AMD were a little quiet last week at Computex when it came to replacing their Phenom II line of CPUs, but it seems they've made a bit of noise at E3. AMD have actually now setup a page for the new FX series CPUs that we've known are a part of the Bulldozer platform for some months now.

Unfortunately the closest thing to an actual release date is "Coming Soon." Well, hopefully that's sooner rather than later.

Before the new FX series CPU hit our labs we'll see Llano first, the latest APU from AMD which is a step above the E series Brazos platform. AMD is doing a great job at that low to mid-range segment, but the question of how they will do at the upper echelon still hasn't been answered. It's "Coming Soon", though.

E3 2011 - Last week was surely Call of Duty week with the announcement of the paid service of Call of Duty Elite, but this week is a different week and E3 is the current flavor and Battlefield 3 is the beautiful, amazing topping. There's so much Battlefield 3 news I thought I'd dedicate an entire write up on it - sit back, relax and enjoy the mountain of information I'm about to expel. Battlefield 3 has been shown off at E3 to much applause, it is powered by a next-gen engine dubbed Frostbite 2, is centered and created on PC first and scaled down to consoles - a first for games of the last 5 - 6 years where we've seen development on consoles and a simple port with bells and whistles on for the PC.

All BF3 videos thus far have been gameplay videos on PC, not consoles - no console videos have been shown yet. Battlefield 3 will feature a change in classes, nothing huge but it's definitely a change from Bad Company 2. Remember, Battlefield 3 is a sequel to the PC-only Battlefield 2, it is not a sequel to the multi-platform Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

Assault has been changed to include medic abilities which now transforms the once front-line brute force soldier to a soldier that still has the power but can also assist in the healing of fallen or hurt team mates. The Assault player is also able to revive players.

E3 2011 - That title is rockin', if I may say so myself. Next order of business? Nintendo's next-gen console announcement! As the dust settles from various Microsoft and Sony announcements, sans-next-gen consoles (BOO), Nintendo walk out of the rubble, dust and glare with their next-gen console, previously codenamed "Project Cafe". Wii U. Nintendo's Wii U is their next-gen console ready to change things up.

Nintendo changed things up with their motion-based controllers with the Wii, but now they've kicked it up a notch, or twenty. Included is a tablet-based 6.2-inch touch screen controller which has the usual array of buttons inclusive of a d-pad, four face buttons, four shoulder triggers, a power button and a camera. The controller features two analog sliders at the top of the controller versus the traditional sticks. IGN reports after a hands-on that it is remarkably light for its side, given that it's quite large for a controller.

The Nintendo Wii U is also backwards compatible with Wii controllers, which is a great thing considering how many Wii's are in the market now. The controller incorporates some pretty amazing capabilities such as acting like a camera in-game, with a demo of live footage of Japan being shown, the camera moving down a crowded street hovering above vehicles. The tablet shows the same footage from the television but as the controller is moved, you're able to see more of the city around you without altering what is being displaced on the TV.

E3 2011 - E3 is not just about games, but graphics that power them also require cooling, this is where the teams at PNY and Asetek have teamed up to provide consumers with a high-end Liquid Cooled Graphics solutions that is geared towards gaming enthusiasts. Enter the XLR8 GeForce GTX liquid cooled graphics system with a combination GPU/CPU version available as well.

Engineered with a closed loop system and built with an Asetek sealed water cooler already attached, it gives PNY the great pleasure of offering consumers and out-of-the-box ready, simple to install and reliable product. Not to mention, much cooler than traditional cooling systems. This new cooling solution delivers up to 30-percent cooler temperatures, quieter acoustics and faster performance versus the stock reference designed NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580.

Because the GPU is liquid cooled, there is obviously much more headroom for overclocking and because of the lower temperatures that headroom only expands. On top of the overclocking headroom there is also less noise and for gamers this is quite important. A GTX 570/580 GPU can get quite loud when it hits 97C and those of us with SLI know this too well.

Google have today released a new stable release of Chrome which they say brings improvements in security, privacy and graphics to the 160 million Chrome users. Chrome is now more secure thanks to enhancements that Google have made to their Safe Browsing technology. In addition to protecting users from certain malware and phishing websites, Chrome now warns you before downloading some types of malicious files.

Google have also added more control over the data that websites store on your computer through Chrome. Included is Flash Player's Local Shared Objects (LSOs) which were previously only manageable using an online settings application on Adobe's website. Google have worked with Adobe to integrate Flash LSO deletion directly into Chrome which makes it easier to manage your online privacy.

