The Bash ulimit built-in can be used to probe and set the current user limits. Such limits include the amount of memory a process may use or the maximum number of opened files a user can have. While ulimit is generally understood to affect a whole session, it can be used to change the limits of a group of processes using, for example, a sub-shell.

However, the ulimit command is quirky (it expects a particular order for parameters and not all may be set on the same command line) and does not seems to be ageing all that well. For one thing, one cannot set the affinity of processes—indirectly controlling the number of and which cores one can use in a multi-core machine.

Invoking the command with -a will list all current limits with corresponding switches and units:

$ ulimit -a
core file size          (blocks, -c) 0
data seg size           (kbytes, -d) unlimited
scheduling priority             (-e) 0
file size               (blocks, -f) unlimited
pending signals                 (-i) 16383
max locked memory       (kbytes, -l) unlimited
max memory size         (kbytes, -m) unlimited
open files                      (-n) 1024
pipe size            (512 bytes, -p) 8
POSIX message queues     (bytes, -q) 819200
real-time priority              (-r) 0
stack size              (kbytes, -s) 8192
cpu time               (seconds, -t) unlimited
max user processes              (-u) 16383
virtual memory          (kbytes, -v) unlimited
file locks                      (-x) unlimited

To modify the execution environment with ulimit one can either invoke ulimit at the current shell level or use it within a sub-shell as we saw previously. For example, to set soft and hard time limits for a program:

$ (ulimit -t 2  -St 1; this-or-that-program )

If you look at the list of options provided by ulimit one is conspicuously missing. If we have the maximum scheduling priority for a given program, we can’t set its affinity, that is, the CPU(s) on which it will be constrained to run.

This seems like a useless constraint to put on a process but it may not. For time-critical application, we may not want to have a processing shifting from core to core possibly trashing caches in the process. You may also want to keep a user from sucking up all CPU time by using all cores. Another reason is the speed stepping.

Speed Stepping will allow a processor to dynamically change its power consumption by adjusting its internal clock speed—and also possibly its core voltage. Idle processors return to a low clock frequency if the computer’s policy is set accordingly.

Suppose that on a machine we have one demanding process running full speed. If one has many cores, all but the cores running the currently demanding process are in low speed and power consumption mode. However, the OS may well decide to migrate the process from its current core to some other core. But the other core is in low speed/power mode so is running the process much slower for a while, at least until the system’s power policy allows that core to kick in high gear and increase its frequency to its maximum. Meanwhile, the recently abandoned core returns to low speed/power mode as it is now idle.

On my current Laptop (using a Core 2 Duo P8700) SpeedStep allows the cores to be independently managed. Using Gnome’s CPU frequency monitoring task bar applet, I see that the speed of the cores vary independently. I also see a demanding process migrate from one to the other for no apparent reason. I do not know what goes on in the scheduler; maybe if two demanding processes are mapped to the same core even for a very short period of time, one of the two gets migrated? Either way, I see a process migrate to a slower processor for no apparent reason and the scheduler doesn’t seems to know about SpeedStep.

The crudest and direct way of solving the problem is to use a call to sched_setaffinity function and set explicitly the affinity to a given set of processors. This works perfectly well, but it means that you have to modify your software to take affinity into account, possibly through new command line options. That’s rather cumbersome.

I propose to extend the ulimit built-in to offer control over affinity for processes. Maybe -w (for “working” processor) or -g (for group of processors) would make a good switch? The syntax could be a hex map or a list:

$ ( ulimit -w=2,3 ; this-or-that-program )

Maybe a more general mechanism for architecture-specific limits should be added? I’d be happy for now with an extra option for affinity.

*
* *

SpeedStepping isn’t only beneficial for laptops and netbooks, it is beneficial for servers and whole data centers as well. I have no serious data on this, but I guess that a typical data center has its peak hours of usage but remains idle a large part of the day. For example, a local service provider will get lots of hits during some peak hours (lunch time, evenings) but comparatively little during the night and early morning. During the idling hours, I guess someone could save a lot of money by using speed stepping. Not only slower CPU draw less power, they also dissipate a lot less heat. Heat is a major problem for large data centers and results in more power consumption as cooling is necessary.

*
* *

I think ulimit command should be extended to include new functionalities such as the processes’ affinity. I know that one can just include the affinity management in the application itself, but it seems to make more sense to shift the responsibility of setting affinities to the shell as it does not require the modification of an existing piece of software. Furthermore, shifting this responsibility outside the application allows for easier power and machine-usage policies managed by system-level scripts.

