Ced's PC

3 Intel Z68 Express Chipset Motherboards Reviewed

2011-05-17T18:18:00.000+08:00

Tom's Hardware compared 3 Intel Z68 Express chipset motherboards - ASRock Z68 Extreme4, Asus P8Z68-V Pro, and Gigabyte Z68X-UD3H-B3. These are compatible with 32nm Sandy Bridge LGA 1155 socket processors, which are the Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, and some Pentium G-series models.

'The P8Z68-V Pro has the best overall performance, but the difference between it and the Z68 Extreme4 is less than 1%. The average difference is too small to show up on the chart, and ASRock had better efficiency.' [tomshardware]

'The real reason why we can’t hand the win to the P8Z68-V Pro is its compromised expansion card slots. Using the bottom slot at x4 results in two x1 slots and two onboard controllers being disabled. In other words, the bottom graphics card slot turns out to be more gimmick than feature, and may cause system builders to feel like they’ve been duped.' [tomshardware]

'ASRock adds a PCIe bridge to its Z68 Extreme4. Anyone who really wants a x4 slot should view this as mandatory. So, ASRock wins our Recommended Buy award.' [tomshardware]

So, the motherboard to get is the ASRock Z68 Extreme4, for a proper x4 slot. Remember, the mobo chipset and spec is crucial for system performance, and should never be taken lightly.

More details at Tom's Hardware - Z68 Express Roundup

Best Bang per Buck Graphics Cards, May 2011

2011-05-10T04:21:00.001+08:00

Here are the best bang per buck gaming graphics cards for May 2011, as compiled by Tom's Hardware:

Price | Graphics card

65 | Radeon HD 5570 DDR3
75 | Radeon HD 5670
115 | Radeon HD 5770 (Radeon HD 6770)
175 | Radeon HD 6850
210 | Radeon HD 6870
245 | Radeon HD 6950 1 GB
275 | Radeon HD 6950 2 GB
340 | 2 x Radeon HD 6850 in CrossFire
420 | 2 x Radeon HD 6870 in CrossFire
550 | 2 x Radeon HD 6950 2 GB in CrossFire

As with the April 2011 recommendation, a Radeon HD 5570 DDR3 should be the minimum for a decent graphics card for a new rig, or an upgrade to the built-in graphics of your motherboard.

If you're looking for something in the mid-range, the Radeon HD 6850 is still your best bet. This card could also be the base for an upgrade to a Crossfire configuration for dual graphics card happiness.

Need more graphics muscle? Two Radeon HD 6950 2 GB cards in CrossFire is for you. Just make sure you are already 'packed' in the main processor department before even thinking of this combo. ;)

- Read the Best Graphics Cards For The Money: May 2011 article by Tom's Hardware

Best Bang per Buck Graphics Cards, April 2011

2011-05-09T05:19:00.001+08:00

Here are the best bang per buck gaming graphics cards for April 2011, to help you decide on what graphics card to get for your new rig:

Price in US$ / Graphics card

$65 Radeon HD 5570 DDR3
$80 Radeon HD 5670
$105 GeForce GTS 450
$120 Radeon HD 5770 1GB
$165 Radeon HD 6850
$210 Radeon HD 6870
$240 Radeon HD 6950 1GB
$270 Radeon HD 6950 2GB
$330 2 x Radeon HD 6850 in CrossFire
$420 2 x Radeon HD 6870 in CrossFire
$540 2 x Radeon HD 6950 2GB in CrossFire

So nowadays, a Radeon HD 5570 DDR3 should be the minimum for a decent graphics card for a new rig. If you're looking for something in the mid-range, the Radeon HD 6850 is your best bet. This card could also be the base for an upgrade to a Crossfire configuration for dual graphics card happiness.

Read the Best Graphics Cards For The Money: April 2011 article by Tom's Hardware

Best Bang per Buck Graphics Cards, for August 2010

2010-09-16T01:37:00.000+08:00

Here are the best bang per buck gaming graphics cards for August 2010:

Price / Graphics Card:

(~$55) Radeon HD 4650
(~$75) GeForce GT 240 GDDR5
(~$105) Radeon HD 4850 1 GB
(~$105) GeForce GTS 250 1 GB
(~$135) Radeon HD 5750 1 GB
(~$155) Radeon HD 5770 1 GB
(~$200) GeForce GTX 460 768 MB
(~$200) Radeon HD 5830
(~$230) GeForce GTX 460 1 GB
(~$270) 2 x Radeon HD 5750 1 GB in CrossFire Configuration
(~$300) GeForce GTX 470
(~$460) 2 x GeForce GTX 460 1 GB in SLI Configuration
(~$600) 2 x GeForce GTX 470 in SLI Configuration

The Radeon HD 4650 is the best value graphics card. Those wanting an Nvidia card will have to spend a bit more for the GeForce GT 240 GDDR5.

If you intend to run dual graphics cards, but would want to purchase the pair one by one, the Radeon HD 5750 is a good choice. Again, the Nvidia fans will have to spend more with a pair of the GeForce GTX 460 1 GB.

[info derived from Tom's Hardware article]

Best Bang per Buck Processors, for August 2010

2010-09-16T01:24:00.001+08:00

Here are the best bang per buck gaming processors for August 2010:

Price / Processor:

(~US$70) Athlon II X3 425
(~$85) Athlon II X3 445
(~$115) Core i3-530
(~$140) Phenom II X4 945
(~$160) Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition
(~$180) Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition
(~$210) Core i5-760
(~$290) Core i7-930
(~$999) Core i7-980X Extreme

The best value gaming processor is the Athlon II X3 425, with the Athlon II X3 445 being the close second. Given the $5 price difference between the two, the X3 445 would probably be the more cost effective choice. The Core i3-530 is the value choice for people who prefer an Intel processor.

If you need more processing power, the Phenom II X4 965 or the Core i5-760 are great choices.

