The past year was for an IT industry, to put it mildly, not the easiest. The global financial crisis sunk a lot of economic flotillas, significantly cut budgets to all market players and chopped many ambitious projects in the bud. Nevertheless, and this year we had something to see, what to dream about and what to spend on a salary. And, most pleasant, we had something to talk about.
What trends will take over the industry in the new year?
Stereo will move to the masses-stereoists will become cheaper, stereo-fixtures will become commonplace, even the Law end of the new generation video cards will be able to calculate two instead of one frame at once-for each eye a separate. The resonance will undoubtedly cause the Fujifilm stereo -photograph and stereophotoprinter. Many devices use multitach technology – because now Windows Seven fully supports it7. Books will go to e -books – and even if you do not take into account local Amazon studies, then the announcement of dozens of readers on CES cannot help but take into account. More and more services will be integrated online, more and more hybrid devices will appear-camera-telephones, laptops-planes, readers-players, etc.D. But all these devices, of course, would not appear without technology 2009.
The past year was the year of technology. Naturally, even in a crisis, iron manufacturers chase for numbers: six nuclei, 4.8 Gb/s, three displays, 2.15 billion-we have never seen this before, but, we are sure, we will be laughed very soon, which we once thought This is a great achievement of progress. It is much more important that this year projects and technologies appeared that sent the IT industrial and entertainment industry in the new direction. What is this technology? Yes, here they are.
Three become three
Ati Eyefinity: 2/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 12/2009, the article “AMD beats the first”
http: // www.AMD.COM/RU/Products/Technologies/Eyefinity/Pages/Eyefinity.ASPX
The chart of the last year's innovations opens AMD. In the fall, she introduced the world a new generation of video cards, Radeon HD 5. The then flagship of the ruler,Radeon HD 5870, 2.15 billion transistors could boast of a computing power of up to 2.72 teraflops, tessellation blocks for DirectX 11 and many others. But the most strongly in the soul the technology is the technology Eyefinity*.
Bye NVIDIA I deepened the game space, promoting stereoscopic technologies (more on this below), AMD straightened its lice, increasing the viewing angle: three displays are connected to one video card of the new line. This was possible earlier, but now we are not limited only by the expansion of the desktop: from Eyefinity on three monitors you can play exactly (displays are programmatically grouped in one large screen, which is displayed by the desktop, video or three -dimensional application – window or full -screen). And you can play two on two, and on the third, read mail and correspond in ICQ – ATI Eyefinity supports the simultaneous output of the video signal to two independent displays (Goldfarmers will appreciate!).
And if in strategies, for example, playing three monitors is simply convenient, then in MMORPG and simulators this completely changes the play style. Imagine: you, Need for Speed, three monitors. On the central, observe the instruments and the road, look at the extreme in the side mirrors and the rear -view mirrors. And what spaciousness opens for lovers of air systems! You can turn on the complete display of the cockpit of the aircraft and get an overview of 180 degrees or hang a picture from cameras installed on the wings and tail on lateral monitors. Well, in mmorpg with their clouds of windows and addons?..
But that's not all. Eyefinity supports the connection of up to six displays, and just think about which screen can be assembled and how to bend it when video cards with 6 HDMI ports are released! However, above the tenth place of this technology, it is not yet to rise: it radically changes the style of play, simplifying and accelerating management, but in ordinary apartments ATI Eyefinity will not be used soon – simply because three monitors are three times more expensive than one.
The volume of virtual reality
NVIDIA 3D Vision: 3/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 4/2009, article “Door in the Third Dimension”
http: // www.NVIDIA.ru/Object/GeForce_3D_Vision_Main_ru.HTML
The next nominee is Nvidia with its technology of volumetric games 3D Vision. The idea is old as the world-to make the games truly voluminous: in order to want to bend my head, evading the chandelier chanting under the ceiling, reaching out with a hand to the reflection in the water and shy away in horror, dodging the jumping monster. There is not so much for this: a special monitor with a reversal of 120 Hz, wireless glasses and a video card supporting technology. She divides the picture into three channels – the channel of the depth and one channel for the left and right eye (even shots are on one eye, on the other – odd, the frequency of updating the picture for each eye 60 Hz) – and transfers such a “puff” image to the monitor.
