AMD has today issued another graphics driver, a preview version of the Catalyst 12.3 RC which is set to come in WHQL-tagged form next month.

Build Info:
DriverVer=02/14/2012, 8.950.0.0000
8.95-120214a-133575E-ATI
Catalyst: 12.3
D3D: 7.14.10.0894
OGL: 6.14.10.11554
CCC: 2012.0214.2218.39913

Download

Recommended for 'gamers', this preview release includes all the updates of Catalyst 12.1 as well. We have a discussion on our forums iopen on these drivers right here.

Grab the new AMD Catalyst Application Profile - 12.1 CAP3 release. These are the Catalyst profiles for multi-GPU support.

This release of ATI Catalyst delivers support for the latest ATI CrossFireX profiles in a separate executable file ensuring users have access to the absolute latest set of profiles installed on their PC.

Latest profiles added :

• Alan Wake: The American Nightmare - Improves CrossFire performance
• Syndicate
  

The ASUS Essence 1 is easily one of the most anticipated products to come along in the PC audio community in quite some time as many seen it as ASUS moving out of the general audio market and taking a shot at entry into the true high end audio marketplace. Can this new product offer excellent sound quality, features demanded by the external audio market and all for a reasonable price?

HIS decided to jump on the bandwagon and releases a slightly customized R7750, it's named the HIS 7750 iCooler 1GB. As you can tell from the photo below the card is all customized, a nice blue PCB and a cooler, that though eats two slots, makes the cards virtually silent. Much much better then the reference AMD design really.

The card remains 100% reference clocked though at a price of give or take 99 USD it might give it enough bite for a game or two in the lower resolutions.

Check out the review right here.

AOC, the worldwide leader in monitor display technology, announces the e2752Vh, a widescreen 27-inch LED monitor that delivers stunningly crisp and impressive image quality, as well as solid performance with a two millisecond response time. Ideal for multimedia applications, the energy efficient display also features two built-in 2.5 watt speakers for SRS-quality sound and is perfectly suited for PC gaming and Home Theater environments. The e2752Vh will be available for $299.99 in April at national retailers including TigerDirect, Best Buy, Newegg and Amazon, among others.

Unfortuntaly the big mistake they made is that the monitor only has a resoluion of 1920x1080.

"This cost-effective WLED monitor cuts down on energy consumption while offering the features that power users search for in a display - an extremely fast response time, impressive image quality and a sizeable screen," said Robert Velez, AOC Marketing Manager.

The e2752Vh is able to display 16.7 million colors and offers a 2 ms response time that provides crisp, clear images even in fast action sequences while gaming or watching action films. The ultra-high dynamic contrast ratio of 20,000,000:1 reveals more depth and detail in darker scenes, while built-in speakers provide improved desktop sound. The versatile monitor is VESA 100 mm wall mount compliant, meaning that it can be used on a desktop or conveniently mounted on the wall to save space.

The monitor's slim and streamlined appearance is complemented by ergonomic, user-friendly design. The e2752Vh includes easily accessible digital and power connections that are rear-facing for direct insertion, a placement that is much more convenient than the more common downward-pointing ports. The monitor settings can be adjusted via the on-screen menu system, which is available in 14 languages including English, French and Spanish. The iMenu option also allows the user to change settings using only the keyboard and mouse, so that it is not necessary to reach up to the screen to adjust contrast, brightness and other preset modes. Other bonus features include embedded Screen+ software that divides the screen into four self-contained work areas for improved productivity, and an Off Timer that sets an alarm clock to turn off the monitor automatically.

Along with delivering strong performance, image quality and bonus features, the ENERGY STAR-compliant e2752Vh also reduces energy costs and environmental impact. The display's LED backlight is completely free of toxic Mercury, and the monitor also includes an eSaver feature that lets the user preset power conservation modes for the display when the PC is not in use. The monitor's Power Saving Mode uses 50 percent less power, and Standby Mode uses only 0.1w.