[info derived from Tom's Hardware article]

Best Bang per Buck Gaming Processors, July 2010

2010-07-28T02:36:00.001+08:00

Thinking of building a new gaming rig this Q3 2010? Tom’s Hardware recommends these gaming CPUs from AMD and Intel as best picks:

CPUs:

Athlon II X3 435 (US$70)
Athlon II X3 445 ($85)
Core i3-530 ($115)
Phenom II X4 945 ($140)
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition ($160)
Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition ($180)
Core i5-750 ($200)
Core i7-930 ($295)
Core i7-980X Extreme ($999)

The current best value gaming processor is the AMD Athlon II X3 435, with the Athlon II X3 445 breathing down its neck. If the actual street price difference between the two is not that much, it’s probably best to get the latter instead.

Not an AMD fan? The Intel Core i3-530 would be the value gaming processor for you. Yes, the Core i5 models may be tempting, but it would cost you almost double for the i3.

For better performance picks, you could take a look at the AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition or the Intel Core i5-750.

New Unibody Apple Mac minis Introduced

2010-06-15T21:45:00.001+08:00

Apple just recently redesigned its Mac mini – sleek aluminum unibody, built-in power supply, HDMI port + Mini DisplayPort, SD card slot, and improved energy efficiency. Also available is the Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server.

Mac mini Tech Specs:

2.4GHz or 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz frontside bus)
2GB (2 x 1GB DDR3 SO-DIMMs, up to 8GB total for the 2 slots)
320GB or 500GB Serial ATA hard disk drive
8x slot-loading SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Ports: FireWire 800 x1, USB2.0 x4, SD card slot, Mini DisplayPort (2560x1600), HDMI port (1920x1200)
NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
Software: Mac OS X Snow Leopard, iLife
Dimensions: 19.7 x 19.7 x 3.6 cm
Weight: 1.37 kg
Price: starts at US$699

Mac mini Server Tech Specs:

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (3MB L2 cache, 1066MHz frontside bus)
4GB (2 x 2GB DDR3 SO-DIMMs, up to 8GB total for the 2 slots)
Dual 500GB 7200-RPM Serial ATA hard disk drives
Ports: FireWire 800 x1, USB2.0 x4, SD card slot, Mini DisplayPort (2560x1600), HDMI port (1920x1200)
NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
Software: Mac OS X Server v10.6 Snow Leopard (Unlimited-Client License)
Dimensions: 19.7 x 19.7 x 3.6 cm
Weight: 1.29 kg
Price: US$999

ATI Radeon HD 5670 Graphics Card Reviewed

2010-01-22T05:40:00.001+08:00

The ATI Radeon HD 5670 (~US$100) from AMD offers DirectX 11 ready hardware at the $100 price point, competing with the GeForce 9600 GT, GeForce 9800 GT, GeForce GTS 250, Radeon HD 4770, and Radeon HD 4850.

Features:

400 Shader Processors
20 Texture Units
8 Color ROPs
775 MHz Core Clock
1000 MHz GDDR5 Memory Clock
128-bit Memory Bus
4 Gb/s Data Rate
0.62 Compute Power (TFLOPs)
0.627 Transistors (Billions)
61W Maximum Power
14W Idle Power

Guru of 3D sees the Radeon HD 5670 as an excellent product for HTPCs:

“The Radeon HD 5760 is ideal for the lady's and gents that play games occasionally in a non-extreme way. It suits the regular PC user that that a lot of desktop work, or uses his/her PC as net or work PC. Next to that, and we have mentioned this several times now, the 5600 card series will be an excellent product for HTPCs. The sheer shader units count the GPU has embedded on it makes it very suitable for 1080P content playback with software like Media Player HT edition, in that software you can utilize and enable the shaders to post process image quality to a higher level. Next to that the embedded video processor (through UVD 2.0) will easily decode and accelerate your BluRay movies over the GPU. We can't wait to see some products with even more silent customized cooling.” [Guru of 3D | HD 5670]

HotHardware appreciates the Radeon HD 5670’s value performance and features:

“The Radeon HD 5670 will be available for purchase immediately at on-line retailers, in 512MB and 1GB flavors. If you're in the market for an affordable graphics card as an upgrade from an integrated solution or last-gen mainstream card, the Radeon HD 5670 is worth a serious look. AMD has just lowered the DirectX 11 cost of entry to below 100 bucks, and has done so with a product that doesn't skimp on features and offers very respectable performance for the money. That makes the Radeon HD 5670 a solid value in our book.” [HotHardware | HD 5670]

AnandTech feels that the Radeon HD 5670 is a "good enough card”, but still prefers an HD 4850:

“So where does that leave the 5670? The 5670 does surprisingly well against the 9800 GT. It wins in some cases, trails very slightly in a few more, and then outright loses only in games where the 5670 is already playable up to 1920x1200. From a performance standpoint I think the 9800 GT is ahead, but it’s not enough to matter; meanwhile the “green” 9800 GT shortens the gap even more, and it still is over 10W hotter than the 5670. The 5670 is a good enough replacement for the 9800 GT in that respect, plus it has support for DX11, Eyefinity, and 3D Blu-Ray when that launches later this year.” [AnandTech | HD 5670]

ExtremeTech compared the Radeon HD 5670 to the GeForce GT 240, and preferred the GT 240:

“Both the ATI Radeon HD 5670 and the PNY Verto GeForce GT 240 deliver modest gaming power for their $99 price. If your needs are simple—you're just looking for something to pep up your off-the-shelf (or off-the-download games) games, and maybe transcode some videos—either card should be sufficient. …

If you're choosing between a standard 5670 and a 512MB GT 240, we can solidly recommend the later. If, however, you plan on doing more serious gaming of any kind, or you want to play at resolutions much above about 1,680 by 1,050, you'd be better off spending just a little bit more for almost any other more powerful card. These cards have their limits—either should be an okay purchase for you as long as you don't make plans to exceed them.” [ExtremeTech | HD 5670]

Tom’s Hardware thinks that the Radeon HD 5670 will sell well if it goes down to the $80 price tag:

