IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 6/22/2015

E3 attendance this year was the best in over 10 years
E3 2015 - Attendance at E3 this year saw over 50,000 attendees, which is a first since 2006. Attendance numbers slumped in 2007 and 2008, right down to less than 6,000 - but don't worry, things started swinging up in 2009 right up to over 40,000.

The Entertainment Software Association, the people behind E3, has already announced that E3 2016 will take place between June 14 and 16 in 2016, as well as saying that this year's E3 was a record-breaker. Twitch was the official livestreaming partner of E3 this year, with over 500,000 peak concurrent viewers.

274 exhibitors were at E3 this year, up from just 187 in 2015, too.


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Batman: Arkham Knight on the PS4 will have a 3.5GB day-one patch
Batman: Arkham Knight drops on June 23, with PlayStation 4 owners to get hit by a day-one patch that weighs in at 3.5GB. The patch will introduce in the "Rival Points" feature, as well as the original Batman skin, support for future DLC, and an Improved Performance and Stability Fixes.

We don't know if the Xbox One or PC versions of Batman: Arkham Knight will be slapped with 3.5GB day-one patches, but we should expect something very similar for these two platforms, too. With the game dropping on Tuesday, and with Polygon already giving it a perfect 10 and saying that Batman: Arkham Knight is "the best game of this console generation" the hype is real.


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5G standard will be up to 20Gbps, with 1GB/sec capable on your phone
If you thought your current 4G speeds were good, they won't even begin to compare to what 5G will offer. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has agreed on the preliminary definitions of the future 5G standard, where the 12-member delegation decided on the new specification.

5G compliant networks will be capable of providing speeds of up to 20Gbps, or over 2GB/sec, which is 20x faster than the 1Gbps specification for 4G. This means that consumers will enjoy speeds of up to 1GB/sec on your smartphones, with the region being between 100MB/sec and 1GB/sec, which is insanity. This is a 10x to 100x increase in the speeds available on typical 4G networks.

This huge increase in speeds will usher in a new era of connectivity, allowing 4K resolution video streaming and beyond being more than capable from a 5G-capable smartphone. The final 5G standard will be confirmed in October, with the 193 ITU member countries all voting on the final spec. 5G should be tested in 2018 at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.


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Jaguar borrows insane 'Sixth Sense' technology from NASA for its cars
It looks like Jaguar is reaching into the future with its latest adoption of technology, thanks to the kind folks at NASA of all places. The new addition is an accident prevention technology that monitors your condition to prevent accidents, something the various features are collectively called "Sixth Sense".

One of which is "Mind Sense" which is derived from a NASA technology that enhances a pilot's concentration skills, where it tries to read your brain waves, using sensors found in the steering wheel. The on-board computer then attempts to assess whether you're alert enough to be behind the wheel, with the steering wheel capable of being programmed to vibrant, or the system issuing the driver a warning sound, in case you've started to fall asleep or begin daydreaming.

Jaguar is also looking to install various medical-grade sensors into the driver's seat, especially when it comes to their luxury sedan, the Jaguar XJ. These sensors will make sure that you're good to drive, so the car will dim the lighting or play some music if it detects that you might be stressed out. Future iterations of Jaguar vehicles will be capable of self-driving, where it will be capable of detecting if you're having a heart attack, or seizure and take control of the vehicle to prevent an accident (and I'd dare say, call an ambulance for you).

If you thought that was cool, Jaguar is also working on an upgrading infotainment system that can predict what you're going to press, before your fingers even get close to the screen. The carmaker has a prototype that features a mid-air touchscreen display that uses cameras to track your hands. Future versions of this will feature ultrasonic feedback in order to trick your brain into thinking you've already touched the screen - well then.

Furthermore, Jaguar is working on an accelerator pedal that will feature haptic feedback, which might be capable of vibrating when you go over the speed limit. Or, it could act as a warning system in case you're about to hit another vehicle.


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Grand Theft Auto V 'ENBSeries' mods look absolutely mind blowing
Grand Theft Auto V has been out for a while now, with some modders taking to it quickly, but the release of the ENBSeries beta mod is a cut above the rest. I'll let the images talk for themselves, with the first batch from 'dpeasant'.

