Just spotted this bit of Info at 3DChipset.

Microsoft DirectX 9 is the issues here with Half-Life 2. Nividia from the start presented Microsoft with its new code for their NV3x. When Microsoft publicly annouced the final DirectX 9 API Nvidia started shouting foul because it didnt get its way and put them at a disadvantage because they wanted they're code to be the standard.

Today Xbitlabs are going to compare the performance of Nvidia's GeForce FX 5900 and 5900 Ultra based graphics cards with their rivals from the ATI the Radeon 9800 and 9800 Pro. They include a full set of benchmarks, absolutely new gaming tests, impressive overclocking results and more!

I have just received some more information about Corsair's new line of memory. The XMS ProSeries memory is basically the same as their XMS series memory, with a better heatsink and an integrated memory activity meter.

Just spotted this bit of Info at Xbitlabs.com

In the latest Detonator FX 45.33 drivers that address flickering issues of the GeForce FX 5900-series there are identification strings for NVIDIA soon-to-be-released code-named NV38 GPU. Apparently, the official brand name for the part will be the GeForce FX 5950 Ultra.

TeamXbox have thrown up the first details for Microsofts Xbox 2.

We?re proud to bring you today the very first info on the Xbox 2 GPU. Our highly placed source within the industry informed us that the graphic technology powering the Xbox successor is a derivative of the R500, the successor of the R420 to be unveiled later this year at Comdex.

Liquid3D has written a very informative guide on how to remove the IHS (Integrated Heat Spreader) from a Pentium 4 processor I used a simple thread of high tinsel nylon, found the place on the chip where the epoxy seal was les then perfect (luckily it was on a corner), and began sawing away. I definitely recommend placing the CPU in a socket, and locking it down. Truth be known there were a few moments when I became impatient and actually lifted the CPU out from a locked socket. Not advisable. Read the howto: here

QuadDamage over at T-Break forums has posted several Athlon 64 benchmarks with 3DMark 2001 and 2003 at speeds of 2GHz, 2.1GHz and 2.4GHz.

Should Intel be worried? what you think.

Over at Anandtech.com there is the first review of AMD's 64 bit processor on a Nforce3 mobo. The results are very impressive with the Athlon64 beating out Intel's P4 best processor soundly in their gaming benchmarks. And this was only in 32-bit mode.

Hexus.net have thrown up a new article! which looks at the overclocking ability of AMD's Barton XP2500+ processor! Here's a snip.

All those with even a passing interest with respect to consumer-level processors will know that AMD, the champion of the tight of pocket, is about to launch a new breed of processor; one that will come under the heading of Athlon64.

Just spotted this bit of news at TweakTown

Our contact over at Chaintech in Taiwan sent us through some pictures of their upcoming K8 Athlon 64 motherboard called Zenith ZNF3-150 based on nVidia's nForce3 150 chipset through the e-waves. The actual surprise is not the fact that we have first look pictures of a K8 retail motherboard, but one of the features of it which raised our eye-brows is RadEX short for Revolutionary Active Direct EXhaust.

Digit-life have snagged a scoop that Gainward have partnered with Zalman to launch a new range of fanless FX5900 with ZM-80C H, and updated FX 5600 and FX 5200 cards! they also have news that MSI will also be launching a fanless GeForce FX 5600 videocard.

I was just over at Xbitlabs.com and I see they have some rumours on two new GPU's from ATI the RV351 and RV381.

ATI Technologies is set to start sampling of its code-named RV351 chip shortly in order to mass-produce it in late Q4 2003 or, more probably, in Q1 2004. The chip will have 4 rendering pipelines, DirectX 9.0, AGP 8x support and other features of the RADEON 9600 (aka RV350) product line. ATI will redesign the VPU a bit in order to reduce manufacturing costs. Most likely, the main trump of the whole RV350/RV360 VPU family ? their high core-speed ? will not be inherited by the RV351 due to price constraints. Obviously, you should expect some 275 ? 325MHz VPU, 400 ? 500MHz memory and a simple PCB with 64- or 128-bit memory bus.

Just got word from VR-Zone that they've thrown up their Gaming rigs round-up with system from Alienware, Falcon Northwest, Overdrive PC, Voodoo PC, and Zeus PC are a few to mention.

In this round-up I will go over the difference between each machine; who builds what, the uniqueness behind each machine, the hardware they choose, and we will run benchmarking applications as well as games. For the professional users out there I will also review why these machines are probably the best on the planet when comparing them to production-line PC's.

3Dcenter have thrown up a new article called CineFX NV30 Inside! which provides us with the most detailed look at the inner workings of Nvidia's NV30 and NV35's graphics cards! Nvidia has closely guarded the details of its CineFX architecture! Here's a snip.

Since the release of NV30 with it's new CineFX pixel engine people have been wondering about its internal structure. The developer of the chip, nVidia, has been reluctant to answer questions about internal details in the past, seeking refuge in well-sounding phrases carrying only small bits of information.

Just got word from Crow at Darkcrow.co.kr that he's posted their ATi Fire GL X2 256 Preview! which includes benchmark results for SPECapc MAYA5.0 & CineBench 2003.

DigiTimes:

Taiwan-based IC designer Realtek Semiconductor today announced the launch of the ALC850, claiming it to be the world?s first 8-channel AC?97 Rev 2.3 audio codec. Fully complying with the new AC?97 Rev 2.3 specification, the ALC850 provides a jack-sensing function (surround, center/LFE, front-mic, surround back), a PCBEEP generator, and interrupt capability, the company said. In addition, the ALC850 is embedded with Realtek?s proprietary UAJ (Universal Audio Jack) technology, providing three universal jacks (Line-out, Mic-in, Line-in), giving users plug and play convenience. The ALC850 also supports S/PDIF input and output, allowing digital connections with DVD systems or other audio/video multimedia. It is packaged in a 48-pin LQFP.

The Inquirer's mole drops word that he's snagged the name for ATI's next generation of graphics cards!

ATI had two names for this technology from the beginning. One was Radeon 9900 PRO the only step left for this generation of cards, and the other the Radeon 9800XT.

Here's a great deal? I was told about this yesterday , but with all the posts I forgot about it!

Novatech are having a sale on their Nvidia GeForce3 256bit 64MB DDR Graphics Card for £23.50 inc VAT! How cheap is that? as the GF3 is still a reasonably good card if you want to play at 1024x768 no AA/AF.

Logitech nutzt den Rückzug von Microsoft aus dem Markt für PC-Joysticks und Pads für eine ganze Reihe neuer Produkteinführungen. Unter anderem werden zwei neue Joysticks und ein neues Gamepad für den PC auf den Markt gebracht. Gleichzeitig hat man die Preise für älteres Spiele-Zubehör gesenkt. Einen Überblick über die neue Game-Hardware von Logitech hat Golem zusammengestellt. Golem

Just spotted this byte of news at Xbitlabs.com.

Those of you who constantly read news concerning present and future Intel Itanium processors already know that code-named Montecito design scheduled to come in 2005 will have 2 cores. But was not known until now is that the follower of the Montecito presently known as Tanglewood will have as many as 16 cores, News.com reported quoting a source close to Intel Corp.!