Intel

Nvidia’s New GPU

Its called “Fermi” Nvidia’s new super GPU. It has around 3 billion transistors, which is three times the amount of transistors in Nvidia’s most powerful GPU. Fermi will contain 512 processing cores, they say that this would enable scientific breakthroughs, and can only be possible with the new technology. Read the full story here and check out this story over at CNET for a gaming perspective. I included an insert for a quick preview of the full story.

“From a gaming perspective, the most significant features Nvidia mentioned are that Fermi will indeed support DirectX 11, and that it will use GDDR5 memory. Those features answer two of AMD’s most obvious advantages with its new Radeon HD 5800-series cards, but Nvidia hasn’t provided information on availability, which remains AMD’s most important edge.”

Intel’s next-gen Atom Processor

Intel showed the new processor code names ‘Moorestown’ to a live public audience for the first time at the Spring IDF in Beijing.

Apparently it will run at 10x less idle power than the current Atom processor, although they didn’t let us know how much power the processor would consume while in use. My guess it about the same,(think of it, new processor, faster CPU, its has to use “more or the same” power) but netting better benchmarks.

Intel wants to make a serious attempt on the cellphone market with the new processor. Be sure that I will follow up with this at a later date.

Here’san article that states that LG will be the first to utilize ‘Moorestown’ I have also included an insert from that article.

“Moorestown will also be used in MIDs or mobile Internet devices. And it seems, at times, that the terms smartphone and MID are used almost interchangeably. “The MID segment will drive growth at LG Electronics. We chose Intel’s next-generation Moorestown platform and Moblin-based OS to pursue this segment because of the high performance and Internet compatibility this brings to our service provider customers,” Jung Jun Lee, executive vice president of LG Electronics, said in a statement. “

It seems that things are looking up for mobile devices and smartphones, check back for further developments.

NS

USB 3.0 Where are you?

USB 3.0 has been in the IT News world for years now… but when is it going to officially be released? From what I just read, soon!

The webpage here (i know its old!) states that you can transfer 25GB in 70 seconds!

You can can check out USB.org and download documents, presentations, and whitepapers on SuperSpeed USB. Below is an insert from USB.org.

“SuperSpeed USB brings significant performance enhancements to the ubiquitous USB standard, while remaining compatible with the billions of USB enabled devices currently deployed in the market. SuperSpeed USB will deliver 10x the data transfer rate of Hi-Speed USB, as well as improved power efficiency.

• SuperSpeed USB has a 5 Gbps signaling rate offering 10x performance increase over Hi-Speed USB.
• SuperSpeed USB is a Sync-N-Go technology that minimizes user wait-time.
• SuperSpeed USB will provide Optimized Power Efficiency.No device polling and lower active and idle power requirements.
• SuperSpeed USB is backwards compatible with USB 2.0. Devices interoperate with USB 2.0 platforms. Hosts support USB 2.0 legacy devices. ”

The full details can be found on Intel’s website.

Netbooks, Atom N280, and GN40 Chipset Info

 

BestBuy is selling the Dell Inspiron Mini 9 for 299 CDN… not a bad price for the below specs…

• Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz/533Mhz FSB/512K cache)
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• 8GB Solid State Drive
• 8.9″ Wide Screen WSVGA TL Display (1024×600)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950
• Wireless 802.11g Mini Card, 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
• 4 Cell Battery

Go here to order. Obviously its out of stock at the moment… the price point was set because BestBuy is most likely making room for the Intel Atom N280 version of Netbook. Watch our for all the great deals on netbooks. I love how technology drives prices down

I should add that the N280 is clocked at 1.66GHz and has a 667MHz frontside bus. The N270’s speeds are 1.6GHz and 533MHz, respectively. The N280 has a TDP of just 2W compared to the N270’s 2.5W. Rumor has it that we will see a bigger performance gain once the N280 chip is paired with Intel’s new GN40 chipset and intergrated graphics. The GN40 chipset includes high-definition video decoders letting you play back 720p video.

NS

 

Netbooks are getting bigger!

Intel wanted to keep Netbooks at 10″ or less, Dell and Samsung are now each releasing 12″ netbooks. What does this mean? Well its one less reason to not buy a more expensive dual core laptop(which Intel sells at higher prices and higher margins.) Intel is not happy about this, they say that netbooks are to be used as personal devices for short periods of time, not for full out day to day use. I tend to agree with Intel, I wouldn’t use a netbook for work, I would definitely use it on a plane, or while on vacation, mainly for music, maybe a movie or two! But you still cannot beat a Dual-Core Laptop for mainstream use. Netbooks are here to stay and I am really thinking of picking one up!

Here is a link to the Dell Mini 12, and then the HP Mini 1000XP (Mind you the HP isn’t a 12″ Netbook, I haven’t heard anything about a 12″ version as of yet.) Another interesting release by HP is the Netbook 2140 pricing starts at $499 and goes up to $629 for a premium model that hosts a 160GB, 7200-rpm hard-disk drive and a beefed up display panel(1366×768). The Mini 2140 is built to last with its aluminum lid and hardened case.

Samsung has yet to announce their 12″ Netbook (NC20) based on Via’s Nano Processor at CES 2009

Intel to Produce High-end GPU

Here is an insert from CNET News…

“Intel, never one to shrink from competition, announced that it would enter, by 2010, the market for high-end graphics chips. The chip, code-named Larrabee, would give Nvidia and AMD something to think about. And that’s about all they could do since the chip–at least initially–was merely a paper tiger.”

The say it wont be a GPU as many people are thinking it will be, but it will be made up of many processor cores. It will look and act like a GPU, carrying out many functions of a conventional gamer graphics card. Larrabee will work with most games, because it doesn’t rely on a specific graphics API.

Interesting news, but well have to keep our eyes on this one.

Currently AMD-ATI / NVIDIA own 98% of the GPU Business.

NS