The additional detail is absolutely mind blowing, with GTA V effectively coming to life... some more screenshots for your eyeballs to enjoy, and for your PC to cry in pain from.

What an upgrade, don't you agree? Want to download it? Click here.

Ryuken has some impressive results to show, as we have embedded below.

Much darker, but very gritty for GTA V.

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Pepper humanoid robots sell out in Japan in just one minute
SoftBank publicly launched its Pepper humanoid robot on Saturday, and 1,000 units sold in just one minute. Each robot costs around $1,600 and a support plan for about $120 includes app store access and cloud voice-recognition software.

Pepper can impressively develop its own personality and can detect human emotions. SoftBank designed the humanoid robot so it can remember faces, along with being able to pick up speech patterns.

The company said it planned on manufacturing 1,000 Pepper units per month, but after selling out so quickly, it'll be curious to see if SoftBank wants to accelerate its plans. There is such high interest in Pepper, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son says partners told the company they are willing to sell the robot at a loss, if need be, over the next four years.

Robots are extremely popular in Japan, and some government officials noted they hoped robots manufacturing will help accelerate the economy.


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Barriers to smartwatch adoption are proving difficult to overcome
There are plenty of smartwatches, fitness bands and other wearables that we can choose from, though it looks like manufacturers are still fighting to get casual consumers to spend.

There are a few different barriers that must be addressed, such as the following: lack of persuasive uses, no killer apps, limited functionality, and style, according to a recent Business Insider Intelligence consumer survey.

When asked why they don't have interest in a smartwatch, 51 percent of those surveyed said they simply don't see the point of owning one. Perhaps providing a killer app could help woo new users, and that would essentially kill two birds with one stone.

However, functionality of wearables will be a continued battle, as it's up to providers to give us reasons to use the devices. The smartwatches, for example, have a screen too small for playing mobile games, looking at videos, and using social media - so what purpose does it truly have on your wrist?

The last major obstacle regarding style, however, is one that manufacturers are actively trying to sort out. Apple provides multiple watch bands for consumers to choose from, and it looks like customers are picking up one or two extra.


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Microsoft responds to Sony becoming new 'home' of Call of Duty
During E3, it was revealed that Sony is the new "home" for the Call of Duty game franchise, which wasn't a major shock among any of the game companies involved. However, it caused a bit of a commotion among Xbox One and PlayStation 4 game console owners - as PS4 gamers will receive all map packs first.

"We were expecting the announcement, obviously we have a great relationship with Activision, we have more people playing Call of Duty today on our platform than any other," said Aaron Greenberg, Senior Director of the Studios Marketing Group, in a statement to Polygon. "And if you think about it, if you're a shooter fan and want to play Halo and Call of Duty, there's only one box to do it on."

Even with Sony now being the new 'home' for Call of Duty, that doesn't mean Microsoft won't try to cash in on Activision's premier game franchise:

"You want to play Halo and Gears and Call of Duty. We think we'll continue to drive a lot of sales of Call of Duty on our platform, we already have pre-orders happening now for Black Ops 3, and we're going to support the title just like we would any other big third-party title."

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 will launch on November 6 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC. Activision will also release Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game.


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Mad Max 'Eye of the Storm' game trailer released
E3 2015 - Warner Bros and Avalanche Studios have released a new trailer for their upcoming Mad Max game, with the new 'Eye of the Storm' trailer available below. Not only that, but a slew of new high resolution screenshots have also been released.

Mad Max will feature an interesting crafting system that can be used to craft new weapons and tools, he will eat rodents, maggots and other small animals in order to get his health increased, too. Max's garage can be used to fully modify the car's engine, chassis, wheels, body work, and the "shell" of the car itself.

Avalanche has also talked about the graphical side of Mad Max, where the studio said: "Since the Avalanche Engine has been used in several games, it has picked up a lot of graphical features along the way. The engine is optimized for open world games so you will find dynamic time of day and dynamic weather, with some big sand storms. Mad Max is set in The Wasteland where a lot of the ground is visible, so we added parallax occlusion mapping to give some depth to the terrain material".

