CeBIT 2007: ASUS, Part 1: Sauternes In Deep Freeze

CeBIT 2007. MSI, Part 2: Motherboards And Notebooks

R2D2 As Your Wandering Home PC

CeBIT 2007. MSI, Part 1: Graphics Cards

CeBIT 2007. Sapphire: Quad AMD GPU, silent graphics cards, motherboards, and girls

Sandisk Introduces 8GB SDHC, New Premier microSD Cards

CeBIT 2007: ASUS, Part 1: Sauternes In Deep Freeze

At CeBIT 2007 ASUS showcases a lot of interesting products. Let's see them in order.

Not only our reporters, but also colleagues from VR-Zone and PC Watch (as well as visitors) were attracted by the gaming platform codenamed Sauternes based on Intel P965 and cooled by "classic" copper tank with liquid nitrogen.

As you can see, coupled with R.O.G. (Republic of Gamers) motherboard was Intel's quad-core processor as well as OCZ's DDR2-800 RAM and a couple of ASUS EAX1950XTX/HTVDP/512M graphics cards.

As the result of processor cool-down (presumably it was Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700, 2.66GHz) to -196°C the system achieved the score of... 23,777 in 3DMark06.

Though we don't know FPS obtained in games, considering that the event is short and nitrogen easily evaporates, ASUS wasn't after peak overclocking, but was demonstrating the high reliability and performance of its products.

Source: Our reporters at CeBIT 2007, VR-Zone, PC Watch

CeBIT 2007. MSI, Part 2: Motherboards And Notebooks

Now let's visit the part of MSI's booth that showcases motherboards and notebooks.

Naturally, it didn't go without Bearlake-based products (which were not that attractive though.) MSI is now only showing Intel's reference designs based on P35 and G33.

It is more interesting to take a look at the new Diamond motherboard on NVIDIA's nForce 680i SLI. This one features integrated Creative X-Fi and offers quad-graphics support. Since the showcased sample is not a final revision, perhaps, on sale this product will go with some liquid cooling system.

The "colder" P6N Platinum on nForce 650i MSI was showcased in an oven with 79°C temperature. The heat-piped cooling system proved its efficiency even under such extreme conditions.

The vendor also introduced the complete AMD 690G based series, including HDMI+DVI, HDMI+VGA, and VGA equipped solutions.

It didn't go without server solutions as well. On the photo below you can see a dual-way Opteron 2200 series board on nForce Professional 3600 chipset: 8 x DIMM (up to 16GB), 2x PCI Express x16 (x16 + x8 lanes), GPU (XGI Z7) circuitry and 16MB DDR DRAM video buffer in the lower left corner.

Moving to notebooks, firstly, let's pay attention to the top-end MSI GX700 based on Core 2 Duo, NVIDIA's integrated chipset, 17" display, 4.1 audio, HDMI output, and a TV tuner. This mobile PC weighs 3.5 kg. The GX710 model on AMD Turion 64 X2 is also expected.

The S300/310 thin and light (2 kg) machine with 13.3" display will also be based on both kinds of processors. From the last-year S210 it differs by re-designed cover mount. Now instead of joints there is a couple of additional speakers on sides, which makes this notebook equipped with quad-audio.

The PR200/210 with 12" display is also available with Intel and AMD processors. This is 100g lighter than the previous model and features HDMI output, 1.3-megapixel camera, and a fingerprint sensor.

Finally, you can see the Crystal M677 model of "Crystal collection". It features polished cover and a circle made of 120 Swarovski crystals.

Source: Our reporters at CeBIT 2007

R2D2 As Your Wandering Home PC

For fans of Star Wars and for those who wanted an original media centre, NIKKO Home Electronics released a PC looking as R2D2.

The robot features a card reader, optical drive, iPod interface as well as numerous interfaces for connecting a TV, LCD panel, sound system, etc.

Robot's eye is actually a projector able to project an 80" image.

