News archive


July-August 2004

[31.08.2004]RAMspeed 2.1.0 has been released! Here's what's new: MMXmark and MMXmem tests, processor identification, minor improvements.

Advanced HostMonitor 4.62 has been released! It has some minor improvements and bugfixes. Visit the official page for details.

[30.08.2004]Crystal Dew World has released:
[29.08.2004]MemTest86+ 1.25 has been released! New in this version: advanced detection of E7500/E7501, support for FSB533 LGA775 CPU, support for DDR2-600 mode on i915/925, detection of Xeon DP/MP, AMD K8 Sempron and SiS 661, bugfixes, etc.

[27.08.2004]DriveSitter 1.3.0.5 has been released! It has a lot of minor improvements and bugfixes.

[26.08.2004]TFTtest 1.4 has been released! It includes 4 new tests.

Iometer 2004.07.30 has been released! New features include: enormous code changes due to code cleanup and portability enhancements, an optional Linux kernel module to even more reduce the system overhead to capture the performance statistics, build in list of standard Access Specifications to select from, new ports (NetWare on i386, Linux on PowerPC, Linux on XScale), bugfixes, etc.

[25.08.2004]Alchemy Eye 6.2.8 has been released!

DVDInfoPro 3.15 is available for download!

DU Meter 3.07 Build 192 has been released! This version fixes several minor issues and introduces full compatibility with TweakMASTER 2.0.

Seagate has released SeaTools Desktop Edition 3.00.07!

Central Brain Identifier 7.2.0.7 Build 0824 RC1 is available for download! New features include: extended DRAM latencies control for nVidia nForce2, ability to detect and change the values of tCL, tRAS, tRCD-R, tRCD-W, tRC and tRFC, now it is possible to set 1.5T for CAS Latency on VIA KT400/A/KT600 and to change the latency of tRC on SiS746/746FX/748 chipsets, full support for AMD Sempron processors (Socket 754), bugfixes.
[24.08.2004]OpenGL Extension Viewer 2.11 Build 179 is available for download!

An updated version of MVSoft PC Information 1.8 is available for download! From now on the program is compatible with Windows 2003 Server.

[23.08.2004]New review: If you want to test or monitor you Internet connection you can find a wealth of tools allowing to do that. These tools are pretty similar, so if you need only a real-time monitoring, you don't have to look any further. But what if there's also a need to store your connection behaviour in order to analyze or compare it, for example? There is a solution! Read on...

A new version of PCIDEVS.TXT is available for download!
[22.08.2004]Crystal Dew World has released:
HD Tune 2.10 has been released! Here's what's new: temperature can be shown in the taskbar, option to specify test length, quickscan option for Error Scan, bugfixes.

Bench'emAll! 2.59 has been released! New features include: Doom3 support, 640x480 resolution added for 3DMark03, SeriousSam, Vulpine GL Mark and Quake3, AquaMark3 Pro Plus support, Half-Life 2 support, custom command line for Far Cry, bugfixes, etc.

[20.08.2004]HDD Temperature 1.4 beta (Build 184) has been released! It includes a couple of minor improvements and bugfixes.

CDCheck 3.1.0.15b is available for download! It has a few bugfixes.

[19.08.2004]DVDInfoPro 3.12 is available for download!

Nero InfoTool 2.27 has been released! Here's what's new: improved read/write speed detection, a lot of small improvements and bugfixes.

Nero CD-DVD Speed 3.21 has been released! New features include: Disc Quality Test supports AOpen DVD1648/AAP, AOpen 48x and 52x Combo drives and drives with a Ricoh chipset, option to show Disc Type or Book Type on the main screen, improved reading type detection, improved write performance for external USB drives, a lot of small improvements and bugfixes.

SpeedFan 4.15 has been released! New in this version: full support for ICH6, Polish translation, full support for ATI RADEON 9100 IGP (IXP150), support for a new version of ITE IT8712F, Czech translation, full support for ADM1030, minor improvements, bugfixes, etc.

[18.08.2004]CrystalCPUID 3.5.16.192 is available for download!