The studio continued: "There also isn't any living vegetation, or bodies of water, so the variation in shaders range between materials like sand, paint, blood and chrome. We've got some very talented lighting and effect artists, and we work a lot with light projections and dynamic shadows as well as fire, dust and debris swirling around to create motion and variations".

More details on Mad Max:

Build the Ultimate Car

• Without your Interceptor, you are nothing. Embark on a dangerous journey to rebuild your key to salvation
• Brutalize your enemies in high-speed, inter-vehicular warfare using the ultimate combat vehicle
• Build your perfect war-machine with thousands of mods to customize performance, armor and weaponry

Be the Legendary Post-apocalyptic Warrior

• Build your legend by upgrading Max's stats, gear, and abilities
• Raid enemy encampments to gain access to precious resources and powerful upgrades
• Kill or be killed by combining stealth, gun, and melee combat to take out your relentless enemies

Tame the primal Wasteland

• Traverse and discover a haunting post-apocalyptic world with dynamic weather, treacherous landscapes, and sadistic marauder factions that create threatening situations around every corner
• Freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. The Wasteland is vast and filled with dangerous side missions, activities and encounters ranging from ambushes to hijacking fuel caravans

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Crytek releases CryEngine 3.8.1 with support for the Oculus Rift
Crytek has just announced the released of CryEngine 3.8.1, something that includes support for OpenGL rendering, Linux support, and it's now compatible with the Oculus Rift.

When it comes to the Oculus Rift support in CryEngine 3.8.1, Crytek said: "You asked about it, and we listened: Just in time for the announcement of Crytek'S new VR title "Robinson: The Journey" at this week's E3, we are putting support for the Oculus Rift HMD (Head-mounted display) into EaaS users' hands. We've included a small demonstration level, aptly titled the "VR_Demo" level. This showcases some information on how you can approach setting up your levels for VR, some of the implications and the immersive benefits of using VR".

The latest version of CryEngine also includes a voxel-based volumetric fog system, 8-weight GPU vertex skinning, POM self-shadowing, GameZero, support for 3ds Max 2016, Maya 2016, and MotionBuilder 2016, and "much, much more".


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AMD rumored to be breaking into pieces, could we see ATI reborn?
Reuters has quite the report for the weekend, where according to "three people familiar with the matter" AMD will be splitting up its businesses into two. This move would see the chipmaker reverse its position in the market, and better combat against the quite unstoppable Intel.

The sources said that the "deliberations are preliminary and no decision has been made" but the review highlights AMD CEO Lisa Su and her "determination to consider every possible option to turn the company around". AMD has reportedly called in a consulting firm to help look at its options, bringing up scenarios on how this would all work.

One of these options would see AMD separating its graphics and licensing business from its server business, with AMD thinking about this move in the past according to these sources from Reuters. If it did happen, could we see the ATI brand once again? All of this is interesting and almost damning while simultaneously exciting for AMD... with the launch of the Radeon R9 390X and the upcoming push of the HBM-based Radeon R9 Fury X.


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Virtual reality and augmented reality were easy to spot during E3 2015
Gamers unsure if they are ready for virtual reality or augmented reality had a great chance to learn more about the booming technology during E3 2015. Both the Oculus Rift and Sony's Project Morpheus received a lot of attention, while Microsoft also was on-hand to show off HoloLens.

During E3, gamers were able to test out the Oculus Touch controllers, along with the Oculus Rift system. They could try several games on the Sony PlayStation 4 using the Project Morpheus VR headset, offering an actual gaming experience.

Microsoft announced HoloLens in January, and used E3 to help users familiarize themselves with the AR platform. The company showed "Project X-Ray," which let virtual bug-like monsters emerge from the world - or look at a Minecraft world displayed right in front of them.

I haven't had a shot at testing Project Morpheus or the HoloLens yet, but have had good experiences with the Oculus Rift DK1 and DK2. The screen resolution, latency, refresh rate, and included OLED all offer noticeable differences - and the consumer version that will be available next year holds a significant amount of potential.


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Researchers: 3D printers could print human skin within five years
Companies want to 3D print human skin within the next five years, using a mix of live cells and specialized 3D machines. The bioprinting market could evolve into a $1 billion market by 2025, and offer a scalable method for personalized medicine.

