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AMD's 64-bit Technology & Athlon64
Hello,
At the crack of dawn on Tuesday September 23rd
look towards PCstats.com for a full review of the soon to be released AMD Athlon64 processor! This chip is
one of the most highly anticipated of all year, and although I can't disclose
a single thing to you about it right now, I can guarantee that this event
is not to be missed; especially if you are in the market for a new
computer.
For
the moment though, Mike has written up a concise preview of the Athlon64, and AMD's 64-bit Technology
in general.
If you're unsure of what "64-bit computing" really means, or have already decided on the Athlon64, I still highly recommend you read this article.
Now
if you're a die hard Intel fan, we do have some things for you this
week too. For starters, we've taken a look at the Epox 4PDA2+ i865PE motherboard which
shows quite a bit of promise, the all-aluminum Coolmaster ATC-201B
aluminum base which sports a black metallic-flake paint job that would make
'West Coast Choppers'
proud, and the Albatron FX5600U video card
which boasts some really nice numbers for the money. Roll them altogether
and you've got the basis for a good gaming system.
On a more serious note,
if you suffer from repetitive strain injuries (due to typing, gaming, or just from
being on the computer for too many hours) you'll want to look over
the latest guide entitled; Ergonomics and Computers. In the fancy
blue column just to the right, you'll find information on Intel's upcoming socket 775
Prescott processor, and down below, this Weeks Tech Tip!
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 Due on
September 23rd, the Athlon 64 will be a slightly hobbled version of the
Opteron, and with its built in compatibility with current software and
operating systems, will attempt to bridge the gap easily between 32-bit
and 64-bit computing environments. 64-bit... Sounds magical doesn't it? Full of the promise of faster
and more powerful computing. After all, 64 is two times 32, so there has
got to be a performance increase right? Well, yes and no. When we refer to 32-bit or 64-bit processors, what we are talking about is primarily the size of the registers, tiny,
high-speed memory areas built right into the chip itself, closer even than
the level 1 cache memory. You can think of them as the hands of the
processor, in that they hold values to be operated on or combined.
Continue -- Click
Here>>
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With the release of the i865PE 'Springdale'
chipset in May of this year, Intel introduced a core logic that was
targeted squarely at the masses. And did it ever sell! Enthusiasts, and
regular consumers alike have been flocking towards this gem of a chipset,
largely because it offers 95% of the performance of the i875P for about
80% of the price. Epox are a favorite
motherboard manufacturer to many consumers, even if they are somewhat
small when compared to the likes of MSI, Asus or Gigabyte. It's not
just that Epox motherboards are held in good regard, and
typically fast, it's that the boards also tend to offer consumers good
value. Based on the i865PE the Epox
4PDA2+ can be used with any current 'Northwood' Pentium 4 processor.
Continue -- Click
Here>>
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| Today we're going to be looking at the
Cooler Master ATC-201B SXT mid tower aluminum case. The first thing I
thought when I saw and touched the ATC-201B SXT was that this is a pretty
solid case. This is apparent with the black metalic auto paint finish
which cover the side panels. The side panels are 3mm thick and the frame
is 3mm thick and the entire appearance looked high quality. Of course I
would expected that from a case that retails for $255 CDN ($170 US)!
For those of you who want the
ability to see inside your computer but do not have the skill to cut your
own window, or are like me (lazy), the ATC-201B SXT has a factory
installed acrylic window. Continue -- Click
Here>>
Even though Albatron have been producing
computer peripherals for a little over a year now, they've easily
established themselves as a market leader, and dare I say.... a 'Tier One'
manufacturer. If you want a high-end motherboard or videocard, Albatron
have proven that they can deliver as well as anyone. The software package with the Albatron GeForceFX 5600
Ultra is a bit thin with only WinDVD, Duke Nukem MP and a five game lite
CD. Because the Albatron GeForceFX 5600
Ultra supports TV-Out, a S-Video-S-Video and Composite-Composite cable as
well as a S-Video-Composite converter are included in the box.
Continue -- Click
Here>>
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|  Having fun with Carpal Tunnel? Our drug-free guide just
might make you feel a little better.
If you are a long time computer user like me,
you might have noticed the occasional hurts and discomforts that go hand
in hand with spending long periods of time in front of the PC. Stare at a
monitor for hours on end, year after year and most likely you'll
eventually start to notice the pains magnify in frequency and severity. Do
this long enough, and the discomfort could become part of the daily
routine when you sit down to work or game at a computer. Computer Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs),
including conditions like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tendinitis, are the
most common occupational injuries in North America. Many of these cases
would be easily preventable, but still occur due to ignorance of the
symptoms or the severity of the injury. Ironically, repetitive strain
injuries have been documented as far back as 1793. Repetitive strain injury is a blanket term for
several conditions. All involve damage done to one or more of the muscles,
bones, nerves or soft tissue due to constant, recurring motions. This also
referred to as Cumulative Tissue Damage or CTD.Continue -- Click
Here>>
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PCstats Issue
No.104
Circulation: 269,340
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The High Tech
Low Down |
| What would you think if you heard that NVIDIA was planning a version of its nForce chipset with support for Intel's Pentium? It isn't a far-fetched idea, considering that the Xbox is essentially an nForce chipset adapted to work with a Pentium III. It has even been said that the nForce2 would have worked with Pentium 4, had NVIDIA been granted a bus license for the processor.
But now that the Athlon 64 has emerged, complete with an integrated memory controller, NVIDIA's nForce3 simply isn't a performance stand-out, like nForce2. Thus, it'd only make sense that NVIDIA would push forward on new Pentium core logic. The first rumored product will supposedly support PCI Express and the upcoming Socket T, a 775-pin interface that next-generation Prescott and Tejas processors will employ. Support for the 1066MHz front side bus setting and DDR 2 memory is also expected, as Intel's own chipset roadmap calls for the transition next year. Wireless networking (802.11b) is another probable addition, as is an adaptation of NVIDIA's massively popular Audio Processing Unit. Finally, pundits are speculating about integrated graphics, though the inclusion of an NV3X-based core would make the core logic significantly more complicated.
For now, any possibility of an nForce chipset for the Pentium is contingent on NVIDIA's ability to secure a license from Intel - a detail that haunted VIA's Pentium 4 chipset business until only recently.
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| Written By |
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Editor-in-Chief
. M. Page
Weekly Tips
. C. Sun
HTLD Columnist
. C. Angelini |
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