The most recent articles from What PC?

The most recent articles from What PC?http://www.whatpc.co.uk/The most recent articles from What PC? (Generated on Thursday 8 January 2009 at 09:12:39)VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/2009-01-08T09:12:39.973Z

The most recent articles from What PC?http://www.whatpc.co.uk/images/rss/wpc_logo.gifhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/Creative 3D Blaster Personal Cinemahttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132770/creative-3d-blaster-personal-cinemaCliff Joseph, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 20 March 2002 at 14:32:29Watch and pause live telly, capture VCR or analogue camcorder footage, and play the latest 3D games - this card does it all.<content page="1"><html><body>Having pretty much tied up the games market, nVidia is now setting its sights on the video market as well. Its new Personal Cinema system adds a variety of digital video features to its GeForce graphics cards and goes head to head with ATI's popular All-In-Wonder cards.Creative is the first company to release a product that includes Personal Cinema, and has opted to base the system on a GeForce2 MX-400. This is about 20 per cent faster than a standard GeForce2 MX card, so it will provide very respectable performance for 3D games and other graphics applications.The card has a standard VGA interface for connecting to a PC monitor, butalongside this is a second interface that allows you to connect the Personal Cinema module.Video-editing optionsThis little translucent green box sits on your desk and provides a number of video input and output options. There are input and output connectors for both composite and S-Video, so you can capture video from a VCR or analogue camcorder and store it on your PC's hard disk.Creative Labs also includes a copy of the VideoWave SE editing program. This is pretty basic, but it's easy to use if you're just getting started with video editing.Having edited your video clips you can either play them back directly from your hard disk or use the video output port to re-record back onto tape.Tuning inThe Personal Cinema module also has a built-in TV tuner. You can use this to watch TV on your PC's screen, of course, but you can also use the tuner in conjunction with the module's video-capture capabilities and turn your PC into a personal video recorder (PVR).The difference between a DVR and a conventional analogue VCR is that you can use a PVR to perform 'time-shifting'. Time-shifting allows you to pause any programme - perhaps while you stop to make a cup of tea - and then carry on viewing from the point where you hit the brakes. The Personal Cinema module will continue to record the rest of the show and then play it back with a short delay so that you don't miss anything.You could buy a standalone PVR, such as the new Sky+ box from Sky, but they're more expensive than the Personal Cinema package, plus you have to pay a monthly fee on top if you want to use features such as time-shifting.Video nastiesThe Personal Cinema is very good value for money, then, especially as it gives you a pretty good 3D graphics card and video-editing features in addition to its time-shifting ability. However, there's still some room for improvement.Many people now have digital camcorders that use FireWire to connect to a PC. The Personal Cinema module doesn't have a FireWire interface, so it won't be any use if you own a digital camcorder.Creative's manuals and documentation are also very poor. The instructions on how to install the graphics card and Personal Cinema module are adequate, but there's no printed information on how to use the various pieces of bundled software.It's the software that controls features such as video-capture and time-shifting, so beginners may well find themselves completely baffled when they try to figure out how to use these features. The individual programs do have their own online Help files, but these are no substitute for proper printed manuals.Write and wrongThe 3D Blaster Personal Cinema is undoubtedly a powerful and versatile piece of hardware, and it's pitched at a good price too. However, Creative Labs really needs to write a better manual if it wants to cater properly to the ordinary home user.SPECIFICATIONS<ul><li>GeForce2 MX-400 graphics card</li><li>64Mb DDR, 200MHz clock speed</li><li>External 'Personal Cinema' module</li><li>S-Video and composite video input/output</li><li>Supports MPEG-2 video format</li><li>Built-in TV tuner</li><li>Bundled software provides video capture, editing and time-shiftingfeatures</li><li>Handheld remote control unit</li></ul>CONTACT Creative: No sales phone number, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.europe.creative.com">www.europe.creative.com</a>MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS400MHz processor (500MHz or above recommended), Windows 98 SE, AGP graphics slot, 10Gb hard disk.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132770/creative-3d-blaster-personal-cinemaCliff Joseph, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 20 March 2002 at 14:32:29Watch and pause live telly, capture VCR or analogue camcorder footage, and play the latest 3D games - this card does it all.<content page="1"><html><body>Having pretty much tied up the games market, nVidia is now setting its sights on the video market as well. Its new Personal Cinema system adds a variety of digital video features to its GeForce graphics cards and goes head to head with ATI's popular All-In-Wonder cards.Creative is the first company to release a product that includes Personal Cinema, and has opted to base the system on a GeForce2 MX-400. This is about 20 per cent faster than a standard GeForce2 MX card, so it will provide very respectable performance for 3D games and other graphics applications.The card has a standard VGA interface for connecting to a PC monitor, butalongside this is a second interface that allows you to connect the Personal Cinema module.Video-editing optionsThis little translucent green box sits on your desk and provides a number of video input and output options. There are input and output connectors for both composite and S-Video, so you can capture video from a VCR or analogue camcorder and store it on your PC's hard disk.Creative Labs also includes a copy of the VideoWave SE editing program. This is pretty basic, but it's easy to use if you're just getting started with video editing.Having edited your video clips you can either play them back directly from your hard disk or use the video output port to re-record back onto tape.Tuning inThe Personal Cinema module also has a built-in TV tuner. You can use this to watch TV on your PC's screen, of course, but you can also use the tuner in conjunction with the module's video-capture capabilities and turn your PC into a personal video recorder (PVR).The difference between a DVR and a conventional analogue VCR is that you can use a PVR to perform 'time-shifting'. Time-shifting allows you to pause any programme - perhaps while you stop to make a cup of tea - and then carry on viewing from the point where you hit the brakes. The Personal Cinema module will continue to record the rest of the show and then play it back with a short delay so that you don't miss anything.You could buy a standalone PVR, such as the new Sky+ box from Sky, but they're more expensive than the Personal Cinema package, plus you have to pay a monthly fee on top if you want to use features such as time-shifting.Video nastiesThe Personal Cinema is very good value for money, then, especially as it gives you a pretty good 3D graphics card and video-editing features in addition to its time-shifting ability. However, there's still some room for improvement.Many people now have digital camcorders that use FireWire to connect to a PC. The Personal Cinema module doesn't have a FireWire interface, so it won't be any use if you own a digital camcorder.Creative's manuals and documentation are also very poor. The instructions on how to install the graphics card and Personal Cinema module are adequate, but there's no printed information on how to use the various pieces of bundled software.It's the software that controls features such as video-capture and time-shifting, so beginners may well find themselves completely baffled when they try to figure out how to use these features. The individual programs do have their own online Help files, but these are no substitute for proper printed manuals.Write and wrongThe 3D Blaster Personal Cinema is undoubtedly a powerful and versatile piece of hardware, and it's pitched at a good price too. However, Creative Labs really needs to write a better manual if it wants to cater properly to the ordinary home user.SPECIFICATIONS<ul><li>GeForce2 MX-400 graphics card</li><li>64Mb DDR, 200MHz clock speed</li><li>External 'Personal Cinema' module</li><li>S-Video and composite video input/output</li><li>Supports MPEG-2 video format</li><li>Built-in TV tuner</li><li>Bundled software provides video capture, editing and time-shiftingfeatures</li><li>Handheld remote control unit</li></ul>CONTACT Creative: No sales phone number, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.europe.creative.com">www.europe.creative.com</a>MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS400MHz processor (500MHz or above recommended), Windows 98 SE, AGP graphics slot, 10Gb hard disk.