MSI Z77-GD55 Motherboard - Preemptive strike
Intel's next generation processor, the
"Ivy Bridge", has yet to hit the market, and yet component makers are
already fast catching up by launching an army of Z77 based components. MSI is
no different, starting off early with the MSI Z77-GD55 motherboard. The
Z77-GD55 brings back all the things we all love about MSI motherboards:
Military Class III components, PCIe 3.0, it's all here. Other features such as
OC Genie and the ClickBIOS UEFI also return as welcome features to the MSI
Z77-GD55.
MSI Z77-GD55 Motherboard
Price: TBA
Info: www.msi.com
Motorola Atrix 2 - The Atrix returns with some fashion
When the first Motorola Atrix came out some
years ago, it opened up a whole host of ideas as to what users can do with
their smartphones, giving them the freedom of choice between either hooking it
up to a bigger display (thus turning it into a computer), or to bring it along
for a walk as a portable entertainment device. Motorola has improved on the
Atrix by making a few changes that would make the device a lot more appealing
to consumers. These include the inclusion of a new dual-core A9 Cortex
processor. Android 2.3 Gingerbread and 8GB of storage, expandable via a microSD
card. Similar to the old Atrix, the WebTop dock enables users to hook up the
Atrix 2 to a 1080p display, allowing users to treat the smartphone as a
computer with a keyboard and mouse.
Motorola Atrix 2
Price: TBA
Info: www.motorola.com
NVIDIA GTX 680 - Kepler the crippler has arrived
Much noise has been made about NVIDIA's
Kepler-based GTX 680, but based on the initial reviews that have been making
its rounds on the Internet, NVIDIA's latest graphical beast appears to have
blown everything the other camp has out of the proverbial water.
Introducing new tech such as GPU Boost and
Adaptive V-Sync, the new GTX 680 is capable of automatically overclocking
itself based on the temperature of the card and how much workload it's
currently processing. This actually leads to better scalability and lower power
consumption compared to the other powerhouse GPUs that are out there in the
market. Undoubtedly, component makers such as ASUS, MSI and GIGABYTE have all
come forth to bring their own flavour of Kepler, so be sure to look out for our
reviews in the coming issues!
NVIDIA GTX 680
Price: TBA
Info: www.nvidia.com
MSI Lightning R7970 - Unlocking hidden potential
MSI's Lightning series of GPUs have always
been top-of-the-line products, and this has continued with the Lightning R7970.
Powered by AMD's 28nm HD 7970, the card features an all-new Unlocked Digital
Power Architecture that incorporates an unlocked BIOS, Digital PWM Controller and
Enhanced Power Design to boost graphics potential and make overclocking easier.
It also implements the innovative GPU Reactor, a power supply module which
increases power current by 88%, and the next generation Twin Frozr IV cooling
technology that features two 10cm PWM fans with Propeller Blade Technology. MSI
has also developed the 3x3 OC Kits that enable users to quickly fine-tune and
track the performance of the R7970 with the Afterburner OC software.
MSI Lightning R7970
Price: TBA
Info: www.msi.com
Corsair Obsidian Series 550D Mid Tower Case - Designed
by builders, for builders
PC building enthusiasts should be familiar
with Corsair, a brand that specialises in making computer cases and components.
The company has just released its latest mid-tower casing, the Obsidian 550D.
Featuring two 120mm intake fans and one 120mm exhaust fan, it is more than
enough to deliver the airflow required for a high-performance system. It also
has extra touches such as magnetically mounted dust filters and s side-panel
removal button. With eight expansion slots for graphics cards, six tool-free
3.5-inch hard drive bays and integrated 2.5 inch SSD support, the top drive
cage can also be removed to accommodate 425mm graphics cards. The Obsidian 550D
is made from stamped steel and brush aluminium, which provides both durability
and style.
Corsair Obsidian Series 550D Mid Tower
Case
Price: $ 185
Info: www.corsair.com
Epson GPS Running Monitor - Keeping pace
The Epson arm of Seiko Epson Corporation is
known for their lineup of printers more than anything else, so colour us
surprised when we found this gem of a device in the Epson GPS Running Monitor.
It's touted as the world's lightest GPS-enabled running monitor, featuring a
svelte design and long-lasting batteries. Despite its compact size, the monitor
has a remarkably accurate built-in GPS module. Strapped to a wrist, it will
provide runners with accurate performance data on the fly, including distance,
pace, and speed, on any course whatsoever. The running monitor can operate for
up to 12 hours on a full charge with GPS tracking on - more than enough time
for long-distance events. And unlike other GPS monitors, the Epson GPS Running
Monitor is water resistant up to 50 metres, which means that users can use it
even while swimming.
Epson GPS Running Monitor
Price: N/A
Info: www.epson.com
