Hardware Canucks News

Unlike the prototype cards that NVIDIA showed off during CES, a leaked legitimate looking slide from NVIDIA shows that the heatsink assembly of the upcoming GTX 480/470  is designed for maximum heat dissipation.

The most noticable change is the four heatpipes protruding from the side, obviously attached to the GPU’s heatsink and the shroud has been perforated on all sides to offer exceptional ventilation. It is difficult to make out, but it does appear there will be a single exposed fan at the back, though the slides only seem to depict a place holder.

Despite the beefed up cooler, the card still only eats up a standard 2 slots, and doesn’t extend past the industry standard 10.5 inches.  Unlike other monster cards, you won’t need a case that offers more than standard ATX specifications.

The slide also includes other known information such as the 1536MB memory, the 6+8pin power and <300W (296W rumoured) power draw.

The card will be officially unvieled next week on March 26th 2010.

TUL Corporation, a leading manufacturer of AMD graphics cards, today introduces the first and only graphics solution on the planet: the HD5770 Eyefinity 5. The HD5770 Eyefinity 5 features multi-display eyefinity technology, enables up to 5 monitors to be operated from one card through its five mini displayport onboard design. Gamers can easily make use of this unique feature and have different display configurations to enjoy a wider field of view and get more done at the same time.

This unparalleled graphics solution takes advantage of the HD5770 series features, clocking in at 850 MHz core speed and 1200MHz memory speed, the card is ready to tackle all the latest game titles and enable a superior gaming experience. With support for Microsoft’s DirectX 11, the HD5770 Eyefinity 5 provides the most vivid gaming experience like never before. Compatible with ATI Stream technology, the card enables demanding data parallel compute tasks from the CPU to GPU, accelerating daily applications.

“As the first graphics solution supports up to 5 displays, the PowerColor HD5770 Eyefinity 5 delivers an immersive HD gaming performance with wider field of view and increases productivity at the same time,” says Ted Chen, CEO of TUL Corporation.

LSI Corporation today announced it is sampling a PCI Express (PCIe)-based solid-state storage (SSS) solution to OEM customers.

The LSISSS6200 PCIe SSS card provides a high-performance storage solution with enhanced reliability and industry-leading storage density for enterprise servers. For easy system integration and management, the card uses the industry-standard SAS protocol and widely deployed LSI SAS software. The card is designed to maximize transactional I/O performance for applications such as Web serving, data warehousing, data mining, online transaction processing and high-performance computing.

Future customer requirements related to price, performance, power consumption and reliability align well with the benefits of solid-state storage,” said Jeff Janukowicz, research manager, Hard Disk Drive Components and Solid State Drives at IDC. “PCIe-based SSS solutions, such as the LSISSS6200, can reliably meet next-generation data center needs with an improved price-to-performance ratio compared to traditional storage solutions.

Offering high performance with low latency and a low CPU burden, the small form factor PCIe card delivers up to 200,000 4K sequential I/Os per second (IOPS) and up to 150,000 4K random IOPS. It achieves bandwidth of 1,500MB/s sustained sequential I/O and 1,200MB/s sustained random I/O, regardless of read/write mix. Storage capacity of up to 300GB can be configured in a single PCIe slot with no external power requirement. Using industry-standard LSI software drivers, the card provides support for all major operating systems and helps OEM customers achieve a faster time to market.

The new LSISSS6200 card utilizes the industry’s most widely deployed software stack to deliver an enterprise-capable, drop-in storage solution,” said Steve Fingerhut, senior director of marketing, Storage Components Division, LSI. “Providing customers with a new tier of storage between system memory and low-cost disk drives, without sacrificing reliability or simplicity, PCIe-based SSS solutions represent the next evolution in storage architectures for market segments requiring extreme performance.

LSI brings decades of enterprise-level experience in the design, manufacture and support of storage products for critical applications. LSI is already deeply engaged in delivering solid-state storage technologies, from custom silicon to storage systems. Bringing the proven engineering capabilities and global scale of LSI to the development of PCIe-based SSS solutions will help pave the way to market segment maturity and broad enterprise adoption.