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCliff Joseph2002-03-20T14:32:29.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsAMD drops speed in chip battlehttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132590/amd-drops-speed-chip-battleWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 27 November 2001 at 00:00:00Chip giant shifts focus to performance<content page="1"><html><body>Processor giant AMD is planning to adopt a new branding strategy in a bid to scupper the perception that it is lagging behind arch rival Intel.PC processors have traditionally been measured on the amount of megahertz or gigahertz at which they run. AMD seemed to be leading the way with its Athlon processor, the first to reach the 1GHz mark. However, there is now a huge gap between the fastest Athlon at 1.4GHz and Intel's 2GHz Pentium 4.The plan is to steer away from concentrating on a chip's clock speed and make consumers understand that performance relies on more than just this. The evidence backs AMD's strategy with its 1.4GHz model outperforming the 1.7GHz Pentium 4 in a number of benchmarks.Tim Hill of Lambie-Nairn, the branding experts that reinvented BT Cellnet as O2, believes chipmakers are waking up to reality. "It is like cars: the size of the engine may be different, but people will buy a BMW instead of a Ford for a whole host of reasons," he said.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132590/amd-drops-speed-chip-battleWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 27 November 2001 at 00:00:00Chip giant shifts focus to performance<content page="1"><html><body>Processor giant AMD is planning to adopt a new branding strategy in a bid to scupper the perception that it is lagging behind arch rival Intel.PC processors have traditionally been measured on the amount of megahertz or gigahertz at which they run. AMD seemed to be leading the way with its Athlon processor, the first to reach the 1GHz mark. However, there is now a huge gap between the fastest Athlon at 1.4GHz and Intel's 2GHz Pentium 4.The plan is to steer away from concentrating on a chip's clock speed and make consumers understand that performance relies on more than just this. The evidence backs AMD's strategy with its 1.4GHz model outperforming the 1.7GHz Pentium 4 in a number of benchmarks.Tim Hill of Lambie-Nairn, the branding experts that reinvented BT Cellnet as O2, believes chipmakers are waking up to reality. "It is like cars: the size of the engine may be different, but people will buy a BMW instead of a Ford for a whole host of reasons," he said.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKWhat PC? staff2001-11-27T24:00:00.000ZNewspc-componentsPhilips Expanium MP3 CD Playerhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132752/philips-expanium-mp3-cd-playerNigel Donnelly, What PC?, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 30 October 2001 at 11:01:35At last - a portable CD player that can decode MP3 as well as standard CDs.<content page="1"><html><body>Solid-state memory cards such as SmartMedia and CompactFlash are the storage solution of choice for most MP3-player manufacturers. But have you ever questioned why? After all, they're extremely expensive for the amount of space you get - about £2 per megabyte on average - and even a 64Mb card struggles to store a couple of hours worth of tunes.Now consider that most new PCs come with a CD rewriter drive, which provides a renewable 640Mb of storage on a single disc at around 50p a throw. As CD is the chosen medium for music, it seems strange that it has taken this long for someone to come up with a portable CD player that can decode MP3 as well as standard CDs. Philips' Expanium is such a device.Shake it all about, don't miss a beatThe big advantage of SmartMedia and suchlike is the fact they don't skip and miss out big chunks of your favourite tune as you move about, a favourite failing of traditional CD players. Early personal CD players jumped at anything more vigorous than a deep breath, but try as we might, no amount of shaking prompted Expanium to miss a beat. Impressive.Other than MP3 and shockproof playback, this isn't very special. Looks-wise, the Expanium is one of the most utterly and unequivocally dull things you'll ever see - just the thing if you like your hardware to be understated.It comes bundled with a mains adaptor, a grim set of headphones, cigar-lighter attachment and a cassette-to-CD converter so you can use it in your car's tape player. Why bother with the inconvenience of a CD changer in your boot when you can get 10 hours worth of tunes on one disc? It's safer than fumbling around in your glovebox for a change of CD, too.A bit rich for most tastesIf it saves your life, it's worth the £200 asking price. If it doesn't, it's vastly overpriced and not worth half that.Expect this to be the first of many CD-MP3 hybrids. Easy to use but very expensive, this is strictly for rich MP3 lovers.Contact Philips: 020 8689 2166, <a href="http://www.philips.co.uk">www.philips.co.uk</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132752/philips-expanium-mp3-cd-playerNigel Donnelly, What PC?, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Tuesday 30 October 2001 at 11:01:35At last - a portable CD player that can decode MP3 as well as standard CDs.<content page="1"><html><body>Solid-state memory cards such as SmartMedia and CompactFlash are the storage solution of choice for most MP3-player manufacturers. But have you ever questioned why? After all, they're extremely expensive for the amount of space you get - about £2 per megabyte on average - and even a 64Mb card struggles to store a couple of hours worth of tunes.Now consider that most new PCs come with a CD rewriter drive, which provides a renewable 640Mb of storage on a single disc at around 50p a throw. As CD is the chosen medium for music, it seems strange that it has taken this long for someone to come up with a portable CD player that can decode MP3 as well as standard CDs. Philips' Expanium is such a device.Shake it all about, don't miss a beatThe big advantage of SmartMedia and suchlike is the fact they don't skip and miss out big chunks of your favourite tune as you move about, a favourite failing of traditional CD players. Early personal CD players jumped at anything more vigorous than a deep breath, but try as we might, no amount of shaking prompted Expanium to miss a beat. Impressive.Other than MP3 and shockproof playback, this isn't very special. Looks-wise, the Expanium is one of the most utterly and unequivocally dull things you'll ever see - just the thing if you like your hardware to be understated.It comes bundled with a mains adaptor, a grim set of headphones, cigar-lighter attachment and a cassette-to-CD converter so you can use it in your car's tape player. Why bother with the inconvenience of a CD changer in your boot when you can get 10 hours worth of tunes on one disc? It's safer than fumbling around in your glovebox for a change of CD, too.A bit rich for most tastesIf it saves your life, it's worth the £200 asking price. If it doesn't, it's vastly overpriced and not worth half that.Expect this to be the first of many CD-MP3 hybrids. Easy to use but very expensive, this is strictly for rich MP3 lovers.Contact Philips: 020 8689 2166, <a href="http://www.philips.co.uk">www.philips.co.uk</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKNigel Donnelly, What PC?2001-10-30T11:01:35.