The media robot is controlled by an original "spaceship" remote control. R2D2 can not only work as a PC, but also moves and even speaks a little. Source: Our reporter, NIKKO Home Electronics

CeBIT 2007. MSI, Part 1: Graphics Cards

During the first day of CeBIT 2007 our reporters visited the booth of MSI that was the first to showcase its NVIDIA 8600 GT/GTS based graphics cards to reporters.

The booth introduces more than that however. You can see a rather rare liquid-cooled GeForce 8800 GTX. It's overclocked to 610/2000 MHz, which is less than ASUS's EN8800GTX AquaTank/HTDP/768M is.

The triumphant stalk of HDMI is reflected in two showcased products - rather affordable cards on 8300 GT (on the photo) and 8600 GT GPUs.

Since mobile DirectX10-enabled graphics based on NVIDIA GPUs is expected, according to preliminary information, early next quarter, vendors (considering the NDA) do not have a right to disclose anytning. However, MSI didn't resist the temptation to showcase an MXM unit with features similar to those of desktop 8600 GT. Hence, it won't be long before we see gaming DX10 notebooks.

Finally, aesthetes will find pleasure in merely contemplating this solution - the silent RX1950PRO graphics card based on Radeon X1950 Pro with reference clock rates.

Source: Our reporters at CeBIT 2007

CeBIT 2007. Sapphire: Quad AMD GPU, silent graphics cards, motherboards, and girls

We're starting the series of reports from CeBIT with the booth of Sapphire Technology, which received the silver "iXBT Brand 2006 Readers' Choice" award in the graphics card nomination. We presented it to company representatives right in Hannover.

Without a doubt, in the spotlight of exposition was the first publicly showcased Quad CrossFire machine based on two Sapphire X1950 PRO DUAL cards.

Pity, but we don't have test results. However, it's clearly one of the fastest graphics subsystems in the world (which supports only DirectX 9 though.) Preliminary estimates indicate one will need a 800W PSU for such a machine.

For those who value silence as much as extreme performance Sapphire offered new Zalman-cooled graphics cards showcased under the slogan "Enjoy the Silence". Did Depeche Mode get something for this, I wonder? :)

Though Sapphire is mostly popular as a graphics card vendor, it produces other solutions as well. The company showcased a barebone based on the AMD 690G motherboard. The key advantage of such motherboards is that HDMI is located on a separate daughterboard.

Finally, the booth of Sapphire is worth visiting merely because of beautiful girls:

Source: Our reporters at CeBIT 2007

Sandisk Introduces 8GB SDHC, New Premier microSD Cards

SanDisk Corporation today introduced an 8GB SD High Capacity (SDHC) card — the highest capacity now available in the SD format. The 8GB SDHC card will come bundled with a SanDisk MicroMate USB 2.0 reader. SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader, so providing the MicroMate reader with the card ensures that users will be able to connect the card to their computers. The MicroMate reader also works with standard SD cards.

The 8GB SDHC card with MicroMate USB 2.0 reader will be available in April in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The bundle will be available in Japan and elsewhere in Asia later in the second quarter. In the United States, the bundle will carry a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $189.99.

The second announcement was related to SanDisk Mobile Premier microSD memory cards aimed specifically at the mobile phone market. SanDisk Mobile Premier cards feature SanDisk’s TrustedFlash technology, which allows network operators to sell premium content that can be downloaded directly to mobile phones, stored on the cards and played on other TrustedFlash-enabled devices authorized by the network provider.

SanDisk Mobile Premier microSD cards will be offered in 1GB and 2GB capacities with read/write speeds of 10 and 9 megabytes per second. Suggested retail prices are $44.99 and $69.99, respectively. The fingernail-size cards, which come with an adapter to fit standard SD card slots, are slated to be available this spring at many of the more than 200,000 stores worldwide where SanDisk products are sold.

Source: SanDisk Corporation

Write a comment below. No registration needed!