AMD announces AMD GAME. Specifically designed to help consumers select perfectly suited PCs for high-definition gaming, AMD GAME! PCs combine a balance of multi-core processors, HD digital media, and next-generation graphics processing power to exceed current console performance.

Nice job, AMD. Now all we need to do is get those developers focused on better programming resolve.

ATI has been able to create an external GPU. The card, codenamed Lasso, should be introduced to the public at Computex. The press release states that the new tech, while incredibly innovative, won’t be compatible with existing laptops. In fact, the external GPU requires a new high-speed connector to function properly. This pops up the question; will the new USB be challenged? In any case, the prospects of an external GPU should be the holy grail of gaming.

M-Audio announced three new products at this year’s Musikmesse international tradeshow in Frankfurt, Germany that are already making audiophiles drool at the temptation. Umong them is the Fast Track Ultra 8R High-speed 8 x 8 USB 2.0 Interface with 8 Preamps and MX Core DSP.

The Fast TrackUltra 8R audio/MIDI interface delivers 8 x 8 I/O at 24-bit/96kHz fidelity, high-speed USB 2.0 connectivity, MX Core DSP mixer and eight preamps for serious studio work. But do not take off your pants yet. Coupled with award-winning Octane technology, M-Audio’s USB recording interface with a built in preamp is compatible with most USB devices. OK, maybe every USB port works with it. Either way, this should be a treat for all the people who like having perfect sound waves through their ears or other stuff. We will not go into detail.

We got our hands on the digital camera “LUMIX” “DMC-FX500″ which Panasonic decided to announce after all, making the adoption of a touch panel liquid crystal screen the first in the series. The feature of the touch panel liquid crystal was utilized, various operations “of touching with the finger”, are introduced with animated pictures to boot.

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Intel, along with Kingston and Asus held a webcast  to better explain a new concept called XMP, which simply stands for Extreme Memory Profiles.  The technology is designed to give the new and amateur overclocker the confidence that is needed to properly overclock his computer with compatible hardware that will guarantee a certain level of overclocking with DDR3 modules that are XMP compatible.  It also allows the enthusiast the opportunity to fine tune things even more and set their DDR3 modules to automatically start up a system in an overclocked state using one of two profiles that are available in the SPD of the modules.

Each DIMM manufacturer will be responsible to self-certify its parts with motherboard manufacturers and will be responsible to provide the results to Intel, who will then post an XMP compatibility chart on its website, so that the end user can have confidence that the parts that he is choosing will be a perfect fit, and give him the best chance at a maximum overclock of his system.  Intel says that it will periodically perform audits on the parts to make sure that quality and compatibility are maintained.

With the announcement of this technology, Kingston and ASUS both revealed parts that either are or soon will be XMP certified.

Conclusion:

XMP basically does three things:

1. It ensures compatibility between DDR3 modules and the motherboards they will be working in.
2. It allows the novice or new overclocker to have some security in their new venture into overclocking by providing a certain level of guaranteed success.
3. It allows the enthusiast to be able to set their DDR3 modules to a confirmed setting that the can easily and quickly switch to for maximum performance at any given time.

XMP stands to be a great help in the area of stability in overclocking DDR3 modules, and could open the door to other exciting things as it becomes mainstream on today’s motherboards.  For now, there are no plans to implement this on DDR2 modules, so if you will want to take advantage of XMP, you will have to invest in a pricey new system!