custom pc mag uk 08
TRANSCRIPT
INSIDE: WHAT THE PIRATE BAY BLOCK MEANS FOR US
CPC AWARD WINNERS – AS DECIDED BY YOU
11 waterblocks andradiators reviewedStep-by-stepinstallation guides
PLUS
COMPLETE 23-PAGE GUIDE
ISSU
E107
AUG20
12£4.5
0
WATER COOLYOUR PC
THE BEST-SELLING MAG FOR PC HARDWAWAW RE, OVERCLOCKING, GAMING & MODDING
HOW TO OVERCLOCKIVY BRIDGE CHIPS
GAME MARKETINGGGAAAAMMEE MMAARRKKEE
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3August 2012
Welcome to Issue 107Welcome to Issue 107EditorialEDITOR
TECHNICALEDITORHarryButler
GAMESEDITORJoeMartin
ARTEDITORBillBagnall
PRODUCTIONEDITORJulieBirrell
CONTRIBUTORSAntonyLeather, CliffHarris,GarethHalfacree,JimKillock,LucySherriff, MikeJennings,
PaulGoodhead,RickLane,RobertFlorence, SimonTreadaway,
TracyKing
PHOTOGRAPHYDannyBird
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WATERCOOLYOURPC54 Everbeentempted
bythecooltemps,overclocking
headroomorjustthesimple,awesomefactorofwatercooling,butdidn’tknowwheretostart?Thismonth,fortheveryfirsttime,we’vededicatedawholeLabstesttoseparatewater-coolingcomponents,reviewingthreeCPUwaterblocks,sixGPUwaterblocksandfourradiators.What’smore,we’veevenincludedtwostep-by-stepinstallationguides.
44
4 August 2012
Welcome to Issue 107
11 SPOTTINGAFAIRTESTIt’sgoodtodebunktechclaims,but
TracyKingarguesthatweneedtodoitfairly.
12 THEPIRATEBAYBLOCKTheUK’smajorISPshavebeen
orderedtoblockaccesstothePirateBay,butJimKillockasksifcensorshipistheanswer.
14 SIMCITYINTERVIEWJoeMartintalkstoMaxis’Ocean
QuigleyaboutthelatestinstalmentintheSimCityfranchise.
18 SPINTRONICSRepresentingdatawiththespinof
anelectronchangedharddrivereadheads,butcoulditdothesameforlogiccircuits?
38 IVYBRIDGEGRAPHICSTESTCanIntel’snewintegratedHD4000
graphicsprocessorbeatAMD’sLlanoGPUarchitectureatitsowngame?Weinvestigate.
44 INDILINXEVEREST2WecheckoutOCZ’sVertex4toseeif
theIndilinxEverest2controllerisanygood.
86 DIABLOIIIWecannowswimupforairinthe
swampofhype,butwas itworththewait?
94 REVIEWYOURGAMESCliffHarrisattemptstopersuade
youtopostonlinereviewsofyourgames.
96 THEENGINEROOMUNREALENGINE3
We’reintroducinganewsectionthismonth,wherewelookatapopulargameengineeachissue.ItkicksoffwithUnrealEngine3.
9840
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5August 2012
1ssue 107
98 BUYNOW,PAYLATERWhendidgamesstartarrivingin
collector’seditions,andwhydowenowhavegamecharacterstatuettesandqueuesoutsideHMV?JoeMartininvestigatestheevolutionofgamemarketing.
108 HOWTOOVERCLOCKIVYBRIDGE
Weshowyouthequickestandeasiestwaytogeta3.4GHzCorei5-3570Kallthewayupto4.5GHz,usinganAsusMaximusVGenemotherboard.
1298108
5876
54
102
Regulars8 Fromtheeditor11 TracyKing12 Digitalrights14 Interview16 Incoming18 Science!20 Mobiletechwatch24 CPCEliteproducts50 Howwetest84 Grumpygamer94 Devperspective96 Theengineroom120 Retrotech122 RobertFlorence
Community76 HowtofitCPUandGPU
waterblocks80 Howtomountyourradiator
andpump104Readers’drives108 HowtooverclockaCorei5-3570K111 Forthewin!114 Letters117 Folderof themonth118 Yourfoldingmilestones
86
Reviewed thismonthHardwarePC36 DinoPCTyrannosaur
3570K
GRAPHICS HARDWARE38 IntelHD4000graphics40 PNYNvidiaGeForceGTX6702GB
SSD44 OCZVertex4256GB
JOYSTICK46 CyborgF.L.Y5
KEYBOARD48 CMStormQuickFireRapid
Customkit52 KeysonicKSK-320552 Memoir ‘4452 PicoGenieA10053 AntecAdvanceNaturalSpray
60ml53 AntecAdvance3xStrengthSpray
60ml53 AntecAdvanceDeepCleanGel53 EnermaxDreamBassAP001
WatercoolingLabs test58 AquacomputerCuplexKryosHF59 WatercoolHeatkillerCPU
Rev3.0CU60 XSPCRayStormCPUWaterBlock62 KoolanceVID-NX68064 WatercoolHeatkillerGPU-X³GTX
680HoleEdition65 XSPCRazorGTX68067 AquacomputeraquagrATIx
forHD797068 WatercoolHeatkillerGPU-X³
GTX79X070 XSPC Razor797071 AquacomputerairplexXT24072 AlphacoolNexXxoSXT60Full
Copper240mm73 PhobyaG-Changer240Ver.1.2
Black74 XSPCEX240MultiportRadiator
Games86 DiabloIII88 SniperEliteV292 Warlock:Masterof theArcane93 Crysis3
30PRODUCTSREVIEWED
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O h,goaway!Notagain,click,click.Don’tcare!Atleast,that’stheusualmonthlyexchangeI’vehadwithmyPCforthepastfewyearsuntil IupgradedtoaGeForceGTX680.That’sbecause
I’vebeenusingAMDgraphicscards,fromtheRadeonHD4850throughthe5850toa6870.Theyweregoodcards,butthemonthlynagtoupdatemydriversniggledlikeabig,stupidflybuzzinginandoutofmyear.IprobablyevenshoutedoutloudtomyPC.Sometimes.Ofcourse,likeanyself-respectingenthusiast, I liketomakesure
thatmyPCisperformingaswellaspossible,butthatdoesn’tmeanIwanttogothroughthehassleofuninstallingmygraphicsdrivers,reinstallingnewonesandrestartingmyPCeverymonth.Itgratesevenmorewhenyoulookthroughthereleasenotesandseethattheonlyfixesareforagameyoudon’tevenown,ataparticularresolutionyourmonitordoesn’tevensupport,andthegraphicalglitchesyouwerehopingtoresolveinanothergamearen’tevenmentioned.Perhapsthemostannoyingmonthlyremindercamefrommy
mediacentrePC,whichhasaRadeonHD3450.Ihaven’tupdatedthedriverfor18months,becauseIhaven’tneededto–if itain’tbroke,don’tfix it,especiallywhenyouriskbreakingyourPCintheprocess.Everynowandthen,IfoundthatthepreviousversionofCatalystdidn’tuninstallproperly,andinstallingthenewversionmeantIcouldnolongeropentheControlCenter,requiringalongandtediousvoyagethroughthecheckboxbadlandsofRegedittogetitworkingagain.IcanseewhyAMDadoptedthisstrategy.ATIdrivershadaterrible
reputationforstabilitywhenCatalystwasreleased,andittookafewmonthsof.NETtweakingtomaketheCatalystControlCenterrunsmoothlyandquickly.AMDneededtoimproveitsreputation,andtheideaofmonthlyupdatesmusthaveseemedappealing,while