Cosmetics company L'Oreal is working with the Organovo biotech company to begin 3D printing skin tissues. If done successfully, both companies hope for realistic product testing in the future. It's possible to grow real skin in a laboratory, but it's a slow and costly procedure - using bioprinting with 3D printers would greatly accelerate the process.

"Some safety questions are still difficult to mimic with today's methods and new, additional non-animal alternative methods are needed," said Elena Lurie-Luke, P&G Global Life Sciences innovation leader, in a statement published by CNN Money. "3D bioprinting is a promising option for the future."

The US military has researched various uses for bioprinting, including restoring skin on soldiers, using skin that is elastic and supports hair follicles, pigmentation, and sweat glands. There are a number of great uses for bioprinting, and it should be exciting to see how the technology develops further.


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Apple removes the last non-Retina iOS device from its website
Apple is pushing towards the future by removing its last non-Retina iOS device, the iPad mini, from its website. The iPad mini has a now, low-res 1024x768 display, but doesn't compete against the Full HD and beyond displays we're used to these days.

The company is pushing the iPad mini 2 and 3 online, and with a $100 price difference between these two slates, it's no wonder Apple would remove the original iPad mini from its website. An Apple spokesperson talked with Engadget, where they said: "The non-retina iPad mini model is no longer available. Now all models of iPad mini and iPad Air have 64-bit Apple-designed CPUs and high-resolution Retina displays".


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The Huawei Watch delayed until Q3, but expect possible design changes
Huawei has been forced to delay the launch its debut smartwatch, caused by an unknown problem in China. The smartwatch, powered by Google Android Wear, will be released in the United States and Europe sometime during Q3 - and suspected issues stem from Google services used in China.

"We're experiencing some problems with Google's Android Wear [the watch's operating system] in China," Yang said, in a statement published by the Wall Street Journal. "It's a new product."

It looks like Huawei will leave the hardware specifications alone for the watch: 1.4-inch AMOLED (400x400) display, 1.2GHz Qualcomm processor, 512MB RAM, and 4GB of storage capacity. The watch is just 11.3mm thick and is powered by a 300 mAh battery.

Even with the Android Wear problems, don't look for Huawei to abandon ship anytime soon - the company will continue utilizing the OS for future smartwatch models. Huawei doesn't plan on trying to release a flood of new watches, and will make changes as needed, based on feedback from customers.


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Enermax Ultrabox EB311SC Storage Docking Station Review

Docking stations are one of the most plentiful storage solutions on the market. With nearly every vendor having such a solution, we have seen a shift from standard single or two bay solutions to docks that now have additional features such as cloning capabilities, and now with the latest from Enermax, charging capabilities for our smart devices.

The Enermax EB311SC is a two-bay dock solution coming from the Ultrabox line-up of solutions. This storage device features both 2.5" and 3.5" compatibility along with USB 3.0 connectivity. Additional features include a one button clone function allowing quick duplication of a your drives without the need for a PC. As I stated in the introduction, this dock also enables users to charge their smart devices via two super charge ports located on the back. PC compatibility starts with Windows 7, 8 and 10 and includes Mac OS 9+.

MSRP of the Enermax Ultrabox EB311SC is listed at $64.99 with a one-year warranty.

Packaging for the Ultrabox carries an image of the dock on the front with marketing information down below.

Scope of delivery includes the dock, power cable, and USB 3.0 cable.

The front of the docking station is quite busy. Looking above, we have indicators for both slots, along with the clone button and accompanying progress indicator.

The backside houses the power button on the far left, with the DC input and USB 3.0 port next to it. The super charge ports are located to the far right and can handle a maximum of 2.4A, which is pretty good.

Above we can see that each drive slot has capabilities for both 2.5" and 3.5" drives. The drive eject buttons are located above.

To test the Enermax Ultrabox, we installed our Intel SSD 730 and ran it through a few passes of CrystalDiskMark. Sequential read came in at 390 MB/s, followed up by 275 MB/s for write. Large block random came in at 321 MB/s for read and 368 MB/s write, while 4K results were similar with and without QD.