SiSoftware Sandra 2004.SP2b (2004.10.9.133) has been released! Key features include:
  • Added defragmentation support for test files used by the benchmarks: Sandra will defragment all test files created to ensure the performance measured is not impeded by fragmentation of the test files created. (All versions)
  • Added Intel Pentium 4 and Xeon (Nocona) reference results in Windows x64 edition. Now you can compare and contrast the performance of Intel and AMD solutions in both legacy 32-bit x86 mode and 64-bit x64 (AMD64/EM64T) mode. You can also compare the results with Intel 64-bit IA64 systems. (All versions)
  • Added support for Intel E7520/7320/7525 chipsets; fixed support for Intel 910/915/925 PCI Express chipsets. (x86 and x64 versions)
  • Added support for PCI Express video cards. (All versions)
  • Support for latest Build 1218 of Windows x64 edition. (x86 and x64 versions)
  • Improved reliability of Windows Mobile 2003 and 2003 Second Edition remote information & benchmarking library. (All versions)
  • Added support for Windows CE 4.20 x86 standard editions through additional remote information & benchmarking library. (All versions)
  • Compatibility verified with Windows XP SP2 Release version and Windows 2003, XP 64-bit, XP x64 SP1 Build 1218. (All versions)
And much more!

[17.08.2004]OpenGL Extension Viewer 2.11 has been released! New features include: OpenGL 2.0 compliance test (based on the final version), hardware registry database browser with ability to display extensions given a particular card/driver combo or view a list of all extensions in the database and see which card/driver combos support it, japanese version, etc.

[16.08.2004]DVDInfoPro 3.10 is available for download!

HDD Temperature 1.4 beta (Build 175) has been released! Here's what's new: now HDD Temperature Pro works as HDD Temperature after the end of trial period (so, HDD Temperature works as Pro during 30 days and after this period works as freeware), new code for network messages, minor improvements and bugfixes.

[15.08.2004]CPUCooL 7.3.0 has been released! This version supports the latest motherboards, chipsets, etc.

VeriTest has released an updated version of the WSBP2004.WSR file for Business Winstone 2004 and Business Winstone 2004 BatteryMark, to fix a conflict with Windows XP SP2! Here's a Benchmark Insider story with more information.
[13.08.2004]Advanced HostMonitor 4.60 has been released! It has a few improvements and bugfixes. Visit the official page for details.

MVSoft PC Information 1.8 has been released! Here's what's new: PCI/AGP page, Scheduled tasks table, new command line parameters, minor improvements and bugfixes.

[12.08.2004]Active SMART 2.42 has been released! New in this version: emergency shutdown (hibernate) option, support for Fahrenheit for temperature display, minor improvements and bugfixes.

Crystal Dew World has released:
[11.08.2004]SPEC/GPC's OpenGL Performance Characterization (SPECopc) project group has released SPECviewperf 8.01, a major new version of its software that measures graphics performance for systems running popular CAD/CAM, digital content creation, and visualization applications.
SPECviewperf 8 includes four new test files, called viewsets, based on CATIA, SolidWorks, Alias Maya and CEI EnSight application software. The viewset based on the Lightscape application has been updated to capture the current OpenGL command stream, and the DX and DRV viewsets, whose workloads are not based on traces of the actual applications, have been retired. Read on...

[10.08.2004]Far Cry Benchmark 1.3.0 is available for download! New features include: unsupported Far Cry version detection, Ultra details option, screenshot function, minor improvements and bugfixes.
NEW: SciMark Standard Edition Complex 2004 is an utility that measures the performance of your CPU!

[09.08.2004]CPUSpy 1.04 has been released! Here's what's new: Drives tab, HTML report, minor improvements and bugfixes.

[08.08.2004]Central Brain Identifier 7.2.0.6 Beta Build 0808 is available for download! New features include: ability to change DRAM timings on VIA KT266/A, KT333, KT400/A, KT600 and SiS735 chipsets.
[07.08.2004]Disk Bench 2.3.0.0 has been released! This version has a batch mode that allows you to create multiple files of different sizes and get the result in a semicolon separated format for easy analysis in Excel, for example.

