Next Generation Acer Aspire One Netbook Now Available for U.S. Customers

Acer America, part of the world's third largest PC company, today announced U.S. availability of the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150, expanding the company's growing family of popular netbooks. The new Aspire One AOD150 comes on the heels of its highly successful 8.9-inch predecessor. The global market share leader in the netbook category, Acer is offering the 10.1-inch Aspire One AOD150 to U.S. customers today with prices beginning at $349.99.

The new 10.1-inch Aspire One provides continuous access to the Internet in an easy-to-use, stylish design with a similar ultra-compact footprint as the original 8.9-inch version. The netbook is designed to be an affordable and simple solution for Web browsing, checking email, instant messaging, VOIP calls, streaming video, viewing photos and listening to music.

"The success of the Aspire One netbook illustrates the enormous demand consumers have for mobile devices that keep them connected," said Sumit Agnihotry, vice president of product management for Acer America. "The new 10.1-inch Aspire One has something for everyone, whether a business user continuously on-the-go, a young student needing an introductory PC, or tech aficionado seeking a lightweight, secondary device with enduring battery power. Netbooks are an ideal solution for those who want a balance of mobility and productivity for quick and easy access to the Internet and other computing needs."

Combining ultra-portability and design
Engineered for mobility and weighing less than three pounds, the Aspire One utilizes the Intel Atom processor which combines performance and efficiency to stay connected while on-the-go. The Aspire One comes with a six-cell battery, providing up to six hours of computing power, twice the amount of the previous platform. Featuring Windows XP Home, 1GB of memory, integrated 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network connectivity, and a generous 160GB internal hard drive to store plenty of digital albums, music and documents, the Aspire One is a simple and reliable mobile computing solution.

The Aspire One has a 10.1-inch CrystalBrite backlit display, offering a broader viewing area for Web page navigation and data input. For communication needs, the netbook is equipped with the Acer Crystal Eye webcam, delivering smooth video streaming and high quality images for online chats and business video conferences, even in low-light situations. A built-in digital microphone conveys superior voice quality, keeping background noise levels low and minimizing echoes.

The Aspire one is available in four high-gloss color options including seashell white, sapphire blue, ruby red and diamond black. Evoking speed and mobility, the netbook includes stylish details such as an aerodynamic-shaped metallic hinge with a colored accent and a brushed-metal palm rest, which offer a refined design element.

Acer Aspire One AOD150 Specifications
Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB, 512KB L2 Cache)
Windows XP Home with Service Pack 3
10.1-inch WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite TFT LCD 1024 x 600
Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset
1024MB DDR2 533 MHz SDRAM Single Channel Memory
Integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
160GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Drive
Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
Acer InviLink 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Acer Crystal Eye Web Camera
Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
Three USB 2.0 Ports
6-cell Li-ion Battery (4400 mAh)
2.95 lbs.
10.2" (W) x 8.0" (D) x 1.31" (H)
In addition to Windows XP Home, the Aspire one comes with additional preinstalled software includes Acer eRecovery Management, Acer Launch Manager, Adobe Reader, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Microsoft Office Trial 2007.

Pricing and Availability
The Aspire One AOD150 netbook is available now via Acer's authorized resellers and at major retailers nationwide, with prices beginning at $349.99. The Aspire one comes with a one-year limited warranty.

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Dell Launches Latitude XT2, the Industry's First Multi-Touch Capable Tablet

Dell today announced the Latitude XT2 convertible tablet building on the industry's first tablet PC with multi-touch screen capabilities designed to enhance security, increase performance and extend battery life. The system starts at $2,399 and is available today at Dell Online. Multi-touch capabilities on the Latitude XT2 allow users to use natural gestures like a pinch or tap for scrolling, panning, rotating and zooming that work with productivity applications they use every day. Dell's integration of multi-touch screen technology allows customers to use the full real estate of the display, as opposed to just the touchpad.

"As part of our commitment to deliver the best mobility experience, Dell revolutionized the tablet space with the first multi-touch capable product that allows customers to use the entire screen," said Brett McAnally, director, Dell Product Group. "Today, we're extending that leadership with the Latitude XT2 to deliver more performance, security and manageability."

Other features include:
Up to 11 hours, 28 minutes of battery life with six cell battery and optional 6-cell battery slice
Daylight Viewable display that has up to 100 percent more luminance than the HP EliteBook 2730p
Full-size keyboard, touchpad, point stick and battery-free pen give users input flexibility
Combines performance with high touch accuracy to allow touch interface with small icons without drops or hangs
Comprehensive services options with Dell ProSupport.
Improved connectivity with new LCD-based wireless antenna design
Enhanced hinge design for improved panel stability
SATA drive support providing updated storage technology and enhanced performance
Comprehensive security features adding Dell ControlVault and ControlPoint Security Manager
DDR3 RAM allows better performance and up to 5GB RAM
Manageability with integration of Intel vPro and DASH 1.0 compliance
Source: Dell

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NEC Electronics Introduces Compact SoC That Supports 24x DVD writing Speeds

NEC Electronics Corporation today announced that it has developed a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) product integrating all the functionalities needed for DVD writing and reading on a single chip. The new product named SCOMBO 8 is a SoC for supporting DVD Drives equipped in PCs and home write/read appliances and has following features: (1) Integrates DVD drive control logic, synchronous DRAM, and flash memory all in a compact 14mm square flat package; (2) Delivers industry's fastest 24x DVD writing; (3) Lowers power consumption during DVD writing at 8x speed to 0.8W, reducing by 50 percent compared to the previous products.
The new product allows DVD drive manufacturers to reduce external components by 20 to 30 percent and facilitates low-cost system development with less than 100 materials. The market for CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, and other optical disc drives for PCs is estimated at about 300 million per year. DVD drives account for about 80 percent of this market, with steady growth expected in the years ahead.

