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Intel

Submission + - Intel caught cheating in 3DMark benchmark (techreport.com) 3

Submitted by EconolineCrush
EconolineCrush writes: 3DMark Vantage developer Futuremark has clear guidelines for what sort of driver optimizations are permitted with its graphics benchmark. Intel's current Windows 7 drivers appear to be in direct violation, offloading the graphics workload onto the CPU to artificially inflate scores for the company's integrated graphics chipsets. The Tech Report lays out the evidence, along with Intel's response, and illustrates that 3DMark scores don't necessarily track with game performance, anyway.
AMD

Submission + - The fastest GPU you need: AMD's $259 Radeon HD 585 (techreport.com)

Submitted by
J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: "Hot on the heels of the Radeon HD 5870, the world's first DirectX 11 graphics processor, AMD has released a slightly slower but quite a bit more affordable derivative: the Radeon HD 5850. As The Tech Report found in its review, the new card delivers a potent cocktail for its $259 price tag. Not only does it outperform all previous single graphics processors in today's games, but it does so with impressively low power consumption, noise levels, and operating temperatures. You even get better image quality in current games, thanks to an improved anisotropic filter and supersampled antialiasing. If you're looking for a graphics card to buy this fall, this may well be all you need."
Windows

Submission + - Windows 7: Should desktop users buy into the hype? (techreport.com) 4

Submitted by J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: We've all seen blog posts hyping up Windows 7, often with cut-and-pasted MS screenshots and feature descriptions. But what's it like to sit down and use the operating system on a desktop PC? Do new features deserve the hype? Do they work as advertised? The folks at The Tech Report have been using the final version of Windows 7 since shortly after its release to manufacturing, and they've posted an article that tries to answer those questions. A number of improvements, like the updated Backup and Restore functionality and Remote Desktop Direct3D support, have slipped through the blogosphere's radar. On the flip side, those who migrate from Vista shouldn't expect flawless compatibility or performance from the new additions. HomeGroup, for instance, interfaces in bizarre ways with the regular File Sharing interface, and Device Stage doesn't do much yet. The article also breaks down the different Windows 7 editions and explains why Home Premium now looks like a better choice for most users.
AMD

Submission + - AMD's Phenom II 965: 3.4GHz, 140 Watts, $245 (techreport.com)

Submitted by AnInkle
AnInkle writes: At a time when power consumption is a top concern and most applications are rarely constrained by the CPU, AMD bolsters it's lineup by releasing a new top-end 140-watt TDP rated processor. The Phenom II X4 965 clocks in at 3.4GHz and debuts at about the same price as Intel's Core 2 Quad Q9550, indicating it's not intended to steal the performance crown. Nevertheless, this processor could further enhance AMD's competitiveness across the middle of the market, where even most performance-minded shoppers make their selections. Check out The Tech Report's benchmarks and analysis for the scoop, including a careful look at total system power use and those oh-so-much-fun scatter graphs, which illustrate the value proposition among 21 processors from both teams.
Graphics

Submission + - $700 may be all you need to spend on a gaming PC (techreport.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: The recession is hitting hard, but this doesn't have to be a bad time for PC gamers. On the contrary: hardware has gotten cheap enough that you can build a surprisingly powerful gaming desktop for surprisingly little. The Tech Report's latest system guide is a prime example. The fourth page details a $689 configuration that has a triple-core AMD Phenom II, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 (with 216 SPs), four gigs of RAM, and an accompaniment of fast, quiet, and high-quality components (including an 80%-efficient PSU). The result? A PC that lets you play every current game at 1920x1200--usually with a healthy dose of antialiasing--which should be enough for the vast majority of gamers out there.
Intel

Submission + - Intel's kid-friendly tablet netbook turns heads (techreport.com)