“It is this cutthroat ~$100 environment where the Radeon HD 5670 will be forced to sink or swim at $99. Here it will have to compete against the similarly-performing $80 GeForce 9600 GT, the slightly-faster $95 GeForce 9800 GT, the clearly-superior $110 Radeon HD 4770, and the vastly more attractive $110 Radeon HD 4850 / GeForce GTS 250. Purely from a performance standpoint, it would be madness to buy the Radeon HD 5670 instead of spending a couple dollars more for the Radeon HD 4850 or GeForce GTS 250. DirectX 11 isn't much of an issue here.” [Tom’s Hardware | HD 5670]

PC Perspective sees the Radeon HD 5670 the most well-rounded of next-gen GPUs:

“The new AMD Radeon HD 5670 graphics card is a great addition to the completely revamped lineup of graphics cards using ATI technology. With it AMD has solidified DX11-ready hardware in the market for prices under $100 while moving features like Eyefinity and triple-LCD support to a wider user base as well. The performance of the card is only on par with other $100 graphics boards like the GeForce GT 240 so we can't call it the runaway performance leader, but if you or someone you know is going to be looking for a GPU for under a Franklin, the HD 5670 is the most well-rounded of next-generation GPUs.” [PC Perspective | HD 5670]

As reviewed by a number of enthusiasts, the ATI Radeon HD 5670 is a good card for the regular desktop user, occasional gamer, and web surfer. This is also an excellent card if you are looking to build an HTPC.

Technorati Tags: amd ati radeon hd 5670

Best Bang Per Buck Gaming Graphics Card, January 2010

2010-01-11T17:17:00.001+08:00

Price [in US Dollar] / Graphics Card:

(~$50) Radeon HD 4650
(~$65) Radeon HD 4670
(~$65) GeForce 9600 GSO
(~$90) GeForce 9800 GT
(~$110) Radeon HD 4850 512MB
(~$110) GeForce GTS 250 512MB
(~$125) GeForce GTS 250 1GB
(~$125) Radeon HD 4850 1 GB
(~$155) Radeon HD 5770
(~$200) Radeon HD 4890
(~$250) 2 x GeForce GTS 250 1GB in SLI Configuration
(~$250) 2 x Radeon HD 4850 1GB in CrossFire Configuration
(~$310) 2 x Radeon HD 5770 in CrossFire
(~$400) Two Radeon HD 4890 cards in CrossFire Configuration

If you are looking for a budget gaming card, the Radeon HD 4650 is it. In case you prefer Nvidia from ATI, your next choice is the GeForce 9600 GSO.

Looking for a nice single card, and would like to upgrade to SLI or Crossfire config later on? The GeForce GTS 250 1GB (for SLI) or Radeon HD 4850 1GB (for Crossfire) are good cards to consider. When the budget comes up, you can buy another card for that dual graphics setup. (Make sure your motherboard supports this first!)

[info derived from Tom’s Hardware article]

Intel Core i5-661 Clarkdale Processor Reviewed

2010-01-04T16:59:00.002+08:00

We take a look at one of Intel’s dual-core processors with built-in graphics core. This introduces a new two-chip package Intel architecture (CPU and Platform Control Hub), as opposed to the previous three-chip package (CPU, Northbridge, Southbridge).

Intel Clarkdale Processor Models (2 Cores, 4 Threads, 4MB cache, DDR3-1333 memory support):

i5-670 (3.46 GHz, up to 3.73 GHz Turbo Frequency, 733MHz Graphics Core speed, 73W TDP, US$284)
i5-661 (3.33 GHz, up to 3.60 GHz Turbo Frequency, 900MHz Graphics Core speed, 87W TDP, US$196)
i5-660 (3.33 GHz, up to 3.60 GHz Turbo Frequency, 733MHz Graphics Core speed, 73W TDP, US$196)
i5-650 (3.20 GHz, up to 3.46 GHz Turbo Frequency, 733MHz Graphics Core speed, 73W TDP, US$176)
i3-540 (3.06 GHz, No Turbo Frequency, 733MHz Graphics Core speed, 73W TDP, US$133)
i3-530 (2.93 GHz, No Turbo Frequency, 733MHz Graphics Core speed, 73W TDP, US$113)

PCPerspective suggests that you also look at the Core i3-530 processor as possible better alternative:

“We have Westmere parts in our hands (a bit earlier than we expected last year) with Clarkdale and while I am impressed to see the technology working, the processor really fills a specific market segment. The most specific thing I can say to a potential buyer of a Clarkdale processor is this: it only makes sense to buy one if you are going to utilize the integrated graphics. If you plan on adding a discrete graphics card anyway, then it makes more sense to use that processor budget for a Lynnfield part.

The exception to this? Extreme low cost requirements. You can get a Core i3 processor for $113 that will give you similar levels of CPU performance but without the Turbo Mode features. You still get the Intel HD Graphics and HyperThreading support so you could create a nice HTPC system for minimal cost by pairing it with one of the Intel HD55TC mATX motherboards or another option.” [PCPer.com | Core i5-661]

AnandTech feels that Clarkdale needs to improve its on-package memory controller:

“To conclude I can only go back to my only real complaints about Clarkdale. The off-die, on-package memory controller hampers performance. We've taken a step back in terms of memory latency, a step we can't correct until Sandy Bridge. I can't help but think that Clarkdale would be so much more competitive if it had Lynnfield's memory controller. I guess we'll have to wait a year to find out.

The other issue is that its pricing at the high end just doesn't make any sense. There isn't a single Core i5 I'd recommend, but the i3s are spot-on.” [AnandTech | Core i5 661]

Tom’s Hardsare sees promise in the home theater niche:

“The Core i5-661 we tested—which could easily be substituted for the i5-660 at the same price point—completely eclipses the Core 2 Duo E8500 and solidly rivals some of the fastest Core 2 Quads. Our opinion is reinforced by Intel’s limiting the H55 and H57 chipsets to a single graphics card.

