Lenovo IdeaTab S8: 8-Inch Display, Intel Bay Trail and Android 4.4 KitKat

IFA 2014 is approaching us at a fast pace and we expect to see a lot of interesting things from a lot of the key players in the industry.

One of the device makers expected to make a splash at the event with a host of new products is Lenovo. For example, last week the first images of the upcoming IdeaTab S8 tablet have surfaced online, showing us a colorful tab running on the Intel chip platform. But apart from that, we couldn’t really tell you much about the device’s specs, so we speculated. But now the folks of TabTech are providing us with a more consistent look regarding the tablet. A few days ago we didn’t even know if this was an Android tab or a Windows one. Well, it appears we’re going to be dealing with the former scenario. For the time being, Lenovo uses Intel processor to power its Windows lineup of products, while the Android family is taken care of by MediaTek. But this scenario will change soon as Lenovo is extending its partnership with Intel to include Android devices, as well.

The Lenovo IdeaTab S8 arrives with an 8-inch display, but we don’t know the resolution yet. Hopefully, Lenovo will give users the choice between HD and FHD (or even more). Operating things under the hood is an Intel quad-core Bay Trail Z3745 processor clocked at 1.86GHz supported by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable). Other specifications include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS and LTE. It might be possible that the new Lenovo tablet will come with phone calling capabilities, but we can’t tell you for sure whether this is the case or not. We’ll have to wait a few days before we can confirm or infirm this information. Moving along, the Lenovo IdeaTab S8 has an 8MP main camera with f/2.2 aperture and LED flash, so you should be covered in the photography department.

The new slate arrives with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box, so you won’t have to wait for any updates (at least until Android Lemon Merengue Pie shows up). We should note that the presence of the IdeaTab S8 hasn't yet been confirmed for IFA 2014, but one thing is certain, the IdeaTab S8 is certainly in the pipeline and if we are not to see it this week, we will certainly do so in the upcoming few months. In the meanwhile, you should still keep an eye on Lenovo, because the company will surely have some interesting stuff to show you.

Lenovo IdeaTab S8 specs detailed
Images credits toNotebook Italia

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Leaks in Live Picture, Camouflaged in a Security Case

With just a few days left until its official release, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 seems to be the subject of more and more leaks. The upcoming phablet was caught on camera earlier this week when it appeared in a very short video.

However, the device starring in the video was disguised in a strange case, so there wasn't too much to see in term of design. Today, a picture of the alleged Galaxy Note 4 was published online by the folks over at AndroidCentral. Just like in the video, the Galaxy Note 4 seems to be inside a case that prevents us to observe to much in regards with how it looks. This might be in fact a special security case that has been especially created to hide the phablet's actual design. This means that the phone can't be pulled from within the case, but testers that have been offered prototypes can do their job and test the software that powers the Galaxy Note 4, as well as some of the hardware. Aside from the picture of the alleged Galaxy Note 4, the same source also leaked a screenshot taken from the phone's “About device” screen, which shows the handset will ship with Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system out of the box.

The information appearing in this screenshot also confirms the smartphone is also codenamed Samsung SM-N910T, but we are certain there will be multiple versions of the Galaxy Note 4 launched on the market. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to boast a stunning 5.7-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display that would support an amazing QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution. This should be the company's first smartphone to offer such a high resolution. On the inside, the smartphone will be equipped with a variation of chipsets. One of the models will be powered by Samsung's own Exynos 5433 system-on-chip, which will pack a 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and another quad-core Cortex-A57 CPU. Another Galaxy Note 4 variation is expected to come with a 2.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor inside. Still, take these data with a grain of salt, as they are not provided by Samsung.

The phablet may also come with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM, as well as 16GB of internal memory. Obviously, the Galaxy Note 4 will also feature microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 128GB) and S Pen stylus. Another selling point of the Galaxy Note 4 will be the impressive 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with dual-LED flash, autofocus and 4K video recording at 30fps. Samsung's upcoming flagship smartphone will also offer advanced fingerprint features, but also new camera modes and enhanced imaging processing software for better quality of the captured photos.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 "About device" screenshot
Images credits to AndroidCentral

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Corsair's Dominator Platinum Is the Fastest DDR4 Released So Far

DDR random access memory may technically be rated at 2,133 MHz, but many modules and kits go far higher than that, since it would be awkward to have them all be slower than DDR3. Corsair decided it wanted to have the prestige of providing the fastest models yet.

So, without further ado, behold the Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4 memory kits, which probably have up to 64 GB capacities. The company doesn't go into detail in the press release, but it makes sense for the RAM to have up to 8 GB capacity per module, and thus, 64 GB for sets of eight. Although no more than four modules at a time will be able to truly cooperate, since the technology “only” supports quad-channel configurations. Which is still leagues ahead of dual-channel found in DDR3. The new Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4 memory kits have frequencies of 3,000 MHz, 3,200 MHz and 3,300 MHz. We saw some 3 GHz DDR4 in the recent past, but nothing above that. Corsair really has this bit of prestige in the bag it seems.

