NVIDIA "G80" GeForce 8800GTX Performance

NVIDIA is set to launch its upcoming G80 GeForce 8800GTX and 8800GTS graphics cards next week. The GeForce 8800GTX used for testing is equipped with 768MB of GDDR3 video memory on a 384-bit memory bus as previously reported. Core and memory clocks are set at 575 MHz and 900 MHz respectively. Other GeForce 8800 series features include 128-bit HDR with 16x anti-aliasing and NVIDIA’s Quantum Physics Engine.

The physical card itself is quite large and approximately an inch and a half longer than an AMD ATI Radeon X1950 XTX based card. It requires two PCI Express power connectors and occupies two expansion slots. An interesting tidbit of the GeForce 8800GTX are the two SLI bridge connectors towards the edge of the card. This is a first for a GeForce product as SLI compatible graphics cards typically have one SLI bridge connector.

Moving onto the performance Half Life 2: Lost Coast, Quake 4, Prey and 3DMark06 were benchmarked. These games and applications were selected as other games use the same game engine.  

The test system configuration is as follows:

• Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700
• NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI based motherboard
• 2x1GB PC2-6400
• NVIDIA GeForce 8800GTX
• PowerColor ATI Radeon X1950 XTX
• Western Digital Raptor 150

Futuremark 3DMark06
	Radeon X1950 XTX	GeForce 8800GTX
Score	7026	11200

Kicking off the benchmarking festivities is 3DMark06. NVIDIA’s GeForce 8800GTX scores 59% higher than ATI’s current flagship. This isn’t too surprising as the GeForce 8800GTX has plenty of power.

Half Life 2 4xAA/16xAF 1600x1200
	Radeon X1950 XTX	GeForce 8800GTX
FPS	60.74	116.93

Quake 4 4xAA 1600x1200
	Radeon X1950 XTX	GeForce 8800GTX
FPS	34.23	65.93

Prey 4xAA/16xAF 1600x1200
	Radeon X1950 XTX	GeForce 8800GTX
FPS	55.53	88.87

Half Life 2: Lost Coast loves the GeForce 8800GTX. Here the GeForce 8800GTX is able to show significant performance gains over AMD’s ATI Radeon X1950 XTX—approximately 92%.

Quake 4 shows similar gains as Half Life 2: Lost Coast too, an approximate 92% improvement.

Prey is based on the same game engine as Quake 4. However, Prey shows smaller performance differences between the GeForce 8800GTX and ATI Radeon X1950 XTX, albeit its still 60%.

Power Consumption
Watts	Radeon X1950 XTX	GeForce 8800GTX
Idle	184	229
Load	308	321

Power consumption was measured using a Kill-A-Watt power meter that measures a power supply’s power draw directly from the wall outlet. The power supply used in the test system is a Thermaltake Toughpower that carries an efficiency rating up to 85%.

Expect NVIDIA’s GeForce 8800GTX and 8800GTS graphics cards to be available next week. As NVIDIA has had plenty of time to ramp up production and ship out cards, this will be a hard launch with immediate availability.

Intel GMA X3000 - The next powerful Integrated Graphics Core

Some of us may be surprised to read this news as previous Intel's GMAs chips was low performing and very slow in 3D games applications. But this may take a complete turn-off with the next gen IGP from Intel. The G965's graphic chip as been officially named GMA x3000. It will be the first to release a Direct X 10 IGP solution to entry level systems.

GMA 950 image on the left and GMA X3000 image on the right

Other new features and improvements will include: Shader Model 4.0, DVMT 4.0, hardware T&L and clipping, improved Early Z engine with new Occlusion Query, improved Anisotropic Filtering with Dynamic 16 sample, upgraded 32bit Floating Point Precision and the new Clear Video technology. We also note the executions units programmability. Differing from other chipsets that separate the 3D rendering unit and video processing unit, Intel 's GMA X3000 have merged them into a single programmable execution units. This flexible design of the units will ensure that every execution unit are working, thus enhancing the performance.

Intel's Clear Video will compete versus ATi's AVIVO and nVIDIA's Purevideo. Giving the standard hardware decoder for WMV9B (iDCT/VC1), MPEG-2, H.264, etc. It will give to the user, always on hardware side, the possibility to do real time encode a MPEG-II movie when playing HD stream video in same time all this by using little CPU loads. Support up to 1080p resolution and Picture in Picture, HD video and SD video can be displayed in the same time. Also, Advanced de-interlacing algorithms will give better image quality for interlaced content. Finally, the build-in ProcAmp color control settings allow user adjustment of hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast. Intel's GMA x3000 will also support HDMI, HPCP, and DUI interfaces making up a full compatible platform to the today and tomorow HD standards.

Differences between GMA 950 on 945G motherboards and GMA X3000 on G965 motherboards

Perhaps the largest improvement of GMA X3000 over GMA 950 is the move away from a fixed function pipeline in favor of a programmable pipeline. NVIDIA and ATI abandoned fixed function pipelines in 2001.

Intel’s latest motherboard update has more detailed information on the Graphics Media Accelerator X3000. DirectX 9 features such as Pixel Shader 3 and Vertex Shader 3.0 are supported. This time around the Vertex Shader 3.0 units are hardware based instead of the software based shaders found in previous GMA900/950 and Extreme graphics cores. A hardware transform and lighting engine has also been integrated and a significant improvement over the previous software T&L engine. High dynamic range is also supported for great realism in gaming. Lastly the GMA X3000 graphics core will be clocked up to 667 MHz -- quite a bit higher than current budget ATI and NVIDIA offerings.

Video output capabilities of the GMA X3000 are limited to a native VGA output. HDMI, DVI, UDI, component, composite and S-Video can be added through the SVDO port or with an ADD2 expansion card like the previous GMA900/950 graphics cores. This more or less indicates HDCP compliance will be left up to the motherboard manufacturer or ADD2 card manufacturer. GMA X3000 will support resolutions up to 2048x1536 including 720p/1080i/1080p in 16:9, 4:3 and letterbox aspect ratios.

Intel Clear Video Technology will provide algorithms and features to improve video playback. Clear Video Technology will have plenty of graphics power to simultaneously playback one high definition and one standard definition video stream for picture-in-picture. Hardware acceleration for high definition MPEG2 and VC1 is supported. However, it doesn’t look like Intel will offer hardware acceleration for H.264 at this time. An advanced de-interlacing algorithm is also integrated for improved video quality of interlaced sources such as DVD’s and cable programming. The built-in advanced pixel adaptive de-interlacing algorithm supports standard and high definition video content up to 1080i lines of resolution.

the consumer level G965 Express receives the GMA X3000 graphics core, Q965 Express chipsets receive the GMA 3000 graphics core. Differences between the GMA X3000 and GMA 3000 include the lack of Intel Clear Video Technology on the GMA 3000.

One thing that is important to remember about the GMA X3000 family is that it is a completely programmable pipeline architecture -- meaning Intel only needs to update the microcode to add support for features like SM 4.0. This opens the door to a few possibilities with where Intel can go with the architecture. For example, since the Santa Rosa notebook platform is based on G965, but will not launch until next year, Intel may take the opportunity to add better features to the core.

G965 Express is expected to launch the last week of July with Core 2 processors while Q965 Express is expected to launch the first week of September with Intel’s vPro business platform.



 

 ATI's New RS700 Detailed

DirectX 10 and HDCP compliance without external transmitter

It was previously reported RS600 would integrate a Radeon X700 class graphics core capable of AVIVO video processing and HDCP. More details have been unveiled that shows HDCP support will be integrated into the graphics core and not require an external decoding key. RS600 will also have high definition audio support integrated into the north bridge to simultaneously output video and multi-channel audio via a single HDMI cable. As with the previous Radeon Xpress 200 integrated graphics chipsets, the RS600 is Windows Vista ready with support for Aero Glass.

Since the RS600 uses a Radeon X700 derived graphics core it lacks support for DirectX 9c and Shader Model 3.0. Roadmaps show ATI will skip DirectX 9c support for its integrated graphics core and instead jump to DirectX 10. The next generation RS700 will have Shader Model 4.0, unified shaders, Blu-Ray and HD-DVD hardware decoding acceleration. RS700 will be built on a 65nm fabrication power for lower power consumption. Its expected RS700 will be a drop in replacement for RS600 as it will be pin compatible. Pin compatibility will simplify engineering times for RS700 as motherboard manufacturers can use the same layout for RS600 and RS700.

Availability is expected around August-September for RS600 and mid-2007 for RS700. Pricing is unknown but expect RS600 and/or RS700 boards to cost south of $100.

Next-Generation AMD Opteron Details Revealed


AMD is set introduce Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors on August 1st, 2006. The Next-Generation AMD Opteron processors were previously known as AMD Opteron revision F CPUs. Following the release of socket AM2 processors the Next-Generation AMD Opteron comes in a new socket -- Socket F. Socket F sports 1,207 pins in a land-grid array similar to Intel’s LGA775 and LGA771 sockets. The new Socket F will be used for dual, quad and eight way processor configurations with up to 16 cores at launch.

AMD and Intel are both pushing efficiency this year, and AMD is already taking a shot at Intel with its dual and quad-core systems. AMD claims its quad-core Socket F processor, scheduled for launch in 2007, will use the exact same power efficiency as the dual-core processors available today. According to AMD's documentation (right), 90nm 95W dual-core Opterons (scheduled for launch this August) will have the same power draw as 65nm quad-core processors.

Socket F AMD Opteron processors add support for DDR2 and AMD Virtualization. DDR2 with speeds up to 667MHz is supported while the AM2 Athlon 64 X2 and FX chips support DDR2 800MHz. FB-DIMM memory will not initially be supported by Socket F processors. AMD intends to add FB-DIMM support to its processors in the 2008 with the K8L architecture -- nearly two years after Intel launched support. Upcoming revision "G" quad-core processors will also support the Socket F. Previous features such as the integrated memory controller, HyperTransport Technology and AMD64 Execution will continue to be standard features on Socket F processor. With a new socket comes a new naming system too.

This time around AMD has moved to a four digit model number system. Three AMD Opteron families will be available at launch: 1000, 2000 and 8000. 1000 series processors will be Socket AM2 based and replace the existing AMD Opteron 100 series. 2000 series will be Socket F based and aimed towards dual processor systems. 8000 series will be available for four and eight way processor configurations. All three AMD Opteron series will be available as dual-core only. Socket F marks the death of single-core AMD Opteron processors.

Decoding the new model numbers is not too different from the existing system. The addition of a fourth digit simply adds generation designation. The first digit coincides to the series while the second digit coincides with the processor generation. Clock speeds are determined by the last two digits of the model number starting with 10 and increasing in increments of 2. An example of how the new model number works would be the "AMD Opteron 8218" -- which is an eight-way capable processor that’s a second generation Opteron design and clocked at 2.6GHz.

AMD is expected to introduce a full lineup of Socket F processors similar to what it’s done with socket AM2 processors. Socket F processors will be available in models x210, x212, x214, x216, x218 and x220 which are 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8GHz parts, respectively. Regular, HE and SE AMD Opteron models will be available, though clock speeds will vary depending on the Opteron model. Thermal data power for regular AMD Opteron processors will be around 95 watts and 55 watts for AMD Opteron HE processors. Flagship AMD Opteron Model 2220 SE and 8220 SE have a 120 watt TDP while the Socket AM2 AMD Opteron Model 1220 SE has a slightly higher 125 watt TDP. All Opteron processors will have a 1MB of L2 dedicated to each processor core.

Availability is expected July 17th, 2006 under embargo from approved distributors while retail availability is expected August 1st, 2006.

 Seagate's Big Kahuna: The 750GB 7200.10 Hard Drive


Over the past several years, hard drive capacities have ratcheted up, but the increases have been incremental. Recent 500GB drives, including Seagate's own Barracuda 7200.9, have been four-platter designs. Typical platter capacities for most recent-generation hard drives have ranged from 125 to 133 GB per platter, only up a bit from the previous 100GB per platter.

Now, Seagate is shipping its 7200.10 series, including a suite of products that differ only in the amount of buffer available or in the disk interface. SATA 3Gbps drives include the ST3750640AS, offering a 16MB cache, while the ST3750840AS ships with 8MB. Also available are the ST3750640A and ST3750840A, which are the 16MB and 8MB parallel ATA versions, respectively. Other models are available in lesser capacities, including 500, 400, 320, 300, 250 and 200GB models. Platter densities may vary somewhat, with the flagship 750GB drives packing In 187.5GB per platter, while the 200GB drive is a single-platter design.



Seagate's 7200.10 is the first desktop hard drive to use perpendicular recording technology, though the company previously shipped the 160GB Momentus 5400.3 2.5-inch hard drive for laptop and mobile users.

The tiny magnetic domains on platter surfaces orient themselves one direction to represent a binary 0, and another direction to denote binary 1. In the past, these domains' orientations have existed along the planar surface of the platter. Perpendicular recording takes the orientation vertical, allowing the drive to pack more bits onto a platter.