*
* *

Readers will point me to taskset, a command-line tool that can be used to provide a CPU list for affinity and launch a program. The thing with taskset, while it does work properly, is that it doesn’t permeate the user’s environment in the same way limits do. Of course, all processes that descend from a process launched with taskset will inherit from the affinities, but that doesn’t seems to be session-wide as limits are. Limits are set sometime during login, and all user processes for that session inherits from the initially set limits, without the intervention of the user. Of course, we could use taskset to somehow emulate the behavior, but that’d be a special case handled by a sessionrc script or something like that.

The Intel Processor Identification Utility was developed to identify the processor inside a system, assuring the processor contains intended technologies and is operating at the tested and rated frequency. This version of the Intel Processor Identification Utility will properly identify Intel Core i7 Extreme, Core i7, Core2 Quad, Intel Core2 Duo, Intel Core2 Duo Mobile, Intel Core2 Extreme, Intel Core Duo, Intel Core Solo, Intel Atom, Pentium Dual-Core, Pentium Dual-Core mobile, Pentium D, Pentium Processor Extreme Edition, Pentium 4 Processor Extreme Edition, Pentium 4, Pentium M, Celeron Dual-Core, Celeron D, Celeron M, Celeron, Mobile Pentium 4, Mobile Celeron, Multi-Core Intel Xeon, Dual-Core Intel Xeon and Intel Xeon processors. Older Intel processors can be identified with the Intel Processor Frequency ID Utility.

- Download Intel Processor Identification Utility 4.10

Here is a chance I get, to share my experience on the shopping whether it is buying a laptop or toys for kids or a phones or DVD or anything else . Most of the time when we discuss with friends on shopping they always raise a question, where to purchase , whats the price and the would it be the best quality you expect at a lower price , you have Guarantee / warranty etc . Behind all these questions , the core information you want to attain is the certificate from your friend/colleague on a certain product , because of the trust/relationship/confidence you have with your friend. And you always follows your friend proposal because you feel thats something that your friend certifies it.

You can also even inherit this with in youself if you can analyse the existing market trend on that certain product and answer the following questions.
1. different vendors available in the market ,
2. various reputed retail stores availabe online / nearby your location ,
3. get enough technical specification on the product , and decide which one you want to buy based on your budget.
4. browse through the various websites and get reviews on the product ,
5. success/failure case reported on that product ,
6. also get the best hot deal offered currently for that product in the market.

Most of the time you dont get enough time to work on the above home work and hence you depend on your friends suggestion, reference. I would say that above explained is a smal task which could probably take a weeks time or 10 days if you can afford to spends few hours a day.
Recently I happen to face a similar scenario with one of my friends and she was asking me to give suggestion on which laptop to buy & her budget is around 500$. I worked on this and presented my details below . And i thought this is worth sharing it with everyone who has the similar situation.

When we talk about laptops, few vendors that strike your mind immediately is HP , DELL , SONY , LENOVA , TOSHIBA , ACER , ASUS and and many other in the marker . Among these certainly you cant afford to get a sony product with our current budget. So i focussed by search towards HP , DELL, LENOVA , TOSHIBA .

Processor ( CPU ) :
Also another main question that we should get clarified is , which processor we can possibly get for our budget. Ofcourse Intel is the pioneer in this industry and lets focus and see if we can get this with in our budget. Because CPU is one of the key components of your computer where you should not compromise on this because it directly impacts your system performance and moreover this is one time investment which you gonna probably use it for another 10 years. So dont get your computer out dated / obsolete with in next 2 years or so and finally end up getting frustated. Intel Core2 Duo is higher version of Intel centrino and so as the price.

Before we move on , I want to share the important information regarding the processors to best suits yours needs. meaning if you looking for laptop or desktop or just a computer that you can give it to your parents for minimum use. Intel broadly classified processors in to three categories based on the performance and compatibility.

