Tech News
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ASUSTOR Announces New Additions to App Central
Published: Thursday, April 11, 2013 | By: DennisFor those of you who aren't into maintaining a "real" PC based fileserver you may want to look at a NAS appliance. Not only do you get a power efficient storage device but it also can run apps like MySQL, PHP, BitTorrent and others.
As this press release indicates ASUSTOR has been busy adding even more apps to their download store.
A series of Usenet download and media streaming tools available from App Central. Apps include SABnzbdplus, Sick Beard, CouchPotato, Headphones, and Subsonic.
Taipei, Taiwan, April 2nd, 2013 – ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, announced today that it has added a series of Usenet download and media streaming tools to its App Central library. These new Apps include SABnzbdplus, Sick Beard, CouchPotato, Headphones, and Subsonic. All ASUSTOR users are welcome to try out these new Apps as they are available free of charge from ASUSTOR’s App Central. (More…)I have run a few NAS devices over the years and finally settled on a PC based server purely for the hardware. That isn't to say a NAS box won't meet your needs but, in my case I needed more powa!
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Rules of ASUS Open Overclocking Cup 2013
Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | By: DennisNow before any of you get super pumped that Asus is hosting an "Open" overclocking competition I must mention. This competition appears to favor Russian overclockers given the "wildcard" condition stating that the best team from Russia, Ukraine and Kazahstan will get invited.
Rules are pretty simple and almost mimic MOA 2012.
1 Processor
1 GPU (Titan is allowed!)
follow HWBot rules and use the competition background.No suprise on the benchmarks
SuperPi 32M, 3DMark 11 Performance, 3DMark Fire StrikeBased on the benchmarks this will be dominated by GPU overclocking and whoever has friends at the Asus factory -or- deep enough pockets to bin for a good Matrix card.
I do like this rule.
One team consists of 2 overclockers from the same country. Second teammate must be overclocker too, please share his nickname in comments. Girlfriends are not allowed.
Pretty sure I know where that rule came from.
HWBot page is still pending but you can check out the rules on the Asus-open.com website
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Oculus Rift Development Kit Teardown @ Fix It
Published: Wednesday, April 10, 2013 | By: DennisEver wonder what it takes to create a virtual reality system?? As it would seem, there isn't much to it.
Fixit has posted a teardown article of the new Oculus Rift and shows you exactly what is inside. Not to discredit anyone but headset + large digital panel is a given.
Let's face it, the year is 2013. Where are our flying cars? Why isn't deep space travel a thing yet? Why hasn't virtual reality become, well, reality? The Oculus Rift seeks to fill that lack of virtual reality in our lives. Still in its early developmental stage, the Oculus Rift promises to deliver VR gaming to the yearning public. Join us as we take a peek inside the Oculus Rift and its hardware.
I halfway expected there to be two digital panels inside but instead they created two optical chambers using a plastic divider and split the signal before reaching the panel. Seems like a good way to save some cash.
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NL: Review Block - Cases Coolers and Input Stuffs
Published: Monday, April 8, 2013 | By: DennisHere is just a short list of reviews that landed in the Ninjalane inbox. There is some good stuff in there including a review of the new Cooler Master Seidon 120 and a mouse of unknown orgin.
Cases, Chassis, Der Boxen
- In Win G7 Case Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Cougar Challenger Midi Tower Review @ NikKTech
- Cooler Master Centurion 6 @ techPowerUp
- Antec GX700 Case Review @ KitGuru
Coooooolers, Chillers
- Corsair Hydro Series H110 @ techPowerUp
- Cooler Master Seidon 120M Review @ Ocaholic
- Corsair H110 Liquid CPU Cooler Review @ HardwareHeaven
- Thermalright AXP-100 CPU Cooler Review @ Hardware Secrets
Input Devices, the stuff you touch
- Ozone Blade Keyboard Review on Technic3D
- Tesoro Durandal Ultimate G1NL Review @ Ocaholic
- Func MS-3 Mouse Review @ Hardware Secrets
- Cooler Master Storm Trigger w/Green Keyswitches @ LanOC Reviews
- Func MS-3 Mouse & 1030XL Mouse Mat @ techPowerUpBe sure to check out our own reviews, some of them are pretty good
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CyberPowerPC Fangbook X7-200 Gaming Notebook Review @ Hothardware
Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 | By: DennisHey look another review
While many full-size gaming rigs are built to elicit oohs and ahs with their stunning looks and high performance, gaming notebooks can sometimes be a little bland. CyberPowerPC has had its share of solid yet non-distinct looking gaming notebooks, but the Fangbook series is a different animal. Built with plenty of alluring hardware and a slick chassis, the Fangbook is also clearly designed to make people stop and ogle.
The Fangbook comes in three iterations--the X7-100, X7-200, and the X7-300--and of course, all three models are completely customizable in terms of specifications and features...I really liked the Fangbook, normally I game on a full desktop system, and will continue to do so but now I can game on the road and won't need to lug my desktop around when I hit up the local LAN.
Be sure to check out the Ninjalane Review of the CyberpowerPC Fangbook
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Modern shooters and the atrophy of fun @ TR
Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 | By: DennisHere is an interesting look at how modern shooter games have changed. I call it the "Call of Duty Effect" where games guide you thru the story giving you a chance to do something at per-determined times.
And the reason? Well let's see, game consoles with their lack luster control structure make FPS games harder to play so the game devs take steps to make things easier. Plus, and this is really sad, the more complex the game is the more help "some" players need to figure out what to do. In doing so they create this "on rails" path system to make sure you can't break the game and get thru as quickly as possiable. I'm not saying game developers are lazy but making the perfect game takes time and the longer it takes the less money they make.
