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Over the past week we've seen a deluge of Counter-Strike: Source performance articles. For the most part, coverage has focused on graphics cards, but there's more to the Counter-Strike: Source performance story than pixel-pushing power. In addition to higher polygon counts, bigger textures, and fancy shader effects, CS: Source also features a surround sound audio engine that wraps in-game audio around five speakers.

Unlike the DOOM 3 engine, which currently processes positional audio on the CPU, the Source engine appears to take advantage of hardware 3D audio acceleration. In theory, leveraging sound card resources to crunch positional audio calculations should free up CPU resources and improve overall performance, but is there really much of a performance difference between audio implementations? We've rounded up nine different sound cards to find out.

News source: The Tech Report

MOM 2005 helps IT administrators turn management data into actions with next-generation knowledge provided through new management packs. The management packs allow customers to generate in-depth reports, reduce their resolution time, remotely manage their servers, and take advantage of capabilities to manage Web-services-based applications.

"MOM 2005 and MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition provide our broad set of customers with richer monitoring knowledge and analysis tools to ensure that they're getting every penny from their IT investments," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president at Microsoft. "Now customers can act ahead of time, improving availability while driving down cost. This improved management is another important step for customers in our DSI roadmap."

"Our bank had an immediate need to manage our newly deployed terminal server farm and our growing server base without increasing our staff," said Shai Ofek, lead systems engineer for the Distributed Systems Group at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. "MOM 2005 offers us an end-to-end solution and is now an integral part of every server deployment. We are now able to manage over 400 servers with only five dedicated people. The new MOM 2005 has proved to be invaluable to our organisation."

MOM 2005 Reduces Complexity, Delivers Next-Generation Knowledge
The new version of MOM offers unique built-in security features, such as the capability to mutually authenticate agents and servers, which is designed to help protect organisations from misuse of the management system.

A broad range of vendors are providing customers with hardware solutions and software applications to maximise the benefits of MOM 2005. These include Aprisma, BindView Corp., Dell Inc., eXc Software, HP, JalaSOFT Corp., MetiLinx Inc., Motive Inc., NetIQ Corp., NetPro Computing Inc., Opalis Software Inc., Quest Software Inc., Silect Software Inc., Skywire Software, Tidal Software Inc. and VERITAS Software Corp.

MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition
MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition offers unparalleled price and performance for midmarket (with up to 10 servers) customers. MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition offers midmarket companies a new level of functionality not previously affordable and is fully upgradeable to MOM 2005. Customers can begin receiving value from MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition within hours through a seamless setup experience.

Simplified Pricing and Licensing
Licensing for MOM 2005 has been simplified to be consistent with similar Microsoft products such as Systems Management Server 2003. Customers can purchase a license for their central server and an Operations Management License (OML) for each MOM 2005-managed device. Estimated retail pricing for MOM 2005 and MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition is listed here:

* MOM 2005 Server License: $729 (U.S.)
* MOM 2005 OML five pack: $2,689 (U.S.)
* MOM 2005 Workgroup Edition (manages up to 10 devices): $499 (U.S.)
About Windows Server System
Microsoft Windows Server System(tm) is a comprehensive family of server software providing the infrastructure for IT operations, application development, integration and information work. Built on the Windows Server(tm) operating system and designed with Common Engineering Criteria, Windows Server System is focused on making it easier for IT professionals to connect and manage their IT environments. Because Windows Server System products are integrated for enhanced manageability and security, they help organisations reduce complexity and lower costs. All Windows Server System products support open industry standards including those based on XML to promote interoperability with other platforms. More information on Windows Server System can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem.