"Aug. 13, 2009 – Zune HD, the next generation of Microsoft Corp.’s portable digital media player, is available now for pre-order and is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15. The player, available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, is the first touch-screen Zune and includes powerful playback technology to give you a different way to experience media on the go. Combined with unparalleled PC software and online services such as Zune Pass, Zune provides a rich and meaningful connection to music, videos, podcasts and more." More & Pre-Order at Zune.net...

"Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies and flash memory products, including solid-state drives, today announced the 128GB Flash Voyager GT, the world’s fastest 128GB USB flash drive. The newest Flash Voyager GT is based upon a revolutionary design that employs a unique dual-controller architecture to achieve SLC-levels of performance using MLC NAND flash memory. The 128GB Flash Voyager GT is able to achieve read speeds of up to 32MB/sec and write speeds of up to 25.6MB/sec, with the limiting factor effectively being the speed of the USB 2.0 bus and operating system overhead." More from Corsair...

"With each new release from AMD they are able to fine tune their processors a bit more than before. We are talking about more than just adding a few exta clock cycles or a bump in speed. There are more subtle changes that result in a product that meets consumers needs much better. AMD has not forgotten that many of their consumers are overclockers and we will be of course taking a look at how the newly announced Phenom II 965 Black Edition does in the overclocking arena but first lets take a look at the shiny new CPU." More from TechwareLabs...

"Back in April, Benchmark Reviews covered the release of AMD's flagship quad-core processor, the Phenom II X4 955 BE. Nearly four months later, we have that opportunity once again. Today, we look at the new king of the mountain over at the AMD, the Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition processor model HDZ965FBGIBOX. Coming in at 3.4GHz, it not only bests the previous flagship model by 200Mhz, but also happens to be the highest clocked CPU on the market. In today's review, we find out how well that extra clockspeed translates to performance." More from Benchmark Reviews...

"Corsair Labs recently conducted testing to determine whether the use of high-performance DDR3 memory for Core i7 platforms also requires the use of more effective CPU cooling products.

The results clearly show that using high-performance memory results in increased CPU temperatures, due to the higher CPU VTT voltages and Uncore clock speeds required by the IMC (Integrated Memory Controller) in the Core i7 processor. The average load temperature of a Core i7-920 processor cooled by the Intel HSF (heatsink and fan) was 11°C higher when utilizing 2000MHz C8 Dominator GT memory compared to 1333MHz DDR3 memory. The same PC cooled using the Corsair H50 CPU Cooler maintained average CPU core temperatures up to 24°C lower than the stock Intel HSF, and was able to stably cool an overclocked CPU while also maintaining a 2000MHz DDR3 memory frequency.

Standard CPU cooling solutions are inadequate for effectively cooling a Core i7-based PC using memory at frequencies above 1600MHz. Using high-performance memory running at 1866MHz or above (set by the XMP profile), the stock Intel Cooler was unable to stably cool the test PC, resulting in system crashes (BSODs) or processing errors."

More from Corsair...

"Razer™, a leading manufacturer of high-end precision gaming and lifestyle peripherals, has joined forces with Blizzard Entertainment, a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software, to co-develop StarCraft® II gaming peripherals powered by Razer technology. With the upcoming launch of StarCraft II, Razer and Blizzard Entertainment are collaborating on bringing gamers a quality tournament-grade mouse, keyboard and headset specifically designed to maximize the StarCraft II gameplay experience." 

"Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd Ltd has launched the the Tyr PC-X1000 chassis designed as a stylish midi-tower chassis. The Tyr PC-X1000 follows in the prestigious footsteps of its predecessors, namely  the PC-X500 and the PC-X2000. Both of a controversial design with side mounted ODD bays. The PC-X1000 however has three traditional front mounted ODD bays as well as three front mounted 140mm fans down the front of the case.  Similarly, the PC-X1000 has specific heat zones to isolate and extract heat more efficiently. The lower region is for HDD’s and the PSU, the central region is for the motherboard and all daughter cards including graphics. The topmost zone is for ODD’s and additional HDD’s. Some unique features include the completely tool-less design, the best side panel case entry latch and special mounting bays for 2.5”SSD drives. The Tyr PC-X1000 is destined to become your next power-user Chassis allowing unprecedented high performance components to be encompassed in a stylish minimalistic midi-tower chassis."

