Showing posts with label Hardware. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hardware. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Samsung shows off flexible OLED Youm Display
4:47 PM
Admin
OLED is a new display technology. Using light-emitting organic materials, beautiful and efficient displays can be created. OLEDs are very thin, and in fact can be put on flexible materials (plastic or metal foil). So it's possible to make bendable, flexible displays. Because these displays will not be covered with glass, they'll also be more durable - and virtually shatter-proof.
hose phones will be lighter and thinner than current phones, and the display will be much stronger ("shatterproof"). It's also possible that Samsung will use a curved display, as seen in the prototype mobile phone above.
Samsung did not give an actual commitment, but it seems that the company is aiming to start producing YOUM panels in 2013. We suspect that the production volume will be low, and the panels will be considerably more expensive compared to glass based panels.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 Review - World's fastest graphics card
- ProsExcellent performance, parity with GTX 680 SLI setups. Highly power efficient. Attractive design.
- Cons Obscenely expensive. Blocks a second expansion slot.
- Bottom LineNvidia calls its newest dual-GPU video card, the GeForce GTX 690, the fastest ever, and we can't disagree. Just know that's also one of the one most expensive.
AMD and Nvidia are notorious for routinely trading off the trophy for the best video card on the planet. But judging from Nvidia's latest release, the GeForce GTX 690, we can't help but wonder if the company may hold onto it for slightly longer than usual this time. This isn't just because of its speed, which is considerable, but also because of how well it holds up against two GeForce GTX 680 cards united in Scalable Link Interface (SLI) mode, and because of its power usage—which may just be its most attractive feature. Alas, there's always a "but," and the GTX 690's is its price: a whopping $999 (list), upping the bar that other dual-GPU cards have set around $700-$800. But if you crave the speediest and most power-efficient card you can get, don't let price stand in your way of this one.
Given that it's based on two GK104 GPUs (the same used in the GTX 680), there's not a lot to say about the GTX 690 from a chip-level standpoint that we haven't already said; there's mainly just a lot of multiplying by two to be done. Eight Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs) mean 16 advanced Streaming Multiprocessor (SMX) units, 3,072 CUDA parallel processing cores, 256 texture units, and 64 ROP units. There's a total of 4GB of GDDR5 video memory, running at 6.008GHz over two 256-bit memory interfaces.
Where the GTX 690 differs from the GTX 680 is in its design. Whereas dual-GPU cards traditionally just extend the design elements of the series they lead, the GTX 690 abandons the GTX 680's (tried-and-true) black plastic style in favor of an entirely new and fresh approach. Nvidia claims that these innovations have practical applications, and in case of the cast aluminum frame with trivalent chromium plating, fan housing made from an injection-molded magnesium alloy, dual–vapor chamber cooling system (with dual-slot heat sink and an aluminum base plate) that expels heat via a center-mounted axial fan, and ten-phase power supply with a ten-layer two-ounce copper PCB that's undoubtedly true. But the polycarbonate windows on the card's front and the GeForce logo on the side that glows when the system is powered on suggest that Nvidia was just as concerned with delivering a prestige object to those willing to shell out a cool grand to be able to better play games. (And, if you ask us, that's actually not a terrible reason in this case.)
In any event, the usual caveats with big video cards apply. The GTX 690 blocks a second expansion slot, requires two PCIe power connectors (both eight-pin, a diversion from the two six-pin plugs used on the GTX 680, though understandable given the card's beefy stature), and may be too long to fit into smaller cases. (But like its immediate predecessor it's shorter than we're used to, so you'll have a better chance of it working in your system.)
Performance
Performance on the GTX 690 is, of course, excellent—which makes sense for a fusion of two units of the fastest single-GPU card out there. It dominated AMD's last-generation dual-GPU behemoth, the Radeon HD 6990 , in practically every gaming test we threw at it, which is to be expected. Sample scores: 59.8 frames per second (fps) versus 53.6fps in Aliens vs. Predator, 74fps versus 57fps in Batman: Arkham City, and 84fps versus 45.9fps in Lost Planet 2—in each case running at 2,560-by-1,600 resolution, with maximum details enabled. The one test where the GTX 690 didn't triumph? Total War: Shogun 2, where the 6990 came out ahead with 27fps versus the GTX 690's 23.3fps—but more on this in the next paragraph.
Performance on the GTX 690 is, of course, excellent—which makes sense for a fusion of two units of the fastest single-GPU card out there. It dominated AMD's last-generation dual-GPU behemoth, the Radeon HD 6990 , in practically every gaming test we threw at it, which is to be expected. Sample scores: 59.8 frames per second (fps) versus 53.6fps in Aliens vs. Predator, 74fps versus 57fps in Batman: Arkham City, and 84fps versus 45.9fps in Lost Planet 2—in each case running at 2,560-by-1,600 resolution, with maximum details enabled. The one test where the GTX 690 didn't triumph? Total War: Shogun 2, where the 6990 came out ahead with 27fps versus the GTX 690's 23.3fps—but more on this in the next paragraph.
It's worth noting, however, that the GTX 690 is rarely faster than two SLI-connected GTX 680s. It keeps up incredibly nicely with the pair of cards; it just doesn't surpass them in terms of speed in most cases. Granted, because the frame rates we're talking about here are so high, this isn't a big deal—can you tell the difference, for example, between Batman: Arkham City running at 76fps and 74fps, and Lost Planet 2 running at 86.4fps and 84fps?—but those who've already splurged on two GTX 680s can still feel satisfied with their purchase. (One note about performance here: There was functionally no discernible difference between the two GTX 680s and the single GTX 690 running Total War: Shogun 2. We asked Nvidia about this, and were told that a recent patch to the game has hindered multi-GPU performance somewhat—this also likely explains at least some of why the 6990 looked faster on the same game. We can't guarantee that you'll be hampered by this problem, or that a future patch won't fix it, but it's something to keep an eye on for now if you play that game.)