Glasses synchronized with a computer with a certain frequency darken either the left or right lens – so that at the time of the “empty” frame of the lens is opaque. As a result, each eye sees its image, as it were, at an angle from the main one, and the brain perceives the picture from each eye and forms one or three -dimensional in your head. And now the zombies begin to get out of the screen, the drawn forest becomes voluminous and it seems that you can touch each leaflet. Beauty!
At the beginning of the year, immediately after the announcement, the 3D Vision set cost at least 50,000 rubles, and there were only two monitors supporting the technology. By the end of the year of affordable equipment, the prices have fallen almost doubled: the monitor can already be bought for 15,000 rubles, glasses – for 6000, a video card for 4000. True, to ensure the normal performance of this ligament is the task: the inclusion of 3D Vision reduces the number of personnel by about three times, so without a class card GeForce GTX 295 Do not do.
With 3D Vision, there is a compatible part of the popular games: NVIDIA has tested and prepared built -in driver profiles for 400 projects (full list here: www.NVIDIA.ru/Object/GeForce_3D_VISION_3D_GAMES_RU.HTML ). If you already have a supported game, nor patting it, much less buying a new box, the driver automatically confines the picture to a stereoscopic.
Obviously, in 2010, prices for components of the system (especially for monitors) will continue to fall, and the developers will make games taking into account 3D – create more dynamic scenes, change angles, etc.p. However, it is not worth counting that in the next 2-3 years, 3D vision will not be in every house: after all, the most expensive system of the system, monitor, not everyone can buy from the haste. And given that the average monitor serves 6-8 years and that in the LCD in our country they massively crossed not so long ago (and that is not everywhere everywhere!), a couple more years of NVIDIA 3D Vision will be in the category of a pleasant, but completely optional option for a good game. However, 3D Vision is only the beginning of a new round of development of virtual stereoorealism.
It is alive!
Phenom II and AMD Dragon: 4/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 4/2009, article “Dragon Wings”
http: // game.AMD.COM/US-EN/UnLOCK_DRAGON.ASPX
At the beginning of the past year, AMD updated the processor line – on sale appeared Phenom II X4. Core i7 They could not catch up (the elder Phenom II barely reached the level of the younger Core i7 920 ) but they received a horse dose of PR, were very cheap and did not require a new chipset – and therefore they deservedly occupy the sixth place in our top.
Launching Phenom II, AMD did several competent things at once. Firstly, she did not begin to tie the processors to fresh chipsets with Socket AM3, so that the owners of computers based on old Phenom and motherboards with Socket AM2 could easily afford an upgrade. Secondly, to the release of new AMD processors, I timed the announcement of the platform AMD Dragon. In fact, the sensational "dragon" is an ordinary bunch of motherboard-processor-video card. But since AMD independently releases all these elements, she stated that if you put Phenom II on the AMD 7×0 chipset and add any Radeon fee, you will get the only game platform.
It is difficult to argue with this. The Dragon platform did not have any advantages in terms of compatibility, but due to the lower price it stood out favorably against the background of similar solutions Intel. Although in some synthetic tests the platform was inferior even by the previous generation Intel processors (for example, due to the fact that in Phenom II X4 they unnotified work with operations with a floating point), the price/performance ratio turned out to be attractive. And since some also believed that Dragon is the first whole game platform in the world, like a console, the solution was gone. True, not for long: at first AMD was late with the transition to the memory of DDR2, and then Intel introduced the processors of the average price segment.
This year, AMD will continue "platform" thinking by releasing AMD LEO (Thuban processors, up to 6 nuclei; DDR3 memory; discrete DX11-compatible graphics) for top and gaming computers and AMD Dorado (Athlon II processors, up to 4 nuclei; memory DDR2; integrated graphics DX 10.1) for everyone else.
