Stores in Taiwan have started stocking up on Gigabyte’s latest high-end LGA1155 motherboard, the GA-Z68X-UD7 B3. Based on the new Z68 chipset that combines the overclocking capabilities of P67 with the Flexible Display Interface (FDI) feature of H67, Z…

Gigabyte sneaked in its latest motherboard for SFF (small form-factor) fans, the GA-H67N-USB3-B3. This mini-ITX motherboard supports socket LGA1155 Intel Core processors, and is based on the Intel H67 chipset (B3 revision). The board supports every LGA1155 Core processor released till date, its designers didn’t have to worry much about its electricals since you’re not going to overclock on H67. Yet, the board packs a 4+2 phase VRM for the CPU, that’s compliant with Intel’s VRD 12 specification. The socket is wired to two DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory support, and a PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot.

In the storage department, there are two SATA 6 Gb/s ports from the chipset, two SATA 3 Gb/s, and one eSATA 3 Gb/s, also from the chipset. Its display connectivity surprisingly includes two HDMI ports, and one D-Sub. Audio is care of the high-grade Realtek ALC889 HDA CODEC, which can deliver 108 dB signal-to-noise ratio, the board also provides coaxial and optical SPDIF output connectivity. Other connectivity includes two USB 3.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. The board features dual-BIOS with an EFI module that allows you to boot from a 3 TB+ volume. Gigabyte’s H67N-USB3-B3 is expected to be priced around the $120 mark. This one for the HTPC.

Here are the first pictures of MSI Z68A-GD80 (B3), the company’s first socket LGA1155 motherboard based on Intel’s new Z68 PCH. Intel is weeks away from launching the Z68 PCH, which is a middle-ground between P67 and H67. P67 let you overclock, while it didn’t feature Flexible Display Interface (FDI); H67 featured FDI, but didn’t let you overclock. Z68 features FDI, it also lets you overclock to the potential of P67. MSI’s Z68A-GD80 makes use of the B3 revision of the Z68 PCH. It intends to offer loads of overclocking features, ample discrete GPU expansion, as well as FDI connectivity to let you use the processor-embedded graphics.

The LGA1155 socket supports 2011 Core i5/i7 “Sandy Bridge” processors. The LOTES-made socket on the Z68A-GD80 is powered by a 15-phase VRM that uses “solid-state” chokes that don’t buzz on load. The VRM is cooled by two heatsinks that share heat over a heat pipe. The socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots that support dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include three PCI-Express x16 (electrical x16/NC/x4 or x8/x8/x4), two PCI-E x1, and two PCI.

Apart from the 3.70 Phenom II X4 980, AMD’s next, and probably (hopefully) final wave of Phenom II processors will include a 3.50 GHz clocked dual-core part, the Phenom II X2 570 Black Edition. This socket AM3 chip will be based on the “Callisto” silicon, which is essentially a “Deneb” quad core die used in X4 parts, with two of its four cores disabled. The chip features two cores clocked at 3.50 GHz (17.5 x 200 MHz), 512 KB dedicated L2 caches per core, and 6 MB shared L3 cache. The integrated dual-channel memory controller supports DDR3-1333 MHz on AM3 socket, and DDR2-1066 MHz on AM2+. As a Black Edition part, the BClk multiplier is unlocked, to help with overclocking. At these speeds, the TDP is rated at 80W.

Source: DonanimHaber

AMD is looking to give its Phenom II series a finale, with a new quad-core Phenom II X4 model, the Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition. The new chip will be clocked at 3.70 GHz out of the box (18.5 x 200 MHz). It achieves this speed while staying within the 125W TDP envelope. Based on the 45 nm “Deneb” silicon, the X4 980 BE features four x86-64 cores with 512 KB dedicated L2 cache each, and a 6 MB shared cache. Compatible with AM3 and AM2+ sockets, the chip packs a dual-channel memory controller that supports DDR3-1333 MHz or DDR2-1066 MHz memory standards. AMD will unveil the new chip soon, as the company gears up to launch next-generation chips in June.