As was the case with the GTX 680, the defining characteristic of the GTX 690 is its power efficiency. Our full Intel X79 Express–based test system drew (as measured by way of an Extech Datalogger) 110 watts when idle, and 413.7 watts under the full load of a maxed-out Metro 2033 benchmark run. That's impressive as it is, but it looks even better compared with the GTX 680 SLI setup, which drew 116.7 while idling and 469.6 watts under load: Maybe the two cards have the tiniest of performance edges, but the power savings will unquestionably prove much more significant over the long run. An interesting side note: The GTX 690 also drew less power than either the 6990 (125 watts while idling, 424.9 watts under load) or two Radeon HD 7950 cards in a CrossFireX configuration (110 watts while idle, 415.3 watts under load).
Nvidia has done a remarkable job with the GeForce GTX 690, turning out a card that's worth bragging about—and bestowing our Editors' Choice award upon—for reasons that go well beyond merely its speed. We have no doubt that AMD is working on its own dual-GPU card at this very moment (we'll even venture a guess at its name: the Radeon HD 7990?), but unless the company effects a substantial revamp of its current generation's architecture, that card is going to have a hard time competing with Nvidia's. In performance, power usage, and appearance alike, it's not just the card to beat—it's the card to cherish.
Gila Professional Gaming Mouse - Quick Review
Last Article is just about the Launch. This Review will give you some details about the Mouse.
Genius launches the Gila professional gaming mouse, a 2013 CES Innovations Award Honoree, to the North American market. Offering unparalleled precision and comfort, the Genius GX Gaming Series Gila is the ultimate configurable gaming mouse. With the 12-button Gila almost every aspect can be tweaked according to gamers' preferences: on-the-fly dpi changes, weight, LED brightness, pulsation and color as well as macros for a personalized playing style.
Precision Control with Sniper Mode and On-The-Fly Adjustable Dpi: 200 to 8200
The Gila packs features for gamers that need to excel. For situations that require pixel perfect precision "Sniper Mode" slows down mouse movements to a dpi of your choice by simply holding down the assigned button.
Genius' GX Gaming Series Gila lets gamers switch among 5 different previously assigned dpi levels directly from the mouse for precision targeting (200 dpi) to lightning fast movements (8200 dpi). Adding Gila's 1 ms response time to aid in situations that require quick twitch reactions, this GX Series mouse is capable of keeping up with any gaming scenario.
Personalized Weight Tuning
Customize the weight of the Gila however you prefer. A maximum of six 4.5 gram weights can be added to a compartment in the underside for sturdiness or no weights can be used at all for unburdened lightweight movement.
Customize the weight of the Gila however you prefer. A maximum of six 4.5 gram weights can be added to a compartment in the underside for sturdiness or no weights can be used at all for unburdened lightweight movement.
Unique LED Customization Options
Offering unique aesthetic customization options, the Gila has three LED backlights that can be independently tuned to the colors, degrees of brightness and pulsation style of your choice. With 16 million color options to choose from your Gila will be uniquely yours.
Offering unique aesthetic customization options, the Gila has three LED backlights that can be independently tuned to the colors, degrees of brightness and pulsation style of your choice. With 16 million color options to choose from your Gila will be uniquely yours.
Macros & Button Assignments
Simplify the complicated controls of modern games by assigning them to any of the twelve buttons on the Gila. The Scorpion UI lets you set up to 72 macros, giving you a competitive edge in the heat of battle. The macros saved on the on-board memory and CPU of the Gila means that macro-blocks in games won't be able to stop you from using your macros. At LAN parties or competitions no time is lost tweaking exactly how you like to play.
Simplify the complicated controls of modern games by assigning them to any of the twelve buttons on the Gila. The Scorpion UI lets you set up to 72 macros, giving you a competitive edge in the heat of battle. The macros saved on the on-board memory and CPU of the Gila means that macro-blocks in games won't be able to stop you from using your macros. At LAN parties or competitions no time is lost tweaking exactly how you like to play.
Comfortable Grip & Connectivity
The Genius Gila not only gives you personalized control when hunting down your foes, but also provides a smooth, stable connection with a comfortable design. The non-slick rubber coating ensures a firm and comfortable grip when moving the mouse violently back and forth. Additionally, the 1.8 meter durable braided cable with an anti-corrosive gold-plated USB jack ensures long-lasting, high quality connections.
The Genius Gila not only gives you personalized control when hunting down your foes, but also provides a smooth, stable connection with a comfortable design. The non-slick rubber coating ensures a firm and comfortable grip when moving the mouse violently back and forth. Additionally, the 1.8 meter durable braided cable with an anti-corrosive gold-plated USB jack ensures long-lasting, high quality connections.
Availability
The GX Gaming Series Gila is now available in the US and Canada for the suggested retail price of US$99.99.
The GX Gaming Series Gila is now available in the US and Canada for the suggested retail price of US$99.99.
Product Highlights
- Professional 12-button MMO/RTS gaming mouse
- Adjustable dpi with 5 step dpi gauge
- Independently adjustable LED backlighting in 3 areas (16 million color options)
- Adjustable metal weights 4.5g x 6 with storage case included
- Capacity for 72 macros
- On-board memory and CPU to beat macro-blocks
- Lightning fast 1 ms response time
- Comfy rubber finish grip for complete control and handling
- MSRP: US$99.99