Specifications

- 27" viewable image size, diagonal
- 20,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio
- 2 ms GTG response time
- 16:9 Aspect ratio
- 300 cd/m

Samsung showed off its second-generation Series 9 ultra-slim laptop lineup. Available in 13.3" and 15" editions, the Series 9 offers a aluminium unibody with a thickness of only 12.9mm, the Intel Sandy Bridge processor and a 1600 x 900 pixel LED-backlit display with 400 nits brightness.

Pricing starts at $1,399 and $1,499, respectively. Samsung didn't go into details about the 15-inch Series 9 model (it did mention that it weights 1.59 kg / 3.5 lbs) but it did provide a full scoop on the 13.3-inch NT900X3B-A74 notebook (priced at about $2,376 locally), saying that it packs a 1.7 GHz Core i7-2637M processor, Intel HD 3000 graphics, 4 GB of RAM, a 256 GB solid state drive, dual 1.5 W speakers, a 4-in-1 card reader, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0, one USB 3.0 ports, a mini HDMI output, and a 6-cell (40 Wh) battery.

COUGAR, a leading global manufacturer of PC chassis and power supplies, today announced the launch of their COUGAR Evolution full tower PC chassis. The rugged tower is geared towards enthusiasts and gamers who demand the most out of their PC cases.

With its spacious interior offering enough room for 8 PCI cards to provide ultimate flexibility for multiple graphics solutions and up to 7 fans equipped with a unique dual-fan-set management system, the COUGAR Evolution sports excellent cooling and ventilation characteristics that are the ideal foundation for a professional gaming system packed with the highest end components.

Dual Fans For Targeted Cooling
But most outstanding is the exclusive and eye-catching fan control knob which allows for dual-fan-set management. Now gamers and enthusiasts can arrange their fans within two groups.

A typical usage scenario would be to arrange fans around the VGA cards in one group and the rest in another group; in doing so, users can easily tweak up ventilation around the most stressed components when under full load, such as heavy gaming, video editing or rendering. As soon as one goes back into normal usage the fan speed can be turned down with ease, thereby effectively maximizing cooling according to the individual needs.

Vortex Fan Turbine Blades Optimize Cooling
With the newly available COUGAR Vortex series of PC case fans, further ventilation upgrades are easily done as they also come entirely tool-less with fix pins for convenient installation. Also included with all fans of the Vortex series are built-in anti-vibration pads to reduce noise.

Vortex fans come in both 120mm and 140mm sizes with three different versions; standard Vortex with 3-pin and Hyper-Spin bearings, with 3-pin and Hydro-Dynamic Bearing and finally 4-pin PWM with Hydro-Dynamic Bearings.

Setting these fans apart from the crowd of available case fans on the market are the high Vortex Airflow innovative turbine blade that focuses the airflow in order to optimize overall cooling efficiency in combination with the patented frame that further helps to increase efficiency as well as operational silence. These unique German design characteristics make all the difference.

Fashion Meets Function with Evolution
On top of the COUGAR Evolution full tower chassis is a thoughtfully arranged user interface with 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0 connectors and HD-audio connectivity with one microphone and one headset/speaker connector. Also conveniently located on the top of the case is a hidden hot-swap docking station for 3.5

MSI joins in on the Radeon HD 7770 release with their own custom model. They use their own custom 4-layer PCB and equipped it with a dual slot - dual fan cooler. The end result is the R7770 2PMD1GD5, we test the OC edition model. Over the next few pages we'll walk through three standard reference technology and then place our focus on the R7770 2PMD1GD5 OC. But not before you have had a peek alright.

Check the article here.

It's February 2012 and AMD believes they have a new '5770' in their hands. The codename is 'Cape Verde' for the GPU, and the graphics cards deriving from them are the Radeon HD 7750 and 7770 One GHz edition. This is not a refresh it is a completely new GPU based on the same technology that powers the R7900 series, the GCN architecture.

Head on over to the next page where we'll meet and greet Cape Verde, aka Radeon HD series 7700 by testing the Radeon HD 7750 and 7770 GHZ edition.

Check out the full article right here.

OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today announced the Z-Drive R4 CloudServ PCI Express (PCIe) flash storage solution, designed to dramatically accelerate cloud computing applications and significantly reduce operating expenses in the data center. The new Z-Drive R4 CloudServ features monumental data throughput, and raises the bar in performance and capacity.

