Tech News
-
ASRock X79 Extreme 11 @ PureOverclock
Published: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 | By: DennisPure black and gold with this motherboard. At first glance it looks like a X79 Big Bang clone but the shorter overall height and compact design are a dead giveaway.
The full array of Z77 motherboards has already been introduced throughout the industry and Ivy Bridge is now a mainstay for Intel. With all the hype and migration, many have forgotten about another viable, and arguably better, computing platform. Yes, the X79 platform is still alive and so are Sandy Bridge “E” processors. ASRock has one of the most comprehensive X79 lineups of all manufacturers, and now the ASRock X79 Extreme 11 has appeared to shake things up further. The Extreme 11 has seven PCIE 3.0 slots (using the PLX PEX 8747 chip), eight SATA III ports and eight USB 3.0 ports. This is on top of a boatload of other features as well. Needless to say, the Extreme 11 is surely built for the performance inclined user.
With the new influx of ASRock reviews I might have to look into getting some of that action. If anything to find out what all the fuss is about.
-
How Google+ Punk’d The Oatmeal @ TechCrunch
Published: Friday, August 17, 2012 | By: DennisThis could have gone really bad for The Oatmeal but instead took a funny turn for the best.
The best part might be that somewhere in the Google+ code is a little comment to future engineers about the redirect, noting “Don’t take this out, we’re fucking with The Oatmeal.”
Be sure to check out the rest of the story on TechCrunch.
-
MSI N680GTX Lightning review: best GTX 680 overclocking card @ HWinfo
Published: Friday, August 17, 2012 | By: DennisI wouldn't really call this a review of the GTX 680 Lightning but rather an article talking about their overclocking experiences using a video card designed for just that, Overclocking.
MSI did it again. With the N680GTX Lightning they have created the best GeForce GTX 680 graphics card for overclockers, but more than ever it's best suited for seasoned overclockers. Thanks to Nvidia's strange decision, the standard BIOS limits this card to performance you can achieve with standard and cheaper GTX 680s. Only when you download the older BIOS from the internet are you free to explore the overclocking potential of the MSI Lightning.
"Finding a BIOS online" is nothing new for the overclocker and well known sites like TechPowerUp, XtremeSystems, and HWBot regularly host modified BIOS files that have been obtained from the mfg or modified by end users. This is how you combat video cards running slow under LN2 and how you often unlock higher voltage profiles or disable OCP. The process worked because people knew where to look, and mfgs supported it because they knew the files were in the hands of people who knew what they were doing.
It would seem some of that understood trust is now in danger of being violated.
During the latest MOA qualifier the question came up regarding the use of modified MSI Afterburner instances and if those versions would be made available to everyone who wanted to enter. The special version allowed you to set unofficial voltages on the HD7970 Lightning and was how the skilled overclockers were posting such insane scores. Up until that competition I had no idea the special version existed and was exactly how MSI wanted it.
-
nVidia GTX 660 Ti Launch Day
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012 | By: DennisIts the middle of summer and how better to celebrate than release the anticipated GTX 660Ti mid-range graphics card. The card brings Kepler archiecture to the mainstream with some great gaming features like Adaptive VSync and TXAA and some amazing overclockability either from the factory or when coupled with your favorite clock tweaking software.
