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Half-Life 2 e AA: problemi risolti

Qualche settimana fa era dilagato che il prossimo attesissimo titolo Valve, ovvero Half Life 2, avesse dei problemi a far funzionare l'anti-aliasing su schede grafiche nVidia, per colpa di alcuni bug delle DirectX 9 non fixabili con un nuovo driver.

Dopo una chat con alcuni membri del team Valve, è giunta la notizia che questi problemi sono stati risolti, per tanto anche possessori di schede GeForce potranno giovare di questa tecnica, che aumenta notevolmente la qualità visiva e l'impatto dei videogames.

Fonte: ShackNews

OmegaDrive's aggiornati

Il coder Omega ha aggiornato la sua suite di driver per schede ATi, basati sui Catalyst ufficiali ma personalizzati con vari tweaks che ne migliorano ulteriormente la qualità e la velocità.

Ecco le novità introdotte dalla versione 2.4.74a:

* Fixed the 9600 TX installation problem.
* Fixed all the other "card not recognized" problems. (Yes, really, I did it...)
* Included a new utility, rTool, ONLY because it offers an option
to force Triple Buffering in OpenGL games and I can't enable it
by default on the drivers because there are some games that will
not run correctly with TB enabled, more info here:
http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33699972
* Added TV Overscan support.
* Removed some tweaks that where causing problems.

Il donwload cliccando qui.

Half Life 2 video

In rete sono disponibili 5 filmati in formato Bink Video che mostrano l'atteso Half Life 2.



Il download è disponibile presso questo indirizzo.

Half Life 2 posticipato

Half Life 2, seguito del rivoluzionario shooter comparso qualche anno fa, non rispetterà la sua originaria data d'uscita, prevista per il 30 settembre. Ecco un estratto della news di GameSpot:

Today we received word from the game's publisher, Vivendi Universal, that Half-Life 2's release has been delayed until later this year. Without commenting on the delay, a Vivendi Universal representative reaffirmed that the game would ship this year, sometime during the holiday season.

Per mettervi le mani sopra quindi, dovremo aspettare ancora un pò...

Nuovi driver nForce versione 2.45

nVidia ha da poco rilasciato i nuovi drivers unificati per nForce ed nForce 2 versione 2.45, certificati WHQL. Oltre alla correzione di alcuni bug, sono ora supportati ufficialmente i chip nForce2 400 ed Ultra400, sono state migliorate le prestazioni del sottosistema audio, ora corredato da un pannello aggiornato, e migliorata la compatibilità con alcuni videogames. Per il download, fate click sul link:

• nForce 2 driver 2.45, versione internazionale (24.8mb)

Speed^N, tweaking per nForce

Qualche news fa vi avevamo annunciato un'imminente novità in casa nVidia: non si tratta come sussurato di un'utility per overclock ma bensì di un completo software per la gestione di configurazioni basate su nForce2.

Speed^N potrebbe rivelarsi un valido sostituto al classico bios, infatti permette di intervenire su tutti i parametri tipici di quest'ultimo, come bus di sistema, moltiplicatori, bus di AGP/PCI, timings delle memorie, voltaggi di CPU, memorie, AGP e northbridge. Inoltre sarà possibile modificare la velocità di rotazione delle ventole, così da ridurne il rumore emesso.

Nuovi Hyperion v4.48

Oggi VIA, noto produttore di chipset, ha pubblicato sul sito VIA-Arena una nuova versione del suoi driver Hyperion, giunti alla release v4.48.



Il download a questo indirizzo.

Nuove MS DirectX 9.0b ufficiali

Microsoft ha rilasciato una nuova versione riveduta delle sue API DirectX, giunte alla versione 9.0b.

In earlier versions of DirectX, there is a security issue in DirectShow. This vulnerability allows an attacker to execute code on a user’s system. Microsoft has fixed that issue in DirectX 9.0b.
This is a buffer overrun vulnerability. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could, in the worst case, run code of his or her choice on a user’s system. The attacker's code would run with the same privileges as the user: any restrictions on the user's ability to change the system would apply to the attacker's code.