1. Processors used for Laptops.

1. Intel Core2 extreme mobile
2. intel centrino2
3. intel centrino
4. Intel Core2 Duo
5. intel Pentium
6. intel Celeron

2. Processors used for Desktop

1. Intel Core i7 Extreme
2. Intel Core i7
3. Intel Core2 extreme
4. Intel Core2
5. Intel Core2 Quad
6. Intel Core2 Duo
7. Intel Pentium
8. Intel Celeron

3. Processors used for minimum usage.

1. Intel Atom processor for mobile
2. Intel Atom processor for netbooks
3. Intel Atom processor for nettops

Among the list given above, if your requirement is just to use the laptop for email and internet , then i would suggest section3 ( 3.2 or 3.3 preferrable ). If your requirement is for heavy usage like a webmaster , watch movies , games , multitasking , high resolution , fast performance, you may have to choose either in section 1 or 2. This information is worth because , from hereon whenever you visit some online store and visit nearby store , when some rep explains you , you can understand whether it is worth that much money or not. And you can also tell him clearly that my usage is so and so and this is what i want to choose. As simple as that and you can be more confident. thats cool.

Tour on Intel Processors

Netbooks may look like laptops, but they don’t have the full capabilities of a computer. Instead, a netbook specializes in mobility and the Web, so it’s great for travel or as a supplement to your main PC.

RAM ( Random Access Memory )

Currently there are different types of RAMS available in the market . 1GB , 2GB , 3GB . Higher the memory you select , higher the price.

Hard Disk :

There are many manufacturers in the market for HDD . Some of them are HP , Toshiba , Seagate ,Adtron, Hitachi , Fujitsu , Quantum etc . Typically the HDD varies from 60 GB to 240 GB . Price varies according to the one you choose.

Ok . Now lets go in to each one of these official websites and grab some detailed information.

First try to check in the official websites of the manufacturers ( HP.com , Dell.com , acer.com , Lenova.com ) . If you dont get good deals in here , then you can try deals2buy.com .

Daily New Deals

Deals zip

No dia 17 de Novembro (meu aniversário : P) a Intel lançou seu novo pocessador, o famoso Core i7 (Nahalen), esse novo processador se destacou principalmente pelo seu preço, já que o desempenho não é grande coisa maior que o antico Core 2.

Mas o que chama atenção é que a Intel anunciou oficialmente nesse documento que o processador sofre do mesmo mal (bug no TLB), muito criticado nos processadores Phenom e Opteron da AMD.

Acontece que o tempo passou e hoje a AMD tem o Phenom II, que deve ter um desempenho excelente e é totalmente livre desse bug.

Parece que a Intel cuspiu pra cima, não é mesmo?

Start Visual C# Express. If you run the C# for the first time it will take slightly more time as it configures the environment for the first time. Once C# is running select File -> New project. From the project dialog, select the Console application. This is the most basic application type on a Windows system.

Read the complete Tutorial at

Your first C# program

HDX18 notebook is a powerful notebook if you include the option of 2.8 GHz processor. It will however cost you close to $2000 in its configuration with T9600 processor ( Core 2 Duo , 2.8 GHz). But the main reason you may want to buy this one is its big 18 inch display. You may like to configure it for 3GBytes memory for optimum performance to price ratio.

Full review at HP HDX18

on janatanews

I have observed that many users or prospective buyers want a quick pros and cons and a quick overview in place of reading lengthy reviews. In today’s fast pace life no one has time to read on a 4 page review on one particular product and then move on to read review on other product.

With this in mind I am changing my style of writing. I will give a quick pros and cons followed by a quick final thought. If you feel like it is something that appeals you can always continue to ready or you may move on.

You may read the complete review at

Gateway T-6330U review

Posted at janatanews

CyberPower has just introduced the Gamer Xtreme XI, an Intel Core 2 Extreme based system designed with gaming and performance computing in mind. The Gamer Xtreme XI combines a factory overclocked Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9770 quad-core processor running at an impressive 4.0GHz, with a pair of powerful Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 cards featuring SLI and PhysX support.

CyberPower claims their system can handle even the most graphically intense computer games, but as you might expect it also carries an obscenely high price tag. Starting at $4939, this beast features 4GB of Corsair’s DDR3 PC1333 Dual Channel memory, twin 500 GB SATA II 7200 RPM hard drives in a RAID-0 configuration and a LG Blu-ray / HD-DVD optical drive, all this enclosed in an NZXT Khaos full tower case – which offers no extraordinary features and at $400 is just a poor choice (read our review) for an already expensive gaming rig. For an already generous price tag, they could have done better in that aspect.

The CyberPower Gamer Xtreme XI should go head to head with the likes of the HP Blackbird 002 and Alienware Area-51 ALX and can be ordered now (and further customized) at CyberPower’s website.

