One of NEC's solutions to cutting back on energy consumption is to go small, as in 17 inches, which is the size of NEC's latest 'green' monitor, the AS171. According to NEC, the AS171 with a 4:3 aspect ratio consumes 21 percent less power than its predecessor and uses half the amount of mercury in its design.

"The 17-inch AS171 display brings variety and value to AccuSync Series users," said Lynn Gu, Product Manager for NEC Display Solutions. "We continuously see a strong demand for the 17-inch standard aspect ratio from enterprise and small-to-medium business sectors, and our goal with this display is to offer improved green technology, energy efficiency, and eco-friendly features."

One of those features is a new carbon footprint meter for tracking your carbon savings. But probably of more value to SMBs is the 2-step ECO Mode technology, which allows users to switch between two energy-savings modes.

Other specs include a 1280 x 1024 resolution, VGA and DVI connectivity, 900:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, and tilt adjustability.

NEC will begin shipping the AS171 this month for $160, noting that the backlight is included in the three-year parts and labor warranty.

Image Credit: NEC

The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) introduced a bunch of new SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) peripherals with more to come. With USB 3.0 promising performance as much as ten times faster than USB 2.0, you'll want to add USB 3.0's digital goodness to your system as soon as you can. So, what do you need to know to make it work? Whether you have a desktop or mobile PC, we survey your options and help you zero in on your best choices.

Who’s Who in USB 3.0 Controllers

At some point in the next year or so, we'll probably see Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA begin to include USB 3.0 support in their motherboard chipsets for both desktop and mobile systems. In the meantime, it's up to third-party developers to make USB 3.0 a reality.

NEC's The One - at Least for Now 

The leading player in the USB 3.0 controller game is currently NEC, whose μPD720200 controller chip was the first to be certified by the Universal Serial Bus Implementer's Forum (USB-IF) (PDF link) back in September 2009. NEC’s USB 3.0 controller chip has been incorporated in all of the motherboards and systems that currently include USB 3.0 support, as well as add-on cards that include USB 3.0 support.

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Is VIA in Your PC's USB 3.0 Future?

A possible future rival to NEC is VIA Technology, which has released two new products that demonstrate its USB 3.0 prowess: VL810 SuperSpeed Hub Controller and VL700 USB 3.0-SATA controller. Although VIA Technology was once a major PC chipset vendor, its recent emphasis on embedded systems has made it less of a factor in PC silicon. Thus, for the immediate future, NEC is the vendor that makes USB 3.0 host adapters possible.

NEC and Marvell - Different Chips, Different Jobs

Marvell, another chip vendor, is often mentioned in the same breath as NEC, which might lead to confusion over who was responsible for USB 3.0 controller logic. Marvell is the company responsible for creating SATA 6Mbps controller chips found in the new motherboards and add-on cards, such as this ASUS U3S6 add-on card:

Consequently, current motherboards and add-on cards with USB 3.0 and SATA 6Mbps host adapters use controllers from both companies.

Selecting a USB 3.0-Compatible Motherboard

If you're already planning on a motherboard upgrade and you want to be ready for the future, you should strongly consider motherboards with USB 3.0 ports. Whether you prefer Intel or AMD processors, major vendors offer a variety of choices:

ASUS

These motherboards use Intel chipsets in the ATX form factor:

P7P55D-E Premium * (pictured below)
P7P55D-E EVO *
P7P55D-E PRO *

These motherboards use Intel chipsets in the Micro ATX form factor: 

P7H57D-V EVO *
P7H55D-M EVO

Motherboards marked with * use a unique ASUS bridge chip that provides full USB 3.0 / SATA 6Gbps performance

ASUS is expected to support AMD platforms lwith USB 3.0-based motherboards ater in 2010.

Gigabyte

These motherboards use Intel chipsets in the ATX form factor:

GA-X58A-UD7 **
GA-P55A-UD7 **
GA-P55A-UD6
GA-P55A-UD4P
GA-P55A-UD3P
GA-P55A-UD3 (pictured below)

These motherboards use Intel chipsets in the micro ATX form factor:

GA-H57M-USB3
GA-H55M-USB3

These motherboards use AMD chipsets in the ATX form factor:

GA-790FXTA-UD5
GA-790XTA-UD4
GA-770TA-UD3

Motherboards marked ** use Gigabyte's PLX PCI Express switch chip to provide maximum USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps performance

With so many choices, how can you choose the best motherboard for your purposes? In addition to the obvious factors such as platform (Intel or AMD), memory support, and form factor, take a look at the following issues:

USB 3.0 Power Per Port

USB 3.0 specifies 900mA of continuous power for bus-powered devices, up from 500mA in USB 2.0. However, just as with USB 2.0, some USB 3.0 devices, notably hard disks, might need additional power to start properly. If you plan to use bus-powered hard disks or other bus-powered devices, look for motherboards that offer additional power to USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports (a feature of all Gigabyte models)

USB 3.0 Maximum Performance

Although all current USB 3.0 motherboards use the same NEC controller chip, many motherboards run USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps traffic to the peripheral controller hub (PCH) using a single 2.5 gigatranfer PCI Express lane that provides only half the maximum speed possible with these ports. Some ASUS models use a bridge chip to put USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps traffic on a dedicated PCI Express 2.0 connection to enable both interfaces to provide maximum performance, and Gigabyte uses a PLX bridge chip to accomplish a similar performance boost on its top-of-the-line UD7 series motherboards.

