EPoX Boards w AMD Dual Core Support

ChipsetModel NamenForce4 SLi9NPA + SLi; 8NPA3J SLinForce4 4X9NPA7I; 8NPA7I; 8NPAJnForce49NPAJ; 9NPA3J/InForce3 2509NDA3I; 8KDA7IVIA K8T8909HEAI

EPoX, a leading manufacturer of high performance motherboards, announced itis a launch partner for AMD’s new dual-core processor technology. EPoX will beone of the first companies in the world to create and ship systems based on thenew AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor. EPoX motherboards are always knownfor the compatibility, overclocking as well as reliability. As the winner ofdozens of industry awards, EPoX AMD platform series with Dual – Core processorsupport are no doubt your best buy choices.

Epic Games and Microsoft releases developer video documentary for upcoming Gears of War 3 game

As most gamers will undoubtedly know, waiting by the sidelines for a highly anticipated title to launch can be quite the nerve-wrecking event, especially when one has not been able to secure early access to the games beta channels before they are scheduled to go permanently offline today. However, if you are the kind of gamer who thrives on getting as much information about the game before it eventually launches globally, Microsoft may have just the thing for you, and it comes in the form of a just-released video documentary for the upcoming Gears of War 3 game for the Xbox 360.

Titled “Making Gears 3: Inside the Wicked Workshop”, Microsoft claims in a press release issued today that the video documentary will focus on Chris Perna, who is currently working for Epic Games as an Art Director. According to Microsoft, Chris will be talking about how he conceived the characters and settings for one of the bestselling games for Microsofts video game console, but the real draw will have to be the revelation of two special editions of the game, theLimited Edition and Epic Edition, with each version boasting its own various unique and exclusive freebies that come bundled with the game.

Touted as the must-have for fans who want to “celebrate the culmination” of the Gears of War trilogy, the Limited Edition will include the following:

An Octus Award Box and Octus Service Medal – Replicas of the honors bestowed on Adam Fenix, Marcus’s father, for his work on the Hammer of Dawn.Exclusive Unlockable Adam Fenix Multiplayer Character – Each Octus Service Medal replica is engraved with a unique Xbox LIVE code that is the only way to unlock Adam Fenix in multiplayer.A fabric COG Flag – Proud colors that once flew above the House of Sovereigns.The personal effects of Adam Fenix, including his “Last Will and Testament,” the initial Hammer of Dawn schematic, and other Fenix family mementos.

For the hardcore fans...well, the job of satisfying them falls to the aptly-named Epic Bundle. And from the looks of it, the Epic Bundle is definitely the most epic of the two special editions; in addition to getting all of the goodies available in the Limited Edition, gamers will also get to enjoy the following:

A Limited Edition Marcus Fenix Statue – Designed by Epic Games Art Director Chris Perna and expertly crafted by the artisans at Triforce, this fine PVC statue collectible makes the ultimate living room centerpiece for any true “Gears” fan.The Art and Design of Gears of War by Tom Bissell - Through unprecedented access to the Epic Games team, acclaimed author Tom Bissell (Extra Lives) gives readers an incisive behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of the most celebrated sagas in video game history with 96 pages of interviews, photos, concept artwork and more.Infected Omen Weapon Pack -- Custom multiplayer skins for the game’s five starting weapons; Lancer, Retro Lancer, Hammerburst, Sawed-off Shotgun, and Gnasher Shotgun.

Ironically, a quick look at Microsofts Gears of War home page reveals that the aforementioned video documentary has not been made available for public viewing on the site yet, but we are fairly certain that it will only be a matter of time before the video is eventually published.

Erm...excuse me Microsoft? We seem to be missing a video...

Last but not least, if any of the above special edition packs of Gears of War strikes for your fancy, our advice would be to start saving now, for these special edition packs are going to be quite costly. Just so you know, the Limited Edition will be retailing for US$79.99, while the Epic Edition will boast an equally epic price tag of US$149.99.

Digital download accounts for 50 percent of computer games industry

The computer video games market is running strong, but a certain portion of it is not. Major developers like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard are expecting revenue of digital downloads to overtake sales from boxed/physical copies within the next few years.

“There will come a point, whether it is two or three years from now when, we say, ‘We are doing more in digital media now than we are in physical media.’ And it’s clearly not far away,” said Peter Moore, COO of EA.