IVDesk and The COR join forces to give law firms an affordable way to establish a true matter-centric environment with improved risk management. Lawyers enjoy a full-service office anywhere in the world, including powerful document and email management, with just a computer and an Internet connection.

(PRWEB) September 15, 2008 – IVDesk (http://www.ivdesk.com), a leading web-based remote hosting company, and COR2 Technology (http://www.cor2.com), developer of the innovative The COR collaborative document management system, announce a partnership to offer law firms an affordable way to completely streamline operations electronically. Law firms are trading mountains of redundant paperwork for a better solution to share and manage their data.

Each company continues to offer their respective systems individually, or as a combined effort to optimize data management in a highly secure and remote environment. Law firms can control and share every record, document, email, attachment and scanned image from anywhere in the world. Individual permissions also allow staff, clients, and colleagues a more economical way to collaborate and share data.

Increased Billable Hours
Billable hours are guaranteed to increase with a drastic reduction in wasted time searching for files, driving to meetings, and redundant printing and filing. Productivity increases as lawyers gain a more convenient way to work remotely and collaborate electronically.

Built-In Risk Management
Implementing a risk management plan for electronic data is easy with individual security settings and continuous monitoring. Users subscribe to data and receive immediate notification upon any activity.

Premium Retention and Records Management
All records, documents, emails, attachments and scanned images are stored electronically, made searchable, indexed, and protected. Unlimited storage is included to prevent confining limits on current or archived data.

Convenient Collaboration
Cases can be managed more efficiently with a useful “check in/check out” process for files. Firms can expedite all areas of their business, such as accounting, client communication and administrative tasks. For example, accountants can be setup to access tax information or clients can login and download their own invoices.

Extensive Search Capability
With a powerful, built-in search engine, all files and email are indexed and searchable down to the last word. Users can simply enter a client name, case number, or phrase to find targets quickly and effortlessly.

Tight Security
Both companies take security very seriously and invest in top-ranked technology and solid policies. Data is fully encrypted, 100% protected, and backed up in multiple locations every day. Small office servers are not capable of providing the security law firms need to lock down their highly confidential matter.

Full Integration
IVDesk and The COR not only complement each other, they are also compatible with nearly any operating system or application, including a myriad of legal software.

The Portable Office
Using convenient cloud computing technology, lawyers can take their office anywhere around the world. With just a computer and an internet connection, users work just as if they were sitting at their desk.

Helpful Training and Unmatched Support
Law firms will appreciate the ease of transitioning from a redundant paper system to a more effective electronic system with a customized implementation plan, thorough training program, and 24/7 support. Personal help is always available so there is virtually no down time.

“IVDesk has listened to our legal clients and heard an overwhelming need for a true matter-centric solution. We are extremely pleased to offer The COR as an addition to our remote application services to stop the paperwork madness endured by law firms and provide a robust document and email management answer, ” stated Randy Olson, VP of Sales for IVDesk.

Scott Lombard, CEO of COR2 Technology, adds, “Our partnership with IVDesk allows firms to enjoy all the benefits of The COR in a flexible and truly remote environment. The two systems are independently valuable, but together provide an unbeatable way for lawyers to manage applications, data and security. The best part is being able to offer clients a better solution, with outstanding support, at a fraction of the cost of other systems.”

While this partnership is not solely for the legal industry, the combination of systems provides major benefits for law firms, such as:

• Increased Billable Hours
• Improved Client Satisfaction
• More Efficient Case Management
• Stronger Security
• Controlled Risk Management
• Flexible Remote Environment
• Custom Implementation Plan and Training
• 24/7 Access and Support

For more information on the partnership or services of IVDesk and The COR, contact Randy Olson of IVDesk at 800-711-1438 or visit http://www.ivdesk.com, or Scott Lombard of COR2 Technology at 877-529-0598 or http://www.cor2.com.

###

Contacts: Randy Olson, VP of Sales IVDesk
800-711-1438

http://www.ivdesk.com

Scott Lombard, CEO
COR2 Technology
877-529-0598

http://www.cor2.com

Apple has unveiled new all-in-one iMac systems, sporting an updated processor, more standard memory and a faster graphics card. Retail customers will be offered new systems with Intel Core2 Duo chips ranging from 2.4GHz to 2.8GHz. Apple will also offer a new 3GHz Intel chip as an option for built-to-order 24in iMac systems. All the new iMacs will feature a faster 1066MHz system bus and 6MB of level 2 cache. All but the cheapest of Apple’s three standard iMac offerings will now ship with 2GB of Ram. The $1,199 20in model will sport 1GB of Ram and an ATI Radeon 2400 XT graphics card. The $1,499 model will have a Radeon 2600 Pro card, as will the $1,799 24in iMac.