Finally, Google Chrome's graphics capabilities continue to improve; support for hardware-accelerated 3D CSS has been added which for some websites will give a "snazzier" (Google's word, not mine!) experience in some web pages and web apps that choose to implement 3D effects. If you'd like to check out the hardware-accelerated 3D CSS in action, take a look at this Chrome Experiment on Windows Vista / Mac OS X 10.6 or above which feature clips from Aardman Studio's "Shaun the Sheep." In this experiment, you can rotate the video, scale it up and down, toggle the reflection on and off and activate a rotating carousel of videos.

Computex Taipei 2011 - It wasn't all about just netbooks and tablets for Nicole, also at the MSI booth on the floor she managed to get some hands-on time with the MSI X-Slim X370 notebook. We know, we know - it's not a tablet, these shows get really crazy.

The X370 is based on AMD Fusion technology implementing the E-350 APU dual-core processor along with AMD Radeon HD 6310 graphics. It comes from the X-Slim series from MSI and is very lightweight and slim with it coming in at 1.4kg and it is just 22.8mm thick. It gets a Windows performance rating of 3.8, which is pretty good for a notebook in this class and price range.

Nicole loves the appearance of the notebook and the chiclet keyboard, but after using it wasn't very pleased with the usability of the keyboard. It comes with a range of ports including VGA, HDMI, card reader and so on.

The guys and gals over at Futuremark have thrown together a new update for 3DMark 11 that comes in at just under 17MB. The main happenings behind the update are just some upgraded compatibility features.

The latest update won't affect your score, so if you're hoping for some extra Marks, you're out of luck unfortunately. You can grab the 1.0.2 update directly from the Futuremark website here.

Apple have finally unveiled the goodness that is iOS 5 which is the next firmware slated for iOS-powered devices like the iPod, iPhone and iPad. iOS 5 is a major overhaul, which includes a completely revamped notification system which is very Android-like. Notifications are no longer temporary, but are viewable in the Notification Center which is accessed by swiping down from the top of the screen. The notifications are no longer pop-up bubbles, but text bubbles that temporarily swivel down while users are busy in another app.

iOS 5 also includes Newsstand which is poised to be a one-stop location for buying, downloading and reading magazines and newspapers. Issues that are acquired within Newsstand are downloaded automatically in the background and available for offline reading.

Big news to come from iOS 5 is integration throughout the OS in the form of Twitter. Yes, Twitter! It uses a single sign-on that can be shared by any app that requests it. Twitter functions are visible throughout all default apps such as Camera, Photos, Safari and Maps. This allows people to post media, web links and map locations. Safari has also received enhancements including tamps, a streamlined Reader view and a Reading list for viewing pages later. The Reading List is capable of being synched across multiple iOS-based devices.

E3 2011 - Sony's Next-Generation Portable has had a fair bit of presence on the internet lately and today Sony has officially unveiled what the NGP will be: Playstation Vita. Playstation Vita will include what we've all heard rumors of; dual touchscreens, ARM Coretex A9 core CPU (4 cores), tilt-sensitive SIXAXIS controls, front and rear facing cameras, etc. All of the previously rumored specs are pretty much spot on but now we're seeing the actual branding and a set of the launch games.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is being shown off and from what I've seen it actually looks phenomenal. Price wise it seems Sony have really hit a home run with the WiFi model setting you back $249 and the 3G model at $299.

Seriously, I've never been into portable gaming - but Sony has done an incredible job on the Vita. Uncharted: Golden Abyss looks hands-down, amazing. It has a damn smooth frame rate, touchscreen fighting, the option of using the sticks and buttons for climbing walls and in places where it makes sense, the SIXAXIS power comes into play, as well as touchscreen tapping. Very intuitive and Sony say you can "play the way you want" instead of having just one mode of controls.

E3 2011 - AMD's FX series was once the top end for any enthusiast or high-end gamer and AMD are hoping to reignite the same flame by reintroducing the FX series into play. The FX brand is associated with AMD's fastest processors and most powerful platforms - those designed for unrestrained PC performance for the ultimate gaming and HD entertainment experiences.

In addition, the FX series processors and platforms drive rich visuals for graphics intensive application and super high-resolution AMD Eyefinity configurations. The first platform to run with the FX title will be the "Scorpius" platform. Scorpius will feature the now-available AMD 9-series chipset motherboard and the AMD Radeon HD 6000-series of graphics card, plus the upcoming "Zambezi" unlocked, native eight-core processor.

