Ninjalane News

Quanta to remain as biggest notebook maker in 2012

Published: Monday, January 02, 2012 - By: Dennis
News Source: Web

Quanta is in the news again.  I like following what Quanta does on occasion since they were the ones who got me into doing hardware review.

Quanta Computer is expected to ship 57.43-60.50 million notebooks in 2012, remaining as the largest notebook maker, according to industry sources.

With EMS providers withdrawing from the ODM market, main ODM makers of notebooks will face less pressure of price-cut competition for orders in 2012, during which global demand for notebooks is expected to grow by 5-10% from 2011, the sources indicated.

There are only 4 or so companies that actually make laptops, may seem hard to believe but the majority of laptops are all made by a few select companies to match the specs of the respective company.  I know there is an article there but these are the secrets they all want to keep.

HornetTek Fantasy @ LanOC Reviews

Published: Monday, January 02, 2012 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Cleaver name, made me do a double take and wonder why LanOC would be reviewing something like this.

Naming a product after the subject of a Ludacris song definitely garners up images of fast cars, hot women, and wealth. Does the Fantasy from HornetTek live up to my fantasies of a personal media player, and is it something you should consider adding to your already crowded home entertainment system? Read on to find out!

Oh, and its a media player about the size of 6'ish iphones.

Is Overclocking Over?

Published: Monday, January 02, 2012 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Here is a question that isn't so simple to answer, Is Overclocking Over?  The guys at ExtremeTech ask the question and come up with an interesting conclusion.

While we were tossing around story ideas this week, one of the ExtremeTech guys lobbed out this doozy of a press release he received from Kingston. It basically explained how a Romanian overclocking team smashed a few overclocking records, including pushing Kingston’s HyperX DDR3 memory to an incredible 3600MHz (at CL10). The Lab501 team did this, and their other record breakers, with the aid of liquid nitrogen which cooled the RAM down to a frosty -196°C.

I remember reading that story and seemed like big news, both for Kingston and for Lab501.  The thing that most people say when I talk about LN2 cooling is, "Is cooling your system like that practical?"  Of course the answer is no, mostly due to things like voltage degradation and supplies of LN2.  You also have to consider that as processors advance you don't need to overclock to get the performance you "need".  The keyword here is "need" since some of us just "want" more. happy smile

HD 7970: Bulldozer vs. Sandy Bridge vs. Nehalem @ techPowerUp

Published: Friday, December 30, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Articles like these are really fun to read since it puts real numbers to a system type based on your video card instead of the other way around.  Of course we have already determined that DX11 performance is largely dependent on your GPU and less so on your particular motherboard so keep that in mind when looking over the charts.

In our CPU scaling article we investigate gaming performance of AMD's latest Radeon HD 7970 flagship. The processors in our test group have been selected to match popular CPUs used by gamers and enthusiasts: AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer, Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge and Intel Core i7-920 Nehalem.

This begs the question, who would benefit from an article like this?  Simply put overclockers.  Most folks won't be building a system specifically for an HD7970 and if they are they have too much money and really should be concerned with how many 7970's to buy vs what processor to run (implying they already have the best proc).  

One thing you will notice in the article is that the author doesn't call out that any system has been overclocked meaning that the Core i7 920 is running stock while the Core i5 2500k is running faster and with less threads.  Not really a fair comparison.  So why are the 3DMark 11 scores so close?  

I'll let your little hamster wheel churn on that for a bit.

Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD Motherboard Review @ PCSTATS

Published: Friday, December 30, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

It is my opinion that all midrange Z68 motherboards should come with SSD cache chips onboard, not only does it increase performance but adds value to the product.

The Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD motherboard is a socket 1155 platform that can be installed with 2nd Generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 2xxx-series 'SandyBridge' processors. Built around the Intel Z68 Express chipset, the board takes up to 32GB of dual channel DDR3-1066/1333/1600/1866/2133 memory (4GB for 32-bit OS's) in four DIMM slots. Extreme Memory Profiles (XMP) are supported.

Being that this is a Gigabyte motherboard you can also expect it to overclock quite well even with the UD3 at the end.

GIGABYTE Firmware (BIOS) Update on Certain X79 Series Motherboard Models

Published: Wednesday, December 28, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Ninjalane

It is always a good idea to keep your BIOS up to date but the truth of the matter is you dont "need" to update the BIOS unless there is something wrong.  Or, in this case something wrong with your motherboard.

City of Industry, California, December 27, 2011-- It has come to our attention that certain X79 Series Motherboards (see models below) may malfunction due to excess heat when performing Extreme Overclocking beyond the board’s limit. To address this issue and to ensure our product is being used as intended, we urge existing X79 users to either visit GIGABYTE’s official website to download and update their X79 series BIOS, or contact GIGABYTE’s regional service center.

