Roadmap Shows Intel Readying 14nm and 10nm Chips

A roadmap outlining Intel’s micro-architecture plans for the better part of the next decade has emerged online. According to this roadmap, Intel plans to continue their “tick-tock” product cycle in which every “tick” is a shrinking of the process technology used in the previous architecture whilst the “tock” is a new micro-architecture entirely. Keeping with this strategy Intel will release two new processors, codenamed Skylake and Skymont using 14nm and 10nm process technology sometime between 2015-2018.

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MSI Announces GE620DX Performance Notebook

MSI has introduced its new GE620DX gaming laptop, featuring the Intel second generation Core i7-2630QM quad core processor (core speeds of 2.00GHz) and nVidia’s top-end GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card. Not only does the GE620DX offer more powerful graphics performance and enhanced resolution, it supports nVidia’s PhysX and Microsoft’s DirectX 11 for great graphics with more detailed and convincing details, like cooler explosions and more realistic flowing water, to maximize your gaming pleasure.
Eric Kuo, associate vice president for global sales, MSI Notebook, points out that MSI’s superior Premium Sound and THX TruStudio Pro wrap around sound team up to offer you the perfect combination of sound and visuals for the ultimate multimedia experience. This gaming dream machine also boasts an exterior with awesome high tech lines. The letters “MSI” are emblazoned in the center of the GE620DX’ cover in luminescent white script which is set off by the metal brush finish. Not only is this machine a dream to play, it’s a dream to look at, too.
Power is the name of the game
Intel 2nd generation Core i7 quad core CPU: The GE620DX features the latest Core i7-2630QM quad core processor with core speeds of 2.00GHz. The new generation Intel Core i7 processor supports Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 and Quick Sync Video. Intel’s Turbo Boost 2.0 greatly enhances performance in each core, automatically allocating processor resources to boost core clock speeds and overall computer performance, while Quick Sync Video revs up efficiency when ripping, synchronizing, and editing multimedia files.
nVidia’s high end GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card: The GE620DX packs nVidia’s new generation GeForce GT 555M discrete graphics card with 2GB of display memory. The nVidia PhysX technology offers the serious gamer some seriously realistic visuals. In addition, the GE620DX supports DirectX 11 for higher resolution, allowing you to see, for example, details of distant buildings for more realistic gaming.
GPU Boost: The GE620DX laptop supports MSI GPU Boost technology which automatically switches back and forth between the discrete graphics card and the graphics chip. When your computer is processing graphics-heavy applications, it automatically kicks into the discrete graphics card mode to give you superior graphics processing capabilities and when performing general word processing tasks or browsing the Internet, it cuts to the power-sipping integrated graphics chip mode, striking the ideal balance between performance and battery life.
Realistic multimedia experience
Top cinema-grade sound: The GE620DX comes with MSI’s Premium Sound to meet the need of even the most demanding audiophiles for crisp, clean sound. Now, you can experience sounds like you’ve never heard them before in an NB computer. The GE620DX also comes with THX TruStudio Pro smart surround sound technology previously found only in cinemas, which when coupled with its top-end internal speakers, reproduces any music type or frequency faithfully.
Cinema Pro technology: The GE620DX features powerful multimedia processing and MSI’s own Cinema Pro technology for superior graphics. One touch of the Cinema Pro hotkey instantly switches you to film mode for higher resolution and richer colors.
Full array of HD hardware: The MSI GE620DX sports a 720p webcam to give you high definition, smooth, bright pictures when video conferencing with friends and family. If you want something bigger than a high definition computer screen to view films, it comes with an HDMI port, so any type of high-fidelity, high-definition video can be played on your NB, but viewed via a cable on a large-screen LCD TV.
Designed with you in mind
USB3.0: The GE620DX comes with new USB3.0 ports which boast transfer speeds of 4.8Gbps—10 times faster than USB2.0, and 80% higher power transmission, providing vastly higher data transfer rates and charging speeds for external hard drives, flash drives, and other handheld electronic devices.
Shortcuts to shut off power to idle hardware: Located above the GE620DX’ keyboard are six shortcuts. With one click of the mouse, you can eject a DVD, turn off the screen, or turn on the S-Bar, Turbo Battery+, Cinema Pro, or power, so don’t waste battery power when you’re away from your computer for a few minutes.
MSI S-Bar: Just one click of the GE620DX’ S-Bar hotkey calls up all functions onto the screen, so you can control everything from the webcam, projector, network, and Bluetooth to volume control, screen brightness, and standby mode.

