Event: Atomic helped Intel show off its shiny new high end processors, challenged some lucky Atomicans to a mighty gaming challenge, and generally had a hoot in Melbourne.
Monash University is fast becoming a home away from home. We held AtomicCon there over the weekend (and a full report and gallery is coming soon!), and last night we helped Intel kick off its new range of high end silicon - the Core i7-3960X and i7-3930K, which are replacements for the now aging Nehalem CPUs.
Also known as Sandy Bridge E, these chips go along with the new X79 boards we've been revealing over the last few weeks. And man... they are fast.
Intel's own Kamil Gurgen ran the event (with some help from yours truly), and he walked an audience of 12 VIP ticket winners and Monash students through the impressive speeds and feeds. Intel dutifully catelogued the event, and even streamed it live to their Facebook page, so you can check all that out here.
After the simulcast, though, we got down to putting the new chips through their paces, in an epic contest that put the VIP winners - and their nominated partners - up against two of Team Immunity's best. The challenge? Two v two squad Conquest in Battlefield 3, with the aim being for the our Atomican's to hold out for as long as possible against the TI onslought.
And, of course, they were playing on brand new 3960X systems.
The first team set a blistering pace that saw them hold the lead all night, but in the final round, the main prize - a complete 3960X PC hand-made for gaming - went to Tim Kitchen. Runners up received a 2600K processor, and a 280GB Intel SSD.
In all, it was an epic night of tech and gaming (and some beer)! Thanks again to Intel for working with us on the event, thanks to Monash and its IT Faculty for being such excellent hosts, and thanks to Team Immunity for the pwning.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012