Xbox Scorpio: First pictures from the developer console

April 13, 2017    Comment   

Xbox Scorpio: First pictures from the developer console

An exciting time for Xbox fans: With the Xbox Scorpio, Microsoft has the supposedly strongest game console in the world behind. At the end of the year, the Daddelkiste will conquer the market. The manufacturer wants to present his first impressions within the framework of E3 2017 . A few days ago, the company revealed some technical details. Compared to a specialist magazine, the Redmonder presented even first pictures of the current developer console. This is, however, only boiled versions of the Xbox One S. The final Scorpio should look different.

In the coming weeks, Microsoft will provide first game developers with this version of the console - and give them a small performance bonus. As the manufacturer explained, the current Dev kits are more powerful than the final Xbox Scorpio. So the developer consoles have about 24 instead of 12 gigabytes of memory on board and the graphics unit comes with 44 instead 40 cores therefore. This is to enable the game creators to create their games with maximum performance and to adapt them to the possibilities of the Xbox Scorpio. According to Microsoft, this approach is easier than starting with the performance of the final console. The current Dev Kit is equipped with a small display and five programmable buttons. The ventilation slots Microsoft has moved to the sides and back,

Xbox Scorpio: The Used Technique

Over the technical side of DigitalFoundry, the Xbox makers recently publish first hard facts about the new console. The following components work accordingly in the Xbox Scorpio:

• Processor: 8 x86 cores working at 2.3 gigahertz
• Graphic chip: 40 Compute Units with a total of 2,560 computing units working at 1172 Megahertz
• RAM: 12 GB GDDR-5 RAM, 8 GB available for games, 4 GB for the system (bandwidth: 326 GB per second)
• Hard Drive: 2.5 inch HDD with 1 terabyte memory
• Drive: 4K UHD-capable Blu-ray drive

Xbox Scorpio with reworked processor

The drive is in Microsoft's Scorpio still the AMD under the codename "Jaguar" developed eight-core processor, which is also used in the Xbox One and Xbox One S. Microsoft did not dare to do large experiments in the form of a complete new development. Finally, Scorpio is also to be downwards compatible and thus digest all Xbox One titles and some older Xbox 360 games. Nevertheless, the new CPU has little to do with the old Xbox One computing unit: According to Microsoft, AMD has improved the manufacturing process, made adjustments and reduced latencies. In addition, the CPUs now tolerate higher clock frequencies: the eight cores of the processor can now operate with a saturated 2.3 gigahertz instead of 1.75 gigahertz.

Graphics chip with more computing units

The biggest innovation, however, is in the graphics chip accommodated in the processor: Scorpio can distribute the computation of game figures, objects and environments on 40 "Compute Units" with 64 computing units each. The Xbox One had only twelve cores with 64 computing units available for these tasks. Why? Since Scorpio can also play high-resolution games in 4K with 3840x2160 pixels and so have four times more pixels compared to full-HD titles (1920x1080 pixels), the dozens of Compute Units of the Xbox One would simply be overwhelmed with the data flow. AMD has also increased the clock frequencies: the 2560 computing units (40 compute units times 64 computing units) clock with 1172 instead of 914 megahertz. Pay for the gamblers: A liquid, More detailed and realistic representation of 4K games. Provided the game manufacturers have programmed their titles appropriately and the gamers already has a 4K TV.

Memory of the Scorpio significantly increased

But a fast double of CPU and graphics chip does not make the console fast. Scorpio has to process enormous amounts of data in the calculation of scaffolds (polygons) and surfaces (textures) especially in 4K. Their intermediate results must be able to be swapped quickly - even before the console shows a finished movement of a character on the television. That's why Microsoft has significantly increased the working and graphics memory: Instead of 8 gigabytes, the Scorpio can now go back to 12 gigabytes. 8 gigabytes of the graphics chip are available, 4 gigabytes are reserved for the Jaguar CPU. Another new feature: Microsoft's Scorpio is finally using fast GDDR5 memory instead of the lame DDR3 version. Sony already used GDDR5 memory on the first PS4 version.

