Gamertell

After reporting its first ever billion-dollar quarter, Silicon Valley-based chipmaker Nvidia has announced planes to purchase chipmaker, Ageia.

While Ageia’s might not be a household name, the company was responsible for the world’s first dedicated physics processor in 2006. The chip was designed to handle real-time physics calculations for more impressive and diverse visual effects in games. Ageia’s PhysX software is also currently being used in all three current generation consoles.

Terms of the deal…

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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is reminding players everywhere that, when it comes to the title of elite, no player is more deserving than the PC gamer. In a recent article, the BBC points out just how far PC gaming has come in the past few years.

While many gamers are currently being overwhelmed by Wii’s fluid FPS control scheme for shooters, the scope of Microsoft’s expansive Xbox Live service and the sheer power of the Playstation 3’s hardware, it is important to note that PC gamers have had the luxuries of mouse movement, online play and more powerful hardware for years. The combination of four core chip technology and new DirectX 10 tools has enabled developers to push the existing limits of graphical performance far beyond what the PS3 or contemporary consoles could ever hope to achieve.

Although the PC can serve as a hub for even the most casual of gamers with offerings ranging from Solitaire to The Sims, the most hardcore PC gamers are the elite of the gaming populace. These gamers are true enthusiasts, continually upgrading and tweaking their hardware and software to squeeze out as much power as possible from their performance hotrods. This is not a surprise, especially considering the competitive PC gaming scene.

Consoles will provide the exact same experience for two different gamers, so competitive issues of lag, slowdown and framerate are equal across the field. PC performance, on the other hand, can by improved or hindered by software tweaking and hardware quality making it paramount that owners are able to get the best performance out of their systems.

For all the power and customization that the PC provides, however, the primary drawback is cost. While many balked at the PS3’s hefty launch prices ranging from $499 to $599, gamers interested in stepping up their game in the world of high-end performance PCs can expect to pay three or more times the price of the latest Sony console, a trip that many gamers may not be willing or able to take.

Read [BBC] Also Read [Dark Matter Games]

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Product: Toshiba Satellite X205-S9349
Price: $1,899.99
Rating: 8.5/10
Pros: Surprisingly impressive sound system, a great screen and it plays games well despite Vista. Comes with internal hardware extras - extra USB ports, HD DVD drive, DVD burner and 1.3 megapixel webcam - you’d eventually add to your home PC anyway.
Cons: Some front ports hard to see, the system runs pretty warm and the cover easily smudges. Keys are a bit too low and pop out too easily.
Overall: A good purchase for a hard-core gamer in need of a portable system. Plan to spend time wiping off promotion apps. The sound system will certainly impress your friends.

Click through for the whole review…

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SCEA has announced plans for a limited edition bundle of a Ceramic White PS2, karaoke title SingStar Pop and two USB microphones. The bundle will be available in November 2007 for a suggested retail of $149.99 in the US and $159.99 in Canada.

SingStar Pop is the second release in the popular new franchise. According to the press release sent August 29, 2007, it features

“real songs from current chart-topping stars and pop legends including Alicia Keys, U2, Rihanna, Ashlee Simpson…

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Sections: Gaming News, Consoles, PS2, Gear, Accessories, Controllers, Genres, Music, Party

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Sony does it again. They’re taking the PS2 to the gym to slim it down even more. Even with all the excitement about Sony’s latest project, the PS3, the powerhouse company still found time to give their favorite child a little one-on-one.

The SCPH-79000 line of PS2s, the ones being distributed in Japan, are on a diet. Unlike regular diets, this one worked. The new model has sweated off 300 grams, taking the total weight from 900g to 600g. Even the AC adapter got a make-over, losing 100 grams to weigh in at 250g.

However, if the PS2 were a self-conscious dieter, it would have been disappointed in the results. All the reduction was done internally, resulting in ...

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Game rig maker, Vigor Gaming, will soon begin incorporating AMD/ATI’s new R600 Radeon 2900 XT graphics cards in its desktop gaming systems.

The new graphics card, which retails for approximately $400 on its own, includes 320 stream processors, supports 128-bit HDR rendering, 512-bit memory interface with eight channels and native CrossFire support.

Vigor’s systems are all custom orders, so look for it in the “Video Card SLI Slot 1” (or Slot 2) as you select your computer’s specs. if you look at the Vigor Force Recon QX4 system, for example, It’s listed as “ATI Radeon HD2900XT 512MB DDR w/PCI Express, DVI and TV Out,“ pretty much the only option that doesn’t begin with “nVidia.“

Read [HotHardWare] Site [Vigor]

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