"The Z-Drive R4 CloudServ PCIe solid state drive delivers game-changing performance and enables clients to process massive data-sets with up to 16 TB of storage capacity on a single, easy-to-deploy card," said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology. "With this new solution, system architects are able to design more efficient and dynamic cloud computing infrastructures while simultaneously reducing system complexity and the high maintenance costs associated with traditional infrastructures."

With increasing emphasis on cloud computing and the sheer growth in data, PCIe-based flash storage systems have the ability to bypass traditional storage overhead by reducing latencies, increasing throughput, and enabling efficient processing of massive quantities of data. The Z-Drive R4 CloudServ is capable of transferring multiple gigabytes per second and delivering over a million IOPS with a level of concentrated performance that enables system architects to design more productive infrastructures while lowering costs associated with hardware failure, maintenance, structural footprint, and energy consumption.

The latest evolution of the Z-Drive R4, the CloudServ, is specifically designed for the most demanding cloud computing applications with increased capacities and even greater bandwidth capabilities delivering up to 1.4 million IOPS. Melding hardware and software managed solutions with OCZ's integrated Virtualized Controller Architecture (VCA) 2.0 and OCZ's SANRAD VXL virtual acceleration caching software, the Z-Drive R4 CloudServ can be employed as a high-performing host-based flash cache that works in conjunction with the VXL to dynamically allocate flash resources to accelerate all virtual machines. This maximizes the performance of critical applications and provides a seamless migration from one host to another without the loss of cache data. As these virtual machines are migrated from one host to another, they must retain full access to the flash cache without loss of performance or interruption of service. OCZ's SANRAD VXL software is the only software that allows for this seamless migration without loss of access to the flash cache.

The Z-Drive R4 CloudServ PCIe SSD will be available in models ranging from 300 GB - 16 TB capacities throughout OCZ's global channel in the coming weeks. As with all OCZ enterprise products, customer-specific configurations and functionality are available upon request.

Cooler Master unwraps the Silent pro M2, a new line of power supplies with modular cabling, a 135mm hydraulic dynamic bearing fan, copper-aluminium heatsink, single +12V rail and dual-layer EMI filter. Available in 420W, 520W, 620W, 720W, 850W and 1000W, these units are priced at 79.90EUR, 89.90EUR, 99.90EUR, 114.90EUR, 149.90EUR, and 169.90EUR, respectively. The 850W and 1000W versions are 80Plus Silver, while the other models stick to 80Plus Bronze. Availability is slated for March.

Cooler Master, an industry leading chassis, thermal solution, peripheral, and accessory manufacturer, is proud to announce the successor to the popular Silent Pro M, the Silent Pro M2 Series. Improvements have been made to each aspect of the Silent Pro M2 power supply to ensure that it meets the broad needs of both mainstream and enthusiast users alike.

Design
Built for quality and performance, the Silent Pro M2 Series utilizes a single powerful 12V rail that boasts a significant increase in available amperage per power supply model over its predecessors. This increased power extends to 80A on the 1000W model. A new 3.3v DC-to-DC board increases overall energy efficiency. Utilizing newer high quality capacitors results in vastly improved hold up times of >23ms on the 1000W model. With this, Silent Pro M2 Series can handle peak loads better than ever before by delivering power with minimal interruptions. Its new specifications include RoHS and ERP 2010 Certification for a more eco-friendly design and power efficiency. The 135mm fan has been improved by making use of a durable Hydraulic Dynamic Bearing. This increases overall fan lifespan and reduces noise. Through these numerous upgrades, Silent Pro M2 Series can handle the increasing loads of today

It's now February 2012 and AMD thinks they have a new '5770' in their hands. The codename is 'Cape Verde' for the GPU, and the graphics cards deriving from them are the Radeon HD 7750 and 7770 One GHz edition. This is not a refresh it is a completely new GPU based on the same technology that powers the R7900 series, the GCN architecture. Head on over to the next page where we'll meet and greet Cape Verde, aka Radeon HD series 7700.

