Tech News for Saturday October 30th
1999.
Night and day!
Posted: 10/30/99 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
I just installed the nVidia reference drivers V2.17
and fired up the new Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and it was like playing a
whole new game. I was going to install V2.08 nVidia reference drivers but found
a version just after that. The Microsoft Flight sim is now very playable at
1024x768 16bit color which was a major improvement over the latest V3.53 drivers
where at best I could get 800x600 and it was still slow. I haven't tried 32bit
color yet.
I'm going to stick with these drivers (V2.17) until someone fixes the latest
reference drivers. If you would like to download the V2.17 reference drivers you
can download them here.
A couple of eagerly anticipated software releases.
Posted: 10/30/99 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
Download some very useful programs that have been
released today:
List of various nVidia reference drivers.
Posted: 10/30/99 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
If you want to go back and download some of the older
nVidia reference drivers you can grab them from Zoiah
HQ. Jump directly to the Win98/Win95 section here
or Windows NT section here.
More nVidia reference drivers 3.53 performance
issues.
Posted: 10/30/99 Source: Riva3D
Added by: Kim Heise
I was over at Billy's Voodoo extreme site and he had
posted a snippet that has me very concerned regarding the latest nVidia (V3.53)
reference drivers. I had just installed the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator
2000 and was dumbfounded that the game was just unplayably slow in terms of
video performance. Then I see this article over at Riva3D and they also just
tried the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator 2000 and they were horrified as I
was regarding the video performance.
I think I'm going to try the V2.08 reference drivers and try the new flight
simulator again. I'll let you know what I discover. Anyway to get you updated
with the piece from Riva3D here it is:
ACK. It would seem that the 3.53 detonators are lying about their AGP
capabilities, and are in fact, pushing textures out across the system bus and
not the AGP bus. This would account for the lack of a performance change when
changing AGP aperture size. This could certainly lay at the root of my
performance issues in these texture-intensive games. Additionally, these test
results illustrate why requests for AGP memory do go answered for games that try
and use the AGP capabilities of the card anyway...the downfall is that the
transactions occur across the system bus (why did I ever bother with an AGP
card, NVidia?). Is this some new hidden limitation of the GeForce skulking in
the closet that TNT/TNT2 users inherit as a result of using these drivers? Why
do these drivers continually report a constant pool of available memory, when
clearly it's anything *but* constant?
Tech News for Friday October 29th
1999.
Get your RAM while it's hot!
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
If you are planning on adding more RAM to your system
just hold of a couple of weeks as SDRAM RAM prices are expected to drop to an
all time low. There are two articles on ZDNET that caught my eye regarding the
free fall on SDRAM RAM prices. The first
one talks about a possible collapse on SDRAM prices in November and the second
one looks at the Taiwanese government getting involved to control the outrageous
price hikes we've seen in the past. I think this may just add up to some good
deals for us consumers.
Happy Halloween!
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: N/A
Added by: Kim Heise
Just a quick post to wish everyone happy Halloween and
may you get lots of candy and I don't mean new computer hardware. ;)
Detailed Intel "Coppermine" review.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: Anandtech
Added by: Kim Heise
The ever hard working Anand has posted a full review
on Intel's new cash cow. He reviews and benchmarks all the new Coppermine chips
which include the 500mhz, 550mhz, 600mhz (133mhz FSB), 650mhz, 667mhz (133mhz
FSB), 700mhz and the 733mhz (133mhz FSB).
There are overly no surprises in this review. As predicated Intel is now the
speed king again with the 733mhz "Coppermine" - for this week anyhow.
We the consumers should see the whole Intel/AMD saga as eventual more choices
and lower prices. I think Christmas and quarter 1 of Y2K are going to be very
exciting with 1000mhz chips.
nVidia reference driver information.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: Riva
Station
Added by: Kim Heise
Riva Station discusses some performance issues with
the latest nVidia reference drivers (V 3.53) and it looks like the performance
on these new drivers is not a good as with V2.08. Unfortunately with more and
more DirectX 7.0 games hitting the circuit you don't have too many options. Also
the latest V3.53 reference drivers appear to be causing havoc with some older
titles. Here's the scoop from Riva Station:
The performance of v3.53 drivers is a bit slower than the
v2.08 drivers. But the difference is only very small.
