>W.I.L. Hardware Tech-News Highlights for 2008 – 1

Systems

Building Your Own Home Theater PC, using the new integrated AMD platform - link.

Ultra low-cost notebooks will not become best-sellers, say analysts - link.

CPUs, motherboards, chipsets

AMD’x Phenom X3 8750 is a triple-core application of their K10 micro-architecture - review.

AMD unveils “highly-efficient” quad-core AMD Opteron CPU - link.

Images released of AMD’s upcoming 6-core silicon-on-insulator 45nm Istanbul CPU, slated to arrive in early 2009 - link.

Intel launches an inexpensive Core 2 Duo E7200 CPU from the Wolfdale 45nm family. Even though it has somewhat limited functionality, its performance and low power consumption give it strong advantages, and AMD has no real alternative - review.

Graphics

Memory, storage

Super Talent reveals new solid state drive with up to 120GB capacity - link.

2GB mini-USB flash drives roundup - link.

10 HDD roundup compares latest 2.5” drives’ performance vs. 3.5” ones - link.

Analysts expect DVD to dominate PC space until 2012, despite Blu-Ray rampup. Similar to DVD and DVD burners, Blu-ray will need 3 to 5 years to reach mass-market volumes - link.

Cases, power supplies, cooling

Little coolers for a big processor: AURAS TwinW, APACK ZEROtherm CF900 and Scythe Shuriken vary in performance, but all three proved indisputable quieter and more efficient than the standard boxed cooler from Intel - link.

Old new coolers from Zalman, Tuniq, Noctua and Thermaltake for the overclocked Intel Yorkfield CPU - link.

11 fans for two super-coolers and one system case - roundup.

Miscellaneous components and periferals

ASUS’s Xonar D2 PM discrete sound card is a great performer, but lacks a Linux driver - link.

Twelve 22” monitors tested - roundup. • Six 24’ LCD monitors tested - roundup. • 19” LCD monitor roundup focuses on solutions using TN matrixes - link.

Samsung’s unique dual-display SyncMaster 2263DX monitor successfully combines 22” and 7” monitors - link.