By: Mike Jennings

Source: PC Pro Magazine

Intel�s latest processors are an obvious choice, but which motherboard should you use? Here are five P67 models tested by �PC Pro Mag�

Choosing a new processor is pretty straightforward right now � it has to be Intel�s Sandy Bridge � but picking a motherboard is trickier. To help you, I have put five motherboards with the firm�s P67 chipset through some tests.

Loaded with the same components as our reference PC � a 3.4GHz Core i7-2600K and 4GB of DDR3 RAM � as well as an Intel 510 series SSD, we�ve run our Real World Benchmarks to look for differences in potential application performance, our data transfer tests to measure SATA 6Gbits/sec, USB 3 and eSATA speeds, and SiSoft Sandra�s benchmarks to measure memory performance. We�ve also tested for power consumption and temperature.

No. 5: Foxconn Rattler

The Rattler is the most expensive board here but, with a POST display, onboard overclocking switches and power and reset buttons, it has plenty admiring its dramatic black-and-red PCB.

There are two SATA 6Gbit/sec and four SATA 3Gbits/sec sockets, and they�re sensibly positioned away from the primary PCI Express x 16 slot. Two x 16 slots support a pair of graphics cards in Nvidia SLI or AMD CrossFireX at 8x speed. Five fan headers are spread around, and the Rattler is the only board here to prove two each of Gigabit Ethernet and eSATA ports on its backplate.

The Foxconn�s benchmark score of 0.95 was the slowest, and it returned mixed results in file test: second-fastest when writing large files at 376.3MB/sec, but slowest of the five with smaller files, writing at 117.1MB/sec, Elsewhere, it�s the only board to drop below 14GB/sec of memory bandwidth, and its latency and cache results were also poor, albeit by small margins.

A peak processor temperature of 87^oC, a maximum chipset heatsink temperature of 54^oC and upper power draw of 297W make the Foxconn the worst offender on all three counts. Moreover, it still uses BIOS, which feels archaic next to the more modern UEFI systems.

So although the Rattler has a fine specification of paper, it doesn�t do a lot to justify the outlay in the real world.

No. 4: ASRock Fatal1ty P67

Enthusiasts could do better with ASRock�s offering. Line the Asus and MSI boards, it replaces the BIOS with a UEFI front-end packing improved visuals and much simpler mouse input.

On the board you get power buttons, a POST display, four DIMM sockets ready for 32GB of RAM and six perpendicular SATA sockets, ready for 32GB of RAM and six perpendicular SATA sockets, two of which run at 6Gbits/sec. The backplate is well-stocked with USB 3, eSATA and a Clear CMOS button. Our only grip is that the single PCI Express x16 slot rules out a dual-graphics setup.

Real-world performance was disappointing. It scored 0.97 in our benchmarks, and it wrote large files over SATA 6Gbits/sec at 365.8MB/sec, almost 20MB/sec slower than the leader. Results were better over eSATA, but it isn�t really a fast board in this company.

These performance gaps might not be huge in the grand scheme of things, but they can be a deciding factor, and we expect better from a �gaming� board. It isn�t bad, but others are better � and that makes the Fatal1ty impossible to recommend.

No. 3: Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3

The Gigabyte GA-P67A-D3-B3 is a bit more palatable and more modest in its features. It starts well, with four DIMM sockets for up to 32GB of DDR3 memory, a pair of SATA 6Gbits/sec ports and a quarter of slower SATA 3Gbits/sec ports, three PCI Express x1 slots and two PCI sockets.

Elsewhere, though, the budget bites. The second PCI Express x16 slot runs at 4x speed, wiping out any dual-graphics aspirations, and the positioning of the fourth fan header in the bottom corner of the board seems strange. The meager backplate offers only four USB 2 ports and no eSATA, and with only three audio outputs you�ll have to use S/PDIF to get 7.1 sound. You do get parallel and serial ports for those using cutting-edge hardware with antique peripherals, however.

It�s the basic specification that puts paid to the Gigabyte�s prospects. It�s a fine budget board but, without eSATA, dual graphics or additional features, it doesn�t offer much future-proofing.

No. 2: Asus P8P67-M Pro

This month�s only microATX board also comes with the cheapest price. Despite this, the inclusion of three PCI Express x16 slots is generous � two run at 8x, with the third at 4x � and there�s a single PCI Express x1 slot.

