| Intel's Desktop Processor Roadmap Through First Half of 2014 Leaked Online Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:41 PM PDT  Ivy Bridge-E is right around the corner.
Processor roadmaps must be slippery little suckers because it never seems like AMD or Intel are very good about holding onto them. Instead, we're frequently treated to early, often unauthorized glimpses of what each semiconductor has in store, and this time it's a look at what Intel is planning. The latest leaked roadmap shows Intel's processor plans through the first half of 2014. The slides first showed up at asder00.com, a site that appears to thrive on leaked information. According to CPU World, a site that's been reliable in the past, the slides are legit, at least according to one of its sources that confirmed their validity. Anyway, enough about that, let's talk about what's on tap from Intel. Those of you holding out for Ivy Bridge-E need only wait until the third quarter of this year. That's when Intel will launch its Core i7 4820K, 4930K, and 4960X processors, all based on Ivy Bridge-E. In addition, Ivy Bridge-E support will be added to the X79 chipset, according to the slides. An expanded Haswell lineup is also slated for Q3. There will be a Core i7 4771 part along with a bunch of Core i3 and Pentium chips. A Haswell refresh is then planned for the second quarter of 2014, though the slides don't go into much detail on that front. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| E3 2013: Nvidia Booth Tour Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:20 PM PDT  Nvidia gets on the Grid.
As you might expect, Nvidia had a major presence at E3. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out some of Nvidia's E3 highlights and declaration on the state of PC gaming, which is filled with a bunch of tech demos, including The Witcher 3 and Warframe. In addition to showcasing what game developers are up to, Nvidia talked about Grid, Shield, and a PVR feature it's baking into GeForce Experience. Grid is Nvidia's on-demand Gaming as a Service (Gaas) platform. Just as Netflix streams movies and Pandora streams music, Grid renders 3D games in cloud servers, allowing you to play high-end titles on handheld devices like Nvidia's own Shield device, but also tablets and smartphones. Have a look: Equally impressive was the rack of servers Nvidia had on display. Each one was capable of streaming over 36 games. Over time, you'll start to see other companies launch their own streaming game services based on Nvidia's Grid technology. We also had a chance to take another look at Shield, a handheld Android device running Jelly Bean. One of the tricks up Shield's sleeve is being able to stream games from your home PC. Why would you want to use Shield instead of a swank PC monitor or HDTV? It's for gaming on the go, such as lounging in the backyard, on the porch, or even during a bathroom break (hey, it beats reading shampoo bottles, right?). With Shield, you can continue your game from room to room, dependent upon the range of your router. If you're not interested in playing games, you can use Shield as a small size tablet since it's an Android device. You'll notice too that the controller is changed from the one Nvidia was showing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year. Lastly, Nvidia demonstrated for us a PVR-like function of its GeForce Experience technology called ShadowPlay. It runs in the background and uses the encoder that's built into every Kepler-based GPU, so the performance hit is relatively small -- in the range of 5 percent, Nvidia says. Since the performance hit is so small, Nvidia says it's okay to just leave it running all the time, letting it record the last two minutes of your gameplay, or however long you configure it. If you pull off an epic move, you can hit a hotkey to save whatever it's been recording in a compressed file that's ready to upload to YouTube. How does it compare to FRAPS? Have a look: Since it use the encoder built into Kepler GPUs, you'll need a GeForce GTX 650 or better in order to use this feature. Nvidia plans to integrate ShadowPlay into GeForce Experience for free starting June 25th. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Asus Announces VivoPC Specs Posted: 13 Jun 2013 03:52 PM PDT 
Windows 8-ready mini PC supports up to 16GB of RAM The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is currently underway in Los Angeles and we are in the thick of the action, bringing you frequent updates straight from the show floor. But don't forget that we are just a few days removed from the end of Computex 2013, an event where PC vendors from around the globe were out in full force to showcase their latest PC designs. Among the myriad products announced at that event was a diminutive HTPC named VivoPC from Asus, which apparently felt that the world wasn't quite ready to learn about the machine's specs at that time. The Taiwanese company has finally shed some light on the Windows 8-ready VivoPC's innards. Measuring all of 190(l) X 190(w) X 56.2(h) mm and possessing a sliding top for easy access to the hard drive bay and memory slots, the VivoPC will be configurable with an Intel processor, up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and either a 3.5/2.5 inch SATA 6.0Gb/s HDD or a solid state drive. Other specs include, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, SonicMaster speakers, two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, three audio jacks, SPDIF out and RJ45. With no word on pricing or availability yet, all we can do is wait and hope that it will be available soon at a reasonable price point. Follow Pulkit on Google+ |
| E3 2013: Mad Catz Interview Posted: 13 Jun 2013 02:50 PM PDT  Mad Catz brings its "Mojo" to E3.