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsIntel launches Pentium III-M rangehttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132587/intel-launches-pentium-iii-rangeWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 24 September 2001 at 23:00:00Chipmaker targets rival Transmeta's Crusoe<content page="1"><html><body>Intel has moved to underscore its credentials in the mobile PC market with the official launch of its Pentium III-M series of chips.Formerly codenamed Tualatin, the III-M runs at cooler temperatures while consuming less power than its predecessors. It is aimed squarely at preventing chip latecomer Transmeta from making any more inroads with its Crusoe series of processors.The new chip will be available at speeds of 866Mhz, 933Mhz, 1Ghz and 1.13Ghz.Transmeta has had some success in Japan and Asia but US laptop makers have preferred to stick with the status quo of Intel, with AMD as a secondary supplier.A slew of PC makers announced that they will deliver products using the new Intel chip, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, IBM and Sony. Each vendor made announcements emphasising that they would wring additional hours out of batteries because of the power saving properties of the III-M.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132587/intel-launches-pentium-iii-rangeWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 24 September 2001 at 23:00:00Chipmaker targets rival Transmeta's Crusoe<content page="1"><html><body>Intel has moved to underscore its credentials in the mobile PC market with the official launch of its Pentium III-M series of chips.Formerly codenamed Tualatin, the III-M runs at cooler temperatures while consuming less power than its predecessors. It is aimed squarely at preventing chip latecomer Transmeta from making any more inroads with its Crusoe series of processors.The new chip will be available at speeds of 866Mhz, 933Mhz, 1Ghz and 1.13Ghz.Transmeta has had some success in Japan and Asia but US laptop makers have preferred to stick with the status quo of Intel, with AMD as a secondary supplier.A slew of PC makers announced that they will deliver products using the new Intel chip, including Dell, Hewlett Packard, IBM and Sony. Each vendor made announcements emphasising that they would wring additional hours out of batteries because of the power saving properties of the III-M.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKWhat PC? staff2001-09-24T23:00:00.000ZNewspc-componentsCherry Blue Line Cybo@rd.http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132745/cherry-blue-line-cybo-rdAndrew Sayers, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 19 September 2001 at 15:08:38Welcome to the next generation of keyboards.<content page="1"><html><body>German keyboard specialist Cherry has revamped its range, and we have here the Blue Line Cybo@rd, a tapper aimed at the web generation.Installation really couldn't be easier: simply unplug your old keyboard, plug in the Cherry and then start up the PC. It's best to use the PS/2 port rather than a USB one, as some of the keyboard's functions aren't supported by USB.Once the machine has booted, the software installation is straightforward: pop the CD in the drive, watch a short movie and then choose the operating system and language. Click the appropriate selection and the software installs.The keyboard has a nice feel with positive, responsive keys and a neat clean line. The additional keys are all at the top with the so-called 'internet keys' in a line over the function buttons and a cluster of multimedia controls above the numeric pad. An optional wrist rest can be attached to the front if you wish.The internet and multimedia keys come pre-programmed, leaving just three keys for you to assign (these also come with defaults of email, Windows Explorer and Calculator). Programming the extra keys is straightforward: click on the appropriate icon in the System Tray, select Keyboard Properties, then click on the tab of the key set that you want to tweak.Selecting what you want the keys to do is a simple matter of clicking on the Configure option and choosing the program (or Desktop shortcut) that you want that button to launch. You can completely change the functions of all the keys, but then you'd need to re-label them so you can remember which does what.SPECIFICATIONS:<ul><li>Enhanced Internet use with preset keys</li><li>Full multimedia control</li><li>Power management key</li><li>All extra keys fully programmable</li><li>A choice of PS/2 or USB connection.</li></ul>Minimum requirements: Any PC with PS/2 or USB connections, CDRom, speakers and sound card for multimedia features, and running Windows 9x/Me/2000/NT4. Internet Explorer 4.01 or Netscape 4.01 are required for the browser keys.CONTACT Cherry 01582 763100 <a href="http://www.cherry.de">www.cherry.de</a></body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132745/cherry-blue-line-cybo-rdAndrew Sayers, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Wednesday 19 September 2001 at 15:08:38Welcome to the next generation of keyboards.<content page="1"><html><body>German keyboard specialist Cherry has revamped its range, and we have here the Blue Line Cybo@rd, a tapper aimed at the web generation.Installation really couldn't be easier: simply unplug your old keyboard, plug in the Cherry and then start up the PC. It's best to use the PS/2 port rather than a USB one, as some of the keyboard's functions aren't supported by USB.Once the machine has booted, the software installation is straightforward: pop the CD in the drive, watch a short movie and then choose the operating system and language. Click the appropriate selection and the software installs.The keyboard has a nice feel with positive, responsive keys and a neat clean line. The additional keys are all at the top with the so-called 'internet keys' in a line over the function buttons and a cluster of multimedia controls above the numeric pad. An optional wrist rest can be attached to the front if you wish.The internet and multimedia keys come pre-programmed, leaving just three keys for you to assign (these also come with defaults of email, Windows Explorer and Calculator). Programming the extra keys is straightforward: click on the appropriate icon in the System Tray, select Keyboard Properties, then click on the tab of the key set that you want to tweak.Selecting what you want the keys to do is a simple matter of clicking on the Configure option and choosing the program (or Desktop shortcut) that you want that button to launch. You can completely change the functions of all the keys, but then you'd need to re-label them so you can remember which does what.SPECIFICATIONS:<ul><li>Enhanced Internet use with preset keys</li><li>Full multimedia control</li><li>Power management key</li><li>All extra keys fully programmable</li><li>A choice of PS/2 or USB connection.</li></ul>Minimum requirements: Any PC with PS/2 or USB connections, CDRom, speakers and sound card for multimedia features, and running Windows 9x/Me/2000/NT4. Internet Explorer 4.01 or Netscape 4.01 are required for the browser keys.CONTACT Cherry 01582 763100 <a href="http://www.cherry.de">www.cherry.de</a></body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKAndrew Sayers2001-09-19T15:08:38.