Custom PC PodCasts

Series 3, Episode 2 - Netbooks, SSDs and Intel is fined £948 million

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Sat, 23 May 2009 15:35:38 +0000

Episode 2 of Series 3 of the all new combined Custom PC and bit-tech podcast is here. CPC Editor Alex, Deputy Editor James are joined by bit-tech’s Richard and Joe. The main topic of discussion is of course the massive £948 million fine the EU has imposed on Intel, along with AMD’s most recent attempt at a netbook, and the fact that it looks like time has finally been called on Duke Nukem Forever.

Click here to download Episode 2 of Series 3 of the Custom PC and bit-tech podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Series 3 Extra - Energy drinks special

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:14:11 +0000

We’ve got a special bonus episode of the combined CPC and bit-tech podcast where Richard and Harry from bit-tech join CPC’s Antony and work experience lass Georgina to chug down a tasty selection of energy drinks. Find out which one is an insult to your tongue, which one deserves a comparison to Harry’s pants and if any of them is actually worth drinking. Be warned, this episode contains some very strong condemnation of beverages and strong gastric reactions.

Click here to download this bonus episode of Series 3 of the Custom PC and bit-tech podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Series 3, Episode 1 - Phenom II isn’t that bad and cats still need rescuing

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:08:16 +0000

The podcast returns for a third series, powered up by the addition of the bit-tech team and some new microphones from Shure. CPC Editor Alex, Reviews Editor Clive and bit-tech main man Tim take a look at the big stories in tech from the last month, including new graphics cards from ATI and Nvidia, and the Phenom II X4 955 BE which sees AMD returning to form. Tim talks about getting his new laptop, the Thinkpad, X301 and the panel then look ahead, taking in Windows 7 and DirectX 11. The games chart returns, but it looks depressingly familiar. Fortunately one of the team is still playing Mass Effect.

Click here to download Episode 1 of Series 3 of the Custom PC and bit-tech podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Episode 26 - Nvidia GeForce GTX 285/295 and stories in games

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:40:32 +0000

Happy new year to all you Custom PC Podcast listeners, and thanks again for all your best wishes for the year!

The CPC podcast is back for 2009. Among the topics of discussion by Clive, Mark and Alex are Nvidia’s attempt to go green by jumping on the environmentalism bandwagon with low voltage GeForce 9600 GT cards, and the revelation that Eidos is preparing to be acquired by an external bidder. The panel also mull over the fact that id Software has hired a proper writer to pen a story for Doom 4, and why stories in games are important. On the new hardware front, there’s the GeForce GTX 285 and 295 to consider, and of course, guess the game music competition and the games chart also return.

Click here to download Episode 26 of the Custom PC Podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Episode 25 Redux - The end of year special

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:59:23 +0000

We’ve been moving hosting companies this week, and unfortunately it lead to some problems with Episode 25 - only half the podcast was uploaded. We’ve now secured some temporary alternative hosting, thanks to the very helpful folks at Zotac and Novatech’s PR agency, Immacula. So, without further ado, here it is…

In Episode 25, Clive is joined by Mark, Antony and James with a silly voice to look back over 2008 and to make some predictions about 2009. The panel also look forward to Nvidia’s upcoming GeForce GTX 295, but it’s not been enough to stop Nvidia partners such as XFX deciding to make Radeons as well as GeForces in the future. The guess the game music competition and games chart also return.

Click here to download Episode 25 of the Custom PC Podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Updated: Have now moved the podcast back to the Dennis servers. Any problems, let us know!

Episode 25 - The end of year special

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 10:55:01 +0000

Episode 24 - The right and wrong way to do DRM and yes we have played some games this time

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:41:04 +0000

It might be getting cold of late, but here’s Episode 24 of the Custom PC podcast to keep you warm. Well, your ears at least. Clive is joined by Staff Writers Antony Leather and Mark Mackay (whose surname he still can’t pronounce, despite a Derran Brown-like metal memory image) plus CPC Editor Alex Watson. Up to debate are the stupidity of DRM and the genius of Steam, plus why Vista’s second Service Pack is both very important and completely pointless.

The games chart springs a few surprises, with Wrath of the Lich King (which Clive also can’t pronounce) dropping down the chart rapidly while Football Manager 2009 reigns supreme. Call of Duty: World at War gets a kicking by Alex (who has found time to play it) while Clive talks at length about the joys and frustrations of virtual football management. It really is enough to make you do a Keano sometimes, but then your 18-year old wonder kid goes and knocks in a brace and all is well.

Click here to download Episode 24 of the Custom PC Podcast, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Episode 23 - More Intel Core i7 and loads of Left 4 Dead

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:08:10 +0000

To cheer you up on a cold and frosty Tuesday, Episode 23 of the Custom PC podcast is out, guaranteed to be louder than ever before. Clive is joined by Staff Writers Antony Leather and Mark Mackay to discuss the price of Core i7 motherboards - is over £250 too much for a single-socket motherboard? Also up for discussion is how to spell Mark’s surname as well as other processor news.

The games chart springs a few surprises, as Lord of the Rings Online releases its Mines of Moria expansion pack at the same time as Wrath of the Litch King is released for World of Warcraft. Whatever the bizarre logic for this, the plan seems to have worked as both expansions are in the Top 10. Btw, how does one pronounce ‘Litch’? Also in the Top 10 are Football Manager 2009 and the horrible-sounding Call of Duty: World at War.

Click here to download the episode, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Episode 22 - Intel Core i7, the HD 4850 X2 and no Fallout 3 fallout to be seen

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:25:20 +0000

It’s Friday and Episode 22 of the Custom PC podcast is here. Clive is joined by James and Antony to discuss Intel’s fantastic Core i7 processor and how easy it is to overclock it to 4GHz and boyond, plus ATI’s new dual-GPU HD 4850 X2 graphics card and the fallout from the case Labs test.

The games chart is full of great entries such as Fallout 3 (which Fallout-fanboy James actually likes, even if it is a touch too easy) and Far Cry 2. We also offer our congratulations to our US listeners for electing a President that string a sentence together. Like what we couldn’t do for a good while after praising Obama’s oratory skills.

Click here to download the episode, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.

Episode 21 - The GeForce that shall not be named and PC piracy nonsense

editor@custompc.co.uk (Custom PC and bit-tech) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:56:38 +0000

It’s Friday and Episode 21 of the Custom PC podcast is here. The team discuss Nvidia’s new 216 stream processor GTX 260, and why it doesn’t have a new name, along with idiotic PC game piracy comments from Epic. The games chart is full of new arrivals, so we get to grips with Crysis Warhead, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, Spore and Warhammer Online. James also offers some useful tips on aeroplane design.

Click here to download the episode, or listen to it in your browser by clicking the play button below.