In using the Ultrabox myself for the last few weeks, I can say that it's as solid as docking stations can come. The build quality is really superb, but what really enhances this unit are all the features. Like most docking stations on the market today, the Ultrabox comes in a dual slot configuration that accepts any hard drive you may have minus the old IDE solutions you probably still have in the closet.

Adding to this, you can clone from one drive to the other without the need for a PC, and if I am honest, we have seen this feature on only one other docking station. Adding to that while you are transferring data through your docking station or whenever you want really, you can charge up your smartphone or tablet through the rear mounted super charge ports.

With the above said, the performance of the Ultrabox was really quite surprising. I have seen many of these two a lot docks come through the lab and they never seem to carry top end performance, but remarkably the Enermax does. In sequentials, we reached 390 MB/s read and 275 MB/s write, while randoms moved along quite well at 29 MB/s read and 65 MB/s write at QD32.

Overall, for those in the market for a docking solution, the Enermax Ultrabox may be the current best available solution with all of the unique features.

... Read the rest in your browser!



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MSI Announces its Radeon R9 300 and R7 300 Graphics Cards
As the world's leading brand in video cards, MSI is excited to introduce a brand new line of MSI GAMING video cards powered by the AMD R9 and R7 300 series GPUs. Armed with the award winning Twin Frozr V cooler, this new generation of MSI AMD video cards is sure to deliver cool and quiet gaming sessions. MSI's video cards lineup gets boosted with no less than four GAMING models based on the AMD R9 390X, R9 390 and R9 380.

Both the R9 390X GAMING 8G and R9 390 GAMING 8G cards feature a massive 8GB of VRAM to support smooth 4K gaming in the latest games such as GTA V. The R9 380 GAMING will be available in both a 4G and 2G edition. End-users will be pleased to know that all the new MSI AMD R9 300 GAMING series video cards come equipped with a solid metal backplate.

Completing the MSI AMD 300 GAMING lineup are the R7 370 GAMING 4G and R7 370 GAMING 2G models, which are perfect for playing some of the most popular online games such as League of Legends and DOTA 2. Besides the revered GAMING series, MSI are also introducing two Armor 2X models with a striking black & white cover design. The R9 380 2GD5T OC and R7 370 2GD5T OC feature Military Class 4 Components for reliable performance and Armor 2X Thermal Design for enhanced cooling capacity. The R7 360 2GD5 OC is available to satisfy demand for smaller form factor video cards with solid performance.

Most of the new MSI AMD 300 series video cards fully support the latest AMD technologies such as FreeSync for tear-free gaming and Eyefinity for the ultimate multi-display immersive experience.

MSI GAMING APP

With the addition of the R9 and R7 300 series to the next generation of MSI GAMING video cards, MSI is once again raising the bar for PC gaming. The exclusive MSI GAMING App allows gamers to quickly switch between OC, Gaming and Silent modes, depending on their needs. Offering quick access to specific monitor color profiles for games, movies and a special EyeRest mode which reduces blue light for less strain during nightly gaming sessions. Now featuring the LED control tab, allowing gamers to choose from 5 unique lighting modes to set the right ambience for their gaming moments with just one click.

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ADATA XPG DDR4 Memory Hits Fastest Air-Cooling Record at 4222MHz with msi motherboard
ADATA® Technology, a leading manufacturer of high-performance DRAM modules and NAND Flash application products, is honored to announce that its XPG Z2 DDR4 computer memory breaks new record again! It's able to clock up to 4222MHz when used with an air-cooled msi X99A XPOWER AC motherboard. This creates a new overclocking world record for production line DDR4 computer memory!

Best Choice for Ultimate Performance!

In cooperation with motherboard manufacturers, ADATA strives to achieve the best performance in DDR4 memory compliant with the Intel® X99 architecture. The XPG Z2 DDR4 memory breaks the record with extremely high clock frequency of 4222MHz, impressing both gamers and standard CPU clock users alike with outstanding sustained performance, cooling and stability!