Selecting a USB 3.0-Compatible Card for Desktops

Although PCI Express cards for desktop PCs use the same NEC SuperSpeed controller as motherboards, there are several differences in implementation in the initial offerings:

USB 3.0/eSATA 6Gbps Combo Card

ASUS's U3S6 provides two of each port in a card that plugs into a PCI Express x4 expansion slot. It includes the same bridge chip used in some ASUS USB 3.0 motherboards to provide maximum speed to both interfaces when installed in a system that supports PCI Express 2.0.

USB 3.0 – PCI Express x4

The PCI Express x4 interface is also used by several vendors for USB 3.0-only cards,including Active Media Products' Atomix PX and StarTech's PEXUSB3S2. By using PCI Express x4, these cards help assure maximum performance for both USB 3.0 ports.

USB 3.0 – PCI Express x1

For users with motherboards that don't include PCI Express x4 slots, some vendors offer PCI Express x1-based USB 3.0 cards. These include SIIG's DP SuperSpeed USB 2-Port PCIe and Gigabyte's Ultra Durable USB 3.0 PCI Express Card. While these cards can't support the maximum throughput available with USB 3.0 when two USB 3.0 devices are connected, they still provide a big speed boost over USB 2.0 devices and ports.

Gigabyte's card offers a unique feature that provides up to 3x standard power for power-hungry USB 3.0 or 2.0 devices. However, there's no free lunch: to enable the board to provide extra power, you must plug two spare Molex 4-pin hard disk/fan power connectors to the card.

Selecting the Card

First, make sure you have an appropriate open slot for the card. If all you have are PCI Express x1 slots, your choices are limited. If you have PCI Express x4 slots, decide whether you want to add USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gbps support, or only USB 3.0 support.

Next, make sure you have appropriate power. Some cards draw power only from the expansion slot, but most use one or more Molex power connectors.

You will need to install driver software after you install the card.

Selecting a USB 3.0-compatible Card for Mobile PCs

If you have a mobile PC with an ExpressCard 34 or 54 slot, you have a variety of add-on cards available to move up to USB 3.0. These include:

Active Media Products' Atomix EC, StarTech's ExpressCard USB 3.0, and SIIG SuperSpeed USB 2-Port ExpressCard/34, with more likely to follow. Note that ExpressCard-based USB 3.0 ports cannot provide full 900mA current to both ports. If you need to run two bus-powered devices that require 900mA current, buy the optional AC adapter available from the vendor.

Your Choice – Upgrade or Add-On?

If you have a desktop computer, you have two distinct paths to the future: upgrade your motherboard or drop in a USB 3.0 card. Which way should you go?

Time and Expense

If you're on a budget (either time or money), an add-on card is the way to go. At prices ranging from less than $30 to around $60 and installation times under a half-hour, an add-on card is faster and cheaper than upgrading your entire system.

Features

If you're looking to upgrade more than just ports, a new USB 3.0-based motherboard can put you into DDR3 memory, SATA 6Gbps, better overclocking, and other new features. However, don't assume that a new motherboard is always better than your old one, especially in terms of overclocking.

For example, the ASUS Republic of Gamers Maximum III Formula (USB 2.0) has an Intel P55 chipset, just as ASUS’s new  P7P55D-E PRO (USB 3.0) does, but the older board includes better overclocking software and features. If you overclock your systems, be sure to compare your existing motherboard’s overclocking features (BIOS and software) and stability with any potential replacement.

Conclusion

USB 3.0 ports and devices are still in their infancy, but even now, making the move to the new USB standard opens up new worlds of performance and flexibility. It's you're choice, so choose wisely.
 

I remember drooling over NEC’s 43-inch curved monitor, the CRVD, last June. Now that display has an Ostendo label and it’s just as breathtaking as ever.

View original here: 
Gaming With Three 43” Curved LCDs is Awesome

I remember drooling over NEC’s 43-inch curved monitor, the CRVD, last June. Now that display has an Ostendo label and it’s just as breathtaking as ever.

Go here to see the original:
Gaming With Three 43” CRVD Displays is Awesome

Intel has announced a new version of its Nehalem-EX series CPUs for use in supercomputers. The chips are part of the Xeon family and are optimized for use in supercomputers.  The new six-core chips will run at higher clock speed than the current eight-core versions. A single computer will be capable of running 256 of the new CPUs. The new Nehalem-EX chips should be available next year.