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OCZ Talos SAS SSDs Now Available With Virtualized Controller Architecture

OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today released a refresh of the Talos Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) 6Gb/s SSDs with OCZ’s proprietary Virtualized Controller Architecture (VCA) 2.0. Designed for enterprise applications with mixed workloads, the Talos Series with VCA 2.0 delivers even greater performance for SAS-based storage infrastructures.
OCZ’s Talos with VCA 2.0 technology provides customers with a robust enterprise feature-set while substantially increasing mixed workload performance. Talos now utilizes VCA 2.0′s unique command queuing and queue balance algorithms to address the demands of today’s I/O intensive enterprise applications, which require high levels of sustained IOPS and bandwidth, across file sizes and read/write ratios. While traditional SAS SSDs can only perform one read or write at a time, OCZ Talos drives with VCA 2.0, can read and write simultaneously, substantially increasing performance.
“The OCZ Talos Series of SAS solid state drives now leverages our proprietary VCA 2.0 to boost transactional performance and provide a complete range of enhanced features, making it the ideal drop in replacement for multiple hard drives in enterprise storage systems,” said Ryan Petersen, CEO of OCZ Technology Group. “With superior mixed-workload performance Talos SSDs provide clients with increased throughput and flexibility to address their most demanding enterprise storage applications.”
Talos SAS SSDs deliver excellent mixed-workload performance with up to 66,000 IOPS (burst) and 50,000 sustained read/write IOPS with incompressible 4K files sizes, and 34,000 sustained mixed read/write IOPS with incompressible 8K files. As a result, Talos is the ideal full duplex SAS solution for applications that may benefit from increased 8K and 16K sustained IOPS, including databases which use a default block size of 8K, or increased incompressible performance such as the growing need of datacenters to provide fast access to compressed video and audio files.
Additionally, Talos’ SAS 6Gb/s interface enables easy deployment with existing devices and appliances and the drives themselves provide clients with world-class reliability features including superior power loss protection, endurance, encryption, and ECC protection.
The refreshed Talos Series with VCA 2.0 is now available for strategic customers in capacities up to 960GB, and the drives will be made available to SMB and enterprise clients through OCZ’s business-to-business channel.

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SP/Silicon Power launches its all-new SATA III SSD

Leading memory storage brand, SP/Silicon Power today announces the launch of its first SATA III Solid State Drive (SSD), the Velox Series V30. Continuing the efficiency and stability of the V20, the V30 employs the highest spec SATA III 6 Gbps interface on the market, while remaining backwards compatible with the SATA II Gbps interface. Running at over double the efficiency of the SATA II interface, the V30 is a top level product that can meet the needs of computer gamers and professional computer users alike.
The SP/Silicon Power V30 SSD uses a SandForce controller chip, enabling it to reach a top read speed of 550 MB/s, and top write speed of 500 MB/s. It also supports TRIM command and Garbage Collection technology, resolving the issue of decreased efficiency in SSDs used for long periods of time.
The V30 SSD employs multiple techniques to strengthen the product’s stability and durability. These include: DuraWrite^TM and wear leveling, which extends the endurance of MLC memory providing at least 5 year lifecycles with 3-5K cycle MLC flash; Implementation of ECC (Error Checking & Correction) technology then ensures reliability of data transmission; and built-in SMART (Self-Monitoring, Analysis & Reporting Technology) enables consumers to check on the product’s operating status at any time.
The SP/Silicon Power V3 SSD hard drive comes with a 3 year warranty, and a complimentary 3.5″ adapter bracket that allows easy installment. Come and immediate experience of the SATA III super-high efficiency!

