Intel and AMD companies have established a good reputation for providing efficient hardware solutions for all customer groups. Each new product introduced by the two companies enters the top sales ranks and this promotes for the competition. AMD has recently produced a new APU solution based on Trinity architecture with graphics module VLIW4 and called it AMD A10-4600M. This model can boast the whole spectrum of improvements and advanced features as compared with its predecessor APU Llano, and is intended to beat its rival Intel in efficiency and performance.



Trinity Architecture


CPU Trinity is based on Piledriver micro architecture which superseded Bulldozer from AMD. The distinctive feature of Piledriver is that it’s primarily integrated in a mobile APU. Quad-core Trinity chips utilize two Bulldozer modules, each of which is equipped with two execution cores. Each APU module employs 2 MB of L2 cache, so the entire module architecture approximates to 4 MB of L2 cache; …

Enermax is going to release its new iVektor series of PC cases already in late August. First seen at Computex 2013, these products draw prime attention due to unusual design and voluminous internal layout. The series counts three models that are differentiated by color: white version – Enermax iVektor (ECA3310A-W), black version – Enermax iVektor (ECA3310A-B), and red version – Enermax iVektor (ECA3310B-R). They are destined to be employed as the basis for the assembling of various system configurations.



All iVektor representatives are developed in midi-tower form-factor, featuring steel and plastic chassis. The cases support ATX/micro-ATX motherboards and seven expansion slots. Internal layout presupposes the incorporation of three 5.25-inch optical drives, as well as seven 3.5-inch drives. The height of a supported power supply unit might not exceed 179 mm.


When the user fills all seven bays for 3.5-inch drives, the maximal admissible length of graphics adapters …

Customers have an opportunity to put to the test two new motherboards from the Micro-Star International Company. These products, based on the A320 chipset and performed in the microATX form factor, are meant for the AM4 platform. They are called A320M Grenade and A320M Bazooka.



Both novelties are equipped with the six-phase CPU power system, two expansion slots, two PCIe 2.0 x1 slots and one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot. DDR4-2667 RAM of up to 32 GB (for the A320M Grenade model) and up to 64 GB (for the A320M Bazooka sample) capacity can be installed. Drives can be connected via four SATA 6 Gbps ports and one 32 Gbps M.2 slot. The Realtek RTL8111H controller ensures the wired network interface functioning; and the audio is delivered due to the Realtek ALC892 (ALC887 when referring to A320M Grenade) codec. HDMI, DisplayPort and D-Sub serve for the image output.


Considering aforesaid, one may conclude, that MSI A320M Grenade and A320M Bazooka motherboards are intended for …