EA’s revenue from digital sales has spike drastically within the last 12 months as the Redwood City-based company reportedly raked in USD $1.3 billion from digital sales.

Adding to the ailing boxed copies sector is the insurgence of free-to-play and social games. Many of these games are readily available on almost all Android and iOS devices, and most importantly they come at no cost to consumers. These types of games rely heavily on in-game purchases to generate revenue—thus, it’s another example of how the video gaming industry is going digital.

NPD Group researchers estimated that U.S. sales of boxed games dropped 20 percent in July to $548 million, which accounts for about 50 percent of a $1.1 billion industry total.

EA, and other software developers, are taking the necessary precautions to remain relevant in the computer gaming industry, however. Activision Blizzard has been releasing digital downloads of popular titles such as StarCraft II, and Diablo III. EA, on the other hand, has a full-on online digital store it calls Origin.

As times are changing, EA is expecting that sales from its digital products to be $1.7 billion in its fiscal year to March 2013.

Analysts are expecting investors at the upcoming gamescom in Germany to look more at how each particular company are adjusting to the changes in the digital component of the video games industry. Creativity and innovation are strong components in luring investors, but the amount of money made from digital contents don’t lie—that is, investors will be aware of which company hasn’t adopted the trend.

Elekit Tube Amplifier

Elekit Tube Amp

Koichi Futatsumata, a Japanese designer and founder of Case-Realstudio, was commissioned by electronics manufacturer EK Japan Co., Ltd.(Fukuoka, Japan) to design an amplifier that will appeal to a youngerage bracket. After months at the drawing board,Futatsumata created the Elekit Tube Amp,a vacuum tube hybrid stereo amplifier. Featuring two front-mountedaluminum dials, a low 10 x 10 watt output, tone control stage, typicalinput and output jacks, the simple and elegant Elekit Tube Amp will nodoubt attract many audio enthusiasts.


Concept pictures


Elekit Tube Amp front view

“Elekittraditionally manufacture affordable, high-end audio equipment in kitform. Fatsumata was commissioned to design an amplifier that would besold ready-assembled to appeal to a younger generation.�

Features:
Vacuum tube hybrid stereo amplifierTone control stage / Tubes (2x 6SN7GT), Power amplifier stage / Semiconductors (IC)Rated output power of 10 + 10 WattsRated power consumption at 38WRated power source of 100V AC 50-60HzRear RCA jacks / 560mV (For component type player), Side mini phone jack / 180mV (For portable music player)Frequency response – 5Hz – 50kHz (-3dB)Features automatic sleep mode (with no input signal)Measures W265 x H103 x D151 (millimeters, including projections)Weighs 2.6kgNews via [Dezeen]

ATi R600 Help Ease IC Substrate Oversupply

The upcoming R600, which is made on 80nm, is helping ease the oversupply of IC substrates, according to a Chinese-language Commercial Times report, which noted that the chip is expected to be officially announced on either March 8 or 9. The paper said that orders for IC substrates started to be released in late January and the ramp up in demand was evident in the January sales record of major substrate makers, including Nanya Printed Circuit Board (NPC), Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT) and Kinsus Interconnect Technology.

AMD's next-gen GPU family codenamed Sea Islands

While Southern Islands is only just beginning to roll out, a recently ex-AMD ASIC designers Linkedin profile reveals the possible codename for AMDs next-gen GPU family - Sea Islands.

During his tenure as MTS Design Engineer at AMD, Alexander Shternshain worked on Evergreen and Northern Islands - branded HD 5000 and HD 6000 families, Fusion APUs - Ontario (C/E Series), Llano (A-Series) as well as Krishna, whose fate is unknown. The final two GPU families mentioned are Southern Islands - which we already have come to know as Radeon HD 7000 family - and the future family, Sea Islands.

Unlike the rather vague codenames of Northern Islands and Southern Islands, Sea Islands directly refers to the chain of islands on the USAs Atlantic coast. We can thus expect the individual chips from the family codenamed along the lines of the prominent islands in the region.

Sea Islands, if that is indeed the final codename, is still a long way away - possibly late 2012/early 2013 at the earliest - while the rumour mill is still digesting Southern Islands. We can expect AMD to build on the GCN architecture with Sea Islands as TSMCs 28nm process matures.

Source: Linkedin