Atheros | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:57:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Atheros | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 MSI readies Intel Z97 mainboards: images and details unveiled https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/anton-shilov/msi-readies-lineup-of-intel-z97-mainboards-images-and-details-unveiled/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/motherboard/anton-shilov/msi-readies-lineup-of-intel-z97-mainboards-images-and-details-unveiled/#comments Wed, 16 Apr 2014 19:52:26 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=187736 MicroStar International is working on a new family of mainboards based on Intel Corp.’s upcoming Z97 core-logic that will support the forthcoming microprocessors for enthusiasts code-named Devil’s Canyon as well as future chips based on the Broadwell micro-architecture. All mainboards will be aimed primarily at gamers, but who said that enthusiast-class hardware should be expensive …

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MicroStar International is working on a new family of mainboards based on Intel Corp.’s upcoming Z97 core-logic that will support the forthcoming microprocessors for enthusiasts code-named Devil’s Canyon as well as future chips based on the Broadwell micro-architecture. All mainboards will be aimed primarily at gamers, but who said that enthusiast-class hardware should be expensive and come in large form-factors?

msi_z97_gaming_mainboards_specifications

MSI Z97 Gaming mainboard family will consist of five different motherboards with LGA1150 sockets based on Intel’s next-generation Z97 chipset. The platforms will provide different features and will be available at different price-points. For example, high-end MSI Z97 Gaming motherboards will feature three PCI Express x16 slots for graphics cards and high-performance PCIe solid-state drives; 12-phase CPU VRM [voltage regulator module] to ensure better overclocking; as well as eight Serial ATA ports. By contrast, more affordable mainboards will come with two PCIe x16 slots, 8-phase or 6-phase CPU VRM and six SATA ports.
msi_z97_gaming_9

MSI Z97 Gaming 9 AC mainboard

While the mainboards within the MSI Z97 Gaming line will be rather different, they will have numerous similar premium components and technologies designed to ensure better gaming, higher performance and improved stability:

  • M.2 slot on all ATX mainboards for SSDs with up to 1TB/s bandwidth;
  • Qualcomm Atheros Killer E2205 Gigabit Ethernet network adapter that prioritizes video-games related network packages and thus ensures shorter latency;
  • MSI Gaming Device Ports, a PS/2 port with up to 1000Hz polling rate for advanced mice;
  • MSI Audio Boost 2 – integrated 600Ω headphone amplifier, golden audio jacks, EMI shielded audio codec, high quality audio capacitors;
  • Solid-state capacitors;

It is noteworthy that in addition to motherboards in ATX form-factor, which is preferred by enthusiasts, MSI will also offer a gaming-oriented platform in micro-ITX form-factor, which is gaining popularity these days. While the mainboard lacks M.2 SSD support, it has a built-in Wi-Fi 802.11ac module.

msi_z97_gaming_itx

MSI Z97 Gaming micro-ITX mainboard

The mainboards will hit the market in mid-May.

msi_z97_gaming_3

MSI Z97 Gaming 3 mainboard

While by default Intel 9-series chipsets and Intel Core i-series “Haswell Refresh” processors can hardly ensure a significant performance increase over existing systems powered by 8-series core-logic and Core i-series “Haswell” chips, there are some benefits that the new platforms provide exclusively. Firstly, they support new Core i- and Pentium-series unlocked microprocessors code-named Devil’s Canyon with upgraded thermal interface and overclockability. Secondly, they support higher-performance SSDs in M.2 form-factor. Thirdly, they are compatible with the upcoming Broadwell microprocessors made using 14nm fabrication process.

msi_z97_gaming_7

MSI Z97 Gaming 7 mainboard

Intel and MSI did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: MSI’s upcoming Z97 Gaming mainboards seem to be rather decent: they feature quality audio, advanced network processor as well as support for new-generation SSDs. Moreover, those motherboards will be available at different price-points and will vary only by, perhaps, overclocking capabilities. In general, a nice product family to choose from.

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Qualcomm looking forward to triple Wi-Fi speeds https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/qualcomm-looking-forward-to-triple-wi-fi-speeds/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/anton-shilov/qualcomm-looking-forward-to-triple-wi-fi-speeds/#respond Wed, 09 Apr 2014 10:24:05 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=186717 Qualcomm has announced its new family of Wi-Fi chips that could improve performance of wireless local area networks by several times. The new Qualcomm Atheros Vive chips (and select Snapdragon application processors) for routers, gateways as well as client devices support multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that can triple or even quadruple …

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Qualcomm has announced its new family of Wi-Fi chips that could improve performance of wireless local area networks by several times. The new Qualcomm Atheros Vive chips (and select Snapdragon application processors) for routers, gateways as well as client devices support multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology that can triple or even quadruple actual Wi-Fi speeds compared to today’s.

With standard Wi-Fi, clients are served in sequence; during the time, only one device is sending and receiving information, hence, network capacity is being used only partly. The accumulation of these sequences creates a drop in throughput and capacity as more clients join the network. This situation can be further worsened as more devices stream high-definition video. Qualcomm’s wireless network chips with support of three- and four-stream connectivity and MU-MIMO enables concurrent transmission to groups of clients, making more efficient use of available Wi-Fi network capacity as well as speeding up communications.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_1

“Great connectivity is not just about increasing the absolute speed,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice president of Qualcomm Atheros. It is about making better use of network and airtime efficiency to support the growing number of connected devices, services and applications.”

Qualcomm’s MU-MIMO algorithms require sophisticated computing capabilities to manage complexities of simultaneous connections of multiple devices. The technology can dynamically adjust to changes in channel conditions, device movement and application requirements to maximize performance and ensure better connections in multi-user environments.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_2

“After seven years of MU-MIMO development and testing, we have gained a deep understanding of real-world channel behavior with this advanced Wi-Fi technology in crowded environments,” added Mr. Rabinovitsj. “These insights have led to the creation of our precision-based algorithm technology that, along with technologies like the Qualcomm Internet Processor and StreamBoost, maximizes Wi-Fi performance for all connected devices.”

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo_3

Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology support transmissions via up to four streams and with up to 80MHz channels, thus providing maximum bandwidth of up to 1.73Gb/s. Not all solutions can enable maximum bandwidth, but the benefits of MU-MIMO architecture should improve quality of user experience rather significantly in general.

qualcomm_wifi_80211_mu_mimo

To get substantial benefits of Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) technology, it should be supported by both clients as well as access points, routers, gateways, etc. Qualcomm Atheros has introduced a complete family of solutions for networking products, as well as smartphones, tablets, personal computers, consumer electronics and automobiles that support the latest technology.

Actual products featuring Qualcomm’s Vive 802.11ac chips featuring multi-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi with multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) are expected to emerge in early 2015. Since it will take some time before the new chips become widely adopted, the Wi-Fi networks will only actually get better in several years from now.

KitGuru Says: Keeping in mind that 802.11ac technology theoretically can support transmission of four data streams over 160MHz channels with MU-MIMO, the new Qualcomm wireless solutions will not offer maximum what the 802.11ac can. Therefore, expect more innovations in this space from Qualcomm and its rivals.

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