AMD's new LGA-1207 is ready for quad-core Opterons

Although at this time, details are scarce, we are able to reveal some images of AMD's next-generation Opteron socket, called Socket F. AMD's Socket F will be a LGA-type socket with 1207 pins, and is an entirely new design from current Opteron sockets. We've read that the new socket will be used for upcoming dual-core Opterons as well as quad-core Opterons. The new socket comes with an updated retention mechanism.

Intel adopted the LGA socket design with Prescott to reduce cost and also to reduce the defect rate on processors. After all, would you rather scrap a $600 CPU for a bent pin, or a $100 motherboard for a bent land grid? A few days ago, we got some pictures of the upcoming Intel 771 LGA socket for Xeon motherboards.


[Submitted by Kcarrim]

Matrox's new Extio F1400 promises to be a big boon to businesses

Considering that Matrox hasn't been competitive in the gaming space for ages, it has had plenty of time to tailor products for business customers. Its latest product, the Extio F1400, turns the tables on how you interface with your computer.

The Extio F1400 is the world's first remote graphics unit and allows the keyboard, mouse, up to four monitors and audio peripherals to be completely separate from the computer. And here's the kicker – the computer is connected to the Extio F1400 with up to 820 feet of fiber-optic cable.

"Matrox remote graphics technology enables a new physical layout for computers. It more effectively separates the use and administration of a system. This technology has a better combination of integration, reliability, image quality, and distance than any other extension technology," says Alan Vandenbussche, VP Sales and Marketing, Matrox Graphics.

The security, space and noise reduction benefits of such a solution are tremendous. A business' PCs could be locked in away in a cool room and each worker would be connected to their individual PC via their own passively-cooled Extio box.

Here are some of the features of the Extio F1400:

* User devices can be separated from computer by up to 250 meters (820 feet) of fiber-optic cable
* Support for up to 4 digital or analog monitors at a time (in "independent" or "stretched" mode)
* Passive cooling for silent operation and extra reliability
* 6 USB 2.0 ports (4 in front and 2 in back)
* Integrated audio hardware
* Multi-function audio-output connector for an optical-S/PDIF signal or analog-stereo signal
* Standard analog audio connectors (microphone, stereo-line-in, and stereo-line-out)
* PCI and PCIe (PCI Express) fiber-optic interface cards (sold separately)
* 1600 x 1200 maximum resolution per display
* Matrox UltraSharp Display Output Technology
* Unified display drivers for Matrox Extio products and QID graphics cards
* Easy-to-use Matrox PowerDesk display driver interface
* Matrox Clone to view a copy of one display on the other displays
* Global sales and technical support
* 2-year warranty

The Extio F1400 will start shipping in the second quarter of 2006 – pricing is not yet available.


[Submitted by Kcarrim]

Windows Vista

Continuing our commitment to develop innovative products that enhance the end-user experience, NVIDIA has been working closely with Microsoft to identify and develop key hardware components for Windows Vista™, the next generation Windows® operating system. NVIDIA is working closely with Microsoft to develop and support key display components of the Windows Vista OS. NVIDIA fully supports the Windows Vista Display Driver Model, which will greatly improve the stability and performance of the OS. PCs equipped with NVIDIA graphics processing units (GPUs) and Windows Vista Display Driver Model drivers will also enable users to take full advantage of the new graphically rich user interface experience in Windows Vista.

NVIDIA offers a complete top-to-bottom line up of NVIDIA® GeForce™ graphics processing units (GPUs) that will take full advantage of the new Windows Vista features and functionality when the final OS is released.

We are supplying this information to assist enterprise customers procure and deploy PCs before Windows Vista launches. We will update this information as new products are developed that satisfy the criteria for the Windows Vista Ready PC program.

The following NVIDIA desktop GPUs are "Windows Vista Ready:"

GeForce 7800 GTX GPUs
GeForce 7800 GT GPUs
GeForce 7800 GS GPUs
GeForce 7300 GPUs
GeForce 6800 GPUs
GeForce 6600 GPUs
GeForce 6500 GPUs
GeForce 6200 GPUs
GeForce FX 5900 GPUs
GeForce FX 5700 GPUs
GeForce FX 5600 GPUs
GeForce FX 5500 GPUs
GeForce FX 5200 GPUs
GeForce PCX GPUs

NVIDIA is also fully supporting our mobile OEM partners for all needed drivers for Windows Vista Beta 1. Please see your OEM partner to secure the proper drivers for the devices they choose to support during this beta period.

The following NVIDIA notebook GPUs are "Windows Vista Ready:"

GeForce Go 7800 GPUs
GeForce Go 7600 GPUs
GeForce Go 7400 GPUs
GeForce Go 7300 GPUs
GeForce Go 6800 GPUs
GeForce Go 6600 GPUs
GeForce Go 6400 GPUs
GeForce Go 6200 GPUs
GeForce FX Go5700 GPUs
GeForce FX Go5650 GPUs
GeForce FX Go5600 GPUs
GeForce FX Go5200 GPUs
GeForce FX Go5100 GPUs

The following NVIDIA integrated corelogic is "Windows Vista Ready:"

GeForce 6100/6150 GPUs


The following NVIDIA workstation GPUs are "Windows Vista Ready:"

NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4400
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 SDI
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4000 SDI
NVIDIA Quadro FX 4000
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3450
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3400
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000G
NVIDIA Quadro FX 3000
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1400
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1300
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1100
NVIDIA Quadro FX 1000
NVIDIA Quadro FX 540
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 285
NVIDIA Quadro NVS 280



[Submitted by RaZeaL]