The GIGABYTE X79 Series Motherboards in question are ONLY limited to the following models: G1.Assassin 2 , GA-X79-UD7, GA-X79-UD5 and GA-X79-UD3. The X79 series motherboards not named above are outside the scope of this statement and not applicable.

The BIOS update is to address issues with the PWM and how it may overheat and catch fire.  If you happen to have one of these boards you can use the @BIOS software and update your firmware from within Windows.

Beginners Guides: 99 Performance Tips for Windows XP v1.7

Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Windows 7 is already pretty fast provided you are using modern hardware but there are still things you can do to improve overall performance.

From faster boot times, to speeding up your current hardware, PCSTATS has 99 Tips to make your computer run quicker, better, and more efficiently. Whether this means booting and shutting down quicker, achieving better 3D gaming performance, or just making your PC feel more 'snappy,' chances are there's a tip or two in here to help you speed your current PC up

Worth checking out if you are looking to get more from your Win7 install.

ARM Cortex-A9 PandaBoard ES Benchmarks @ Phoronix

Published: Tuesday, December 27, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

The majority of ARM based computer systems are found in mobile devices like PDAs and smart phones, of course that isn't all the technology is good for.

The performance of the dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 OMAP4460 configuration as found on the PandaBoard ES is quite commendable and in this Phoronix review the dual-core 1.2GHz ARM system with PowerVR SGX540 graphics is being compared to several Intel Atom, Pentium M, and Core Duo configurations running Ubuntu Linux throughout. To spice things up, the pre-production OLPC XO-1.75 was also thrown into the testing mix with its single-core ARMv7 800MHz Sheeva processor.

The PandaBoard seems pretty good for a system that is smaller than Mini-ITX and still supports desktop technologies.

AMD launches 28nm processed Radeon HD 7970 graphics card

Published: Thursday, December 22, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Say hello to the AMD HD 7970, if only on paper  happy smile

The AMD Radeon HD 7970, through AMD App Acceleration, enables high-definition video images and performance improvements for everyday applications. Advancements with AMD Eyefinity technology enable gamers and desktop enthusiasts to connect up to six displays to one graphics card, delivering 3D experiences and 16,000 x 16,000 display resolutions.

It is also armed with the latest PCI Express 3.0 standard to enable image quality, and is additionally equipped with GDDR5 memory, enabling accelerated GPU performance. Through its AMD PowerTune and AMD ZeroCore Power technologies, the AMD Radeon HD 7970 enables higher performance levels while maximizing power efficiencies, the vendor said.

Source: Digitimes

HD 7970 Reviews from around the web
- AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series Graphics Preview @ Madshrimps
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB Video Card Review @ Legit Reviews
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 review @ Guru3D
- AMD Radeon HD 7970: 28nm Tahiti GPU Reviewed @ HotHardware
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 CrossFire Performance Review @ HardwareHeaven
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 Graphics Card Review @ HardwareHeaven
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 @ techPowerUp
- AMD HD7970 Graphics Card Review @ Kitguru
- AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB Review @ Hardware Canucks

Estimated street cost: about $550 US

American tycoon's fortune to be divided up after 92 years

Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

This guy really didn't like his family.

The $100 million (£60 million) fortune of an American timber and iron tycoon, which has been out of reach for the past 92 years due to the terms of his will, is finally to be divided between his descendants. 

When Wellington Burt died in 1919 at the age of 87, in Saginaw, Michigan, he ordered that the majority of his fortune not be distributed until 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild.

The unusual arrangement has been attributed to family feuds and to the eccentricity of Mr Burt, who was once among America's 10 richest men, but no one has been able to say conclusively why he chose it. 

The story is from early this year but stories like this can live on forever and be a model for all rich folks to come.  Of course the moral of the story, be nice to your elders.

Check out the link below for the full story.

Know-How: Digi+ Power Control Rampage IV Formula @ ocaholic

Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

I do wish there were more guides like this running around.

On one hand the BIOS of recent motherboards has become much easier to handle when you look at it from a user interface perspective. But on the other hand you'll find even more settings and options and almost nobody knows what the different entries are here for. For us this is reason enough to jump in and explain in a series of articles what the different features are about. First we start with the Digi+ Power Control features from a brand new Rampage IV Formula motherboard, which we think is a very good example.

There is a good chance that information like this can be found on the ROG Forums, either way it is worth a read.

Zotac Z68-ITX WiFi Supreme Motherboard Review @ ThinkComputers

Published: Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Zotac is one of the biggest names in SFF systems with a huge lineup of Mini-ITX motherboards and appliances and it is good to see they have Z68 enabled products to replace the previous generations.

Small form factor systems are nothing new, but with the Mini-ITX form factor they keep on getting smaller. Today we are going to take a look at a motherboard that is perfect for a small form factor or media center application. The board is the Zotac Z68-ITX WiFi Supreme and it features support for second generation Intel Core processors, discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 430 graphics processor, support for DDR3 memory, USB 3.0, SATA 6GB/s support and of course built-in WiFi. Read on as we check out this tiny motherboard!