NEC Electronics launched a SoC with built-in DVD reading and CD write/read functionality for PC optical disc drives. Since then, the company has continuously worked to expand its product lineup, selling a cumulative 180 million products in the SCOMBO series by December 2008.

Optical disc drives in the PC market can be divided into two types, according to the height of the drive case: half-height drives or slim drives. In half-height drives, users expect higher writing speeds, while in slim drives they expect lower power consumption. In addition, users of both types seek to cut their bill of materials costs by reducing the number of components on system boards.

The new product meets all of these requirements by delivering integrated functionality, higher writing speeds, and lower power consumption. The main features of the SCOMBO 8 are as follows:
(1) Industry's smallest package combining the functionality required for DVD drives
The new product integrates functionalities such as servo control circuit that controls the optical pickup, data modulation/demodulation circuit, digital read channel function, and write strategy circuit. It also provides analog circuits to process the output signals of the optical pickup, CPUs, and a serial ATA interface all on a single chip. In addition to these control circuits, the new product also includes 16 Mbit SDRAM and 16 Mbit flash memory, all in a compact 14mm square package. The new product is the world's smallest SoC to integrate these functions all in a single package.
In addition to the smallness of the package itself, SCOMBO 8 also allows users to reduce the number of components required to develop the system by 20 to 30 percent, bringing the component count to below 100 and delivering substantial savings in mounting surface and total system cost.
(2) Industry's first DVD controller to support 24x DVD recording
By adopting BiCMOS process, both analog and digital circuits can be optimized by implementing high-speed bipolar process into analog circuits and implementing CMOS process with outstanding power quality into logic circuits. As a result, these advances make it possible to achieve 24x DVD writing for the first time in the industry.
(3) Reduced power consumption during DVD 8x recording by 50 percent (compared to company's previous products)
The product has a number of improvements, including lowered internal voltage from 1.5V to 1.0V achieved through 90nm process, and optimized functional blocks including the CPU. These improvements enabled the new product to reduce power consumption during 8x DVD writing by 50 percent (0.8W) compared to the company's previous SCOMBO products.
NEC Electronics believes the SCOMBO 8 to play a significant role in digital AV equipments and plans to market this product actively in fields of optical disc drives with DVD write/read control functionalities.

Pricing and Availability
The sample price of the new product is US$10 per unit. Mass production is scheduled to begin in March 2009 with approximately 1000,000 units and expected to reach 4000,000 units per month by March 2010. Pricing and availability are subject to change.

Source: NEC

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Intel to Invest $7 Billion in U.S. Manufacturing Facilities

Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini today announced the company would spend $7 billion over the next two years to build advanced manufacturing facilities in the United States. The investment funds deployment of Intel's industry-leading 32 nanometer (nm) manufacturing technology that will be used to build faster, smaller chips that consume less energy. The commitment represents Intel's largest-ever investment for a new manufacturing process.

"We're investing in America to keep Intel and our nation at the forefront of innovation," Otellini said. "These manufacturing facilities will produce the most advanced computing technology in the world. The capabilities of our 32nm factories are truly extraordinary, and the chips they produce will become the basic building blocks of the digital world, generating economic returns far beyond our industry."

Intel's investment will be made at existing manufacturing sites in Oregon, Arizona and New Mexico and will support approximately 7,000 high-wage, high-skill jobs at those locations -- part of a total Intel workforce of more than 45,000 in the U.S. Intel, while generating more than 75 percent of its sales overseas, carries out roughly 75 percent of its semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. At the same time, about 75 percent of the company's R&D spending and capital investments are also made in the U.S.

The technology used in Intel's manufacturing process builds chip circuitry 32nm (32/billionth of a meter or about 1/millionth of an inch) across - incredibly small, atomic level structures.

The first Intel processors to be built using this technology are codenamed "Westmere" and will initially be used in desktop and mobile mainstream systems. Westmere combines Intel's latest high-performance micro-architecture ("Nehalem") with graphics capability integrated into the processor. As a result, computer manufacturers will be able to increase performance and simplify system manufacturing compared to current systems. Outstanding 32nm manufacturing and product health are enabling Intel to accelerate the Westmere production ramp beginning in 2009. Additional 32nm products will follow in 2010.

Otellini will discuss the importance of new technology and investing for the future at 9 a.m. EST today during a speech at the Economic Club of Washington, DC. In addition, Intel executives will be on-hand at an event beginning at 10 a.m. PST in San Francisco to provide the world's first public demonstration of a fully functional 32nm based device - the first Westmere processor.

Source: Intel

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ACTICA Delivers DDR2-800 ECC Registered Memory for AMD Opteron Shanghai Platforms

ACTICA Inc., manufacturer of mission critical server memory products, announces the next generation DDR2-800/PC2-6400 ECC Registered for AMD Opteron Shanghai Platforms.

ACTICA's new DDR2-800 ECC REG are compatible to AMD Opteron Shanghai sever platforms such as Supermicro H8DMT, H8DMU+, H8DM3, H8DMA, H8DA3, H8DAi-2, Tyan S4985-E, S3992-E, S2927-E, S2915-E, S2912-E, S2937, S2935, and Asus KFSN4-DRE/SAS/iKV, KFSN4-DRE/iKVM.

ACT4GER72E4G800S—DDR2-800 4GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
ACT2GER72F8G800S---DDR2-800 2GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
ACT1GER72A8G800S---DDR2-800 1GB ECC REG Samsung-chip
Designed according to JEDEC standard, ACTICA's new DDR2-800 ECC REG modules meet the high-capacity and high-performance needs of high-level servers and workstations. The 800 MHz version will enable improved performance for AMD Opetron Shanghai based servers. The 800 MHz modules have bandwidth per high speed lane of 4.8 Gbit/s - an increase of 50 percent compared to 533 MHz and 20 percent compared to 667 MHz versions.

