Tech News
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GeForce GTX 1080: Most Bizarre Secret Paper Launch Ever @ [H]
Don't call it a paper launch, we have been here for years ~nvidia cool j (not really)
Kyle over at HardOCP posted an editorial that pretty much sums up what everyone was thinking about GTX 1080 but was too excited to notice.
As Kyle says the fact that GTX 1080 had three independent dates indicates two things.
- It is a paper launch, meaning they announced a product that you can't buy
- Nvidia is also launching their reference design "Founders Edition" before the board partners.
So basically if you want one, you have to wait, and if you really want one you have to pay extra. Seems reasonable.
One thing Darren and I talked about in the Hardware Asylum Podcast is that the launch coencides with Computex and as much as it pains us having cards released right before the show is a really good move.
I personally get both sides of what the Founders Edition cards are supposed to be, but suffice it to say, I would suggest that 90% of HardOCP readers have seen this simply as an "Early Adopter's Tax." And quite frankly, it is hard for anyone to argue differently given NVIDIA's track record with delivering TTM (Time To Market) "reference" cards to market since the introduction of TITAN and its fancy cooler a few years ago. NVIDIA has set a very solid precedent of selling its "reference" cards at MSRP. The way this has worked in the past was that reference cards were all that was available on launch day; hence the "Founders Edition" branding. It all makes sense to me and most people in the community.
Kyle also covers some more interesting facts including the 2.1Ghz shown during the livestream. As it turns out NVIDIA overclocked their card using EVGA Precision so that the EA demo would run, smooth. Not a bad thing but they should have mentioned it was overclocked, bad or not.
The final interesting thing was about the SLI situation. This is something I wrote about claiming that it was really up to NVIDIA to decide. Well, as it turns out if you want to run more than two cards you have to download an unlock key, "Enthusiast Key" from NVIDIA which will then enable the older technology.
I suspect this is a "trial" to see how many people download the key and what more, they will likely impose a survey to ensure you really do have three cards to help put value behind the logs.
Be sure to check out Kyle's editorial for more information and give my version a read if you are curious.
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NVIDIA GTX 1080 Launch Day
It would appear that more details on the GTX 1080 are surfacing today.
Web Reviews
- The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Review @ Hardware Canucks
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB @ techPowerUpGiven how many editors and video jockeys attended the #Dreamhack event I would have expected more reviews to have come in.
I guess give it time!
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Google will start blocking Flash content in Chrome
We have all heard this before and at the last minute the movement is pulled in favor of a patch to fix some bug in the Flash system. Thing is Flash is huge when it comes to how people consume their media and if Google starts blocking it and there is no replacement for the YouTube player then a good portion of the Chrome userbase will be moving to another browser.
That is of course assuming they kill the plugin completely or just not allow it to be the default plugin for showing certain content.
Google calls this approach “HTML5 by Default.” Chrome has shipped with a bundled version of Flash player for several years now, and it will continue to do so. This was never an endorsement of Flash, merely a recognition of the security risk. At least by bundling the latest version with Chrome, users wouldn’t be running old and insecure builds. When Google flips the switch on this plan, that plugin won’t load automatically Flash content when you just happen across it. That’s only feasible because you see much less Flash on the web now.
I like HTML5, it is a good framework for doing things on the web. In the early days when I was building websites if someone had an issue it was "What browser are you using?" and "What plugin do you have installed?" Now with HTML5 the plugin problems are gone but bring up issues of installed software and an endless list of things that could be going wrong.
Luckily HTML5 implementations are pretty standardized which is good for making things work and bad for when things go wrong.
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Creative Sound BlasterX H7 Review @ Vortez
When it comes to gaming headsets there are some names and those names command some respect but there is one, one name that stands out as one you shouldn't ignore.
Creative
I recently reviewed the Creative Sound BlasterX H5 and found it to be an excellent headset supporting all the awesome and was comphy to boot.
