Asetek Rolls out LGA 1156 Ready Liquid Cooling System

Asetek has just unveiled its LCLC liquid cooling system for Intel’s new Core i5 processor family, which consists of a single Intel mounting ring and back plate.

Compatible with all popular Intel processors utilizing LGA 775 and LGA 1366 sockets, the system can also “be configured for any Intel desktop motherboard. A single mounting ring enables flexible manufacturing in both high and low volume PC manufacturing settings”.

The LCLC liquid cooling system is easy to install and has a sound output of 30dBA, but the pricing is not disclosed yet.

Sapphire Radeon HD 4750 Spotted for Sale in Mainland China

AMD launched its first 40nm desktop GPU - Radeon HD 4770 back in April, but we’ve never seen the card available on the market here in mainland China due to TSMC’s 40nm yield issue. Interestingly, the shrinked version HD 4750 has recently hit stores.

As the first AMD 40nm RV740-based graphics card, Sapphire Radeon HD 4750 Platinum is powered by 480 stream processors, and ships with GDDR5 memory as well as Core/Memory clock of 750/800MHz, with a total memory bandwidth of 51.2GB/s.

Equipped with D-Sub, DVI and HDMI connectivities, Sapphire HD 4750 Platinum is now available for RMB699 (US$100).

Say Goodbye to Foxconn-branded Graphics Cards

Almost three years after introducing its first branded graphics cards back in 2006, Foxconn has now decided to give up own-brand graphics card business.

Digitimes reports that Foxconn plans to rearrange its Channel Service Division (CSD) shifting the majority of the 9,000 employees, mainly related to production, to its OEM division. Around 500 staff remain in CSD according to Young Liu, special assistant to the CEO.

The company expects to ship 6-7 million own-brand motherboards in 2009 after the reorganizations, up from 5 million in 2008, while the OEM shipments will reach about 30 million units.

ATI Radeon HD 5870 Caught on Camera

The first images of ATI Radeon HD 5870 codenamed Cypress graphics cards have recently been posted at the Dutch site Tweakers. Cooled by a black turbo cooler, the card looks very plain, and unusually long, which means it might not fit into mainstream desktop systems.

Just as AMD presented last month, HD 5870 boasts HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI connectivities, supporting ATI EyeFinity technology.

From all the information we’ve gathered, Radeon HD 5870 will be made using 40nm process technology, and powered by 1600 stream processors as well as GDDR5 memory, supporting DirectX 11 and the 2nd-generation TeraScale engine that delivers more than a teraFLOPs of processing power. Priced between $379 and $399, Radeon HD 5870 is believed to be a powerful and power-hungry card.

Affiliate reviews today [10-09-2009]

Games
Duels on the High Seas – Nintendo DS Game Reviewed @ TestFreaks | A Futurelooks News Flash - Futurelooks Rounds Up Summer 2009's Hottest Xbox Live Arcade Titles | Darkest of Days Xbox360 Review @ TestFreaks | A Futurelooks News Flash - Guitar Hero 5 for the Xbox 360 Reviewed |

CPUs
Core i5-750 and Core i7-870 Processors Review @ Hardware Secrets | Intel Core i5-750 and P55 Chipset Review with Benchmarks @ TweakPC.de | Intel Core i5-750 LGA1156 Processor Review @ Benchmark Reviews | Intel Core i5 750 Review - XSReviews | Intel Core i7-870 Processor Review @ Benchmark Reviews | A Futurelooks News Flash - Intel's Core i5 and i7 "Lynnfield" Processors and P55 Platform Reviewed |

Videocards
Mushkin GeForce GTX 295 Single PCB 1792 MB @ techPowerUp |

Periphery
MEGATech Reviews – Choiix Accu-Mouse (C-PM01-W2) Uni-Retractable Optical Mouse | Steelseries Siberia Review - XSReviews |

PSUs
be quiet! Pure Power 350W L7 PSU Review on Technic3D | Silverstone Strider 600W Power Supply Review @ High Tech Reviews |

Cases
Chieftec BL-01B Bravo L-Type Case with VESA Monitor Mount Review @ Bigbruin.com | Technic3D/NZXT Guardian 921 | Luxa 2 LM300 Touch Pro @ Rbmods |

Accessories
MusicSkins for iPhone 3G @ iGadget Life |

Cooling
Thermaltake SpinQ VT Cooler @ Hardware Bistro |

Storage
Corsair X256 CMFSSD-256D1 MLC SSD @ Benchmark Reviews | Vantec NexStar Vault @ techPowerUp |

GlacialTech F101 PWM Cooler Honored to be Intel’s official partner in Lynnfield Launch

One of the biggest launch events hosted by Intel Beijing, it will be a demonstration of Intel Core i7/i5 Processors and GlacialTech CPU Cooler F101 PWM, as an official partner. As GlacialTech is an official partner for first Intel Lynnfield Core i7/i5 Processors launch in Beijing, GlacialTech is going to display PC enthusiasts the gaming solutions. GlacialTech has been invited by Intel to showcase the applications based on the combination of Intel P55 chipset and LGA1156 Core i7/i5 processors solution and GlacialTech CPU Cooler F101 PWM.