Given this information, we wouldn't be surprised if Corsair established some sort of record in terms of memory overclocking in the near future. Especially with its motherboard/CPU “alliances.” You see, the Dominator DDR4 memory kits have been tested on the ASUS X99 Deluxe and Rampage V Extreme motherboards, driven by Intel Core i7 Haswell-E CPUs. With that kind of hardware working together, anything can be done, so to speak. Alas, at present, the overclocking record for DDR4 actually belongs to G.Skill. While Corsair focused on having the fastest desktop DDR4 available at launch, G.Skill put together a test bench and pushed one of its RAM kits as high as it dared. The clock attained was of 4,004 MHz. Back to Corsair's Dominator Platinum DDR4 Memory though. The RAM has a DHX cooler with user-swappable light pipes, allowing you to match the downwash lighting to whatever LEDs your CPU and case fans use.

You might eventually be able to find the top-speed DDR4 RAM under the Vengeance LPX brand eventually, but for now, only the Dominator Platinum line is available in 3.3 GHz. Now we just have to wait and see what other memory makers, if any, match this unspoken challenge that Corsair has put forth. Then again, it's equally possible they won't bother. The number of people expected to buy DDR4 is pretty small compared to the bulk of the consumer market, and 3.3 GHz DDR4 will probably be overkill even five years from now. In the end, this product release is more for bragging right than anything else. We can't question the quality and performance though.

Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4
Image credits to Corsair

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DDR4 Memory Record Established at 4,004 MHz by G.Skill

We've been hearing about various DDR4 products for weeks, but only now will sales begin in earnest, because the motherboards and CPUs capable of using it have just been launched. That doesn't mean that people are too shy to test boundaries though.

Indeed, G.Skill has already taken the liberty of overclocking the stuffing out of its Ripjaws 4 Series of DDR4 memory modules, with liberal use of liquid nitrogen. Overclocking can mean many things, you see. Many motherboard makers have come up with a way to instantly push a system beyond normal boundaries, just by activating a BIOS function. That's just a safe option for people who don't actually know how overclocking works though. For people who do know the ins and outs, there are other options. Indeed, some may argue that top-tier hardware like Intel's new Core i7 Extreme Edition CPUs are specifically meant for overclocking sessions. This, but extension, means that the X99-based motherboards and DDR4 memory compatible with them are, likewise, meant for enthusiast overclockers.

The feature sets of these products have so far corroborated this point of view, even though, technically speaking, Extreme Edition Haswell-E CPUs are supposed to power high-end professional workstations more than gaming systems. You know, computers used for high-graphics design and simulations. Alas, gaming-centric systems get a lot more publicity, as do overclocking test benches, which is what led G.Skill to the decision to try and set a new OC record. Case in point, the company is not responsible for the highest frequency ever achieved by a DDR4 module: 4,004 MHz. Sure, this isn't saying much when the technology has only been (officially) available for merely a few days, but that's still a high performance level. After all, DDR4 is rated at 2,133 MHz, even though it has shown up in up to 3 GHz options.

The computer used to push the G.Skill Ripjaws 4 Series to 4,004 MHz was equipped with an ASUS ROG X99 Rampage V Extreme Motherboard and Intel's Core i7-5930K CPU (140W six-core unit with 12 threads, 3.5 GHz base clock, 3.7 GHz top clock and 15 MB cache memory). Lots of LN2 were used to keep heat low. Liquid nitrogen has been for a long time the preferred method for chilling hot hardware during crazy, manual OC tweaking. The next few days, weeks or months may or may not bring with them yet another overclocking record in this area. Now if only we knew the timings of the RAM, we'd at least be content.

G.Skill Ripjaws 4 DDR4 test bench

G.Skill Ripjaws 4 DDR4 OC Validation
Images credits to G.Skill

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Intel Officially Launches the Core i7-5000X Extreme Edition CPUs

Extreme Edition central processing units from Intel are always one level of magnitude, so to speak, faster than even the best consumer-centric, gaming chips. The latest processors from Intel definitely preserve this trend.

Intel has finally made the formal introduction of the Core i7-5960X 8C/16HT, Intel Core i7-5930K 6C/12HT, and Intel Core i7-5820K 6C/12HT central processing units. It was about time really. The company made the formal introduction at PAX 2014, a gaming-centric trade show taking place in Seattle, Washington, between August 29 and September 1. The press release brought with it the official product pages of all three processors, which are now accessible through their own section on Intel's website. The previously leaked specifications have been confirmed. The new Core i7 CPUs are definitely just as overkill as all reports said. Take the Core i7-5960X for example, it has eight cores, 16 threads, a base clock of 3 GHz, a Turbo Boost maximum frequency of 3.5 GHz, 20 MB Intel Smart Cache and a TDP of 140W. The selling price will be in the vicinity of $1,000 / €1,000.

