, scans attachments as they are written to disc.