More data lines

To ensure that data traffic is not stalled, Scorpio also has significantly more data lines between CPU, graphics chip and memory. Instead of 256, the new console now has 384. Thus, Microsoft wants to ensure a maximum data transfer rate of 326 gigabytes per second. For comparison: Nvidia's top graphic card Titan X has the exact same number of data lines, with 12 gigabytes but more and even faster graphics memory (type: GDDR5X) with its 384 bit large memory interface.

Lots of steam, lots of heat, lots of noise?

The gamers may be drawn to the noise level of Scorpio. As the data on the paper read so nicely, they contain so many risks. On the one hand, AMD has provided the Scorpio processor with many more circuits, which are now much closer to each other in the same space. On the other hand, the chip manufacturer has significantly increased the clock frequencies. As a result, a lot of heat arises under full load. Does the noise level still remain at a tolerable level? In order to protect the processor from heat death, the Scorpio has to transport the resulting heat from the housing by means of fast rotating (and usually loud) fans. The power supply now housed in the housing should also provide for additional heat generation. Correct: Microsoft renounces the chunky, external boxes of the predecessors.

Hard disk instead of SSD

Without great tests, however, it is already clear: Scorpio still has a Tempobremse. Instead, on a fast SSD store gambling games, movies, music and other data on a classic hard disk in 2.5 inch format and 1 Terabyte memory. With a modern SSD, start and load times could be significantly reduced. There are also no marketing phrases on the part of Microsoft, which claim that "load times due to the higher access control of the hard disk and the larger memory significantly reduce." That works with the measures mentioned presumably to a small extent, but not "clearly".

Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti: Test the cheap Titan-X alternative

April 11, 2017    Comment   

Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti: Test the cheap Titan-X alternative

The question: Nvidia's top- class graphics cards are really expensive . The Titan X costs 1.299 Euro as much as a gaming PC . The GTX 1080 is with 635 euros significantly cheaper, but is still as expensive as a half-usable notebook . Just in between, Nvidia now places the GTX 1080 Ti - for well-heeled players, who have a whopping 819 euros in the wallet. Nvidia promises a performance advantage compared to the GTX 1080 of a full 35 percent, compared to the Titan X it is 5 percent faster. That would be sensational. But is that really true? The test answers.

The undisputed number 1

Nvidia is the undisputed leader in the fastest graphics cards with its "Pascal" models - counterparty AMD has (yet) nothing to counter. And so much is certain: Also the coming, polished "Polaris" models of the AMD-RX-500 series probably do not change anything. Only the graphics processors of the "Vega" range announced for the second half of the year 2017 can provide more power among the fastest graphics chips.

GTX 1080 Ti: Available models

As with every new graphics card, there is, of course, not only the basic edition in this case. Many manufacturers rely on their own cooler and screw the stroke a bit to the top, in order to tickle the last remaining power from the chips. The fastest card on the market is currently the Zotac GTX 1080 Ti AMP Extreme with a boost clock of 1.759 MHz. If you prefer quiet and cool, you should take a look at the MSI GTX 1080 Ti Sea Hawk X - of course, because you can probably do something else in terms of power. The models range from almost 800 euros to almost 1,000 euros - depending on the equipment and accessories. Click on the following gallery to learn more about the many variations.

GTX 1080 Ti with titanium X chip

Nvidia would probably have every reason to sit back and wait to see what the opponent does. The whole opposite is the case, however, with the GTX 1080 Ti bringing the US-Americans a further upper-class model into the trade. Its technical characteristics are similar to that of the much more expensive Titan X. Also on the GTX 1080 Ti is a chip with the internal designation GP-102, which can allocate computing tasks to 3.584 Cuda cores. If necessary, the computing units clock up to 1.48 gigahertz, via Turbomodus it goes up to a maximum of 1.58 gigahertz. The clock frequencies are therefore slightly higher than for the Titan X (1.41 GHz / 1.53 GHz).

Less memory, smaller interface

Differences are also present, even if these are marginal: the GTX 1080 Ti has 11 gigabytes of graphics memory of the fast type GDDR5X instead of 12 gigabytes on the Titan X. The data exchange between the graphics memory and the graphics processor is "only" over 352 lines - the Titan X, 384 lanes are available for this procedure. Nvidia has capped at the 1080 Ti a 32 bit memory interface. For this, the 1080-Ti memory can work with a slightly higher clock: the data migrate with 2.75 GHz from and to the graphics chip, with the Titan X it is 2.5 GHz.