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsSun to launch 900MHz UltraSparc IIIhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132581/sun-launch-900mhz-ultrasparc-iiiRoger Howorth, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 6 September 2001 at 23:00:00Chip will initially be used only in Sun Blade 1000 workstations<content page="1"><html><body>Sun Microsystems announced last week that it will launch a 900MHz version of its 64bit UltraSparc III processor by the end of October.Although this is good news for enterprises, many of Sun's customers will be frustrated by the fact that the new chip will initially be used only in the vendor's Sun Blade 1000 workstations.The fastest chip currently supported in Sun's high-end E10000 64-way server is a 466MHz UltraSparc II. The firm could not give a date for when the UltraSparc III chip will be made available for use in its high-end servers.However, if recent history is any indicator, the new processor will not be offered in high-end systems for at least a year.Sun has consistently failed to meet promised delivery dates; the 900MHz chip was originally scheduled to launch last September.Recently the company suffered a setback when it discovered a design fault in the current UltraSparc III chip that meant a pre-fetch pipeline must be disabled for the chip to correctly handle floating point calculations.Disabling the pre-fetch pipeline causes software to operate up to 10 per cent slower than originally claimed.The new chip should not suffer from this particular problem, but Sun faces fresh challenges in the manufacturing process. This is the first commercial chip using copper interconnects to be produced by Sun's manufacturing partner, Texas Instruments. Experts said the move to copper interconnects is not a trivial task.Likewise, the jump from the previous maximum speed of 650MHz to 900MHz has been achieved by reducing the size of the components on the chip.While this is somewhat simpler than the introduction of copper interconnects, shrinking components has occasionally caused problems with other chip designs.However, any such delays or problems suffered by Sun are unlikely to give Intel's 64bit Itanium any advantage, as this architecture is currently hampered by a lack of support for hardware partitioning.Partitioning is a technique that enables one server to run several operating systems simultaneously. It is seen as a key selling point as the ability to consolidate several small server systems into a single, larger server platform enables organisations to reduce IT operating costs.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132581/sun-launch-900mhz-ultrasparc-iiiRoger Howorth, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 6 September 2001 at 23:00:00Chip will initially be used only in Sun Blade 1000 workstations<content page="1"><html><body>Sun Microsystems announced last week that it will launch a 900MHz version of its 64bit UltraSparc III processor by the end of October.Although this is good news for enterprises, many of Sun's customers will be frustrated by the fact that the new chip will initially be used only in the vendor's Sun Blade 1000 workstations.The fastest chip currently supported in Sun's high-end E10000 64-way server is a 466MHz UltraSparc II. The firm could not give a date for when the UltraSparc III chip will be made available for use in its high-end servers.However, if recent history is any indicator, the new processor will not be offered in high-end systems for at least a year.Sun has consistently failed to meet promised delivery dates; the 900MHz chip was originally scheduled to launch last September.Recently the company suffered a setback when it discovered a design fault in the current UltraSparc III chip that meant a pre-fetch pipeline must be disabled for the chip to correctly handle floating point calculations.Disabling the pre-fetch pipeline causes software to operate up to 10 per cent slower than originally claimed.The new chip should not suffer from this particular problem, but Sun faces fresh challenges in the manufacturing process. This is the first commercial chip using copper interconnects to be produced by Sun's manufacturing partner, Texas Instruments. Experts said the move to copper interconnects is not a trivial task.Likewise, the jump from the previous maximum speed of 650MHz to 900MHz has been achieved by reducing the size of the components on the chip.While this is somewhat simpler than the introduction of copper interconnects, shrinking components has occasionally caused problems with other chip designs.However, any such delays or problems suffered by Sun are unlikely to give Intel's 64bit Itanium any advantage, as this architecture is currently hampered by a lack of support for hardware partitioning.Partitioning is a technique that enables one server to run several operating systems simultaneously. It is seen as a key selling point as the ability to consolidate several small server systems into a single, larger server platform enables organisations to reduce IT operating costs.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKRoger Howorth2001-09-06T23:00:00.000ZNewspc-componentsIntel predicts strong growthhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132579/intel-predicts-strong-growthWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 6 August 2001 at 23:00:00'No problems,' says head of Architecture Group<content page="1"><html><body>Despite comparatively poor sales last year, a difficult first quarter this year, and doubts about the Pentium 4's performance compared to AMD's Athlon, Paul Otellini, head of Intel's Architecture Group, says there are no problems for the company.In a meeting held in London recently Otellini was asked about the drop in sales and the fact that president and chief executive Craig Barrat had predicted sales of 20 million Pentium 4s by the end of the year which turned out to total only one million by the end of May."We have a range inside the company that we're comfortable to be in," said Otellini. In regard to recalled motherboards and chipsets last year, he said that Intel "didn't pay enough attention to some very basic programming techniques for a while" but had addressed the issue.Otellini was optimistic about the future, predicting that overall computing sales would increase tenfold within 10 to 15 years, creating an $8tn industry."We are spending record amounts of money on research and development to do this and achieve the growth," he said.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132579/intel-predicts-strong-growthWhat PC? staff, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Monday 6 August 2001 at 23:00:00'No problems,' says head of Architecture Group<content page="1"><html><body>Despite comparatively poor sales last year, a difficult first quarter this year, and doubts about the Pentium 4's performance compared to AMD's Athlon, Paul Otellini, head of Intel's Architecture Group, says there are no problems for the company.In a meeting held in London recently Otellini was asked about the drop in sales and the fact that president and chief executive Craig Barrat had predicted sales of 20 million Pentium 4s by the end of the year which turned out to total only one million by the end of May."We have a range inside the company that we're comfortable to be in," said Otellini. In regard to recalled motherboards and chipsets last year, he said that Intel "didn't pay enough attention to some very basic programming techniques for a while" but had addressed the issue.Otellini was optimistic about the future, predicting that overall computing sales would increase tenfold within 10 to 15 years, creating an $8tn industry."We are spending record amounts of money on research and development to do this and achieve the growth," he said.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKWhat PC? staff2001-08-06T23:00:00.000ZNewspc-componentsNetwork Associates McAfee Office 3http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/software/2132622/network-associates-mcafee-officeKyle MacRae, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 9 March 2001 at 00:00:00A collection of software tools to optimise, troubleshoot, repair, protect, secure and maintain your PC both online and off.