Apple will also offer the Nvidia GeForce 8800 GS card as an option on built-to-order 24in systems. The new offerings mark the first major update to the iMac since August 2007, when a redesign offered a slimmer profile and a brushed aluminium casing. Apple’s latest financial report showed flourishing Mac sales, helping to boost the firm to record profits in the most recent quarter. Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing at Apple, said: “With the latest Intel processors, a faster new graphics option and more memory, customers now have even more reasons to love the iMac.”

Source: Vnunet, Martin

ราคา 25,900 บาท

• Intel Core2 Duo T7250(2.0 GHz,800 MHz)
• Intel 965GM Express Chipset
• OS:DOS
• HDD:160 GB SATA(5,400 rpm)
• Ram:1gbB
• Optical Drive:DVDRW
  Card Reader:4 in 1 Media Reader
• Display:12.1″ WXGA HD BrightView LCD Panel
  Intel Extreme Graphic GMA
• Lan:802.11b/g,10/100 Ethernet
• Weight:1.79 kg

Apple Mac mini (P/N : MB138ZP/A, MB139ZP/A) แมคมินิช่วยให้คุณจัดการกับภาพดิจิตัล ภาพยนตร์ เพลงและเว็บได้อย่างง่ายดายยิ่งขึ้น โดยเฉพาะในแมคมินิรุ่นใหม่นี้ คุณจะสัมผัสได้ถึงการทำงานที่ฉับไวยิ่งขึ้นถึง 39% เมื่อเทียบกับการทำงานในรุ่นเดิม ด้วยพลังแรงจาก Intel Core 2 Duo และระบบปฏิบัติการคุณภาพสูงอย่าง Mac OS X นอกจากนั้นยังมาพร้อมด้วยแอพพลิเคชันที่ใช้งานง่ายอย่าง iLife’08 เพื่อให้คุณจัดการและแบ่งปันภาพถ่ายผ่านทางโปรแกรม iPhoto รวมถึงการสร้างปฏิทิน หนังสือ และการ์ด อีกทั้งยังสร้างภาพยนตร์ในแบบของคุณได้ด้วย iMovie พร้อมกันนี้ยังสามารถแปลงภาพถ่ายหรือภาพยนตร์ที่คุณสร้างสรรค์ขึ้น ให้อยู่ในรูปของดีวีดีคุณภาพสูงด้วย iDVD และพบกับประสบการณ์แบบเต็มจอจากโปรแกรม Front Row ด้วยเมนูที่ใช้งานง่าย ตัวอักษรขนาดใหญ่ และภาพกราฟฟิคที่สีสันสดใส เพื่อให้คุณสามารถเบราวซ์เพลง ภาพถ่าย และวิดีโอบนเครื่องแมคมินิได้อย่างง่ายดาย เช่นเดียวกับการเบราวซ์เพลงจากเครื่องไอพอด และด้วยรีโมทที่มาพร้อมกับตัวเครื่อง ช่วยให้คุณเพลิดเพลินกับสื่อดิจิตัลได้จากทุกที่ในห้อง และด้วยโปรแกรม Front Row และเครื่องแมคมินินี้ จะช่วยให้คุณเล่นเพลง ภาพถ่าย และวิดีโอที่บันทึกไว้ในคอมพิวเตอร์เครื่องอื่นๆ ที่อยู่ในบ้านได้ ด้วยความสามารถของ Bonjour instant networking

จุดเด่นผลิตภัณฑ์

• เลือกการทำงานที่ตรงตามความต้องการของคุณจากโปรเซสเซอร์ Intel Core 2 Duo 2 ระดับ คือ 1.83GHz หรือ 2.0GHz
• ใช้งานสะดวกด้วย Apple Remote with Front Row
• หน่วยความจำสูงสุด 2GB
• แสดงผลกราฟฟิคด้วยความสามารถของ Intel GMA 950
• มาพร้อมด้วยอุปกรณ์ DVI connector และ VGA adapter
• มอบความจุฮารด์ไดร์ฟ 160GB
• ภายในติดตั้ง Gigabit Ethernet
• รองรับระบบเสียงทั้งแบบอนาลอคและดิจิตัล
• เพิ่มขยายผ่านทางระบบ USB และ FireWire
• ใช้งานง่ายและให้ประสิทธิภาพสูงด้วยโปรแกรม iLife ’08, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger

Extensa 4620-3A1G16Mn_VB

• Intel Core2 Duo T5450(1.66 GHz,2MB, L2 Cache, 667 MHz FSB)
• 1024 MB DDR2-667
• 160GB HDD
• DVD-Super Multi
• 14.1″ WXGA
• Windows Vista Business

• Color:White
• Processor:2.0GHz Intel Core2 Duo
• L2 Caceh:4 MB Shared
• System bus: 800 MHz
• Memory: 1GB(2×512MB) 667MHz DDR2
• HDD:80GB Sata
• Optical Drive:Combo Drive
• Display:13.3 inch glossy TFT Widescreen
• Camera:Built-in iSight Camera
• Video Port:mini-DVI
• Graphics:Intel GMA x3100
• Network:Gigabit
• Wireless:802.11n Bluetooth
• OS:Mac OS x v.10.5 Leopard

• ซีพียู:Intel® Core™2 Duo processor T7500 (64bit Dual Core 2.2GHz. FSB800MHz. 4MB L2Cache)
• ชิบเซ็ต:Intel® PM965
• RAM:2 GB DDRII-667 (max to 4.0GB)
• กราฟิคการ์ด:GeForce 8600M GS หน่วย​ความ​จำ​กราฟฟิค​: 256MB VRAM
• ฮาร์ดดิส:160 GB (5400RPM-SATA)
• DVD:8X Super Multi (Support Double Layer)
• Display:14.1″ UltraVivid* widescreen display
• Battery:6-cell Lithium-Ion,2 ชั่วโมง 45 นาที
• น้ำหนัก:2.05kg ​(​ไม่​รวมแบตเตอรี่)

ราคา 38,000 บาท

Intro:

The P6N Diamond motherboard has all the features that most want in an upper-end system.  Socket775, 1333 FSB, DDR-800, Quad 16x PCIe, etc.  It even goes a bit farther, by adding a couple things that most boards lack.

What I found:

Boasting the latest, a 1333MHz FSB is decent in itself, since this is the next generation of systems.  The newer versions of Intel’s Core2 Duo CPUs are the 6×50 series; these have the 1333 FSB capability.

The P6N Diamond uses nVidia’s 680i (C55) Chipset northbridge, which has gotten mixed reviews on the various hardware sites.  I tend to like it for the tweaking power, though I do admit that there are problems with it, depending on the motherboard.  (That’s normal)    Also on the board is nVidia’s nForce 430i (MCP55) chipset southbridge.

I/O includes up to 10 USB 2.0 ports, up to 2 IEEE1394a, floppy, PS2, etc…all the usual stuff.

The usual 4 DDR2 slots give you support for up to 8GB of system memory at up to 800MHz.  The speed ability goes further with tweaking in the BIOS.

There are 6 internal SATA-II and 1 external eSATA ports.  The internal ports are in the standard flat-on-board layout, with port #6 on the board being linked with the eSATA on the back panel.  (A good way to use the #6 port is for a front panel eSATA connection…)  The onboard SATA along with the single PATA port allow use of the nVidia nForce RAID for up to 8 drives.  The board allows for RAID 0, 1, 0+1, 5 and JBOD.

The P6N Diamond has dual nVidia gigabit LAN onboard.  This is great for multiple networks or internet connection sharing.

The 4 PCIe ports are nice for over-achievers.  I’ve yet to see anyone actually USE all four for graphics setups.  They are clocked in the standard quad PCIe fashion of x16×16x8 or x8+x8+x16+x8 speed.  There are 1 PCIe 1x and 2 PCI slots as well.  To be honest, I’d rather see 1 less PCIe slot and one MORE PCI slot.  I’ve been rather disappointed with the lack of PCIe support in hardware vendors.  There are some, but they are few and far between.

Also on the board is, and this is the best feature, an onboard PCIe version of the Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme 8-channel audio.  This is, by far, the best on-board audio I’ve heard yet.  VERY clear and precise sound, especially for gaming and watching movies with surround sound.

Ultimately, the board was simple to install and configure.  I did find that the “tweakability” in the BIOS was about as good as it gets.  It was easy as cake to get up and running with my Core2 Quad 6600.

We’ll have more on this board after it’s been running for a week or so.  See ya then…