Apple today announced a large-scale refresh of its Mac line of computers. The refresh includes new models, and hardware updates on existing ones. Highlights include: 1. a complete transition to Intel 2010 Core Series processors (i3/i5/i7, across the board), a speed step up on existing SKUs, and a brilliant new Cinema display. To begin with, the entire range of iMac desktops now feature Core i3/i5/i7 processors, moving forward from Core 2 Duo that featured on the lower models. The lineup starts with Core i3 processors with speeds of up to 3.06 GHz (at the 21.5″ $1,199 point), Core i3 3.20 GHz (at 21.5″ $1,499 and 27″ $1,699 points), and 2.80 GHz Core i5 quad-core (at the 27″ $1,999 point).

Earlier, the 27″, $1,999 model featured a 2.66 GHz Core i5 processor. Each of these models optionally offer faster processors. While the 21.5″ $1,199 model packs ATI Radeon HD 4670 512 MB graphics, the $1,499 and $1,699 models come with ATI Radeon HD 5670 512 MB graphics, and the 27″ one packs ATI Radeon HD 5750 1 GB. All models pack 4 GB of dual-channel DDR3-1333 MHz memory.

MSI, the global leading brand in All-in-One PC, today announced the release of its new high-end performance All-in-One PC model featuring the all-new Intel Core i5/i3 series processors: The Wind Top AE2280.The Wind Top AE2280 comes with a glossy 21.5″ 16:9 cinematic widescreen display with Full HD 1080p high resolution and multi-touch capabilities. Featuring the all-new Intel Core i5/i3 series processors, enhanced performance and intelligent multifunction operation, it allows for even more efficient handling of daily work tasks. And with the ATI Mobility Radeon HD series discrete graphics card, you can enjoy a more detailed and smoother picture when watching movies or playing 3D/HD games. The Wind Top AE2280 is also the world’s first to feature Hollywood-grade THX TruStudio Pro audio performance technology that revolutionizes computer audio and video quality. As both a performance and home theatre All-in-One PC, it comes equipped with an abundance of MSI’s exclusive touch control technologies that mark a new era in the computer user experience.

Shuttle Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of multi-form-factor solutions such as the world-famous XPC Mini-PC Barebones, today announces the introduction of the Shuttle XPC
Barebone SG41J1 Plus. After the successful market launch of the XPC Barebone SG41J1 in February of this year, Shuttle now offers a model with DDR3 support. Finished totally in black and sporting a low-key illuminated XPC logo, the elegant Shuttle XPC Barebone SG41J1 Plus certainly catches the eye.

With an overall capacity of up to 8 GB DDR3 RAM, the Shuttle XPC Barebone SG41J1 Plus benefits from the use of Intel Core 2 series processors and offers a capable onboard graphics chip specially suited for office applications with the Intel GMA X4500. The model provides a 32-bit-PCI slot and PCI-Express-x16 slot for system expansions. The latter can also be fitted with a dual-slot graphics card, if desired.

ASUS designed its own technology comparable to AMD’s Turbo Core, the ASUS Turbo Unlocker. The technology is claimed to be more advantageous than Turbo Core, since it sends every core into Boost state, rather than a limited number of cores designated as turbo cores. What’s more, it supports several other Phenom II Black Edition series processors other than those based on the six-core Thuban or the quad-core Zosma. With single-threaded loads, the active core is given the maximum boost in clock speeds, while as multi-threaded load increases, even more number of cores enter a boost state. Boost state speeds decrease with increase in number of active cores. The technology is available on ASUS’ entire range of motherboards based on the AMD 8-series chipsets. Details follow in a presentation by ASUS. It would be interesting to see if ASUS goes a step further and works out Turbo Unlocker for Intel Core i3 processors.

Source: DonanimHaber

Here they are, boxes that carry AMD’s first desktop six-core processors, the Phenom II X6. This line of “true six core design” processors from AMD target performance/price sweet-spots in the sub-$300 segment, targeting higher-end Intel Core i5, and even Core i7 series processors from Intel. The Phenom II X6 is based on the 45 nm “Thuban” core, and comes in the socket AM3 package. The processor is said to be backwards-compatible with socket AM2+ on motherboards with a BIOS update. Expreview sourced pictures of three Phenom II X6 processor-in-box (PIB) units, of model 1055T.

ASRock is ready with its premium motherboard based on the AMD 870 + SB850 chipset, the ASRock 870 Extreme3. Either the company seems to have jumped the specifications of the 870 by adding external PCI-Express lane switching that gives it proper CrossFire capability, or that the 870 will indeed support 2-way CrossFire with its lone PCI-Express 2.0 x16 link split into two x8 links between the two cards, leaving no room for a “890X” chipset. The 870 Extreme3 supports socket AM3 processors with a 4+1 phase VRM that can take 140W TDP processors. It will support upcoming Phenom II X6 and Phenom II X4 T series processors. It integrates ASRock’s proprietary UCC chip that unlocks disabled cores on certain processors.