<content page="1"><html><body>This latest release of McAfee's flagship product is not so different from its immediate predecessor, Office 2000 Pro. It now supports Windows Millennium Edition (although not Windows 2000) and the control panel has been tweaked, but there's no disguising that several of these utilities were developed in isolation from one another. Some of the cracks still show.One new entry is McAfee Firewall, a program that prompts you for the nod whenever an application attempts to access the internet. It's neither the friendliest nor most flexible firewall around, but it will stop any rogue Trojans phoning home with your data. One quick click temporarily blocks all incoming and outgoing internet traffic.Guard Dog is a more configurable program that prevents personal information being transmitted across the net without your express permission. During setup, you fill in any credit-card and contact details that you'd prefer to keep private, and thereafter Guard Dog pops up with a bark and a blocking screen whenever this information is typed into a chat window or website.While it might stop Junior bidding away your fortune for a PlayStation 2, it's easy enough to slip most information through the hound's teeth if you have a mind to do so. Email messages are not monitored and, rather frustratingly, the 'zip code' field refuses to accept British postcodes.The third security component is VirusScan, a perfectly acceptable if somewhat fiddly anti-virus program. We'd have liked to see Firewall, Guard Dog and VirusScan working closely together as variations on a theme, but they operate as standalone applications. Incidentally, if you were alarmed by reports of older versions of VirusScan slowing PCs to a snail's slither after taking online updates, be assured that this version should not have such problems.PGP is on hand to securely encrypt emails. Moreover, you can set aside a slice of hard disk for storing sensitive files in encrypted form.Uninstaller is just what you'd expect - a useful utility that keeps a beady eye on new program installations with a view to removing them cleanly at a later date.One old 'favourite', the woefully inadequate troubleshooter First Aid, is still bundled here but now no longer trumpeted on the packaging. We tried the (allegedly) more powerful diagnostic tool Discover Pro instead but it merely froze our test system, while the ambitiously-named Crash Protector turned a blind eye to such troubles.Another oldie, Oil Change - a utility that helps you update device drivers online - is mentioned in the manual but is nowhere to be found in the suite itself. References to the Year 2000 'problem' abound in the Help files, which is mildly amusing, but we really had to quibble with the inspired sloppiness that led to the presence of a Y2K countdown monitor.Everything else that you'd expect from a utility suite is here - a Registry Wizard that cleans and optimises your system from the inside out, a disk defragmenter, an alternative to Scandisk, a zip manager, a file shredder - and all told it's pretty good value for £70.But one's first impression upon installing McAfee Office is not so much 'great, that's my computer sorted' as 'good grief, why is everything so slow?' Or words to that effect. For this utility suite is heavy on those very system resources it's designed to optimise and protect.Contact Network Associates: 01753 217500; www.mcafee.com</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/software/2132622/network-associates-mcafee-officeKyle MacRae, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 9 March 2001 at 00:00:00A collection of software tools to optimise, troubleshoot, repair, protect, secure and maintain your PC both online and off.<content page="1"><html><body>This latest release of McAfee's flagship product is not so different from its immediate predecessor, Office 2000 Pro. It now supports Windows Millennium Edition (although not Windows 2000) and the control panel has been tweaked, but there's no disguising that several of these utilities were developed in isolation from one another. Some of the cracks still show.One new entry is McAfee Firewall, a program that prompts you for the nod whenever an application attempts to access the internet. It's neither the friendliest nor most flexible firewall around, but it will stop any rogue Trojans phoning home with your data. One quick click temporarily blocks all incoming and outgoing internet traffic.Guard Dog is a more configurable program that prevents personal information being transmitted across the net without your express permission. During setup, you fill in any credit-card and contact details that you'd prefer to keep private, and thereafter Guard Dog pops up with a bark and a blocking screen whenever this information is typed into a chat window or website.While it might stop Junior bidding away your fortune for a PlayStation 2, it's easy enough to slip most information through the hound's teeth if you have a mind to do so. Email messages are not monitored and, rather frustratingly, the 'zip code' field refuses to accept British postcodes.The third security component is VirusScan, a perfectly acceptable if somewhat fiddly anti-virus program. We'd have liked to see Firewall, Guard Dog and VirusScan working closely together as variations on a theme, but they operate as standalone applications. Incidentally, if you were alarmed by reports of older versions of VirusScan slowing PCs to a snail's slither after taking online updates, be assured that this version should not have such problems.PGP is on hand to securely encrypt emails. Moreover, you can set aside a slice of hard disk for storing sensitive files in encrypted form.Uninstaller is just what you'd expect - a useful utility that keeps a beady eye on new program installations with a view to removing them cleanly at a later date.One old 'favourite', the woefully inadequate troubleshooter First Aid, is still bundled here but now no longer trumpeted on the packaging. We tried the (allegedly) more powerful diagnostic tool Discover Pro instead but it merely froze our test system, while the ambitiously-named Crash Protector turned a blind eye to such troubles.Another oldie, Oil Change - a utility that helps you update device drivers online - is mentioned in the manual but is nowhere to be found in the suite itself. References to the Year 2000 'problem' abound in the Help files, which is mildly amusing, but we really had to quibble with the inspired sloppiness that led to the presence of a Y2K countdown monitor.Everything else that you'd expect from a utility suite is here - a Registry Wizard that cleans and optimises your system from the inside out, a disk defragmenter, an alternative to Scandisk, a zip manager, a file shredder - and all told it's pretty good value for £70.But one's first impression upon installing McAfee Office is not so much 'great, that's my computer sorted' as 'good grief, why is everything so slow?' Or words to that effect. For this utility suite is heavy on those very system resources it's designed to optimise and protect.Contact Network Associates: 01753 217500; www.mcafee.com</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKKyle MacRae2001-03-09T24:00:00.000ZSoftware Reviewspc-componentsDatamind Thumbdrivehttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132727/datamind-thumbdriveScott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 23 February 2001 at 00:00:00High-capacity removable storage that's compact and flexible - but far from cheap.<content page="1"><html><body>How much can you store on a floppy disk? Actually, perhaps a better question nowadays is: how little can you store on a floppy disk? It may have seemed extravagant in the 3.5in drive's Eighties heyday, but today, 1.44Mb is barely enough to hold a few modern documents.What's needed is a new high-capacity removable storage standard: something compact, cheap and able to work in all computers. So, is the ThumbDrive befitting of such description? Yes, mostly...Yes, it's the size of a thumb, but strictly speaking it's not a drive. It's actually a solid-state memory card with a twist. Ingeniously, tacked on to the end of the ThumbDrive is a USB connector. Installation - if you can call it that - is a matter of plugging it into a USB port and installing the driver from a floppy disk.Once in place, it appears to Windows like any other disk drive. Files can be dragged and dropped to and fro, deleted, zipped, whatever. Being solid-state, copy operations are swift indeed and the only visible sign of activity is a small LED which flashes as data is transferred. When you're done, just unplug the ThumbDrive, pop it in your pocket and off to the next destination.But it's not all sweetness and light. We said at the outset that the floppy disk's big problem is its small capacity, but at least it's cheap. The ThumbDrive is available in capacities ranging from 16Mb to an impressive 256Mb - but at a cost. The most basic model comes in at just under seventy quid while the top-of-the-range choice carries a staggering £659 price-tag; so you'll be left with plenty of room in your pockets to transport your chosen ThumbDrive.Despite the decidedly amateur-looking box and literature, the ThumbDrive proves that good things can come in small packages. Want one? Start saving... Contact Datamind: 0800 970 1416, www.thumbdrive.org.uk</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132727/datamind-thumbdriveScott Colvey, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 23 February 2001 at 00:00:00High-capacity removable storage that's compact and flexible - but far from cheap.