There are two ways to obtain that fix, either you download a small download package which fixes the security issue in DirectShow or you can download the whole DirectX 9.0b End-user runtime package. In both cases, your DirectX version will be updated to 9.0b and build number will be updated to 4.90.00.0902.

The only difference is that DirectX 9.0b can not be uninstalled while DirectX 9.0a patch can be uninstalled if you want to restore your previous version of DirectX.

DirectX 9.0b requires Windows Server 2003 (all versions except Windows Server 2003 64-bit editions), Windows XP (all versions except Windows XP 64-bit editions), Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3), Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4), or Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition. The Microsoft Windows 2000 version of the security patch is included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4).

I file possono essere prelevati da qui:
- DX 9.0b End-User Runtime
- DX 9.0b Patch

Fonte: Rage3D

Nuovi Omegadrivers

Lo scripter Omega, di cui si è recentemente appreso l'abbandono dello sviluppo di drivers nVidia, ha rilasciato una nuova versione per schede ATi, basata sul core degli ultimissimi Catalyst 3.6.

Based on the official Catalyst 3.6 ATI drivers. (9x/ME/2k/XP) - Added support for the following chipsets: Radeon 9600 TX - Fixed the "Card not supported" message, now the drivers should install in any card without problems. (9x/ME/2k/XP) - Experimental Mobility Support in 9x/ME (installs differently, let me know if it installs correctly). (9x/ME) - Added some new tweaks that should improve performance. (9x/ME/2k/XP) - Updated the Overclocking utility to version 1.800d. (2k/XP) - Re-Enabled support for 1280x768 resolution. (2k/XP) - The 9500->9800 and 9700->9800 hack is still avaiable as an install option. (2k/XP) - The 9x/ME drivers still don't have the hacked driver incorporated, sorry.(9x/ME)

Il download a questa pagina.

Abit FlashMenu™: aggiornare il bios da Window

Abit ha ufficializzato l'uscita dell'utility per il flashing del bios della propria scheda madre direttamente dal proprio desktop di Windows, con la possibilità di scaricare il bios più aggiornato per il proprio modello direttamente dal web.



Per il download, fate fede a questo link.

Ahead Nero 6.0 oggi in uscita!

Secondo le informazioni pubblicate sul sito web del produttore del famoso software di masterizzazione Nero Burning Rom, oggi è in uscita l'attesa versione 6.0.
Questa versione non è solo un update della versione 5.5, ma una suite completa per la masterizzazione, authoring cd e dvd e gestione file audio-video.


Tutte le novità presenti sono qui elencate:

Nero StartSmart
StartSmart is the project launcher that makes it easy to navigate this powerful software. All the tools you need are organized together and available with the click of a mouse. StartSmart has every coll effect and editing tool you will ever need to take your projects to the next level.

Nero Burning ROM 6
While maintaining the same feel as earlier versions of Nero Burning ROM, version 6 takes the program to the next level. More than just a face lift, the sleek new look covers our most powerful and reliable burning engine yet.

Nero Express 6
The fastest way to perfect results. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, Nero Express guides you quickly and easily through your projects.

NeroVision Express 2
With the new advanced video authoring of Nero Vision Express 2, you can capture video, or use existing video files, then edit, add effects and transitions, create your menus and titles, layer the whole thing over your favorite music, then burn to DVD and VCD and SVCD. You can also use Nero Vision Express 2 to create great looking slide shows in a snap

Nero Wave Editor 2
Nero Wave Editor is a program for editing and recording audio files. The various filters and effects allow you to create perfect audio files quickly and easily. Then burn your edited audio tracks using Nero Burning ROM, Nero Express or NeroMIX.

Nero SoundTrax
Nero SoundTrax is a professional program for the production of audio CDs. As well as putting together a compilation of audio files for a CD just like a DJ, you can also mix, edit, and cross-fade the files. Nero SoundTrax also has wizards that make it easy to transfer your records or tapes to CD.
Its just like having your own virtual multitrack studio.