[06.08.2004]Network Activity Diagram 2.0.258 Service Release 1 has been released! This version has a few improvements and bugfixes.

[05.08.2004]RightMark Memory Analyzer 3.3 has been released! New in this version: memory timings adjustment for all supported chipsets, support for Intel 440LX/EX, 440BX/ZX, 440GX, i830, i852GM/GMV, i855GM/GME, i855PM, i915/i925 and nVidia nForce2 (experimental), bugfixes, etc.

CD/DVD Diagnostic 2.1.3 build 78 is available for download!

Crystal Dew World has released:
MCS CPU Benchmark 3 has been released! Now the program includes 11 tests, the results are more precise.

[04.08.2004]HMonitor 4.1.4.4 has been released! New in this version: support for Intel ICH6 , 6300ESB, ATi IXP 150/200/250 ("SB200") southbridges, ITE 8705/8712 PNP identification, etc.

[03.08.2004]S&M 0.3.2a has been released!

PassMark PerformanceTest 5.0 build 1017 is available for download! This build fixes a lot of bugs.

Dr.Hardware 2004 5.5.0e has been released! New features include: partition information for physical drives, detection of Pentium 4E ("Prescott"), Athlon 64 FX-53, NSC Geode and SiS processors, improved detection of AMD 64 bit processors, extended CPUID information, detection of PCI Express devices (incl. detailed PCI Express device description), support for Intel chipsets 915P, 915GE, 925X, E7525, E7210 and a number of newer SiS and VIA chipsets, etc.

[02.08.2004]CPUSpy 1.04 Beta is available for download! Here's what's new: Drives tab, HTML report, minor improvements and bugfixes.
CPU Identification 1.75 has been released!

[01.08.2004]DVDInfoPro 3.07 has been released!

[30.07.2004]Crystal Dew World has released:
FRAPS 2.2.5 has been released! It fixes a few bugs.

[29.07.2004]FreshDiagnose 6.70 has been released! What's new: "Sensors" module that contains information about your PC temperature, voltage, and cooling devices rotation speed.

Intel has released Desktop Control Center 1.2.00.60! IDCC enables you to perform stress tests to verify system stability and to conduct performance testing to measure the impact of system configuration changes. The easy-to-read system gauges provide feedback so you can observe the effects of various system modifications in real-time. This easy-to-use console dynamically displays temperatures, speed, and usage percentages, allowing you to verify system stability and check performance gains without rebooting into the BIOS.
In order to properly install the Intel® Desktop Control Center on your system, you must have the following: Intel Desktop Board D925XCV, D925XBC, D915PBL, D865PERL, or D875PBZ + Updated BIOS D875PBZ BIOS Update or D865PERL BIOS Update.
CPU Identification 1.7 has been released!

[28.07.2004]HMonitor 4.1.4.3 has been released! New in this version: support for SMSC EMC6D10x series sensor chips, NS LM64, LM99, Maxim MAX6657-6659 and MAX6633-6635 sensor chips, bugfixes.

Beyond3D has published an interview with Futuremark's Nicklas Renqvist, Patric Ojala, and Tero Sarkkinen. The interview reveals some details concerning the next 3DMark. Here are just some of them:
  • The next 3DMark will require a fully PS2.0 capable graphics card for all game tests. None of the game tests will use shaders below version 2.0, and the benchmark is really mainly targeted at the second generation of DX9 compliant cards. Of course users with older/first generation DX9 hardware can run the benchmark and get reliable results, but the tests loads aren't really designed for that generation.
  • None of the tests in the next 3DMark will actually require SM3.0, but if the user has a graphics card capable of doing SM3.0, it will be used by default.
  • The next 3DMark will use a completely new 3D engine, which dynamically builds HLSL shaders. The shaders are dynamically built and runtime compiled using the most optimal target for the hardware in use.
Be sure to read the full interview and see a screenshot from the next 3DMark!