Clarkdale also shows promise in the home theater. Support for hardware accelerated Blu-ray playback, multi-channel LPCM output, and lossless bitstreaming of high-def audio formats leaves very little else to be desired from a media-oriented platform, so long as you don’t intend to game on it. Not having to buy a discrete Radeon HD 5000-series graphics card means we’ll be seeing remarkably powerful mini-ITX platforms with 73W Clarkdale CPUs taking care of processing and graphics in one compact (affordable) package.” [Tom’s Hardware | Core i5-661]

HardwareZone enjoyed the better media playback, but not convinced with the i5-661’s performance when compared to a Core 2 Duo E8500:

“From a pure performance point of view, the new Intel HD Graphics is a slight upgrade over the GMA X4500HD, even in its fastest (900MHz) incarnation on the Core i5-661. What it does significantly better is media playback, where it certainly manages to justify its HD tag.

As a processor, the dual-core nature of the Core i5-661 meant that it was rarely going to challenge the higher-end quad-core processors, even with Turbo Boost and HyperThreading. Most of its better scores were naturally recorded for system suites like SYSmark 2007 and not heavily multi-threaded applications. In fact, from some of our benchmarks, we can't help but wonder if the smaller L3 cache on the Core i5-661 affected its performance compared to the older Core 2 Duo E8500.

With a US$196 price tag for 1k units, the Core i5-661 will likely be competing against Intel's own Core i5-750. And like we said, it won't surpass the quad-core. Still, we hope the new H55 motherboards are competitively priced to give these new Clarkdale processors more value. Already, unlike the i5-750, the i5-661 has a decent mainstream graphics core inside, which should be adequate for some users, including businesses.” [HardwareZone | Core i5-661]

Are the Clarkdale processors a good buy? It would depend on the prices of H55 motherboards, as HardwareZone pointed out. And, still talking about value, a Core i3-530 looks to offer the best bang per buck, among the Clarkdales, that is. For performance, the Core 2 Quad processors would most probably serve you better.

Technorati Tags: intel, core i5, core i3, clarkdale, integrated graphics core

Find Out if Your DNS Server is Working

2009-12-09T04:06:00.001+08:00

It’s relatively easy to configure our router to use an alternate public DNS service, but how do we know that the DNS server is indeed working?

In Windows, open a command line prompt, and type:

nslookup google.com

In Linux, open a terminal window and type:

host google.com

At the end of the result, you should be able to see the IP address of the site you queried, and it means your DNS server is indeed working.

(via Smarterware.org)

Technorati Tags: dns, service, test

Google Public DNS – Free Global DNS Resolution Service

2009-12-04T04:09:00.001+08:00

Google Public DNS is a free, global Domain Name System (DNS) resolution service, that you can use as an alternative to your current DNS provider. It is similar to what OpenDNS Basic is offering.

“Google Public DNS is a recursive DNS resolver, similar to other publicly available services. We think it provides many benefits, including improved security, fast performance, and more valid results.” [Google Public DNS]

To use Google Public DNS, just change your DNS server addresses to:

8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

See the Using Google Public DNS page for detailed configuration instructions.

I already setup my router to use the Google Public DNS server addresses, and I’m having good results so far.

For more info, visit the Google Public DNS site >>

Technorati Tags: google, public, dns, resolution, internet

Best Bang Per Buck Gaming Processors for August 2009

2009-10-22T15:53:00.001+08:00

Choosing the right processor (CPU) proves to be a daunting task. The deciding factor is usually games, since we don’t *really* need a very powerful processor for surfing and creating/viewing documents.

Tom’s Hardware makes the task of picking the right CPU easier with their recommendations:

Top Picks:

Athlon 64 X2 5200+ [Brisbane, 65nm, 2.7GHz, AM2] (US$55)
Dual-Core Pentium E5300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.6GHz, LGA 775] ($70)
Athlon II X2 250 [Regor, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM2+] ($80)
Pentium Dual-Core E6300 [Wolfdale-2M, 45nm, 2.8GHz, LGA 775] ($80)
Phenom II X2 545 [Callisto, 45nm, 3GHz, AM2+] ($90)
Phenom II X3 710 [Heka, 45nm, 2.6GHz, AM3] ($100)
Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition [Callisto, 45nm, 3.1GHz, AM3] ($100)
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition [Heka, 45nm, 2.8GHz, AM3] ($120)
Core 2 Duo E7500 [Wolfdale-3M, 45nm, 2.93GHz, LGA 775] ($120)
Phenom II X4 945 [Deneb, 45nm, 3GHz, AM3] ($170)
Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition [Deneb, 45nm, 3.2GHz, AM3] ($190)
Core 2 Quad Q9400 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.66Ghz, LGA 775] ($190)
Core 2 Duo E8500 [Wolfdale, 45nm, 3.16GHz, LGA 775] ($190)
Core 2 Quad Q9550 [Yorkfield, 45nm, 2.83GHz, LGA 775] ($220)
Core i7 920 [Nehalem, 45nm, 2.66GHz, LGA 1366] ($280)
Core i7 975 Extreme [Nehalem, 45nm, 3.33GHz, LGA 1366] ($1000)

The budget processors picked were the Athlon 64 X2 5200+ and Dual-Core Pentium E5300, both having two cores, and a 2.7 or 2.6 GHz clock. These can be purchased for about $55 (X2 5200+) and $70 (E5300).

In the other end of the scale, is the Core i7 975 Extreme, which features 3.33GHz, LGA 1366 socket, and a ridiculously high $1000 price tag. Only for the extremely rich.

For the mid-priced processors, it would be a good idea to target the Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition or Core 2 Quad Q9400. These can be had for around $190.

Whatever processor you choose, keep in mind that the chipset of the motherboard or mainboard would also play an essential role for determining the overall efficacy and performance of your new system.

Happy choosing!

[Source: Tom’s Hardware | Best Gaming CPUs For the Money: August ‘09]

Technorati Tags: processor, gaming, cpu, best bang per buck

[Game] CrimeCraft Reviewed

2009-10-12T14:40:00.001+08:00

CrimeCraft is a persistent online action game from Vogster Entertainment.

