ASUS, KFA2, Palit and Gainward Launches GTX 780 Ti Graphics Cards

NVIDIA has finally launched its latest wonder product, so, naturally, its OEMs are wreaking havoc on worldwide press channels too.

Palit Microsystems, Gainward, KFA2 and ASUS have all unveiled their respective cards. In truth, it is the same card bearing a different sticker, and shipping in a different box. All of them have the GK110 GPU (2,880 CUDA Cores) running at 876/928 MHz, and the 3 GB of GDDR5 VRAM operating at 7 GHz.

The cards also have dual-DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, plus they ship with a trio of games which are free of charge (for now): Batman: Arkham Origins, Assassin’s Creed IV – Black Flag, and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist. All of them should cost $699 / €699 and sit at the top of the add-in graphics food chain.

ASUS GeForce GTX 780 Ti
Image credits to ASUS

Palit GeForce GTX 780 Ti
Image credits to Palit

Gainward GeForce GTX 780 Ti
Image credits to Gainward

KFA2 GeForce GTX 780 Ti
Image credits to KFA2

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OCZ Vector 150 with 19nm-Based SSD with 550 MB/s Performance

There used to be a time when only SandForce, now owned by LSI, controllers could push an SSD above 500 MB/s, at least when reading, but Indilinx can do it too, as OCZ has just shown.

OCZ has launched the Vector 150 solid-state drive, made from 19nm NAND Flash memory chips and an Indilinx Barefoot 3 controller IC. The SSD is a 2.5-inch unit with a capacity of up to 480 GB (120 GB, 240 GB, and 480GB options available), a thickness of 7mm and 4K random read speed of up to 100,000 input/output operations per second. More importantly, it can read and write data at 550 MB/s and 530 MB/s, respectively.

On that note, the 4K random write speed can reach 95,000 IOPS, while sustained 4K random write performance is of 26,000 IOPS. Basically, it's the right kind of drive for laptop, desktop and workstation applications (a 3.5-inch adapter is shipped with each model). Sadly, prices are unknown.

OCZ Vector 150 solid-state drive
Image credits to OCZ

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti Overclocked Clandestinely and Benchmarked

The GeForce GTX 780 Ti hasn't been released, but that didn't stop leaks from showing up, or benchmarks from being carried out. Now, though, I have one better.

Or perhaps I should say that ChipHell overclocker loshu1919 got his hands on the card, overclocked it and then benchmarked the living lights out of it. You'll see below the results in FurMark, and 3DMark at both stock (928 MHz) and overclocked settings (1,054 MHz). The temperature averages at around 79 degrees Celsius, while the scores outdo the ones of the GeForce GTX Titan and AMD Radeon R9 290X, albeit perhaps not by the mile some may have been hoping.

Then again, ioshu1919 didn't increase the power limit, which means that there is a lot of room for extra overclocking. Like, say, to 1100 MHz / 1200 MHz, Images gallery below, click for larger images.

GTX 780 Ti Bechmarked
Images credits to ChipHell Forum

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Gigabyte Readies GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition

Some time ago, it was reported that a GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition graphics card was in the works, and that led to the assumption that NVIDIA was preparing a new reference card.

However, it has now been discovered that NVIDIA is not, in fact, making a GTX 780 GHz edition. Given the fuss over GTX 780 Ti, that's understandable. GTX 780 Ti is the only new high-end card that the Santa Clara company has prepared. The only GeForce GTX 780 GHz edition that will make it to market is the one that Gigabyte put together.

As shown in the gallery, it is a triple-fan model with a black PCB and backplate. The GK110 GPU works on 1019 MHz, 1071 MHz GPU Boost, but the memory is left alone at 6 GHz. European online retail websites are already listing it, or will soon.

Gigabyte GeForce GTX 780 GHz Edition
Images credits to Gigabyte

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Seagate Spinpoint M9T, World's Thinnest 2TB HDD

Seagate has formally launched a hard disk drive that takes the 2.5-inch form factor to the next level in terms of compactness: the Spinpoint M9T.

Spinpoint M9T is the newest mobile HDD from Seagate, or rather the HDD division it bought from Samsung a while ago. The drive should serve notebooks, ultrabooks and external storage solutions (like drive cages) most, seeing as how it's 9.5 mm thin and all. Desktops won't have any issue using them though, unless your case lacks 2.5-inch bays or 3.5- to 2.5-inch converters.

In fact, Seagate says this is the world's thinnest 2 TB drive ever (that's right, that's the capacity of this thing). A 1.5TB version is available too, but the 2TB one is the real news. As one might guess, the 6 Gbps SATA III interface is implemented. Sadly, the price was left undisclosed in the press release.

Seagate Spinpoint M9T
Image credits to Seagate

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1.7 Gbps Dual-Band Netgear Wireless Router Unveiled

Soon, online shops and brick-and-mortar stores should see a new wireless router grace their shelves, virtual or otherwise: Netgear R6300.

This wireless router can tap into both the 2.4 GHz radio and the 5 GHz band. On the former, it communicates at 450 Mbps. On the latter, it reaches 1,300 Mbps on a good day, 1.3 Gbps as it were. That means that, cumulatively, the transfer speed is of 1,750 Gbps. Not bad at all.

Besides the obvious ability to allow all PCs and gadgets contact to a network and the web, the new Netgear product can also share data from USB 2.0/3.0 devices, thanks to the integrated port. An Internet LAN port and four downstream LAN connectors are included as well. Unfortunately, Netgear did not provide a price for its product.

Netgear R5300
Image credits to Netgear

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Microsoft Silently Blocks Jailbreaking in Windows RT 8.1

Microsoft rolled out Windows RT 8.1 last month to bring a lot of improvements for devices running Windows RT, but also to block a jailbreaking method found earlier this year.

While Redmond hasn’t talked publicly about it, it appears that jailbreaking is no longer possible after deploying Windows RT 8.1, with the people behind the original project now claiming to be working on a new method to bypass the new restrictions. The Windows RT jailbreak made it possible to run unsigned code on ARM devices, including Microsoft’s own Surface RT, even though Microsoft warned that such a thing would create major security risks for all users.

The jailbreak obviously opened a completely new world for owners of Windows RT devices, as several large developer communities joined forces not only to tweak more apps to run on hacked devices, but also to make it possible to launch desktop apps on RT tablets.

Jailbreaking isn't possible anymore on Windows RT 8.1
Image credits to Microsoft

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Google Play Store 4.4.22 Now Available for Download

Android enthusiasts and fans who are enjoying the latest barrage of applications extracted from the Android 4.4 KitKat source code and factory image, which were published by Google a few days ago, will be pleased to hear that a new version of Google Play Store has been released.

Obviously, this new version of Google Play Store has yet to be pushed live to all Android devices, but those who don't mind can download and install it manually. The folks over at AndroidPolice have just published the APK of Google Play Store 4.4.22, which seems to be just a minor update over the previous one that leaked a few weeks ago.

Android users who wish to download and install the latest Google Play Store 4.4.22 can now head over to AndroidPolice's original thread.

Google Play Store logo
Image credits to Google

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Motorola Moto G Specs and Price Leak in Promo Card

Motorola Moto G briefly made appearance on the company's official website, but it was quickly pulled from unknown reasons.

The smarpthone's specs have been tweeted by evleaks shortly after the Moto G was removed from Motorola's site and now we have more info that confirms previous leaks. GSMArena reports it has been able to get its hands on a Moto G promo card, which apparently is going to sell at Phones4u. Although it has yet to be confirmed, sources close to the matter claim the smartphone will be available for purchase for only £134 ($215/€155) outright. Other specs that appear on the Moto G promo card confirm the smartphone will ship with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box and a fast 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor.

No word on the amount of RAM, but the phone is expected to pack 8GB of internal memory and microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 64GB). Furthermore, the Moto G will sport a 4.5-inch edge-to-edge HD (720p) capacitive touchscreen display and a 5-megapixel rear facing camera. A secondary 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video calls will be included as well.

Motorola Moto G promo card
Image credits to GSMArena

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Motorola Moto G Affordable Smartphone with 4.7-Inch HD Display and 1.5GHz Quad-Core CPU Leaks

The Moto G briefly appeared on Motorola’s website a few days ago, but it was pulled by the handset maker for unknown reasons. However, word about a cheaper version of Moto X emerged a while back, but no details on the Moto G’s availability surfaced yet.

Today, new info on the Moto G emerged, which seems to contradict some of the previous rumors. For example, it is said that the smartphone will boast a large 4.7-inch HD capacitive touchscreen display instead of the previously rumored 4.5-inch screen.

Courtesy of evleaks, we also know what the Moto G looks like. The cited source also claims that the handset comes equipped with a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 8GB or 16GB of internal memory, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1950 mAh Li-Ion battery. Motorola is expected to release the Moto G in the United States by the end of the year. The smartphone will be available for free on two-year agreements.

Motorola Moto G
Image credits to evleaks

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