Along with the upcoming AMD RS780
chipset that includes DirectX 10 compliant IGP solutions, the NVIDIA MCP78S
chipset is similar. One of the primary differences is the utilization of the IGP
and GPUs. Power consumption has become a major concern for consumers,
this is due to the ever-increasing energy demands that each new generation of
technology presents. The main problem is how to push the envelope of
performance, while minimizing power consumption. NVIDIA has managed to implement
a way to reduce the power draw from the highest consumer in a desktop system,
which is the discrete video card.
Besides the standard six Sata II ports, twelve USB ports,
Gigabit Ethernet, and 2600MT/s HyperTransport 3.0 bus, the MCP78S chipset gives
the user the ability to pick and choose between integrated and discrete GPUs.
NVIDIA has been working on this project for quite some time, but it was
initially intended for mobile markets and was code named “Power SLI”. Back in June
of this year, the project was renamed Hybrid SLI and had yet to mention desktop usages.
All previous attempts to use this method of power saving
involved a bothersome process that required a reboot of the computer.
With NVIDIA’s execution, this process is instantaneous. During normal
operations, such as office work or web browsing, the discrete GPU can be
disabled. The entire graphics workload then transfers to the IGP. However, when
more intense operations are in need, such as gaming or Folding@home, the
discrete GPU can be initiated. This is an ingenious method that saves not only electricity,
but also the life of those 500$ video cards. Always a good feature for gaming machines
that run 24/7 like ours.
Expect the debut of the MCP78S in Q1 2008. 780 based
motherboards should follow suite. Hexus.net
ran across a photo contained in Abit’s product catalog that details the A-N78HD
motherboard that is launching January 2008. The actual real world power savings this technology provides should
be interesting to see.
The thought of what our lives would be like without the technology we have today is a common thought for us. The nostalgia of the 90s is hard not to laugh at and enjoy. Someone took this one step further and made a parody of the show 24. It portrays what the "high-end" technology would consist of back in 1994. Definitely worth a few laughs. They use landlines, dial up modems, pagers, payphones, dot matrix printers, and hourly Internet rates to name a few. How did anyone accomplish anything?
AMD's Phenom and Spider platform previews are weaving their way across the web today. We'll be updating this story link as more previews come pouring in...
Earlier today, AMD's press release detailed the culmination of their acquisition of ATI. They announced their all AMD platform, which is codenamed "Spider". Spider plans on combining the 7-Series chipsets, the HD3800 GPUs, and the Phenom quad-core processors into one cohesive platform with a good price point. Unfortunately, full availability is slated for H1 2008. Until then, check out their new CPU prices effective today , or read up at Tom's for their fascinating forty-two page low-down on the hardware itself. They definitely put those engineering samples to the test. It looks like AMD has not topped Intel yet, but they are at least moving forward with their new architecture after many delays. AMD is vital to the competitive nature of the dynamic duo. If they are to stay afloat and compete with Intel, this quad themed platform needs to work. The recent capital they acquired is estimated to get them through another six months of operation.
"...The exhaustion in the faces of our editors in the Munich lab is a
testament to the hard work they've put into this article over the past
few hours and days. We tested all three models of the new processor, the Phenom 9700, Phenom 9600 and Phenom 9500
, running each of them through our benchmark suite. Along with the
Phenom processor, AMD is also presenting its "AMD OverDrive" tool.
With the new 7-series chipset family, consisting of the 790FX,
790X and 770, AMD is simultaneously unveiling the Spider platform. Up
to four graphics cards can be set up as a Crossfire X configuration
using the new 790FX chipset..."
Bert Töpelt- Tom's Hardware
Keeping step with many firsts, JAXA (once again) has never before seen footage of the moon in HD. This time around, they have published a video with a Earth Rise and an Earth Set. This is well worth watching, and it offers a great perspective on how large our galaxy really is. Information on the video can be found here