In order to meet the critical performance and reliability requirements of high-end computing and server applications, ACTICA only use premier grade components from major DRAM makers. ACTICA's DDR2-800 ECC REG memory modules are built with Samsung chipset, and are available in 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4GB. 8 GB DDR2-800 ECC REG module is due to release in Q2 2009.

Every ACTICA module completes 24 hours of burn-in reliability testing and extensive dynamic testing to ensure highest quality and reduce RMA rate. All ACTICA memory modules come with a limited lifetime warranty.

Source: Actica

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NVIDIA PhysX System Software 9.09.0203 Released

NVIDIA has released new and updated PhysX driver that is compatible with AGEIA PhysX processors and CUDA ready GeForce GPUs. Version 9.09.0203 dated February 10, 2009 is almost 40MB and works with Windows XP and Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit versions). The application supports NVIDIA PhysX acceleration on all GeForce 8-series, 9-series and 200-series GPUs with a minimum of 256MB dedicated graphics memory. Here is what's new in this release:
Resolves PhysX SDK runtime issues with multi-GPU configurations in Hybrid environments.
Improves performance of some PhysX enabled games on GeForce GTX 285 and GTX 295 products.
Resolves occasional system crashes when PhysX is enabled on some systems when running on EA’s Mirrors Edge.
Runtime upgrade ONLY for AGEIA PhysX processors users. (New installations should install older PhysX system software such as version 8.09.04 – prior to installing this update).
Includes the latest PhysX runtimes used in the latest game titles.
DOWNLOAD: http://www.nvidia.com/object/physx_9.09.0203_whql.html
Source: NVIDIA

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NVIDIA GeForce Driver Version 182.05 BETA Released

NVIDIA today also released new BETA GeForce driver version 182.05 for both Windows Vista and Windows XP. Some games will run a bit faster with this driver compared to the latest official version 181.22:

Up to 8% performance increase in Fallout 3 at high resolution and AA.
Up to 10% performance increase in F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin.
Up to 9% performance increase in Half-Life 2 at high resolution with AA.
Up to 11% performance increase in Left 4 Dead at high resolution with AA.
Up to 10% performance increase in Race Driver: GRID at high resolution and AA.
Unfortunately, direct links from NVIDIA give me "Page Not Found" message, so I'll give download links from our colleagues at Guru3D.

DOWNLOAD: http://www.guru3d.com/news/download-geforce-forceware-18205-xp-and-vista/
Source: NVIDIA, Guru3D

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ASUS Introduces N81Vg, Features the New NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M Graphics Processor

ASUS, a pioneer in the adoption of cutting-edge notebook graphics, announced today the ASUS N81Vg, the world's first notebook to feature the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M graphics processing unit (GPU). The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M GPU features NVIDIA CUDA technology with 32 processor cores, DirectX 10 support, and 1080p High Definition video playback through NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology. Coupled with the ASUS N81Vg's 14-inch LED backlit display, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M delivers unrivaled visual clarity and vibrancy.

Combining Effortless Mobility with Stunning Graphics Performance
The pairing of the ASUS N81Vg and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M provides users with numerous multimedia options in a small, highly portable notebook designed to take entertainment to the streets.

"The ASUS N81Vg uses the GeForce GT 120M GPU to deliver a visual computing experience far superior to other notebooks in its category today," said Rene Haas, General Manager, Notebook Products, NVIDIA. "With 32 powerful processing cores, the GeForce 120M GPU makes photo editing, video editing, movie ripping, high-definition Blu-ray playback and gaming a reality on 14-inch notebooks."

"We are proud to offer consumers a notebook that is capable of providing spectacular graphics and stunning clarity while maintaining effortless mobility," said Alvin Chou, Senior Product Manager of ASUS' Notebook Business Unit. "By combining sublime graphics performance, smart technologies and supreme ease of use, the N81Vg is the ideal notebook for those who would like to enjoy multimedia to the fullest."

NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M - Fast Forward Visual Experience for All
The NVIDIA GeForce GT 120M features the latest NVIDIA CUDA technology, which harnesses a massive 110 gigaflops of computing power for a myriad of applications such as video conversion and High Definition enhanced DVD playback with up to 15 times higher frame rate. Users can enjoy greater productivity with CUDA-enhanced photo and video editing applications such as CyberLink PowerDirector and motionDSP vReveal. With DirectX 10 support, users can experience realistic in-game texture details, high dynamic range lighting and special visual effects. NVIDIA PureVideo HD handles 100% of the video decoding process, producing 1080p High Definition visuals with sharper images, smoother transitions and more vibrant colors.

With a 3DMark 2006 score of 5,431, the ASUS N81Vg delivers up to 15 times better performance than most other 14-inch notebooks, thus satisfying discerning users with a penchant for High Definition audio and visual enjoyment while on the go.

Reliable Computing and Entertainment with Variable Power Modes
The ASUS N81Vg lasts 3 hours in Performance mode and 4 hours in Battery Conservation mode—in both cases an hour more than similarly-specified notebooks.

Source: ASUS

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SanDisk Announces World’s First High Performance 4-Bits-Per-Cell (X4) Flash Memory

Building on its leadership in multi-level cell (MLC) technology, SanDisk Corporation today announced that it will begin mass-production of the world's first high performance 4-bits-per-cell (X4) flash memory. Using 43-nanometer (nm) process technology, this breakthrough enables 64-gigabit (Gb) memory in a single die - the highest capacity in the industry and suitable for the most demanding storage applications. SanDisk has also produced an advanced X4 controller, which is necessary to effectively manage the complexities and performance requirements of X4 memory. The X4 memory chip combines with the X4 controller chip in a multi-chip package (MCP) to provide a complete, integrated and low-cost storage solution.