Some applications have problems with v3.53 on TNT2. Shogo for example no
longer shows fog with v3.53 on TNT2. This problem does not occur with
GeForce on v3.53 drivers!
Guillemot buys Hercules.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: Anandtech
Added by: Kim Heise
Here's a clip from the article:
This acquisition makes it possible Guillemot Corporation to
associate with its technological know-how in the 3D a mark of foreground and
thus, to accelerate and extend its international development.
This acquisition could be carried out under very favorable
conditions because of financial difficulties encountered by the company Hercules
Computer Technology Inc during last spring. Guillemot Corporation thus acquires
the whole of the credits of the company Hercules Computer Technology Inc of
which the mark, the domain name, all designs and patents, goodwill, stocks and
the appropriations customers for an amount of 1 million and half of US dollars.
New Intel i815 "Solano" chipset this year?
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: The
Register Added by: Kim Heise
This is amazing: Intel just released the i810
(Whitney) chipset and they plan to release the new i815 "Solano" as
early as December. The only mentioned new feature is AGP 4x.
Savage 2000 video card imminent.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: nVNews
Added by: Kim Heise
This is going to be Diamond's/S3's first video card
since the merger. The Savage 2000 is about to be shipped and so far public
reaction has been of disappointment since the card is being shipped with a
slower clock speed than was originally posted. In a nutshell Savage2000.com
has reported that the FINAL clock speed of Savage2000 will be 125MHz core and
155MHz memory. This configuration will result in fill rate of 500 MT/s.
The original specs stated 700 MT/s.
If you are more interested you can read a preview over at GamePC
on the Savage 2000 and see some early Quake III benchmarks over at Savage2000.com.
More info on Intel's new "Timna" chip.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: ZDNET
Added by: Kim Heise
ZDNET has posted a more detailed article on Intel's
upcoming CPU "Timna". In the article it states that Intel is shifting
it's company focus from simple processors to a more integrated processor. Not
sure how to interpret this announcement from the CPU
Windows NT Service pack 6 thoughts...
Posted: 10/29/99 Source:
N/A Added by: Kim Heise
Just in case you are wondering how well the new
service pack is working I have been using it for almost 24hrs now on a single
and dual CPU configuration and it hasn't broken anything (yet). Good luck trying
to download it as the servers were severely tied up yesterday. I still haven't
seen a official press release from Microsoft regarding the new service pack.
New Voodoo Banshee/2000/3000 drivers.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: 3dfx
Gamers
Added by: Kim Heise
3dFX has released the first batch of DirectX7.0
drivers for the Voodoo series of video cards. If you own a Voodoo 2000 or a 3000
download the drivers here
and Banshee owners can download them here.
Intel Y2000 Roadmap.
Posted: 10/29/99 Source: Intel
Added by: Kim Heise
Intel's CEO discussed the Y2000 roadmap and the main
highlights are Pentium III 800mhz chips in the first half of Y2k,
"Willamette" clocked at 1ghz in the second half of Y2k and
"Timna" should also be out in the 2nd half of Y2k.
In case you have not heard about "Timna", it is Intel's first
"PC-On a Chip". Not sure what that means but I think it basically
means more integration of secondary system components onto one single chip - e.g.
Video/Sound.
Tech News for Wednesday October 27th
1999.
Cable Modem or DSL?
Posted: 10/27/99 Source: Tech-Review
Added by: Kim Heise
If you are lucky enough to obtain one or both of these
hot new Internet technologies then you should read this article before deciding
which one to get. This article reviews the pros and cons of both cable modems
and DSL.
Totally off topic.....
Posted: 10/27/99 Source: MSNBC
Added by: Kim Heise
I know this topic is not directly related to the usual
posts on this site but I couldn't resist putting it up here because it's so
bizarre. Here's the deal: A team of British graduate students laid out plans for
a genetically modified Christmas tree that glows. The same group has also been
able to breed "glowing" mice! Take a look at this article here
and you can see for yourself pictures of a "glowing" mouse.