At a glance, the H7 has the similar high quality construction to the H5 with the 50mm drivers, steel headband/ brushed aluminium parts, memory foam padding, removable noise reducing microphone, however, there are some subtle changes that differentiate it from its sibling. First, the aluminium holding the earcup to the headphone is anodized black. Second, The H7 is semi-modular with the DAC hard wired to the headset by 400mm of braided cable. Lastly, to take advantage of that USB power, there is a subtle red LED lighting effect that pulsates. As the H7 has both digital and analogue connectivity, it can be used on pretty much all platforms.
The H7 is extremely similar to the H5 but comes with digital and analog interfaces to get the most from your audio experience.
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Lian Li Two-faced PC-O9: Two Different Chassis Linked as One
Latest PC Case Fits Powerful AIO/DIY Water Cooling and Highlights Attractive Components
May 11, 2016, Keelung, Taiwan - Lian-Li Industrial Co. Ltd announces the PC -O9 chassis, the latest in its esteemed O-series open-air chassis. This new mid tower case features a distinctive dual-compartment design: one side uses all aluminum panels, the other is wreathed in beautiful tempered glass.
Two Faces, Glass and Aluminum
The PC-O9 is split into two sections for optimized cooling, organization, and style – it’s like two different cases fused together as conjoined twins. Similar to the PC-O8, the primary compartment uses two large tempered glass panels spanning the sides of the case to showcase the motherboard, VGA cards, and overall flashiest components. The secondary compartment houses the PSU and drive rack in a windowless aluminum exposure. Both compartments are separated by a band running down the middle of the chassis, which contains the inputs and power button. No other case lets builders isolate different components into organized compartments to this degree.
Lian Li’s Best Chassis for Water Cooling
The PC-O9 has the most flexible cooling layout in its series. It includes five 120mm fans – two exhaust fans behind the drive cage and three intake fans mounted between the compartments. The top panel in the glass compartment has three additional 120mm fan mounts; both top and bottom panels include removable mesh dust filters in this compartment. Water cooling enthusiasts can install up to two 120mmx360mm radiators, one replacing three included 120mm fans and another at the top panel in the glass compartment. To maximize space, builders can hide a radiator in the aluminum compartment, with rubber grommets for all-in-one tubes to pass inside the glass compartment. DIY enthusiasts will appreciate an included, removable mounting plate compatible with most pumps, with plenty of room in the back aluminum compartment for reservoirs and tubing.Designed for Big, Beautiful Builds
The PC-O9 mounts VGA cards up to 420mm long, or 290mm with a thick radiator on the front fan mount, ATX PSUs up to 290mm, and CPU coolers up to 160mm tall. It offers eight expansion slots for high-end multi-GPU setups. The removable drive cage is tucked out-of-sight in the aluminum compartment and mounts as many as six 3.5” and two 2.5” drives for a total of eight, all mounted on rubber vibration dampeners. An included RGB lighting kit and controller is pre-installed, so builders can put together a clean, LED-lit professional-quality build right out of the box.Price and Availability
The PC-O9 will be available in Mid-June in two versions for $439: the PC-O9WRX in black with red highlights and the PC-O9WX in all black.Video Overview of the PC-O9:
https://youtu.be/rZhQ0_hcacwFind out more here:
http://www.lian-li.com/en/dt_portfolio/pc-o9
https://fb.com/LianLiHQ
https://www.instagram.com/lianlihq/ -
Nvidia GTX 1080 SLI Support Comes Into Question
With the launch of the GTX 1080 and the following announcement of the high-speed SLI bridge many have come to question how many cards you will be supported in SLI.
As many of you know NVIDIA can control how many cards will be supported in SLI in two ways.
The first is at the hardware level with the number of SLI connector (or “Fingers" as I call it sometimes) located at the top of the card. If there is only one then you are only allowed to run 2-way SLI. (eg two physical cards). Cards that come with two SLI connectors can physically support 3-way and 4-way SLI.
The second control method is via the driver. This impacts cards with two SLI connectors and while most are unlocked allowing you to run 4-way configurations there have been situations where NVIDIA has limited card support. The most recent of these was the GTX 770 being limited to 3-way SLI even though the card could physically be linked in a 4-way configuration. Of course that doesn’t stop you from running four cards but one needed to be run outside of the SLI configuration.