AMD has decided to stop issuingmonthly updates to its Catalystdriver updates. Good
alsogivingAMDbraggingrightsoverNvidia’scomparativelyirregularForceWareupdates.Itdidn’tworkthough.Inarushtogetanewupdateoutofthedoor
everymonth,AMD’sdriverteammusthaveundoubtedlyhadtoplacesomeissuesontheToDopile,andNvidiacertainlydoesn’tseemtohavesufferedfromnotknockingoutnewdriverupdateseverymonth.Thankfully,allthisisnowinthepast–thismonthAMDannouncedthatitwasnolongergoingtoreleasemonthlydriverupdates,butinsteadreleaseanewdrivereverynowandthenwithplentyoffixes,
muchlikeNvidia’sstrategy.Iwon’tbesadtoseethebackofit. I like
tokeepmyPC’shardwareandsoftwaremaintained,buttherecomesapointwhereitstopsbeingusefulandactuallyjustbecomesannoying.Goodcall,AMD.Idon’tcareif itwasamoney-savingdecision–itwastherightone.Inothernews,thismonthalsoseesthe
introductionofanewregularsectioncalledtheEngineRoom,inwhichwe’regoingtolookatagameengineeverymonth,andseehowit’schangedPCgaming,particularlywhenitcomestographicsandhardwarefeatures.ThefirstoneisallaboutUnrealEngine3(seep96).Finally,we’reteamingupwithourfriendsatbit-techtocreatea
techandgamingpubquiz.Asafanofbothaleandquizzes,Ifullysupportthisendeavour,andwillbepenningsomeofthequestionstoo.Ifyouthinkyou’vegotwhatittakestobeonawinningteam,thencheckoutthedetailsonp10andsubmityourentry.
BenHardwidgeistheeditorofCustomPC.HelikesPCs,realaleandWarhammer40,000.
[email protected] @MANSHARK
The monthly nag toupdate niggled like abig, stupid fly buzzingin and out of my ear
TOOMANYDRIVERUPDATES
8 August 2012
from the editor
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PNYTechnologiesEurope.RCSBordeauxB394790430-PNY,PNYTechnologiesandthePNYlogoareregisteredtrademarksofPNYTechnologies,Inc.Allothertrademarksandlogosarethepropertyoftheirrespectivecompanies.Copyright©2012PNYTechnologies,Inc.All rights reserved. © 2012 NVIDIA Corporation. NVIDIA, NVIDIA logo, GeForce, GeForce logo, SLI, NVIDIA SLI-Ready logo, PhysX, 3D Vision, 3D Vision Surround, and CUDA are registered trademarks and/or trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the UnitedStates and other countries. All Rights Reserved.
Explore a new gaming experiencewith PNY’s GTX 670.
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i t’sagoodjobthereareexperttechreviews–otherwisewe’dhavetoeithertakeachance,orbuyeverythingandperformourowncomparisontests.However,nowandagain,Iseeacomparison
testthatsetsouttotestaparticularclaim,fromquantummagnetsclarifyingsoundwaves,toexpensivedigitalcablesdeliveringsignalimprovements,andthesetestsaren’talwaysasrobustastheymightclaim.SoI’vedecidedtooutlinesomeofthepitfallswhentestingsuchclaims,usingmyfavouriteclaim-of-superpowers,HDMIcables.Firstly,whatistheactualclaimbeingtested?Inourexampleof
HDMIcables,whatdothemanufacturerssayisbetterabouttheir£200cables?Someclaimscan’tbetested,sincetheydon’tsayanythingspecific.OnecableIsawstatedthatit ‘deliversthefullexperience’. Nothingquantifiablethere.Aclaimthatcanbetestedideallyhasastandardofmeasurement.Forexample,‘world’sfastestcableforHDMI:HyperSpeed-highspeedratedat21Gb/sec’containsatestableclaim,oncewegetpastthe‘HyperSpeed’babble.Somecomparisontestslookforeffectsthat
themanufacturerhasn’tactuallyclaimed.Thisisaneasypitfall ifyou’retryingtoanswer‘whichcableisbetter?’,becausethequestionissubjective.Secondly, isthetesttrulylike-for-like?InourHDMIexample,the
testmightbewhetherthegoldcablesdeliverthesuperiorstandardtheypromise(howeverthat’sbeingmeasured)comparedtonon-gold.Asthetestfocusesononespecificarea,allotheraspectsshouldideallybeidentical.Cablelength,width,ageandsoonshouldallbethesame.Ifnot,theremaybeafactoraffectingperformanceotherthanthegold,andthetestwouldn’tbefair.Thirdly,theidealtestisdouble-blinded.Humansarefullofbias
andpreconceptions,andthiscancreepintotestsinmanyways,fromsomethingsimplesuchashandlingtheexpensivecabledifferently
It’s good to debunk seemingly false techclaims, but we also need tomake surethat we do it fairly and accurately
fromthecheapone,toseeingdifferencesthataren’treallytherebecauseyou’rebiasedtowardsaparticularbrand.Ideally,nooneinvolvedinphysicallydoingthetestshouldbeawarethatit’sforHDMIcables.Thepeopleevaluatingwhethersoundorpictureisclearershouldn’tknowwhatthey’relookingfor,onlythattheyhavetonoteifthereareanydifferencesand,ifso,whatdifferences.Thequestion‘whichisbetter,pictureAorpictureB?’isbiasedbecauseitprimestheviewertoexpectadifference,sotheymayfindoneregardless.Fourthly,hasthetestreplicatedcircumstancesthatleadto
problems?HDMIcableseitherdeliveronesandzeroesortheydon’t,butsomemaybebetteratshieldingfrominterference,ortheymight
lastlonger;ifyoudon’ttesttheminthesameenvironmentthataffectsperformancethenyouwon’tfindout.Twodifferentlypricedcableswillprobablyperformthesameoutoftheboxinthesamesetup,butdotheyperformthesameinmylounge,wherethere’snointerference,astheydoinmyofficewherethere’sloads?Dotheyperformthesameovertimeandstress?Withoutreplicatingwhatleadstoproblems,thetestmaynotbefair.Comprehensivereviewsshouldalsotest
morethanoneofeachcable.Youhavenowayofknowingifyourtestcablesaretypical
examplesoftheirmodelifyouonlyhaveone.Ofcourse,thisisallassumingthatweliveinanidealworld,butIhopethisgivesyouanideaofthesortofissuesthatcancropupwhentryingtogetthroughtechnobabbleorgold-platedquantumpricing.Thenexttimeyoureadatechreviewthatdebunksaclaim,askifthetestshavebeenperformedfairly.