"The development of X4 memory and controller technologies is a major milestone for flash memory storage that will provide significant long term benefits to SanDisk and play a critical role in future NAND flash scaling," said Dr. Khandker Quader, senior vice president, memory technology & product development, SanDisk. "64Gb X4 is the result of numerous key innovations, and demonstrates SanDisk's leadership in driving multi-bit flash memory with performance and cost suitable for storage-intensive applications such as music, movies, photos, GPS, games and more."

X4 Flash Memory Breakthrough
SanDisk co-developed the 64Gb X4 flash memory chip on 43nm technology with Toshiba Corporation, which cooperates with SanDisk in the development and manufacturing of advanced flash memory. The new 43nm 64Gb X4 chip is the highest capacity and highest density flash memory die in the world to enter production this year, boasting a 7.8MB/sec memory write performance that is comparable with current multi-level cell technologies. SanDisk's patented All-Bit-Line (ABL) architecture as well as the newly introduced three-step programming (TSP) and sequential sense concept (SSC) serve as key enablers to X4's impressive performance.

X4 Controller Technology Is Key
SanDisk developed a number of innovative solutions for advanced system management that address the difficulties posed by this complex 4-bits-per-cell technology. The X4 controller, developed and owned by SanDisk, utilizes a first-of-its-kind error correcting code (ECC) scheme specifically developed for use in storage systems, and tailored to support the 16 levels of distribution needed for 4-bits-per-cell.

"The inherent challenges in producing 4-bits-per-cell technology with good performance and low costs require advanced system level innovations in multi-level storage," said Menahem Lasser, vice president, future technologies and innovation, SanDisk. "Our X4 controller technology with its memory management and signal processing schemes is crucial to meeting the unique demands of 4-bits-per-cell memory, and demonstrates SanDisk's ability to conceptualize and produce sophisticated flash memory solutions."

Today, at the 2009 International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC), SanDisk and Toshiba presented a technical paper describing the key technology advancements that led to the development of 64Gb 4-bits-per-cell NAND flash memory on 43nm technology node. This announcement comes one year after SanDisk unveiled its X3 (3-bits-per-cell NAND) technology at the 2008 ISSCC and was subsequently honored with the ISSCC 2009 Lewis Winner Outstanding Paper Award.

Source: SanDisk

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NVIDIA Reports Financial Results for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009

NVIDIA Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 and the fiscal year ended January 25, 2009. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, revenue was $481.1 million compared to $1.2 billion for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, a decrease of 60 percent. For the twelve months ended January 25, 2009, revenue was $3.4 billion compared to $4.1 billion for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008, a decrease of 16 percent.
NVIDIA's results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), included a net loss of $147.7 million, or $0.27 per share. Non-GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, which excludes stock-based compensation charges, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a restructuring credit against operating expenses, and the associated tax impact of these items, was $94.4 million, or $0.18 per share.

GAAP net loss for the twelve months ended January 25, 2009 was $30.0 million, or $0.05 per share, compared to net income of $797.6 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008. Non-GAAP net income for the twelve months ended January 25, 2009, which excludes stock-based compensation charges, a non-recurring charge against cost of revenue related to a royalty dispute, a non-recurring warranty charge against cost of revenue, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a restructuring charge against operating expenses, and the associated tax impact of these items, was $303.3 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to $919.3 million, or $1.56 per diluted share, for the twelve months ended January 27, 2008.

"The environment is clearly difficult and uncertain. Our first priority is to set an operating expense level that balances cash conservation while allowing us to continue to invest in initiatives that are of great importance to the market and in which we believe we have industry leadership. We have initiatives in all areas to reduce operating expenses," said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and CEO of NVIDIA. "Although fiscal 2009 was extremely difficult, it was one of our best years of innovation. We made many important advances in graphics processing with PhysX and 3D Vision, GPU computing with CUDA and Tesla, and mobile computing with ION and Tegra. I am pleased with the excellent achievements we made in each of these important areas."

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2009 Highlights:
NVIDIA announced the NVIDIA Ion Platform, which combines the highly acclaimed GeForce 9400 GPU with the Intel Atom CPU. The combination enables the smallest premium PC experience available today, making it ideal for the exploding category of mini-notebooks and compact PCs.
NVIDIA introduced GeForce 3D Vision, the world's first high-definition 3D stereo solution for the home. 3D Vision is a combination of high-tech wireless glasses, a high-power infrared (IR) emitter and advanced software that automatically transforms hundreds of PC games into full stereoscopic 3D experiences.
NVIDIA unveiled the GPU-based Tesla Personal Supercomputer, which delivers the equivalent computing power of a cluster, at 1/100th of the price and in a form factor of a standard desktop workstation.
NVIDIA announced that Electronic Arts, THQ and 2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, have licensed NVIDIA PhysX technology as a development platform which will be available for use by each of the company's studios worldwide.
NVIDIA announced it is working closely with Wipro to provide CUDA professional services to their joint customers worldwide. Wipro's Product Engineering Services group will accelerate the development efforts of companies with vast software portfolios seeking to exploit parallel computing with the GPU.
NVIDIA announced that National Taiwan University (NTU), one of the world's leading research universities, has been named as Asia's first CUDA Center of Excellence. NTU joins previously recognized CUDA Centers of Excellence, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and University of Utah.
Conference Call and Web Cast Information
NVIDIA will conduct a conference call with analysts and investors to discuss its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 financial results and current financial prospects today at 2:00 P.M. Pacific Time (5:00 P.M. Eastern Time). To listen to the call, please dial (212) 231-2901. A live Web cast (listen-only mode) of the conference call will be held at the NVIDIA investor relations Web site nvidia.com/ir and at streetevents.com. The Web cast will be recorded and available for replay until the Company's conference call to discuss its financial results for its first quarter fiscal 2010.