The HD 5830 was released a few weeks ago and since then we have seen numerous versions from ATI’s board partners.  Prices have also settled somewhat so this card could have the makings of a good value-oriented product.  In this review we take a look at the XFX HD 5830 1GB and see if the weeks after launch have changed our thoughts about ATI’s newest card.

NVIDIA’s recent launch of its 196.75 drivers was marred by reports of the drivers causing GPU fans to die, potentially leading to some of the cards burning out.

The company did pull the drivers and is set to release another set that not only avoids the fan issue but provides some gaming improvements along the way.  The 197.13 are only beta drivers, though, WHQL versions should be cropping up shortly.

Improvements includ:

• Up to 13% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with a single GPU
• Up to 30% performance increase in Crysis: Warhead with SLI technology
• Up to 13% performance increase in H.A.W.X with single GPU
• Up to 15% performance increase in H.A.W.X with SLI technology
• Up to 30% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with single GPU
• Up to 28% performance increase in Left 4 Dead with SLI technology

It also includes new SLI/multi-GPU profiles for Assassin Creed II, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Command and Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight, Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City, Mass Effect 2, Napoleon: Total War, and Zombie Driver.

The drivers can be downloaded directly from NVIDIA: http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx?lang=en-us

If you do test them out, leave a comment on your experience, including any problems or positive improvements you encounter.

Far ahead of schedule, details on AMD’s hexa-core Phenom II (Thuban) lineup has come to light, courtesy of a motherboard manufacturer’s CPU support list.

The list includes the codenamed 1035T and 1055T models, and from previous AMD information we know the top end chip will be the 1075T and a dual TDP variation of the 1055T. The product lineup upon release should therefore look a little something like:

• Phenom II X6 1035T – 2.6GHz / 95W
• Phenom II X6 1055T – 2,8GHz / 95W
• Phenom II X6 1055T – 2,8GHz / 125W
• Phenom II X6 1075T – 3,0GHz  /125W
  

On most counts, the chips are very similar to the existing Phenom II line, just with an added 2 cores. They will share the same 200MHz core speed and shared 6MB L3 cache, with 512KB L2 per core.

Prices and official launch date have not been announced, but many expect to see a release closer to the end of April.

While Intel was the first to publically debuted hexa-core processors, it looks like AMD will be the one bringing the technology to the masses through units that are affordable to everyday users.

Razer has taken an bold leap in gaming equality as it looks to stamp out the long standing discrimination against left handed gamers.

As a leftie, I have often been dismayed when hearing about the latest gaming peripheral specifically tailored for the world’s approximately 87% right-handers. I’ve been unable to appreciate the greats, such as 90% of Logitech’s lineup, and forced choose between the rather slim pickings of perfectly symmetrical devices instead.

Razer has now taken on the daring task of developing the wildly popular DeathAdder mouse, into a style specifically designed for left-handed gamers and this one in particular couldn’t be more excited.

“Leftie gamers have long been requesting that we develop a gaming grade mouse that is designed exclusively for the left-handed gaming community and we really value the feedback we receive from our fans,” said Robert ‘Razerguy’ Krakoff, president of Razer USA. “Not many gamers know this, but I am a southpaw myself and feel truly excited to have a mouse that fits perfectly in my left hand. There is really no substitute for gaming with your naturally dominant hand.”

The DeathAdder offers:

• 3500dpi Razer Precision 3.5G infrared sensor
• Ergonomic LEFT-HANDED design
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response
• Five independently programmable Hyperesponse™ buttons
• On-The-Fly Sensitivity™ adjustment
• Always-On™ mode
• Ultra-large non-slip buttons
• 16-bit ultra-wide data path
• 60–120 inches per second and 15g of acceleration
• Zero-acoustic Ultraslick Teflon feet
• Gold-plated USB connector
• Seven-Foot, lightweight, braided fiber cable
• Approximate size: 128mm (length) x 70mm (width) x 42.5mm (height)

Surprisingly the mouse doesn’t carry a price premium either, ringing it a $59.99 USD it begins shipping March 24th, 2010.

For the other cuddy-wifters out there, does the promise of a left handed mainstream gaming mouse interest you and could this be the start of  peripheral developers providing more left handed alternatives for their more popular right designed products?