A Third way is via the video card BIOS but, in the big picture that is easy to bypass
So how does this impact the GTX 1080?
Well, the high-speed SLI Bridge is designed for 2-way card configurations and uses both of the SLI connectors.
But wait? Don’t most enthusiasts use both connectors in 2-way card setups? Why yes, yes we do and it remains to be seen if that did anything back then, but now. It seems they are using both connectors to transfer more data between the GPUs and offer better SLI scaling.
When the rumor/”educated theory” broke many turned to the various forums looking for answers. Some YoubeTubbies denounced the rumor in favor of exciting video content “to follow” and pad their monthly views.
There was at least one official response from EVGA claiming that GTX 1080 was limited to 2-way SLI only. However, that comment has been pulled and replaced with “coming soon” message
So here is my take on the whole situation.
High-Speed SLI Bridge: Hey it uses both connectors and there is no way to lace up any more cards so using that bridge effectively means you are limited to 2-way SLI.
Driver Support: Yet to be seen but it is totally within the power of NVIDIA to limit SLI support and they have done it before. Given that 90% of SLI users only use 2-way SLI AND that 2-way SLI has always been the most efficient SLI configuration I can see the politics.
Personal Feelings on the Matter: It would be easy for NVIDIA to allow 3-way and 4-way SLI support on GTX 1080 and then give performance benefits to those who use the approved configuration. The 10% of users who rock 3-way and 4-way setups are doing so either for Overclocking, Elaborate Watercooling, or Cause e-peen. These are the true enthusiasts and will likely be the most vocal over the whole situation
We likely won't know the real answer until after Computex as the official info is likely still under NDA. This would explain why the YouChubbies are doing videos later after their disclosure agreements expire and why the answer at the EVGA forums was retracted.
Thing is, unless NVIDIA pulls a GTX 770 the card will support 4-way configurations, they are just pushing the High Speed Bridge (HSB) because its awesome and new.
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Cooler Master Launches MasterCase Maker 5 with FreeForm Modular System
Chino, USA – Cooler Master, a leader in design and manufacturing computer components and peripherals, today announced the availability of the MasterCase Maker 5, a mid-sized modular tower with exterior expandability, made possible with accessories purchased separately. The MasterCase ushers in a new era of cases with FreeForm™ Modular System that offers unparalleled control over form and function.
“The MasterCase Maker 5 offers the option to completely swap and readjust the case’s form and functionality with multiple interior and exterior outlooks, ample space and customized accessories,” said Crane Chen, Case Team Manager. “We’ve listened to the community since the launch and have taken steps to ensure a number of accessories are available including maker made accessories for the community. These accessories are available for purchase online and this truly enables endless build possibilities.”
Upgrade Your PC Inside Out with the FreeForm™ Modular System
Cooler Master wants users to have absolute control over how their case looks and functions. FreeForm provides options to not only adjust the case exterior, but also offers interior layout flexibility in a mid-sized case. In the MasterCase Maker 5, FreeForm allows a single case to support a host of different configurations, enabling users to upgrade rather than replace their case and system. Through a unique Clip-and-Click panel, FreeForm lets users adjust vertically or remove the drive cages entirely. This flexibility allows building multiple system configurations like home servers, water-cooled workstations, or gaming rigs with dual-slot extra-long graphics cards using one single case.The MasterCase Maker 5 comes with an upgraded I/O panel that provides four USB ports, including USB 3.0 Type C, and additional buttons for LED strip and fan speed control. The top and front door panels fit snugly with a magnetic grip, the top panel also includes a closed paneling allowing the freedom to choose to cover the top or ensure airflow through the top mesh. The front panels are padded to suppress sound and deliver
the right balance between noise and airflow.
