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Spec.org Shows Off Performance of Quad-Core Chips from AMD and Intel

Benchmark results of AMD’s quad-core server processors in CPU 2006 benchmark suite from Standard Performance Evaluation Corp. were recently published at Spec.org, confirming that AMD’s new microprocessors have overwhelming advantage in floating point performance, but cannot boast with unprecedented integer performance.

Click for more on AMD’s Quad-Core Chips Dominate SPECfp, But Intel Holds SPECint Firmly. »

ATI adds value priced HD 2900 PRO 512MB and 1GB graphics cards to lineup, same core as 2900XT but a lower clock.

The first of the HD 2900 PRO cards features 512MB GDDR3 and a 9-inch fansink. The card will include two DVI-I to VGA adapters, one component HDTV adapter, an ATI DVI to HDMI adapter, and one 9-pin VIVO adapter and a CrossFire bridge interconnect.  AMD claims this card will hit store shelves at $249.

Click for more on ATI Radeon HD 2900 PRO Graphics Cards: Announced and Reviewed »

The dream machine: Dual Quad-Core processors coupled with 8800GTX SLI.

Intel SkullTrail is an enthusiast gaming platform, which is a dual CPU system set to rival the AMD Quad FX platform. It is reported to have SLI and Quad SLI support.

Here are some extreme machines on IDF: One was powered by a 3.0GHz Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (Yorkfield), another was a stock Skulltrail machine equipped with dual 3.4GHz quad-core processors, and the last system was a modded Skulltrail that was overclocked to 4GHz.  The modded machine featured a pair of vapor phase-change coolers for the processors, liquid-cooled memory and GeForce 8800 GTX cards.

Click for more on Intel Skulltrail and Penryn Performance Preview »

Next-gen memory spec. for extreme overclockers

This week, memory module manufacturer Corsair announced a new set of high-performance DDR3 modules that fit Intel’s Extreme Memory specification. These modules have additional overclocking profiles built into the SPD (serial presence detect) ROM on the memory module, which allows simple and reliable overclocking of memory. Intel Extreme Memory is intended for the upcoming release of high-end desktop motherboards using Intel’s X38 chipset.

The next generation of EPP, dubbed EPP 2.0, is in the works, but will also differ from Intel Extreme Memory. EPP 2.0 will add DDR3 support for unannounced Nvidia chipsets.

When asked if this might increase buyer confusion, Corsair Vice President of Marketing Jack Peterson noted that the company planned an educational campaign, using price breaks and bundling to steer users to the right memory and motherboard combination. Peterson also suggested that the company was investigating a utility that would allow users to re-burn EPP profiles into Intel Extreme Memory and vice versa, but no final decision has been made.

Source: ExtremeTech

It works better for older system with less than 512MB ram than the newer ones.

PC Stats has an interesting six page review regarding Microsoft Windows Vista’s ReadyBoost feature. ReadyBoost is supposed to allow the user to plug in a fast USB stick into their system to speed up work the OS needs to do and effectively improve the computer’s performance by storing non-essential information on the drive. The review concludes that this is not the case with current USB keys on the market. Although ReadyBoost does improve overall performance on the system, it is not enough to make a significant difference or to raise some eyebrows. It seems that on older computers with little memory (512MB), ReadyBoost can help out much more than on newer systems - probably the systems Vista would be installed on anyways. Surprisingly enough, however, ReadyBoost did make a slight mark even on video game performance and system startup time.

Click for more on Windows Vista & ReadyBoost: Does it Make a Difference? »

Not everyone’s a gamer. When you see ATI or Nvidia release chips for cards that will cost upwards of $600, quite a few people simply shake their heads and wonder what the hell those companies are thinking. Aren’t there any next-gen cards for non-gaming PCs? You know, computers that are mainly used for Web surfing, email, and shopping online; or for business, finances, spreadsheets, and monitoring stock tickers?

Meanwhile, Windows Vista is making its best attempt to steamroll across the country, though the actual need for it is questionable at best. But some of us are early adopters, and we want the latest. Not all of us who fall into that category, however, want to pay an ungodly sum of money for a graphics card that will handle Window Vista’s frosty-cool Aero interface.

Extremetech.com tested 8 DX-10 cards and here is the quick specification:

3DMark06 Test

Vista Experience Index

And the conclusion:

Source: ExtremeTech.com