GamerandscienceenthusiastTracyKingdissectstheevidenceandstatisticsbehindsomeofthepopularmediastoriessurroundingtechandgaming @TKINGDOLL
11August 2012
HDMI cables eitherdeliver ones and zeroesor they don’t, but some
may have betterinterference shielding,or they might last longer
SPOTTINGAFAIRTEST
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12 August 2012
Jim Killock
ensorshipisanegativeandbluntresponsetoalmostanything,anditimpliesthatthecensordoesn’ttrustyoutomakeyourowndecisions.Past
experienceofcensorshiphasshownthatit’srarelyfullyeffective;theunwantedactivity islikelytocarryonregardless,andthetargetofcensorshipwilloftenlooklikeavictim.TheUKblockingofthePirateBayhas
followedthispattern.Evenbeforetheblocks,thesitehadasurgeoftraffic,mirrorsappearedandtheUKPirateParty’smirrordrewmoretraffic.AsthejudgeinchargeofthecasehasorderedwholeIPaddressestobeblocked,themirrormayleadtotheparty’smainwebsitebeingcutoff,whichwouldmeanUKcensorshipofapoliticalparty.It’stemptingtoconcludethatthisisa
planned,strategicvictoryforthosewhosetup
ThePirateBayblockThe UK’s major ISPs have been ordered to block accessto the Pirate Bay, but is censorship the answer?
thePirateBay,andhere’swhy.ThePirateBaywassetupasaSwedishlanguagewebsitein2003byathinktankcalledthePirateBureau,whichorganiseddirectactionarounddigitalcopyrightissues.ThePirateBaywaslikeadirectattackonthenotionthatcopyrightcouldbeenforceableinthedigitalage,andachallengetotheolddistributionmodels.Itwasfirstlyintendedtoshowthatpeople
coulddistributematerialbetterthanthetraditionaltop-downcompanies,andsecondly,todemonstratethatinanageofnear-zerocostindistribution,simplyrelyingonchargesforcopiesseemsredundant.Thissecondfactorispartlyacceptedby
manyconventionalbusinessanalysts,whoemphasisequalityofservice,curationandcustomerrelationships.However,thePirateBureau’smainaimwastopushthe
boundariesofwhat’sacceptable,anddemonstratethatthetypesofcopyrightenforcementpushedbyindustrygroupswouldquicklybecomeintolerable.ByblockingthePirateBay, ithasproveditspoint.Theacceptabilityofcopyrightenforcement
quicklybecamethefocusofdebate,startingwithraidsonthePirateBay’sserversin2006,andthefamoustrial in2007.Thelegalcaseendedwithfinalappealsinearly2012.Thefourdefendantsfacelargefinesandjailsentences,butthesitestillhasn’tshutdown.TherewasnevermuchdoubtthatthePirate
Baywouldbeseentobeinfringingcopyright.Itsfamouslysarcasticresponsestocopyrighttakedownrequestsleftlittledoubtthatitwaslikelytoobeythelaw.Theargumentthatitwasmerelyasearchenginedoesn’treallyabsolveitofresponsibilityforitswebpages,which
C
Whentheblockwasordered2May, 2012,forthestartofJune.
Whomustblockaccess?Sky,Virgin,TalkTalk,EverythingEverywhere,O2andBT.
WhythecourtorderedtheblockItrecognisedthatthePirateBaywasdoinglittleornothingtodealwithcopyrightcomplaintsandwasinfacthelpingtofacilitatecopyrightviolations.
Howisthesiteblocked?AnyrequesttothePirateBay’sIPaddresswillnotbefulfilled.
Thisblockshttpandhttpstraffic.Usually,thiswouldmeanthatmanysitesmightbeblocked,butonlyonesiteisservedatthisIPaddress.
Isthesiteillegal?No.Theactivitiesmaybeillegal,butit’sastretchtocallitan‘illegalwebsite’.
Isitillegaltovisitthesite?No.Visitingawebsiteisn’t(yet)acrime.
IsusingproxiesorVPNsillegal?No.Circumventiontoolsaren’tillegal.
Isdownloading.torrentfilesillegal?No.Merelydownloadingatorrentfileisn’tillegal.
Isdownloadingactualcopyrightfilesacrime?No,butitisawrong.It’ssimilartonotpayingabillinthatit’saprivatewrong,whichgenerallymeansyoumightfaceafineratherthanprison.
Issharingfilesacrime?Sometimes,butthedamagehastobeveryserious,suchasleakingapre-releaserecording.Otherwise,it’sacivilwrong.
Cancopyrightbeenforcedinthedigitalage?Yes.Thedebateiswhetherwide,publicenforcementisnecessary,orwhetherbusinesses’productsandinnovationaretheanswer.