ZOTAC International, the world’s largest manufacturer graphics cards, mini-ITX motherboards and mini-PCs in the channel, today unveils the world’s first ION Upgrade Kits featuring a ZOTAC small form factor motherboard and ZOTAC ION graphics card for a combination that delivers phenomenal value with premium graphics and outstanding user experience.

A ZOTAC ION graphics card with 16 unified shaders and 512MB of DDR3 memory empowers the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits with high-end features such as NVIDIA CUDA and PureVideo HD technologies, DirectX 10.1, DirectCompute, OpenGL and OpenCL compatibility for a high-performance and feature rich experience.

High definition digital content playback is where the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits shine, with hardware acceleration for many popular video formats such as AVC, VC-1, MPEG-4, DivX and many more. Adobe Flash Player 10.1 acceleration enables the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits to playback streaming high definition Internet video perfectly for flawless video and audio quality.

“As the world moves to high definition video formats, our ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits are fully prepared to decode all the available video formats. Whether it is streaming over the Internet or on a disc such as Blu-ray, the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits are ready for the task,” said Carsten Berger, marketing director, ZOTAC International.

HDMI 1.3a compatibility with xvYCC and DeepColor technology enables the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits to support color depths up to 48-bits – beyond the traditional 32-bit color depths – for richer colors with breathtaking details never seen before on a PC when connected to compatible displays.

NVIDIA CUDA technology enables the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits to deliver plenty of performance sufficient for demanding tasks such as image and video processing. Edit photos, create slide shows, convert video files, enhance the quality of videos and other tasks quickly with ease using the ION graphics processor, NVIDIA CUDA technology and compatible software with the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits.

“ZOTAC believes performance and compatibility should never be sacrificed for value. With the ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits, you can have a premium computing experience complete with high-definition video playback, image editing and video processing in a value package,” said Mr. Berger.

The ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits are available in mini-ITX and mini-DTX form factors and pairs a PCI Express x1 ZOTAC ION graphics card with class-leading ZOTAC platforms, including select ZOTAC NM10 series, nForce 610i series, and GeForce 6100 series platforms.

It’s time to play with the value ZOTAC ION Upgrade Kits.

ASUS today announced the launch of the new ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer motherboard which maximizes transmission speeds by integrating the industry’s latest I/O technologies such as USB 3.0, SATA 6G storage interface, and IEEE 1394b FireWire standard. Additionally, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer is equipped with the LGA1156 socket and the latest Intel 3450 chipset with onboard graphics. For extreme gaming enjoyment, up to four ATI CrossFireX cards or 3-way/2-way NVIDIA SLI cards can be accommodated to generate smoother and sharper visuals. It also leverages NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing architecture to support up to four NVIDIA Tesla cards with Clarkdale Processors for intensive high-performance computing.

The ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer is the best choice for providing comprehensive I/O support. It includes USB 3.0 ports—the latest connectivity standard with 4.8Gb/s speeds—to support next-generation components and peripherals. USB 3.0 transfers data ten times faster and is backward compatible with USB 2.0 components. Additionally, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer includes Serial ATA (SATA) 6Gb/s storage interfaces for 6.0Gbps data throughput, thus enhancing scalability, accelerating data retrieval, and doubling the bandwidth of current bus systems. To support FireWire-enabled digital video recorders and computers, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer also includes two IEEE 1394b ports supporting up to 800 Mb/s speeds—doubling the previous IEEE 1394a speeds.

Massive Computing Power up to 4 Teraflops with CUDA Parallel Processing
A powerful and efficient platform, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer supports high-performance computing for life sciences research, engineering and financial modeling with its NVIDIA CUDA parallel computing architecture. By accommodating up to four NVIDIA Tesla cards with built-in Clarkdale processors, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer generates up to 4 Teraflops of processing power from a total of 960 CUDA parallel processing cores.

Stunning Graphics with Multi-GPUs Powered by SLI or CrossFireX Technology
The ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer provides incredible graphics flexibility and enhanced scalability from a single motherboard by supporting either 3-way/2-way SLI or 4-way CrossFireX technology. Users can install up to three SLI-capable GeForce graphics cards at x16, x8, and x8 connection speeds, or two graphics cards at true x16 connection speeds.