Non-GAAP Measures
To supplement the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations presented in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP net income (loss), and non-GAAP net income (loss) per share. In order for our investors to be better able to compare our current results with those of previous periods, we have shown a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures. These reconciliations adjust the related GAAP financial measures to exclude stock-based compensation, a non-recurring charge against cost of revenue related to a royalty dispute, a non-recurring warranty charge against cost of revenue, a restructuring charge (credit) against operating expenses, a non-recurring charge against operating expenses related to termination of a development agreement, a benefit from insurance proceeds received, in-process research & development charges related to acquisitions, and the associated tax impact of these items, where applicable. We believe the presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures enhances the user's overall understanding of our historical financial performance. The presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and our non-GAAP measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Source: NVIDIA

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ELSA Japan and LucidLogix to Introduce High Performance Computing Products

ELSA Japan, a leading computer graphics solution provider and Lucidlogix (Kfar Netter, Israel, CEO - Moshe Steiner) announce an agreement to deploy Lucid's HYDRA based chip in ELSA Japan High Performance products.

The companies have teamed up to transform high performance computing in the Japanese marketplace. For the first time, a product based on Lucid's HYDRA technology will be used in a new line of ELSA Japan high performance systems for the HPC, broadcast and medical markets.

End of Mar 2009, The new solution will allow ELSA to provide a cost affective solution based on multi GPUs from any vendor. First products will feature dual and quad GPU configurations.

By combining Lucid's component with Elsa Japan's PCI-Express end-point device and remote graphics offering, a fully scalable and flexible system can be achieved for the first time at affordable price points.

"We are pleased to partner with ELSA, which has the reputation for providing leading performance computing solutions to the Japanese market. ELSA's selection of Lucid products for graphics and high performance computing platforms demonstrates our commitment to deliver a unique and powerful parallel processing architecture," said Offir Remez, President of Lucid. "HYDRA technology will allow ELSA to combine multiple GPUs on one device, for efficient, high performance in compute intensive, large scale visualization scenarios."

"Partnership with Lucid is very important for our customers who require high performance computer. We can provide scalable performance and configurable solutions to break through the performance barrier." said Jun Nagai, president, ELSA Japan Inc.

Source: ELSA

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Intel Preparing Core i7 950, Expanding Lineup

Earlier this month, news surfaced of Intel working on a new Extreme Edition (XE) Core i7 chip, model 975, that displaces the existing Core i7 965 XE from its existing price-point to grab the $999 in 1,000 unit tray quantities price-point. The 975 XE is to be accompanied by another new SKU in the making: the Core i7 950.

The new chip is bound to displace the Core i7 940 from its existing price point of $562. It features higher clock speed, bus multiplier value and is built on the newer D0 revision of the Bloomfield core. The chip will feature a clock speed of 3.06 GHz. It achieves this speed using a multiplier value of 23X. The new chip is expected to be introduced sometime in Q2, 2009.

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Samsung Brings Forth New Wireless USB System-On-Chip Solution

Samsung Electronics, a worldwide leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today announced a new wireless universal serial bus (W-USB) System-On-Chip (SoC) designed specifically for the upcoming ultra-wideband (UWB) market. The latest in a growing portfolio of mobile technology solutions, Samsung's new W-USB SoC combines the convenience of wireless connectivity, the security level of wired USB, and the high speed performance of UWB to instantly transfer mass storage data such as digital photos, movie videos or MP3 music files between electronic devices. For example, the new W-USB SoC can download a 700MB movie in approximately one minute.

Samsung's suite of advanced products for portable consumer applications will be on display at the Mobile World Congress 2009 in Hall 1, Booth #D33 of the Fira de Barcelona, Montjuic.

"Connected consumer electronic products are the next step in enabling anytime, anywhere access to information and services," said Dr. Yiwan Wong, vice president, System LSI Division, Samsung Electronics. "One of the keys to wireless connectivity is W-USB technology. While W-USB technology is just beginning to ramp up, its application will soon increase with the consumer electronic and mobile phone markets' demand for wireless connectivity technology and UWB's fast download speeds."

This high-performance chip is expected to be applied to digital cameras and mobile phones and gradually expand to other peripheral electronic devices such as wireless printers, beam projectors, wireless hard disks, wireless displays, and wireless speakers. For example, without any cable connection, consumers can directly send photos from their digital cameras to their PC or view them instantly on their TV. Consumers can directly connect their MP3 players to high-quality surround speakers and listen to their favorite music. Also, multi-media data can be shared among mobile phones through a peer-to-peer network without a host computer.

Using advanced CMOS process technology and 3.1~10.6 GHz-band UWB technology, Samsung's new W-USB SoC is a single chip solution which features a built-in ARM core, a UWB physical layer, and a memory controller. It also provides an SD card, an MMC, a NAND flash memory, and a high-speed USB 2.0 OTG (On-The-Go) interface without additional logic circuitry.

With the industry's first built-in embedded memory controller and adoption of Samsung's proprietary data storage technology, Samsung's W-USB SoC offers a high throughput, performing at the speed of 480Mbps (megabytes per second). When considering a conventional payload overhead, the average effective data download speed of existing chipsets is around 50Mbps while Samsung's W-USB SoC can reach up to 120Mbps.

Samsung's new W-USB SoC utilizes security measures which are seamless with features such as a 128 bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) encryption algorithm and a static signal that makes hacking through wiretapping and signal tracing difficult.

This new SoC maintains a low power consumption of less than 300mW (milliwatt), making it an ideal product for portable electronic devices like mobile phones and digital cameras.