Austin Powers isn't the only one with mojo. Gaming peripheral maker Mad Catz also has Mojo, only theirs is of a different kind. Specifically, it's another mini Android game console, only Mad Catz promises its will be more powerful than the competition. In addition, Mad Catz is keeping its Mojo an open platform, something that could give it a leg up against the competition. Ace reporter and Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a moment to speak with Mad Catz about its Mojo in detail. One thing Thang couldn't extract from Mad Catz is what specific hardware will be inside, as the company isn't ready to back its claim that Mojo will trump the competition. The reason Mad Catz is playing coy, however, is because the company wants to make sure it's using the latest hardware available, so the specs may change by the time it releases this holiday shopping season. The prototype on hand was running Tegra 3 hardware, though the final product will be something more powerful. Tegra 4, perhaps? Mad Catz professed its love for Nvidia, but said it wasn't necessarily committed to Tegra 4. One thing we did find out is that each Mojo will ship with a controller. See what else Mad Catz had to say in the embedded video below! Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Microsoft to Install Windows Stores Into 600 Best Buy Locations This Summer Posted: 13 Jun 2013 02:37 PM PDT  Move over Apple and Samsung.
Best Buy is no longer playing favorites with Apple. The end of that monogamous relationship began when Samsung started installing "Experience Shops" inside the electronics chain, and now Best Buy is giving Microsoft the same opportunity to sell its wares by opening up Windows Stores at over 600 of its locations this summer. The store-within-a-store format will include 500 Best Buy locations across the U.S. and more than 100 Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada, Microsoft announced today. The integrated Windows Stores will range in size from 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet, Consumers will be able to play with Microsoft's Windows products, including tablets, PCs, Windows Phones, Office, Xbox, and more. "The Windows Store offers a large-scale, hands-on customer experience that will show customers how Windows and Microsoft devices and services can make it easier for them to work and play," said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows Division at Microsoft. "We're pleased to partner with Best Buy in bringing the latest technologies to consumers at scale in a unique environment where they can explore how Microsoft products fit together across entertainment, travel, music and other scenarios." 
In addition to adding locations within Best Buy shops, the collaboration will also lead to the hiring of 1,200 Best Buy Microsoft-trained sales associates. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Samsung's Water Resistant Galaxy S4 Active Lands at AT&T for $200 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:10 PM PDT  A phone that's not afraid of a little water.
The thing about smartphones is that even though they're offered at a large discount when signing up for a two-year service agreement, if you don't opt for an accidental damage warranty, you could be looking at a costly replacement if something goes wrong. What happens if you're sitting by the pool and your Galaxy S4 decides to squirt out of your hand and go for a swim? The outcome isn't likely a good one (try sticking it in a bag or bowl of uncooked rice for a day or two). However, Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active isn't quite as fragile. The Galaxy S4 Active is designed for, well, active individuals. It's IP67 certified to be water-resistant and dust-resistant, which means you can rest a little easier at the beach or when you go hiking. It even has an Aqua Mode that allows you to snap underwater photos. Like the regular Galaxy S4, the Active model sports a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also has an 8MP rear-facing camera, 4G LTE support, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. AT&T will be the first carrier to offer the Galaxy S4 Active when it becomes available June 1st. It will sell for $200 with a two-year data commitment. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Nvidia E3 2013 Highlights Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT  Nvidia shows off Warframe, Witcher 3, and more!
Folks, PC gaming is alive and well. That's the big takeaway from our time spent with Nvidia at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), in which the GPU maker declared that the PC is the "most important gaming platform." To prove it, Nvidia hit us with some statistics from GDC indicating that 48 percent of game developers are focusing their efforts on the PC, versus 13 percent who are working on titles for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, 11 percent on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and 5 percent for the Wii U. That's only one example. Game revenue paints a similar portrait. According to DFC Intelligence, the PC platform generates more revenue than either the PlayStation or Xbox platforms. By 2015, DFC predicts PC game revenue will top $20 billion, roughly twice as much as PlayStation and four times as much as Xbox. Pretty staggering, isn't it? 