Six Embedded Memory Slots for Flexible Memory Options
Embedded with six memory slots, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer can accommodate up to 16GB of DDR3 memory. The flexible options include installing four 4GB modules or two 4GB modules and two 2GB modules. As the price of a 2GB module is 15% less than a 4GB module, the ASUS P7F7-E WS SuperComputer gives users the flexibility to acquire the most RAM at the lowest cost.

GPU Boost Delivers Free iGPU Upgrade
GPU Boost overclocks the integrated GPU in real time for the best graphics performance. The user-friendly UI supports direct frequency and voltage adjustments. Its ability to deliver multiple overclocking profiles also provides rapid and stable system-level upgrades within the OS environment.

When it comes to CPU coolers, most consumers usually have to choose between a low price or good performance since there are very few products on the market that feature both.  With their Traquillo, Gelid is trying to release a product that incorporates the best of both worlds.  Can they succeed?

NVIDIA today announced NVIDIA 3DTV Play, its latest software solution that allows consumers to connect their GeForce GPU-powered desktop or notebook computer to new 3D TVs, for the ultimate in big screen 3D gaming action.

For the launch of 3DTV Play, NVIDIA is teaming up with Panasonic on its coast-to-coast 2010 “Panasonic Touch the Future Tour,” where consumers can test drive 3DTV Play-based PCs running on the new Panasonic VIERA Full HD 3D TVs, that just launched this month.

3DTV Play software lets you connect any compatible NVIDIA GeForce GPU-powered PC or notebook to 3D TVs for the ultimate, high-definition, big-screen, 3D entertainment experience. By leveraging the processing power of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, 3DTV Play software delivers the best the PC has to offer: play hundreds of standard PC games in stunning 3D environments such as World of Warcraft – Wrath of the Lich King, Battlefield Bad Company 2, and James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game. You can also watch upcoming Blu-ray 3D Hollywood blockbusters, view digital 3D photographs, and even watch streaming 3D movies for the ultimate viewing party. The active-shutter glasses bundled with each VIERA full HD 3D TV sold work seamlessly with NVIDIA GPUs and off-the-shelf PC gaming titles and other 3D entertainment content.

Facts about NVIDIA 3DTV Play:

• Can be run on GeForce GPU-based desktop or notebook PCs equipped with an HDMI or DVI connector
• Full support for all HDMI 1.4-compatible 3D TVs, including Panasonic VIERA Plasma full HD 3D TVs
  • Enables 1080p24, 720p60, and 720p50 3D formats
• Advanced NVIDIA software and graphics drivers automatically convert more than 400 games to stereoscopic 3D in real time, without the need for special patches.
• Enjoy full HD Blu-ray 3D playback with real-time GPU accelerated decoding and playback on GeForce GPUs
• Watch streaming 3D movies
• View 3D photographs directly on the 3D TV
• NVIDIA 3DTV Play software will be available later this spring and sold separately with an anticipated U.S. MSRP of $39.99. It will also be available for free for current NVIDIA 3D Vision customers.

For more information on 3DTV Play visit the NVIDIA website.

Despite the fact that the drive has been available from retailers since January 2010, Intel announced today a new addition to its award-winning lineup of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs): the Intel X25-V Value SATA SSD. Priced at $125, the 40 gigabyte (GB) drive is aimed at value segment netbooks and dual-drive/boot drive desktop set-ups to offer users the performance and reliability advantages of solid-state computing at an affordable, entry-level price.

The Intel X25-V features 40GB of 34nm NAND flash memory. This non-volatile memory retains data, even when the power is turned off, and is used in applications such as smartphones, personal music players, memory cards or SSDs for fast and reliable storage of data. SSD benefits over a traditional HDD include higher performance, battery saving and ruggedness. “Adding the Intel X25-V to our existing family of high-performance SSDs gives our resellers a full range of high-performing, quality SSDs for notebook upgrades, dual-drive desktop set ups or embedded applications,” said Pete Hazen, director of marketing for the Intel NAND Solutions Group. “SSD adoption continues to be one of the more exciting trends in personal computing, and this entry-level product enables users to enjoy the productivity and performance benefits of Intel SSDs at a new price point.”