Intel "Coppermine" CPU shortage.
Posted: 10/27/99 Source: The
Register
Added by: Kim Heise
The Register reports that Intel is having problems
delivering the new "Coppermine" CPU to distributors. Here's the main
piece from the article:
Intel also pulled the plug on its "early access" plan for distributors
and dealers, under which they can buy up to three new processors ahead of
launch. In this case, the Pentium III 733s, 700s, 667s, 650s, 600EBs, 600Es, and
533s in the SECC2 package were all affected.
The move is a further grave embarrassment for Intel in the wake of the i820
Caminogate debacle, and prompts the question of whether Intel really was ready
to ship product, or whether it was just a marchitectural move to try to scupper
AMD's successful intro of the Athlonium.
AMD price cuts.
Posted: 10/27/99 Source: AMD
Zone
Added by: Kim Heise
Just checked over at the AMD Zone and they have posted
some of the huge price cuts on the Athlon K7 CPU's in retaliation to Intel's
"Coppermine" CPU.
Athlon/700 $849 to $699 (wow - that's $150) ,
Athlon/650 $615 to $519, Athlon/600
$449 to $419, Athlon/550 $304 to $279
and Athlon/500 $209 to $209.
Tech News for Tuesday October 26th
1999.
Windows 2000 official date is February 17th 2000.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: ZDNET
Added by: Kim Heise
This is it folks (hopefully)! Windows 2000 will be on
the streets February 17th 2000. Here's a snippet from ZDNET:
The company will launch the product in San Francisco at IDG
World Expo's Windows 2000 Conference and Expo trade show slated for Feb. 15
through 17 at the Moscone Center, sources said. Word
of Microsoft's plans to launch Windows 2000 in February began leaking out
earlier this month.
AMD drops Athlon prices by up to 18%.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: ZDNET
Added by: Kim Heise
With Intel's new "Coppermine" processors AMD
has decided to slash the prices on their current Athlon K7 chips.
AMD's largest price reduction came on the 700MHz Athlon
chip, whose price was slashed by 18 percent from $849 to $699. AMD's 650MHz
Athlon was reduced from $615 to $519, a 16 percent price cut, company officials
said.
Smaller cuts were made on Athlon 600MHz and 550MHz chips.
The Athlon 600 fell from $449 to $419, a 7 percent reduction. The Athlon 550
chip was cut by 8 percent from $304 to $279. AMD held the price of the 500MHz
Athlon steady at $209. These prices are for smaller quantities of 1,000 units or
more, the officials said.
Intel 800mhz "Coppermine" preview.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: Sharkyextreme
Added by: Kim Heise
Is it me or is the constant flow of new CPU's starting
to become ridiculous? It seems as soon as you buy the fastest processor
available, a new one is released a couple of days later making the price drop on
the one you just purchased fall in half.
Sharkyextreme has posted a preview on Intel's upcoming 800mhz Pentium III chip
which should be available in January 2000 sometime.
Asus posts GeForce 256 specs.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: Asus
Added by: Kim Heise
Saw this post over at nvNews
that Asus has officially posted a press release page regarding their new GeForce
256 based video cards. Here's the bottom line:
AGP-V6600 - GeForce 256TM, 32MB, VGA
AGP-V6600 Deluxe - GeForce 256TM, 32MB,
TV-out, Video-in, VR 3D glasses
No prices were posted. You can read the full specs here.
Kenwood 72X TrueX CD-ROM Drive!
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: Kenwood
Added by: Kim Heise
Make sure you are sitting down when you read this press
release from Kenwood regarding their new 72 spin CD-ROM drive. I would have
never believed this if I didn't read the press release myself and all for
$129.
The Kenwood 72X TrueX CD-ROM drive delivers an unparalleled sustained
transfer rate ranging from 6.75MB/sec. to 10.8MB/sec. across the entire disc.
Like all TrueX CD-ROM drives, the 72X TrueX reads 7 tracks of data in parallel.