Nero Cover Designer
Nero Cover Designer is a user friendly program for creating and designing individual covers and labels. It allows you to use your own ideas to create CD covers, booklets and much more. You can give every disc an individual look, or simply download the original cover. To get you started, Nero 6 Ultra Edition also contains a label applicator and labels from NEATO.

Nero Media Player
With the Nero Media Player you can handle all kinds of audio files, e.g. MP3, WAV or AAC and playback Audio-CDs. In addition you can stream internet radio and create variable playlists.

Nero ShowTime
With Nero ShowTime, you can play back all your digital content (e.g. movies, TV programs, home videos, DVD video) with excellent picture and sound quality. You can even playback all MPEG-4 compatible formats! Turn your computer into a theatre, its Showtime.

Nero ToolKit
The Nero TookKit contains the following programs: Nero CD-DVD Speed, Nero DriveSpeed and Nero InfoTool. Nero CD-DVD Speed is a program that tests the speed of the available CD/DVD drives. Nero DriveSpeed allows you to set the read speed of discs, which noticeably lowers noise level, or to optimize the spin up or spin down times of your drives. Nero InfoTool provides you with information about the most important features of installed drives, inserted discs, installed software and much more.

InCD 4
InCD is a packet writing program, which formats rewritable discs so they can be used like large floppy disks. You can copy files onto the disc using Drag&Drop in Microsoft Explorer or save them to the disc from other applications.

EasyWrite Reader 4
EasyWrite Reader is a program that allows you to read discs written in MRW format on systems that do not support MRW.

Nero ImageDrive
Ever wish that you could see whats inside a disc image?
Nero ImageDrive sets up a virtual CD-ROM drive, which looks like a real drive to your PC and behaves in just the same way, i.e. it allows you to open and view files and programs that are located on this virtual drive (image).

Nero BackItUp
Nero BackItUp is a full featured stand-alone application and now fully integrated for easy use! Throw your data a lifeline. Back it up using this simple yet powerful set of tools and technologies. Rest easy and let backItUp do the work for you.

MPEG-2/DVD Plug-in
Combined with NeroVision Express 2, the MPEG-2/DVD Plug-in allows the encoding of video files in DVD/SVCD format. And the encoding of SVCD in Nero Burning ROM. Just burn the disc then play them back on any DVD player.

HE-AAC Plug-in
The HE-AAC Plug-in allows you to encode and playback audio files in MP4 format, the future of internet audio. High Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding (HE-AAC) is the very latest audio compression technology; its main advantage over earlier formats is its revolutionary high-speed compression and its incomparable sound quality. The HE-AAC Plug-in offers unlimited multiple real time encoding, variable bit rates, multi-channel functionality and direct MPEG-4 ripping, burning, playback and editing.

Finora non è ancora apparso nulla sul sito di Ahead, ma sono attese novità già dalla prossime ore.

OmegaDrive: non più per nVidia

Dopo l'azione legale di nVidia verso il coder Omega, conosciuto per i suoi driver custom per schede grafiche nVidia prima, ATi in seguito, questi ha deciso di non rilasciare più nuove build, a tutto danno per la comunità di utenti, a mio modo di vedere. Infatti gli OmegaDrive avevano come unico obbiettivo risolvere i bugs presenti in ogni release, e trovare in giusto connubbio tra prestazioni e qualità visiva.

"Well, as most of you have heard by now, I will not be releasing any more Omega drivers for nvidia cards. I know this must come as a surprise for many since there are a lot of people who trust my work and know that I'm doing all of this to help people. This is what REALLY happened:I received an E-Mail from nvidia o­n June 17, it was from o­ne of their attorneys, and he wanted to speak with me personally o­n the phone. The mail seemed friendly, but since it was coming from the nvidia law offices, I was worried of some kind of lawsuit because of my work...."

Maggiori informazioni su xtremesystem.org.