The 40GB Intel X25-V complements Intel’s higher performance Intel® X25-M Mainstream SATA SSD product line that offers 80GB and 160GB capacities. All Intel SSDs are designed and manufactured by Intel using its own NAND flash memory from IM Flash Technologies (IMFT) and include a proprietary controller and updatable firmware. The X25-V is priced at $125 for 1,000-unit quantities and is currently stocked and available in worldwide distribution.

In addition, the X25-V supports the Microsoft Windows 7 Trim function via the Intel® SSD Optimizer. Also included is the Intel® SSD Toolbox, a set of utility tools developed by Intel to help better manage and retain the out-of-box performance of Intel SSDs. Windows XP and Vista users can also use these enhancements which can be downloaded at: www.intel.com/go/ssdtoolbox.

After being teased with spy shots over the past month, Prolimatech has officially launched its next generation of CPU Cooler; the Armageddon.

The heatsink (no fan included) builds on the successful design of the Megahalems and looks to add a bit of design flair along with improved cooling technology. It features a nickel plated solid copper base, with 6 similarly constructed 6mm heatpipes that pass straight through. The thick stack of fins are constructed of aluminum, and are separated in the middle so that there is two indivual towers held together by the top bracket. Unlike many traditional tower coolers, the heatpipes are positioned horizontally throughout the fins, rather than stacked on the ends.

The unit isn’t small either, sized at 144mm (W) x 160.3mm (H) x 50mm (D) and weighing in at 750 g (1.65 lbs). It supports both 120mm and 140mm fans and supports Intel sockets LGA 1156, 1366, 775  and with a optional bracket; AMD sockets AM2+/AM3. The packaging includes the companies PK-1 thermal grease.

Reviews have been posted and the cooler is slated to start shipping at the beginning of April for around 59.90 Euro.

The Republic of Gamers series from ASUS has always been known for being among the best in the industry and the Rampage motherboards are at the their forefront.  The new Rampage III Extreme will soon be released and will represent one of the highest-end motherboards on the market.  In this preview we take the board out for a spin with some extreme cooling in tow.

Creative Technology Ltd. today announced the PCI-E Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and USB Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD, setting the gold standard for PC audio with the first discrete audio card and USB digital audio system to include THX TruStudio PC audio technology.

“The Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and Sound Blaster X-Fi HD provide the highest quality audio playback of any sound products we have ever introduced, over a period of time where we have sold more than 400 million Sound Blaster cards,” said Steve Erickson, Vice President and General Manager of Audio and Video at Creative. “We are thrilled to announce that our newest additions to the Sound Blaster line include THX TruStudio PC audio technology, bringing together two of the most respected names in sound quality to provide an unparalleled audio experience on the PC.”

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD

The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD is powered by the second-generation Creative X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio processor for PCI Express slots. The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD combines captivating industrial design with audiophile grade Digital to Analog Converters (DACs) and components to produce a 122dB signal-to-noise ratio, the highest SNR ever produced by a Creative sound card. A replaceable Op-amp is also a distinguishing feature allowing users to customise audio output with colouration that is refined to their personal tastes.

Additional product specifications include:

* RCA Line Out for audio playback up to 122dB, 24-bit/96kHz Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)
* RCA Line Input for recording up to 118dB, 24-bit 96kHZ Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC)
* 0.001% Total Harmonic Distortion + Noise (THD+N)
* Headphone output for audio listening up to 115dB 33 Ohms, and 117dB, 330 Ohms, at 24bit/96kHz
* Replaceable Op-amps
* Hardware-accelerated 3D positional audio and EAX 5.0 effects that provide a truly immersive experience with headphones and speakers
* Dolby Digital and DTS encoding enables one-step single-cable connection to home entertainment systems
* TOS-link optical-in/out
* 1/8″ microphone-in
* 1/8″ headphone jack
* Creative ALchemy to restore EAX and surround sound that is otherwise lost in DirectSound game titles running under Windows Vista and Windows 7
* ASIO recording support with latency as low as one millisecond with minimal CPU load
* Works with Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HDDesigned as a high definition USB audio solution for notebooks and desktops, the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD USB digital audio system features audiophile-grade recording and playback. It is the only USB digital audio system that includes an analogue phono input, as well as standard audio inputs, enabling users to effortlessly convert analogue audio from their record albums or cassette tapes into MP3, AAC, FLAC and other digital formats. The systems comes with Media Toolbox, a comprehensive software package, including an advanced noise reduction programme that easily remove unwanted clicks, crackles, hums, pops, rumble and other sound imperfections from the tracks after they have been recorded, substantially improving the audio quality for playback.