<content page="1"><html><body>How much can you store on a floppy disk? Actually, perhaps a better question nowadays is: how little can you store on a floppy disk? It may have seemed extravagant in the 3.5in drive's Eighties heyday, but today, 1.44Mb is barely enough to hold a few modern documents.What's needed is a new high-capacity removable storage standard: something compact, cheap and able to work in all computers. So, is the ThumbDrive befitting of such description? Yes, mostly...Yes, it's the size of a thumb, but strictly speaking it's not a drive. It's actually a solid-state memory card with a twist. Ingeniously, tacked on to the end of the ThumbDrive is a USB connector. Installation - if you can call it that - is a matter of plugging it into a USB port and installing the driver from a floppy disk.Once in place, it appears to Windows like any other disk drive. Files can be dragged and dropped to and fro, deleted, zipped, whatever. Being solid-state, copy operations are swift indeed and the only visible sign of activity is a small LED which flashes as data is transferred. When you're done, just unplug the ThumbDrive, pop it in your pocket and off to the next destination.But it's not all sweetness and light. We said at the outset that the floppy disk's big problem is its small capacity, but at least it's cheap. The ThumbDrive is available in capacities ranging from 16Mb to an impressive 256Mb - but at a cost. The most basic model comes in at just under seventy quid while the top-of-the-range choice carries a staggering £659 price-tag; so you'll be left with plenty of room in your pockets to transport your chosen ThumbDrive.Despite the decidedly amateur-looking box and literature, the ThumbDrive proves that good things can come in small packages. Want one? Start saving... Contact Datamind: 0800 970 1416, www.thumbdrive.org.uk</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKScott Colvey2001-02-23T24:00:00.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsIomega Jaz 2Gbhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132728/iomega-jaz-2gbChris Cain, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 23 February 2001 at 00:00:00Ideal for the user with lots of data to store, but software can be a frustrating experience.<content page="1"><html><body>Originally released with a 1Gb capacity, Iomega's Jaz drive was designed for those who need more removable storage than its popular Zip system can offer. What normally takes at least five Zip disks can be squeezed onto one Jaz cartridge. December 1998 saw the arrival of the 2Gb version.As with the Zip, the Jaz has been redesigned to provide a smaller and sleeker backup system. Finished in a smart grey, the Jaz is still a sizeable beast but now sports a more modern, curvaceous casing. Two SCSI interfaces sit at the rear with a power switch; disks slot in at the front as before. These can be thought of as little hard disks.The 2Gb drive is backward compatible with 1Gb media. PC or Mac users without SCSI on their machines can connect the drive to a USB port using an additional adapter. Installing the hardware with either interface is straightforward.Software, though, is another matter. After several frustrating system crashes, we discovered we had been supplied with version 2.2.1 of Iomega's drivers whereas version 2.5 had been released in June. Surely five months is enough time to update driver disks? Iomega's quality-control needs a good talking-to.You can use the Jaz through Windows as you would any other drive, but the Iomega Tools installation provides programs to copy and search disks, as well as back up important files. New is the highly useful QuikSync 2, which will automatically back up specified files or folders whenever they are modified. All the utilities can be mastered in ten minutes.The disks aren't cheap, but the convenience and capacity of the Jaz 2Gb make it ideal for any user backing up and transporting large data files. If you've outgrown your Zip, it's the perfect step up.Contact Iomega: 020 7365 9527, www.iomega-europe.com</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132728/iomega-jaz-2gbChris Cain, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Friday 23 February 2001 at 00:00:00Ideal for the user with lots of data to store, but software can be a frustrating experience.<content page="1"><html><body>Originally released with a 1Gb capacity, Iomega's Jaz drive was designed for those who need more removable storage than its popular Zip system can offer. What normally takes at least five Zip disks can be squeezed onto one Jaz cartridge. December 1998 saw the arrival of the 2Gb version.As with the Zip, the Jaz has been redesigned to provide a smaller and sleeker backup system. Finished in a smart grey, the Jaz is still a sizeable beast but now sports a more modern, curvaceous casing. Two SCSI interfaces sit at the rear with a power switch; disks slot in at the front as before. These can be thought of as little hard disks.The 2Gb drive is backward compatible with 1Gb media. PC or Mac users without SCSI on their machines can connect the drive to a USB port using an additional adapter. Installing the hardware with either interface is straightforward.Software, though, is another matter. After several frustrating system crashes, we discovered we had been supplied with version 2.2.1 of Iomega's drivers whereas version 2.5 had been released in June. Surely five months is enough time to update driver disks? Iomega's quality-control needs a good talking-to.You can use the Jaz through Windows as you would any other drive, but the Iomega Tools installation provides programs to copy and search disks, as well as back up important files. New is the highly useful QuikSync 2, which will automatically back up specified files or folders whenever they are modified. All the utilities can be mastered in ten minutes.The disks aren't cheap, but the convenience and capacity of the Jaz 2Gb make it ideal for any user backing up and transporting large data files. If you've outgrown your Zip, it's the perfect step up.Contact Iomega: 020 7365 9527, www.iomega-europe.com</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKChris Cain2001-02-23T24:00:00.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsMicroSolutions Backpack USB CD-RWhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132714/microsolutions-backpack-usb-cd-rwAndy Gordon, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Sunday 8 October 2000 at 23:00:00This USB version of an established external CD-RW drive could prove useful for desktop set-ups or those who are more mobile.<content page="1"><html><body>MicroSolutions has been producing external CD drives for a while now, be they slimline CDRom drives for notebook users or CD-RW drives for anyone wanting to press their own discs without opening up their PC.The company's previous drives have all been parallel devices that plug into the back of the printer port on a PC. That's still the case with the Backpack USB CD Rewriter, but in addition, this time it also offers a USB connection.As far as external drives go, the Backpack is a bit of a monster and the addition of some curves to the case does nothing to disguise its bulk.The reason for the jumbo case is that the 4x4x24 CD-RW drive is actually a standard IDE model, just like one you'd find inside a PC. Add a chassis to hold this and some electronics to convert the drive's IDE interface into something that can plug into the back of a PC and you can't help but end up with a pretty hefty slab of plastic.The Backpack can connect to a PC via a parallel or USB port but the interface on the back of the drive is strictly parallel (so the USB lead is technically a parallel to USB converter). This makes little difference to the drive in use and whichever connection you use, you can still connect and disconnect the drive without having to restart your PC.MicroSolutions bundles Adaptec Easy CD Creator for creating data and audio CDs, as well as Adaptec DirectCD for drag-and-drop CD creation from the Windows Desktop.At £249, the Backpack is £20 more than the Iomega Zip CD USB and is markedly less stylish but it is quicker at reading discs - 24x compared with the Iomega's 6x.Contact MicroSolutions 020 8960 6000</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132714/microsolutions-backpack-usb-cd-rwAndy Gordon, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Sunday 8 October 2000 at 23:00:00This USB version of an established external CD-RW drive could prove useful for desktop set-ups or those who are more mobile.