Zero Creative's 71-inch 3D LCD will make environmentalists weep

As Sony's notoriously power-thirsty PS3 receives a major boost in efficiency, you might think the age of the gluttonous gadget is at an end. Zero Creative, however, is here to show us that some manufacturers just aren't interested in being green. The company has created a 71-inch version of its xyZ (not xYz) lineup, a 3D LCD that sucks down an impressive 1 kilowatt when turned on. Given your average eco-friendly display tends to require something like 20 to 50 watts to bring you an image, that's quite an energy premium to pay -- and that's on top of the ?70,000 price tag (about $100,000). Of course, what those eco-friendly LCDs can't do is give you a 3D image without glasses, a feature that is the very specialty of the commercially-minded xyZ lineup. An inability to display anything in plain 'ol 2D is something of a shortcoming, but we're told switchable versions are coming -- as is an even bigger, 100-inch screen that will ship with a dedicated coal-fired power plant.

Affiliate reviews today [07-09-2009]

CPUs
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition CPU Review @ Futurelooks

Cases
Lian Li PC-A77 - Blackbox @ Technic3d

Accessories
iMainGo 2 Portable Speaker @ Testfreaks | Cooler Master SNA95 Slim Notebook Adapter @ MEGATech | MusicSkins for 13” MacBook Laptops @ iGadget Life | First look at the R2-D2 USB hub @ RBMods | Sunbeam Airbox 3.5" External HDD Enclosure Review @ Hardware Bistro

Software
WinX DVD Ripper @ Dragon Steel Mods

PSUs
Seasonic S12D Power Supply Review @ Hi-tech Reviews

Video Cards
ASUS GeForce GTX 285 Matrix Review @ Benchmark Reviews

Periphery
Mionix Saiph 1800 @ RBMods

Games
Pirates: Duels on the High Seas – Nintendo DS @ Testfreaks | The Beatles Rock Band Review Xbox360 2 @ Testfreaks | Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward Nintendo Wii @ Testfreaks

Cooling
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro CPU Cooler @ Dragon Steel Mods | Cooler Master Hyper N620 CPU Cooler Review @ Futurelooks | Arctic Cooling Accelero L2 Pro VGA Cooler @ Dragon Steel Mods

Competitions
F1 Overclocking Competition Takes Off! @ Madshrimps | MSI MOA 2009 Grand Final: European domination @ Madshrimps

AMD Updating Athlon II X2 Lineup

AMD is adding to its value dual-core processor lineup with a new high-speed part. The Athlon II X2 255 (PIB model: ADX255OCK23GQ) is based on the 45 nm Regor die, and packs a clock speed of 3.10 GHz (15.5 x 200 MHz). Each core has a dedicated L2 cache of 1 MB (2 MB total cache), and the TDP is rated at 65W. Based on the socket AM3 package, it supports DDR3 and DDR2 memory standards. Expected to be out soon, the Athlon II X2 255 could displace the Athlon II X2 250, while being priced lower than the Phenom II X2 550.

Foxconn’s 785G-based Cinema Series Mobos Reach Stores

Foxconn’s 785G-powered Cinema Deluxe and Cinema Premium motherboards which target HTPC market have recently been found selling in Japan.

Based on AMD 785G+SB710 chipset, the Micro-ATX motherboards feature 5-phase power supply design, and pack 128MB DDR3 memory, four DDR2 dual-channel memory slots, and one PCIe x16 slot. The only difference is the Deluxe edition comes with Mosfet for cooling while Premium lacks it.

Equipped with six USB 2.0 ports and D-Sub/DVI/HDMI connectivities, the Foxconn Cinema Deluxe and Cinema Premium are available for Yen11680 (US$125) and Yen10800 (US$116) respectively.