Story:

“It began with a disaster unlike any humanity had ever faced. The details of what exactly occurred remain unclear, but its results were rapid and widespread. In the aftermath of this global crisis, the world’s energy reserves were devastated. The magnitude of the predicament faced by humanity was amplified by a series of crippling natural disasters that occurred almost simultaneously with the energy collapse. Worse still, governments around the world drained resources like never before in reaction to these events, but the aid they offered came to little end. Instead of solving the crisis, this gargantuan consumption by the world’s governments exacerbated its effects, leaving millions homeless across the planet.”

IGN gave it a 5.6 out of 10 (‘Mediocre’) rating:

“There's not a lot about CrimeCraft that would encourage me to recommend it as an alternative to the wealth of cheaper alternatives in the PC catalog. Yes, it's true that most PC shooters don't have the persistent element found in CrimeCraft and, yes, even the upcoming persistent shooters like Combat Arms and Parabellum don't have MMO standards like crafting or guilds, but those additions are so irrelevant in CrimeCraft that it's hard to justify the cost of the disc, the vanity-driven micro-transactions, the in-game ads and the subscription fee. The shooter element may be fun in the short term, but it's ultimately forgettable and not nearly strong enough to make you ignore the unfulfilled potential here.” [IGN | CrimeCraft Review]

Probably a good idea to look at other Shooter or Action titles, although a good idea is to try out the game and see for yourself.

Technorati Tags: crimecraft, action, shooter, online, game

Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P: Budget AMD Socket AM3 / DDR3 Motherboard

2009-06-27T04:41:00.001+08:00

Nowadays, DDR3 memory is slowly being the de facto standard of system RAM. One of the major hindrances of building an inexpensive AMD rig with DDR3 is the price of the motherboard.

X-bit Labs took a close look at the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P (US$80) mainboard:

“According to the results of our test session, despite its modest price, this mainboard may become a good choice not only for inexpensive unpretentious platforms, but also for computer enthusiasts. It has adequate specifications meeting today’s needs, and flexible configuring options together with overall predictable behavior are just as good as those of more expensive Socket AM3 products. In other words, during our test session, we didn’t reveal any serious issues that could give anyone the reason to underestimate Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P. Especially, since it performs and overclocks just as good as Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P, for instance, that belongs to a much higher price range.” [X-bit Labs | Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P]

Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P Specs:

AMD socket AM3 processors support (Phenom II X4, Phenom II X3)
AMD 770 / AMD SB710 chipsets
4 x 1.5V DDR3 DIMM sockets, up to 16GB of system memory
1 x PCI Express 2.0 x16 slot
4 x PCI Express x1 slots
2 x PCI slots
1 x IDE
6 x SATA 3Gb/s,with SATA RAID 0, 1, 0+1
8 x USB 2.0 ports at back panel
1 x Gigabit LAN
7.1 HD Audio
ATX form factor, 30.5 cm x 21.0 cm

If you are looking to build a new AMD rig with a socket AM3 processor and DDR3 memory, it’s worth looking for the Gigabyte MA770T-UD3P.

Technorati Tags: amd, socket am3, ddr3, 770, chipset

ATI Radeon HD 4890 Graphics Card Reviewed

2009-06-23T01:08:00.001+08:00

The ATI Radeon HD 4890 is one of many graphics cards in AMD’s Radeon HD 4000 series. It features:

55nm fabrication process
PCI Express 2.0 x16 bus interface
256-bit GDDR5 memory interface
Microsoft® DirectX 10.1 support
Shader Model 4.1 support
800 stream processing units
OpenGL 3.0 support
ATI CrossFireX™ Multi-GPU Technology

HardwareZone reviewed the PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 Battle Forge Edition card, and gave it a 4.5 out 5 rating:

“To sum up, the PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 BF Edition is a very capable card. It offers decent performance and its cooler does the job. What we don't like, however, is that the cooler isn't that much less noisy than the reference model, and also the high power consumption figures (which is to be expected since it's overclocked). Even so, it is still one of the better Radeon HD 4890 cards around, and is definitely great value for money if your heart's set on a Radeon HD 4890.” [HardwareZone | PowerColor PCS+ HD 4890 Battle Forge Edition]

If you are interested in looking at what Nvidia has to offer in competition with the HD 4890, you could take a look at the GeForce GTX 275.

Technorati Tags: amd, ati, radeon, hd, 4890, directx 10.1

Shuttle XPC SX58H7 – Core i7 in a Mini PC

2009-06-19T00:41:00.001+08:00

The Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Pro Station (around US$867) aims to bring the Small Form Factor PC to the extreme gamers, demand enthusiasts, and mainstream PC users.

Features:

Intel Core i7 processor support
I.C.E Technology CPU heat-pipe
Intel X58 and ICH10R chipsets
4 x 240pin DDR3 DIMM slots, 4GB per DIMM(Max 16GB), Triple channel DDR3 1066/1333/1600(OC)MHz support
Realtek ALC888 7.1 channel High Definition Audio
2 x Realtek RTL8111C Gigabit LAN
3 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth SATA (RAID 0,1,10,5)
2 x 3.0Gb/s bandwidth eSATA in back panel
1 x UltraDMA 133 channel master from JMicron JMB368
2 x PCI-E x16 slots
6 x USB 2.0 ports
500W power supply
Dimensions: 325(L) x 208(W) x 189(H) mm

“… you pay a premium of £200 for the privilege of building your Core i7 system in a small, compact, quiet chassis that's half the height of a regular mid-tower. That’s a high price to pay for a regular desktop PC but it’s worth considering as the end result is very smart and effective. LAN party gamers – yes, both of you – should form a queue here. … The Shuttle SX58H7 is brutally expensive but that’s a fact of life with Core i7 hardware. However, the price is offset by low noise levels, stylish design and excellent cooling.” [RegHardware | Shuttle XPC SX58H7 Core i7 mini desktop PC]

Do you want something small, yet powerful enough to go side-by-side with its bigger desktop counterparts? The Shuttle SX58H7 could just be for you! (Of course, you have to pay the price to get it.)