The Core i7-5930K is a six-core unit with 12 threads, 3.5 GHz base clock, 3.7 GHz top clock, 15 MB cache memory and, again, 140W TDP. Its recommended price is of $594 / €594. The third chip in the series, called Core i7-5820X, is also a six-core unit with 12 threads and 15 MB cache, but it runs at 3.3 GHz / 3.6 GHz. Its TDP is 140W and the price is of $396 / €396. Those are the “average prices” as it were. When sold standalone, the prices go up by $10-$50 / €10-€50, while tray (bulk) shipments will shear off the same amount. Be sure to buy one of the new motherboards based on the X99 chipset that Intel's many OEMs have released and continue to launch even now. Look for the LGA 2011-3 socket.

In addition to the three new super-CPUs, Intel has released the Core i7-4930MX CPU, for laptops. It is powered by the Haswell architecture, not Haswell-E, and has four cores, eight threads, 3 GHz base clock, 3.9 GHz top clock, 8 MB cache memory and a TDP of 57W. The price is of $1,050 / €1,050 or so. Given the ludicrous performance of Haswell-E central processing units and their associated thermal design power, the architecture is not likely to be adapted for mobile PC use any time soon, if ever. Hence the release of a high-grade processor that is, instead, designed on the tried and true Haswell generation.

Intel launches Haswell-E CPUs
Image credits to Intel

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Fully Assembled (from Leaked Parts) iPhone 6 Boots up for the First Time [Video]

This has to be a strange first. A team that customizes iOS devices and has connections inside the Apple's supply chain managed to get their hands on ever part of the next iPhone 6. And since they have the necessary expertise, the guys assembled the phone and turned it on.

The video footage posted online is pretty short, but it shows a real working iPhone 6, for the first time, even before Apple's big reveal. The guys over at Feld & Volk are the first to have a fully functional iPhone 6, because they made their own. Earlier this morning they have revealed parts of the device like the back casing and logic board. We were able to see the A8 System on a Chip and a new chip that may turn out to be one related to the NFC. A few hours later, the same team has posted another photo and now a video of the next-generation iPhone booting up.

Take this with a grain of salt, because some of the details of the phone do not match iOS 8 and the device may have an iPhone 5s digitizer behind the iPhone 6 screen. Apple will be announcing the new phone on September 9th in an event scheduled to take place in Cupertino, California.

Fully assembled iPhone 6
Image credits to Feld&Volk

Videos credits to Feld&Folk

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Apacer DDR4 2133 Revealed

Most, if not all, of the memory modules and kits based on the new DDR4 specification have, so far, sported some kind of heatspreader or other. Apacer decided it was high time one came out that wasn't so encumbered. 

Truth be told, most of the other DDR4 modules and kits released so far could have probably worked without a heatspreader of their own. However, the vast majority of them don't just restrict themselves to the standard 2,133 MHz performance, like the new Apacer DDR4 2133 4 GB/8 GB Unbuffered DIMM does. Instead, they come in overclocked versions as well, going as high as 3 GHz in some instances. After all, as good as DDR4 is compared to DDR3, and no matter how efficient (1.2V instead of 1.65/1.5/1.35V), it would be weird if DDR4 only came in 2,133 MHz when DDR3 can exceed 3 GHz on good days.

Back to the new Apacer RAM, though. Needless to say, the new DIMM modules are intended for computers based on the new Intel Core i7-5000 CPUs. They have been through temperature and high/low pressure testing, as well as live PC and motherboard tests. Unfortunately, Apacer did not see it fit to disclose the price of the DDR4 2133 4 GB/8 GB Unbuffered DIMMs.

Apacer DDR4 2133 4 GB/8 GB Unbuffered DIMM
Image credits to Apacer

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Gigabyte's X99 Motherboard Line Includes Eight Different Models

Motherboards are the basis for all computers. Sure, most people probably choose the CPU before they decide on the mainboard, but the platform determines everything else. That's why the new X99 series from Gigabyte is such a big deal.

Not that Gigabyte is the only one releasing motherboards powered by the X99 chipset. That would be strange considering the impending release of Intel's Core i7-5000 series Haswell-E central processing units. What does set Gigabyte apart from all other companies is the sheer number of different such motherboards that are, or soon will be, available for order. There are eight of them to be precise, called GA-X99-Gaming G1 WIFI, GA-X99-Gaming 7 WIFI, GA-X99-Gaming 5, GA-X99-SOC Force, GA-X99-UD7 WIFI, GA-X99-UD5 WIFI, GA-X99-UD4, and GA-X99-UD3. Gigabyte has set up a specific section on its website where you can find all the information on each model, from bare specs to perks the others lack.

