CeBIT 2009 - Part 5
In this episode we spill the beans on the latest that Gigabyte, Lian Li, Thermaltake, Aten and ESET had to offer.
Gigabyte's Booth - Notebooks Refresh
Gigabyte's Booth in Hall 21.
Meet the Thin Note M1024 mini-notebook. Based on the original Intel Atom platform, it uses a 10.1-inch 16:9 aspect ration screen (1024 x 576 resolution). Comes with a 6-cell 3600mAh battery, but its highlight is the mini-notebook's slim dimensions and lightweight at 860 grams. Take note though, it uses a smaller 1.8-inch hard drive, so its storage options and speed is less. It is also available in an optional configuration of either 4GB or 8GB NAND Flash SSD. Memory is fixed at 1GB and soldered on board. Thus this mini-notebook is built for light mobility needs only.
The Booktop M1022G shown here is a more typical mini-notebook build. Standard Atom platform, 1GB RAM (expandable to 2GB), 10.1-inch screen (1024 x 600), 2.5-inch 5400rpm hard drive of 160/250/320GB capacities and even comes with a HSDPA (3.5G) module. This one weighs about 1.3kg though. There's also a M1022P version that comes with a better N280 Atom processor, a higher resolution screen (1366 x 768), but without the HSDPA module. Both of these have another feature too...
Notice that the Booktop M1022 is now docked with a docking station? It's part of the package and extends the usability of the mini-notebook by using a bigger screen and the use of proper USB keyboard and mice - all hooked to the docking station. Of course you could actually plug all of these to the mini-notebook directly, but the docking station method is that much more elegant and convenient.
Just 'drop' the Gigabyte Booktop M1022 in place and you're ready to use it at home. The connector you see here is a proprietary one.
Remember the Gigabyte M912? Here's the bigger brother, the Touch Note M1028M. Better keyboard layout and a bigger 10.1-inch screen are its main differences.
This is Gigabyte's main notebook model, the new W-series. Available in 13.3, 14.1 and 15.4-inch sizes. All are based on the Centrino 2 platform. The larger two models have an updated design with a more streamline silhouette, HDMI, eSATA and a 2MP webcam. Shown here is the W576V, which is a 15.4-inch screen and it even comes with NVIDIA's GeForce 9600M graphics. The 14.1-incg W476V has a GeForce 9300M GS graphics module.
Gigabyte's Booth - Motherboards
Most of their boards and models are already released previously and are well known. This is the only consumer level board that we've not seen yet - The GA-IBP, based on the unreleased Intel P55 chipset for Core i5 processors (LGA-1156). Interestingly, it sports triple PEG slots, but we don't have information on how the lane configurations are at the moment. But what we do know is that it is both SLI and CrossFireX certified, has dual Gigabit LAN ports and uses a Realtek ALC889A HD Audio CODEC that support Blu-ray disc's HD audio formats. This is certainly going to be one of the more powerful P55 boards around.
Moving on to new server class boards, here's a single-processor Tylersburg platform board for workstations, the GA-6TXSL-RH. Supports SAS functions via Gigabyte's daughterboard.
For entry-level servers, this is the GA-7TCSV-RH board to support two Nehalem class Xeon 5500 processors. It has PCIe x16 slot and three PCIe x8 slots (one of them is PCIe 1.1, but the rest are version 2.0).
For high performance needs, this Tylersburg-EP class board (GA-7TESH-RH) has a much higher 96GB maximum memory support, onboard ServerEngine Pilot II for secure IP-based remote management, advanced memory RAS and virtualization support.
Gigabyte also had a number of mini-ITX solutions and here's one based on the Centrino 2 platform, only that this board allows you to plug in a compatible CPU of your choice. If this interests your project needs, the model is GA-6QPCV-RH.
The GA-2AIEV-RH is a compact AMD 780G mini-ITX motherboard which will take in practically any AM2+ processor.
Gigabyte's Booth - Casings, PSUs and Others
This is the Gigabyte Setto 1024 casing. It's completely made from steel including the bars in front. It comes with two 120mm fans, cable management and boasts of tool-free installation. The funky gadget above is an optional visual USB gauge from Gigabyte that interfaces with their ODIN GT PSUs.
Here are two more mid-tower casings from the new Sumo series (model 5195 and 4112 respectively) and these are full aluminum casings. These should be available in a couple of months.
Gigabyte has power supplies with ratings up to 1.2KW. The Pro versions are all 80 PLUS certified for better efficiency.
But their value proposition is that they claim to be the world's fist software controlled PSUs. That's something debatable since we've seen some from Ikonik as well.
Here is Gigabyte's 21.5-inch touch LCD screen. The E.Touch X213HW has a 300 lumens brightness rating, 3000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time and is anti-reflective by nature.