Minimalism is American
Nvidia Ion: 5/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 7/2009, article “Ion technologies”
http: // www.NVIDIA.ru/object/sff_ion_ru.HTML
Each of us dreams of a big TV – well, such as half a hundred. And when he appears at home, it is not clear what to look at it: ordinary television channels are not perceived at all, twist DVDs seemingly not serious, and Blu-ray is expensive. And then a brilliant thought comes – a computer! Indeed, he is able to lose any format of video and music. Only now it is a pity to use a home game monster as a media center, and it is difficult to assemble a separate HTPC and, again, overhead. Last year, torment was put to an end: a platform appeared on the market Nvidia Ion.
The name is proud, the essence is simple. Nvidia made Microatx format chipset, soldered into it Intel Atom N270 , I installed a video card GeForce 9400 – And in the end it turned out the perfect platform for the home theater. It costs from 5,000 rubles. Additional expenses-a case, a hard drive and a DVD drive-you can lay another 5,000, and as a result, a computer appears in your hands for 10,000 rubles on which you can not only drive simple games and climb the Internet, but also watch it without brakes Resource-intensive HD video. Thanks to the built-in GeForce 9400, there are no problems with this: it supports Pure HD, the technology of accelerating the processing of HD-video.
In addition, the appearance of NVIDIA ION was drawn by the release of many nettopes. Working and cheap configurations and before it was a dime a dozen, but Ion is a technology for the lazy, the only platform for HTPC, which allows you not to collect anything with pens. By the way, the best nettop 2009 is, in our opinion, a design miracle Zotac mag , which scrolls HD films without any problems, takes up a minimum of space and costs 9,000 rubles.
A little green man
Google Android: 6/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 11/2009, article “Android. Story. Technology. Facts "
www.Android.Com
When a little over a year ago appeared on the market Android , A new open platform for mobile devices, few people believed it in success. Certainly, Google traditionally does not knit brooms, but … there is Nokia With her Symbian , There is Windows Mobile , There is, finally, iPhone With him Mac OS. What else is there to invent? But no, they invented – and it turned out great. How so?
Firstly, the software platform was originally developed for communicators, it is “native” for them and works, respectively, as for the written. Secondly, it is an open platform built on the Linux nucleus. Openness means free access to the source code and tools for programmers ( http: // source.Android.Com ), that is, change the "Android", create your own membrane or application. Open standards of this OS were developed not by Google, which was taken by Google, but by a whole group of companies Open Handset Alliance , Where are the enters HTC , Intel , Samsung , Asus , Sony Ericsson , T-Mobile , Texas Instruments , Qualcomm , Motorola , NVIDIA – That is, not only the "iron" companies, but also the cellular operators. https://sister-site.org/jammy-jack/ Thirdly, the Android is sharpened to work on the Internet and tied to numerous network services (by the way, a built-in browser, unlike the same Safari on the iPhone, supports flash, and in a well -known test Acid3 knocks out 93 points out of 100!). Fourthly, android has a multi-tape support, without which today is nowhere. Well, the smallest – Applications store Android Market , Google branded programs and a relatively small cost of devices.
In general, Android occurs with semi -mini steps. According to analysts MARKET Intelligence & Consulting Institute, in 2013 31 million communicators and 126 million others will be shipped (!) Portable devices running Google Android. While the forecast comes true: in the coming year Acer prepares six devices, HTC in addition to HTC Dream , Hero , Magic And Tattoo Already in the winter it will throw a dozen more communicators into the market, and Sony Ericsson will not limit itself to its Xperia X10.
Eleven moments of happiness
DirectX 11: 7/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 4/2009, article “Nuclear API”, “Gambling” No. 12/2009, article “AMD beats the first”
www.Microsoft.COM/Games/EN-Sus/ABOUTGFW/Pages/DirectX.ASPX
Before the release of Radeon HD 5870, few recalled DirectX 11. Yes, everyone knew that he would be, but after the fiasco of the last version from the new API they did not expect anything special. It turns out in vain.
The main feature of the new tool is Tesselia. She allowed to increase the details of game models at the same time and at the same time reduce the load on the video memory bus. Instead of making a complex detailed model weighing several megabytes, developers now create a light low -polygonal object and load it into the memory of the video card. From there, the object enters special teseling blocks, which independently read the model and pump it with landfills – as a result, the memory is unloaded, because it no longer needs to store unnecessary information. In addition, the video card is now engaged in the scaling of models, smoothly reducing or increasing the detail, changing lighting or applying textures.