[27.07.2004]Central Brain Identifier 7.2.0.5 Beta Build 0727 is available for download! New features include: ability to change DRAM timings on SiS746, SiS746FX, SiS741GX and SiS748 chipsets, extended support for VIA KT880 and AMD761/762, bugfixes.
NEW: SIV is a general Windows utility for dumping lots of useful Windows and hardware info!

[26.07.2004]Crystal Dew World has released:
ChipInfo 1.1.0 has been released! It supports a lot of new chipsets, including Intel E7205, E7500, E7501 and E7505, etc.

Far Cry Benchmark 1.2.1 is available for download! New features include: separated Pixel Shader 3 code, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Polish and Japanese Far Cry support, shader type, anisotropic filtering and anti-aliasing display in the results file, bugfixes.
[25.07.2004]Advanced HostMonitor 4.52 has been released! It has a lot of minor improvements and bugfixes. Visit the official page for details.

Crystal Dew World has released:
Alchemy Eye 6.1 has been released! Here's what's new: NTP (Network Time Protocol) monitoring, bugfixes.

PRCNM 1.4 has been released! The utility is designed to quickly change the Name String of AMD Athlon XP processors and AMD Duron processors with CPUID 680h. This version supports VIA KT880 chipset.
[23.07.2004]Far Cry Benchmark 1.2 is available for download! New features include: Pixel Shader 2/3 support, 4 official Ubisoft demos, DirectX 9.0c checking, bugfixes.
SpeedFan 4.14 has been released! New in this version: support for S.M.A.R.T. drivers that do not fully report requested data, German language support, full support for nVidia nForce 3 250, full support for LM86, ADM1031, support for W83792D, Fujitsu-Siemens Hermes, minor improvements, bugfixes, etc.

[22.07.2004]An updated version of Battery Eater Pro 2.30 is available for download from BenchmarkHQ! Here's what's new: support for Intel Pentium M (Dothan), extended plug-ins support, Power Scheme Info plug-in, French language support, minor improvements and bugfixes.

HWiNFO32 1.44 has been released! New in this version: LGA775 platform detection, AMD Sempron detection, enhanced support for VIA KT880, Intel 915, 925 and E7525 series chipsets, bugfixes, etc.

HardwareOC.hu has released Far Cry Benchmark 1.1! The HardwareOC Far Cry Benchmark is an easy-to-use tool, that makes video card benchmarking fast and easy. You can select different resolutions, rendering engines, detail levels and much much more by one click. After that, you can sit back and relax, while the computer does its job, there is no need for any intervention. When all the tests are completed, you get the results prepared and ordered in HTML format in a second.
[21.07.2004]RightMark 3DSound 1.20 has been released! New features include: extended functionality (support for all the main features of ÅÀÕ4 Advanced HD, including Environment filtering (Obstruction, Occlusion, Exclusion), Environment Reflections, Environment Panning, Multi-environments and Environment Morfing), new test samples (voice, music, footsteps, gunfire), minor improvements, etc.

CrystalMark 2004 (0.9.102.186) is available for download!

[20.07.2004]NEW: Q-Bench is a comprehensive Microsoft Windows CE benchmarking tool from Qualnetics Corporation!

CDCheck 3.1.0.14 RC2 is available for download!

Intel Processor Frequency ID Utility 7.1 has been released!

[19.07.2004]FRAPS 2.2.4 has been released! New in this version: preliminary DirectX 9.0c support, improved Fraps graphics for systems using large size DPI setting, bugfixes.

OpenGL Extension Viewer 2.10 has been released! Here's what's new: GL_ARB_fragment_shader, GL_ARB_vertex_shader and GL_NV_fragment_program2 extensions specific values (used in the latest Geforce 6800), updated interface, improved XML output data, bugfixes.

NEW: FD Tach is a benchmark targeted towards flash devices!

[18.07.2004]CDCheck 3.1.0.14 RC1 is available for download! This release has a few bugfixes.

