First-tier graphics card makers Micro-Star International (MSI), Asustek Computer and Gigabyte Technology have launched their latest graphics cards based on AMD's ATI Radeon HD 5800 series GPUs.MSI offers a high efficient radiator that comes with a heat-pipe, heat-sink and fans for its HD 5800 series cards. The radiator's integrated two-slot design can decrease the GPU temperature rapidly, but still delivers noiseless performance, the company said.MSI also offers DOT Express technology for dynamic overclocking designed to deliver up to 10% extra performance and significantly enhance synchronized GPU and DDR memory performance.Asustek's Radeon HD 5800 series graphics cards are equipped with Voltage Tweak technology to enable users to raise GPU voltages from 1.15V to 1.35V and from 1.088V to 1.4V respectively and boosting GPU and memory clock performance.The HD 5870-based graphics card from Asustek is currently listed for around NT$15,990 (US$492) in the Taiwan market.MSI R5870-PM2D1G graphics cardPhoto: CompanyAsustek Radeon HD 5800 series graphics cardsPhoto: CompanyGigabyte GV-R587D5-1GD-B graphics cardPhoto: Company

Hong Kong, September 24, 2009 –Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) today announced it is shipping volume production of its 40-nm Stratix IV GX EP4SGX230 FPGAs. The Stratix IV device was the industry's first 40-nm FPGA available when it began shipping at the end of 2008 and it continues to lead the market as the only 40-nm FPGA in volume production. The Stratix IV family offers the highest density and highest performance FPGAs available today, and is used in a variety of end customer's high-speed backplane and cabling interfaces, chip-to-chip interconnects and protocol-bridging applications.Stratix IV GX FPGAs deliver an unprecedented combination of power, performance and I/O bandwidth to designers manufacturing multi-gigabit interconnected systems. The high-performance FPGAs feature Altera's latest generation of proven transceiver technology. The 36 transceivers embedded in the EP4SGX230 FPGA offer superior signal integrity with excellent jitter performance at data rates operating between 600 Mbps and 8.5 Gbps. The transceivers support several key industry standards and serial protocols such as PCI Express Gen1 and Gen2 (x1, x4 and x8), Serial RapidIO, Gigabit Ethernet, XAUI, CPRI (including 6G CPRI), CEI 6G, GPON, SFI-5.1 and Interlaken. The EP4SGX230 FPGA features 230K logic elements (LEs), 13.9 Mbits of embedded memory and 1,288 18x18 multipliers."The significant lead we have on the competition at the 40-nm node has enabled us to establish Stratix IV FPGAs as the most widely adopted 40-nm FPGAs in the industry," said Luanne Schirrmeister, senior director of component product marketing at Altera. "We continue to hit every key milestone in rolling out our 40-nm devices and remain on target to deliver our entire family of Stratix IV FPGAs to customers."AvailabilityThe Stratix IV GX EP4SGX230 FPGA is now shipping in volume production. Engineering samples of Altera Stratix IV E, Stratix IV GX and Stratix IV GT FPGAs are also available today. Altera remains on schedule to ship its entire Stratix IV FPGA family in volume production by April 2010.

VIA Technologies has announced VB8003 mini-ITX motherboard featuring a dedicated on-board graphics processor that it says is ideal for a range of digital media applications.The VB8003 utilizes the VIA VX800 MSP's integrated GPU to offer multi-display configurations including dual-HDMI, LVDS, DVI and VGA, while powering HD content playback across as many as four displays.VIA VB8003 mini-ITX motherboardPhoto: Company

AMD has launched its next-generation ATI Radeon HD 5800 series graphics cards supporting Microsoft DirectX 11, the new gaming and compute standard shipping shortly with Windows 7.AMD will initially release two cards – the ATI Radeon HD 5870 and the ATI Radeon HD 5850 – each with 1GB GDDR5 memory. With the ATI Radeon HD 5800 series of graphics cards, PC users can expand their computing experience with ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology and accelerate their computing experience with ATI Stream technology, said AMD.The ATI Radeon HD 5800 series of graphics cards delivers up to 2.72 teraflops of compute power in a single card, translating to performance in the latest DirectX 11 games, as well as in DirectX 9, DirectX 10, DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL titles in single card configurations or multi-card configurations using ATI CrossFireX technology, said AMD.The ATI Radeon HD 5800 series of graphics cards is supported by add-in-board companies including Asustek Computer, Club 3D, Diamond Multimedia, Force3D, Gigabyte Technology, HIS, Micro-Star International (MSI), Multimedia, PowerColor, Sapphire Technology, VisionTek and XFX.AMD ATI Radeon HD 5870 graphics cardPhoto: Company