Why 11 gigabytes of graphics memory?

The graphics memory is at first glance with both maps oversized - for most gamers this certainly applies. However, there are already games that can not cope with 8 gigabytes - at least in high resolutions. This is the tempo. Examples: Graphically opulent scenes in " Watchdogs 2 " require 11 gigabytes of graphics at a time when playing in 5K (5120 × 2880 pixels); in the same scenario , "9GB" is required for " Deus Ex ". A prerequisite for this is, of course, a 5K monitor.

Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti: fast paced

Many gamers play their titles but in Full HD with 1920x1080 pixels. For the graphics cards like the GTX 1080 Ti are simply oversized. This also showed the test: With an average of 126 images per second, the graphics chip equipped with rich 12 billion transistors provided more than enough power for a liquid display of games (from 40 frames per second). But also 4K titles with 3840x2160 pixels made the GTX 1080 Ti not to create: Here he still delivered 46 pictures per second - well-minded with full detail reproduction!

GTX-1080-Ti performance exactly at Titan-X level

This made the 1080 Ti almost exactly as fast as the Titan X (Full HD games: 127 frames per second, 4K games: 47 frames per second). Although this is not the Nvidia promised performance advantage of 5 percent, the same tempo level is nevertheless considerable. Finally, the Titan X is crisp 480 euros more expensive. The Tempovorteile opposite the smaller GTX 1080 are by the way 13 percent (Full HD games) and 22 percent (4K games).

Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti without DVI connector

No advantage there is in the Monitor all connections - Nvidia 1080 Ti no DVI connector installed in the GTX, but puts at a DisplayPort to DVI adapter. According to the manufacturer the card should use the gain on the connection plate for better heat dissipation. Compared to the Titan X, the test was only conditionally.

Heat development as in Titan X

The heat development was approximately the same in the test at 72.4 degrees. The fans for the fresh air supply were audible in graphically complex scenes (2.8 Sone), in simple office applications they could not be heard (0.4 Sone). COMPUTER BILD also measured similar values ​​for the Titan X. This also applies to the power consumption: the test system approved under full load 351 watts, in office applications it was 51 watts (Titan X: 352 watts / 54 watts).

Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2: VR glasses for just under 14 euros!

April 11, 2017    Comment   

Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2: VR glasses for just under 14 euros!

She looking for an affordable entry into the world of virtual reality glasses? Then maybe the new edition of the Mi VR Play from the house Xiaomi is something for you. This VR glasses costs 14 euros and brings besides an unbeatable low price also some improvements to the predecessor with.

Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2: More comfortable and better cooling

The Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 not only looks more chic in its latest version but is also more comfortable to wear for the user. This is ensured by a new material of spectacles and mountings. The manufacturer has also reduced the weight, so that longer trips to the VR world can not be a stress test for the neck. In addition, there are now fine holes in the fabric that protect the smartphone and enable better cooling. Compatible are expected all smartphones with a display diagonals between 4.7 and 5.7 inches. When the VR glasses on the market comes, is currently unclear. However, publication with the Xiaomi Mi 6 is considered probable. It is also not known whether Xiaomi offers the glasses outside China for sale. 

Polar M430: GPS sports watch with LED pulse meter on the wrist

April 07, 2017    Comment   

Polar M430: GPS sports watch with LED pulse meter on the wrist

For almost three years, Polar has launched the M430, a successor to the successful M400 sports watch. Visually, the new Wearable hardly differs from its predecessor. If you look under the small training computer, flashing LEDs flash immediately. They measure the pulse at the wrist, which eliminates the annoying wearing of a chest strap. A total of six LEDs take the heart rate-on other models it is usually only two. The higher number, according to the manufacturer, allows the heart rate variability to be recorded and the heart rate variability to be recorded-an indicator of the fitness state of the wearer.

Polar M430: The functions

The integrated sensors record the actual speed, distance and altitude differences in addition to the heart rate. All this works even in enclosed areas, which makes the M430 interesting not only for runners, but also for other athletes. In addition, the GPS training computer should be waterproof-Polar itself describes it as "suitable for swimming". And last but not least, the display, like the M400, displays notifications of incoming calls and messages.