Central Brain Identifier 7.2.0.4 Beta Build 0717 is available for download! New features include: support for SiS741 chipset, ability to change the DRAM Refresh Time parameter, etc..
[16.07.2004]A new version of PCIDEVS.TXT is available for download!
Dr.Hardware 2004 Build 5.5.0d (German version) has been released! New features include: support for PCI Express, Intel Pentium 4E ("Prescott") processors, Intel 915P/G, 925X, E7525 and E7210 chipsets, Athlon 64 FX-53 processors, etc.
[15.07.2004]DVDInfoPro 2.56 is available for download! It has some minor improvements and a few bugfixes.

CD/DVD Diagnostic 2.1.3 build 77 is available for download!

[14.07.2004]Disk Speed 1.1 is available for download!

CPU Identification 1.6 has been released!

[13.07.2004]CrystalCPUID 3.5.13.186 has been released!

QuickBench 9.3 is available for download! This version has a few bugfixes and improvements.

[12.07.2004]NEW: FillrateBenchmark can be used to benchmark you video card's FillRate as well as its Pixel Shading power!

[11.07.2004]PC Pitstop has updated its tests and the PC Market Research section! Visit www.pcpitstop.com for more information.

[10.07.2004]IP-Tools 2.30 has been released! Here's what's new: Trap Watcher utility, which allows you to receive SNMP Trap messages, improved HostMonitor, bugfixes, etc.

Intel has released two new test utilities: Hyper-Threading Technology Test Utility and Centrino Mobile Technology Test Utility!
The Hyper-Threading Technology Test Utility is provided by Intel Corporation to test systems for hardware and software elements necessary to meet the Hyper-Threading Technology brand requirements for systems bearing the Intel Pentium 4 processor logo with HT Technology symbol.
The Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Test Utility is provided by Intel Corporation to test systems for hardware and software elements necessary to meet the Intel Centrino Mobile Technology brand requirements for systems bearing the Intel Centrino mobile technology logo.
Both utilities are available in 14 languages.
Source: Warp2Search.net

[09.07.2004]HWiNFO 4.94 has been released! New features include: support for Intel Dothan, detection of Intel Celeron D processors, Intel E7520, E7525 and E7320 chipsets, ATI RS350M, M18, M22, M24 and M24GL mobile chips, nVIDIA Quadro FX 700, ATI Mobility FireGL T2, ATI RV370, RV380, RV380GL, RS400, RS400M, RADEON X800 (R420), R420GL, R423, R423GL, M28, M28GL, nVidia GeForce 6800 (Ultra, GT), GeForce PCX 5750, 5900, 5300, 4300, Quadro PCI-E, Quadro FX 1300, 3400 and 4000, GeForce FX Go5100, Creative Technology SB Audigy LS Sound Card, enhanced support for Intel 915, 925 and E7525 series chipsets, LGA775 platform detection, enhanced support for SATA drives, bugfixes, etc.

Tommti-Systems have published RubyBench 1.1, a benchmark that's based on ATi's double CROSS demo aka Ruby! It runs on NV4x and R42x graphics cards.

Stress Prime 2004 v.0.26 has been released! This version has a number of minor improvements.

HD Tach 3.0.1.0 is available for download!

[08.07.2004]Crystal Dew World has released:
PCI32 0.53 is available for download! This is a bugfix to v0.52, which turned out to have some major bugs with multifunction device scanning. It too has all the improvements as mentioned under classic PCI.

PCI 0.49 has been released! The current release version of PCI now features PCI Specification Version 3.0 support, including all 140 device class/subclass/programming interface codes, preliminary PCI Express support, much improved power management detection & reporting, as well as many minor and cosmetic bug fixes and code cleanups.

A new version of PCIDEVS.TXT is available for download!
HD Tune 2.00 has been released! This is a major update, which includes many new features and improvements.