WherecanIfindmoreinformation?StealThisFilmIandIIaregoodintroductionstothePirateBay’spolitics.Lookonhttp://vo.doforhigh-qualitylegaltorrents.Youcanalsofindmoreinformationbyvisitingwww.openrightsgroup.org/piratebay
THE PIRATE BAY BLOCK FAQ
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13August 2012
pointtocopyrightinfringingmaterial.Theresultofthetrial,however,wasthe
spreadofangerinSweden.ThenverysuccessfulPiratePartieswereestablished,nowwithtwoSwedishMEPsandregionalrepresentationinanumberofGermanregionalparliaments.TheywerecreatedasaresultoftheperceptionthatactionagainstthePirateBaywastheheavy-handedagendaofforeignlobbygroups,andultimatelypointless.ThesegroupspushednotonlyforclosingPirateBay,butalsoformeasurestoidentifyindividualcopyrightinfringers.Exposingthisagendawaspretty
muchtheoriginalgoalofthePirateBureau.Ithadn’tonlyprovokedadebate,butactuallycreatedapoliticalmovementopposedtothecopyrightlobbies.Theresponseoftherecordingandfilmindustriessincethefirstmajorfile-sharingtool,Napster,hasbeentocloseservicesandstopinnovationthattheydon’tcontrol.Mostlyrunbylawyers,groupssuchas
theIFPI(InternationalFederationofPhonographicIndustries)andtheMPA(MotionPictureAssociation)lookforlegalsolutions.Theywanttoprotectthevalueoftheirhistoricassets,whichtheyworrycoulddepreciateifdigitaldistributionpushescheapaccessratherthanpremiumsales.It’sonlyreallybeenin2012thatthe
lobbyists’legislativestrategyhaslookedlikeit’scomingofftherails.Astringofinitiativespushedbythesegroups,includingtheACTAtreaty(seeIssue105,p10),HadopiinFrance
andtheUK’sDigitalEconomyActlookedsettosucceedintippingthebalancetowardscreatingnewresponsibilities,restrictions,punishmentsandliabilitiesdesignedtoincreasecontrolofthedistributionmechanisms.OnlySOPAandPIPAmanagedtofinallyoutragetheAmericanpublicandtipthelobbygroups’strategyoffcourse.Now,thankfully,ACTAisalsoindanger.Politicians,whoaresusceptibleto
argumentsaboutthedangersofcopyright‘theft’, tendtoviewthesemeasuresas
reasonable.Theycreateaninfrastructureofcontrolthatcanbeusedformuchmorethancopyright,anddamagelegalrightsofdueprocessasenforcementdutiesareplacedonintermediarieswithnointerestinwhetheraninfringementclaimisrealorvalid.Copyrightmonitoringisaconstantthreattoyourprivacy.Justasimportantly,theenforcement
agendatakesattentionawayfromthemajorquestion:howdodigitalmusicandfilmbusinessesmakemoneyontheInternet?Theanswerissimple–doabetterandquickerjobofprovidingcontentthanfilesharing.VeryfewpeopleintheUKwouldfile-shareBBCorChannel4programmes;whatwouldbethe
JIMKILLOCKisexecutivedirectorofcampaignorganisationTheOpenRightsGroup
(www.openrightsgroup.org)
@jimkillock
point?It’sbettertovisitthewebsitesandmaybewatchsomeadverts.However,therearestillveryfewfilms
publishedviawebservicesintheUKwhenyoucheckbackcatalogues,evenaward-winningfilms.Plus,downloadpricesareoftenhigherthanthecostofDVDs.Whilethepubliccryoutforentertainment,andtheindustriescontinuetodoverywelldespitetherecession,thelobbyistsmanagetocreateadoom-ladenatmosphereinwhichpolicymakersbelievecopyrightisfacinganexistentialcrisis.
Thelobbygroupsmanagetoturnmanyoftheirbestcustomersandsometimeinfringersintoavowedenemies.Theypushcensorshipmeasuresthatsendthesignalthatcopyrightcanonlyexist ifwesacrificefreespeechandprivacy.Theyhavealsosuccessfully
generatedthreecitizenmovementstoopposetheirgoals:thedigitalrightsmovement,includingORG;thePirateParties;andthelooseAnonymousgroupingsorganisingEurope-wideprotests.Whenyou’reinahole,stopdigging.
THERE ARE STILL VERY FEW FILMSPUBLISHED VIA WEB SERVICES INTHE UK WHEN YOU CHECK BACK
CATALOGUES, EVEN AWARD WINNERS
AccesstothePirateBayhasalreadybeenblockedbyISPssuchasVirgin,butisstillavailableviatheUKPirateParty’sproxy
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14 April 2012
JoeMartin
Oh,soSim-peopleJoe Martin talks to Maxis’ Ocean Quigley about a PC franchise thatwe’re very happy to see being revived – SimCity
sendingagentstoandfro.Simsleavebuildingswithaparticulargoalinmind,tolookforatypeofjob,goshoppingortothehospital, lookforabuildingtorobandsoon.DifferentSimsarelookingfordifferent
goals,dependingonwherethey’vecomefrom.Iftheycan’tfindwhatthey’relookingfor,they’llchangetheirmindsafterawhile,andlookforsomethingelse.Eventually,they’ll findwhatthey’relookingfor,giveupandgobackhome,ormaybeevenleaveyourcity.Theycarrystuffwiththem,suchashealth,
education,happinessormoney.Whentheygettotheirdestination,that’shandedovertothebuildingthatreceivesthem,whichinturnsetsoffadditionalsimulationactivity.
CPC:WhyareyoumakingthisSimCitynowaftersolongawayfromthefranchise?Ocean:Wewantedtodoalotwith
SimCity4thatjustwasn’tpossiblethen.Overthepastdecade,wekeptcomingbacktothoseideas,andafterfinishingSpore,wefinallyhadanopportunitytorunwiththem.Oneoftheobviousimprovementsistheinclusionofafully3Dcity–untilrecently,wecouldn’tmakea3Dcitywiththelevelofvisualrichnessthatthegamedemanded.Inpreviousversionsof
SimCity,theywerealsofairlylow-resolutionsimulationsthatglossedoveralotofthedetailsthatmakeacityfeelreal.Wewanttoshowthebehaviorsthatmakeupcitieswithvastlygreaterfidelity,andwebuiltourGlassBoxenginetotacklealotoftheseelements.
CPC:Canyoutalkaboutthenewengine?Ocean:GlassBoxisn’tagraphicsengine,it’sasimulationengine.BeforeGlassBox,wedidn’thavethesimulationtechnologytomakecitieswhereeverythingwasalive.Thisiswhatwemeanwesay,‘EverythingyouseeweSim.’GlassBoxenablesustosimulateeverythingaplayerseeswithinthecity–the
thousandsofSims,vehiclesandbuildingsthatliveinit.
CPC:We’veseentheagentsinthegame,buthowdotheywork?Doallcitizenshavethesame
priorities,forexample?Ocean:Atthemostbasiclevel,agentsareusedbythesimulationtocarryinformationthroughthecity.Almosteverythingthat’smovinginthecityisanagent, includingtheSimsandtheircars,watermovingthroughpipes,electricitymovingthroughwiresandresourcesmovingthroughyoureconomy.Buildingscommunicatewitheachotherby
inclusionofafully3Dcity–untilrecently,we
webuiltourGlassBoxengineto
thousandsofSims,vehiclesandbuildingsthatliveinit.