The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD USB digital audio system also features THX TruStudio PC, bringing the same great audio experience found in live performances, films, and recording studios to laptop and desktop PCs.

Additional product specifications include:

* RCA Line Out for audio playback up to 114dB, 24-bit/96kHz Digital-to-Analog Converters (DAC)
* RCA/Phono Line Input for recording up to 108dB, 24-bit 96kHZ Analog-to-Digital Converters
* TOS-link optical-in/out
* Gold-plated 1/4″ microphone-in
* Gold-plated 1/4″ headphone jack
* USB-bus powered, no external power supply required
* Creative ALchemy to restore EAX and surround sound that is otherwise lost in DirectSound game titles running under Windows Vista and Windows 7
* Works with Windows Vista and Windows 7 operating systems

THX TruStudio PCTHX TruStudio PC is specially designed to bring the same great audio experience found in live performances, films, and recording studios to the PC. THX TruStudio PC provides groundbreaking PC audio technologies, the result of collaborative research and development from Creative and THX. Together, these technologies deliver the fullest audio experience for music, movies and games, while remaining true to the source and intention of the artistes who created it. THX TruStudio PC includes:

THX TruStudio PC Surround
THX TruStudio PC Surround provides immersion control to enhance the natural sense of audio depth and spaciousness by creating virtual surround sound channels. Stereo content or multichannel content played over stereo speakers and headphones will sound as if it is coming from all sides while voices remain centred in front and original balance and timbre is preserved.

THX TruStudio PC Crystalizer
THX TruStudio PC Crystalizer restores the natural dynamic range that is lost when iTunes and MP3 music get compressed. This makes the music sound as good as the artiste originally intended, and adds an enhanced level of realism for movies and games.

THX TruStudio PC Speaker
THX TruStudio PC Speaker fills in the missing low frequency tones and gives the extra impact for a better entertainment experience. Consumers no longer have to tolerate lack of bass in speakers built into notebook PCs, 2.0 speakers or headphones, as THX TruStudio PC Speaker technology dramatically improves the sound experience without a subwoofer.

THX TruStudio PC Dialog Plus
THX TruStudio PC Dialog Plus enhances the voices in movies for clearer dialogue, allowing the listener to hear the dialogue over the rest of the soundtrack and over ambient noise in the listening environment.

THX TruStudio PC Smart Volume
THX TruStudio PC Smart Volume addresses the problem of abrupt volume level changes during playback and between songs by automatically and continuously measuring volume, and intelligently applying gain and attenuation to compensate for those changes.

Pricing and Availability
The Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium HD and Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi HD will be available at The CREATIVE Stores at International Business Park and Marina Square, the online store at sg.store.creative.com and authorised dealers in Singapore from March 2010 onwards at the suggested retail prices of S$299.00 and S$149.00 respectively.

Arctic Cooling a leader in aftermarket cooling solutions has announced its latest GPU Cooler. Designed to fit the newest HD5970 and HD5870 this XTREME cooler has lots of Potential.

The Accelero XTREME comes equipped with 3 92mm PWM fans that are capable of running from 900 to 2000 RPM’s giving an effective airflow of 81 CFM. This should do very well in keeping the latest in ATI’s collection cool.

The only Major differences between the two models are the cooling interface and fin designs. The 5970 features 8 Heatpipes attached to 119 individual fins allowing for 300 watts of heat control. The more modest 5870 Accelero has 5 Heatpipes and 84 fins giving it an effective 250 watts of cooling ability. All this coupled with a 6 year limited warranty makes this a very attractive solution to those seeking aftermarket cooling.

Available in the comming months they will be priced at $67.95USD for the Accelero Xtreme 5870 and $76.95USD for the Xtreme 5970.

ASUS hasn’t been making much noise in the high-end AMD market as of late and has instead concentrated their new Republic of Gamers series motherboards towards Intel users.  That is all about to change with the upcoming release of their Crosshair IV Formula which is based off of AMD’s 890FX chipset.  In this sneak peak we give you a quick glimpse at this new board.