It has seven SATA sockets (four at 3Gbits/sec, three faster), and four DIMMS will take up to 32GB of RAM. There�s a vacant TPM connector so you can easily upgrade security, and you get four fan connectors, three of which have speed control. The backplate is one of the best here: eSATA, FireWire and two PS/2 sockets alongside USB 3, USB 2 and optical S/PDIF.

The P8P67-M Pro was the fastest board here in our benchmarks, albeit by a tiny mergin. Its performance in our data transfer tests was mostly fine, too, with fast SATA 6Gbits/sec speeds � although it struggled to read over USB 3: in our large file test it was less than half as fast as the leaders, despite table-topping write speed.

The UEFI front-end serves up a screen full of diagnostics information, albeit not very well laid out: to access advanced options you have to switch to a special mode. The desktop AI Suite offers little besides overclocking options, fan settings and automatic tweaks, but at least it�s presented well.

The Asus doesn�t have everything you�d expect from a full ATX board, then, but if you�re building in a smaller case it�s a surprisingly well-featured alternative at a reasonable price.

No. 1: MSI P67A-GD53

If you�re after a full ATX board, however, MSI P67A-GD53 ticks most boxes. It comes with UEFI software and, while it isn�t as enthusiast-friendly as the Fatal1ty or Asus, it�s sensibly laid out of novices. If that�s too detailed for you, try MSI�s OC Genie switch, which automatically overclocks your processor.

Two PCI Express slots run at 8x speed when both are occupied and the four DIMM sockets can handle 32GB of DDR3. There�s no sign of internal USB 3 headers for connecting to a case�s front panel, and there�s also no eSATA or FireWire on the backplate; you do get two USB 3 and eight USB 2 ports � the most of any board here � as well as SATA 6Gbits/sec and a Clear CMOS button.

It scored 0.99 in our benchmarks, memory latency of 78.3ns was the second-best here, and SATA 6Gbits/sec and USB 3 speeds were decent too.

While it may lack the flair of other boards, the P67A-GD53 is well featured, well rounded and comes at a perfectly fair price. If we were building a Sandy Bridge PC tomorrow, we�d go with the MSI.

Source: PC Advisor Magazine [Jul 11]

9mm-thick GoFlex is significantly slimmer than Seagate�s existing GoFlex line-up.

Seagate has exposed what it claims is the world�s slimmest claims is the word�s slimmest portable hard drive. The 160g GoFlex Slim is just 9mm thick, which is meaningfully slimmer than the firm�s 14mm-thick GoFlex portable drive.

The drive�s width is about that of a pencil, and not much larger than many smartphones.

Inside is a version of the 7mm-thick Momentus Thin drive, announced in 2009 for smaller and thinner laptops and netbooks. Despite having only a 1mm-thick protective casing, the GoFlex Slim has shock absorption built in.

�Netbooks and slim laptops are great for overwhelming media, but are limited when it comes to creating and storing HD films and photos,� said Seagate�s retail storage vice-president, Patrick Connolly.

The technical specs include a 7,200rpm spin speed and USB 3.0 connectivity. There�s no encryption technology built in, although an unnamed backup suite lets you apply 192bit DES security.

The GoFlex Slim drive was expected to go on sale in the US at press time, costing $99 for the entry-level 320GB model. Exact UK pricing and details about larger-capacity versions have yet to be accounced.

Image via Wikipedia

Source: PC Advisor Magazine [Aug 11]

This ultra-fast data-transfer technology will transfer information at up to 50Gbps.

Intel is working on a data-transfer service that will be five times faster than its Thunderbolt technology.

Thunderbolt was officially declared in February. Its dual-channel technology can transfer data between computers and daisy-chained peripherals at speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps).

This allow an HD movie to be transferred in less than 30 seconds, and the synchronization of high-bandwidth audio and video between computers and other gadgets in real time.

Thunderbolt�s successor uses silicon photonics, which syndicates silicon components with optical networking, to carry data at up to 50Gbps over 100m, said Jeff Demain, strategy director of circuits and system research at Intel Labs.

Intel expects the technology to be ready for use in PCs, tablets, smartphones, TVs and other products by 2015. It will not only be faster than Thunderbolt but cheaper too, with existing systems being used in the silicon manufacturing process.

The technology would allow TVs and set-top boxes to carry much higher-definition video steams than is possible today. This will be important by 2015, since image resolution is likely to quadruple when successor to 1080p (full HD) arrive.