Be sure to check out our review(s) of the GTX 660Ti including the MSI N660Ti PE/OC and Gigabyte GV-N66TOC-2GD
For its latest graphics card, Nvidia has taken the GeForce GTX 680, shaved off a couple of Xbox 360s worth of performance, and slashed the price to $299. Don't worry, the GeForce GTX 660 Ti still has 14 or so Xboxes worth of performance left. Here's how it compares to the latest Radeons, including the newly boost-enhanced 7950. -Tech Report
Reviews from around the web
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Round-Up: ZOTAC, Gigabyte, EVGA and MSI @ HotHardware
- EVGA GeForce GTX 660 Ti SuperClocked Video Card Review @ Hardware Secrets
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Video Card Review w/ ASUS, EVGA & MSI @ Legit Reviews
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti Review- Gigabyte's Windforce OC Edition
- Funky Kit Review: Gigabyte GTX 660Ti OC Version
- Palit Gigabyte and MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti reviews with 2/3-way SLI
- Zotac GTX 660 Ti AMP! Edition @ PureOverclock
- MSI GTX 660 Ti Power Edition @ PureOverclock
- Gigabyte GTX 660 Ti Windforce @ PureOverclock
- Asus GTX 660 Ti Direct CU II TOP Review
- Nvidia GTX 660 Ti review – including SLI and 3-way SLI
- NVIDIA GTX 660 Ti Review @ Hardware Canucks
- ASUS GeForce GTX 660 Ti DirectCU II Top @ ocaholic
- Palit GeForce GTX 660 Ti JetStream 2 GB @ techPowerUp
- ASUS GeForce GTX 660 Ti Direct CU II 2 GB @ techPowerUp
- Nvidia's GeForce GTX 660 Ti graphics card reviewed @ TR
- MSI GeForce GTX 660 Ti Power Edition 2 GB @ techPowerUp
- EVGA GTX 660 Ti Superclocked 2Gb @ LanOC Reviews
- NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti Overclocked Launch Review @ HardwareHeaven
- ZOTAC GeForce GTX 660 Ti AMP! Edition 2 GB @ techPowerUpBe sure to check back later for a great article showing the 2-way SLI performance of the GTX 660Ti including some amazing overclocking tests fit for HWBot.
-
How to Make Your Own Cat5e Network Cable @ Techgage
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012 | By: DennisHere is a little something that everyone should know how to do. It doesn't matter what walk of life you stroll you will eventually be put in a situation where you have to "plug in" and the cable you need may not be available.
The question is. What will you do?
Despite their simplicity, pre-made networking cables are expensive - especially if you're in need of outfitting your entire house. Luckily, making your own cables isn't only far less expensive, but easy, and perhaps even a little bit fun. If you're still unsure, read on as we explain the entire process from start to finish.
I am well versed in the art of Cat5 cable making; I wired my house and two small offices. In my house every room (two drops each) all went to a central media panel, from there I needed to wire up the keystones and make 24 patch cables to connect the keystone (and room) to the switch. Once that was complete I had to make patch cables for every device and computer that needed network access.
It was a long boring process but I memorized one thing.
Orange-White, Orange, Green-White, Blue, Blue-White, Green, Brown-White, Brown.
That is the proper way to wire a Cat5 plug and how it will be for years to come.
-
NL: Review Block - Storage, Chassis, Sound and Chillin (a great combo)
Published: Thursday, August 16, 2012 | By: DennisIt is time for another sweet edition of NL (<- Ninjalane) Review Block goodness where we list some of the news and reviews that landed in the email inbox. Most of these are to sites we consider friends, and others are to sites we just consider.
Memory and Storage Solutions
- Six USB 3.0 Flash Drives Reviewed @ Custom PC Review
- Crucial Ballistix Smart Tactical 2x4GB DDR3-1866 MHz CL9 @ ocaholic
- Funky Kit Review: Crucial M4 mSATA 256GB SSD
- OCZ Agility 4 256 GB @ techPowerUp
- Kingston V200 Review - 128GB @ HCW
- Kingston HyperX 240GB SSD Review @ Custom PC Review
- Kingston HyperX 64GB Flash Drive @ Techreaction
- Crucial 256GB v4 SATA II Solid State Drive @ Pro-Clockers
- AVEXIR AVD3U16001008G-4CI 32GB C10 1600MHz Memory Kit Review @ Madshrimps
Case and Chassis
- Cooler Master Storm Stryker Case Review @ Legit Reviews
- Diablotek Cyclops Mid Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers
- MSI Barricade Case @ LanOC Reviews
- Lancool PC-K65 @ HW-Journal
- Corsair Obsidian Series 550D Mid-Tower Case Review @ [H]
Cooling
- Thermaltake Water 2.0 Performer and Pro Water Cooling Kits Review @ OCIA
Smooth Sound
- CM Storm Sonuz Gaming Headset Review @ HardwareLOOK
- Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless 7.1 Gaming Headset Review @ Techgage
- Coolermaster Sonuz Headset review @ Rbmods
- CoolerMaster Storm Sonuz Gaming Headset @ PureOverclock
- Siberia V2 USB-Powered Headset - Frost Blue Edition Review @ HardwareHeaven
- CM Storm Sonuz Stereo Gaming Headset Review @ TechgageI'll let you figure out which is which.