AMD is also committing themselves to PC gaming innovation and promoting an open and advanced experience for gamers, AMD continues to add members and grow relationships in the second year of the Gaming Evolved program. AMD are focused on working with the best software developers to maximize the user experience. Gaming Evolved has multiple PC-based tech supported such as DirectX 11, AMD Eyefinity multi-monitor configurations and native AMD HD3D support for 3D gaming and multimedia.

E3 2011 - E3 is here once again and it's time for a barrage of gaming-related news. Microsoft is out of the gate with news of a bunch of Kinect-compatible titles and additional video streaming services. Microsoft have said we should look forward to over 12 games that are Kinect-powered; EA franchises (Tiger Woods, FIFA, Madden and The Sims), Mass Effect 3, Disneyland Adventures, Kinect Sports Season Two, Dance Central 2 and as well as all future Tom Clancy games starting with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.

Minecraft is coming this winter, as well as Crytek's long-rumored Xbox 360 exclusive which was formerly known as "Codename: Kingdoms", now has a name; Ryse. A first-person action adventure game set in Ancient Rome. Fable: The Journey is a new entry in the Fable universe that takes place after the age of Heroes (sans Hayden Panettiere, save the cheerleader, save the world). All of these titles will feature Kinect use.

Microsoft as also unveiled plans for it's much-loved Halo franchise. November 15 will see an anniversary edition of Halo: Combat Evolved for $39.99. The new release will be powered by the Halo Reach engine and will feature six revamped multiplayer maps from Halo and Halo 2, players will also "uncover never-before-revealed backstories told in motion-graphic form that foreshadow new mysteries in the story of Halo 4". A new Halo trilogy is set to begin with Halo 4 in Q4 2012.

Evolve III have had plans for their Maestro range for a while now but details are surfacing and it sounds like a winner. Firstly we have the Maestro S which is a triple-booting slate that is promising to bring Android, Windows 7 and Meego OS. Sporting a 10.1-inch, 1024x600 capactive touchscreen, it is powered by an Intel Z670 Oak Trail processor clocked at 1.5GHz and runs on a battery that Maestro is promising will give ten hours charge when running Windows 7 or up to 18 hours when in Meego mode.

The Maestro C gives you the above but with a swiveling kickstand and is designed for flyers, a convertible tablet that comes with a wireless keyboard that can serve as a protective, hardshell case.

Finally we have the NGen, a next-gen, all-in-one PC powered by an Intel Core i7 Sandy Bridge CPU. The WiDi-enabled desktop includes a 21.5-inch, 1920x1080 LED, Intel HD graphics and a 2.0-megapixel front-facing camera. When on the scales, 13-pounds. Being cordless, it can be folded up and transported quickly or even mounted on a wall. Content is able to be synced between all three devices with a Wormhole account.

E3 2011 - E3 is this week and to kick things off we have an announcement from SteelSeries about their upcoming Diablo 3 themed products. SteelSeries will be releasing a Diablo 3 mouse, headset and two QcK mousepads. SteelSeries CMO Kim Rom says:

The SteelSeries Diablo 3 mouse features a laser sensor capable of up to 5,000 CPI, 7 ergonomically positioned buttons that can sustain a Diablo frenzy amount of 10 million clicks (which is 300-percent more than the average mouse). It is also an ambidextrous shape for all gaming hands. The SteelSeries mouse also features a "demon red" illumination and a Diablo 3 logo. The logo can be customized with ON/OFF illumination and 3 levels of pulsation. Pricing is set at $69.99.

Wireless headsets on the Xbox 360 seem to only be taking off now, like somehow companies are just seeing the Xbox 360 on the shelves and decide it's a gaming platform that deserves an expensive headset. Today is no different with Microsoft teaming up with Tritton (Mad Catz) to produce a series of cobranded headsets which have unrivalled integration with the Xbox 360, including such things like on-screen battery status and a 100-percent wireless headset with both game audio and chat.

First up we have the Warhead 7.1 and Devastator taking up the premium wireless headset spots and the entry-level wired solution coming in the form of the Detonator. All three headsets feature 50mm drivers, but it's only the Warhead 7.1 that includes support for Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and Dolby Headphones. Both the Devastator and the Detonator only support stereo audio.