Four new Sandy Bridge-EP processors from Intel

Intel's more affordable processor in the LGA2011 package, the Core i7-3820, surfaced in many stores in japen and in the EU as well.

The price is hovering just above the 300 EUR marker. The retail box of this chip, carrying the S-Spec code "SR0LD", appears to be as big as those of the Core i7-3930K and Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition.

Intel

The SR-X comes with two LGA 2011 sockets (it supports Sandy Bridge-E CPUs for single-processor setups and Sandy Bridge-EP CPUs for dual-chip configurations), 12 DDR3 memory slots (up to 96 GB of RAM are supported), two (one 8-pin and one 6-pin) power connectors per CPU, six SATA and four SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) ports, seven PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots (SLI and CrossFireX support is included), PCIe disable switches, voltage read points, a debug LED, dual Gigabit Ethernet, two eSATA ports, 7.1 channel audio, Bluetooth, EVBot support, and six USB 3.0 connectors (four on the back plate, two via a header).

EVGA is promising more details about the SR-X 'soon'.

BIOSTAR announces the BIOSTAR TZ77XE4 motherboards within the CeBIT 2012. The most frequent word combination in description of the new flagship lineup will be "for the first time" because the TZ77XE4 boards house a great deal of innovative technologies not found even in premium desktop solutions.

The TZ77XE4 boards are based on the latest Intel Z77 chipset, which for the first time incorporates tri-gate transistors manufactured using the 22-nm fab process which, for the first time, delivers a native support for the high-speed USB 3.0 interface and fast SSD caching with the Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT). Fully compatible with the second-generation Intel Core CPUs (Sandy Bridge), the new boards for the first time support the third generation Intel Core CPUs codenamed Ivy Bridge, also manufactured with the 3D-transistors using the 22-nm fab process and designed for the popular LGA 1155 socket.

The new Intel Core CPUs deliver an unprecedented performance level with moderate power consumption, and the integrated graphics core for the first time supports a lot of unique display technologies including the DirectX 11 and the integrated HDMI 3D Visual interface for stereo content of various 3D formats.

For the first time, the TZ77XE4 boards feature the universal Display Port interface as a standard function. This is an integrated solution for serial packet data transfer to display with the same principle used in other serial interfaces like Ethernet, USB and PCI Express. The boards also support other traditional video interfaces like HDMI and DVI with the HDCP technology.

Thanks to the support of three x16 lines of the latest PCI-E 3.0 interface for the first time integrated into the processor, with the performance up to 8 Gtexel/s, which is twice higher than the PCI-E 2.0, the boards let you use any multi-core discrete graphics like the NVIDIA SLI or the AMD CrossfireX with high performance in demanding 3D applications. Additional peripherals are supported with two PCI and one PCI-E x1 ports.

For the first time in the consumer desktop systems, the TZ77XE4 boards demonstrate support up to 32 GB of dual-channel DDR3 RAM, including overclocking DDR3-2400 modules. Besides, the boards support up to four SATA2 drives and up to four SATA 3.0 drives with astonishing performance up to 600 MB/s (up to 4.8 Gbit/s of uncoded data) which can be arranged in the RAID 0,1,5 or 10 arrays. The boards support up to eight USB 2.0 and four USB 3.0 ports. The speedy GbE LAN interface delivers a high speed for local and external network resources.

For the first time the BIOSTAR boards for the third-gen Intel Core CPUs fully realized the new BIOS, with the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI BIOS), which delivers high flexibility and easy setup for basic settings thanks to the intuitive graphics interface.

The high-quality sound is realized with the latest integrated 8+2-channel HD codec and the THX TruStudio Pro technology specially developed by Creative and THX for delivering acoustic impressions usually associated with live music, movies or studio sound. Besides, for the first time the new boards feature the Puro Tone - 110 dB technology which delivers high authenticity of multi-channel sound with extremely effective noise reduction, with the SNR of 110 dB.