-
Intel Core i7-3820 Processor Review (10M Cache, 3.60 GHz) @ TechwareLabs
Published: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 | By: DennisThis isn't your typical LGA2011 processor but does pack quite a punch when it comes to raw speed. 3.6Ghz to be exact.
The 2XXX Second Generation of the Intel Core Processor Family took off this past year with many early adopters pleasantly surprised by the abundance of speed, updated technologies, and better graphics integration. Here at TechwareLabs we had the pleasure of reviewing the i5-2500K and i7-2600K last year with future prospect of greater economical choices to come in Q1 2012. The Sandy Bridge-E i7-3800 Desktop series takes on many of the 2nd Gen i7-2XXX series features with a boost in base clock speed, cache, and thermal specification.
Keep in mind this is the quad core edition running with about the same power as a high-end Ivy Bridge. The only major difference is quad channel memory common to Sandy Bridge E vs dual channel found on the mainstream LGA1155.
-
Demonoid takedown prompts attacks by Anonymous
Published: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 | By: DennisThe use of BitTorrent has been under attack lately due in part to how easy it is to share files of a questionable nature. Most find the process to be extremely convenient and a great way to get the latest version of Slackware or hard to find game demo. The problem is, BitTorrent has a dark side and sometimes the files being shared are not supposed to be either they be pirated, warez, etc..
This alone has led companies to demand that sites tracking BitTorrent files be taken down in an attempt to thwart would be downloaders from capturing their precious bits and bytes.
The BitTorrent link tracker's internet service provider (ISP) took it offline after being contacted by law enforcement officers.
The US had previously alleged Demonoid was one of the most visited sites used to share pirated content.
Many of its visitors are now concerned their activities may be exposed.
Demonoid's site became unavailable last week, but news of the authorities' involvement only emerged after an article in the local newspaper Kommersant on Monday.Of course the biggest legal hurdle here is that the BitTorrent tracking website only hosts a link to the .torrent and not the actual file you are downloading. So does taking the tracking site down do anything to stop filesharing?, is hosting a link site illegal?. I'm no legal expert but filesharing will continue and I'm pretty sure downloading a .torrent file isn't illegal.
-
ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Champion Intel LGA2011 @ techPowerUp
Published: Monday, August 13, 2012 | By: DennisIf you had to ask yourself, "What is the best motherboard you can buy?" would ASRock be anywhere on that list?? Given that fans of a certain websites often side with the views of the author I suspect the answer for those reading this would be "No".
However, with that being assumed I know there is at least 1 vocal Ninjalane reader who swears by ASRock claiming that if it's not ASRock then it has to be something else, and that is no good.
.jpg)
A Champion has emerged! The ASRock Fatal1ty Champion seeks to beat out all other Intel X79 Express contenders, clad in red and black armor and carrying a loadout of features that is sure to have other boards run and hide. Can the ASRock Fatal1ty X79 Champion live up to its claim?
I cannot diss, the color scheme is spot on, the layout and expansion slot designs mimick (nay are the same) those found on the more expensive Asus product line so why not give the mainstream Asus product line a shot?
btw for those of you thinking you might be able to get one of these fine motherboards, think again. "This model may not be sold worldwide. Please contact your local dealer for the availability of this model in your region. - ASRock website"
-
Aerocool X-Vision Fan Controller Review @ Kitguru
Published: Monday, August 13, 2012 | By: DennisA fan controller is one of the premiere aftermarket products you can buy for a personal computer. Of course they don't do much but, go a long way to add some bling to your "beige box". Aerocool is one of the only companies to take the standard fanbus and push it to the n'th degree by adding digital displays and fancy moving lights.
But is all of that really necessary?
Once installed and powered on, we can see the 5 sections reporting fan speeds, and 5 sections of temperatures. Our first channel was for the CPU cooler, so you can see this fan was running at a modest 1400 rpm, and the heatsink where we attached the thermal sensor was only up to 28 degrees (channel 1), whereas the CPU block itself was running at 33 degrees (channel 2).
I think for some the ability to control fans is a key feature for those suffering with OCD but also may be the only option to keep an overstuffed enthusiast system cool in the heat of battle.