More from Lian-Li...

"Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd has launched the PC-8N Mid Tower chassis ideal for PC systems. The hair-line brushed all aluminum chassis features advanced thermal dynamics, using one fan on the front (1x 120mm@1200RPM) to pump cool air into the chassis where it exhausts out the rear fan (1x 120mm@1200RPM). The 7x PCI expansion slots are vented and assist with airflow. The chassis front face has 4x 5.25”ODD bays and a 3.5”drive bay. The front face clips off easily and conveniently. The dimensions stand at 210x450x490mm (W, H, D). The top panel is removable and the entire system has smoothed edges, and an anti-vibration design."

More from Lian-Li...

"A-DATA Technology Co., Ltd., a worldwide leading manufacturer in high-performance DRAM modules and flash application products, today announces its new XPG™ Plus Series DDR3-2200+ v2.0 dual channel kit, which is the highest speed of DDR3 DRAM module in the industry.

The XPG Plus Series DDR3-2200+ v2.0 DRAM module is designed and guaranteed to run on future dual-channel platforms at incredible 2,200MHz killer speed with tight CL8-8-8-24 timings at a voltage of 1.65V, and are available in 1GBx2 and 2GBx2 dual-channel kits.

Through the latest Thermal Conductive Technology (TCT), the XPG Plus Series DDR3-2200 v2.0 DRAM module is built with the superior cooling design, which able to provide greater cooling environment for both DRAM IC and PCB (printed circuit board), to improve the performance and greater stability. Moreover, the doubling amount of copper in the PCB delivers low temperature and also improves the power efficiency for the XPG Plus Series DDR3-2200 v2.0 DRAM module."

More from A-DATA...

"As demand for high performance and stable SSD continues to increase, A-DATA Technology Co., Ltd., a worldwide leader in high performance memory and Flash products, today expanded its XPG™ product line to include SX95 SATA II 2.5” SSD, designed for PC users who is seeking for killer speed and stable SSD storage.

The XPG SX95 SATA II 2.5” SSD features new architecture and controller design, provide outstanding transfer rates up to 230MB/sec read and 180MB/sec write (256GB/128GB), thanks to the onboard DRAM cache buffer. Whereas, the lower-density SSDs with 64GB or 32GB perform up to 210MB/sec and 140MB/sec read/write speeds.

Taking the advantages of latest SSD technology development, the XPG SX95 SATA II 2.5” SSD is an alternative solutions on reliability, high performance, low power consumption and temperature storage, able to increase the productivity of the PC users. The XPG SX95 also provides built-in ECC (Error Correction Code) to ensure high reliability of data transfer to maintain the system integrity. The advanced wear-leveling technology also guarantees longer lifespan and preserves the data integrity, and 1 million hour MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) for long-term application. Another benefit of SX95 includes the latest function for firmware updates to maintain the best performance."

More from A-DATA...

"Today we like to introduce our brand new chassis RAVEN RV02, which is coming soon to a store near you beginning in the middle of August. The RAVEN RV02 mid tower improves on the revolutionary design debuted by the RAVEN RV01 with 100% stack effect and three 180mm in array as intake fans to achieve positive pressure cooling. Overview of the features: The motherboard is positioned 90° mounting from chassis to allow stack effect cooling of the interior hardware  and three 180mm fans in array to support the natural stack effect and to create positive air pressure inside the case. Users can select two operating speeds, 700rpm or 1000rpm for quiet running or high performance cooling. The RAVEN RV02’s use of positive air pressure ventilation combined with dust filters at all intake fans can significantly reduce dust build up inside the chassis." More from SilverStone...