Another news is the standardized GPGPU (General-Purpose Graphics Processing Units, the technique when the graphics processor of the video card is used to perform operations that the central processor usually performs). With the release of DX11, general -purpose calculations – sources of light, artificial intelligence and physics – any video card can be engaged in.
But this was not limited to this: the new DirectX can scatter different tasks on individual processor nuclei. For example, if earlier the game tried to load one core and work with drivers, and sound, and calculation of light, now all this will be distributed – thus, none of the core of the processor will remain idle.
Unfortunately, the past year cannot be called the year of DirectX 11 (at the time of delivery of the number it was supported by less than ten games), but the prospects of the new API are opening enviable.
Her name was Vienna
Windows 7: 8/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 1/2010, article “Happy number“ Microsoft ”
www.Microsoft.COM/Windows/Windows-7
Only the most stubborn fans can argue with the fact that Windows XP can argue. Progress inexorably moves forward: the old OS can hardly digest 64-bit calculations (and meanwhile, Microsoft is generally going to abandon 32-bit of its systems), it looks alaple by modern standards, and in games it shows itself imperfectly because lack of support DirectX 10 and 11. Another thing is that she was not alternative to her until last October, until Windows Seven appeared (Vista did not fall in love with Vista, and not all computers pulled her).
In the operating systems market, the Windows family still occupies a leading position, and therefore the output of any new OS of this series automatically becomes a milestone in the history of the development of the IT market. And the output is such as the "seven", especially. The brand new “window” works completely freely on laptops with 1 GB of RAM, does not occupy system resources for some incomprehensible operations and generally shows itself only from the good side. Games on it work no worse (and sometimes even better) than on Windows XP, so we advise you not to lead to a popular myth that "all the beautifulness and transparent windows are burning a bunch of system resources". On the same laptop with 1 GB of memory “Seven” in inaction occupies 360 MB of RAM.
But by increasing productivity compared to the “Vist”, the case was not limited to. A million imperceptible at first glance improvements in the interface made work on Windows 7 even more convenient and nicer. The taskbar was completely redesigned, so it is now not cluttered with open windows, switching between programs has become an order of magnitude more convenient. The “seven” ceased to obstruct ordinary people, imposing their vision of things for them, and allows you to configure yourself as you please.
Yes, it cannot be said that Microsoft did something revolutionary-almost all the functions and ideas that the “seven” is so rich in were already (some-quite a long time ago) were implemented in Mac OS and Linux. However, for Windows "Seven" is, of course, a big step forward, and people are not without reason vote with a ruble, with a hurricane speed sweeping Windows 7 from the shelves of stores.
Do not throw it into the trash
NVIDIA Multi-Card: 9/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 1/2010, article “Second Newton”
www.NVIDIA.ru/page/home.HTML
The year before last we admired the physical engine NVIDIA PHYSX , Nvidia praises sang and immediately scolded it: Physx turned out to be disgustingly gluttonous, after the technology turned on, some indecently large number of personnel per second were lost. And although NVIDIA itself found the solution quickly (“Put the second video card and let one consider the graphics, and the other – physics!"), It did not suit the lion's share of users. After all, it was necessary to put the second same video card, otherwise SLI did not work. And if the first to stand GTX 285 – It turned out that it was necessary to donate another 12,000 rubles to re -account physics.
But at the end of last year, NVIDIA took pity and added to the drivers the wonderful function of the Multi-Card. The essence of the technology is as follows: take some cheap video card like GeForce GT 220 , Put it in a slot neighboring with the GTX 285, indicate the driver what fee for what to use, and now in Batman: Arkham asylum Leaflets fly and fog flies beautifully on the ground. And no SLI-shafts, no extra expenses, no tears about the lost power.
And since the most modern motherboards will be equipped with two or more PCIe X16 ports, when upgrading a computer, you can forget about the problem with old video cards, they will also serve for the benefit of physics. And most importantly, there is no binding to the chipset: the Multi-Card works equally well both on the old P45 and the fresh X58 and P55-what is there, even on maternxors under AMD works.
