January 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from PC Tips World written in the month of January 2007.
According to this article China has already manufactured own processor called Godson II. It has frequency 500 MHz and its performance is on Intel Pentium III level. Several days ago Chinese scientists introduced new processor called Loongson 2E. You can call it “improved version of Godson II”. It has 800 MHz frequency and improved architecture. Processor isn’t well spread because there are just several motherboards for them. But I hope Intel and AMD will get new competitors soon. Maybe in next 10 years.
In February 200 laptops with Loongson 2E will be presented. Half of them will be taken by engineers at Chinese Academy of Science. Other half will go to people related to this academy. Its like “test release”. Company, invented Godson II and Loongson 2E is called Sinomanic. If you’ll find official site of this company please comment it
Written by mente on January 28th, 2007 with no comments.
Read more articles on Technologies and Desktops.
No, I won’t speak about video consoles. I’m going to speak about ATI’s Ruby. Do you know her? The girl who loves red color and skin-tight clothes will be rebuilt in 2007. No, don’t worry; Ruby’s style will be saved. According to HEXUS Ruby will get more polygons and new technologies, such like shaders 4.0. On the picture you can compare Ruby’s lips 2006 and the same in 2007.
On the left you can see Ruby 2007. Compare it with Ruby 2006 on the left. When I first saw this picture I thought that on the left is a real woman, from who Ruby was designed. I was wrong.
ATI don’t have working model yet. Waiting for renew Ruby!
Written by mente on January 24th, 2007 with 2 comments.
Read more articles on Desktops.
Preamble. Several months ago AMD announced Fusion processor. It’s a multicore processor with integrated graphics core. It doesn’t mean that processor will be just dual-core or quad-core. It will be many-core. Every core will be specialized in its own task. Seems to me they want to integrate chipset and simple video in processor. Nice decision I tell you. The cost of the entire system will be lowered and the speed rises dramatically. Everything in one box, nothing outside. Of course if you want to have powerful videocard you always can buy it. It will be better than integrated.But all of this was just lyrics. The main plot why this post has been written - Intel’s answer. It’s called Visual Computing Group (VCG). But Intel’s aim differs from AMD’s. AMD tries to improve performance. Intel’s main aim is:
We are focused on developing discrete graphics products based on a many-core architecture targeting high-end client platforms.
It means Intel wants to integrate graphics. No special core for specialized tasks. No integrated chipset. Just integrated graphics. But further they will expand it for CPU specializations. That’s why they’re looking for good specialists. I think their VCG will be developed faster than AMD’s Fusion processor. Fusion is perspective future and VCG is realistic technology. But I believe in AMD. Don’t say I’m AMD fan. Intel can surprise us too.
Written by mente on January 23rd, 2007 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on Technologies and Desktops.
I have found interesting video while I was browsing internet today. It’s an open source phone, called FIC Neo1973. It is based on Linux OS, has 2.8 inch TFT display with resolution 640×480, touchscreen. Phone has Samsung processor, built-in GPS system. Gadget has 128 mb SDRAm and 64 mb NAND flash memory. Interesting - will you lose all your data, when phone is low battery? Half-phone-PC is powered by 1200 mAh battery? Suppose it’s enough for this baby. I’m wondered why FIC doesn’t have Wi-Fi or at least Bluetooth. These standards are very popular now. But as you can see, it’s more similar with Pocket PCs than with phones. But developers decide to call it “smart phone”.
Now, OpenMoco is seeking for software developers for their gadget. I hope I have a free time, but I don’t think so. So - if anyone is interested to develop open source phone - welcome
Written by mente on January 20th, 2007 with 1 comment.
Read more articles on Technologies and Cellphones.
On this week PCI-Sig has released PCI-Express 2.0 specifications. General improvements
are:
- Dynamic link speed management allows developers to control the speed at which the link is operating
- Link bandwidth notification alerts platform software (operating system, device drivers, etc) of changes in link speed and width
- Capability structure expansion increases control registers to better manage devices, slots and the interconnect
- Access control services allows for optional controls to manage peer-to-peer transactions
- Completion timeout control allows developers to define a required disable mechanism for transaction timeouts
- Function-level reset provides an optional mechanism to reset functions within a multi-function device
- Power limit redefinition enables slot power limit values to accommodate devices that consume higher power
But the main improvements are:
- The interconnect bit rate is doubled from 2.5GT/s to 5GT/s to support high-bandwidth applications
- Power source is doubled from 75W to 150W. Also 8-pin power-connector can provide additional 150W
- The higher bandwidth will allow product designers to implement narrower interconnect links to achieve high performance while reducing cost
- Reverse support of PCI-Express 1.x video cards and motherboards
I want to discuss the main improvements. The interconnect bit rate is doubled. But do you know that video cards don’t use all bandwidth of PCIe? They always enlarge bit rate for future purpose, but this future never comes. New PCIe specifications come faster. Improvement for power source has 2 sides. First side - video card can be more powerful and use more power (good side). Second side - we have new 8-pin power connector (bad side). You’ll have to buy it before video card (of course if video card uses more than 150W). And of course, reverse support. It’s great that you can connect your old PCIe 1.x video card to new motherboard with PCIe 2.0 support and reverse. Upgrade step-by-step, as I call it.
Summarize this new standard. All improvements are extensive. PCI Express is developed. And it has big future
Written by mente on January 17th, 2007 with 2 comments.
Read more articles on Releases and Technologies and Conferences.
Users of mobile systems with weak mobile card now can breathe free. Asus presents XG Station. As for me - very interesting gadget. With his help you can play on notebook with the help of stationary video card and monitor. How you will ask? Just look at the picture above.
Taken from Vr-zone.com
As you can see this station connects with notebook and monitor. It has built-in video card 7900GS, but you can replace it with more powerful. As for me very interesting now gadget. Now I don’t have to keep desktop. Just monitor. The incredible benefit is that there is no competition. What do you think about this gadget? Will you buy it? It will be available since Q2 2007. I’m waiting!
Written by mente on January 3rd, 2007 with 2 comments.
Read more articles on Releases and Announcements and Laptops and Desktops.