CPC:
priorities,forexample?
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15April 2012
CPC:TheabilitytoadddatalayerstothemaphasaGoogleMapsfeeltoit,buthowmanylayerscanplayerssee?Ocean:Beingabletovisualisewhat’sgoingonisabsolutelykey.Itdoesn’tmatterhowrichandsophisticatedthesimulationisifyouaren’tallowedtoseeit!Everygameplaysystem–education,crimeorgarbage–hasdifferentwaysofshowingyouwhatit’sdoing.Wehave‘heavy’datalayers,wherewe
makethecitylookprettyabstract,andsuperimposegraphsoverbuildingsshowingyouwhat’sgoingon.Intheheavydatalayers,you’refocusingononeparticularsystem,suchasfiresafety.Everythingthatmattersaboutfirewillbevisiblethere–wherefireshaveoccurred,whereyourfirestationsare,howaccessibledifferentpartsofyourcityaretoyourfiretrucksandsoon.Wealsohave‘light’datalayers,where
weoverlayinformationonyourcitywithoutchangingthewayitlooks.Thoseareusefulforfiguringoutwheretoplopsomething,orwhereyoumighthaveaproblem.
CPC:ThenewSimCitywillfeaturemultiplayertoo;howdoesthatworkwithasandboxstrategygame?Ocean:Inreallife,citiesdon’texist inisolation.They’reconnectedtoeachotherthroughtheflowoftrade,emigration,sharedresourcesandacommonenvironment.Inaddition,citiessharelarge-scaleregionalinfrastructure.Forexample,highways,internationalairportsandstrip-minesbenefit (orharm)citiesinawidearea. We’resimulatingthat,whichallowscitiestodifferentiate,specialiseandcarryoutdifferentrolesinthelargerregions.Whatyoubuildanddocanaffectthepeople
withwhomyouchoosetoplay.Yourcitymight
producesomethingthattheircityneeds,orworkersattheircitymightcometoyoursforjobs.Andattheregionalscale,thedifferentcitiescancollaboratetoconstructprojectsthatwouldbeoutofscopeforanindividual.
CPC: Inmultiplayer,canyouplayagainstothercitiesaggressively?Ocean:It’sprimarilyacooperativegame,whereyou’rebuildingwithyourfriends.However,there’sarealsimulationunderneathit,soifyouwanttogriefthemyou’llbeabletodoso.Forexample,youcouldmakethemdependentonyou,andthenyanktherugoutfromunderneaththem,oryoucouldpipepollutedwatertothemorcultivatelotsofcriminalsthatdriveovertotheircityto
commitcrimes.Therewillberegionalleaderboards,sodifferentcitieswillcompeteforpopulationandeconomy,ortobetheworstpolluterorthemostcriminal.Singleplayerscanplayagainstthemselves.
They’llbeabletohavetheirownregionandstillhavethesameexperienceofowningmultiplecities,aswellaswatchingtheircitiesgrowandchangedependingontheirchoices.
CPC:Willmoddingtoolsbeavailable?Ocean:WebuilttheGlassBoxenginetobemoddablefromtheoutset,andourdataformatsarethesameastheywereforSimCity4andTheSims.However,gettingmoddingtoworkproperly,witheverythingelsewe’redoing,isahugechunkofwork.Fornow,theteamneedstoconcentrateonfinishingthecoregameandmakingitgreat.Afterthat,wecanlookatthebiggerpictureagain,anddotheworktoallowmodderstobuildonit.
VISUALISING WHAT’S GOINGON IS KEY. IT DOESN’T MATTERHOW RICH THE SIMULATION ISIF YOU CAN’T SEE IT!
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16 February 2012
NEW HARDWARE
COMPUTEX SPECIAL
AsusshowedoffitsnewMaximusVFormula–thefullATXversionoftheMaximusVGene.Checkoutthepre-installedwaterblocksfortheVRMsaroundtheCPUsocket
AntechadseveraldifferentcoloursofitsP280caseonshow
Asushasreallyexcelleditselfwiththisproof-of-conceptLGA2011,whichhastwoGeForceGTX680sunderneaththecolossalheatsinkatthebottom.Itprobablywon’teverbereleased,butwe’dlovetogetaglimpseofwhatgoesonintheAsusengineeringlabs
LianLihadaPCcaseinamodeltrainonshow–itreallymovesandeverything!
Forthosetimeswhenyoufancyacoldbeerduringgaming,butcan’tbebotheredtogotothekitchen,here’sanInWincasewithafridgebuiltintoit–thiswasaspecialeditionbuiltfortheeGeSportsteam
SilverStone’snewRaven4prototypeshowedanewapproachtomotherboardorientation,eschewingthecase’sprevious90-degreemountinginfavourofcompletelyflippingtheboardupsidedown
TechnicaleditorHarryButlerhasjustbeentotheComputextradeshowinTaiwan,andseenallsortsofawe-inspiringkit,frommotherboardswithintegratedGeForceGTX680stoPCcasesbuiltinsideinmodeltrains.Thismonthwe’regoingtoshareafewofthegoodiesthatcaughthiseye,andgetaglimpseofwhatmaybecominginthefuture.
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18 August 2012
Lucy Sherriff
pintronicsisoneofthehottesttopicsinscienceandtech,whetheritconcernslogiccircuitsbasedonthespinormagneticmomentofan
electronorqubitsinquantumcomputers.Withallthatexcitement, it’seasytoforgetthattechnologybasedonspintronicshasbeenapartofthecomputingexperienceforthebetterpartofadecade.Youknowitbetterasthereadheadofyourharddrive.Inthemid-1980s,tworesearchteams,
headedrespectivelybyAlbertFertandPeterGrünberg,independentlydiscoveredthephenomenonofGiantMagnetoresistance(GMR),aneffectfoundinthinfilmmaterialscomposedofalternatingferromagneticandnon-magneticlayers.FertandGrünbergobservedasignificant
differenceintheresistanceacrosssuchamaterial,dependingonthealignmentofspinsinadjacentlayers.Highresistancemarksaregionofantiparallelalignment,andlowresistancemarksaregionofparallelalignment–thedifferenceissignificantenoughtobeusedtoreaddatafromaharddrive.TheirworkwonFertandGrünbergthe2007NobelPrize,ledtoanexplosioninharddrivedatadensities,andpavedthewayforanewwayofthinkingaboutstorage,memoryandlogic.Attheheartofspintronicsisthe
ideathatwecanexploitnotonlythechargeofanelectron,butalsoitsspin,ormagneticmoment.Theinstantwestopthinkingaboutanelectronasamovingobject(partofaflowofcurrent),andconsideritasanentityinitself, itstartstobecomemoreinteresting.However,gettingfromthelabtothePCisn’talwaysaneasyroad.
