Not so long ago AMD held a private presentation for investors and partners dedicated to the strategic plans for 2013. Its PDF-version has recently appeared online and immediately called attention of all interested parties. The most unexpected news concerned the long-awaited Steamroller micro-architecture. According to AMD, the debut of an advanced architecture will be accomplished in the current year, not in 2014 as it was informed earlier. Steamroller will be incorporated into an updated series of AMD Opteron server processors which are to ensure an improved efficiency level on parallel data processing operations.


The other promising piece of news touches upon the launch of a new APU series already this year: AMD Kabini and AMD Temash. Kabini is going to replace Brazos platform employed in small-sized multimedia systems and other hand portable solutions. In its turn, Temash is going to be implemented into highly-efficient tablet PCs, running under Windows 8 OS platform.
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Contemporary IT market is distinguished by the rising competition between companies-manufacturers of computer components, accessories and various devices. Motherboard segment is not exclusion and many companies try their luck by producing ever newer products. Of course, motherboards destined for the average customers with average needs gain prime popularity, however the success of the brand and product line depends basically on flagman high-end models. Biostar does not lag behind the competitors and regularly replenishes its line of motherboards by new products. Biostar TPower X79 is a worthy sample of design, performance and layout which serve the steam engine and create the positive image of the company.



Design and Layout


Motherboard Biostar TPower X79 goes in a standard ATX form-factor to allow the availability of multiple controllers and the complicity of the framework. Despite this fact, the textolite is not overloaded due to the implemented up-to-date element base, …

HIS has supplemented its line of Radeon HD 7850 graphics adapters with a new outstanding model, codenamed HIS 7850 iPower IceQ X² Turbo. It is primarily distinguished from the reference model by a modified design and overclocked frequencies. Another distinguishing feature is that the card will be delivered along with a brand iTurbo utility; it is called to facilitate the adjustment of all key graphics parameters and optimize its efficiency level.



HIS 7850 iPower IceQ X² Turbo is based on AMD Pitcairn Pro GPU developed on GCN architecture (28 nm technological process). Its nominal clock frequency has been increased from 860 MHz to 1000 MHz. Memory subsystem is introduced by 256-bit GDDR5 memory modules, the overall capacity of which achieves 2 GB. Their nominal clock frequency index equals to 1200 MHz, while effective frequency approximates 4800 MHz.


Cooling of all crucial components is imposed upon a brand two-slot IceQ X² system. It is characterized by a better …