Polar M430: Endurance thanks to energy saving mode

According to the manufacturer, after a total of eight hours of training with GPS tracking and heart rate measurement, the M430 takes the strain off the battery - with its 240 milliamperes (mAh), the battery needs fresh energy from the socket again. An additional energy saving mode is, however, to extend the service life to a total of 30 hours. However, the device does not record the GPS position permanently, but only every 60 seconds. As with the predecessor M400, the M430 can also be synchronized via Bluetooth. This is the free app "PolarFlow" for iOS and Android ready. In addition, the watch is compatible with Apple's "HealthKit" as well as the apps of the online services of Strava, TrainingPeaks,

Price and availability

From May 2017 the M430 comes in three different colors (orange, black, white) to the dealer and costs just 230 euros.

Sideclick Remote: This ingenious remote has to be!

April 07, 2017    Comment   

Sideclick Remote: This ingenious remote has to be!

Auf most coffee tables accumulate a lot of remote controls - for the TV, the stereo, the sound bar and increasingly for the streaming box. The sideclick remote ensures more order. It is docked to the Fire TV remote control from Amazon and offers additional functions to control the TV, soundbar or other devices.

Sideclick: Control with learning effect

Sideclick Remote consists of a small button bar, which is clicked on the remote control of the Fire TV. Via infrared, Sideclick learns the most important commands, such as volume control or switching. If this is done, the remote controls for TV & Co. can disappear in the drawer.

Sideclick: price, availability

The Sideclick Remote costs approximately 25 US dollars, was successfully funded through a kickstarter campaign and is now available via Amazon - unfortunately, but currently only via the US shop. The shipped however against surcharge world-wide and thus also to Germany.

Oculus co-founder: Palmer Luckey leaves Facebook

April 01, 2017    Comment   

Oculus co-founder: Palmer Luckey leaves Facebook

The co-founder of the VR specialist Oculus, Palmer Luckey, is considered a driving force of the current trend to virtual reality-now he is no longer working for Facebook. The world's largest online network confirmed the departure of the 24-year-old without giving any reasons. Luckey's image has recently been cracked-initially by a billrage and then because of the secret support of a dirt campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Face of the VR trend

Palmer has been praised in recent years as the miracle child of the industry, because he had already assembled his own VR glasses from old parts as a teenager. Facebook bought Oculus for approximately 2 billion US Dollar (circa 1.87 Millairden euro) three years ago and brought the VR-glasses Oculus Rift announced by Luckey already 2012 to the production maturity. For years a legal dispute between publisher Zenimax and Oculus VR raged. The reason: Zenimax accuses the Facebook company of having stolen business secrets. John Carmack, formerly employed at Zenimax and later changed to Oculus, was to develop technologies for the construction of the Oculus Rift in his time at Zenimax and later to take him along. A court in Texas had released Oculus VR from the allegation of the theft.

Possible sales stop for the Rift

At another point, however, the jury found the manufacturer guilty: Jury members still claimed some 500 million US dollars (nearly 468 million euros) for violated confidentiality agreements, with a share of 50 million US dollars (46.79 million Euro) for Luckey. A media report According Oculus VR will appeal. Zenimax is obviously considering buying a sell-out for the Oculus Rift.

Luckey supported Trump

Oculus and Facebook had to try to limit their losses last fall after Luckey's secret support for the camp of Donald Trump in the US campaign for tensions with game developers. Luckey gave the organization Nimble America 10.000 US dollar (9.358 euro). Nimble America subsequently organized an aggressive poster campaign against Trumps Rival Hillary Clinton. That's why several software developers had announced not to develop any games for Oculus. "I am very sorry that my approach has negative consequences for the perception of Oculus and his partner," Luckey wrote back then. (With material of the dpa.)