All accessories, including external panels and kits will be available for purchase from authorized retailers and also online at the Cooler Master online stores in North America, Europe, and Asia. More accessories are to be announced at a later date. To learn more visit: www.coolermaster.com/MasterCaseMaker5
List of Accessories
Tempered Glass Side Panel for MasterCase 5 Series $49.99
Top Cover Kit with Magnetic Grip for MasterCase 5 Series* $24.99
Cooling Bracket for MasterCase Series* $9.99
Silencio FP 140 PWM with Red LED $19.99
Universal VGA Holder for all size tower chassis $14.99Pricing & Availability:
The MasterCase Maker 5 is expected to be available at global retailers including Amazon and Newegg, beginning May 10th, 2016 for a suggested retail price of USD $189.99.US CM Store: http://www.cmstore-usa.com/
EU CM Store: http://www.cmstore.eu/
APAC CM Store: store.coolermaster.com -
id Software shows Doom running on GTX 1080 using Vulkan
I saw a video similar to this shortly after the GTX 1080 launch and was amazed to see amost 200FPS in a modern triple A title. During that presentation they mentioned "Vulkan" which is a new OpenGL driver that works similar to DirectX 12.
By using Vulkan you can get the same visual presentation on older versions of Windows and maybe even Linux.
The video starts off running at 1080p (which is the limit of the projector being used) with V-Sync enabled, and the frame rate is a steady 60 fps. After a minute or so, they shut off V-Sync and you'll see performance jump into the 120-200 fps range. id says there are still a few graphical glitches they're working to fix, specifically when the game hits 200 fps. Apparently there are some bugs in the game engine at 200 fps that they "weren't able to detect until they had the performance of the GTX 1080."
I guess they didn't try 980Ti's in SLI.
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NVIDIA GTX 1080 & GTX 1070 Detailed @ Hardware Canucks
Over the weekend NVIDIA announced the new line of Pascal based video cards the GTX 1080 and GTX 1070. These are monster cards and while they showed some performance numbers during the launch there are still a good number of unknowns.
Tonight, NVIDIA's GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 were unveiled. We have detailed specifications, performance, benchmarks, pricing and a ton of additional information for you!
This article at Hardware Canucks outlines everything nicely and pretty much covers everything that was shown on the Livestream. (Cause: I didn't get to go
)What is really amazing is the two versions of the GTX 1080 and 1070 that include a regular card and a "Founders Edition" that allows overclocking. I suspect this might be the NVIDIA answer to the X and K sku overclocking but that too is still unknown.
Look for these cards at the end of May which, for once, is also right before Computex. Yay, new stuff to be shown at Computex.
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NVIDIA Launches GTX 1080 and GTX 1070 at Dreamhack
There were some exciting announcements at Dreamhack this evening when Jen-Hsun Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA, announced four new technologies including two new GPUs the GTX 1080 and GTX 1070.
The new GPUs are based on the Pascal architecture and promise to be Faster and more Power Efficient than Maxwell. As Jen-Hsun puts it Energy Efficiency = Performance which really puts an interesting twist on the traditional way we look at performance. Ultimately he is correct and for once increased performance can also save you money.
Some of the other announcements include:
Ansel - The First In-Game 3D Camera with filters, EXR, 360 Degree image capture and Super Resolution at 61,000 pixels. (Yes THOUSAND)VR Works upgrades to include real-time physics along with a physically based acoustic engine for better audio rendering in VR space.
The final technology is the ability to output 16 video streams from Pascal with the ability to compensate for curved monitors and multi panel displays. It can also render stereoscopic VR screens with lens distortion in a single pass. The main benefit here is higher performance which is greater than 30%.
The most exciting announcement was the launch of the GTX1080 and GTX1070.
GTX 1080 comes with 2560 CUDA cores and run at 2.1Ghz. As many of us know that is well beyond the normal clock rate of Maxwell. That is unless you are running an EVGA 980Ti Kingpin Edition on LN2.
The GTX 1070 features the same Pascal core with a few processing clusters disabled.
Both cards come with 8GB of Micron GDDR5X memory making them the new performance kings of the GPU world.
I can’t wait to see what EVGA does with the chip!