Gigabyte's Booth - Systems for all Purposes
Gigabyte too has jumped on the all-in-one PC craze and the AIO1192 is their solution. Based on the Intel Atom platform, it has 1 GB memory, CF card reader and a 19-inch touch-screen.
This is the exact same Atom platform used on the AIO1192 machine.
Gigabyte has had an ultra slim multimedia PC solution before with a similar design, but this time, the GB-MEC II has been updated with the AMD K8 Griffin platform (AMD 780G) for much better video and audio handling (up to 1080p on Blu-ray videos) without issues.
The Gigabyte BCD is a simple but pleasantly designed complete Core 2 Duo/Quad machine based on the Intel G41 platform.
This is Gigabyte's version of an Internet-Appliance (IA) device. The GN-MD300L-RH is based on Intel's new media processor CE3100. The purpose of this device is to provide users with great A/V experience while interacting with the Internet on the big screen TV. It also provides lifestyle content from the Widget Channel and can be accessed by any appliance connected to it.
Lian Li's Booth - Part 1
Several new casings were spotted at Lian Li's area as well, so let's take a closer look.
While not exactly new, this is the first time we're seeing it up close. The PC-888 chassis looks like it was inspired by the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai and it even carries an exorbitant price tag to accompany its 'status'.
While not exactly new, this is the first time we're seeing it up close. The PC-888 chassis looks like it was inspired by the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai and it even carries an exorbitant price tag to accompany its 'status'.
Dual 140mm top fans.
Tool-less snap-on locking mechanisms for drives.
Metal latching mechanisms for sturdy expansion card securing.
And tool-free PSU installation by just securing this latch.
If you're keen on an equivalent all-aluminum version, this is the Lian Li PC-P50 and it has the same internal design as the DragonLord PC-K60.
Lian Li's Booth - Part 2
More on the Lian Li casings, here we have the PC-B70 on the left and the newer and more advanced PC-B71 on the right.
The B71 variant is built for hot-swapping as you can see it has this front swing access panel to the drives and there is a common power and data backplane at the rear for better control.
The B71 also comes with these advanced control panels for various monitoring needs. The second unit is actually more interesting as it is solely for controlling the hard drives such as powering them down before you make the hot swap and other control parameter. You can control drives individually or in groups/clusters as you wish to define them for your administration purposes.
On the other end of the chassis line-up, this is the PC-Q7 for mini-ITX system building. It can take in all standard PC components.
Last but not least, here's a shot of a nice new AMD case-mod using the PC-P50 focusing the AMD 'Dragon' platform (and you can also contrast that to the previous 'Spider' platform case-mod in the background).
Thermaltake's Booth - Part 1
Thermaltake never ceases to refresh their products almost throughout their line-up.
Of special mention is their 10th anniversary limited edition concept chassis that's nicknamed Level 10. Just to put in a disclaimer here, if you notice, no photos are allowed according to the signboard, but since we're www.hardwarezone.com, we've been given special clearance from their executives.
Here's another view of the casing. It's slated to go official at Computex, but the design may yet be refined.
This is the PW880i, their new liquid cooling system compatible with Core i7.
If you need a highly efficient PSU, remember that this Toughpower 700W PSU has managed an 80 Plus Gold certification. Up to 90% efficiency is possibly under Thermaltake's testing.
Thermaltake's Booth - Part 2
The new Toughpower XT series introduces S.P.T. indicators which correspond to Standby power functionality, Power Good signal to indicate power supply input is good for normal use and finally Temperature LED to indicate if the power supply is overheating.
Here's a close look at one of Thermaltake's leading chassis, the Speedo Advance.
On the lower-end scale, we've the Element series and shown here are two unreleased models of the family, the Element G and Element T on the left and right respectively.
Not sure what to do with all the spare drive bays? How about considering phase-change cooling with the Thermaltake Xpressar RCB4000 series? This four-bay drive mini refrigeration cooling unit is available in two variants (CPU and GPU cooling) and is an excellent aid to keeping your components really cool for overclocking.
Aten and ESET Booths
Aten's Booth.
(aten-2) This is Aten's all-new USB and HDMI KVM switch with audio. Comes in two-port (CS1792) and four-port (CS1794) configurations. Notice that it has an all-new design?
Though dubbed as the Laptop USB KVM switch, this compact and simple 'dongle' allows quick interaction, synchronization, control or file transfers between just two devices. It can be a pair of notebooks, or it can be a notebook and desktop, or even notebook and server for an IT administrator and many other system combinations. Just assign one system as a Master, while the naturally becomes a slave.
For more professional needs in video/media distribution environments, the VS1508 is an 8-port video splitter via Cat 5 network cabling and even enables audio transmission.
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