Toshiba America Electronic Components ( TAEC) has announced a series of solid state drive (SSD) modules using the latest generation Toshiba 32nm MLC NAND flash at the ongoing IDF 2009. The Toshiba SG2 modules are offered in two types, one of which is based on the new low-profile mini-SATA (mSATA) interface standard.The new Toshiba SSDs are available in 30GB and 62GB capacities, with volume production slated for October.The mSATA modules leverage the speed and reliability of the popular SATA interface, in a small form factor module (30x4.75x50.95mm) that connects to the system board using the low profile SATA connector. Adaptive power mode and SATA device initiated power management typically reduce power consumption to less than half of the read power level when the device is in idle, standby or sleep mode."Initial adoption of most SATA solid state drives has followed the HDD form factor. Our latest 32nm mSATA and half-slim case-less modules enable hardware designers to add the performance and reliability advantages of a solid state drive in a smaller footprint for notebooks, portable electronics and other embedded storage applications," said Scott Nelson, VP Memory, TAEC.Citing IDC, mini-notebook shipments are expected to grow at an annual average of around 15% from 2009 to 2013, Toshiba said. PC manufacturers are thus looking for SSDs that combine small size with higher storage capacities and advanced performance. Toshiba new 32nm SSD lineup Half-slim SATA-2 module Mini SATA-2 module Capacity 30GB 62GB 30GB 62GB Size (mm) 54x4x39 30x4.75x50.95 Mass 9g (Typ.) 9g (Typ.) Interface Serial ATA-2 (3Gbps) Voltage 5V 3.3V Reading speed Up to180Mbps (sequential mode) Writing speed Up to 70Mbps (sequential mode) Power consumption Read: 1.3W (Typ.) Write: 1.8W (Typ.) Idle/Standby/Sleep: 65mW (Typ.) Temperature 0 to 70 degrees Celsius Mean time to failure 1 million hours Shock Operating and non-operating, 1500G Source: TAEC, compiled by Digitimes, September 2009Toshiba 32nm SSD modulesPhoto: Company

Beaverton, OR - September 21, 2009 - Runco, the leading brand in luxury video solutions, today unveiled its LightStyle Series projectors. Comprising of the LS-3, LS-5, and LS-7 projectors, the Runco LightStyle Series combines flawless HD imagery and integration features with value pricing and sophisticated design elements that custom installers and their customers will revere."For more than 20 years, Runco has led the custom installation consumer electronics industry in video technology and innovation by manufacturing the finest home theater displays for the world's most discerning and well-heeled customers. Now, our LightStyle Series completes Runco dealers' projection portfolio by offering a never-before-seen combination of Runco performance and value price," says Gerry Perkel, CEO of Runco. "This new entry-level, performance series enables Runco and our dealers to offer the most complete range of pricing and performance projector options in the industry."Designed from the ground up, each of the 1080p DLPTM projectors incorporates Runco's proprietary engineering, advanced features and performance enhancements to achieve an elevated home theater experience that belies their respective price points. Runco's LightStyle Series combines state-of-the-art DLPTM-based SuperOnyxTM technology with Runco ConstantContrastTM and VivixTM image enhancement and proprietary video processing to achieve deep black levels and significant contrast, each measuring above 10,000:1. All incorporate the ISFTM (Imaging Science Foundation) calibration suite for optimal performance in any room. These calibration tools feature day and night calibration memory settings, individual sharpness and noise reduction controls, programmable image memory selection keys, built-in test patterns and a dark room-optimized remote.Designed to be incredibly reliable, and precisely for the specialty home theater market, Runco's LightStyle Series provides the utmost in installation flexibility, including six lens options on the three-chip LS-7, while the 1080p LS-3 and LS-5 offer two lens options, to meet varying room and screen sizes. Each includes ample horizontal and vertical lens shift (the LS-7 with powered capabilities) to achieve optimal imagery even without ideal room placement. Runco's intelligent horizontal and vertical lens shift technology is a revolutionary software function for home theater projectors; it prohibits lens shift outside the image area to eliminate shadowing or image clipping.Unlike Runco's larger performance projectors that typically demand custom cabinetry and lifts, the LightStyle Series projectors are significantly more compact and can be easily affixed to walls or ceilings. The projectors are designed specifically to be visually stunning, featuring a deep-black finish and uniquely-designed chassis.Runco Home Theater products are built with quality and craftsmanship to ensure an amazing experience. All Runco displays feature a two-year RuncoCare standard warranty. Runco RedCarpet extended service options are also available.Runco products are exclusively available through its authorized dealer network. For more information on Runco, please visit http://www.runco.com/.Runco LightStyle series projectorPhoto: Company