LGA-1156 CPU and Motherboard US Pricing Surfaces

Ahead of a formal launch, pricing of socket LGA-1156 processors, an untimely leak from Newegg.com that was updating its site, spilled pricing details of a broad range of socket LGA-1156 processors and motherboards. These prices give us an indication of what prices will finally look like, in the US market, and more or less match speculated prices doing rounds for quite some time now.

To begin with, Intel Core i5 750, Core i7 models 860 and 870 are priced at $209.99, $299.99, and $579, respectively, close to the 1000 unit prices that surfaced weeks ahead. At $209.99, the 2.66 GHz Core i5 750 will be highly competitive with AMD's Phenom II X4 BE offerings in that price range. The 2.80 GHz Core i7 860 is expected to perform on par, or better than the Core i7 920, while being priced a notch higher. The Core i7 870 2.93 GHz only holds premium value at $579, since it ends up being the fastest socket LGA-1156 processor money can buy.

Noiseblocker Preps LGA 1156-compatible Twintec CPU Cooler

The German cooling solution provider Noiseblocker is said to be preparing a new CPU cooler, the Twintec. The upcoming cooler features not only two U-shaped copper heatpipes, but also a large 25.5mm Super-Conductor pipe in the center.

Equipped with a 120mm MF12-P fan which works at speeds between 1000 and 2000RPM and has a maximum sound output of 29dBA, the Twintec is compatible with Intel Socket 1366 and Socket 1156 processors. It will become available later this month with a price tag of ?65 (US$92).

Seven Japanese Chipmakers Team up to Challenge Intel

With nearly forty years experience in CPU manufacturing, Intel is still holding a whopping 80% of the global CPU market to date. But a recent post at Engadget indicates that several Japanese chipmakers have teamed up to challenge Intel’s domination.

Seven chipmakers including Hitachi, Toshiba, Fujitsu, NEC, Renesas, Panasonic and Canon are working on developing a new CPU that works with Waseda University professor Hironori Kasahara’s innovative energy-saving software. Their goal is to create a new type of processor that runs on solar cells with less power consumption.

The new processor is expected to be in place by the end of 2012. If they develop successfully, it would be undoubtedly a big threat to Intel. But, it’s very unlikely that a giant like Intel will be easily wiped out - it sounds crazy, doesn’t it?

Affiliate reviews today [04-09-2009]

Cooling
Arctic Cooling Alpine 11 Pro @ Hardware Bistro |

Storage
ioSafe Solo 500GB Rugged USB External Hard Drive @ Big Bruin | Verbatim 2.5'' Portable Hard Drive @ Rbmods | Corsair X128 SSD @ Technic3d |

Accessories
Vuzix iWear AV920 Video Eyewear Review @ Futurelooks | Mionix Alioth 400 Mousepad @ Dragon Steel Mods | PC TrickleSaver Review @ Hardware Secrets | Samsung HMX-R10 HD Camcorder Review @ Futurelooks |

Software
Keeping Encyclopedias at your fingertips with your iPhone @ Testfreaks | Extra Video Converter Pro @ iGadget Life |

PSUs
CoolerMaster UCP 900W @ Hi-tech Reviews | Seasonic S12D 750 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets | CoolerMaster UCP 900W @ hi-techreviews | OCZ StealthXStream 500 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets |

Mobile
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 Smartphone Review @ Futurelooks |

Periphery
Ozone Smog @ XSReviews |

Games
Second Life is Alive @ Testfreaks | Preview: Assassin's Creed 2 @ Technic3d |

Cooling
Scythe Kabuto CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets |

Motherboards
Asus P7P55D Deluxe @ XSreviews |

NZXT Debuts Lexa S Mid-tower Chassis

NZXT has just unveiled the newest addition to its PC enclosure lineup, the Lexa S.

The new mid-tower chassis features a meshed front panel and five fans for enhanced airflow, and comes with a 5.25″ stealth bay, turned HDD cage, and pre-drilled water cooling holes at the back.

The Lexa S will go on sale later this month for $70 according to the company.

Noctua Readies the LGA 1156-Compatible CPU Cooler

The well-known Austrian cooling brand Noctua has just announced the latest addition to its offerings - NH-U12P SE2 which is compatible with Intel’s new LGA1156 processors.

NH-U12P SE2 measures 940g including the two 120mm NF-P12 fans, and features copper base and heatpipes. The included SecuFirm2 mounting system enables it to work with Intel LGA 1366/1156/775 and AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3 parts.

Bundled with NT-H1 thermal compound, the Noctua NH-U12P SE2 provides a 6-year warranty and should start retailing for $64.9 from the mid-September.