Worried that might change with the introduction of the PS4 and Xbox One? Rest easy, PC gaming worry-wart, because as we've seen in the past, the dynamic nature of PCs and inevitable upgrades to components always end up trumping the hardware baked inside of consoles. As for the next generation of consoles, Nvidia points out that even its current generation GPUs for the PC beat what's coming on the console later this year (see above slide). Not that we need Nvidia to tell us PC gaming is thriving, it's certainly nice to hear a major GPU player reaffirm its commitment to a platform that everyone in the media seems to be overlooking these days. Nvidia also hit us over the head with several upcoming game demos showcasing its technology. Here's a look at Borderlands 2 DLC: The DLC was built inside of Gearbox and delivers more content, more playtime, and pretty much more of everything. It will cost $10 -- same as previous DLC -- and will be free to those who own a Season Pass. As you're watching the demo above, pay attention to the particle effects and PhysX simulation. Next up we have a peek at Hawken, a free-to-play, multiplayer mech combat game developed by Adhesive Games. One of the neat things about Hawken is that all of the destructible pieces are interactive and can be kicked around the landscape. Like the Borderlands 2 DLC demo, there's heavy use of particle effects. What you're watching above is a tech demo showcasing the dynamic particle system. Moving right along, here's a look at Warframe, a free-to-play cooperative third-person shooter developed by Digital Extremes. Or, as the developers describe it, "a little bit like Mass Effect 3 multiplayer meets Ninja Gaiden." Some of the Nvidia-based technical aspects found throughout are screen space reflections (they're not geometry dependent like most reflections, so they can be applied at any angle), APEX snow and other particle effects, shadows, turbulence, and more. Warframe uses APEX effects liberally, which means the game will look best on Nvidia hardware. Next is a look at Splinter Cell Blacklist, an upcoming third-person action-adventure stealth game published by Ubisoft and the sixth installment of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series. One thing the developer wanted to point out right away was that it began working with Nvidia a few months ago on lights and shadows. Three things that helped with that were TXAA (the "platinum standard for anti-aliasing"), horizon-based ambient occlusion, and high resolution shadows. The three combined ensure the light and shadows have depth, which is critical to the core gameplay. Unfortunately, the demo we saw was of a DirectX 9 version of the game, though a DirectX 11 version with all the bells and whistles is definitely planned. Finally, we have some footage of Witcher 3, which we've broken up into two separate videos. The first shows off some Nvidia effects. The short demo highligts things like bloom shafts, aerial perspective fog, volume based translucency, semi volumetric clouds, fur simulation, real-time reflections, some water effects, and other goodies. All neat stuff. The second Witcher 3 video shows the fur effects in more detail. It's an interesting demonstration that comes on the heels of AMD bragging about its TressFX technology for more realistic hair effects. Apparently Nvidia users can look forward to detailed hair, too. That wraps up our collection of game demos from Nvidia's booth, though before you click on out of here, be sure to flip through our gallery to see some slides from the presentation. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| ESET Nod32 Antivirus 7 and Smart Security 7 Blasts Into Beta Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT  Solid AV solution updated with another layer of protection.
If you're a longtime reader of Maximum PC, you know that we run an antivirus roundup each year, along with intermittent standalone reviews in between. One company that, for the most part, has consistently performed well is ESET, which again had a strong showing in our most recent roundup. ESET also just announced that its NOD32 Antivirus 7 and Smart Security 7 products are now available in beta trim. Like previous versions, ESET says its version 7 offerings maintain a light system footprint while still offering stellar protection against all forms of malware. "To combat this security industry challenge, our team has added a new layer of protection for our users in the beta products," said Palo Luka, ESET Chief Technology Officer. "The new technology we are introducing with the beta release of our flagship products, ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security, will make it much more difficult for malware to go undiscovered." New to version 7 is an advanced memory scanner that's supposed to thwart heavily encrypted threats. The added layer of protection is an extension of the Host-based Intrusion-Prevention System (HIPS) technology that monitors process behavior and offers real-time memory scanning. ESET's beta releases are available for free to the general public. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| E3 2013: Razer Blade Interview Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT  Razer explains its Blade laptop in detail.
Most people know Razer as a player in the gaming peripheral market, or at least that's how the company's traditionally been viewed. However, Razer's been venturing past the point of peripherals and into actual gaming devices, including the Blade, which it claims is the world's thinnest gaming laptop. We were fairly impressed with last year's Blade, awarding it an 8/10 verdict in our formal review. While at E3, Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a chance to sit down with Razer CEO Min-Lian Tan to discuss its new Haswell-based Blade in detail. It's thinner than a standing dime, yet still packs a Haswell chip and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPU. The new, smaller-size Blade is an impressive looking laptop with an aluminum chassis and backlit keyboard. Why go smaller? Tan tells Thang that it was in response to gamers' requests, as well as the growing popularity of Ultrabooks, which are portable but generally lack a gaming-grade punch. A major focus in the design of the new Blade is performance per cubic inch, or how much performance Razer can engineer in the smallest amount of space. Using that as a guide, Razer claims its new Blade is the most powerful gaming laptop per cubic inch. See what else Tan had to say in the video below, including his expanded thoughts on Apple vs PC: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook |
| Newegg Daily Deals: Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Headset, Asus 23-inch Monitor, and More! Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:57 AM PDT |