Technorati Tags: shuttle, sff, intel core i7, x58, barebone

GeForce GTX 295 Reviewed

2009-06-14T01:16:00.001+08:00

The GeForce GTX 295 (around US$520) is a dual-GPU graphics card from Nvidia that features:

240x2 Stream (Shader) Processors
576 MHz Core Clock
1242 MHz Shader Clock
999 Memory Clock x2
1792 MB Memory
HDCP support
Two Dual link DVI

The Guru of 3D took a close look at the Point of View GeForce GTX 295 single PCB, and gave it the Guru3D Top Pick stamp of approval:

“Much like any of our GeForce GTX 295 reviews, we can only conclude that the GTX 295 single PCB graphics card pwns. Really it's a 480 shader processor encounting raw fricking compute monster, I liked the first model when it was released, and I like this version just as well. … Either way, we liked the GTX 295 ever since it was introduced, and this revised model does not make that conclusion any different. If you want to be a total freak and go quad-SLI, you can mix and match the old GTX 295 with this new one, not a problem either.” [Guru of 3D |GeForce GTX 295 single PCB review]

Great graphics card to have, if you’ve got money to burn! Need more down-to-earth gaming graphics card suggestions? Head on to cedled’s Game!

Technorati Tags: geforce gtx 295, dual GPU, point of view

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Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 Overclocking

2009-06-07T00:50:00.001+08:00

Tom’s Hardware built an Intel machine with an MSI Intel P45 motherboard and Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor, and then overclocked it up to 4.2 GHz.

System Setup:

3.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E8600 processor
MSI P45D3 Neo-F motherboard
2 x 2GB DDR3-1600 Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D memory
300 GB Western Digital VelociRaptor SATA/300 16 MB Cache HDD
Fortron Everest 1010, 1010 W power supply unit

“Although the 4.26 GHz setting provided the most performance, the 3.9 GHz overclock turns out to be the winner of this efficiency analysis. The clock speed increase provides a nice speed bump when compared to the 3.33 GHz stock speed without bumping power consumption up to excessive levels. If you are looking to get the best performance paired with the lowest effective power consumption, the fastest possible speed without a voltage increase should be your goal.” [Tom’s Hardware | Overclocking Core 2 Duo: Power Versus Performance]

Although an Intel Core i7 and/or AMD Phenom II based system would be the ideal setup for future-proofing your build, the Intel P45 and Core 2 Duo E8600 combo is still a great one to have, especially if you are into overclocking.

Technorati Tags: intel, core 2 duo, e8600, p45, overclock

MSI Wind CS120 Nettop Reviewed

2009-04-01T05:22:00.001+08:00

The MSI Wind CS120 ($320) is an Intel Atom-based small-form-factor nettop. Nettops are great desktop computers for light computing, such as web surfing, and word processing.

Features:

Intel Atom 230 1.6GHz processor
Intel 945GC / Intel ICH7 chipsets
Gb LAN
DDR-2 533MHz SDRAM, SO-DIMM
802.11 b/g wireless LAN (optional)
160GB HDD, Support two SATAII devices
Slot-loading DVD Super-Multi drive
4-1n-1 card reader socket, SD/MMC/MS/XD card reader (optional)
D-Sub VGA x 1, USB 2.0 × 6, Mic-in × 1, Headphone-out) × 1
Audio x 6 (7.1 channel)
65Watt Adapter
Dimensions: 300mm(H) × 65mm(W) × 240mm(D)
MS Windows XP Home

PC Magazine gave the Wind CS120 3 out of 5 stars:

"Cheap, quiet, and power efficient, the MSI fulfills the role of Web terminal, plus it runs Windows so you can use those old programs that you must still run. Just don't expect it to keep up with your "real" desktop or laptop." [ PCMag.com | MSI Wind CS120 ]

If you need a second (or third) PC that will be used mainly for web surfing, the Wind CS120 is a great nettop to consider. Other nice options are the Asus Eee Top (with built-in display), Asus Eee Box, and Apple Mac mini.

By the way, you'd still need to purchase supporting peripherals for the Wind CS120, such as mouse, keyboard, and display.

IceRocket : msi wind cs120 nettop

Get the Latest D-Link Firmware and Documents via FTP

2009-03-31T00:46:00.001+08:00

If you have some D-Link products, such as routers or wireless adapters, you can get the latest (and even beta) firmware from this FTP:

ftp://ftp.dlink.ru/pub/

The best source for firmware would probably still be the D-Link site of your area, but sometimes these sites are not very up-to-date with regards to firmware. My current favorite wireless router is the D-Link DIR-300 (has good stock firmware features, has a replaceable antenna, and small enough to place anywhere). You can get the latest stable, old, and beta firmware versions here:

ftp://ftp.dlink.ru/pub/Router/DIR-300/Firmware/

This is a great source if you are currently having problems with your D-Link device. Sometimes, a simple firmware update could solve these problems.

IceRocket : adapter, d-link firmware document guide, router

Best Bang Per Buck Core i7 System Build

2009-02-19T16:15:00.000+08:00

ExtremeTech builds a 'Bang for the Buck' based on the Intel Core i7 processor. The result was a combination of peripherals that give you the best value for your money.

Specifications:

Antec 300 case
Antec Earthwatts 650 PSU
ASUS P6T motherboard
Intel Core i7 920 processor
6GB (2x3 DIMMS) OCZ Gold DDR3 Triple-channel 1600MHz memory
Western Digital WD1001FALS Black Ed. 1TB HDD
Lite-On DH401S BD optical drive
AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB graphics card
Creative SoundBlaster Titanium sound card
Logitech Wave keyboard
Logitech G5 mouse
Dell S2409W Widescreen 1920x1080 LCD Monitor
Creative GigaWorks T40 speakers
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit operating system

"This Bang for the Buck turned out more expensive than past efforts, but it's also more forward-looking. ... Even if you're only upgrading, we can't recommend higher each part in this system as it is, in our estimation, the best you can get for your money. Choose wisely, but consider this a guide. " [ExtremeTech | Build a Bang for the Buck PC]

The total bill for this build was US$2040. Take note that the setup is not a 'budget value system', but a best value and performance for your money build. If you prefer a different component, such as an AMD processor (and appropriate mobo of course) or Nvidia graphics card, you can just change the specs to your liking, using the above components as a guide.

