1. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
VR-Zone.com | Stuff for the Geeks!
OCZ RevoDrive and Vertex 2 120GB SSD Review @
VR-Zone | Stuff for the Geeks is a bi-weekly publication Overclockers Australia
covering the latest gadgets and stuff for the geeks. Description: Today we have the opportunity to benchmark a
pair of mainstream SSDs from OCZ's Vertex 2 and RevoDrive
ranges. These are separate products and quite different
The Daily VR-Zone News implementations of the SSD concept, but we're going to
Summary - 23 Feb 2011 examine them both in this article. So, let's see what each
variant has to offer!
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--23-
feb-2011/11304.html Corsair Hydro Series H70 CPU Cooler review
February 23rd, 2011 Description: In comparison to the previous Hydro H50, the
H70 has cut its pump/waterblock height in half, measuring
now only 30mm. However it has boosted heat dissipation with
a 48mm-thick radiator, double the previous model, and the
addition of a second fan. It still maintains a black finish and
In today's news roundup: Enthusiasts ponder ways on how features proprietary hoses that virtually eliminate evaporation
one might be able to build the cheapest possible PC based of water, and due to the decrease in hose length and pump
off Intel's new Sandy Bridge platform; OCZ's RevoDrive amd height, it now includes rotating connectors on the pump side
Vertex 2 SSDs get reviewed; Angry Birds officially crashes to help with varied mounting positions.
into Windows; Motorola's Atrix 3G smartphone gets reviewed; OCZ RevoDrive and Vertex 2 120GB SSDs Review
Nintendo might eventually produce a 'Wii 2' which may Description: The Vertex 2 follows the standard of a SATA
feature support for HD content, and EA 'accidently' leaks a few 3Gb/s data and SATA power connection as found in any
details pertaining to an upcoming sequel for the popular RTS new mechanical hard drive and most SSDs. However the
title Command & Conquer RevoDrive is a little more exotic, and utilises an x4 PCI-
Hardware News: Express connection for even more bandwidth. Unlike earlier
SSDs that utilised a PCI-Express interface, the RevoDrive is
XFX Radeon HD 6850 Black Edition Video Card Review @
bootable, meaning that it can be used as primary system drive.
Legit Reviews
Description: There are a lot of video cards on the market today ASUS GTX 560 Ti DirectCU II Top review @ ocaholic
to choose from, but when one shows up on the market with Description: With its GTX 560 Ti Direcet CU II Top, ASUS
killer performance at the $159 price point and a double lifetime shows a factory overclocked version of the NVIDIAs latest
warranty it is worth a closer look. The XFX Radeon HD 6850 mid-range GPU. Additionally this card got ASUS' powerful
Black Edition costs $20 more than the standard version, but it DirectCU II cooler as well as an attractive design. Theoretically
comes factory overclocked and to some that is worth it. Read this card even has the potential to outperform a Radeon HD
on to see how this card performs against a Radeon HD 5770 in 6950. Amongst other thigs this is what we'll show in the
both single and CrossFire situations. following review.
Auzentech X-Meridian 7.1 2G Review - XSReviews PowerColor AX6950 PCS++ Video Card @ Benchmark
Description: Auzentech have been around for a few years now Reviews
and that's a good thing; as well as being impressive. They Description: When is a 6950 not a 6950? Well, quite often,
entered the sound card game when it was all about Creative as it turns out. In the case of the PowerColor PCS++ Radeon
and they did so by simply taking a popular chip, the X-Fi, and HD 6950 video card, it just depends on which way you flip
throwing it on a board of their own with some nice tweaks. A the switch. Push it one way and you have a standard Radeon
winning formula. Now though, they're branching away from HD 6950, with 1408 shaders running at 800 MHz. Push it the
these roots with the re-tooled X-Meridian 7.1, named the 2g. other way and you have 1536 shaders running at 880 MHz,
Packing a C-Media CMI8788 audio processor with support which is the exact configuration of the HD 6970. The only
for plenty of connectors, a daughter board and replacable difference is! that PowerColor kept the 1250 MHz memory
OpAmps; audiophiles look like they're in for a treat. Let's see chips in the PCS++, instead of springing for the 1500 MHz
if the rumours are true. memory, like a real HD 6970 has. Join Benchmark Reviews
1

2. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
as we investigate this unique product from PowerColor, that's sound adds a level of immersion to games and movies that
sure to cause some excitement in the marketplace. other 2.1 systems cannot reproduce.
ECS H67H2-M Black Motherboard Review @ Madshrimps BlackBerry Torch 9800: The Olympic Torch @ InsideHW
Description: The H67H2-M Black motherboard from ECS Description: Research in Motion (RIM), the company behind
is the most equipped from their H67 chipset series and the BlackBerry (BB) brand, has been one of the leading
incorporates technologies like USB 3.0, EZ Charger and Dual smartphone manufacturers for a while now. One of the main
Gigabit LAN with teaming support. The board supports only reasons for their popularity is the focus on the business
Intel HD Graphics overclocking, the CPU overclocking by environment, in both devices and services offered. A feature
multiplier is locked and the memory frequency is limited at present in nearly all BB devices is the existence of a physical
1333MHz. QWERTY keyboard with separate keys, and starting with the
Storm line, RIM has also delved into the area of touchscreens.
Build an Intel Sandy Bridge budget system - OcUK @ Vortez
Torch is their latest product that unifies these two worlds
Description: "Today we will be doing something a little
within a single device, as well as providing the latest operating
different from the typical review/article. With many moving
system (OS), version 6, with significant advantages…
over to the Sandy Bridge platform due to the excellent price :
performance ratio, those wanting to upgrade at the current Gaming News:
time will be surely considering Sandy Bridge. But not everyone Nintendo To Have Wii 2, Supports HD content ?
has the cash to spend on a high-end system, and as our Sandy Description: We have heard of various rumors on the Wii
Bridge reviews have revealed - mainstream boards are now 2 and possible potential but Nintendo made announcement
at a much more affordable cost when compared to any other about four months ago, claiming the company any has got no
platform to launch. Mainstream performance comes at budget immediate plans to work on an upgrade to its existing Wii
pricing." video game console.
Consumer Electronics and Software News: "There is no next [Dissidia]" says Tetsuya Nomura
Angry Birds Available For Windows On Intel AppUp Store Description: As Dissidia 012: Duodecim Final Fantasy
Description: Oh, happy day! Angry Birds is now available for approaches its Japanese release date, fans are speculating
the PC. “But wait,” you say. “There’s no app store on Windows. on where the series will go from here. According to a recent
How will I download it?” Don’t worry: Intel has you covered. issue of Dengeki PlayStation (translated by Andriasang) when
producer Tetsuya Nomura was asked about the future of the
Backlit LED market drives digital TV semiconductor growth
series, he replied "There is no next. We're thinking about
Description: The market for digital TV (DTV) semiconductors
ending this pattern of Dissidia here." He also states that there
will see double digit growth in 2011, with backlit LED TVs
will not be an international re-release for the sequel after
leading the way.
launch as was the case with Dissidia Final Fantasy: Universal
Mionix Propus 380 Gaming Mouse pad @ TestFreaks Tuning.
Description: Mionix who are known for their gaming
Command & Conquer Gets New Studio, Next Game in the
accessories have released a high performance gaming
Franchise Now in Development
mousepad named the Propus 380. This oversized mousepad is
Description: Nothing to see here is EA's clumsy response after
designed to provide an ice like surface for a smooth glide while
launching a website yesterday that reveals a new Command
still maintaining the ability to have precise movements.
and Conquer game is currently being developed by new studio
Motorola Atrix Review: Great Phone, Weak Netbook Victory Games. The site and its details about the new C&C
Description: Saying that the Motorola Atrix is the best Android game have since been pulled, but the web, she sees all, and she
phone isn't a big deal; that throne gets usurped every few never forgets.
months. But even though the Atrix's accompanying laptop
dock is slow and and expensive, the idea behind it is one of the
first innovations in mobile technology in quite a while. HP announces redesigned
Motorola Atrix 4G Smartphone Performance Benchmarks @ consumer PC portfolio
Legit Reviews Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/hp-announces-redesigned-consumer-
Description: This morning AT&T began selling the Motorola pc-portfolio/11309.html
ATRIX and since they are marketing it as the world's most February 23rd, 2011
powerful smartphone we had to buy one and take a look at the
performance of the phone compared to several other popular
Android devices. How will the Motorola ATRIX do against the
Droid X, Epic 4G and Droid Incredible on benchmarks like
Linpack, Quadrant and Nenamark? Read on to find out!
Antec SoundScience Rockus 3D 2.1 Speaker System Review @
Tweaknews HP has recently announced their newly redesigned consumer
Description: Antec's Soundscience has made an impressive PC portfolio which include the Pavilion dv4, dv6, dv7, g4, g6,
launch into the PC speaker market with the Rockus 3d 2.1 TouchSmart 610 and HPx2301 Micro Thin LED monitor . The
system. Not only can a buyer expect to hear sparkling high products are scheduled to to be available next month and in
frequencies, clear midrange and tight bass response, the 3D April.
2

3. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
HP has revealed a redesigned consumer PC portfolio at their Designed to maximize user‘s multimedia experience, the
"A New HP World" event in Shanghai, China, with sleek looks Pavilion dv4 expresses full PC functionality and performance
and latest technologies to enhance the way consumers connect with up to second-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7 processors
to the people, entertainment and information that matter to and powerful AMD Radeon 6750M graphics. With a stylish
them to pursue and achieve their personal passions. exterior in Espresso Black lattice imprint, the notebook is
just 1.11-inch thin and weighs from 2.2kg. It features a 14-
The new HP Pavilion dv series notebook PCs include
inch diagonal HD BrightView display and has an optional
impressive features such as HP CoolSense Technology, HP
integrated Blu-Ray player. An integrated six-cell battery
TrueVision HD webcam and HP SimplePass. Select models
provides up to 6 hours of battery life.
of the HP Pavilion dv series also feature Beats Audio for a
powerful audio experience.
The latest HP TouchSmart610 Consumer PC reclines from
upright to almost flat, providing increased comfort for longer-
term use and the freedom to position the TouchSmart610
Consumer PC on a kitchen counter, or anywhere the family
gathers.
HP Pavilion g-series
The new HP Pavilion g-series is ideal for the everyday user,
offering up to second-generation Intel Core i3, i5 and i7
processors, attractive designs at a great value. Available in
charcoal grey and sonoma red, the Pavilion g-series notebooks
– the Pavilion g4 and g6 – offer full connectivity for surfing
the Internet and connecting with friends . The notebooks also
HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 include a HD BrightView display, with Altec Lansing speakers
The HP Pavilion dv6 and dv7 boast performance, and SRS Premium Audio for enjoying movies and music.
entertainment and security features that suit seamlessly into
the lives of users. Available in a dark umber metal finish,
they use HP‘s exclusive Beats Audio that provide excellent
digital music. Both the Pavilion dv6 and dv7 also include newly
optimized on-board quad speakers, and the dv7 features a HP
Triple Bass Reflex Subwoofer for additional depth and power.
Available with up to second-generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7
processors and optional AMD Radeon graphics, the Pavilion
dv6 and dv7 provide enhanced performance. HP CoolSense
Technology combines advanced hardware and intelligent
cooling software for a notebook that feels noticeably cooler.
The technology automatically adjusts cooling levels according
to a customer‘s personal preferences.
HP TouchSmart610 Consumer PC
The new HP TouchSmart610 Consumer PC offers increased
range of motion, superior viewing and an intuitive touch
experience with a 23-inch diagonal high-definition (HD)
display. It has touch-optimized applications from Facebook,
Twitter, as well as HP‘s exclusive RecipeBox, webcam and
music applications where users can add new applications via
the TouchSmart Apps Center . For the gaming enthusiast,
select models of the TouchSmart610 Consumer PC are
available with an exclusive HP touch-enabled version of
Ubisoft‘s real-time strategy game, R.U.S.E.. It also features
Beats Audio and the new HP LinkUp application for users to
wirelessly link a notebook PC to the TouchSmart using a home
HP Pavilion dv4 network .
3

4. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
As in, iPad 2! Or, as BoomTown is now officially
nicknaming it: iPad Too!
The report goes on to say that the scheduled date is firm and
that the event will take place in San Francisco.
It's not clear when Apple will begin sending out its
famous invites for gathering, but I am guessing soon,
in order to get the Apple faithful to the proper level of
froth.
Reuters also posted a story and they are also hearing that Apple
will introduce the next iPad on the same day.
Apple will host an event on March 2, where the
company is expected to take the wraps off the newest
Monitor that delivers your digital world iPad model, an individual with knowledge of the
The limited edition, stunning, multi-faceted 23 inch HP x2301 situation said. Apple declined to comment.
Micro Thin LED monitor, features LED backlighting which
illuminates the display and an edge lit illumination around the The New York Times also ran a similar story announcing that
screen. The HP x2301 Micro Thin LED monitor comes in a Apple will indeed introduce their flagship tablet on the second
sleek, slim and sophisticated profile and full HD resolution. day of March.
Now people with knowledge of the matter say that
Apple will host an event on Wednesday, March 2 to
Pricing and availability showcase its new iPad.
— The HP Pavilion dv4 starts from US$749 and will be
available from mid March 2011 in Asia Pacific. If true, Apple should be sending out media invites for the event
— The HP Pavilion dv6 starts from US$799 and will be in the following days.
available from early March 2011 in Asia Pacific.
— The HP Pavilion dv7 starts from US$899 and will be
Update: Engadget just posted on their site that they've
available from early March 2011 in Asia Pacific.
received the following media invite from Apple indeed
— The HP Pavilion g4 and g6 starts from US$549 and will be
scheduled on 2nd March. As you can see, they are very likely
available in March 2011 in Asia Pacific.
going to announce the next iPad from the teaser invite.
— The HP TouchSmart610 Consumer PC is expected to be
available in China from 28 February, Australia and New
Zealand from 7 March and Hong Kong from 8 March. The
pricing starts from US$1,399.
— The HPx2301 Micro Thin LED monitor is expected to be
available in April 2011 in Asia Pacific, starting at USD$239.
Apple scheduled media event
to unveil iPad 2 on 2nd March?
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-scheduled-media-event-to-
unveil-ipad-2-on-2nd-march-/11307.html
February 23rd, 2011
Numerous reports have surfaced suggesting that the
California-based tech giants have plans for a media event on
2nd March to introduce the much-anticipated next-generation
iPad. Update: The rumours are true, Apple has started to send Refreshed 13-inch MacBook
out invites.
Pro specs leaked, Intel's Light
According to a report by All Things Digital, Apple has
scheduled a media event in the start of March where they are Peak known as Thunderbolt?
going to announce the upcoming iPad 2. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/refreshed-13-inch-macbook-pro-specs-
leaked-intel-s-light-peak-known-as-thunderbolt-/11306.html
To those who intensely cares about this kind of stuff
- which would be pretty much everyone in the tech
ecosystem - Apple will hold its much-anticipated event
on March 2, where the tech giant seems poised to
unveil a new version of its hugely successful iPad.
4

5. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
February 23rd, 2011 generation versions of Apple's flagship iOS devices will be
available, he explicitly mentions that any "delays" are false and
everything is going like clockwise on Apple's side.
From what I've heard this morning both products are
on schedule and will ship when they are supposed to.
Only Apple knows exactly when that will be, but the
products are not delayed.
Earlier today, leaked photos and specs of Apple's upcoming
13-inch MacBook Pro hit the Internet and through the leaked In addition, Dalrymple goes on to note the phenomenon of
images, we discover this shocking symbol. Is that Light Peak? "delays" for products that haven't even been announced to the
Well... public.
It seems that according to this leaked image, Apple has It seems amazing that rumors of Apple missing
incorporated Light Peak into their new machines under the product deadlines are running rampant when Apple
name "Thunderbolt". And it seems that the new Thunderbolt hasn't even announced the product yet. The only
port will be a hybrid port found on the new 13-inch MacBook deadlines that have been set are by the media, not
Pro, sharing the port with the DisplayPort. Apple.
Having said that, the iPhone 5 and iPad 2 are not
delayed.
Without delays, Apple is expected to launch the next iPad
between March and April, and June-July window for the next-
generation iPhone.
GlacialTech Unleashes New
Notebook Coolers
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/glacialtech-unleashes-new-notebook-
No delay of iPad 2 and iPhone coolers/11303.html
February 23rd, 2011
5?
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/no-delay-of-ipad-2-and-
iphone-5-/11305.html
February 23rd, 2011
GlacialTech, provider of cooling, power supply and PC
enclosure solutions for consumers and industrial applicators,
Just yesterday, there were a pair of analyst reports that has released the V-Shield Series Cooling Pads.
suggests Apple's upcoming iPad 2 and iPhone 5 will see a delay
on their launches due to "issues" with production. But now,
there is a chorus of denials on those claims.
Barron's and Reuters are now refuting the claim that the next-
generation iPhone 5 and the upcoming iPad 2 is delayed for
shipping and will arrive consumers' hands later. GlacialTech, provider of cooling, power supply and PC
enclosure solutions for consumers and industrial applicators,
According to The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, these claims of has released the V-Shield Series Cooling Pads.
delayed iPad 2 and iPhone 5 launch are simply untrue.
While he did mention that he does not know when the next-
5

6. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
V-Shield Series V3
V-Shield Series V7
Last but not least, we have the V7. Measuring 350 x 335
x 45.5mm and weighing 1.3kg, the aluminum cooler has
two USB 2.0 ports, four rubber feet, supports laptops up to
15.6", and is equipped with a 200mm LED fan for cooling.
Availability and pricing is unknown.
Nokia launches E7 business
phone in Singapore, available
now
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nokia-launches-e7-business-phone-in-
singapore-available-now/11300.html
V-Shield Series V5 February 23rd, 2011
First up, we have the V3, which measures 340 x 310 x 59mm. It
supports netbooks/ notebooks up to 15.6”, has anti-slip pads
at the bottom, one USB 2.0 port, and is cooled by a 120mm
LED fan. The V5, available in red (V5R) or blue colors (V5B),
measures 345 x 340 x 43mm. It has two USB 2.0 ports, support
netbooks/ notebooks up to 15.6", a perforated metal mesh Today, Nokia announced their new E7 that claims to be "The
surface, and is cooled by a 200mm LED fan. Ultimate Business Smartphone" in Singapore, designed for
mobile professionals. The E7 is available now.
6

7. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
from enhancement in performance and functionalities, for the
whole range" says Berka.
According to Berka, the company is working on the
transformation and transitioning from Nokia Ovi Store on
specific levels. and what will happen to Ovi Store and Microsoft
Marketplace. There isn't a lot of details released yet, though
the intention is to port the content into Marketplace and Nokia
will be working with the developers to do so. Nokia will also
be making sure to look into new and innovative areas in terms
of content.
Genius Announces Navigator
Vlasta Berka, general manager of Nokia Singapore,Malaysia
and Brunei, gave an opening speech and talked abt the trend
905 Vogue Mouse
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/genius-announces-navigator-905-
of users who are using their smartphones for business.
vogue-mouse/11302.html
"More and more users are using their personal smartphones or February 23rd, 2011
mobile devices for business use. According to IDC, this trend
is the biggest contributor to the growth of business mobile
email. It is also forecast by 2014, there is going to be roughly
62 percent of all mobile devices being used are in the business
mobility area. But 60 percent of those are personal devices that
are being used in the business and enterprise areas."
KYE Systems Corp. (or Genius), manufacturer of the first scroll
wheel mouse (Genius EasyScroll) in 1995, has unveiled the
Navigator 905 Vogue wireless mouse.
Antony Wilson, head of marketing for Nokia Singapore,
Malaysia and Brunei, was next to introduce the E7
smartphone and its various features which include the 4-
inch ClearBlack touchscreen display, QWERTY keyboard,
8-megapixel camera, mobile office, security, and social
networks.
So, how will the company convince customers that they will KYE Systems Corp. (or Genius), manufacturer of the first scroll
have the support, say one or two years time, especially when wheel mouse (Genius EasyScroll) in 1995, has unveiled the
security features get updated fairly frequently? Navigator 905 Vogue wireless mouse.
"Nokia has got over 200 million Symbian-based devices on the
market and have also announced to sell another 150 million
(or excess of 150 million) Symbian-based devices, which is
close to half a billion in the market. This is by far the largest
install-base of any other platform and manufacturing in the
market. While the Windows Phone 7 is going to be the primary
smartphone for the Finnish company, we will be mad not
to look after the customers. What we have got in store are
number of improvements and very robust roadmap. For the
remainder of this year, we are expecting to release in excess
of 50 improvements to the Symbian platform. They will range
7

8. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
The market for processors and highly-integrated System-on-a-
chip (SoCs) is currently all for ARM and its licensees to take at
the moment, and it seems that the status quo is not about to see
any sudden upsets, at least in the near future. After all, almost
The mouse boasts a stylish diamond-pattern design, BlueEye every single smartphone and tablet out on the market today
advanced optical tracking technology (works on any surface), make use of an ARM-based SoC save for a few niche devices
storage slots for the wireless dongle, two buttons, ‘Magic that sport full-fledged Atom processors.
Roller’ scroll-wheel technology, and connects to the PC via a Apparently, this current state of affairs is all the information
2.4 GHz RF wireless interface. Powered by one AAA battery, needed to convince AMD that it does not stand much of a
the Navigator 905 Vogue is available through major resellers chance in successfully breaking ARM's dominance in that
and e-tailers at a MSRP of US$45. market segment. In a statement made by AMD's interim CEO,
Thomas Seifert put an end to any further speculation by
News via [Techshout] declaring that the company has no plans to make an entry into
the smartphone chip market, even though it has an extremely
AMD has "no plans" to enter low power, 1W chip up its sleeves in the form of its Bobcat
processor which is currently being used by Acer for its new
smartphone market Windows 7-based tablet.
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/amd-has-no-plans-to-enter- "We have no intention of entering the smartphone space at
smartphone-market/11299.html this point of time. We are not in the process of developing
February 23rd, 2011 [a] baseband [chip] and this is a clear statement. There
are enough players in the is market that have a hard time
earning money," he said, when asked about AMD's plans for
the smartphone market at the Goldman Sachs Internet and
Technology Conference.
On a brighter note, it would seem that AMD's Fusion strategy
While Intel still valiantly attempts to make a break into the might well be starting to pay off handsomely. According
mobile and embedded space with its x86 processors, it seems to a report on DigiTimes, unusually high demand for the
that AMD has already given up the fight even before starting. company's 40mm Ontario and Zacate processors is causing
According to a statement made by the company's interim CEO, supply for the aforementioned chips to dry up. To remedy the
AMD has got no plans at the moment about even thinking issue, AMD has reportedly started stocking up on its inventory
of making a break into the highly competitive mobile and levels and placed new orders for more processing capability
embedded segement. On a brighter node, it appears that the from TSMC.
company's line of Fusion APUs are performing much better
than expected.
Windows 7 SP1: Now available
for download
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/windows-7-sp1-now-available-for-
download/11298.html
February 23rd, 2011
8

9. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
Do you see that Update button hiding inside the Control Panel
in your copy of Windows 7? Well, now is the best time to Rumour: Nintendo Wii 2
actually start making use of it if you have not been doing will feature support for HD
so. That is because Microsoft has just released the highly-
awaited SP1 update for its popular operating system for public content?
download. Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/rumour-nintendo-wii-2-will-feature-
support-for-hd-content-/11297.html
February 23rd, 2011
Nintendo may have kept its lips tightly sealed over the
possibility of releasing an updated Wii console to compete
against the likes of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, but it
seems that the heat competition might be finally starting to
get to the Japanese console maker. While the company has
confirmed that a console refresh is a distinct possibility, it
would seem that Nintendo might have a little extra something
Well, everybody asked for it, and it would seem that Microsoft planned for the new machine. Read on to find out more.
has finally delivered. Remember the few stories we ran
about the highly overdue SP1 update for Microsoft's current-
generation operating system, Windows 7? Yep, it seems that
the day has finally come for all Windows 7 users to hit the
'Check for Updates' button on Microsoft/Windows Update
and start patching the world's most popular operating system
against from the few security vulnerabilities that it has been Barely four months ago, Nintendo made an announcement
exposed to in the past year of its life. claiming that the company has got no immediate plans to work
on an upgrade to its existing Wii video game console. And its
As we have stated before, SP1 for Windows 7 does not offer
reason was as simple as it could get: its current sales numbers
any new user-centric features, so you might want to shelf all
did not justify the pouring of additional resources into creating
expectations of seeing some random new option pop up in
a successor for the current-generation console.
Windows 7's Control Panel after applying the update. That
being said, what you should preparing yourself for when To top it off, Nintendo's US president Reggie Fils-Aime bluntly
you reach home today is a very, very long updating process. told the media back then that that would be no talk of such a
According to Microsoft, the 32-bit version of SP1` for Windows console until the company could meet its sales targets:
7 sports an astronomical package size of 755MB, while the 64- "As we sit here today we're saying the Wii has many,
bit version throws all notion of size out the window with a many more units to sell. After we've reached an
combined size of 1GB. installed base of 45m here in the US we can have a
conversation about the next generation."
Apparently, Nintendo seem to have backtracked on its words,
for the company's European MD of Marketing was reportedly
telling a reporter from Edge that there will (eventually) be a
Wii 2. And when the time is right to release the Wii's successor
out to the retail market, it will still sport the optical drive as the
main medium for gameplay, although digital game downloads
will still be supported.
But that is not all. According to the predictions made by
Michael Patcher, an analyst with Wedbush, the Wii 2 will come
with support for HD content, if only because the console maker
is already trailing far behind the competition in this aspect.
Needless to say, you will want to hit the 'Update Now' button
and leave your PC or notebook on overnight while Windows
does its work uninterrupted. Here's hoping your ISP is up to
the task of dealing with larger-than-usual data consumptions
tonight: after all, nobody wants to see the dreaded 'Service
Pack failed to install' error message, right?
Of course, much of this information is made up of nothing
more than speculations from consumers and analysts, so it is
9

10. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
highly prudent that readers take these details with nothing less install custom ROMs legitimately into your Xoom sounds like?
than a truckload's worth of salt. *Note: the image shown above is NOT that of the real Motorola
Xoom's bootloader screen!
Apple iPad 2 shipments
delayed from April to June?
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/apple-ipad-2-shipments-delayed-from-
april-to-june-/11293.html
February 23rd, 2011
Apple's upcoming next-generation iPad is expected to be
announced later this month and shipped out to consumers'
hands by April. But according to a note, the iPad may be
delayed from April to June.
Installing custom ROMs on a smartphone is always considered
to be an act that resides well within the grey area between
making legal or illegal modifications to one's device. However,
the case for smartphones based off Google's Android operating
system is a lot more complex, as its open nature means that
technically anybody who is savvy enough can potentially cook
up their own custom ROM and release it for public use while
As reported by Bloomberg, they cited a research note by being covered by the various open-source licenses governing
Yuanta Securities Co. with the claims of the much-anticipated the use of Android.
iPad 2 meeting production issues and thus, a delay in
Unfortunately, as far as most OEMs are concerned, the
shipment.
very act of rooting an Android-powered smartphone to gain
The report by Vincent Chen and Alison Chen, analysts access to its bootloader is an instant passport to voiding
at Yuanta, cited ?production bottlenecks? at Hon one's warranty. But once again, it would seem that certain
Hai Precision Industry Co. after Apple made design flagship products are exempt from the need to lock down the
changes before the Lunar New year. device's bootloader. In an announcement made on a Twitter,
With the delay in release of the next iPad, this might just give Motorola's mobile department has confirmed that the Xoom
a small gap of oppurtunity for the Andriod 3.0 tablets, which will sport an unlockable bootloader, just like the Nexus S
a number are to be launced in April and May. before it. And lest you think we are making this up, here is the
actual Twit in all its glory:
Motorola confirms a special
feature on Xoom for Android
enthusiasts
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/motorola-confirms-a-special-feature-
on-xoom-for-android-enthusiasts/11296.html
February 23rd, 2011
So what will this mean for both end-users and developers?
Well, simply put, it appears to be a win-win situation for all
parties involved. End-users who desire a more customized
Motorola has had its fair share of criticism from the version of Android are free to load up the Xoom with
Android hacker community, especially with its less-than- customized Android ROMs for their own use without having
friendly policies regarding any act of ROM or firmware to worry about tripping any electronic security mechanism (if
modification. However, the latest news from the company any) found in the tablet. On the other hand, developers are
seems to hint at a complete about-turn of Motorla's Android free to perform all kinds of hacks on both the Xoom and its
strategy: apparently, the upcoming Xoom tablet will sport firmware to further tweak the device and fix certain bugs, if
a certain feature that should make it highly sought after need be.
by the aforementioned enthusiasts. How does the ability to
10

11. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
PQI 64GB SDXC Class 10 Flash Memory Card Review @ Legit
Reviews
Description: The 64GB PQI SDXC card has a very impressive
storage capacity with respectable performance numbers. For
example the Canon EOS Rebel 550D/T2i DSLR camera
records HD video and the user's manual recommends at
least Class 6 memory cards in order to record 1080p video
smoothly. The PQI 64GB SDXC card should be able to keep up
when recording 1080p video and images in continuous burst
mode. Having a card that pushes 20MB/s read and write also
means you can easily offload all of images and videos from the
memory card to computer...
Corsair Vengeance 12GB DDR3 1600 CL9 Memory Review on
*This is NOT the real bootloader screen for the Motorola Technic3D (German)
Xoom! Description: (Machine translation) The Corsair Vengeance
12GB DDR3 1600 CL9 Memory-Kit arrived Technic3D.
Still, whether Motorola will continue to offer the freedom of an
Technic3D will see as good they are with Overclocking
unlocked bootloader in future tablet and smartphone offerings
against the G.Skill Trident, Mushkin Ridgeback and Corsair
remains to be seen. However, it would also seem that the
Dominator Memory Kits on Windows 7 64 Bit and the
ability to install custom ROMs without having to worry about
Gigabyte X58 Extreme Mainboard. You can see 1.932MHz
treading into what is essentially a legal minefield out there
(1,65V) with 9-11-11-24 (2T) and more in the following Review.
definitely more than makes up for the lack of Flash support in
the initial batch of Xoom tablets to hit retail shelves, don't you Corsair Graphite 600T Computer Case @ Benchmark Reviews
think? Description: It seems that vanity has no limit, as there aren't
many markets more entwined in style and appearance than
the consumer electronics industry. It makes sense, since these
The Daily VR-Zone News are called Personal Computers, after all. Identity is everything
Summary - 22 Feb 2011 to consumers, which is what makes computer cases such a
personal choice for system builders. Corsair is helping to
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/the-daily-vr-zone-news-summary--22-
make these decisions a little easier for enthusiasts by offering
feb-2011/11292.html
their Corsair Graphite 600T computer case. Like most things
February 23rd, 2011
that come from this performance-orientated company, the
Graphite series of computer enclosures delivers what people
want most. In this article, Benchmark Reviews investigates the
CC600T model for functionality and value.
Crucial Ballistix Tracer Black PC3-12800 Review @ OCIA.net
Description: What always surprises me about computer
memory, is that for months it can hover around the same price
In today's news roundup: Gigabyte is expected to launch a
range, and then seemingly overnight the bottom will drop
new overclocker-friendly motherboard, the X58-OC, which
out. About this time last year I was reviewing some Ballistix
will supposedly feature various options not found on standard
Tracer Red in a 4Gb dual channel kit, and now they have that
enthusiasts boards; Intel finally updates its aging Itanium
same pair listed for half the cost, even less at some online
lineup with the new Poulson processor; Microsoft charts out
retailers. As far as I can determine, prices fell through the floor
its ambitious plans to sway cloud computing and software-
sometime between the holidays and prior to CES 2011 last
as-a-service applications to its fold via an extremely large
month. For those users still on DDR2 who have been holding
ecosystem based on Windows 7, Internet Explorer and
off on a memory upgrade, waiting for prices to come down,
Windows Live; Apple's draconian restrictions pertaining to
now may be the perfect opportunity to do so.
in-app subscriptions has drawn friendly-fire from evebn its
own partners; Gran Turismo 5 gets an update, and Sony ASUS GeForce GTX 580 DirectCU II Review @ Overclockers
has been rumoured to be hard at work on a new version of Australia
the PlayStation 3 console that cannot be compromised by the Description: ASUS kick-started the year with a new range
master key discovered by 'geohotz' and the fail0verflow group. of non-reference Radeon HD 6900 and GeForce GTX 500
series graphics cards, both featuring an exclusive DirectCU II
Hardware News:
cooler with copper heat pipes and twin cooling fans. Today
ATi Forum.de investigates the top AIB of 2011. Last we overclock and test the GTX 580 version - let's see if it's a
year, Sapphire won and so how will it end this year? worthwhile addition to their range.
The contenders for this year are Sapphire, HIS, ASUS,
Micron: Our 25nm NAND Flash Memory Is Perfectly Fine.
XFX, PowerColor, MSI, Club3D, Gigabyte, Vertex3D, GeCube
Description: Transition of NAND flash memory
and, Diamond. The survey runs until 21 April 2011 so cast your
manufacturing to 25nm fabrication process seems to have
votes today.
run into issues. Some customers of OCZ Technology have
complained about lower capacities of solid-state drives based
11

12. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
on 25nm memory and also their lower performance. But frequency response. Total output for the Ruckus is 150 Watts.
Micron Technology, the maker of 25nm NAND flash memory, SoundScience has also added 3Dsst™. This technology uses
claims that the memory itself has the same reliability as digital sound processing algorithms to simulate a surround
previous-generation and competing makers of SSDs are to be sound environment. Inputs include 3.5mm, RCA, and optical
blamed. (TOSLINK).
Intel updates Itanuim architecture with Poulson Windows Phone 7 update bricks some Samsung users
Description: Intel is finally starting to talk about the upcoming Description: Uh oh – bad news for Microsoft. After releasing
Poulson chip, the first real update to the Itanium architecture the Windows Phone 7 update this week, some folks have ended
in years. While the chip may be huge and technically complex, up with an unusable phone and no way of fixing them save
it is hard to see anyone other than die-hard HP big iron shops a factory reset or returning them to the store. Although the
actually caring. problem is said to only affect a limited number of people, it
makes you wonder whether Microsoft’s decision of pushing
Gigabyte to release X58-OC overclockers mobo
out the updates themselves was a good decision to make.
Description: Gigabyte is working on a new X58 motherboard
Hopefully this issue gets resolved sooner than later and won’t
totally pimped up and designed for overclocking, as their
happen again in the future. On the bright side, this was only
blog reported. The new color schema is quite wicked alright,
a minor update and not the long-awaited copy paste update
anyway the mobo will be called the X58-OC and will come with
for the phone – Microsoft could learn from this mistakes to
four PCIe x16 slots and one PCI slot.
make the next update a better experience for those who got
Consumer Electronics and Software news: their devices bricked this time around. How many of you have
Microsoft's strategy for cloud devices and development had problems updating your Windows Phone 7 device?
of relevant applications: Establish a complete computing Sony makes neon-hued VAIO CA, CB official
architecture of Cloud plus Client based on Windows 7, IE 9.0, Description: Sony on Tuesday took the second of its notebook
and Windows Live concepts into reality on Tuesday by launching the VAIO CA
Description: Estimates by IDC, Gartner, Strategy Analytics, and CB. The line comes in a wrap-around translucent plastic
and Wall Street analysts show that the global PC shipment and has the option of rare neon orange and green hues that
in 2014 would be at least 50% higher than 2010, and 18% of create a "glow" around the edges and the trackpad; black,
the growth would come from notebooks, compared to only white and (in Europe) pink are also available. TV integration is
1% from desktops. According to Jochen Siegl, manager of a cornerstone as they both have the option of WiDi 2.0 wireless
ODM Business Development, Microsoft, it is obvious that video streaming to an adapter as well as Remote Keyboard to
untypical computing devices such as notebooks, netbooks, steer menus and the keyboard on a Bravia TV, Blu-ray player
and smartphones are replacing desktops and becoming or PS3.
mainstream products in the market, but this also helps extend
Windows Phone 7 update updates updater
the average product life cycle of PCs.
Description: Microsoft has finally shipped an update to
Apple Smacks Readability In The Face With Subscription Windows Phone 7. Unfortunately, this is not the long-awaited
Rules; All SaaS In Trouble copy-and-paste update. For that, we still have to wait until
Description: We’ve already been over (and over and over and March. No, this new update updates Windows Phone 7's
over and over) Apple’s new iOS subscription rules. And the update mechanism. It's an update to allow next month's
initial backlash has seemingly cooled down as everyone has update to actually work properly.
moved on to the next hot topic of the hour. But it’s pretty clear
Gaming news:
that this issue is going to keep surfacing, because it really does
screw a lot of developers. And sure enough, it’s already back Sony Developing Hack-Proof PS3?
today. Description: Sony is currently working on a 'hack-proof'
PlayStation 3 as a counter-measure against recent piracy
Google May Kill Chrome URL Bar
concerns, according to EverythingHQ.
Description: Google is working on a “major” overhaul of its
Chrome browser user interface (UI). Among the options on Donations pour in for PS3 hacker; Sony court battle continues
the table is the elimination of the URL bar, which could be Description: George Hotz is in the middle of what could be
the most significant UI change to the web browser since its a long, punishing legal battle with Sony, and his money is
invention. Another feature that appears to be already signed running out. "Media, I need your help. This is the first time I
off is the support of multiple user profiles that can be used in have ever asked. Please, if you support this cause, help me out
parallel. and spread the word," he wrote on his newest blog entry. "I
want, by the time this goes to trial, to have Sony facing some of
Antec Rockus 3D SoundScience 2.1 Speaker System Review
the hardest hitting lawyers in the business. Together, we can
@Hi Tech Legio
help fix the system."
Description: The Antec Rockus 3D SoundScience 2.1 Speaker
System is Antec's entry product into the sound market. The GT5 update revs onto PS3
Rockus 2.1 Speaker System offers out-of-the-box professional Description: Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong
quality sound. The Rockus contains two 25 Watt satellite recently announced a new online update for Gran Turismo
speakers constructed out of anodized aluminum that offer 5 that is now available upon starting up the game. The
clear highs and mids. There is a 100 Watt active subwoofer
with a passive radiator that creates an extended low
12

13. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
new update adds a slew of features, including remote racing battery combined. For extreme battery life requirements,
between PSN friends to level up their drivers. the ThinkPad T420, with its standard 9-cell battery and
optional 9-cell slice battery, provides up to 30 hours of
computing power. The business class laptops also feature
Lenovo launches six new NVIDIA Optimus that switches graphics automatically; the T
ThinkPad laptops Series and W Series laptops provide 33 percent better battery
performance over previous discrete graphics models.
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/lenovo-launches-six-new-thinkpad-
laptops/11295.html Ease of Use
February 23rd, 2011 Lenovo’s Instant Resume helps to maintain wireless
connection on the laptop during sleep mode for up to 99
minutes, eliminating the need to login and reconnect. The
ThinkPad T420s claims to be the first business class notebook
to offer Dolby Home Theater v4 for clearer audio quality.
Lenovo has launched six new ThinkPad laptops - T420s, T420,
T520, L420, L520 and W520 - based on the second generation
Pricing and Availability
Intel Core and Core vPro processors. The ThinkPads are
The ThinkPad T, L and W Series will be available starting in
scheduled to be available in March.
March from Lenovo business partners and www.lenovo.com.
Pricing for the T420s, T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520
starts at approximately US$1,329, US$779, US$909, US$719,
US$719 and US$1,329, respectively.
Additional details on Intel's
Z68 and Patsburg models
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/additional-details-on-intel-s-z68-and-
patsburg-models/11294.html
February 23rd, 2011
Lenovo has announced six new ThinkPad laptops - the T420s,
T420, T520, L420, L520 and W520 - that claim to maximize
performance and offer higher productivity for mobile business
It didn't take long for additional details to make its way online
professionals.
about Intel's Z68 motherboards that we wrote about earlier
The ultra-thin, sub 1.8kg ThinkPad T420s speeds up boot time today and now a slide detailing both models have appeared
30 percent with Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0; the T420 over at Xfastest which gives a lot more details than what
boasts battery life of up to 30 hours with extended battery; we'd seen so far. It also gives us a few additional details of
the W520 mobile workstation offers twice the performance Intel's upcoming consumer focused Patsburg chipset models
of previous models; and the L Series gives users recognized codenamed Siler and Thorsby that we wrote about a few weeks
ThinkPad durability at exceptional value. ago.
Smart PC Power & Performance Management
The new laptops incorporate self-aware and adaptive
It didn't take long for additional details to make its way online
technologies to sense where power is needed most. With
about Intel's Z68 motherboards that we wrote about earlier
Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, it can increase processor
today and now a slide detailing both models have appeared
speed during performance intensive tasks such as video
over at Xfastest which gives a lot more details than what
editing, and 3D applications. Incorporating Lenovo Turbo
we'd seen so far. It also gives us a few additional details of
Boost+, it enables laptops to stay in Turbo Boost even longer
Intel's upcoming consumer focused Patsburg chipset models
by keeping processor temperatures below required thermal
codenamed Siler and Thorsby that we wrote about a few weeks
limits. In this way, the notebook PCs can achieve up to 30
ago.
percent longer battery life.
Also on the roadmap are details of Intel's first H61 model, the
DH61AG which is a mini-ITX board. Although the H61 chipset
is Intel's budget chipset, this board has a few extra features
Extended Battery Life that you don't normally get as standard with it, such as SATA
With its standard 9-cell battery, the ThinkPad T420 delivers 6Gbps and USB 3.0 support. The board will also sport DVI and
up to 15 hours of battery life, while the T420s offers HDMI connectivity and SO-DIMM slots, the latter most likely
up to 10 hours with its 6-cell and optional optical bay to save space on the PCB. It's also interesting to note that Intel
13

14. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
labels this as a thin-AIO (All-in-One) board which means it According to this roadmap we're looking at the H61 chipset
might be a low profile board. to arrive fairly shortly and the Z68 towards the end of this
half of the year, at least if the scale is corresponding to
As for the Z68 boards, first up we have the media
launch dates. This falls in line with what we said in our
focused DZ68DB which will offer USB 3.0 and SATA
earlier post today with most Z68 chipset boards launching at
6Gbps connectivity as well as DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort
Computex. As for the Patsburg based boards, well, it looks like
connectors. It's clear that this isn't the board most people
we're in for a longer wait here and we're hearing late Q3 or
have been waiting for, but if you want an ATX size board that
early Q4, suggesting a potential IDF San Francisco launch in
has a good selection of display outputs alongside overclocking
September. So for all of those of you waiting for new chipsets
abilities and RAID support, this might be the one for you.
and motherboards, sadly you're going to have to wait a bit
The board that is interesting in this case is the DZ68BC which longer as Intel doesn't seem to be in too much of a hurry at the
again sports USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps, but it also offers a moment.
pair of x16 PCI Express slots (in dual x8 configuration), a
feature that should appeal to high-end users and the reason
why this board is located in Intel's Extreme range of boards. Zalman Unveils 135mm ZM-F4
The DZ68BC also offers Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity via
a USB adapter (a feature Intel is already offering on some of its
Fan
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/zalman-unveils-135mm-zm-f4-
other boards) and it does of course feature overclocking and
fan/11291.html
RAID support. There's no mention of any display outputs on
February 23rd, 2011
this board, although we'd guess there is at least one port on
the board.
Korean cooling specialist Zalman has announced the 135mm
ZM-F4 fan, targeting overclocking enthusiasts. Measuring 135
x 135 x 25mm and weighing 151g, it can be installed on 120mm
mounting fan holes and has a MTBF of 50,000 hours. The
ZM-F4 Fan can operate at speeds of up to 1,300RPM (at
26dBa) and is bundled with Anti-Vibration Silicone Pins and
a Resistor Cable (to control fan speed and noise).
ZALMAN PRESS RELEASE
As for the Patsburg boards, well, still no model number, but
It is our pleasure to introduce Zalman NEW fan, ZM-F4. There
the Siler model is now listed as the DXxxSI so all that's left for
are many Case fans in the market, but they only restrict the size
Intel to insert is the expect 68 or 78 numbers in the middle
up to 120mm for the normal cases. With our ZM-F4, you don’t
(for X68 or X78) depending on what the company decides
have to worry about what kind of cases you have. Once your
it want to call its next high-end chipset. The Thorsby is now
case can support 120mm fans, then you can just go ahead with
the DXxxTO and shared features between the two models
our new ZM-F4 to enjoy bigger 135mm Fan for higher CFM.
include dual x16 PCI Express slots, although it might be worth
pointing out that these are PCI Express 3.0 slots and both
boards also sports eight DIMMs (four more than we expected),
Please check for your cases if they have mounting holes for
USB 3.0 connectivity, most likely SATA 6Gbps even though
120mm Case fans, then you are ready for ZM-F4!
it isn't mentioned, but it's part of the chipset spec and of
course overclocking and RAID support. The DXxxSI also offers
dual Ethernet ports, most likely of the Gigabit variety and the
Like our Case fan series, ZM-F4 comes with Silicone pins for
DXxxTO sports a TPM module.
anti-vibration operation with RC56 (Resistor) to lower fan
It's interesting that Intel has chosen to go with eight DIMMs, speed for lower operation noise.
as this means two DIMMs per channel as the LGA-2011 Sandy
Bridge-E processors use quad channel memory. However, as
the memory controller will throttle the memory speed if you Please go thru below for further information of ZM-F4
add more than one DIMM per channel, this seems like a bad
move on a consumer motherboard as it could have a potential
negative impact on the system performance. Pictures that Super Talent Readies
leaked of a somewhat blurred out MSI board about a month
ago showed that MSI had decided to go with only one DIMM
CoreStore Series SSDs
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/super-talent-readies-corestore-series-
per channel for a total of four DIMMs and we're not sure why
ssds/11290.html
Intel didn't do the same.
14

15. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
February 23rd, 2011
About Super Talent Technology
Super Talent Technology Corporation based in San Jose,
Well-known flash storage and memory maker Super Talent California, designs and manufactures a full range of DDR,
is preparing to introduce its CoreStore line-up of SSDs. DDR2, and DDR3 memory modules and Flash based storage
Featuring mini PCIe/ PCIe interfaces, they boast a Marvell devices for computers and consumer electronics. An ISO 9001
88NV9143 controller, MLC (multi-level cell) or SLC (single- certified company, Super Talent utilizes its state- of- the-
level cell) NAND flash memory, and support data transfer art factories and leading-edge components to produce award
rates up to 350Mb/s (read) and 80Mb/s (write) for MLC winning products with outstanding reliability. Super Talent is
models and 350Mb/s (read) and 220Mb/s (write) for SLC an active member of the JEDEC and ONFI standards bodies.
variants. The CoreStore SSDs are available in capacities With over 250 patents, the company was ranked 38th in the
ranging from 16Gb to128Gb. 2009 Wall Street Journal's Patent ScorecardTM for the IT
SUPER TALENT PRESS RELEASE industry.
San Jose, California - February 21th, 2011 - Super Talent Sony Singapore unveils
Technology, a leading manufacturer of Flash storage solutions new products at "Inspiring
and DRAM memory modules, today announced their
CoreStore TMline of SSD solutions designed to bring a new Innovation" launch for 2011
level of performance to the SSD market. By combining the very Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/sony-singapore-unveils-new-products-
latest Marvel controller (88NV9143), new DDR ONFi 2 flash at-inspiring-innovation-launch-for-2011/11288.html
and plugging directly to the PCIe bus, Super Talent is now able February 23rd, 2011
to create two solutions that deliver unforeseen performance.
Available in two standard formats, mini-PCIe and PCIe Card,
Super Talent has a drive to fit many popular applications. The
mini-PCIe card (30mm x 50.95mm) is perfect for embedded
applications, Industrial PCs, All-in-One PCs, Netbook PCs, This morning, Sony Singapore held their "Inspiring
Notebooks. Don't have a min-PCIe slot, Super Talent also Innovation" 2011 product launch at Marina Bay Sands
offers a version of this product that will plug directly into a Convention and Expo, showcasing the new products this year.
standard PCIe card slot; perfect for any Desktop PC. Note Gen
2 PCI slot required for top speeds.
"By utilizing our relationships with both first tier controller
manufactures and DDR flash manufactures, we are able to
create innovate solutions such as the CoreStore SSD and offer
them to our customers before anyone else.", CH Lee COO of
SuperTalent.
Taisuke Nakanishi, managing director of Sony South East
Asia, was at the event and said that this year, the company
will launch products that can enhance, engage and redefine the
viewing experience.
The products unveiled at the launch include full high-
YouTube Demo definition (HD) 3D-capable BRAVIA LCD TVs, Cyber-
httpwww.youtube.comgosupertalent#pu01ySFYRYuz8s shot cameras, Handycam camcorders and VAIO personal
computers.
Available March 2011
15

16. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
on the Intel X58 Express chipset and supporting Intel Socket
LGA 1366 processors. A decent Gulftown will have a Core
i7-2600K for breakfast, lunch and dinner under the same
extreme overclocking conditions, which is why the 'ageing'
platform is still the fastest... at least till the end of this year.
For the BRAVIA HDTV lineup, there will be 26 new models,
with eleven 3D-capable and 20 Internet TVs in the 2011
lineup. Some of the new models will also incorporate Sony's
new X-Reality PRO and X-Reality Engine digital video
processors to produce the best picture. The new BRAVIA range
include BRAVIA HX925 with LED backlight and supports 3D
(available in May); 3D-capable BRAVIA NX720 (available
in April); BRAVIA EX720 with LED backlight and supports
3D;BRAVIA BX420 and BX320 (both scheduled for March). GIGABYTE has released some photos of the new board and we
shall take a quick look at its five main overclocking features:
• OC-VRM,
• OC-Touch,
• OC-PEG,
• OC-Cool, and
• OC-Dual BIOS
OC-VRM
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-OC
Overclocking Features
Preview
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/gigabyte-ga-x58a-oc-overclocking-
features-preview/11262.html
February 23rd, 2011
The GA-X58A-OC motherboard has dual 8-pin CPU power
The folks at GIGABYTE have released a set of pictures connectors for input up to 720A. A variety of Intersil power
showcasing their upcoming Intel X58 Express chipset-based management ICs handles power delivery on the new board.
overclocking motherboard, the GA-X58A-OC. There are quite PWM frequency can be adjusted to 300KHz, 600KHz and
a number of cool features on the board, so we shall take a quick 800KHz according to the information we have on hand.
look at them. Join us!
The processor voltage regulation module (VRM) is a 12-phase
It appears that both GIGABYTE and us at VR-Zone.com share 'dual power' design supporting up to 600A output, while the
the same thought: the Intel X58 Express platform is far Uncore portion is a 3-phase design, and the memory a 2-phase.
from dead. During a period where Intel's new 'Sandy Bridge'
seemingly rules the roost, the motherboard maker is about Surface mount POSCAP tantalum capacitors are used as they
to officially introduce its GA-X58A-OC motherboard, based are not only reliable, but save space as well. The low height
16

17. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
clearance and added space means enthusiasts no longer need Chasis + CM Storm Spawn Mice) Check out http://launch.vr-
to worry if their larger cooling solutions will be obstructed. zone.com and find out how you can win these prizes
In fact, on the GA-X58A-OC, GIGABYTE has completely done
away with the can-type solid capacitors.
OC-Touch
To make things a little more convenient for overclockers, the
GA-X58A-OC has voltage measurement points for:
New MacBook Pro to be
• VCORE, lighter, have larger trackpads
• CPU PLL, and dedicated SSD to boot
• DDR,
Mac OS X?
• DDR VTT, Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/new-macbook-pro-to-be-lighter-have-
• QPI VTT, larger-trackpads-and-dedicated-ssd-to-boot-mac-os-x-/11287.html
February 23rd, 2011
• QPI PLL, and
• IOH
Yes, as mentioned in the (mouthful) title of this news, these
are the latest rumours to the upcoming MacBook Pro that is
expected to drop on us later this week. A lighter machine with
larger trackpad and a dedicated SSD just to store and boot the
Mac OS X?
There is also a debug LED that will flash BIOS POST codes.
Debug LEDs almost became extinct the past few years, before
making a return starting with higher end Intel P67 Express
motherboards.
The red power switch is um, self-explanatory I guess...
The '4G' button will help 'newbies to reach 4GHz'. Man, what
a way to put it in the material! Anyway, this button will simply
tell the motherboard to automatically overclock the processor
to 4GHz on the next boot.
Overclockers can then use the two sets of buttons to adjust
CPU ratio (the set on the left) and BCLK (the set on the right)
on-the-fly. The 'Gear' button changes the adjustment step of Despite the rumour that the latest updated Apple MacBook
the BCLK back and forth between 0.3MHz and 1MHz. Pro will be available later this week and the inclusion of the
latest generation Sandy Bridge processors, not much is known
about what other new features the new refreshed MacBook Pro
would carry. But more details have been leaked from recent
VR-Zone Giveaway 3: It's reports.
Cooler Master Week A larger trackpad in the new MacBook Pros? Well, that's
certainly highly possible as that will allow Apple to develop
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/vr-zone-giveaway-3-it-s-cooler-master-
more vivid gestures and flexibility for users.
week/11289.html
February 23rd, 2011 The reports also claim that the new and updated laptops will
offer a dedicated solid-state drive of 8 to 16 GB purely to house
the Mac OS X system files. The result will be similar to those
that we can see in today's MacBook Air: dramatically fast boot-
up and performance. Additional storage for other applications
Follow 4 easy steps and stand a chance to win different prizes
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17

18. February 23rd, 2011 Published by: VR-Zone
and media files will be available in either traditional hard
drives or with solid-drives upgrades.
The next bit of information doesn't quite make sense
to us, but we have been told the OS on the laptops will
be loaded to a separate (internal) 8-16GB SSD while
everything else will remain on the regular hard drive.
There will be options for just SSD drives but the base
models will feature regular hard disks with the SSD
combo for the OS.
The report ends off with the source indicating that Apple has
apparently reduced half a pound off the weight of each of the
MacBook Pro models. The new and improved MacBook Pros
has been speculated for release this coming Thursday.
The fact that MSI is calling the U160MX a 'netbook; should
be a clear giveaway as to what kind of hardware will come
bundled with the device. True enough, a quick look at MSI's
press release reveals that the U160MX is about as network-
MSI announces new ultrathin worthy as it can be: it sports 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 10-
netbook for the masses inch LED-backlit screen makes up the netbook's display, while
processing power is provided by the not-so-impressive single-
Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/msi-announces-new-ultrathin-
core Intel Atom N455 processor and onboard GMA 3150 GPU.
netbook-for-the-masses/11285.html
February 23rd, 2011 However, it would seem that MSI is also bundling the netbook
with various different features in order to distinguish it from
the competition. Apparently, the U160MX will come standard
with MSI's proprietary TDE Overclocking Engine to give
the processor a speed boost needed for certain heavy usage
situations, while its ECO energy-saving technology claims up
to 8.5 hours of computing uptime on a single battery charge.
Is the netbook in danger of getting replaced by the tablet? In all Unfortunately, as is the case with most MSI-related
honesty, the likelihood of it happening some time in the future announcements, no release date and pricing details have been
is there, but it would seem that the netbook is still safe for now. disclosed. Bummer. Oh well, at least they left the full list of
And with the demand for netbooks still going relatively strong, hardware specifications behind for us:
it would seem that MSI has deemed it fit to launch yet another
notebook and capture a little more market share in the process
of doing so.
Is the netbook in danger of going the way of the dodo? Several
pundits and analysts might seem to think so, but it would seem
that their eventual death is not about to take place any time
soon, especially when the tablets of today still sport price tags
which are large enough to warrant the purchase of a more
powerful, full-sized notebook PC that supports the vast library
of hardware available for the Windows software ecosystem.
Of course, there is no denying that technological
advancements in hardware fabrication and design will mean
that the prices of tablets will eventually drop given sufficient
time. However, it is also clear that road warriors who desire Nexus One gets Honeycomb,
a cheap yet highly mobile computing device are not about to
surrender their handy netbooks for a 10-inch slate that does problems are aplenty
not come with a large-enough physical keyboard that is vital Source: http://vr-zone.com/articles/nexus-one-gets-honeycomb-problems-
for for their productivity needs. And it appears that MSI is are-aplenty/11284.html
banking on this particular premise with its new netbook, the February 23rd, 2011
MSI Wind U160MX.
The Nexus One is supposed to be one of only two Android-
powered phone that can receive OTA vanilla firmware updates,
18