BenQ BL2706HT: Screen is designed to facilitate long working on the PC

March 26, 2017    Comment   

BenQ BL2706HT: Screen is designed to facilitate long working on the PC

If he sits for a long time at the computer and looks at the screen, he has already complained about neck pain or burning eyes. This is where BenQ starts with the BL2706HT. According to BenQ, the screen, which is around 230 euros in cost, optimally adapts to the user. The height of the unit can be steplessly adjusted by up to 140 millimeters, you can also rotate, tilt and swing. The viewing angle horizontal and vertical is 178 degrees, which is supposed to facilitate team work on the 27-inch screen. And the eyes also get their money's worth: an anti-glare finish is designed to minimize light reflexes, flicker-free and low-blue light technology, according to manufacturers, cause less interference and warmer colors.

Benq BL2706HT: Connections

In addition to these amenities, the BenQ BL2706HT provides connectors for HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub. For headphones, there is a bracket as well as an integrated loudspeaker (2x2 Watt). It can be fixed to the wall. For more information on the BenQ BL2706HT, visit the manufacturer's website .

Amazon: Bestseller from 30 categories!

March 26, 2017    Comment   

Amazon: Bestseller from 30 categories!

If you are looking for the current technology trends, the Amazon sales charts usually find the answer. This shows the buying habits of the Germans and the popularity of certain products and categories. Which gadgets are currently in full swing, COMPUTERBILD has determined for you and the current top technology from 30 top categories are combined. In the overview you will find technology from 30 categories such as computer, smartphone, video and PC game, gaming console, home cinema, headphones as well as the sales shelves for house and garden.

Smartphone Leader: Lenovo Moto G4 Play

For a long time, Samsung was able to claim a place in the sun with the smartphones, now there is a new leader: 2016, two years after the takeover of Motorola, Lenovo decided to stop the Moto series under the name Motorola market. Now the Lenovo Moto G4 Play is at the top of the mobile phone bestseller list. The mid-range smartphone has achieved a satisfactory rating in the COMPUTER BILD test and has been able to collect points with the good 5-inch HD display, fast operating speed (Snapdragon 410 and 2 Gigabyte RAM) and the removable battery; Only the camera could not really convince. The internal memory of the G4 Play is appropriate with 16 gigabytes for the price segment, with a microSD card can be expanded by 128 gigabytes.

Game console hybrid on position 1: Nintendo Switch

The release of a new video game console usually means only one thing: the first place in the sales charts is sure. So also with the recently released Nintendo Switch . Even before the actual release on 3 March 2017, the console handheld hybrid at Amazon was sold out completely, also the accessories - like the Pro controller - was quickly out of print. Although the Switch was convincing with its concept, the low power consumption and the rich colors, Nintendo's new hardware only achieved a satisfactory grade (3.35) in the COMPUTER BILD test . Among the criticisms include the scarce memory and the non-current battery life.

Video on the topic

Is it a console or handheld? It's both! The switch is here! Whether Nintendo's latest convincing, the editors clarify in the testvideo!

Nintendo Switch: The Hybrid Console in the Testvideo!

The Sony PlayStation 4's DualShock 4 controller still holds first place in console accessories. "Mass Effect - Andromeda" from Electronic Arts is at the top of the game charts, both in the console and in the PC sector. The fourth part of the Action Rolls series will ring the new trilogy of the space saga and will also be released on March 23 for the Xbox One.

The most popular Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 16GB WiFi © Samsung

Tablet surprise: Samsung is replacing Amazon's own Kindle devices from the top spot.

Actually, Amazon was with its own brand Kindle Dauergast in the top place in the tablet category, but now Samsung could surprisingly take the first place for itself. The Galaxy Tab A 10.1 is currently sitting in front of the Kindle fire series. The 10.1-inch tablet with full-HD display (1920x1080 pixels) features an octa core chip that clocks at 1.6 gigahertz, 2 gigabytes of memory and 16 gigabytes of internal memory. You can expand it by an SD card by 200 gigabytes. As an operating system Android 6.0 uses Marshmallow. 

The most popular TV: Dyonsenter 32

Also at the top of the bestseller list: the Dyonsenter 32 . Currently, the top brands such as Samsung or LG have no chance against the low-cost HD television. The TV has an image diagonal of 32 inches and offers a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. On board is a triple tuner with which the reception of DVB-T2 is possible. While the loudspeakers did not do anything, there were new tips in two other home cinema categories: the BenQ TH683 replaces its predecessor TH681 from the first place, while the soundbars ( Bose Solo 5 TV Sound System ) also has one New top-ranked.