About XPG by ADATA

Xtreme Performance Gear (XPG) is a brand of ADATA Technology offering the highest-performing computer peripheral products. XPG products distinguish themselves by surpassing ADATA's stringent A+ Testing Methodology, which ensures the highest standards for superior product stability and ultra-high performance. XPG provides gamers, high-tech product enthusiasts, and overclockers with an extraordinary journey best experienced at full-tilt. Not only does the XPG line sport solid technical features, its strength shines through just by its sheer cool appearance that has earned prestigious accolades worldwide such as Good Design from Japan and Taiwan Excellence Gold Award. ADATA XPG products are recognized by overclockers and world-renowned professional gaming teams who use ADATA XPG products as their ultimate weapons for victory. For more information, please visit: http://www.adata.com/en/xpg/.

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SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 390X HAS NEW FEATURES
Today SAPPHIRE Technology introduces the new Radeon R300 series.

Building on the success of the previous generation, the new series features the latest Graphics Core Next architectures from AMD, paired with larger frame buffers and the evolution of our award winning cooler solutions to deliver the very best performance ratings and support for the latest technologies including DirectX 12, AMD FreeSync, TrueAudio, Liquid VR, VSR scaling and support for Ultra HD. This new generation includes models with our industry acclaimed Tri-X and Dual-X cooling technologies and will be available from 18th June 2015.

At the top of the range is the new SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 390X which features the latest version of our award winning Tri-X cooler. This now features dual ball bearings in each of the three fans for higher reliability and enhanced Intelligent Fan Control (IFC-II) which turns off the fans completely for silent operation under light load. Its heat pipe array with its industry leading 10mm heat pipe and diecast heat sink design keeps the card running cool even under the most demanding applications, and the use of long life capacitors and SAPPHIRE Black Diamond chokes contribute to consistent performance and high reliability.

Based on the latest GCN architecture from AMD, the SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 390X supports all the latest technologies including DirectX 12, TrueAudio, AMD FreeSync, LiquidVR and Ultra HD. The new SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 390X has 2816 Stream Processors, 8GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, and an engine clock speed of 1055 MHz. This makes the SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 390X the perfect choice for the enthusiast who demands great performance in a variety of serious applications as well as gaming.

It delivers a SAPPHIRE Performance Index* of 4 which means it is guaranteed to breeze through games at 1080p on maximum settings and deliver a great gaming experience at 1440 and beyond.

For more information, please visit http://www.sapphiretech.com

Note* The SAPPHIRE Performance Index is a new rating developed by SAPPHIRE to indicate to users the expected real-world performance of each of its video cards.


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SAPPHIRE NITRO - A NEW GRAPHICS SERIES FOR GAMERS
Today SAPPHIRE Technology introduces a new line of video cards based on the latest Graphics Core Next architectures from AMD. The new SAPPHIRE NITRO series is an evolution of our market-leading, award-winning, high-end video card technology developed with features designed to be attractive to the majority of PC gamers. At the same time, SAPPHIRE will also promote a new community website for gaming enthusiasts - SAPPHIRE NATION (http://sapphirenation.net/).

The excellent performance, quality, reliability and stability of high-end video cards has always been the preserve of the hardcore gamer. Until now. The SAPPHIRE NITRO series boasts a range of features previously reserved for high-end cards, including long-life capacitors and award-winning SAPPHIRE Black Diamond Chokes, as well as new versions of our award-winning cooling solutions. Its elegant contours with purposeful black and gunmetal finish have been designed to suit any build. And the latest graphics architecture from AMD paired with larger frame buffers delivers fast, reliable gaming performance as well as support for the latest technologies including DirectX 12, AMD FreeSync, TrueAudio, Liquid VR, VSR scaling and Ultra HD. So whatever kind of gamer you are, the SAPPHIRE NITRO series offers you the maximum gaming experience for your budget.

The SAPPHIRE NITRO R9 390 features the latest version of our award winning Tri-X cooler now with dual ball bearings in each of the three fans for higher reliability and enhanced Intelligent Fan Control (IFC-II) which turns off the fans completely for silent operation under light load. Its heat pipe array including industry leading 10mm heat pipe and diecast heat sink design keeps the card running cool even under the most demanding applications, and the use of long life capacitors and SAPPHIRE Black Diamond chokes contributes to consistent performance and high reliability. The SAPPHIRE NITRO R9 390 has 2560 Stream Processors, 8GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 6000MHz, and an engine clock speed of 1010MHz. It delivers a SAPPHIRE Performance Index* of 4 which means it is guaranteed to breeze through games at 1080p on maximum settings and deliver a great gaming experience at 1440 and beyond.