IceRocket : best bang per buck pc, intel core i7

Four X58 Motherboards for Core i7 Compared

2009-02-17T23:44:00.000+08:00

ExtremeTech rounded up four motherboards based on the Intel X58/ICH10R chipset. The mainboards tested were the Asus P6T (US$260), ECS X58B-A ($250), EVGA X58 3X SLI ($300), and Gigabyte EX58-UD4P ($270).

The test setup configuration was the following:

Intel Core i7 920 processor
6GB (3x2GB) OCZ PC3-10666 DDR3 memory
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 750GB SATA 3Gbps HDD
AMD ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1 operating system

"Take that ASUS P6T and build your Core i7 around it. Then overclock the bejeeszus out of it. You won't regret it." [ExtremeTech | X58 Motherboard Roundup]

While the ASUS P6T was the top choice, ExtremeTech also liked the Gigabyte EX58-UD4P:

"The Gigabyte EX58-UD4P, however, is a contender. It might not have overclocked as well as the P6T, but its feature set and its company reputation for support and stability go a long way toward a secondary recommendation." [ExtremeTech]

So, if you are planning to build a new system based on the Intel Core i7, and is highly interested in doing some serious overclocking, the Asus P6T motherboard would be on top of your list.

IceRocket : asus p6t, intel core i7, x58 motherboard

AMD Socket AM3 Phenom II Processors Reviewed

2009-02-10T21:12:00.001+08:00

AMD Socket AM3 processors are now here. These are Phenom II CPUs that have support for both DDR3 and DDR2 memory.

Quad-cores:

Phenom II X4 model 810
- US$175
- 2.6GHz
- 4MB L3 Cache
Phenom II X4 model 805
- OEM only
- 2.5GHz
- 4MB L3 Cache

Triple-cores:

Phenom II X3 model 720 Black Edition
- $145
- 2.8GHz
- 6MB L3 Cache
Phenom II X3 model 710
- $125
- 2.6GHz
- 6MB L3 Cache

Common specs:

Socket AM3 (can be used with most AM2+ motherboards)
DDR2 or DDR3
2.0GHz memory controller

Guru of 3D put the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE on the test bench:

"... try to mentally place the price and performance of Phenom II X3 and X4 processors in the Core 2 Duo and Quad range. Then it all makes sense. This is where AMD is really competing with Phenom II. And in this product range they certainly are very strong. ... The one processor that for me personally shined was, interestingly enough, the Phenom II X3, the 720 BE processor. I too have that weird stigma about having three cores instead of four, as much as you do. But the results didn't lie ... the X3 720BE is a very competitive Phenom II processor clocked at 2.8 GHz with that luxurious 6MB L3 cache. For roughly 145 USD you can get this BE edition and as such it will allow you to easily overclock it towards 3500-3800 MHz on the most cheap air-cooler one can think of. Again, this particular processor will be placed on the shelves for a only 145 USD and as such this really is an awesome deal." [Guru of 3D | AMD Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720BE review]

AnandTech had a close look at the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720:

"When AMD launched the Phenom II X4 940 and 920 I called it a True Return to Competition. With the rest of the lineup now more fleshed out, it's truly a return to competition. At every price point that AMD targets, it has produced a CPU competitive to Intel's offerings. ... The performance benefits aren't worth it for Phenom II, so while AM3 sounds cool, it's not necessary today. Thankfully AM3 CPUs will work in AM2+ motherboards, so you aren't forced into a relationship with DDR3 if you're not ready." [AnandTech | The Phenom II X4 810 & X3 720: AMD Gets DDR3 But Doesn't Need It]

PCPerspective reviewed the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720:

"This AM3 launch will be a disappointment to some, mainly because there is not a high end part that goes with it, nor do we see a massive increase in performance per clock by going to DDR-3 memory. It is still an immature, though stable, platform. Performance will eventually get up there once the motherboard guys figure out the new memory controller and AMD provides potential micro-code updates. ... The X4 810 is a nice part which will make quite a few folks happy. It does not run really hot, it does not pull all that much power, and it certainly performs well considering the price it is at. In most tests, in comparing to previous results from the Phenom 9950, it was about 5% faster overall than its predecessor at that same speed. ... The X3 720 is probably the most interesting part that this release is seeing. The three cores, slightly lower power consumption, better overclocking performance, and the performance of 3 cores for less than the price of a competitive dual core from Intel. Triple cores still have not seen a lot of acceptance from users and OEMs alike, but this particular product might turn a few heads. In most of the single threaded applications, the X3 720 fared about as well as expected against the Core 2 part." [PCPerspective | Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Processor Review]

Tom's Hardware tested the Phenom II X4 810 and Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition:

"If you take Socket AM3 out of the picture, the new Phenom IIs mainly serve to fill in and update AMD's processor lineup with its 45 nm technology. Because they drop right into AM2/AM2+ motherboards, you could almost ignore the fact that they sport 938 pins and just be happy AMD is augmenting the mid-range and entry-level nooks in the Phenom family with chips loaded with more cache, higher clocks, and significantly improved scalability. ... What does make sense is the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition on an existing AM2/AM2+ setup, leveraging cheap DDR2 memory. Gone are the days of Core 2 Duo's dominance over the value-oriented gaming market. Now that AMD has its hat in the ring, there's a lot more to like about the oddness of three cores." [Tom's Hardware | Socket AM3: AMD's Phenom II Gets DDR3]

HardwareZone reviewed the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 Black Edition:

"... the Phenom II X4 810 and X3 720 'Black Edition' that we tested did not give us any surprises. Their results were in line with our expectations given what we have seen of the X4 940/920. Moreover, the X3 720 looks to be quite an interesting model, using its extra core to keep up with the Intel dual-cores and at the same time, making use of its higher 2.8GHz clock and larger L3 cache to edge ahead of the X4 810 for those non multi-threaded scenarios. Though we haven't tested its overclocking potential, having one less core usually allows for a better chance of further overclocking this Black Edition X3." [HardwareZone | AMD Does DDR3 - The AM3 Phenom II]