Source: DonanimHaber

Overclockers Elmor and kinc last gathered to set a singl-card 3DMark Vantage world record, the duo and SF3D got together in Sweden to set another record, of the highest multi-GPU 3DMark Vantage score with a single processor. Vantage multi-GPU records are lead by multi-processor (dual LGA1366) setups. The team achieved a Vantage score of P75892 points. For this feat, the team used a single Intel Core i7-990X Extreme Edition processor 6213 MHz (177.5 MHz x 35.0) with all cores and threads enabled, backed by 4 GB of dual-channel memory by ADATA clocked at 887.5 MHz (actual), running on ASUS Rampage III Extreme motherboard with ROG Xpander to enable 4-way SLI capability.

Leading the graphics department were four ASUS GTX 580 DirectCu graphics cards clocked at 1105/1301/2210 MHz (core/shader/memory). The setup was powered by two Antec HCP 1200W PSUs. Liquid nitrogen cooling was the weapon of choice, the CPU was cooled by SF3D OC Inflection Point LN2 evaporator, and four Kingpin Tek-9 6 Slim evaporators for the graphics cards.

Source: XtremeSystems Forums

MSI let its latest motherboard for the AMD Zambezi platform face the lens. The Big Bang Conqueror is based on the AMD 990FX chipset, and features the latest AM3+ socket to connect to processors based on AMD’s Bulldozer architecture. The first set of processors will feature 8 cores, 16 MB cache, and dual-channel DDR3 memory with default DRAM speeds to match bandwidth provided by slower triple-channel DDR3 memory on current Intel Core i7 LGA1366 processors.

The Big Bang Conqueror uses a 10-phase VRM to power the CPU. The CPU is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include three PCI-E 2.0 x16 (electrical x16/16/NC or x16/x8/x8), one PCI-E x16 (electrical x4), two PCI-E x1, and a PCI. Storage includes six internal SATA 6 Gb/s, two eSATA. Other connectivity includes USB 3.0, gigabit Ethernet, 8-channel audio with optical and coaxial SPDIF, and FireWire. Various overclocker-friendly features are also present.

Source: Tweaktown

Joining the ranks of the mighty P67 Classified and P67 SLI is EVGA’s third socket LGA1155 motherboard, the P67 Micro (120-SB-E672). Based on the P67 chipset, this board provides all the features of the chipset, and also provides 2-way SLI support. The CPU socket is powered by a 4+2 phase VRM, wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory. Expansion slots include two PCI-E 2.0 x16 (both electrical x8 at all times), and two PCI-E x1.

There are two SATA 6 Gb/s, four SATA 3 Gb/s, two eSATA 3 Gb/s ports. 8-channel HD audio with optical and coaxial SPDIF outputs, two USB 3.0 ports, a number of USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, and Firewire make for the rest of the connectivity. Basic overclocker-friendly features include power, reset, and clear CMOS buttons on board, along with a POST diagnostic LED display. EVGA should add this motherboard to its ranks soon.

Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced the release of HyperX Genesis Special Edition Grey. The high-performance dual-channel memory kits are engineered to complement the new motherboards featuring the Intel P67 Sandy Bridge platform as well as existing P55-based systems.

“The modern design and look accentuates the new black and grey P67 motherboards just reaching the market,” said Mark Tekunoff, senior technology manager, Kingston. “With performance memory frequency initially at 2133 MHz and 1600 MHz, these new additions to the family of HyperX products meet the demands of everyone from the enthusiast vying for the fastest benchmark score to the weekend gamer.”

ASUS unveiled its new workstation-grade socket LGA1155 motherboard that supports 2011-series Core i3/5/i7 processors, as well as, upcoming Xeon LGA1155 processors, the P8P67 WS Revolution. It is packed to the brim with features. To begin with, the CPU is powered by a 16+2 phase digital VRM, the socket is wired to four DDR3 DIMM slots for dual-channel memory, supporting speeds of over DDR3-2200 MHz. There are four PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slots, supporting 3-way SLI/CrossFireX, probably using a bridge chip such as the NVIDIA nForce 200, and three PCI-E x1.

Storage features include four SATA 6 Gb/s ports, and four SATA 3 Gb/s. Connectivity features include two Intel GbE controllers, 8+2 channel HD audio, two USB 3.0 ports, and a number of USB 2.0 ports. Other features include a system diagnostics card, EPU energy-efficiency processor, TurboV Processing Unit (TPU), and Quick Gate instant-on OS. ASUS will announce pricing when it most probably releases this board in January.

Source: Lab501.ro