Demain said Thunderbolt will probably co-exist alongside its successor in some devices. �We see them as complementary. It�s the evolution of these connectors and protocols as they move forward,� he said, �Thunderbolt are more than a cable. It�s a router chip that aggregates DisplayPort and PCI Express.�

Before the technology comes to market, Intel plans to syndicate the transmitter and receiver components into a single chip, and shrink down the chips to fit inside smartphones and tablets.

Source: USA Today

At the Nokia Theater in Los Angele,  Nintendo announced a new system called Wii U, having roughly size of a Tablet.

With its new support, Nintendo is looking to open a new window on video games.

The device measures 8 inches including 6.2 inches of a touchscreen, while a couple extra inches on each side to accommodate a pair of thumb-sticks. A traditional directional pad and face buttons. Above the touchscreen is a front-facing camera, and right below are the Home, Start and Select buttons and the microphone. On the bottom right is a battery indicator and Power button. A built-in gyroscope and accelerometers will let players affect game play by moving the display, even in a 360-degree manner. The controller also has built-in speakers and the controller is also a self-contained gaming device that can play games without using the TV as a display.

New Nintendo Wii U game console video

The console delivers 1080 progressive high-definition video on proprietary discs that are the same size as current Wii game discs. A video shown during Nintendo's E3 press event showed that the controller display could be used as a Web browser and a video chat device.

It has a left and right analog stick, traditional D-pad for up, down, left and right movement, as well as A, B, X and Y buttons. Left and right shoulder buttons, as well as left and right triggers, are on board.

Nintendo plans to launch the system sometime after April 1, 2012. So be ready for new touchscreen game console from Nintendo.

Image via CrunchBase

By: RYAN NAKASHIMA AP Business Writer

Sony Corp wraps off its next generation portable gaming machine, PlayStation Vita, which will go on sale before the winter holidays this year. A touch-interface and motion-sensitive handheld that outdoes its mainstay PlayStation Portable. Company executives have called the device Sony's biggest product launch since the PlayStation 3 five years ago.

? Connectivity:-

• The device will allow gamers to be connected with one another over cellphone networks.
• The gamers can be connected via Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Including GPS location-tracking technology.
• Sony is partnering exclusively with AT&T Inc. for cellphone service. (in US only)

Sony E3 Press Conference Event

? Rate & Plans:-

• The device, available for $249 for its Wi-Fi-only version. (exposed at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3)
• With cellphone service included, it will be $299, and buyers will have to subscribe to a cellular data plan.

? Specifications:-

• The device has a front and back cameras.
• A touchscreen in front.
• A touchpad on the back.
• An accelerometer, which makes it easy to control your game on various turns and also through the air.
• Two knob-like joysticks, which will allow gamers to play against PlayStation 2 consoles over the Internet Network.

The Vita is slightly bigger than the PlayStation portable, which has sold more than 70 million units worldwide since its launch in 2004. Along with social games and email, Sony also unveiled a communication service it called �Party� that will enable voice and text chat during games or when using the Web browser. Users will also be able to sense when other gamers are nearby, what games they have played recently, and enable in-game gifting of virtual items. Sony also said Monday it would put PlayStation games onto smartphones that run on Google Inc.'s competing Android operating system.

Source: PC Pro Mag [July edition]

The last time Sony Ericsson endeavored a big screen Android phone, we weren�t mostly impressed. The Xperia X10 bragged a large, bright, high-resolution 4 inch display, but it had major faults. The Arc is the inheritor to that handset, and it makes a striking first impression.

As with the X10, this is mainly down to its screen which completely snips the show. It�s larger than the X10�s at 4.2 inche, and matches its resolution at 480 x 854, but it�s much brighter and pithier. In fact, at maximum brightness, and with the help of Sony�s Bravia Engine picture enhancement technology, the Arc�s LED-backlit screen looks spectacular.

It�s marvelous screen on which to watch movies and also to view photos; if you elegant watching on a bigger screen the HDMI output lets you go large.

Its looks are also worth residence on: at its thinnest, the Arc measures just 8.9mm from front to back and weighs only 116g. The rear panel curves in slightly, so it sits easily in your hand. Plus, that curvature means it doesn�t scratch and scuff as much as others when you lay it on a float surface.