Asustek Computer has launched its new RS300-E6 series rack-mount servers featuring the Intel 3420 PCH chipset and Xeon 3400 series processors.The RS300-E6 series supports 45nm quad-core CPUs and dual-channel DDR3 1333 memory. The series is also designed to support upcoming next-generation 32nm dual-core CPUs, and utilizes Asustek's proprietary CPU heatpipe technology to provide cooling for more stable computing operations.Some selected models also include a special-designed slot to connect an optional Asustek PIKE card, which allows support of SAS storage. Asustek RS300-E6 series server specifications Model RS300-E6/PS2 RS300-E6/PS4 CPU support Quad-core Intel 3400 series Dual-core Intel Clarkdale FSB DMI/ FDI Chipset Intel 3420 PCH Memory. 6-DIMM slots supporting DDR3 1066/1333 up to 32GB for RDIMM and 16GB for UDIMM Storage Two SATA2 (hot-swappable) One 5.25-inch DVD-RW (optional) Four SAS/SATA2 (hot-swappable) One Slim-type DVD-RW (optional) RAID Support RAID 0, 1 (Windows) RAID 0, 1 (Linux) RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 (Windows) RAID 0, 1, 10 (Linux) VGA AST2050 AST2050 Sources: Company, compiled by Digitimes, September 2009Asustek RS300-E6 series serversPhoto: Company

San Jose, Calif., September 14, 2009—Altera Corporation today announced it increased the high-end density range of its 40-nm Stratix IV E FPGAs to an industry-leading 820K logic elements (LEs). The Stratix IV EP4SE820 FPGA is the industry's highest density, highest performance and lowest power FPGA in its class. The EP4SE820 FPGA is ideally suited for a variety of high-end digital applications that require resource-rich FPGAs, including ASIC prototyping and emulation, wireline, wireless, military, and computer and storage applications.Altera's Stratix IV E FPGAs feature four devices ranging in density from 230K to 820K LEs. The new EP4SE820 delivers 53% higher density than Altera's EP4SE530 device and is at least one speed grade faster than the closest competitor's largest offering. The density, performance and power-saving features in the EP4SE820 FPGA enable customers to simplify their design partitioning, accelerate their verification cycle, and reduce their total system power.Increasing the number of LEs in Stratix IV E FPGAs to 820K gives ASIC-prototyping designers the ability to implement much larger ASIC designs on a single FPGA, which simplifies board design and minimizes the number of design partitions. For designers wanting to move their design into an ASIC after FPGA prototyping, Altera offers a low-risk, low-cost migration path to ASIC production with its HardCopy IV ASICs.Altera's high-end Stratix FPGAs allow for seamless migration between families so customers can get started on their Stratix IV E FPGA designs today. This migration capability also allows users to move their existing Stratix III FPGA designs to Stratix IV E FPGAs without having to change the device pin-outs or the circuit board layout.One of the most critical issues that designers of high-density FPGAs face is minimizing compile times so they can bring products to market faster. Altera Quartus II design software offers several productivity features to Stratix IV FPGA users that enable faster overall timing closure. Features such as advanced place-and-route algorithms, multiprocessor support and incremental compile reduce customers' compile times two to three times on average when compared to the nearest competitor's 40-nm high-density FPGAs."Customers, particularly in the ASIC prototyping and emulation space, demand bigger and faster FPGAs, and we are meeting their demand by offering the industry's largest FPGA," said Luanne Schirrmeister, senior director of component product marketing at Altera. "The resource-rich EP4SE820 FPGA enables customers to fit more logic into their FPGA so they can deliver greater product differentiation at a lower cost."Altera is currently shipping engineering samples of selected members of its Stratix IV E FPGAs. Altera Stratix IV FPGAPhoto: Company