The SAPPHIRE NITRO R9 380 features the latest version of our award winning Dual-X cooler now with dual ball bearings in both of the fans for higher reliability and enhanced Intelligent Fan Control (IFC-II) which turns off the fans for silent operation under light load. Its industry leading 10cm fans and diecast heat sink design keeps the card running cool even under the most demanding applications, and it also features long life capacitors and SAPPHIRE Black Diamond chokes for consistent performance and high reliability. The SAPPHIRE NITRO R9 380 has 1792 Stream Processors, 4GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 5800 MHz, and an engine clock speed of 985 MHz. It delivers a SAPPHIRE Performance Index* of 3 which is guaranteed to deliver a great gaming experience in high detail at 1080p and beyond.

The SAPPHIRE NITRO R7 370 also features a new Dual-X cooler with dual ball bearings in both of the fans for higher reliability and the enhanced Intelligent Fan Control (IFC-II). Its new shroud design and diecast heat sink keep the card running cool, and it again features long life capacitors and SAPPHIRE Black Diamond chokes for consistent performance and high reliability. The SAPPHIRE NITRO R7 370 has 1024 Stream Processors, 4GB of the latest GDDR5 memory running at 5600 MHz, and an engine clock speed of 985 MHz. It delivers a SAPPHIRE Performance Index* of 2 which means it is guaranteed to deliver a great gaming experience at 1080p and beyond.

Gaming enthusiasts will also be interested in a new website also being launched this week. SAPPHIRE Nation is a SAPPHIRE community website for technology enthusiasts and gamers. It serves as a central hub for promotional activities and coalesces several social media campaigns under a single website. It is a source of more sophisticated content that would not fit on other channels, including news and views by gamers for gamers, and will play a supportive role in our future marketing campaigns. It will become the most content-rich place on the web related to SAPPHIRE, so gamers seeking knowledge, news or tech support for SAPPHIRE should consider http://www.sapphirenation.net as the #1 place to visit.

Availability - The SAPPHIRE NITRO Gaming series will be available from our usual etail and retail partners from the 18th June 2015.

For more information, please visit http://www.sapphiretech.com

Note* The SAPPHIRE Performance Index is a new rating developed by SAPPHIRE to indicate to users the expected real-world performance of each of its video cards.


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Minimalistic Sharkoon ATX Case With Versatile Mounting Options - MSRP From 56.90 Euros
For those who prefer it simple: The black Sharkoon S28 Value ATX case offers a minimalist appearance, without sacrificing functionality. The new midi-tower is available in either a S28 Value, with closed side panel, and a S28 Window, with acrylic side panel, version. The S28 also offers a variety of possibilities for the installation of components. The modular hard drive cage allows the use of extra-long video cards up to 41.5 cm. If equipped with the maximum amount of hard drives, the case offers space for video cards up to 32.5 cm in length. Thanks to its generous width of 21 cm, tower coolers with a height of up to 17 cm can be easily installed. The cable management system ensures discreet wiring of the built-in hardware.

In the front, there are already two quiet 120 mm fans behind the designed air intakes. In the back of the case a quiet 120 mm fan is pre-installed. Thus, the S28 is well prepared for the optimal cooling of high-performance components. The front panel provides two USB 3.0, two Audio and two USB 2.0 ports. If the installed mainboard does not have a USB 3.0 port, the USB 3.0 ports can also operate in USB 2.0 mode

The case features two 5.25" drive bays for the tool-free installation of optical drives. Up to three 3.5" hard drives as well as four 2.5" HDD/SDDs can be comfortably mounted using the enclosed rails. An additional 2.5" HDD/SSD can be mounted on the case bottom.

The Sharkoon S28 Value ATX case is now available for the suggested retail price of 56.90 euros from authorized retailers. The Sharkoon S28 Window, with acrylic side panel, is also now available for 59.90 euros.

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