Western Digital Launches 2TB Caviar Black and RE4 7200RPM HDDs

Western Digital has today introduced the 7200RPM 2TB hard drives for desktop and enterprise systems, Caviar Black and RE4.

WD Caviar Black and RE4 2TB drives combine 7200RPM spin speed, 64MB cache, dual stage actuator technology, SATA 3Gbps interface, and an integrated dual processor. The RE4 2TB also supports advanced technologies such as RAFF, IntelliSeek for enhanced reliability.

Backed by a 5-year warranty, Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB is priced at $299 and RE4 2TB is currently being qualified by OEMs.

AMD Works on Thuban Six-Core Desktop Processor

AMD is reportedly working on the six-core desktop processor codenamed Thuban which is expected to be available sometime next year.

Based on 45nm SOI fabrication process, AMD’s six-core Thuban will feature AM3 package, integrated dual-channel DDR3-1333MHz memory controller, 3MB L2 cache and 6MB L3 cache. It’s likely to carry on AMD Phenom II brand name, and we guess it would be Phenom II X6? It remains to be seen whether Thuban will become a part of AMD’s current high-end desktop platform called Dragon, or will power the company’s next-generation Leo platform.

Thuban is a star in the constellation of Draco and it also means “dragon” in Arabian language. According to Xbitlabs, AMD will finish the development of Thuban processors before May 2010, and start to ship them in Q3.

AMD’s big rival - Intel plans to unveil its six-core Gulftown chips for desktops in Q2 2010.

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9505 Spotted in Japan

Intel’s new quad-core processor Core 2 Quad Q9505 has hit stores in Japan with the new package.

The Q9505 features a stock frequency of 2.83GHz, a FSB of 1333MHz, a TDP of 95W, but just 6MB of L2 cache.

The Core 2 Quad Q9505 is priced at Yen22770 which is around $246.

Affiliate reviews today [02-09-2009]

Cooling
Noctua NH-C12P CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets | Kingwin XT-1264 HTC CPU Cooler @ Rbmods | Coolink GFXchilla VGA cooler @ Hardware Bistro | Thermaltake Massive23 ST Notebook Cooler Reviewed @ iGadget Life | Thermaltake ISGC-200 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets | EKL Alpenfoehn Nordwand CPU Cooler Review on Technic3D |

Periphery
Genius EasyPen i405 4” x 5.5” Graphics Tablet @ DragonSteelMods | ASUS Xonar HDAV1.3 Slim Audio Card Review @ Bigbruin.com | CM Storm Sentinel Gaming Mouse with OLED Display Preview | Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter SWP100 @ Benchmark Reviews | Mionix Saiph 1800 Gaming Mouse @ TestFreaks | MICROSOFT SideWinder X8 Gaming Mouse @ PCFoster.pl |

Games
Bioshock 2 (PC) Game Preview on Technic3D. | Batman Arkham Asylum Collector’s Edition Unboxed – Verdict: Junk @ TestFreaks | Fallout 3: Mothership Zeta (Games for Windows) @ Barry's Review Blog | Mafia II (PC) Game Preview on Technic3D | Second Life is Dead @ TestFreaks |

Storage
Kingston SSDNow V+ SSD Review @ Benchmark Reviews | OCZ Vertex 120GB SSD Review on Technic3D | Thermaltake Max4 3.5" SATA HDD Rack @ DragonSteelMods |

Accessories
Sena Apple iPhone 3G/3GS Leatherskin Case @ TestFreaks | MusicSkins for 13” MacBook Laptops @ TestFreaks | SoundMagic PL30 In-ears @ techPowerUp | FakeTV Reviewed @ TestFreaks |

CPUs
All Sempron Models @ Hardware Secrets | AMD Phenom 2 965BE Cpu @ Rbmods |

Videocards
MSI HD 4890 Cyclone SOC 1 GB GDDR5 @ techPowerUp |

PSUs
Cougar S 550 Watt PSU Review @ TweakPC.de | OCZ StealthXStream 400 W Power Supply Review @ Hardware Secrets | Cougar S700 PSU Review on Technic3D |

Motherboards
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P Socket AM3 DDR3 Motherboard Review |

Software
WinX DVD Ripper Reviewed @ TestFreaks | WinX DVD to iPod Ripper @ iGadget Life | WinX iPod Video Converter @ iGadget Life |

Mobile
BlackBerry Tour 9630 (Verizon) Cell Phone Review @ Hardware Secrets |

Networking
How to Build a Wireless Network Using a Broadband Router @ Hardware Secrets |