With the launch of the TZ77XE4 BIOSTAR demonstrates the successive development of its technologies meant to increase performance, stability and service life of products. The new boards feature reliable solid-state capacitors, and the power supply circuits for the first time use a 13-phase regulating system which is critical for overclockable systems.

The Virtu Universal MVP software suite, introduced for the first time and based on the virtualized Lucid Virtu GPU software, delivers fast processing of video and media content with the Hyperformance function with the minimal load on all critical system components.

The universal T-overclocker Windows utility, which is popular with overclockers, includes several powerful tools for fine system tuning and controlling CPU performance, memory, fan speeds etc. The BIOSTAR G.P.U (Green Power Utility) considerably cuts down power consumption in case of light CPU load. The boards support the BIO-Remote2 technology for remote control of multimedia PC functions with Android and Apple gadgets.

The HD 7660D has 384 Graphics CoreNext stream processors, HD 7560D has 256 of these, the HD 7540D has 192, and the HD 7480D has 128. The HD 7480D also lacks dual-graphics support that lets you pair the APU-embedded graphics processor with a compatible discrete GPU to make the two work in tandem. While these GPUs have comparatively lower stream processors than previous-generation "Llano", performance increase is made up for by the more advanced GPU architecture, and higher GPU core speeds.

We doubt it a little but NVIDIA may show off its GK104 chip at EVGA's PDXLAN on Friday, February 17th. The very latest information comes from EVGA, Gearbox Software and NVIDIA.

This weekend will see 19th PDXLan taking place in Portland, Oregon. Over the course of weekend, EVGA plans to showing the next generation "Kepler" running PhysX demo of a new game from Gearbox Software. We expect that specifications stay the secret over the course of weekend, with everybody talking about the game alone, and the official unveil of Kepler will follow in weeks to come.

Since the demo will happen during the weekend (February 17-19, 2012), the event will doubtlessly focus on the game itself, rather than the hardware running it.

The wait for Mass Effect 3 is nearing its end. Today, BioWare announced via Twitter that Mass Effect 3 has gone gold, ahead of its March 6 debut date for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

After an awesome effort by our team, I'm proud to announce #MassEffect3 is officially GOLD! Many surprises await you - this week and beyond.

A good amount of Far Cry 3 details have been shared by Gaming Everything, originating from the latest edition of Edge Magazine, which details the protagonist, game mechanics, and the title's open ended mission structure. Far Cry 3 has a suggested release for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC sometime in March.