VIA Technologies has announced a new mobile computing device category, NetNote, that combines the company's Surfboard motherboard along with turnkey system design.NetNote, a new market segment VIA hopes to create positioned between netbooks and traditional notebooks, combines the portability and affordability of a netbook with functionality and entertainment capabilities of a notebook in a light, high performance clamshell mobile device with long battery life, screen sizes between 10.2- to 12.1-inch, and support for playback of high bit-rate 1080p HD video, said VIA.Combining the VIA VX855 media system processor with a choice of VIA C7-M ULV or VIA Nano processors, two new VIA Surfboard NetNote Edition platforms are available, enabling system designers the opportunity to create high-quality, energy-efficient and feature-rich solutions for manufacturing NetNote devices, said VIA.Along with support for hardware acceleration of a variety of video standards including H.264, MPEG-2/4, VC-1 and WMV9, NetNotes come with features including an optional HDMI port and a choice of integrated 3G connectivity modules. VIA Surfboard NetNote turnkey platform specifications Platform name VIA VT6552 VIA VT6549 Processor VIA C7-M ULV 800MHz FSB or VIA Nano 800MHz FSB Chipset VIA VX855 Media System processor Display resolution Internal resolutions: up to 1366 x 768 pixels External resolutions: up to 1920 x 1440 pixels Graphics VIA Chrome9 HCM IGP with memory share architecture, up to 512MB Memory support One SO-DIMM socket, support DDR2 667/800 up to 2GB Audio codec VIA Vinyl VT1702S Ethernet VIA Rhine VT6107 10/100Mb Embedded controller ITE8502E Card reader Genesys GL827S ITE IT1337E PATA to SATA Sunplus SPIF223B Marvell 88SA8052-TBC2 Clock generator IDT ICS9UM701AKLF-T USB extension USB hub (option) Battery 24.4Wh(3S1P) / 10.8V (3.6V x 2.2AH x 3 cells) Default 48.8Wh (3S2P) /10.8V (3.6V x 2.2AH x 6 cells) DC jack AC 110~240V, DC 20V@40W Audio jack Mic-In, HP-Out VGA output D-sub VGA Output USB port 2 ports LAN jack RJ45 LVDS Yes Yes Mini-PCIE 2 sockets with USB interface only SIM card Yes Yes Sources: VIA, compiled by Digitimes, September 2009VIA Surfboard NetNote Turnkey platformPhoto: Company

CEDIA, September 11, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics, today announced the release of the A600, the latest A Series (A/V) Home Theater Projector with full High Definition (HD) 1080p performance. The A600 builds on Samsung's engineering depth and leverages the image performance and color quality of the acclaimed A800 and A900 full HD 1080p "Joe Kane Signature Series" projectors. The A600 will be available for an estimated retail price (ERP) of US$1,795."The A600 is the latest addition to our growing home theater line up and provides an entry point for savvy consumers and home theater enthusiasts looking for an affordable solution that does not compromise picture quality and color performance," said Doug Albregts, vice president, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America Inc. "We continue to execute against our strategy of meeting the needs of the diverse and growing market segments that rely on Samsung for compelling, dependable, innovative solutions."The A600 features rounded edges, a glossy black finish, low operating noise and weighs less than 13 pounds. With its high bright lamp wattage at 220 watts, the lamp life can last up to 4,000 hours in eco mode or 3,000 hours in high bright. With a shorter throw ratio, 1.99, the A600 offers the flexibility of being placed on the floor closer to the screen or mounted on the ceiling.The A600 has full connectivity and offers popular video capabilities for Blu-ray as well as an input for a PC. With two HDMI and inputs for component, composite and S-Video, the A600 is functional right out of the box. For PC connectivity, an analog 15-pin VGA style input is also available for video streaming off the Web or home presentations."For people interested in creating a home theater experience, but stopped short due to the costs, the A600 is a great alternative to the entry-level projectors that lack the full HD quality," said Tom Grau, senior product marketing manager, projectors, Information Technology Division, Samsung Electronics America. "We have incorporated the technology of our higher end models into the A600 to bring the movie-like viewing experience within reach of more people."Samsung Electronics new A series home theater projector - A600Photo: Company