SpintronicsRepresenting data with the spin of an electron transformed hard driveread heads, but could it do the same for logic circuits too?
‘Thefirstspintronicsdevicewentintoproductionjusteightornineyearsafteranewphysicaleffect–giantmagnetoresistance–wasdiscovered,’saysRolfAllenspach,headofIBM’sPhysicsofNanoscalesystemsresearchgroupinZurich.However,thereasonthetechnologymovedsoastonishinglyquicklyfromlabtoproductionwasbecauseitwasa‘drop-in’replacement,heexplains.Nothingneededtoberedesigned;thenewheadjustreplacedtheoldoneanddidabetterjob.Theroadaheadforotherspintronics
devicesmightnotbeassmooth,andcertainlyseemstobelonger,butstillpossibletonavigate.Oneofthemostactiveareasofresearchconcernssomethingcalled
magneticdomainwallsandspin-transfertorque,whichismostcertainlynota‘drop-in’replacementforexistingtech.Thephysicsisattheheartofbothnewtypesofmemory,androom-temperaturespintronicslogic.Botharebasedonthesamebasicidea.
‘Aconventionalfieldeffecttransistorworksbecausechargemovesaround,andwecanbreakthatflowofelectronstoproducethelogicstatesofoneandzero.Spintronics,meanwhile,encodesthelogiconeorzerointhespin-eitherupordown–ofanelectron.Insteadofdivertingflow,youflipthespintochangethelogicstate,’Allenspachexplains.‘Inanidealcase,youwouldn’thaveanycurrentflow,justtheflowofspin.Thisiswhatreducesheatdissipation.’Youcanflipthespinwithmagneticfield
(whichisdifficulttocontrolinsidedevices),orwithelectricfield(whichmaybeeasier,especiallyatasmallscale).Thiscanbedoneataverylowpowerdensity,whichisamajorreasonwhypeopleareinterestedinthistech.Significantworkisbeingcarriedouton
developingthesediscoveriesevenfurtherintotheholygrail:universalmemory.Areliableandnon-volatiletechnology
capableofhigh-densitydatastorage,fastreadandwritestimeswouldconsignthestandardharddrive,flashandallthefamiliaralphabeticalRAMvariantstothehistorybooks.Racetrackmemory, whichist
hebrainchildofIBMresearcherStuartParkin, isIBM’sstabatit.Thefirmfirstdemonstratedthetechnologyin2008,butattheendoflastyearitshowedoffaversionintegratedwithstandard200mmwaferCMOStechnology.
S
Spintronicshasalreadybeenusedinharddrivereadheadsforthebestpartofadecade
RolfAllenspach,headofIBM’sPhysicsofNanoscalesystemsresearchgroupinZurich
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
19August 2012
Racetrackstoresdataasmagnetisedregionsonnanowiresthatcanbewritten,readandoverwrittenastheywhizzpastfixedreadandwriteheads.Sincethebitsthemselvesmovealongthenanowires,youonlyneedonetransistorperracetrack,asopposedtoonetransistorperbit.Youcanalsostackthewires,creatingdatadensitiesthatnotonlyequalbutsurpassconventionalharddrives.What’smore,thedataisnon-volatile: itpersistsevenwhenthepowerisswitchedoff.YoumayrecallfromGCSEphysicsthatin
aferromagnet,thespinsofalltheelectronsarealigned.Youcanhaveregionswithinamaterialwherespinsarealignedoneway,rightnexttoareaswherethespinsarealignedtheotherway.Theboundarybetweenthetwodifferentlyalignedareas,theregioninwhichthemagneticmomentoftheelectronschanges,isknownasthemagneticdomainwall.Onedirectionofthewall islogicstateone,theotherdirectionislogicstatezero.Thespinofagivenregioncanbe
manipulatedbyamagneticfield,butthisdoesn’tnecessarilymoveitalongthenanowire.Instead,youcanmovethedomainswithapulseofspin-polarisedcurrent.Generally,anelectricalcurrentisn’tpolarised–ithasanevenmixofupanddownspin-states.However, ifyouloadthecurrentwithmoreelectronsspin-up,forexample,whenithitsamagneticdomainwall,thespin–angularmomentum–oftheelectronsistransferred,switchingthepolarisationoftheregiononeithersideofthedomainwall.Thisworksbecauseangularmomentumis
aconservedquantity–youcan’tgetmorethanyoualreadyhave,andyouhavetokeepwhat
youhave.Soasthepolarisedelectroninthepulseofcurrenthitsthemagnetiseddomainandswitchesfrom0to1,anotherelectron–oneinthemagnetiseddomain–hastoflipfrom1to0.Thistransferofmomentumcanmovea
magnetisedbitalongawireatanimpressive150nmpernanosecondinidealconditions.Thisgivesyouanon-volatileformofhigh-densitymemorywithaccesstimesinnanoseconds;muchfasterthanharddrives.
It isn’tperfectthough.Allenspachacknowledgesthatthereal-worldperformanceisstillsomewaybelowwhattheorysuggestsshouldbepossible.‘Wefoundweneededmuchlongercurrentpulsesthanweexpectedtomovethedomains,’hesays.Whilewe’vehadyearsofperfectingsilicon
production,makingperfectferromagnetsisstillanewgame.Tinydefectsinthecrystallinestructurewerecausingthemagneticdomainstobecomestuck,meaningthatthecurrenthadtobeappliedformuchlongertoshiftthemalong.Inaclearstretchofpermalloywire,though,thetheoryheld,andpulsesofjustafewnanosecondswereenoughtomovethedomainsalong.
LUCYSHERRIFFisajournalistwithadegreeinastrophysicswhoknowsallaboutthe
latestscientifictech.