Submitted by J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: The first two generations of Intel's Classmate PC were little more than glorified netbooks, but the latest model looks to turn the platform on its head... literally. Featuring an 8.9" swiveling touch screen, a rugged design, and a variety of education-centric applications, the new Convertible Classmate PC aims to revolutionize the way children learn—and steal the One Laptop Per Child project's thunder in the process. The Tech Report's in-depth review of the Convertible Classmate PC concludes, "[this] might very well be the ideal netbook for kids. Adults who are simply looking for a durable, ultra-portable tablet may find the system interesting, as well." Indeed, unlike with the OLPC XO-1, you can cough up the $500 and buy a Convertible Classmate PC for your personal use (or your kid's) right now.
Input Devices

Submission + - Das Keyboard vs. Model M: fight! (techreport.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: Can a newfangled clicky keyboard with a $130 price tag outdo the venerable Model M in terms of comfort and tactile feedback? The Tech Report got to the bottom of the issue in a thorough review of the Das Keyboard Professional, comparing the purported 'best keyboard on the planet' with IBM's old-fashioned classic. Which one comes out on top? The author says it's like picking between 'two slightly different flavors of delicious ice cream.'
Portables

Submission + - Intel's third-gen Classmate PC tablet previewed (techreport.com)

Submitted by J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: As the OLPC organization cuts huge chunks of its staff, Intel has revealed its third-generation Classmate PC for kids in developing nations. The Tech Report has posted a hands-on preview with plenty of photos and a look at the machine's hardware and capabilities. Apparently, the new Intel netbook has plenty of perks, including a convertible tablet design with a stylus and 8.9" touch-sensitive screen, a 1.6GHz Atom processor, Windows XP, and 3.3-5 hours of battery life (depending on the model).
AMD

Submission + - 45nm Phenom II matches Core 2 Quad, trails Core i7 (techreport.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: AMD is debuting its 45nm Phenom II processors today, and The Tech Report has already run them through a complete suite of benchmarks to see how they perform compared to Intel's latest and greatest. The result? The new 2.8GHz and 3GHz Phenom IIs are in a dead heat with like-priced Core 2 Quads, but they generally fall well behind Intel's new Core i7 chips. TR concludes that AMD's future doesn't look as bleak as some say, and future Phenom IIs could compete favorably with more affordable Core i7 derivatives.

Comment Re:Breaking news! (Score 1) 366

by JohnnyBigodes (#25804363) Attached to: AIX On the Desktop Is Getting the Boot

Conquering the world :D

Seriously, I'm sure they would come up with something. And I would be okay with BG3 not following BG2 in terms of story. NWN was nice but it wasn't really a sequel IMO. Little actual roleplaying, and the main campaign was short and kinda weak. Personal opinion anyway.
AMD

Submission + - AMD postpones Fusion CPU-GPU hybrids until 2011 (techreport.com)

Submitted by J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: While it previously intended to launch x86 processors with built-in graphics cores in 2009, AMD announced during its Financial Analyst Day presentation that its first "Fusion" chips won't debut until 2011. The company now intends to launch CPU-GPU hybrids together with its new Bulldozer architecture on a 32nm process technology, leaving its current architecture to compete against Intel's Nehalem processors (which will start featuring built-in graphics cores next year) in the meantime. On the upside, AMD has also announced four new processors aimed at mainstream notebooks, ultra-light laptops, and netbooks.
Portables (Apple)

Submission + - Apple's aluminum MacBook: a PC enthusiast's take (techreport.com) 1

Submitted by J. Dzhugashvili
J. Dzhugashvili writes: You often hear Mac fans talking about the latest and greatest Apple hardware, but what's it like for a PC enthusiast to make the switch? Cyril Kowaliski at The Tech Report has traded his ThinkPad for one of Apple's $1,299 aluminum MacBooks in order to answer that question. How does the MacBook compare to a rugged PC laptop, and does Mac OS X really have what it takes to compete with Windows? Also, can the new MacBook handle Windows Vista and Team Fortress 2 as well as it runs iTunes and iPhoto?

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