Want to know how to upgrade your Radeon 8500 LE OEM to an Radeon 8500 retail! Well it's easy just upgarde your BIOS but your not sure how to do that? Well ASE Labs have the answer.

Here's a bite from their review:

I'm not only going to go over the numbers of the card itself, but how I turned this humble little Radeon LELE into a retail Radeon, in the process, saving a pretty penny. Please don't try to upgrade your Radeon unless you are sure that you have tested it to make sure it will work or you are a complete nut like me and just did it. Since this is my first real video card review, all the options that I wanted to test didn't work correctly for me so this review may be a bit light on the benchmarks, but there is enough to determine the quality of the card.

NOMAD II (0MB on board firmware update 3.00.233)

CN2-FWARE-6-US

This is a new stand-alone firmware release of NOMAD II (0MB on board firmware) for users running on Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows 2000 and Windows ME only.

This release includes support for 128MB SmartMedia and is meant for NOMAD II O MB (Model DAP0001/DAP0002) only.

Note: This release is NOT TO BE USED with any other models other than those stated above.

MSI have released new BIOS files!

Fdrsoft have got their hands on new ACORP bios files!

This was a bit surprising but eventually foreseeable. Since Hercules kicked Nvidia with their Kyro lineup last year this has been a company for ATI to aim at. Well sorry to see the blue Orb GeForce cards vanish... Here is the press release: Munich, Germany and La Gacilly, France, January 10th, 2002 - ATI Technologies Inc. (TSE: ATY, NASDAQ: ATYT), a world leader in the supply of graphics, video and multimedia solutions, and Hercules (Euronext Paris, Guillemot- 6672), European leader in graphics retail boards, announced today a strategic partnership to develop a range of graphics products, including high-end boards for the hardcore gamer and the family user. Hercules will market through a European Exclusive Agreement ATI's new ALL-IN-WONDER® products including ALL-IN-WONDER® RADEON? 8500 DV technology in retail and distribution channels. This exciting technology is number one worldwide and already counts for 14% of the United States 3D retail market value (NPD Intelect/PC Data: January to November 2001). Hercules will also have worldwide access to the latest ATI 3D graphics technologies, including ATI's RADEON? 8500 chip. ATI products have been designed to support the latest DirectX® 8.1 3D application-specific interface (API), resulting in support for more games and delivering the most realistic images possible on a PC screen. Hercules will take advantage of this technology to manufacture the most powerful high-end graphics cards in its 3D Prophet? branded product offerings.

FdrSoft have found some new Iwill BIOSes:

Iwill KK266plus (Product No. 35104) BIOS Date Code: Jan.04.2002 Iwill KK266plus-R (Product No. 35105) BIOS Date Code: Jan.04.2002 Iwill KA266plus (Product No. 32403) BIOS Date Code: Jan.04.2002 Iwill KA266plus-R (Product No. 32402) BIOS Date Code: Jan.04.2002 Iwill KD266 (Product No. 32500A) BIOS Date Code: Jan.04.2002 Iwill KD266Plus (Product No. 32501) BIOS Date Code: Jan.07.2002

Here's some new bioses files that I found while surfing the net from Abit, Asus, ECS Elitegroup, Gigabyte, MSI, Shuttle, Soyo, Tyan !!!

Saw it just over @ 3dSoundSourge that Creative has released their new Sound Blaster Extigy. Creative Technology has unveiled the Sound Blaster® Extigy(TM), the first external Sound Blaster in Creative's history. Creative doesn't specifically state it but it appears to be basically an Audigy in a compact external device that connects to the notebook or desktop via the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. It can also be used without the PC as a Dolby Digital decoder for a set-top DVD or the X-Box. 3dSoundSourge reports also, that the card ship this month at an estimated street price of US$149.99.
Read More for technical details

MSI have released some new BIOS Updates. Use caution when flashing your BIOS. For update details check with the appropriate MSI page.

Hit read more for the full list.

Time Magazine Canada added a little spice to todays overkill of PC hardware news. Apple is about to release the next generation of their iMac desktop PowerPC series.

A new day, some new BIOS updates: Und hier sind mal wieder einige BIOS Updates von Asus:
A7N266-E ACPI BIOS 1001.B final
A7V266-E ACPI BIOS 1005 final
A7V133-M BIOS 1005.A final
Be careful when you flash your BIOS and please check the readme first to determine if you have grabbed the right BIOS.

x-bios have manufactured their own range of CPU /CASE coolers and the first model is called hurricane storm!

I got to say this is the biggest cooler I've ever seen. LOL and it sells for 10 dollars.

So warp to x-bios and check out there hurricane storm cooler.

SUNNYVALE, CA -- January 07, 2002 --AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the new AMD Athlon? XP processor 2000+, reinforcing AMD?s commitment to provide the industry?s highest performing desktop PC processors to our customers. Systems featuring the AMD Athlon XP processor 2000+ are expected to be immediately available from Compaq in the U.S. Other top-tier manufacturers, including Hewlett-Packard Company and MicronPC, LLC in the U.S., and NEC-CI in Europe, also plan to offer systems soon with the AMD Athlon XP processor 2000+. Benchmark results and review links available!

Matrox has a new BIOS for abovementioned cards.
Release date: Jan. 2, 2002
Filesize: 2.04 MB
Release notes: Matrox Setup and Utilities (v.2.55.002) Fixes bug where our graphics BIOS was using DVI timings even though the hardware has no DVI connector. Fixes bug on the G550 where in some cases, any monitor conneceted to the HD15 connector would be blank either during post or blank during post and also in Windows.

Because of the positive feedback the last time I once again did some serious web crawling to dig those out. Read on to find out if your drive is among those ready to be updated. Please remember that flashing is only necessary when you experience problems with your drive. Also check that the firmware suits your drive. Wrong firmware flashes can render your drive inoperable.

The lucky boyz from VR-ZONE have got their hands on Intel's new 2.2GHz Northwood CPU!!!!!!!!

Here's what their saying

All rite, i have done some overclocking tests on the GF3 Ti200 and P4 2.2Ghz Northwood and run some 3DMark2001 benchmarks. I have managed to overclock the P4 2.2Ghz to 2.8Ghz (22x128 : multiplier locked) and GF3 Ti200 (175/400@240/540). Everything is air cooled here.

Intel 2.8GHz Northwood 3DMarks 2001 score

"C.P. Technology schedules to launch its Ultra edition for Radeon 8500 which adopts the most innovative memory technology provides up to 600MHz (DDR) clock speed. This awesome product will be launched in the first quarter of 2002." This baby will run at 300/300MHz compared to the 275/275 normal Radeon. Read the complete article over @ MaxReboot.

Liquid Crystal Displays or as they are more commonly know LCD's are made up of many different layers that are pressed together. Liquid Crystal, onto its self is a special type of fluid that has cylinder looking crystals that can alter light as it passes through it. This fluid is "pressed" between Aligning layers (which have fine grooves) and the crystals basically line up in these grooves, when pressed together. The next layer to be added would be a polarized filter. It is used to allow or block a polarized light from shining through, depending on where voltage is applied.

MSI have released some new BIOS Updates!!! Use caution when flashing your BIOS. For update details check with the appropriate MSI page.

Hit read more for the full list.

I've just got an Email from crow of the Darkcrow.co.kr that Unitec have now released the Unitec Radeon 8500 retail card. It is clocked at 275/275 MHz(core/mem) and the PCB is in jade green!!! :D

So get out your translators as the site is in Korean or just look at the pics.

Unitec Radeon 8500 retail 275/275 MHz scoopage