According to the market research analysis firm In-Stat, worldwide W- USB is expected to reach US$22 million this year and increase to US$390 million in 2012, at an annual compound growth rate of over 200 percent.

Samsung's W-USB SoC is currently sampling and will be in mass production starting in Q2, 2009.

Source: Samsung

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Kingston Increases Capacity of CF Elite Pro Card to 32GB

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced it is increasing the capacity of its CompactFlash Elite Pro Flash memory cards to 32GB. Shipping immediately, the new cards offer larger capacity and fast data transfer rates to allow amateur and professional photographers to maximize the performance of their high-end digital cameras.

"The Kingston 32GB CF Elite Pro card is designed to keep pace with and not limit the productivity of the most advanced digital camera equipment on the market," said Wendy Lecot, Flash business development manager, Kingston Digital. "Combining the large storage capacity along with fast read and write speeds makes this card ideal for continuous capture and download of images."

Kingston's CompactFlash Elite Pro cards (part #: CF/32GB-S2) have a suggested price of $154.00 (MSRP U.S.) and are backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 live technical support. For more information visit this page.

Key Features and Benefits
Capacities: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB
Dimensions: 1.43" x 1.68" x 0.13" (36.4mm x 42.8mm x 3.3mm) - CF Type I
Speed: 25MB/sec. read, 20MB/sec. write
Operating Temperature: 0° to 60° C / 32° to 140° F
Storage Temperature: -20° to 85° C / -4° to 185° F
Standardized: complies with CompactFlash Association specification standards
Easy: plug and play
Guaranteed: lifetime warranty
Economical: autosleep mode preserves system battery life
Source: Kingston Memory

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Intel Presents 32 nm Westmere Family of Processors

Intel today spread opens its plans to deal with the mainstream and value markets using its Nehalem micro-architecture. The company introduced to the media and analysts, its plans concerning the upcoming Westmere family of processors, a term used to describe Intel processors built using the company's 32 nm second-generation high-K silicon fabrication technology, while being based on the Nehalem micro-architecture. The presentation demystifies all confusion surrounding the company canning plans of dual-core 45 nm Nehalem-derivatives. The presentation also sheds light on what approach Intel plans to adopt with bringing the new architecture to the enterprise segment.

Westmere and its rather speedy introduction (starting 2H 2009) shows that the company fast-tracked making the new 32 nm process operational. The new process makes the company ready to cater to large demands while minimizing production costs to the extant feasible. This can be noted from the recent expose of the Clarkdale and Arrandale chips that use portions of both 45 nm and 32 nm silicon technologies to fabricate different parts of the processor, taking advantage of the modular design of the chips. Intel also listed out roadmaps of both its client and enterprise platforms.

Intel also added a brief note on the processors’ security features that include new AES extensions that streamline security, minimizing the expense of data security on CPU time. The increase in transistor count over its previous generation processor (45 nm Penryn) enables Intel to expand the SIMD instruction-set beyond SSE 4.1 on Penryn (presumably with SSE 4.2 already found on Core i7). Intel also notes continued market and technology leadership for over three successive sub-generations of processors.

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NVIDIA SLI Technology Now Available For Intel Branded X58-Based Motherboards

NVIDIA Corporation today announced that Intel Corporation has licensed NVIDIA SLI technology for inclusion on the Intel DX58SO motherboard for the Intel Core i7 processor. As a result, customers with Intel X58-based motherboards and the Core i7 processor can now equip their PCs with any combination of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, including Quad SLI, for the ultimate visual computing experience.

“The addition of NVIDIA SLI technology to the Intel DX58SO motherboard has been a welcome addition,” said Clem Russo, VP and General Manager of Channel Desktop Platform Group at Intel Corporation. “The pairing of our new Core i7 processors on our Extreme Series motherboard and NVIDIA GeForce graphics has resulted in some of the world’s fastest consumer gaming PC platforms. For playing any of today’s hottest PC titles, this is one awesome combination that our customers have been asking for.”

As a result of today’s announcement, NVIDIA SLI technology is now available for all consumer PC platforms, including the Intel Core i7, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors, as well as those based on the AMD Phenom II CPU. In addition to raw graphics performance, NVIDIA GeForce GPUs also provide gamers with additional capabilities not found on any other discrete graphics solutions, including NVIDIA PhysX technology for deeper gaming immersion, stereoscopic 3D gaming with NVIDIA 3D Vision technology, and support for CUDA, a revolutionary new computing architecture that harnesses the power of the NVIDIA GPU to accelerate everyday computing applications including video transcoding, physics calculations, and high-definition video playback.

“The Intel X58 ‘Smackover’ board is excellent, with fantastic build quality and great performance, and now with the inclusion of SLI it is full steam ahead,” said Kriss Pomroy, Commercial Director at Novatech. “We are extremely excited that we can now spec Intel motherboards in many of our systems and capitalize on the awesome performance of NVIDIA SLI technology. It is what we have all been waiting for here at Novatech.”

“Finally, the Intel Smackover experience is complete. At Paradigit we’ve been using this board since launch, but we thought that this may not last long because of the lack of SLI support,” said Niels Van Echteld, Purchasing Manager for Paradigit. “Now this board is ready for the best of both worlds--Intel’s newest Core i7 CPU and the power of NVIDA GeForce in SLI!”

“The ability to have SLI, PhysX, and CUDA on an Intel chipset is a great move for the market,” said Elan Raja III, Director of Scan Computers. “The combination of technologies will break all the existing performance barriers raising the standard for the power user. The wait is finally over!”

“There's no doubt about it... our customers love SLI,” said Randy Copeland, CEO of Velocity Computers. “With this announcement, we have the ability to build them any Intel i7 platform they want, and know that whatever motherboard we choose, we can populate it with multiple NVIDIA GeForce GPUs. This gives our customers the greatest flexibility in purchasing the world's fastest gaming PCs.”