X-bit Labs had a close look at the Phenom II X4 810:

"... the main advantage of Socket AM3 processors is their flexible memory controller that can work with both: DDR3 as well as DDR2 memory. That is why you don't have to use the newly announced mainstream Phenom II processors in Socket AM3 systems. They will work perfectly fine in the existing Socket AM2+ or even Socket AM2 infrastructure. ... As for the AMD Phenom II X4 810 processor we discussed today, it is another incarnation of AMD's strategy to be offering higher performance at a lower cost. Our tests showed that its performance is comparable to that of Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, while its price is a little lower. As a result, AMD currently has a great alternative to all least expensive quad-core Intel processors starting with the Core 2 Quad Q9400 model. In other words, AMD made a very significant step to offering a competitive lineup of processors that we have every reason to recommend as a good buying choice." [X-bit Labs | Meet Socket AM3: AMD Phenom II X4 810 CPU Review]

RegHardware reviewed the 2.6GHz X4 810 and a 2.8GHz X3 720 Black Edition:

"Our main finding is that DDR 2 and DDR 3 deliver the same performance with Phenom II, and it doesn't matter whether you use DDR 3 at 1333MHz or 1600MHz. If you're running your CPU at stock speeds then DDR 3 saves some 10W, but when you overclock the CPU the difference in power draw is negligible. ... The introduction of DDR 3 doesn't make a fundamental difference to Phenom II, but the new Socket AM3 processors deliver plenty of bangs for your buck and put AMD right back in the game." [RegHardware | AMD Phenom II Socket AM3 processor]

ExtremeTech tested the AMD Phenom II X4 Model 810 socket AM3 processor:

"From a buyer's perspective, the Phenom II model 810 is priced a little lower than Intel's Core 2 Quad Q8200. In most consumer and office applications, the two platforms essentially achieve performance parity. The exception, of course, is digital photography. If you're heavily into digital photography, you'll want to remain firmly in the Intel camp. ... The Phenom II model 810 represents a reasonable buy currently-but we expect its overall lifespan to be somewhat limited." [ExtremeTech | AMD Socket AM3 CPUs Ship--Phenom II 810 Review]

The best feature I see about these new Socket AM3 processors is that they don't necessarily need to be used with an 'official' AM3 motherboard. Most AM2+ motherboards would work just fine, although of course you'll still be using DDR2 memory (which at present DDR3 prices, is a financial advantage).

These AM3 processors are indeed good news to folks who are looking for more value for their money. Those already running an AMD system with an AM2+ mobo just upgrade to the new processors without the need to upgrade to a new chipset. If you then decide to upgrade to a DDR3 system, you can do so later on.

IceRocket : amd, ddr3, phenom ii, socket am3

DIY NAS: Intel Atom and VIA C7 Platforms Tested

2009-02-05T08:37:00.001+08:00

SmallNetBuilder built two DIY NAS systems using an MSI Wind PC and a VIA ARTiGO A2000 Barebone Storage Server. [article link]

MSI Wind PC Specs:

Intel Atom 1.6 GHz processor
MSI custom w/ Intel 945GC North Bridge, ICH7 South Bridge motherboard
pqi 1 GB DDR2 533 SO-DIMM RAM
Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD
Realtek 8111C (on board) Ethernet

VIA ARTiGO A2000 Specs:

VIA 1.5GHz C7-D processor
VIA custom w/ VIA VX800 Unified Digital Media IGP chipset motherboard
Transcend 1 GB DDR2 667 SO-DIMM
Hitachi Deskstar HDS721680PLA380, 80GB 7200RPM 3.0 Gb/s SATA 8MB HDD
VIA VT6130 (on board) Ethernet

Both had the same operating system: Ubuntu Server 8.10 Operating system, + mdadm + Webmin, on 2 GB USB Flash drive.

The two DIY NAS setups were compared to the following:

NETGEAR ReadyNAS Pro (Intel E2160 Dual-Core)
Thecus M3800 Stream Box (AMD LX800 Geode)
Cisco/Linksys Media Hub (Marvell 88F5182 "Orion" Soc)

(A How To guide for setting up a DIY NAS using Ubuntu Server can be found at SmallNetBuilder: Build Your Own Atom-based NAS - Part 2)

On Performance:

"I don't think I'm going to declare a clear winner here between the VIA C7 and Intel Atom. It looks that they are pretty evenly matched for performance and generally in the same class as the Geode LX800." [SmallNetBuilder]

"So if you're looking for a low-cost way to build a dual-drive NAS, you can choose a motherboard using an Intel Atom, VIA C7 or AMD Geode CPU and be pretty certain of getting better than 2X the performance you can get from any (current) off-the-shelf NAS." [SmallNetBuilder]

On Ease and Flexibility of Setup:

"... the MSI Wind PC is clearly a more cost effective way to build a two-drive NAS capable of producing write and read speeds in the 30 - 40 MB/s range than the ARTiGO A2000. As I write this, you can pick one up for around $140, while the going rate for the A2000 is $299. I think that for the extra $150 or so, I can live with having to kludge in the second drive." [SmallNetBuilder]

SmallNetBuilder's Rule of Thumb for Classifying NASes:

Marvell Orion based NASes will generally produce throughput in the mid-to-high teen MB/s
NASes using the VIA C7, Intel Atom or AMD Geode will provide read/write performance in the 30 - 40 MB/s range
When you move up to NASes based on Intel Celeron or Dual-Core or Freescale MPC854XE, you can see speeds of at least 50 MB/s and more like 70 MB/s.

If you are looking to put a NAS on your network, a cost-effective way would be to use a system with the Intel Atom, VIA C7, or AMD Geode. You could go the barebone route, such as what SmallNetworkBuilder did, or build it from scratch, letting you choose the components individually, and have the personlized look of your future DIY NAS.

IceRocket : diy nas, intel atom, via c7