The touchscreen is more responsive than it was on the X10, with hardly a hint of delay of quake as you sweep from one Android desktop to another, pan around web pages and zoom in and out. That�s despite a vigorous selection of Sony Ericsson�s own widgets, apps and OS customizations.

Of these, we hold the same mixed opinion as we did before. We like the tweaks Sony Ericsson has made to folders � they pop up in an attractive transparent overlay window � and when you create folders you�re given the option to name them there and then, instead of having to edit them later. The toolbar that runs along the bottom screen gives lasting access to common features, and can be customized with shortcuts and folders.

We like the idea of Timescape, which joins not just Facebook and Twitter feeds, but also recent phone and text activity, displaying items as cards in a 3D rolodex-style view. In practice, however, you can fit only six cards onscreen at any one time; give us a less fancy 2D list view any day.

Under the hood, the Arc is powered by the same single-core 1GHz Scorpion processor and Adreno GPU (backed up with 512 MB of RAM) found in the Xperia Play, the HTC Incredible S and the HTC Desire HD. Games are dispatched with aplomb, and it�s a dammed sight slicker in general use than its predecessor too. This combination of bits and bobs secures sound benchmark figures. We ran the SunSpider JavaScript test in the native browser for a score of five seconds; the BBC homepage loaded in an average of seven seconds; and the Android-specific Quadrant benchmark app returned a score of 1,378. All these compare well with the immediate competition � it�s slightly quicker than the incredible S in SunSpider, and slightly slower in Quadrant.

Against the iPhone 4, it�s competitive too. More notable are the Arc�s battery results. We measured 70% remaining after our 24-hour test, which is remarkable for a large-screen smartphone. It�s a result that suggest a couple of days of moderate use are well within the Arc�s compass, and in use we found we needed to charge it only every other day.

The 8-megapixel camera is worthy of high praise to. The big screen makes a wonderful viewfinder, and the pictures and 720p video it produces are top-notch. There�s good detail and contrast, reliable color production both inside and out, and performance is good. The only gripe we had was with the JPEG compression, which is fairly aggressive; it isn�t disastrous, but it�s obvious when you zoom in that some fine detail is being lost, especially in dim lighting.

There are other niggies too, and the first concerns build quality. It may look gorgeous, but the plastic rear panel feels flimsy, and it creaks and moves a little, even when snapped in place. The three buttons below the screen feel plastically and insubstantial, and we take objection to the positioning of the headphone jack. With a phone this large, having a plug digging out at the side doesn�t make it particularly pocket friendly.

Perhaps more serious is that the GPS radio is uneven, sometimes locking on to satellites in a moment, while at other times taking many minutes to give a positional fix. That�s a concern if you plan to rely on your phone as a satnav.

Website http://www.sonyericsson.co.uk

Specifications

Single-core 1GHz Scorpion CPU ? 512MB RAM ? 320MB ROM ? 8GB microSD card ? 4.2in 480 x 854 TFT ? quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA ? Bluetooth 2.1 ? 802.11bgn WLAN ? 8mp camera ? GPS ? light, accelerometer and proximity sensors ? 1,500 mAh lithium ion battery ? Android 2.3 ? 2yr RTB warranty ? 62.5 x 11 x 125mm (WDH) ? 116g

Source: PC Magazine June Edition

  A Cheap Tablet in stores or online may appear to be a thing of beauty, but not all tablets are created equal. Tablets vary from terrible to tremendous, and it�s not always easy to pick out which ones are good.

Fortunately, we�ve done the groundwork and tested eight tablet devices for you, so you can make an informed choice � whether you�re looking for a tool or a toy.

The question most commonly asked about tablets is, �What does it do that my smartphone doesn�t?� A reasonable question: tablets are, in many ways, overgrown phones. They won�t replace a phone or a laptop, but as an in-between device, they�re useful for those people who want something more portable than a laptop, or who travel a lot and want to read, write and play comfortable.

Are tablets just a toy? We think so, unless you�re really determined to use it for productivity. Most people buying tablets plan to use it for six, seven, or even fifteen different tasks, and in reality end up using it for one or two � usually web browsing and casual gaming. But let�s be honest � if you want a tablet, hearing that you don�t need one isn�t going to be a deterrent. You�re never too grown up for exciting, if expensive, toys, and if you can use it as a tool as well, so much the better.

Tablets Roundup [June 2011]

Samsung Galaxy Tab � (# 5)

Review at a Glance

1. The Galaxy Tab has a 1000MHz processor, which makes it speedy enough given that it�s running a comparatively slow OS.

2. It takes about half a second to flip a page on an e-book, complete with animation.

3. The Galaxy Tab is a nice device to use. Its size makes it easy to hold in one hand, but its resolution is high enough � at 600 x 1024 pixels, that we didn�t feel as though we were missing out on screen real estate.

4. On the contrary, we found the 7-inch screen to be the perfect size.

5. Powerful despite its small form factor.

6. Nice, bright display.

7. Old, smartphone � optimized Android 2.2

8. Best non-Honeycomb Android tablet.

Acer Iconia Tab A500 � (# 4)

A Laptop without a Keyboard.

Review at a Glance

1. The Iconia has a solid aluminum backing.

2. A mini HDMI port to play media on your TV directly from the tablet.

3. The ability to act as a wireless DLNA media server via a pre-installed app.

4. A USB host port so you can grab files from any USB drive.

5. At the moment it can only play video in 720p, but a later software update will allow the Iconia to step up to the full 1080p.

6. The screen�s resolution is 1024 x 1280, the highest of any tablet tested by �PC Mag editors�.

7. 5MP rear-facing camera, which is mediocre and doesn�t record in HD.

8. Comparatively most full-featured tablet.

9. Great as an entertainment device.

10. Slightly too thick.

11. No 3G models yet.

BlackBerry PlayBook � (#3)

The PlayBook is designed to fit in a suit pocket.

Review at a Glance

1. It can run Adobe AIR as an overlay on QNX (a version of POSIX), rather than running a tablet or smartphone OS. The end results feels like a BlackBerry smartphone.

2. The square-off 7-inch design is apparently modeled on a Moleskine notebook.

3. The influence is apparent in the soft-touch rear of the device. It sports front and rear-facing cameras (3MP and 5MP, respectively), and includes a volume control.

4. 3.5mm headphone jack and support mini-HDMI port.

5. Thanks to dual-core 1GHZ processor and AIR overlay, and everything from viewing slid shows to reading books feels crisp and sharp.

6. Full Adobe Flash and HTML5 support.

7. While the PlayBook comes with 16GB of storage, you can also get 32 or 64GB versions, but note that none come with external storage of any form.

8. Battery life is the poorest of the tablet devices tested by �PC Mag editors�.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1v � (#2)

Review at a Glance

1. Size 8.9-inch, the thinner the lighter. (But it�s still worth your money if you want an Android based iPad 2 competitor.

2. Like the Acer Iconia Tab, the Galaxy Tab 10.1v is running Android�s tablet-optimized Honeycomb operating system. This makes everything from web browsing to navigating the OS vastly improved on the 7-inch Galaxy Tab.

3. Comes with Wi-Fi + 3G versions or a 3G-only version.

4. The good news is that while the Galaxy Tab�s resolution isn�t as higher as the Iconia�s, the 1280 x 800 display is still very much worth your while.

5. The 10.1-inch screen gives you the ability to really pinpoint the pineapple that needs slicing or the trajectory of the angry bird, and while it�s not quite as responsive as the iPad 2, it�s still sharp enough.

6. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Tab 10.1v has some of the worst battery life of the tablets tested by �PC Mag editors�, but since it doesn�t take a very long time to charge, it may not be an issue for you.

7. Sharp dual-core processor.

8. Large form factor makes it ideal for productivity.

Apple iPad 2 � (#1)

Slim, fast and really rather good.

Review at a Glance

1. The 10.1-inch form factor gives you maximum screen real estate, and the iPad2 manages it with minimal weight (603g) or bulk.

2. The 9.7-inch IPS panel is viewable even in bright sunlight.

3. The iPad has the fastest processor in this roundup, a 1.2GHz Dual-core, and this makes it feel the most nimble of the tablets tested.

4. A proprietary USB connector that can be used to add accessories and a 3.5mm headphone jack is all you get.

5. Comparatively best Battery life and timing.

6. For some, the 10.1-inch size may be a downside; it won�t fit neatly into a jacket pocket, unlike the 7-inch alternatives.

7. Facetime is easier with the new Smart Cover & in terms of its design, it�s a clear winner.

8. App store is large and comprehensive.

9. Excellent screen quality and performance.

10. Good range of accessories.