Desktops

While Intel’s Larrabee might not be a household name for consumers just yet, it’s certainly at the table where Nvidia and AMD/ATI eat. The many-core (8 to 48, at least, according to that Intel graphic) x86 chip runs all your existing apps while tossing in support for OpenGL and DirectX thus eliminating the need for a discrete graphics chip. At least that’s the plan. While the exact number of cores remains a secret as does the performance of each core compared to current GPUs, given the importance Intel places on Larrabee, it’s reasonable to assume that an 8-core chip will launch in 2009 or 2010 with comparable performance to GPUs on the market at that time. Intel does say that Larrabee cores will scale “almost linearly” (read: within 10%) in games; that means that a 16-core chip will offer nearly twice the performance of an 8-core chip, 32-cores twice that of 16, and so on. Apparently this has already been proven in-house with Intel name-dropping Larrabee-coded titles such as Gears of War, FEAR, and Half-Life 2, Episode 2. It’s no coincidence then to hear that Intel’s first Larrabee product will target PC gamers. Click through if you’re just dying to read about Larrabee’s 1024 bits-wide bi-directional ring network and other bits of technical wonderment sure to create at least the hint of a silicon malaise.

[Via CNET and Washington Post, Thanks Dan R.]

So we hate to break it to the good guys at Tom’s Hardware, but while we’re impressed that they managed to overclock a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad 6600 to 5.1GHz using a cryogenic cooling system, it’s not nearly close to the world record they’re claiming — we’ve seen P4’s at up to 8.18GHz, and just a couple months ago someone jacked a Core 2 Extreme QX9775 on a Skulltrail board to 6GHz. Still, it’s always fun to watch people pour liquid nitrogen over a mobo — video after the break.

[Via PC World]

We genuinely hope you don’t value your dash very much, because a great deal of it will vanish if you opt to install KNGT’s icom MK1.The full-fledged car computer wows passengers and drivers alike with its 6.95-inch 800 x 480 resolution display, on-screen QWERTY keyboard, wireless connectivity and mobile TV (T-DMB) tuner. Furthermore, you’ll find a 40GB / 80GB hard drive, upwards of 2GB of RAM, a few USB 2.0 ports, a 1.6GHz Intel CPU and Windows XP running the show. You know all those threats you made when you were younger about heading out and just living in your ‘79 Riviera? Following through just got a whole lot easier.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

Usually the terms “enthusiast cooling equipment” and “sexy, sexy” don’t go hand in hand, but Thermaltake has here an exception that proves the rule. This here V1 CPU, which retails for $60, can handle a nice assortment of Core 2 and Athlon processors, but we’d rather just set it up on a table somewhere and stare at the pretty lights. That’s a red dot design award well earned.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Cat’s out of the bag: we’re nerds, and can’t think of a better way to spend a Tuesday morning than to shuffle through endless configuration pages, trying to build the best bang-for-buck Studio Hybrid on the internet. Dell’s product page for the new mini desktop — which was released last night — is now online, and offers up that fabled $499 configuration, in addition to some rather spendy siblings. For instance, if you want to go bamboo that’s an extra $130 right out of the gate, a display will cost you $200 minimum, it’s $50 to bump the Hybrid up to 2GB of RAM, that Blu-ray drive is a hefty $250 add-on, and WiFi will cost you $70. There’s no option for discreet graphics — that’s no surprise — and the TV tuner option is of the USB dongle variety. Luckily some of Dell’s pre-configured versions come with decent “Instant Savings,” but it’s clear Dell is going for a slightly premium, design-conscious consumer here, not the spendthrift.

[Thanks, Nathan]

Now that Dell’s Studio Hybrid has gone on sale for the adoring public, you’re probably trying to talk yourself into buying one. Not so fast, buckaroo. According to a review just posted by PC Magazine, this mini PC is probably only right for a certain sect of folks. On the upside, the unit arrives practically devoid of bloatware, which is astonishing and wonderful in its own right. Still, the Penryn T8100 CPU jammed within wasn’t a top performer, so those looking for lighting fast performance will likely be disappointed. Furthermore, the lack of expansion options and weak integrated graphics were also frowned upon, but we wouldn’t expect anything different given the design. In the end, critics deemed it a great buy for style-conscience consumers, but it couldn’t help but mention that there “are more-powerful and more-expandable choices out there if you’re less concerned about design.”

Like most product from Dell these days, there’s little surprise left in Dell’s Studio Hybrid desktop lineup of eco-friendly little PCs. First unveiled as a bamboo-clad concept in April, the computer is finally being released by the hardware giant with a starting price of $499, with interchangeable sleeves of Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate and Topaz — the latter six being of the shiny plastic ilk. Dell isn’t slouching on specs though, and seems to realize the potential of the Studio Hybrid — which can be stood vertically or horizontally — in the living room. There’s an HDMI port standard, along with options for WiFi, a wireless keyboard and mouse, Blu-ray and a TV tuner. Dell doesn’t ignore the “green” roots of this project, either, and is including a system recycling kit, along with the natural reduction in packing and manufacturing materials. The Studio Hybrid should be available today.