core

Citigroup analyst Glen Yeung has begun suspecting that Advanced Micro Devices' quad-core "Barcelona" processor is late, but the chipmaker said Tuesday that it remains on schedule. However, shipments to supercomputer maker Cray of a close Barcelona relative code-named Budapest have slipped.

There is "no delay" for Barcelona, spokesman Phil Hughes said Tuesday. The chips, and some systems using the chips, will be available in the third quarter, he said.

Barcelona is a strategically important chip for AMD, as it tries to regain market share lost to Intel's newer Core 2-based Xeon server processors, the dual-core … Read more

Apple updated its MacBook line this morning, but the new models don't include many of the rumored features such as Intel's new Santa Rosa platform, LED-backlit displays, or solid-state hard drives. But what did you expect? Anything larger would have required Steve Jobs to take the stage. Using the same design, MacBooks now feature 2.0GHz or 2.16GHz Core 2 Duo processors, 1GB of memory, 80GB to 200GB hard drives, and 802.11n networking. Pricing still starts at $1,099.

The contraption displayed here may look like some kind of ill-conceived device from the days of bloodletting, but it's actually a physiological instrument for the 21st century. "CoreControl" is described as a "cooling glove" that increases the flow of blood to the palm's "radiator zone" and lowers the body's overall tempurature two to five times faster than ice packs, fans and other traditional methods.

Avacore Technologies, which makes the device, claims remarkable success in tests with athletes, firefighters, military personnel and others. "You don't necessarily feel cooler; you just … Read more

Now that the Xbox 360 Elite has been released, let's take a look at which accessories are must-buys. The actual amount of accessories you'll want ultimately will be up to you, but some decisions should be made depending on which version of the Xbox 360 you have. An Xbox 360 Core System owner will need to buy more accessories than an Xbox 360 Elite owner simply because of the difference in the items bundled with each system. Here's a list of what you should consider when in the market for Xbox 360 add-ons.

Extra controllers and batteries: … Read more

Searching for a sign that quad-core processing is heading to the mainstream? Look no further than Gateway putting PCs based on Intel's Core 2 Quad Q6600 chip on the shelves of major retailers. Best Buy's site lists the $2,100 Gateway FX8020 model, while Circuit City is selling the $2,300 FX8030, which adds a second 500GB hard drive for an even terabyte of storage. In addition to the quad-core 2.4GHz Q6600 chip, both models feature 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory, a 512MB ATI Radeon X1950 Crossfire-capable graphics card, and Vista Home Premium. These Gateway systems aren'… Read more

There's certainly no shortage of communications products that promise to muffle ambient noise, but a new earbud microphone from Japan is taking an interesting approach: It picks up speech from the ear, not from the mouth. We're not kidding.

That's the explanation given by Nikkei Net Interactive about the "InCore" microphone from start-up Nap Enterprise. The company claims that the technology allows mobile phone conversations "in even very noisy settings like concert halls and construction sites," according to Textually.org, reducing external noise by 30 decibels.

It's just another example of the … Read more

Keep in mind that the following benchmark results feature systems, not isolated CPU scores, and have a look at our test scores for the new ABS Ultimate X Striker Elite, which features Intel's newly announced 2.93GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6800 quad-core chip. It might not look like it at first, but the system actually did very well on our tests compared to other high-end desktops.

The reason the ABS doesn't sit higher on our charts is because the other systems either a) have an older 2.66GHz Core 2 Extreme QX6700 overclocked to 3.2GHz, b) run … Read more

Thrifty laptop shoppers can easily put together a decent system for around $800 or so (or even dip down to $500 if they're brave), but these low-cost machines have always had major trade-offs in terms of components and performance.

We can't speak to the performance aspect just yet, but Systemax has hit the $999 sweet spot with a just-announced Vista Ultimate version of its Core 2 Duo 15.4-inch Pursuit 4155 laptop. It's also got 1GB of memory, a 60GB hard drive, and a built-in Webcam.

The Core 2 Duo T5200 processor is admittedly on the low … Read more

Motion Computing was going unveil its new LE1700 Core 2 Duo slate tablet PC to the world this morning, but thanks to some errant FCC documents, the blogosphere got wind of it a few days early.

The company is known for tablets aimed at industrial and hospital users--but with a Core 2 Duo CPU, built-in mobile broadband, and a 12.1-inch 1,400x1,050 screen that can switch between stylus and fingertip input--there's plenty of mainstream crossover appeal in the LE1700.

GottaBeMobile found a load of early details on the system on the FCC.gov Web site, but here … Read more