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PCs - PC Components

Sinclair Spectrum Makes a Comeback

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Sinclair Spectrum Makes a Comeback

Sir Clive Sinclair, the 74-year old inventor of the much loved ZX80 computer, makes a return as he launches the Sinclair ZX Spectrum Vega-- a games console based on the Spectrum machines of the early 80s.

Essentially the Spectrum Vega combines an ARM-based processor, a memory chip and flash RAM with an emulator. It runs the entire library of Spectrum games (all 14000 of them), including favorites such as Chuckie Egg, Horace Goes Skiing and Jet Set Willy.

The hardware comes in the shape of a small gamepad-style device complete with familiar vulcanised rubber keys and rainbow branding. It connects directly to TVs and ships with 1000 preloaded games.

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Asus Intros VivoMini Mini PCs

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Asus Intros VivoMini Mini PCs

Asus launches 2 additions to the VivoMini mini PC range-- the VivoMini UN62 and UN42, both packing 4th generation Intel Core processors and UK/UHD resolution output within cases measuring 131 x 131 x 42mm.

Processor options include Intel Core i5, i3 and Celeron, with power consumptions Asus claim total as little as 6.95W at idle mode. Noise levels are also low, reaching 26.3dB ("quieter than a library", apparently) even at full load.

Connectivity comes via 4 USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth and wifi. DisplayPort and HDMI ports allows the support for up to 3 displays, and the UN62 also handles 4K/UHD resolution video output via Intel HD 4400 graphics.

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Glass Brightens Way for Computers of the Future

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Glass Brightens Way for Computers of the Future

Researchers at the University of Surrey, University of Cambridge and the University of Southampton discover a glass material found in CDs and DVDs might be key to the super-fast all-optical (or photonic) computers of the future.

The computers we know and love use electrons to transfer information and process application. Meanwhile a lot of networking (including the internet) use transfer information using light, as carried in optical fibbers. As a result, information might travel at the speed of light, but slows down once it reaches a computer, as it has to be converted into electrical signals.

“The challenge is to find a single material that can effectively use and control light to carry information around a computer," project leader Dr Richard Curry says. "Much like how the web uses light to deliver information, we want to use light to both deliver and process computer data.”

Such a material might be amorphous chalcogenides, which is the basis of current optical storage. Using a technique called "ion doping," the researchers created a glass material able to use light to bring together different computing functions into one component. Or an all-optical system, in other words.

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Premium Coolers from Noctua

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Premium Coolers from Noctua

Noctua announces a trio of 92mm class CPU coolers-- the NG-U9S and NH-D93, a pair of retail successors to the popular NH-U9B, and the NH-D9DX i4 3U designed for use in Intel Xeon LG2011-based workstations and servers.

The NH-U9S is based on the NH-U9 series. It features an asymmetrical design with 5 heatpipes, while a 95x95mm footprint clears the RAM and PCIe slots for all Intel- and most AMD-based mainboards, including micro-ATX and ITX.

Meanwhile the NH-D9L is 15mm lower than the 9cm NH-U9 series coolers (110mm vs 125mm), allowing for full 3U compliance and making it ideal for HTPC and Small Form Factor cases. It features 4 heat pipes and a 95x95mm footprint for 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility with all Intel and most AMD mainboards.

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Raspberry Pi Gets Smaller Variant

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Raspberry Pi Gets Smaller Variant

Following the Model B+ upgrade the Raspberry Pi micro PC gets a lower-cost ($25) variant-- the Model A+, a smaller (65mm long) version featuring the same BCM2835 application processor and less power consumption.

It carries 256MB RAM and many of the improvements found in the Model B+, including the 40-pin general-purpose input/output (GPIO) header, a push-push microSD card slot and an audio circuit with a dedicated low-noise power supply.

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Dell Presents Smart Desk Concept

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Dell Presents Smart Desk Concept

Remember the Sprout, the "immersive computer" from HP? Dell presents a similar concept at Dell World 2014-- a "Smart Desk" PC replacing the regular keyboard and mouse combo with a horizontal touchscreen.

Designed for professionals such as "digital artists, engineers, architects, and scientific analysts operating high-performance professional applications," the Smart Desk uses input from 10+ fingers, stylus and "a next generation of tools," and allows the clustering of multiple desks around specific projects with easy content sharing and stacking.

"[T]he Dell smart desk will change creative, design, and analysis workflows for the better while introducing a new, immersive way for professionals to interact with those demanding workflows," the company claims.

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Zalman Intros Z11 Neo Chassis

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Zalman Intros Z11 Neo Chassis

S. Korean PC component vendor Zalman launches the Z11 Neo-- an  all-black ATX mid-tower chassis fitting up to 8 system fans "for maximum airflow," with built-in dust filters to help reduce dust entry.

Construction is in sheet metal and plastic, with an acrylic side window for the showing off of components, blue LED highlights and a brushed aluminium front panel. A dedicated top mount section allows the installation of dual radiator solutions for optional liquid cooling, and the motherboard tray has a cut-out for easy under-board access.

It carries up to six 3.5-inch and two 2.5-inch storage devices, and a single 5.25-inch drive bay is accessible via "one touch" sliding ODD door in the front. Graphics card compatibility can be extended from 270mm to 400mm via removal of the optional HDD cages. PCI slot capacity is 7, and customers can install CPU coolers as tall as 175mm and PSUs up to 250mm in length.

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Lian-Li Intros PC-T80 Test Bench

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Lian-Li Intros PC-T80 Test Bench

The PC-T80 is an update on Lian-Li's PC-T60 DIY test bench, with brushed aluminium construction and the addition of native radiator support and a more modular design.

It measures 440 x 435 x 335mm and is separated into 3 zones, allowing for easy configuration and hardware updates. A dual-functioning bracket allows the installation of radiators (up to 360mm) or three 3.5/2.5-inch HDDs. One can easily exchange the locations of the HDD cage and power supply in the lower zone, where an additional HDD cage can also be installed in the middle position.

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IDC: EMEA PC Shipments Continue to Grow

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IDC: EMEA PC Shipments Continue to Grow

IDC reports EMEA PC shipments total 23.7 million units with 10.4% growth during Q3 2014-- a "clear return to growth" following a difficult 2013, with shipments driven by the mature W. European markets.

Back-to-school shipments, Christmas season preparation and attractively priced Windows 8.1+ Bing notebooks are driving portable PC demand, as the segment posts 13.5% Y-o-Y growth. Desktop PCs also show growth (5.2%).

W. European shipments are up by 22.7% Y-o-Y, while CEE remains impacted by an unstable political and economical situation, leading to declines of -9% Y-o-Y and MEA shows positive 2% Y-o-Y growth-- all signs of a market rebound and "strong" renewals on both consumer and enterprise markets, even if IDC hesitates to call this a recovery due to volumes not being as high as previous strong years.

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