Intel also made it known that they were partnering with NEC to develop new supercomputing technologies. In a joint statement, the two tech giants said they would, “push the boundaries of supercomputing performance.” Initially, the two companies will focus on boosting memory speed and scalability.

NEC plans to use advances gleaned from their work with Intel in future supercomputers that utilize Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX), an extension of the x86 architecture. A vector processor design is capable of processing multiple operations simultaneously. Current Xeon chips have strong scalar processing, meaning they run operations one at a time. AVX will also be used in Intel’s Sandy Bridge microarchitecture expected in 2011.

You don't always get what you pay for

NEC’s EA241WM has a number of features that set it apart from the rest of the displays in this field: It’s the only model to support a full complement of ergonomic features (tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment); it’s the only model with an integrated USB 2.0 hub; and compared to its competition’s flimsy construction, this monitor is built like a Mack truck.

It’s also the most expensive and least consumer-oriented model we tested, with an MSRP of $450 and native resolution of 1920x1200 (versus 1920x1080). And while the monitor does support HDCP, it’s not equipped with an HDMI port (NEC will provide a free DVI-to-HDMI adapter, but doesn’t put one in the box).

The NEC EA241WM comes with NEC's NaviSet software, which provides a graphical user interface for controlling the monitor's brightness, contrast, and color environment.

The EA241WM’s tiny thumb-stick controller is one of the best tools we’ve used for making minute adjustments to a display’s brightness and contrast levels. The NEC performed better than any of the other monitors in DisplayMate’s black-level test, with virtually no backlight contamination of a black screen. In spite of its precision controls, this monitor performed poorly when it came to differentiating between black and dark shades of both gray and colors. This was particularly bothersome in the opening scene of Watchmen, because important details were lost in the dark shadows.

<< Back to the Monitor Index

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• Asus VH242HL-P
  

• Gateway FHX2300
  

• HP 2709m
  

• LG W2353V-PF
  

• Samsung P2370HD

• ViewSonic VX2433wm

DVD burners are extremely cheap. Obviously, it makes good sense to buy a $30 drive if you don’t have one yet, but is it worth replacing an existing drive with a newer one?

See the original post: 
Three Generations Compared: Is Your DVD Burner Outdated?

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) today approved the first SuperSpeed USB 3.0 product. The product in question is a host controller from NEC Electronics. Having this certified host controller will be a boon to other manufacturers, as they will be able to easily test products using the USB 3.0 spec.

The controller, known as the µPD720200 host controller, uses a PCI Express Gen 2 interface bus. This allows 2 USB 3.0 ports to be easily added to any system supporting the PCI Express bus. Analyst firm, In-Stat, estimates nearly one-third the market will support the SuperSpeed standard by 2013.

NEC Electronics originally announced the µPD720200 in May, but the product has just now been certified. “NEC Electronics has supported the development of SuperSpeed USB technology since the earliest efforts, and it is gratifying to help make the technology become a reality,” said Masao Hirasawa, General Manager, SoC Systems Division, NEC Electronics Corporation.

Check out the press release here. [warning, PDF]

Japanese electronics manufacturers Casio, NEC and Hitachi have decided to merge their mobile phone divisions. The merged entity will be ready to lock horns with local and international competitors by April next year. Casio and Hitachi are already part of a joint venture they constituted in 2004. With NEC joining the existing joint venture, the resulting entity will, immediately after its birth, acquire the bragging rights that belong to the second-largest handset maker in Japan.

The latest entrant will be the largest stakeholder in the new business with a 66 percent stake, while Casio and Hitachi will hold 17.34 percent and 16.66 percent, respectively. The three are not only eyeing the jam-packed Japanese market, but also the global market. Japanese handset makers have not been able to have an impact on the world stage. Though they seem to posses the goods to shatter their global jinx to smithereens, the world has never really warmed up to the relatively more advanced Japanese cellphone technology.

The Japanese have pioneered many advancements in mobile technology, from e-mail to electronic payments. All said, their lack of success is not entirely incomprehensible. The fact is that Japanese handset makers have never tried to tailor their products to international tastes.

Image Credit: Geek

Despite the recent push towards going green, power management on the PC has a long ways to go, but a new breakthrough could shakes things up in a big way. Both Rohm Co Ltd and NEC of Japan are working on what's called zero-standby-dissipation IC technology, which is an integrated circuit that waits in Off mode for an input before instantly turning itself on, and then turning right back off.

Already in prototype form and expected to ship in quantity before 2010, the innovative chips are made from nonvolatile logic and merged memory. By making the entire chip nonvolatile, the integrated circuits consume no power when in standby mode, only turning themselves on when power is needed. And because of the logic circuit, the chips do not need data retention, which means power to the entire chip can be cut in standby.

"This technology has enormous potential in applications such as games, where the system is usually sitting and waiting for player input," says an un-named source at Rohm.

Lots more details here.

Image Credit: Rohm