“NVIDIA SLI has proven to be the industry’s only stable, scalable, high-performance multi-GPU platform, and we are excited that customers with Intel branded X58 motherboards will be able to take advantage of this processing power,” said Ujesh Desai, vice president of GeForce desktop business at NVIDIA. “Gamers know that the best way to experience their games is with GeForce GPUs, and now they will be able to harness the power of multiple GPUs for even more performance and immersion features.”

Source: NVIDIA

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Microsoft Certifies NVIDIA ION Platform for Windows Vista Home Premium

In an effort to deliver an outstanding computing experience on small, low power PCs, NVIDIA announced today that NVIDIA® ION™ has been Certified for Windows Vista. With NVIDIA ION and premium versions of Microsoft Windows, small form factor notebook and desktop PCs will have rich media capabilities and full graphics support for the first time. Microsoft Corp. has validated NVIDIA ION with certified Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) drivers for Windows Vista Home Premium. NVIDIA is working with Microsoft, PC manufacturers, software developers, and Windows eco-system partners to bring ION-based PCs to market by summer of 2009. ION-based mini-notebooks and compact desktop PCs will have industry-leading performance at price points as low as $299.

Mike Ybarra, general manager for the Windows division at Microsoft, states: “Customers have told us they expect a full Windows experience across a variety of PC designs. What many people call a ‘netbook’ today is really a small notebook, and users expect it to perform like one. With NVIDIA’s ION platform combined with Windows Vista Home Premium, consumers can get an affordable, premium Windows experience in a small notebook or desktop form factor. From browsing the web and checking email to streaming music or watching movies, it’s an excellent solution for everyday computing.”

Microsoft has certified the NVIDIA ION platform to ensure that upcoming ION-based PCs will deliver:
Silky smooth 1080p high definition video including Blu-ray movies
Exciting video game play with support for Microsoft’s DirectX 10 API
Support for premium Windows Vista features including Aero Glass and Flip3D
GPU acceleration for faster photo editing and video transcoding
Microsoft’s WHQL certification for Windows Vista Home Premium validates the NVIDIA ION platform as customer-ready.
“NVIDIA ION and Windows are a perfect match,” said Drew Henry, general manager of the MCP business unit at NVIDIA. “It is great to have Microsoft work with us to drive Windows with ION into these new low-priced notebooks and really small desktop PCs, which previously wasn’t possible with other solutions. This is a big win for consumers!”

About the NVIDIA ION Platform
The NVIDIA ION platform provides a quantum leap in mainstream graphics performance – while using less than half the space of traditional solutions – for smaller, faster, lighter, full-featured notebooks and desktop PCs. The ION platform unlocks the power of the Atom CPU by combining it with a great NVIDIA GPU.

Source: NVIDIA

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Zotac Watercooled GTX 295 Pictured

Zotac is among a small group of NVIDIA add-in board partners that is bringing out GeForce GTX 295 variants with factory-fitted water-blocks, making the cards ready for water-cooling. Zotac is likely to name its watercooled card GTX 295 Infinity. CPU3D sourced a couple of pictures of the accelerator. The new accelerator will cater to the enthusiast segment of the market, where the water-block serves as the main USP, making the accelerator come at a premium over reference-design cards.

The GTX 295 Infinity comes with a factory-fitted copper-infused block that remains sandwiched between the business-ends of the two PCBs. It uses the reference design PCBs sans the refernce cooler and its shroud. Zotac is expected to ship this accelerator with factory-overclocked parameters, which aren't known at this point in time. It is expected to be available by mid-March according to the source.

Source: CPU3D

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NVIDIA Preparing nForce 980a SLI, Identical to Predecessor

NVIDIA is planning a new high-end desktop chipset for the AMD processor platform: the nForce 980a SLI. The news validates some of the earliest roadmap slides of ASUS leaked to the media, showing a certain M4N82 Deluxe to feature the said chipset according to the specifications sheet. The chipset is built to feature on newer motherboards supporting the AM3 socket and DDR3 memory, though the one from ASUS supports DDR2 memory only, with no mention of a DDR3-supportive motherboard from the company.

VR-Zone juiced some more information about this new chipset, which suggests that the nForce 980a could be merely a re-branded nForce 780a SLI. Earlier reports also suggested the possibility of the 780a SLI successor to support the Advanced Clock Calibration (ACC) feature that enhances overclocking the CPU using AMD's Overdrive software. With the 980a, NVIDIA will replace the markings on the package from "NF780A-SLI-N-A2" to "NF980A-SLI-A2". The company has also reportedly issued a notice to its partners:

The NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI SPP is an enthusiast-class high performance interface to AMD AM3 CPUs. It is RoHS-compliant. It includes 2×16 PCI Express 2.0 lanes (also configurable as 1 x16, 2 x8) and 3×1 PCI Express 1.0 lanes, 12 USB ports, six SATA ports, and single GigE. To ensure timely availability and flexibility, we encourage customers to qualify and release products using the NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI SPP.

The chipset will be available to motherboard manufacturers starting from March.

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Left 4 Dead Critic's Choice Edition, DLC and SDK Details Revealed

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a series of content and development releases for its latest title, 2008's best-selling new game property for the PC and Xbox 360, Left 4 Dead (L4D).
The first L4D DLC - dubbed the L4D Survival Pack - is due for release this spring and introduces a new multiplayer game mode entitled, Survival, plus two complete campaigns for Versus Mode . A Critic's Choice Edition of the game is also heading to retail stores this spring, and will include access to all the content introduced in the L4D: Survival Pack.