It employs Partial Constant Angular Velocity (PCAV) for optimum performance.
Unlike a 56X "Max" drive that rotates at over 11,000 RPMs with
excessive noise and vibration, the 72X TrueX drive's revolutionary design
virtually eliminates vibration and noise while rotating at only 5,100 to 2,700
RPMs.
AMD Asus KM7 News.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: MISC.
Added by: Kim Heise
Here's a couple of interesting tidbits on AMD:
The first Asus KM7 motherboards have shown up on Pricewatch.
Make sure you search for KM7 as the word "Athlon" is not in their
database. Jump over here
(Overclockers Austrailia) and here
(Digital Web) for some reviews on Asus's new AMD K7 KM7 motherboard.
Microsoft's X-Box to take on
Sony Playstation 2.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: ZDNET
Added by: Kim Heise
This will be interesting as Microsoft is planning on
releasing a new games console system to compete with the upcoming Sony
Playstation 2. What spawned Microsoft's move is that they are afraid that
hardcore PC gamers are going to defect over to the new Sony Playstation 2. I
personally don't think any PC gamer is going to get rid of their PC as a gaming
platform for a Playstation 2 simply because PC games (at least right now) are
more complex (simulations, wargames etc...) and porting that over to a console
system looks tough. The specs on the Playstation 2 are mind-blowing by today's
standards but I'm sure the next generation 3D accelerators are going to be very
competitive by the time the Playstation 2 actually ships.
Here's a clip from the article about Microsoft's possible cash-cow:
At an expected price of about $299, the X-Box seems based on the premise that
fast-falling prices of PC components can offer more bang for the buck than
Playstation 2. The Microsoft features may include a DVD player, a hard disk
drive and extra circuitry suited to fast-moving games and connections to a TV
set display.
Instead of a conventional PC operating system, Doherty believes that X-Box will
use a new hybrid of Windows 98 and a variant of Windows NT that Microsoft
designed for non-PC applications. Notably absent is Windows CE, a widely
promoted operating system for hand-held computers and other devices that is
being used by Sega Enterprises Ltd. in its rival to Playstation 2, the Dreamcast
device.
...and this is interesting:
A software executive Monday described the device as "a console machine with
PC innards." People familiar with the situation say Microsoft has decided
against using microprocessor chips from Intel Corp., the company's longtime
partner in PCs, and is strongly considering using Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s
Athlon microprocessor. Athlon promises comparable performance to Intel's fastest
chips at a significantly lower price. Officials of AMD and Intel declined to
comment.
Sun tests latest Solaris version on Intel's new
64bit processor.
Posted: 10/26/99 Source: CNET
Added by: Kim Heise
Sun's Solaris operating system is running on
prototypes of Intel's upcoming 64-bit chips, becoming the last of the major
server computer operating systems to do so.
Sun Microsystems was beaten to the punch by Microsoft, IBM,
Hewlett-Packard, and the collection of programmers working on adapting the Linux
operating system to run on the forthcoming chip. The processor had been
code-named Merced but now is called Itanium.
Tech News for Monday October 25th 1999.
First batch of i820 Motherboards available.
Posted: 10/25/99 Source: Anandtech
Added by: Kim Heise
Anandtech reviews one of the first motherboards, the Freetech P6F91i Slot-1 i440BX ATX
which is based on Intel's just released i820 chipset. Head on over to get the
full review. The review doesn't point out anything special about this particular
board. Wait for several i820 based motherboards to be available soon with more
features.
Intel's official Press Page for new
"Coppermine" processors.
Posted: 10/25/99 Source: Intel
Added by: Kim Heise
The processor juggernaut has posted a page detailing
all 15 new chips based on the new Coppermine 0.18 micron technology. The fastest
chip they have to offer is a 733mhz Pentium III Coppermine chip. Head on over here
to see the latest batch.
Site News Update.
Posted: 10/25/99 Source:
N/A Added by: Kim Heise
I apologize for the delay in news posts today. I've
been in classes all day and have not had time to update the site. I will update
it as soon as possible.
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