The head of the family
Intel P55: 10/10
Where to read: “Gambling” No. 10/2009, article “Hello, future!"," Gambling "No. 11/2009, article" Fresh Technologies "
www.Intel.COM/CD/Products/Services/Emea/Rus/Chipsets/P55/OverView/428330.HTM
When Intel has released a new architecture Nehalem , Core i7 easily wiped their nose not only to the competitor in the AMD person, but also went around the top processors Core 2. Unfortunately, I had to pay for the speed: NEHALEM installation pulled behind the purchase of a new chipset and DDR3-memory, which eventually poured out 25,000-30,000 rubles. This went on for almost a year and a half, until in mid-2009 Intel presented the chipset P55 and did not finally release acceptable in price Core i5. The platform turned out to be relatively affordable – at least processors based on Nehalem began to cost from 5,000 rubles instead of 12,000.
And most importantly, the P55 turned out to be a completely new platform for assembly – and we are talking about fundamental rather than cosmetic changes. Firstly, the North bridge was removed. Nehalem architecture has long implied a built -in memory controller – now they added work with sixteen PCIE lines. Secondly, they changed their socket: Core i5 processors are installed in LGA1156 and are not suitable for top-end sockets LGA1366 (however, the release of Core i7 for P55 chipsets is already established, so there will be no problems with the upgrade). Thirdly, a wide selection of processors and maternal boards allows you to collect a variety of computers on P55-from multimedia centers to server solutions, and their price, again, is quite attractive. Fourthly, both heat dissipation and energy consumption in the P55 are noticeably lower than that of chipsets with the North Bridge-as a result on the P55 are simplified cooling systems. Fifth, P55 has a huge number of connectors (up to 8 PCIe X1 ports and up to 14-USB 2.0), and this opens up wide open spaciousness for connecting a variety of peripherals. Savorns, of course, that on the chipset there is only one full -speed PCIe X16 2.0, however, this is unlikely to interfere with most of the buyers (and those to whom they interfere with can always take X58).
The processor of the year
What? Core i7 975 Extreme Edition
Why? The flagship of the new line, Core i7 975 Extreme Edition costs like a good gaming computer, but under liquid nitrogen with half a turn it accelerates from 3.33 to 5 GHz.
How many? 38 000 rub.
The gadget of the year
What? PSPGO
Why? Own memory, absence (disgusting?) the optical drive, the Form factor slider and lightweight – all this is not the necessary qualities of the portable gaming console, but, of course, new trends in the market.
How many? 11 000 rub.
The video card of the year
What? AMD Radeon HD 5870
Why? The first single processor video card on which Crysis went without brakes. Allegedly overtakes the double GeForce GTX 295, is able to display the picture at once by three monitors and supports all the innovations of DirectX 11.
How many? 15,000 rubles.
Monitor of the year
What? ViewSonic Fuhzion VX2265WM
Why? The first 22-inch LCD monitor with an ultra-high frequency of update (120 Hz), an excellent response time of gray to gray (3 ms) and the lack of looting even in the most dynamic games.
How many? 12 000 rub.
Coler of the year
What? Cooler Master V10
Why? Capable of adding to your favorite processor 1000 MHz.
How many? 4000 rub.
Netbook of the year
What? MSI Wind U200
Why? The ideal netbook that we have been looking for for so long: the normal size of a 12-inch screen, a keyboard with huge keys, 6-hour work on one battery charge.
How many? 18,000 rubles.
The motherboard of the year
What? ASUS Sabertooth 55i
Why? Budget version of the top -powered Republic of Gamers. Slightly less modest opportunities for the number of connected periphery and all the same powerful acceleration potential.
How many? 7500 rub.
The body of the year
What? Thermaltake Level 10
Why? The most unusual and crazy corps not only in 2009, but also for all the time. Maybe because the BMW concern took part in the creation of this monster?
How many? 22 500 rub.
Mouse of the year
What? Razer Orochi
Why? Standard representative of mobile gaming mice: stylish, nimble, can work both on the wire, and without-and in this case you will not even need to stick a wireless module into the USB port.
How many? 4200 rub.
The keyboard of the year
What? Logitech G19
Why? Many additional programmable buttons, huge LCD display for displaying various game parameters and convenient layout.
How many? 8000 rub.