Given our experences with Z68 and P67 it is pretty easy to assume the overall level of performance so it really comes down to overall features.

Crucial Ballistix 6GB DDR3 2133 MHz RAM Triple Channel Kit Review @ TechwareLabs

Published: Monday, December 19, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Ok normally I would make some comment about how I live in the same town as Crucial HQ and how they do produce some really good memories but wow what a review.  Three pages long and only one low quality product image.

The price of DDR3 has fallen rapidly lately, making it much more affordable to populate all of your RAM slots. Crucial introduces their new DDR3 2133 MHz Ballistix RAM in a triple channel kit. Find out if you should be using this with your i7.

This is a triple channel kit for Core i7 900 series processors but has timings and speed equal to that of a Sandy Bridge setup so we have to wonder if the modules are really tuned for the 900 series or if they took some extra SB modules and bundled them three to a pack.

Might have to go ask. wink smile

ECS X79R-AX Intel LGA 2011 @ techPowerUp

Published: Sunday, December 18, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

Regular readers will know that I rarely post ECS stuff but their new line of gaming boards have gotten my attention.  They aren't particularly "pretty" but the design is very unique.

With the launch of Intel's latest well under way, ECS has sent us another warrior to battle the twin dragons of injustice, the ECS X79R-AX. Undoubtably the best board ECS has ever released, the ECS X79R-AX is ready for battle, after receiving training no ohter boards has. Set to finally banish the dragons back to the demise they planned for humanity, the ECS X79R-AX has hit the TechPowerUp testing battlefield.

Not sure what this talk of Dragons is about but the board does come feature packed supporting 4way graphics cards and twelve SATA ports.  It's almost like ECS didn't get the memo that X79 wasn't supposed to have that many. 

The Internet Explorer 6 Countdown

Published: Thursday, December 15, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Web

Moving the world off Internet Explorer 6

10 years ago a browser was born that changed the world and killed Netscape, its name was Internet Explorer 6. Now its 2011 an era of modern web standards so it’s time to say goodbye.

Most developers have completely written off IE6 and rather than trying to adopt there websites to support the old browser they simply let it fail gracefully.  Ninjalane.com is one of those sites, but is also a site who hasn't fully embraced "all" of the modern standards as an attempt to support the 90%.

It would seem that Miscrosft is trying to get the world to stop using IE6 by launching an IE countdown in hopes that the world will upgrade.  

Other sites are reporting that MS will forceably upgrade computers to the latest version of IE which begs the question, if the user isn't using a genuine version of windows, and has turned off automatic updates, how are they going to get it?  On a similar notes assuming MS is going to ignore the legness of the OS, what is stopping them from installnig a time bomb with the browser to remote disable the system after a certain amount of time?  

Sources
- Microsoft Is Nuking Internet Explorer 6 With Worldwide Automatic Upgrade
- IE 6 deep-sixed in Microsoft browser overhaul
- The Internet Explorer 6 Countdown

Either way this should be fun to watch.

MSI Radeon HD 6950 1GB Twin Frozr III Power Edition OC Review @ Hardware Canucks

Published: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

There are several things that makes MSI video cards unique and the most notable is the cooling solution comprised of elegant heatpipes and dual variable speed fans.  While the card doesn't have an external exhaust the overall cooling is exceptional.

The most recent graphics card in MSI's quickly expanding stable doesn’t aim for the headlines but continues a longstanding tradition of offering excellent performance at a reasonable cost. Their HD 6950 Twin Frozr III 1G/OC (yes, it’s a mouthful) only goes for around $260 but should be able to play almost any game on the market at its highest detail settings and mid to high resolutions.

HD6950 cards are the current sweet spot in the AMD lineup offering good DX11 performance with only a slight sting in the pocketbook.  Makes you wonder if these cards can be flashed to HD6970 status.

Asus Rampage IV Extreme @ LanOC Reviews

Published: Monday, December 12, 2011 - By: Dennis
News Source: Email

It wasn't until I "really" got into overclocking that I understood why so many of the top overclockers used ASUS products.  Of course some of that is driven by sponsorships and extreme loyalty but once you remove the fanboys (and girls) from the equation you are left with board and cards that they really do perform. 

The Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) products encompass the top of the line where cost is rarely an object and fondling is encouraged.

For X79 we have taken a look in detail at both the reference design and Asus’s professional solution. What about a model made specifically for gaming? The X79 platform is called an enthusiast platform; there are finally no limitations on bandwidth to video card, something that was an issue on 1155 motherboards.  Today we are going to take a look at Asus’s Rampage IV, their flagship motherboard designed specifically for someone who only wants the best. Will this be the end all be all motherboard? Let’s find out!

Looking at a product from all angles can be a difficult proposition and can sometimes skip over certain details that may not be that important, even if the review is 19 pages long! shock smile 

I'll let you be the judge.