Perpendicular recording enables 200GB drives using a single platter, and a 750GB drive using only four platters. Since these really represent the first generation of desktop drives using the new technology, it's likely that platter capacities will increase as the drive companies gain more experience with the technology. Of course, perpendicular recording is just another step along the capacity road. Seagate has already announced it's working on a technology dubbed "HAMR" (heat-assisted magnetic recording). HAMR may allow density increases up to 100x, which means areal densities of 50 terabits per square inch.


But even if HAMR technology can be used to build products, it's unlikely we'll see anything before 2010. So purely magnetic solutions, like perpendicular recording, will fill the void until then.

Price: $500 check prices

Pros: Huge capacity; fast; quiet operation; good cost per gigabyte.

Cons: Runs a little warm; backing up full drives can be problematic.

Summary: Seagate delivers a winner, using perpendicular recording technology to deliver record capacities per platter and excellent transfer rates at a reasonable price.

Is Sun ready to Open Source Java?








During his first quarter as Sun CEO, Jonathan Schwartz's has seen a growing Internal and External debate on whether to open-source Java

An open letter from a former Sun executive pleads Jonathan Schwartz to open source Java. With the JavaOne conference on May 16, many are expecting Schwartz, who led the open-sourcing of Solaris, to announce the open-sourcing of Java. However there are also groups that have concerns about such steps.

Schwartz has had Java reform on the top of his to do list since he took over from Scott McNealy on April 24. Schwartz has also been in a constant struggle to find ways to make Sun profitable once more. Sun hasn’t recorded an annual profit since 2001, and reported a loss of $217 million for the fiscal third quarter of 2006. So far, Sun has resisted many calls to open-source Java.

Laptop Computer

HP Unleashes Seven New Notebooks

With the launch of seven new notebooks today, HP's laptop line has just expanded in a big way.
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Five of these systems are business laptops, and the remaining two are consumer laptops showcasing new and sleek designs. The new HP Pavilion dv2000 and the Compaq Presario V3000 will sport a new piano (black and silver) high-gloss finish inspired by, and I quote, "the latest design trends in fashion, furniture and art."

The paint job doesn't look like any furniture I've seen, but it is a refreshing change from their usual lackluster designs. You'll also notice the imprints embedded into this new surface, resembling wavy patterns inspired by a "Japanese Zen Garden." The imprint finish is a molding process and a technology used in Nissha film products, which can also be found in cell phone casings and luxury car interiors.

The dv2000 and the V3000 will eventually replace the dv1000 and V2000 series, respectively. Both models will have a range of dual-core processors to choose from, including the Intel Core Duos, and the highly anticipated AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core processors. The Intel processors will be available right away, but you'll have to wait a little longer for a machine with one of the new AMD processors.


The dv2000 will feature a 14.1-inch LCD display, an optional webcam with a built-in microphone, and new touch-sensitive keys for applications and volume control. The V3000 will not have the webcam option, but it will sport Quickplay 2.0, a preboot application, for the first time. Both systems will have options for discrete graphics, featuring the Nvidia GeForce Go 7200 for the Intel dv2000 and the Nvidia GeForce Go 6150 for the AMD version. The discrete graphics is a first for HP's 14.1-inch models, and you can always opt for integrated graphics if you want the extra battery life.

The HP Pavilion dv2000 starts at $1,099 after a $50 mail-in rebate, whereas the Compaq Presario V3000 will be a little cheaper, starting at $949.

In addition to the Compaq nc2400 and Compaq nc6400 which I have just reviewed, the business line is also refreshing several models with more processing power.

Also thrown into the mix is the HP Compaq tc4400, a 12.1-inch convertible tablet with an integrated fingerprint reader and an option for an "outdoor" screen. It still doesn't have a built-in optical drive, which is one of the drawbacks. The tc4400 will start at $1649 and will be available in June.

An HP Compaq nx7400 comes with a 15.4-inch widescreen and will also get the Intel Core Duo package. Prices will start at $749 and will be available mid-May.

Last but not least is an HP Compaq 8400 series that's all about power. It comes with high-end Intel Core Duo components and discrete graphics by ATI. Additionally, the machine has an anti-glare 15.4-inch widescreen so you can get some serious work done. Expect the laptop to ship in mid-May with prices starting at $1599.