"The Razer Orochi is the world’s first notebook gaming mouse that offers a lethal 4000dpi Razer Precision™ 3G Laser Sensor and dual mode wired/wireless functionality that provides gamers with precision, control and accuracy. With other versatile features like 7 programmable buttons, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, and Razer Synapse™ On-board Memory it is designed for superior performance, flexibility, and comfort. The Razer Orochi possesses a sleek ambidextrous design with the convenience of a wired/wireless hybrid system giving the user gaming grade performance and the freedom of movement in wireless mode via Bluetooth® technology. In addition, the Razer Orochi would not be complete without a custom carrying case making it truly a portable gaming mouse.The Razer Orochi is the world’s first notebook gaming mouse that offers a lethal 4000dpi Razer Precision™ 3G Laser Sensor and dual mode wired/wireless functionality that provides gamers with precision, control and accuracy. With other versatile features like 7 programmable buttons, Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity, and Razer Synapse™ On-board Memory it is designed for superior performance, flexibility, and comfort. The Razer Orochi possesses a sleek ambidextrous design with the convenience of a wired/wireless hybrid system giving the user gaming grade performance and the freedom of movement in wireless mode via Bluetooth® technology. In addition, the Razer Orochi would not be complete without a custom carrying case making it truly a portable gaming mouse. The Razer Kabuto™ is an ultra-thin, soft gaming mouse mat designed for the gamers who demand gaming grade precision and portability. With Razer’s cutting-edge technologies, the Razer Kabuto’s slim and high quality microfiber tracking surface offers a consistent glide while its high grip rubber base prevents the pad from sliding. The Razer Kabuto also doubles up as a laptop screen protector to reduce the risk of gamers damaging their screen wherever they go. When armed with the Razer Kabuto and the Razer Orochi, you’re never out of the game."

New DuoDock hard drive docking station with ultra fast eSATA connections, plug-and-play, hot swappable, eSATA and USB interface. More from Akasa...

"Fremont, CA. July 22, 2009 — Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies, and flash memory products including solid-state drives, today re-introduced the popular Dominator GT line of memory modules. These modules had been removed from the market due to unacceptable failure levels of the Elpida “Hyper” components with which the modules are constructed."

 

“The issue with the Hyper RAMs was discovered with the help of the enthusiast community, and we worked closely with them to solve it,” stated John Beekley, VP of Applications Engineering at Corsair. “Our lab was able to correlate the failures to specific batches of early material, we worked very closely with Elpida to determine the root cause of the issue and to define the associated corrective actions to take. We are confident that every GT module using the Elpida Hyper IC Corsair ships from today will meet our strict quality and reliability standard.”

More from Corsair...

"Today, we at SteelSeries unveiled a new line of gaming surfaces featuring art from Blizzard Entertainment’s highly anticipated StarCraft® II.  The QcK Limited Edition Terran Marine and Kerrigan vs. Zeratul editions are designed with a non-slip rubber base which prevents the pads from sliding and is optimized for optical and laser technology for an overall more reliable gaming experience. Also, another notable mention is the SteelSeries “Month of Madness” on our Facebook fan page.  Please direct your community to Facebook.com/SteelSeries for some fantastic and exclusive daily giveaways.  You can find more info on this at: http://www.fragyou.net/2009/07/14/month-of-madness-coming-up/ And finally, as you may know we are co-sponsoring a sweepstakes to win a trip for two to BlizzCon 2009.  As you already know, BlizzCon is the annual convention for Blizzard Entertainment, producers of World of Warcraft and Starcraft.  The sweepstakes, which will send the lucky winner and a guest on an all-expenses-paid trip to Anaheim, CA for the August 21-22 convention can enter here - http://www.blizzconsweepstakes.com/ (J!NX, Upper Deck, BradyGames, and SwagDog are also helping with the contest)"

BALDWIN PARK, CA (July 24, 2009) – CyberPower, Inc. www.cyberpowerpc.com is celebrating the PC-platform release of the highly anticipated fighting game, Street Fighter® IV, with a knock out gaming bundle. CyberPower will throw in a free copy of Street Fighter IV for customers purchasing a CyberPower gaming system with Nvidia 200 series graphics cards. The most storied franchise among arcade fighting games is finally available on PC. Street Fighter IV combines some of the classic elements from previous Street Fighters with realistic 3D backgrounds for a stunning visual experience. Street Fighter IV also features new characters, new moves, and new combos and earned rave reviews from the gaming community. Show off your skills against the world’s best or challenge your friends and family to a duel through online play. With CyberPower PC and Nvidia’s GPU, you’ll have the power and performance to tackle your foes and enjoy the great game play that made Street Fighter one of the most famous fighting game franchises ever. About CyberPower Inc. CyberPower Inc. www.cyberpowerpc.com was founded in 1998 and has emerged as one of the leading custom computer system manufacturers. Headquartered in Baldwin Park in Southern California, CyberPower manufactures and distributes a complete line of custom built gaming machines, notebook systems and high performance workstations to meet the unique needs of gamers, businesses, government agencies, educational institutions and other end-users. For more information contact: Sales (800)707-0393; Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Street Fighter is a registered trademark of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. All products/company names are either trademarks or trade names of their respective holders.