Futuremark Logo [07.07.2004]Futuremark Corporation has released SPMark04, the world's first industry-grade benchmark for Symbian based smartphones!
SPMark04 provides a comprehensive application for measuring and comparing the performance and power consumption of the increasingly complex mobile platforms. It is a great benefit to the industry by allowing consumers, media, retailers, and operators to objectively compare handsets between each other. SPMark04 also enables handset manufacturers reliably evaluate and compare various semiconductor implementations.
The benchmark has been developed in collaboration with key industry partners, including ATI Technologies, Bitboys, Imagination Technologies (PowerVR), Intel, Khronos Group, Neomagic, and NVIDIA under Futuremark's Benchmark Development Program for Smartphones.
SPMark04 measures the performance and power efficiency of Symbian based smartphones and includes visually stunning 3D game play test using the OpenGL ES graphics API. For handsets without hardware OpenGL ES implementation, the benchmark includes Hybrid Graphics' OpenGL ES API Implementation.
Key Features of SPMark04:
  • Supports handsets with Symbian 6 and 7 operating systems and Series60 or UIQ user interface.
  • Comprehensive test suite to measure overall system performance and power consumption.
  • OpenGL ES 3D tests (3D game play, 3D fill rate, 3D polygon throughput).
  • Image processing tests (2D image, image scaling, JPEG encoding).
  • General usage tests (contacts, calendar, disk access).
SPMark04 is immediately available in two versions: a Business Edition ($250) and a Developer's Edition ($6,000 + programming) at Futuremark's secure web store at http://www.futuremark.com/products/spmark04.
Consumer versions and UIQ support will be made available in the 3rd quarter of 2004.

SPMark04


A new version of PCIDEVS.TXT is available for download! PCIDEVS.TXT is a PCI device database used in many different programs, such as PCI, PCI32, AltiPCI, etc.
PCI32 0.52 has been released! The current release version of PCI32 now features PCI Specification Version 3.0 support, including all 140 device class/subclass/programming interface codes, preliminary PCI Express support, much improved power management detection & reporting, as well as many minor and cosmetic bug fixes and code cleanups.

[06.07.2004]NEW: Pixel Persistence Analyzer is a truly amazing LCD testing tool, which should make it easier to compare the pixel persistence of TFT monitors!

BIOS Agent 3.33 has been released!

Sad news came today. Alex Van Kaam has decided to discontinue the development of one of the best temperature monitoring utilities - Motherboard Monitor. You can learn more about this decision on the official page. What a pity!

[05.07.2004]System Analyser 5.3c has been released! New features include: detection of AMD Sempron, Intel Xeon Nocona, Intel Celeron D, Intel Prescott step E0 and AMD Odessa processors, Intel Grantsdale and Alderwood chipsets, DVD+R DL, DDCD-ROM, DDCD-R and DDCD-RW, updated database, bugfixes, etc.

Central Brain Identifier 7.2.0.3 Beta Build 0703 is available for download! This version has a preliminary support for AMD Sempron processors (Socket 754).
[04.07.2004]Tommti-Systems have published a benchmark that's based on ATi's double CROSS demo aka Ruby! Runs on NV4x and R42x graphics cards.
Source: Warp2Search.net
DVD Identifier 3.4 build 4 has been released! It has some minor improvements.

Futuremark Logo [02.07.2004]Futuremark Corporation has announced that Microsoft Corp. subscribed to its online PC performance estimation framework. The service is available to users from the Windows Media Video High-Definition (WMV HD) website at http://wmvhd.com. Similar to the previously announced Windows XP Games Advisor, the service helps Windows users find out in advance if their Windows XP PC is able to play back movies published in WMV HD format.
Futuremark's performance estimation framework analyzes more than 300 different PC attributes and then estimates the playback capabilities of the PC as a whole. The service enables Windows users to quickly determine if their current PC is able to play back WMV HD content. In the event the content is not able to be played, Futuremark's performance estimation framework also includes reports to the user on how to upgrade their PC for enabling WMV HD content playback. Similar technology, by Futuremark, powers Microsoft's Windows XP Game Advisor that helps Windows XP users determine if games will run on their computer. Read on.

Belarc Advisor 6.1f has been released!

[01.07.2004]Alex Van Kaam has released a patch for Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7.0, which fixes a bug with Samurize and other 3rd party programs.
An updated version of S&M 0.3.2 has been released! From now on S&M is also available in English.

DVDInfoPro 2.55 is available for download! It has a number of bugfixes.

Crystal Dew World has released: These versions support Intel Nocona.

Back to news archive