• When you pause Far Cry 3, you'll see regular menu options
• There is also "a blobby, butterfly-winged shadow of a Rorschach ink blot fill the screen, with peeks of lush foliage visible between splotches of darkness"
• Open-ended combat
• Plan bouts with enemies well before you face off
• You may decide to charge in for a frontal attack, hang back and snipe enemies from a distance, or place C4 on the side of a jeep and send it to an enemy encampment
• Freedom is tied to the story
• Unlike Far Cry 2��s "hard-edged political cynicism", Far Cry 3 is "a focus on the personal, charting one man's spiral into violence, and quite possibly madness, on an archipelago where everyone else seems to have a head start"
• One mission is "a hallucinatory push through an island's underground caves"
• In this mission, protagonist Jason Brody is injured and is searching for a doctor
• Brody heads up a slope and encounters a wooden house; Dr. Earnhardt is inside
• The doctor quickly administers an injection; he's also "rambling to himself in a jittery, dreamy fashion"
• Earnhardt asks Brody to gather some mushrooms from a cave system nearby
• No shooting in this mission
• Platforming/exploration instead
• "Brody makes running jumps over precarious drops which can only be accessed through an underwater tunnel at the bottom of a cliff"
• There are crumbling handholds
• Things become unpredictable as you head into the caves' depths
• "Colors begin to saturate before changing hue entirely. Perspective becomes unreliable, and objects that appear within reach one moment suddenly shrink from view."
• Brody looks at his hands that are "leaving ephemeral trails as they move through the air"
• Cave appears to be reshaping: walls become floors when he tries to climb them, plants pop up randomly
• Eventually Brody locates the mushrooms; setting has become night
• "Far Cry 3 isn't going to be quite this psychedelic, but the scene clearly demonstrates the preoccupation with mental states that runs throughout the game"
• Dr Earnhardt is crazy while the island's enemies are unstable as well
• Brody is beginning to lose his grip
• Although Brody was your typical guy on holiday with friends/his girlfriend, he is now thrown into a situation "that threatens to send him off rails"
• Players will have to contend with native fauna and domesticated animals
• Dev. team wanted the game "to be emotional and raw"
• Insanity was a word that came up often in early meetings
• Producer Dan Hay: "When we really felt like we captured it was when we got Vaas. That's when the word ��insanity' crystallized for us"
• There are numerous villains in addition to Vaas
• Vaas is "a sociopath, and very nearly a psychopath"
• You'll hear Dr. Earnhardt muttering about him
• Guards seem to hint at a respect that's built on fear
• Vaas's voice actor, Michael Mando, had auditioned for the role of a more typical villain who was six-foot-six, 300 pounds, stoic/series, and unemotional
• Mando's audition was completely opposite of what the team was looking for, and didn't land the job
• Even so, Mando's agent called him three weeks later and told him that Ubisoft was willing to make a character based on the audition he did because they liked it so much
• "There are hints that Vaas will be more than just a two-dimensional threat"
• Ubisoft doesn't think of Vaas as a sociopath/villain; he has a lot of pain, and "everything's just an extension  of that"
• Not clear if Vaas is the one holding Brody's loved ones captive
• Next part of the demo involves Brody being sent in to interfere with Vaas' communications
• He has to shut down Medusa, the radio tower of a beached cargo ship
• "It's a set-piece designed to show off the fact that, despite Far Cry 3��s madness theme, the game is still, in Hay's words, ��a shooter first'"
• Brody begins in the ocean, heads toward the beach, and quietly takes out a knife from a guard's back pocket
• He stabs him with the knife and follows this process for another guard
• With a third guard, he throws the knife into his skull (seen in the E3 demo)
• Since he's fairly close to the boat, Brody takes out binoculars so he can assess the situation
• Ubisoft is making the game with a "360 degree" design approach
• Each scenario will contain "stealthy, action-focused and creative approaches"
•  "The sand is strewn with cover for those who wan an open-air gunfight, while stealthier players can hide within the exposed hold of another beached vessel as they move towards their goal"
• Reinforcements arrive in hovercraft on the beach
• There was one tester who found a hang-glider and approached the radio tower this way, which allowed him to avoid battle
• Another mission has Brody looking for a friend; he has to invade a ship
• More linear environment shown with fewer options, though it lets players experience "an ear-splitting shotgun at close quarters"
• Brody opens the hold doors, causing an explosive booby trap to flood the ship
• "His struggle to escape is the kind of scripted setpiece that makes up the entirety of games such as Call of Duty, and is more than a little reminiscent of a chapter of Uncharted 3��
• Hay: "It wasn't like we set out to make it on an island, but we wanted it to be a lawless frontier, we wanted it to be beautiful, all that stuff. The more we talked about it, and the kinds of experiences we wanted to have, the more we wanted the feeling of isolation."
• Game designer Andrea Zanni: "We have land animals and sea animals. They'll be there as threats, they'll be there for you to utilize �C you can go out into the jungle and go hunting, which is all part of Jason growing and surviving on the island. If you go deep into the jungle, you're going to have some encounters that may not be so pleasant. So they're a part of the ecology of the island, and really making the island this savage place for the player."
• You'll see a lizard during the cave mission
• There are sharks circling floating bodies after there is an explosion in the ship mission
• Hints from the team that there is a dark history to the archipelago
• Open-world designer Jamie Keen: "It's about making sure that the player is constantly feeling enabled by what you can do in the world and enabled by the world itself. You feel like the world' inviting you to make you feel like you constantly want to move through it, constantly want to know more about what's going on there. Recently, we put a mineshaft just on the way down to a lighthouse. And players heading to the lighthouse see it, and everyone just goes, ��Oh look, a mineshaft!' and they have to explore. We want to constantly surprise people [with] how much they're going to find when they do go exploring and follow their nose."
• No weapon degradation