<content page="1"><html><body>MicroSolutions has been producing external CD drives for a while now, be they slimline CDRom drives for notebook users or CD-RW drives for anyone wanting to press their own discs without opening up their PC.The company's previous drives have all been parallel devices that plug into the back of the printer port on a PC. That's still the case with the Backpack USB CD Rewriter, but in addition, this time it also offers a USB connection.As far as external drives go, the Backpack is a bit of a monster and the addition of some curves to the case does nothing to disguise its bulk.The reason for the jumbo case is that the 4x4x24 CD-RW drive is actually a standard IDE model, just like one you'd find inside a PC. Add a chassis to hold this and some electronics to convert the drive's IDE interface into something that can plug into the back of a PC and you can't help but end up with a pretty hefty slab of plastic.The Backpack can connect to a PC via a parallel or USB port but the interface on the back of the drive is strictly parallel (so the USB lead is technically a parallel to USB converter). This makes little difference to the drive in use and whichever connection you use, you can still connect and disconnect the drive without having to restart your PC.MicroSolutions bundles Adaptec Easy CD Creator for creating data and audio CDs, as well as Adaptec DirectCD for drag-and-drop CD creation from the Windows Desktop.At £249, the Backpack is £20 more than the Iomega Zip CD USB and is markedly less stylish but it is quicker at reading discs - 24x compared with the Iomega's 6x.Contact MicroSolutions 020 8960 6000</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKAndy Gordon2000-10-08T23:00:00.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsAmacom FlipDiskhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132715/amacom-flipdiskJulian Prokaza, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Sunday 8 October 2000 at 23:00:00A handy add-on for upgrading your notebook when a normal disk upgrade would require throwing away the old one.<content page="1"><html><body>Notebook PCs aren't renowned for their expansion capabilities and this is particularly problematic when it comes to hard disk drives. Fitting a new one isn't hard but since there's only room for one hard drive inside a notebook PC, it's a case of out with the old and in with the new. If you don't fancy a costly paperweight with sharp edges, though, the Amacom FlipDisk is a possible solution.The FlipDisk isn't new and we've reviewed its various incarnations a number of times over the last few years. Just to recap, it's a standard 2.5in notebook hard drive in a caddy that connects externally to a notebook PC. It's not unique in this respect, but it's the only device we're aware of that connects via a PC Card socket.A Type II PC Card folds out from under the case and connects to a notebook just like any other PC Card. No additional drivers are needed and the FlipDisk is powered by the notebook it's plugged into - plug and play doesn't get any simpler.There are a couple of new features this time round, though, and while the translucent blue case may not excite you, the USB connection option might. This means the FlipDisk can be used on any PC with a USB port, and although it's not an ideal option for expanding a desktop PC, it does mean you can easily share the drive between two or more systems.The FlipDisk comes with a padded wallet to protect it during transit but there doesn't appear to be any shock-absorbing material around the drive itself. This isn't a big problem but it means you should probably treat the drive with particular care, especially when it's being used.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/hardware/2132715/amacom-flipdiskJulian Prokaza, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Sunday 8 October 2000 at 23:00:00A handy add-on for upgrading your notebook when a normal disk upgrade would require throwing away the old one.<content page="1"><html><body>Notebook PCs aren't renowned for their expansion capabilities and this is particularly problematic when it comes to hard disk drives. Fitting a new one isn't hard but since there's only room for one hard drive inside a notebook PC, it's a case of out with the old and in with the new. If you don't fancy a costly paperweight with sharp edges, though, the Amacom FlipDisk is a possible solution.The FlipDisk isn't new and we've reviewed its various incarnations a number of times over the last few years. Just to recap, it's a standard 2.5in notebook hard drive in a caddy that connects externally to a notebook PC. It's not unique in this respect, but it's the only device we're aware of that connects via a PC Card socket.A Type II PC Card folds out from under the case and connects to a notebook just like any other PC Card. No additional drivers are needed and the FlipDisk is powered by the notebook it's plugged into - plug and play doesn't get any simpler.There are a couple of new features this time round, though, and while the translucent blue case may not excite you, the USB connection option might. This means the FlipDisk can be used on any PC with a USB port, and although it's not an ideal option for expanding a desktop PC, it does mean you can easily share the drive between two or more systems.The FlipDisk comes with a padded wallet to protect it during transit but there doesn't appear to be any shock-absorbing material around the drive itself. This isn't a big problem but it means you should probably treat the drive with particular care, especially when it's being used.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKJulian Prokaza2000-10-08T23:00:00.000ZHardware Reviewspc-componentsIntel to replace motherboardshttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132535/intel-replace-motherboardsStaff writer, What PC?, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 20 July 2000 at 23:00:00Intel has launched a replacement programme for all motherboards that use the 820 chipset with SDRAM.<content page="1"><html><body>Intel has launched a replacement programme for all motherboards that use the 820 chipset with SDRAM.The 820 was originally designed to be used with the new Rambus (RDRAM) memory, but as Rambus was slow in arriving, Intel added in a feature called an MTH (memory translator hub) which allowed SDRAM to be used instead. However, the MTH can create problems like causing the system to reboot or hang.The company suggests that if you are unsure as to whether or not your system has such a board, you should first visit the Intel website and download a utility which will check your system to see if your board is affected. This utility can be found at www.intel.com/support/mth.Should you find you have one of the affected boards you should contact the supplier who sold you the board. If it is a CC820 board, then Intel will replace it with a VC820 board, together with 128Mb of Rambus memory.If you have a board using the 820 chipset, but produced by a third-party manufacturer, then you should contact this manufacturer for specific details of their own replacement scheme.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132535/intel-replace-motherboardsStaff writer, What PC?, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 20 July 2000 at 23:00:00Intel has launched a replacement programme for all motherboards that use the 820 chipset with SDRAM.