The board is advertised to support DDR3-1800 MHz memory by overclocking. Expansion slots include two each of PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8, when both are populated), PCI-E x1, and PCI. The SB850 southbridge gives out five internal SATA 6 Gb/s ports, with one eSATA. Other connectivity features include 8 channel HD audio, a 2-port USB 3.0 controller, a number of USB 2.0 ports, FireWire, and gigabit Ethernet. Diagnostic LED display and onboard power and reset switches make for the rest of it. The ASRock 870 Extreme3 will retail a little later this month.

Source: TechConnect Magazine

ASUS today introduced the new ASUS KGPE-D16 motherboard featuring the AMD G34 socket for 8- and 12-Core AMD Opteron 6100 Series processors. Equipped with an AMD SR5690/SP5100 chipset as well as supporting 4-channels of DDR3 memory per processor, ASUS’ unique PIKE upgrade kit, and ASUS ASMB4-iKVM module for remote management, the KGPE-D16 is a reliable platform that runs heavy server operations while achieving exceptionally low power consumption.

Exceptional Processing Threshold with AMD Opteron 6000 Series platform (codenamed “Maranello”). Equipped with the AMD SR5690/SP5100 chipset, the KGPE-D16 utilizes AMD Opteron 6100 Series processors to help deliver exceptionally efficient performance to handle massive real-world workloads. Tom Lin, general manager, ASUS Server Business Unit said, “The KGPE-D16 serverboard supports extreme performance typical in enterprises or institutions with high-performance computing demands or web-facing servers which reach critical processing levels when internet traffic surges. So we are pleased that the AMD Opteron 6100 processor and AMD Server Chipset combination provides the muscle to handle these situations.”

Intel carved out high-end socket LGA1156 processors such as the Core i7 800 series, just so people opting for the LGA1156 also have the headroom to upgrade to high-end parts without having to switch to the more powerful LGA1366 platform with its Core i7 900 series processors. There are four parts in the performance-enthusiast (>$250) segment: Core i5 670 dual-core, Core i7 860 and Core i7 870 quad-core. With the possible advent of more powerful socket AM3 processors from AMD, notably the Phenom II X6 series with its overclocker-friendly Black Edition parts, Intel seems to be finding a need to expand its LGA1156 series a little.

In the works are the Core i7 875K quad-core, and Core i5 655K dual-core. Being careful as to not label them “Extreme Edition” chips (since the “Extreme Edition” moniker seems to be clearly demarcated for the LGA1366 platform and the market segment by that name), Intel gave these chips the “K” brand identifier. Last summer, Intel released the Pentium Dual-Core E6500K to select markets. Similar to that, the Core i7 875K and Core i5 655K are overclocker-friendly chips that come with unlocked BClk multipliers (much like the Extreme Edition chips).

American retailer Newegg.com has started listing Gigabyte’s GA-890GPA-UD3H motherboard, one of the first motherboards based on the AMD 890GX + SB850 chipset. This socket AM3 motherboard boasts of native SATA 6 Gb/s support, USB 3.0, Radeon HD 4250 integrated graphics, at a price of $139.99. The GA-890GPA-UD3H supports socket AM3 AMD Athlon II and Phenom II series processors, including support for the upcoming Phenom II X6 six-core processors. It also supports dual-channel DDR3 memory at speeds of over 1866 MHz by overclocking. Expansion slots include two PCI-Express 2.0 x16 (electrical x8/x8 when both are populated), three PCI-E x1, and two PCI, bringing CrossfireX support. The SB850 gives out six SATA 6 Gb/s ports with RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5, 10, and JBOD modes. An NEC-made USB 3.0 controller also provides two USB 3.0 ports. The IGP connects to displays over D-Sub, DVI, and HDMI. Presumably, this could be the starting point for more AMD 890GX based motherboards to reach stores world over.

Intel’s Core i7 processor in the LGA1366 package is currently leading in the performance front, some of the fastest processors for the desktop platform fall in this league. Despite lacking a directly competitive processor, the platform had its share of competition thanks to motherboard manufacturers competing within themselves. EVGA for one, is set to unveil a bleeding-edge motherboard later this year, which supports two LGA1366 processors. So far, enthusiasts working for EVGA have only disclosed that the motherboard would work with Intel’s DP Xeon 5000 series LGA1366 processors, which are officially capable of working on dual-socket server and workstation motherboards.

However, a plausible rumor doing rounds has it that EVGA may attempt to make its motherboard work with Core i7 series processors – which are incapable to operate in pairs, at least from what we’re led to believe. EVGA is attempting to do this by modifying the reference Intel design for the platform.