@lucysherriff
Therealworldgetsinthewayofspintronicsinlogictoo.Thisistoolargeatopictocoverindetailhere,butbasically,thisworkcanbedividedintotwomainavenues,eachofwhichhaspromise,butalsosomeveryobviousdifficultiesthathaveyettobeovercome.Thefirstavenueworksatroom
temperatureandisbasedonthesameunderlyingphysicsasracetrack:ferromagnetism.Thiswouldmeanatotaloverhaulofcomputerdesigntogetit intoPCs.Thealternativeapproach,whichis
compatiblewithcurrentmaterials,onlyworksbelow200°Kelvin.That’sabracing-73°Cinrealmoney,soit isn’tmuchcopinyouraverageair-cooleddesktopPC,andnotreallyappropriateforthemassmarket.Whilethesekinksstillexist inmemoryand
logicresearch,andcurrenttechnologyworks,theindustrywillbereluctanttomovefromcurrentstandardtechnologythathasprovenreliability.Theimplicationisthat,despitespintronics’potential, fornow,standardmemoryisdoingenoughtostayintherace.‘Whetherornotanyofthisbecomes
commercialiseddependsonthedifficultiesinthesiliconindustry,’Allenspachconcludes.‘It’shardtopredictifaningeniousengineerwillfindanewsolutionfortheproblemsfacingexistingtechnology,butwewanttobereadyifthestandardapproachfails.’
THIS GIVES YOU NON-VOLATILE, HIGH-DENSITYMEMORY WITH ACCESS
TIMES IN NANOSECONDS
Racetrackmemory,thebrainchildofIBMresearcherStuartParkin,storesdataasmagnetisedregionsonnanowiresthatcanbewritten,readandoverwrittenastheywhizzpastfixedreadandwriteheads
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
20 August 2012
Gareth Halfacree looks at the latest mobile hardware
e’vealreadylookedattechnologiessuchasmolecular-levelwaterproofing,whichaimtodramaticallyimprovethe
flexibilityofsmartphones,andeventhepotentialfortransparentdevices.Allthesetechnologieshavesomethingincommonthough:they’reevolutionary,notrevolutionary.Awaterproofsmartphoneisjustanormal
smartphoneyoucanusesafelywhenit’sraining;atransparentbatteryusesmuchthesamechemicalsasitsopaqueequivalent.Sometimes,however,acompanyreleasesdetailsofatechnologythat’strulyrevolutionary,andthismonthwe’reluckyenoughtohavetwosuchreleasestodiscuss.Whileoneisclosertocommercialisationthantheother,bothofferafascinatingglimpseofapossiblenewdirectionformobiledevices.
KYOCERA TISSUECONDUCTION AUDIOThefirsttechnologycomesfromacompanymorereadilyassociatedwithphotocopiersthansmartphones:Kyocera.AttheCTIAWirelesseventearlierthismonth,thecompanyrevealeddetailsofitsnewtechnologyfordramaticallyimprovingsmartphoneaudioquality.Thecompanywillsoonreleasethefirst
mobilephonedevelopedaroundtheconceptoftissueconductionaudio.Asaresult,thespeaker–themostfundamentalcomponentofanyphone–iscompletelymissingfromthedevice,asistheholeabovethescreenbehindwhichitwouldnormallysit.Withoutaspeaker,thephonewouldbeprettyuseless,butKyocera’stechnologypromisestoreplacethespeakerwithsomethingbettersuitedtomakingcallsinnoisyenvironments:aceramictransducer.
ChanginghumaninteractionWelcome to the future, where you don’t need a speaker to hear a phone,and you can control a device without even touching it
obviousstatement,butonethat’sdoggedmobilephonemanufacturersforyearsastheytrytocomeupwithnewmethodsforimprovingtheirdevices’usability incrowds.It’sthisproblem,alongwiththeusability
concernsforhard-of-hearingindividualswithmobilephones,thatKyocera’stechnologyaimstoaddress.Dispensingwiththetraditionalconceptofusingairasthemediumtocarrytheaudio,theprototypedeviceisequippedwithaceramictransducerthatusesyourownbodytissueasthecarrier.Thetechnologyworksbytransferringa
vibrationfromtheceramictransducertothetissue,boneandcartilagearoundtheear,whichisinturntransmittedtotheeardrumandperceivedassound.Bypassingtheusualairconductionofatraditionalspeaker,Kyoceraclaimsthatthetechnologyisinherentlyimmunetonoise:nomatterhowloudthesurroundingenvironment,thesoundfromthephonereachestheeardrumintact.Tissueconductionisn’tanewtechnology:
thesamesystemisusedinhearing-aiddevices.Asaresult,thetechnologynotonlypromisestovastlyimproveaudioqualityforusersinnoisyenvironments,butalsotomakesmartphonesusablebythosewithreducedhearingforthefirsttime.Asimilarsystemisusedtotunestringed
instruments–inanoisyvenue,it’simpossibletotuneaguitarbyear.Instead,musiciansuseatunerthatclipsontotheinstrument’sheadstocktopickupthevibrationsfromeachstring.LikeKyocera’stechnology,theresult isanear-immunitytobackgroundnoise:twomusicianscantunetheirinstrumentsalongsideeachotherwithoutaffectingtheaccuracyoftheother’sreadings.Tomakethemostofthetissueconduction
technologyinanoisyenvironment,Kyocera
Atraditionalspeaker-whetherit’sinasmartphoneorhi-fispeaker-vibratestheairaroundit,whichinturnenterstheearandvibratestheeardruminawaythehumanbrainperceivesassound.It’satechnologythat’sservedmankindwellforcenturies,butithasoneslightproblem:iftheairisalreadyvibrating,eitherbecauseyou’restandinginthemiddleofagale-forcewindorotherpeoplearecreatingtheirownvibrations,theparticularvibrationsyou’reaftercanbelost.Inotherwords,whenpeoplearebeing
noisy, it’shardtohearyourphone.It’san
W
Kyocera’stissueconductiontechnologyisalreadyupandrunninginprototypehandsets
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
21August 2012
recommendsthatuserswearear-plugsthatblockouttheextraneousairbornebackgroundnoisetransmittedthroughtheearintheusualmanner.Sincethetissueconductionsystemdoesn’trelyonhavingyourear-holesopen,theplugshavenoeffectonthesmartphone’sconductionvibrationsandtheaudiocomesthroughclearasday.
