We take the 6 Gbps Barracuda XT, and put it to the test. Does SATA 3.0 really make a difference with mechanical drives?
Intel has shrunk its CPU down to 32nm - sort of. Find out how Clarkdale performs with our evaluation of the Core i5 661!
We spent dozens of hours comparing Windows 7 to Vista on three different systems, and answer the question: Is Windows 7 really faster than Vista?
I have somehow been able to avoid posting the millions of jokes of the iPad here on the site (the thing basically writes its own joked for you), although I have had plenty of fun on Twitter.
But all jokes aside, let’s take a look at the very first unboxing and review of Apple’s iPad. Is it as stupid as it seems?
Note: That shrill, annoying dweeb in the video is not me ;)
We first told you about it in September, and it’s finally become widely available (for about $300 USD).
Check out our full review to find out of the XT really benefits from SATA 3.0 connectivity, and how it performs on standard 3 Gbps SATA 2.0 in comparison. We also put it up against the drive it has supplanted as Seagate’s top-end desktop drive: The 1 TB Barracuda 7200.12. They are more similar than you would expect, so it makes for an interesting review.
We couldn’t give much details in our Core i5 Review, but AMD let us know that they would be introducing a bunch of new CPUs to compete with Intel in the $99 – 170 price range. They have announced them today, and we will have a full review up in the near future.
Here’s how the new CPUs look:
| Price | Cores | Speed | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | TDP | |
| Athlon II X2 255 | $74 | 2 | 3.1 GHz | 2 x 1 MB | 65 W | |
| Athlon II X3 440 | $84 | 3 | 3.0 GHz | 3 x 512 KB | 95 W | |
| Phenom II X2 555 BE | $99 | 2 | 3.2 GHz | 2 x 512 MB | 6 MB | 80 W |
| Athlon II X4 635 | $119 | 4 | 2.9 GHz | 4 x 512 MB | 95 W | |
| Phenom II X4 910e | $169 | 4 | 2.6 GHz | 4 x 512 MB | 6 MB | 65 W |
The X2 255 supplants the X2 250, and the X3 440 replaces the X3 435, with speed bumps of 100 MHz each. Nothing too interesting there.
At $99 though, we are seeing the first dual-core Phenom II in a long time. AMD says this is their fastest dual-core ever, and being a Black Edition means it has an unlocked multiplier. It should make for a very formidable opponent against the Core i3; it already has the advantage of being $25 cheaper (not including motherboard prices). It is also based on the newest Phenom II silicon (C3) and should be a killer overclocker. We’ll have to find out this week ;)
The X4 635 supplants the 630, which drops in price to $99. If you recall, the X4 620 (which was $99 at the time) was the real star of our Clarkdale review, giving you a real quad-core performance for just $99. And because of today’s release, you get one clocked 200 MHz higher for the same price, and the option to move up even more for $120.
And finally, the X4 910e is a low-wattage solution, with a 65 W max TDP.
I can’t wait to put these to the test, and it is interesting that PC buyers have the choice of going for a high-clocked dual-core with an open multiplier or a true quad-core CPU for the same $99 price point.
Probably the worst-kept secretive CPU launch in a long time for Intel (after all, they pretty much spilled the beans last week, when they announced their CES lineup) happens tonight. Intel has shrunk the CPU to 32nm, sort of. I say that, because what they did was move many of the components over to a second 45nm package on the CPU, including the PCI-E controller and memory controller. Of course, that package also houses a graphics processor.
Intel only sent out a single CPU to represent the Clarkdale launch – the Core i5 661, which is the middle-of-the-pack for the new dual-core Core i5’s, but with an overclocked graphics processor. Also being announced today is a pair of Core i3’s in the $120-150 price range.
I better stop now before things get more confusing. Trust me, it will make much more sense if you just read the full article, where we put the Core i5 661 against ten other processors in the $100-200 price range.
Most of you are probably lounging around at home now, in a turkey-induced half-coma. For me, it’s the day after, and I am about to head out for lunch.
I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, or whatever you like). 2010 should be a fun year, kicked off with a huge CPU launch of some fast new mid-range processors for about $200. We also have a high end P55 motherboard review coming, and we’ll take a look at Seagate’s 6Gbps Barracuda XT as well.
Of course our annual XBOX 360 vs. Playstation 3 article is in the works. My 360 bit the dust earlier this year (on my birthday as a matter of fact), which is why it is late. I only recently replaced it.
Here’s a Xmas treat for all – if you’ve played NES games with cheap enemies, you will greatly appreciate this video ;)
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