<content page="1"><html><body>Intel has launched a replacement programme for all motherboards that use the 820 chipset with SDRAM.The 820 was originally designed to be used with the new Rambus (RDRAM) memory, but as Rambus was slow in arriving, Intel added in a feature called an MTH (memory translator hub) which allowed SDRAM to be used instead. However, the MTH can create problems like causing the system to reboot or hang.The company suggests that if you are unsure as to whether or not your system has such a board, you should first visit the Intel website and download a utility which will check your system to see if your board is affected. This utility can be found at www.intel.com/support/mth.Should you find you have one of the affected boards you should contact the supplier who sold you the board. If it is a CC820 board, then Intel will replace it with a VC820 board, together with 128Mb of Rambus memory.If you have a board using the 820 chipset, but produced by a third-party manufacturer, then you should contact this manufacturer for specific details of their own replacement scheme.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKStaff writer, What PC?2000-07-20T23:00:00.000ZNewspc-componentsJasc Media Center Plus v3http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/software/2132607/jasc-media-center-plusJ Mark Lytle, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 29 June 2000 at 23:00:00If you have media files scattered all over your hard desk, Media Centre Pro will sort them out for you. It even shows you handy thumbnails and lets you work on them.<content page="1"><html><body>Jasc, the company that brought you Paint Shop Pro, seems keen to grab a slice of every part of the software pie these days and has launched an updated version of its Media Center Plus to that very end. Version three of MCP is the first to support such modern fripperies as MP3 and online publishing, but let's explain a few things before we rush back to the future.MCP is supposed to be "the smart way to organise, manage, publish and share multimedia files" - at least that's what it says on the box. There's no denying that this package does make it very easy to capture and catalogue all manner of formats, including images from digital cameras and scanners. When you first set it to work it scours your PC's hard drive for the files it is partial to and presents them all as tiny thumbnails for your viewing. One good feature is that it also looks at removable media (such as CDs or Zip disks) and gives you easy access to multimedia found there as well.The reason for MCP becomes apparent as you discover that a thumbnail allows you to work with the actual file itself, moving it, emailing it or just tossing it into the latest album that you've been building up. The cataloguing features of MCP are powerful, but we wonder if many people need a program to keep track of their multimedia files. We've seen plenty of shareware programs, particularly for kids, that allow you to create albums, and don't see the need to pay more than £40 for an application that is more froth than substance.Specifications <ul><li>capture pictures directly from digital cameras and scanners</li><li>catalogue all multimedia files with comments</li><li>print photos and images</li><li>create slideshows and screensavers</li><li>publish multimedia directly onto the web</li><li>free online storage area.</li></ul>Contact Digital Workshop 01295 258335</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/software/2132607/jasc-media-center-plusJ Mark Lytle, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 29 June 2000 at 23:00:00If you have media files scattered all over your hard desk, Media Centre Pro will sort them out for you. It even shows you handy thumbnails and lets you work on them.<content page="1"><html><body>Jasc, the company that brought you Paint Shop Pro, seems keen to grab a slice of every part of the software pie these days and has launched an updated version of its Media Center Plus to that very end. Version three of MCP is the first to support such modern fripperies as MP3 and online publishing, but let's explain a few things before we rush back to the future.MCP is supposed to be "the smart way to organise, manage, publish and share multimedia files" - at least that's what it says on the box. There's no denying that this package does make it very easy to capture and catalogue all manner of formats, including images from digital cameras and scanners. When you first set it to work it scours your PC's hard drive for the files it is partial to and presents them all as tiny thumbnails for your viewing. One good feature is that it also looks at removable media (such as CDs or Zip disks) and gives you easy access to multimedia found there as well.The reason for MCP becomes apparent as you discover that a thumbnail allows you to work with the actual file itself, moving it, emailing it or just tossing it into the latest album that you've been building up. The cataloguing features of MCP are powerful, but we wonder if many people need a program to keep track of their multimedia files. We've seen plenty of shareware programs, particularly for kids, that allow you to create albums, and don't see the need to pay more than £40 for an application that is more froth than substance.Specifications <ul><li>capture pictures directly from digital cameras and scanners</li><li>catalogue all multimedia files with comments</li><li>print photos and images</li><li>create slideshows and screensavers</li><li>publish multimedia directly onto the web</li><li>free online storage area.</li></ul>Contact Digital Workshop 01295 258335</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKJ Mark Lytle2000-06-29T23:00:00.000ZSoftware Reviewspc-componentsIntel matches AMDhttp://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132534/intel-matches-amdWhat PC and Software, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 4 May 2000 at 23:00:00Following AMD's announcement of a real 1GHz Athlon, Intel has finally levelled the processor playing field with a Pentium III running at 1000MHz.<content page="1"><html><body>Following AMD's announcement of a real 1GHz Athlon, Intel has finally levelled the processor playing field with a Pentium III running at 1000MHz.The move is the latest in what could be described as a game of corporate catch-up by the US chip giant.The latest Pentium III is based on 0.18 micron "Coppermine" technology, and features 256Kb of full-speed cache rather than the 512Kb of half-processor speed memory, used in older non-Coppermine chips.Interestingly, Intel's official announcement of a 1GHz processor came before it was in a position to put its 866MHz and 850MHz Pentium III processors on sale.Meanwhile, the chairman of AMD, WJ Sanders III, compared his company's launch of the 1GHz Athlon with one of mankind's greatest achievements."Introduction of a PC processor capable of executing one billion clock cycles per second is our industry's equivalent of breaking the sound barrier," he said.</body></html></content>http://www.whatpc.co.uk/whatpc/news/2132534/intel-matches-amdWhat PC and Software, <a href="http://www.whatpc.co.uk/">What PC?</a>, Thursday 4 May 2000 at 23:00:00Following AMD's announcement of a real 1GHz Athlon, Intel has finally levelled the processor playing field with a Pentium III running at 1000MHz.<content page="1"><html><body>Following AMD's announcement of a real 1GHz Athlon, Intel has finally levelled the processor playing field with a Pentium III running at 1000MHz.The move is the latest in what could be described as a game of corporate catch-up by the US chip giant.The latest Pentium III is based on 0.18 micron "Coppermine" technology, and features 256Kb of full-speed cache rather than the 512Kb of half-processor speed memory, used in older non-Coppermine chips.Interestingly, Intel's official announcement of a 1GHz processor came before it was in a position to put its 866MHz and 850MHz Pentium III processors on sale.Meanwhile, the chairman of AMD, WJ Sanders III, compared his company's launch of the 1GHz Athlon with one of mankind's greatest achievements."Introduction of a PC processor capable of executing one billion clock cycles per second is our industry's equivalent of breaking the sound barrier," he said.</body></html></content>VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKCopyright © 1994-2009 VNU Business Publications LTD, London UKWhat PC and Software2000-05-04T23:00:00.000ZNewspc-components