Fremont, CA, and Glasgow, UK, July 20, 2009 — Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced its revved-up line of Crucial solid-state drive (SSD) products — the fastest, highest capacity Crucial SSDs to date. The most dramatic change in this new generation of Crucial SSDs is the blazing-fast read and write speeds. The flagship 256GB Crucial M225 SSD screams at an impressive 250MB/sec read speed and a 200MB/sec write speed. The new Crucial SSDs enhance system performance by improving operating system boot and application load times. They also utilize a SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s) interface and feature MLC NAND flash components housed in an industry standard 2.5-inch drive enclosure, making a Crucial M225 SSD easy to install. "By upgrading their system with a solid-state drive, mobile computer users will enjoy a faster, more rugged system with storage built for mobility. The fact that SSDs don't have any moving parts makes Crucial solid-state drives quieter, cooler, and more durable than traditional hard drives," said Robert Wheadon, Lexar Media's senior worldwide product marketing manager.

Taipei, Taiwan—2009—Evercool Thermal Corp., Ltd., one of the famous and professional cooler and fan manufacturer in Taiwan. Today, EVERCOOL would like to one HDD cooler named “Armor”. People pay more and more attention on computer cooling nowadays. Therefore, not only for CPU coolers and NB cooling pads, but for hard disc cooler, Evercool is also going to launch one HDD cooler named “Armor”, which can be compatible with 5.25” hard disc. Although the space of Armor is small, the real capacity is not small. Armor converts the dual 5.25” drive bays into a three 3.5” H.D.D.. 8cm fan with two ball bearing makes fan’s life get longer. In addition, the meshed and fashionable design is like the protected armor and increases the air convection to make the greater cooling effect. To consider the inconvenience and problems of fan cleaning, the filter is designed to a dismantled one, so that users can clean or exchange the filter to keep its inside clean easily and filter the dust effectively that is a convenient design and considerate feature. Moreover, the other advantage of Armor is shock absorption design. The four rubber spacers at the bottom can absorb the shock, protect the hard disc and reduce the damage of hard disc from shock. “Armor” HDD cooler is available in July 2009. For further product information, please visit: www.evercool.con.tw.

July 17, 2009 [Taipei, Taiwan] SilverStone Technology Co., Ltd., one of the leaders in consumer PC power supplies, proudly announces the spectacular achievements of the EVGA overclocking team, led by Kingpin and Shamino, two of the most prolific overclockers in the world in breaking all existing 3DMark records.  The world record runs were made on June 27, 2009 with a pair of NVIDIA GeForce GTX295 and an Intel Xeon W3540 CPU.  The CPU was super cooled by the use liquid helium to around 240°C which enabled an incredible overclock of 5.069GHz from the default speed of 2.39GHz.  To cope with this massive increase in power draw from the overclocked CPU and system, Kingpin and Shamino relied on SilverStone’s OP1200 and the newly release Strider ST1500 power supplies.

 

Fremont, CA. July 16th, 2009.- Corsair®, a worldwide leader in high-performance computer memory, power supplies and flash memory products, including solid-state drives, today announced the Extreme Series X32, X64 and X128 high-performance SSDs, in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB densities respectively.

Built using the renowned Indilinx Barefoot controller and Samsung MLC NAND flash memory, the Extreme Series has been designed to offer the highest performance currently available on the market, with read speeds of up to 240MB/s and write speeds of up to 170MB/s.

"The combination of the Indilinx Barefoot controller, Samsung flash memory, and 64MB of on-board cache delivers blistering, stutter-free performance, eliminating the bottleneck imposed by traditional mechanical hard disks," said Jim Carlton, VP of Marketing at Corsair. "The new Extreme Series SSDs are ideal for use as primary drives in desktop and notebooks systems, and also for RAID 0 configurations in high-performance desktops for enthusiasts who want extreme performance."

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