For our part, we'll take a gander at the most important common denominators, the things they have in common that are most relevant, figuratively speaking. For one thing, all the newcomers use an all digital CPU power design from International Rectifier, which includes digital 4th Generation digital PWM Controller and third-generation PowIRstage controllers which power even the most energy-sensitive and demanding components precisely. High-end chokes are another asset, providing server-level reliability and high-current capacity, plus less heat from power loss. The CPU VRM is also more efficient. The feature list continues with solid capacitors, and 3-way or 4-way multi-graphics setups (SLI for NVIDIA, CrossFire for AMD, up to 320 Gb/s bandwidth).

Furthermore, the new mainboards have Dual M.2 technology, meaning that there are two m.2 slots where you can install new SSDs, for 1.8 GB/s performance (on a good day) instead of 500-600 MB/s. Turbo M.2 tech ensures 20 Gbps bandwidth. SATA Express is also available, as is Creative Sound Core3D audio technology (driven by a Realtek ALC1150 controller) and a LED-equipped heatsink. Everything is held together by a copper PCB (2X Copper PCB design with power trace paths that withstand great power loads) and gold-plated CPU socket, PCI Express slots and DIMM slots (8 RAM modules supported). These and many other features were integrated by Gigabyte. The press release below has all the details, although it may prove a rather dry read. The PR veers most verbose, if you know what we mean. Sales should begin soon, for a price of around $400 - $500 / €400 - €500. Image gallery below, click for larger image.

Gigabyte X99 Motherboard
Images credits to Gigabyte

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Overclocker's New Record, Pushes AMD FX-8370 CPU to 8722.78 MHz

Overclocking records are serious business, even if few people actually pay attention to them anymore. A Finnish overclocker calling themselves "The Stilt" just established the new record on the AMD FX-8370.

The processor normally runs its eight cores at 3.3 GHz and eats 125W of energy, or at least that's how much power the system has to use to keep the heat at manageable levels. The Stilt, however, was able to manipulate the base clock, voltages and cooling in such a way that he pushed the frequency a lot higher than that. Specifically, the overclocker was able to drive the AMD FX-8730 to 8722.78 MHz, a clock that was never achieved before on this processor, and most others for that matter. The key was setting the base clock at 276.91 MHz and the multiplier at 31.5x, while core voltage was held steady at 2.004V.

Meanwhile, the 8 GB of DDR3 RAM (2 x 4 GB) ran at 1,107 MHz (2,214 MHz DDR). An ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z motherboard held everything together, including a liquid nitrogen evaporator. The LN2 pot looks about as steamy and weird as you'd expect, although the roll of toilet paper used as insulation definitely raised a few eyebrows, even though it's not the first time such a method is employed. In case you're still skeptical, HWBOT has validated the newest world record.

AMD FX-8370 overclocked to kingdom come
Image credits to HWBOT

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Qualcomm Teases Multi-Core 64-Bit HTC Desire 820 Smartphone for IFA 2014

Chipset maker Qualcomm announced earlier this month that the first smartphone equipped with its own 64-bit system-on-chip would be unveiled this fall and would effectively go on sale by the end of the year.

Several days ago, HTC took the wraps off the world’s first smartphone powered by a 64-bit chipset, the Desire 510. However, the newly announced handset is aimed at the affordable segment of the market, so we expect a mid-range 64-bit smartphone to be launched next month as well. Although previous rumors claimed that the HTC Desire 820 would be the world’s first 64-bit smartphone, it looks like the Taiwanese company has saved the reveal of this particular device for IFA 2014. Today, Qualcomm has taken a step further and teased another smartphone powered by a 64-bit chipset, which we believe is the same unannounced Desire 820 that leaked a few weeks ago. The device in the teaser looks exactly like the one that popped up in China a few days ago. According to the teaser, this 64-bit smartphone will be officially announced in early September and will be showcased at IFA 2014 in Berlin, Germany.

Unlike Desire 510 that features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset, the upcoming HTC Desire 820 is said to be packed with a Snapdragon 615 chipset, which is slight more powerful. The Desire 820’s system-on-chip accommodates an octa-core Cortex-A53 processor and an Adreno 415 graphics processing unit. No other details on the smartphone have leaked online yet, but there’s a high chance that more info will emerge in the coming days, so stay tuned.

HTC Desire 820 teaser
Image credits to Qualcomm

We’re thinking about your future: a #Snapdragon powered multi-core 64-bit smartphone is headed to @IFA_Berlin. pic.twitter.com/CS9w7HZGna
— Qualcomm (@Qualcomm) 28 Agustus 2014

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