High Efficiency & High Stability
- SATA III 6Gbps backwards compatible with SATA II 3Gbps
- Super-high transfer rate: 550MB/s max. read speed
- 500MB/s max. write speed
- Supports TRIM command and Garbage Collection technology
- Equipped with DureWrite^TM and wear leveling, to extend endurance
- Implement with ECC technology to guarantee data transmission reliability
- Built-in with SMART monitoring system
- Low power consumption
- Shock & Vibration-proof
- Noiseless operation, no latency delay and no seek error
- 3 year warranty

Specification
- Capacity: 60GB/120GB/240GB/480GB
- Dimensions: 100mm x 69.85mm x 9.4mm
- Weight: 70g
- Complimentary 3.5″ Adapter Bracket
- Vibration Resistance Test: 20G
- Shock Resistance Test: 1500G Max

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OCZ Technology Unveils Indilinx Everest Series Solid State Drive Controller OCZ Technology Unveils Indilinx Everest Series Solid State Drive Control

OCZ Technology Group, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance solid-state drives (SSDs) for computing devices and systems, today unveiled the Indilinx Everest SATA 3.0 SSD platform. The Everest platform features support of 6Gbps interface speeds, high transactional performance that is optimized for compressed files, and maximum capacities up to 1TB. “The new Indilinx Everest platform is a complete customizable solution that delivers superior storage performance, features, and capabilities designed to exceed the needs of the most demanding SSD applications,” said Bumsoo Kim, President of Indilinx. “Combining a 6Gbps SATA Revision 3.0 host interface, a dual-core CPU, and support for the latest, most advanced NAND Flash Memory technology available, Everest offers SSD manufacturers unparallel flexibility in optimizing their designs for both performance and cost.”
As a true next generation solution the new Indilinx Everest platform includes a complete spectrum of enhanced capabilities including:
Supports Next Generation Flash Technologies
The Everest Platform supports state-of-the-art, Multi-Level Cell (MLC) NAND components and next generation three bit per cell NAND Flash. The ability to leverage Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND Flash with proprietary Everest and Indilinx Ndurance Technology provides customers with significant cost reductions associated with moving to the new process.
Advanced Architecture Optimized for High Speed and Density
The Everest Platform features the only controller to support 200 mega transfers per second (MT/s) synchronous-mode flash, up over the 166 MT/s supported by other NAND Flash controllers. Everest supports 1TB capacities in a single controller SSD design with current generation Flash components. Its innovative eight channel design with up to 16-way interleaving for maximum performance, supports full data path and power fail protection to deliver best-in-class data integrity and reliability for enterprise applications.
Performance Optimization
Everest’s leading-edge design delivers high sequential speeds up to 500MB/s and is optimized for small file writes at the 8K file size with next generation page mapping technology, which increases transactional performance optimized for 4K to 16K compressed files , by matching file sizes to the 8K page size typical in newer generation NAND Flash.
Enhanced Boot Time
Indilinx’s new boot time reduction algorithms can be configured to decrease system boot time by up to 50% over existing SSD controller architectures for customers that require faster boot times and an instant-on experience in their applications. This provides the real world benefits users seek from their storage solutions and enables quicker access and greater responsiveness, allowing clients to take full advantage of solid state storage as a boot device.
Indilinx Everest Platform Complete Feature-Set:

• SATA Revision 3.0 – Supports 6Gbps, 3Gbps, and 1.5Gbps interface speeds
• Dual Core ARM CPU
• 1TB Maximum Capacity
• High Sequential Speeds
• High Transactional Performance – Optimized for 4K to 16K Compressed Files
• Up to 8 Channels of ONFI 2.0/Toggle 1.0 Flash at up to 200MT/s with up to 16-way Interleaving
• Advanced BCH ECC engine -over 70 bits per defined sector
• 400 MHz DDR3 DRAM Cache Interface with Support for up to 512MB
• Proprietary Ndurance Technology
• Enhanced Power Fail Protection
• Supports up to 1xnm Node NAND Flash with 1, 2, or 3 bits per cell
• Efficient NAND Flash Management – Dynamic and Static Wear-Leveling, and Background Garbage Collection
• Boot Time Reduction Optimizations – Collaborative Platform Development
• NCQ Support up to 32 Queue Depth
• End-to-End Data Protection
• TRIM Support
• Numerous Over-Provisioning Options
• Industry Standard SMART Reporting

The Indilinx Everest SSD platform is now available to OEMs for validation.

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