(*cough* Duke Nukem Forever anyone? (the first try, not the second) */cough*)
In the end the lack luster single player campaigns are just a pr0n fluffier for playing online anyway so who cares right?
Don't get me wrong. The exploration was great. Watching the story unfold was incredible. But the combat and looting got so repetitive—so downright boring—that I couldn't stand to play more than a couple hours at a time. I got sick of digging through trashcans inexplicably filled with silver coins and of fighting wave after wave of enemies, each one more indistinguishable than the last. The combat sequences blurred together, ran into one another, and I found myself praying for them to end, hoping that I could proceed without playing hi-fi wack-a-mole with steampunk guns and angry crows.
My comments may not mirror those of the TR staffers but that is why we call them opinions.
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Bitcoin isn’t illegal, it isn’t real money
Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 | By: DennisThis is pretty good and something the bitcoin people will not like to hear. In fact I suspect most bitcoin zealots will simply say "just wait until I am rich, oh and by the way I have a VOIP phone service I can offer you that has been endorsed by Donald Trump!".
(People in the know are all ROFL right now)
As it falls in and out of public view, Bitcoin is once again all the rage. However, rather than just tech blogs and internet culture sites covering the cryptocurrency, more mainstream sites and esteemed financial analysts are now weighing in on the matter. Instead of just providing yet another explanation of what Bitcoin is, though, analysts are now wondering why the pseudo currency has caught on, and why it’s not illegal. As it turns out, it’s not illegal because of that “pseudo” moniker.
This is a pretty good read and if you need a time waster check out the bitcoin mining operations on Youtube. Some of those systems are to die for!.
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Leaked Slide Shows Ivy Brige-E Processor Names
Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 | By: DennisLeaks like this are almost never on accident but, until there is an official release we'll have to consider that things can change. Following the current SB-E naming scheme we have 4000 series versions of the existing 3930K and 3960X processors with similar 130W TDP and speed profiles with all of the Ivy Bridge goodness.
According to the map we should see the following in the 3rd Quarter of 2013
Core i7 4960X Extreme Edition (unlocked)
Core i7 4930K (unlocked)
Core i7 4820K (unlocked)No word on pricing but I'm going to guess that X edition processors will be north of $900US followed by the K processors around $600US and $500US respectively.
In addition to the Core i7-4820K 4C8T the remaining two are 6C12T, three processors support DDR3 1866MHz and 1600MHz memory native. As for the TDP are 130W, and support for Intel VT-d technology.
As for the clock, the Core i7-4820K highest 3.70GHz (10MB Cache), Turbo Boost to 3.90GHz;'s top Core i7-4960X 3.60GHz (15MB Cache) Turbo Boost can reach 4GHz; Core i7 -4930K 3.40GHz (12MB Cache), Turbo Boost to 3.90GHz.
Translated Source - vr-zoneI made the mistake of going after the top dog when Sandy Bridge E was launched thinking that X edition was the place to be. As it turns out the K edition offered better overclocking and at a lower price point. With any luck the Ivy Bridge-E variant will follow the same precedent.
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Gigabyte S1082 Windows 8 Slate Tablet at Modders-Inc at Modders-Inc
Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 | By: DennisOhhh a new Slate!!
Overall I feel the Gigabyte S1082 Windows 8 Slate is a very solid device. For the usage testing I replaced my aging laptop with the S1082. It performed as well if not better than an older Core2 quad laptop in my daily tasks most of which include Internet browsing, email, and office applications such as Word and Excel.
This is a smaller Celeron based tablet computer so its not going to be as powerful as my Asus Slate but the 10.1" screen and x68 instruction set will easily replace an older netbook and will do more than Atom based tablets.
Sadly the system spec makes this more of a business tablet than laptop replacement so be sure to check specs before you buy.
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Borderlands 2: Ultimate Vault Hunters Wanted
Published: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 | By: DennisNEW DLC!!
As was announced at PAX East the makers of Borderlands 2 have released a game update that adds a 3rd play thru and 11 more levels to the game. The DLC is free for those who bought the Season Pass and 5 bux for anyone else. (Assuming you have the game)
Changes in 4/2 Software Update (Free)
- Adds new items to the Black Market:
- One additional ammo upgrade for each ammo type, at 50 Eridium each.
- Two more backpack storage space upgrades, at 50 and 100 Eridium respectively.
- Two more bank storage space upgrades, at 50 and 100 Eridium respectively.
- Increases the maximum amount of Eridium players can hold from 99 to 500.
- Adds a new playthrough balanced for top-tier play: Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
- Various bug fixes.
Ultimate Vault Hunter Upgrade Pack
(Free with Season Pass, $4.99 / 400 Microsoft Points separately)- Raises level cap to 61, allowing characters to gain 11 additional levels.
- Characters gain a skill point with every level from 51 to 61, for a total of 11 more skill points.
- Powerful new "Ancient" E-Tech relics and rare Pearlescent-grade weapons can be picked up in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
There is also a new SHIFT code worth 5 golden keys so be sure to check out the post
So far I am most excited about the new gear such as Pearlescent weapons and Ancicent E-Tech relics. I never played must of the first Borderlands so it is good to see some of the old game being brought forward.
Though I am NOT looking forward to killing Jack for a 6th+ time, with any luck they changed the story slightly so different stuff happens in UVHM.