The Warhead 7.1 and Devastaor both use 5.8GHz wireless tech, a specialized wireless base station that only uses two cables connected to the Xbox 360 (USB for power, and optical digital or stereo RCA for audio), finally we have the base stations supporting auxiliary input from iPods and smartphones.

Computex Taipei 2011 - OCZ have released details on two new PSU lines that will be gracing us all soon. The first is the Fatal1ty series and because real men don't use power supplies with only 3 digits, the signature power supply comes in 1000 Watt only.

Offering 80 PLUS Gold certification, modular cables, deep-red LED fan and a five year warranty, the new 1000 Watt power supply has gamers in mind. Inside an all-black case with an ASRock Fata1ty motherboard you'd have yourself a seriously mean looking system on your hand that would offer some great performance.

Offering a bit more range, the new ZX Series offers a strong feature line up with 80 PLUS Gold certification, fully modular cable design and a large single +12V rail are some of the real highlights for enthusiasts.

Computex Taipei 2011 - I mean absolutely no offence to Apacer here, but when I think of performance memory, they're not a company that comes to mind. Well don't they just want to tell me how wrong I am with some unreal looking kits.

Part of the Giant II series the new 4GB 2133MHz DDR kit offers fantastic speed with a 7-9-9-24-2T @ 1.65v setup. If that's not enough speed for you, or enough memory then the new ARES kit could be what you're after.

Offering 16GB of DDR3 at 2200MHz DDR with a 9-11-9-27-2T @ 1.65v setup this is just a massive amount of RAM at a massive speed. If that wasn't enough for you, though, Apacer had the kit overclocked to 2233MHz DDR at their booth on the ASUS P8Z68-V Pro board.

Computex Taipei 2011 - I'm a huge fan of the HyperX name and with the success Kingston has had with it in the memory market, it comes as no surprise they've dropped their new SandForce SF-2281 controlled SSD drive under it.

Kingston hit the SSD market hard and fast and has done a fantastic job of offering a good price scale when it comes to the line-up, thanks to a large variant of controllers and sizes being offered. Now the company is able to separate the men from the boys though by dropping the HyperX name down and letting people know if you're after the fastest, this is what you want.

Information is a little scarce at the moment, but you should find the drive available in both 120GB and 240GB variants. Availability is also a little unclear, but like most companies who are offering SATA III drives, we're sure Kingston will be working hard to get the drives to the market sooner rather than later. As far as we know, you should be able to see these go on sale sometime in July.

Computex Taipei 2011 - Like most companies Apacer have jumped on the SATA III bandwagon via the new Turbo II series. Offering up to 7x the performance of conventional 5400 RPM mechanical drives SATA III does a great job of getting us excited.

Compared to SATA II we're seeing up to twice as much performance, when you consider the amount of performance we're able to get out of SATA II, it's indeed a very cool technology for people who demand speed.

The Turbo II series will come in 120GB, 240GB and 480GB using MLC flash supporting up to sustained Read / Write times of 550 / 520 MB/s.

Computex Taipei 2011 - CFI had on display the new CFI-A1018 case which does the normal stuff like support E-ATX or HPTX based motherboards. At the top of the case you're able to fit a full ITX system with power supply, hard drive and everything else you need.

Under the ITX system you're able to install a full size E-ATX motherboard that supports video cards up to 360mm long and another power supply. They've not just crammed two systems and that's it into this 78cm tall case. The feature list is massive with eight 5.25", four 2.5" and 3.5" hot swap bays and a further two hidden 3.5" bays

As many as 11 fans can be installed depending on the configuration you opt for while it also has a total of 10 expansion bays.

Computex Taipei 2011 - One of our final stops for the show this year was with Runcore who was naturally showing off a bunch of its newest SSD, but one new toy that caught our eye was the Xapear.

The Xapear is a USB 2.0 portable SSD storage device that comes in MLC flash up to 128GB and SLC flash up to 64GB and should offer maximum USB 2.0 performance up to 36MB/s. We really hope to see Runcore come out with a USB 3.0 performance to take full advantage of their SSDs that sit inside the device.

What is rather cool about the Xapear is that a SIM card can be installed into the device that accepts SMS text commands such as "kill", "destroy" and so on which instruct the device to immediately remove all data if you misplace the drive or it is stolen. Runcore being a Chinese company sell this drive to the Chinese army and you can imagine it would be popular with the remote erase feature and impressive data access security provided by the RFID encryption.