In addition, for PC gamers and aspiring developers, the first Left 4 Dead release for the Source Software Development Kit (Source SDK) will allow the creation of custom Left 4 Dead campaigns that will be discoverable via L4D's matchmaking system. The SDK update is also due for release this spring, and is free of charge to all owners of L4D on the PC.

"Since Half-Life launched in 1998, Valve has made continuous efforts to expand the offering of its products beyond what's included on the day of launch," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "With Half-Life and Counter-Strike, and more recently Team Fortress 2, we've learned that we're no longer making stand-alone games but creating entertainment services. With Left 4 Dead we're extending that tradition by creating additional gameplay and releasing our internal tools to aspiring developers so they may also create and distribute new Left 4 Dead experiences."
Left 4 Dead is a survival action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games. Released in November of 2008, L4D has earned over 25 industry awards from outlets around the world.

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Auzentech Releases New Driver for its X-Fi Forte 7.1 Sound Card

Shortly after the official launch of X-Fi Forte 7.1, Auzentech is now offering a new driver for it. This driver is compatible with Windows Vista 32/64-bit only and brings DTS Connect support as well as minor bug fixes, improved speed when changing modes, and enhanced stability. Try downloading the new driver from http://www.auzensupport.com/site/download/updates.php

Source: Auzentech

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Hitachi GTS Announces Fourth Generation CinemaStar C5K500 2.5-inch Hard Drives

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST) today announced the CinemaStar C5K500, a 2.5-inch hard drive with up to 500GB of audio video storage capacity designed for digital video applications that require compact design and low power usage. This fourth-generation small form factor CinemaStar drive delivers a balance of capacity, cool operation and ruggedness to provide manufacturers with more eco-friendly options for slim digital video recorders (DVRs), set-top boxes and surveillance systems. The CinemaStar drive is designed for use in continuous "24x7" applications and has a read/write power specification that is 22 percent lower than previous models.

The CinemaStar C5K500 is the latest Hitachi 5,400 RPM consumer electronics hard drive with support for mainstream capacities ranging from 160- to 500GB. The new drives include Hitachi SmoothStream™ technology to enhance streaming functionality in digital video applications. The CinemaStar C5K500 also includes technology to provide time-limited error recovery, enhanced thermal monitoring capabilities and silent-seek acoustics for ultra-quiet operation.

"The explosion of digital music and photos, combined with widespread access to high-definition television content, is driving DVR capacity requirements to new levels," said Brendan Collins, vice president, Product Marketing, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "Home theater systems are becoming increasingly compact, as users seek out space-saving and power-efficient component designs. The new CinemaStar drive will allow DVR manufacturers to deliver compact DVRs with all the capacity and features of larger form factor products."

EcoTrac Classification
The CinemaStar C5K500, which carries the EcoTrac classification, demonstrates Hitachi's ecological leadership with its halogen-free production and focus on low power consumption. The drives feature a read/write power specification of 1.4W, which is 22 percent lower than previous models. The low-power profile of these new drives also enables the use of more cost-effective system power supplies, which lowers energy costs for consumers.

Availability
The CinemaStar C5K500 is expected to ship to customers worldwide early in the second quarter of 2009.

Source: Hitachi GST

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Samsung Announces First Validated 40-nanometer Class DRAM

Samsung Electronics announced today that it has developed and validated the first 40-nanometer (nm) class DRAM chip and module. This new 1-Gigabit DDR2 component (x8) and a corresponding 1-Gigabyte 800Mbps (Megabits per second) DDR2 SODIMM (small outline DRAM inline memory module) - both to be processed at 40-nm - have been certified in the Intel Platform Validation program for use with the Intel GM45 series Express mobile chipsets.
"Securing extremely advanced technology and system/platform validated operability underscores our commitment as technology leader to deploying the most efficient means of producing DRAM in the marketplace," said Kevin Lee, vice president, technical marketing, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.

The migration to 40-nm class process technology is expected to accelerate the time-to-market cycle by 50 percent - to just one year. Samsung plans to apply its 40-nm class technology to also develop a 2Gb DDR3 device for mass production by the end of 2009.

The new 40-nm class process technology will drive further reductions in voltage against a 50-nm class device, which Samsung expects to translate into about a 30 percent power savings

The finer DRAM technology node also delivers an approximately 60 percent increase in productivity over 50-nm class process technology.

In addition, Samsung expects that its 40-nm process node will mark a significant step toward the development of next generation, ultra-high performance DRAM technologies such as DDR4.

Source: Samsung

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First Pictures of Intel Ibex-Peak Chip Packages Emerge

ntel's mainstream market implementation of the Nehalem architecture will come in the form of monolithic quad-core a dual-core chips that have northbridge machinery integrated. Based on the Lynnfield, Clarkesfield (quad-core) and Arandale (dual-core) designs, Intel will place the processors on a common system design dubbed the "Ibex-Peak". The processors are likely to be branded as Core i5, Core i4 or even Core i3 depending on a lot of factors. Additionally, Intel plans enterprise variants of the said chips.

To seat these chips, Intel is designing new sockets: LGA-1155, LGA-1156 the two can be classified into the sockets for the desktop variants, with another LGA-1167 socket most likely to be exclusive for the Xeon variants. PCGH sourced some images from Intel's Design Development Tools (DDT) portal (found here), which tell that Intel names its new series of sockets as "socket H". Pictured below is a processor package viewed from its business-end. The other three you can see, are interposer-boards. These are devices that resemble the actual product packages that sit on the sockets. You can see a grid of leads over the "IHS" of the package. The leads serve to help in the technical development of products based on the package design, hence it is found on the DDT portal. It should give you an idea of what an LGA-1155, LGA-1156 and LGA-1167 processor should look like, sans the leads on the IHS. The images below in the same order. Finally, pictured much earlier, is the Ibex-Peak platform motherboard that demonstrates the design.

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