DISNEY TOUCHÉFromacompanynotreadilyassociatedwithsmartphonestoacompanyrarelyassociatedwithtechnologyatall:Disney,anditsresearchprojectthataimstoextendtouchawayfromthedisplayandintoeveryobjectwithwhichyoucouldpossiblywishtointeract.Thecompanymightbebetterknownfor
theanticsofacertainround-earedmouseandhisfriends,butDisneyploughsaconsiderableamountofmoneyintoresearchanddevelopment.ThelatestprojecttoseethelightofdayisTouché,anewsensingtechniquethataimstoexpanddevices’interactioncapabilitiesfarbeyondthatofatraditionaltouch-screen.Unlikestandardtouchtechnologies,which
relyoneitherresistivemeasurementofasurfacecoatingorconductionbetweenaspeciallymanufacturedsurfaceandhumanskin,TouchéworksthoughaprocessthatDisneycalls‘swept-frequencycapacitivesensing’. Initsmostbasicform,itcanactasanextensiontoexistingtouch-screen
technologies;takentoextremes,itoffersawholenewworldofinteractivityhithertoimpossiblewithtraditionaltechnology.TheworkofIvan
PoupyrevatDisneyResearchinPittsburgh,Touchémonitorsmultiplefrequenciesofcapacitanceinsteadoftoday’ssingle-frequencymonitoring.
Theresult,Poupyrev’steamclaims,isasystemthatnotonlytracksmultiplefingertouchesbutcanalsotell ifthefingersarebentoriftheuserisholdingthedeviceinaparticularposture.Touchépromisesmuchoutsidethetouch-
screentoo.DisneyclaimsthatTouché-enabledsurfacescouldenablesofastorespondtoyourbacksideandautomaticallyturnontheTV,thendimthelightswhenyou
leanbacktoenjoytheshow;liedownforanapandtheTouché-enabledsofawouldpauseyourfilmandswitchofftheTVoruninterruptedrest.TheteamevendescribesaTouché-enableddoorknobthatonlyunlockstoyourparticulargrip-patternorafinger-basedgesturepattern.Inthemobilearena,Touchécouldbethe
technologythatmakeshands-freeuseofsmartphonespossible.ByattachingTouchéelectrodestoauser’swrist,thesystemcanmonitorhandgesturesandrelaythemtoasmartphoneortabletoverBluetooth.Relativelycomplexgesturesarerecognisable,withDisneyusingtheexampleoftappingtwofingersintothepalmofyourhandtoadjust
GARETHHALFACREEisthenewsreporteratwww.bit-tech.net.Heknowsallabout the
latestnewsinPCandmobiletech.
@ghalfacree
mediaplaybackvolume–withouteverneedingtophysicallytouchthedevice.Combinedwithawearablecomputing
systemsuchasGoogle’supcomingProjectGlass–ahead-mountedAndroidsmartphonewithaugmentedrealitycapabilities–Disneymayhavestumbledonthebiggestinnovationinhuman-machineinteractionindecades.Despiteitswide-rangingcapabilities–
includingtheabilitytotransformliquidsintotouchsurfacesanddetectsubmersion–Touchéisclaimedtobesimpletoimplement,requiringjustasingleelectricalconductortobeembeddedintoanobject.TheTouchémoduleitselfmeasuresjust
3.6cmoneachside,butstillmanagestoaccommodateasmallyetpowerfulmicroprocessorfromNXP,awavegeneratorIC,abiasinductor,variousresistors,diodesandvoltageregulatorsplusaBluetoothwirelessmoduleand250mAh3.7Vlithium-polymerlong-lifebattery.Suchamodulewouldbeeasytointegrate
intoanexternaldevicesuchasaBluetooth-enabledbraceletforhands-freesmartphone
use,whilethesametechnologycouldbeintegrateddirectlyintoahandsetforenhancedinteractivitywhiletakingadvantageoftheexistingcomponentsalreadypresentinthedevice,suchasthebatteryandBluetoothmodule.
Sadly,whiletheteamisconfidentenoughinitscreationtodemonstrateitattheConferenceonHumanFactorsinComputingSystems,Disneyhasyettoindicatewhen–orevenif–theTouchétechnologywillbereadyforcommercialexploitation.
BY ATTACHING ELECTRODESTO A USER’S WRISTS, THESYSTEM CAN MONITORHAND GESTURES
Touché,fromDisneyResearch,isabletoturnanythingintoagesture-sensingsurface-eventhehumanbody
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WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
24 April 2012
120GB OCZ Agility 3 2.5" Solid State DriveOur best selling SSD model!
• Sequential Reads - 525 MB/s
• Sequential Writes - 500 MB/s
• Maximum IOPS - 50,000 IOPS• Native TRIM support
www.cclonline.com
£83.99• CCL Code - HDD0547
WE’REAWARD
WINNERS!
PC Pro 2011Highly Commended
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
Our choice of the best hardware available
You don’t have to spend an astronomical sum to get a decent PC.Our stunning value build includes 4GB of brandedmemory anda quad-core AMD Llano APUwith integrated graphics
NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE (inc VAT)
A AntecOneHundred www.lambda-tek.com www.antec.com Issue92,p59 £45
B GigabyteGA-A75M-UD2H www.lambda-tek.com www.gigabyte.com Issue98,p34 £64
C AMDA8-3870KBlackEdition www.aria.co.uk www.amd.com Issue104,p38 £85
D 4GBCrucialBallistixSportPC3-12800C9 www.overclockers.co.uk www.crucial.com Issue100,p96 £26
E GelidTranquilloRev.2 www.scan.co.uk www.gelidsolutions.com Issue100,p86 £24
F ThermaltakeSP-530PCWEU www.scan.co.uk www.thermaltake.com Issue 97, p72 £52
G 500GBSeagateBarracudaST500DM002 www.scan.co.uk www.seagate.com Issue104,p72 £55
H Lite-On IHAS124-19 www.cclonline.com www.liteonit.eu Issue99,p108 £15
I MicrosoftWindows7HomePremium64-bit www.amazon.co.uk www.microsoft.com Issue 75, p46 £110
TOTALSYSTEMPRICE £476
A
BMOTHERBOARD
FPSU
GHARD DISK
DRAM
HOPTICAL DRIVE
ECOOLING
IOPERATING SYSTEM
CAPU
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
25April 2012
As Core i7 motherboards and high-end graphics cards command apremium price, here are some components for a Core i5 PC that offergreat performance and won’t break the bank
NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE (inc VAT)
A SilverStoneRavenRV03 www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue103,p70 £105
B MSIZ77A-G43 www.scan.co.uk http://uk.msi.com Issue106,p74 £77
C IntelCore i5-3570K www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk Issue106,p36 £168
D 8GBPatriotG2PGD38G1600ELK www.pixmania.com www.patriotmemory.com Issue106,p40 £37
E ArcticFreezer i30 www.dabs.com www.arctic.ac Issue104,p48 £30
F SapphireAMDRadeonHD78502GB www.scan.co.uk www.cclonline.com Issue105,p40 £187
G ThermaltakeSP-530PCWEU www.scan.co.uk www.thermaltake.com Issue97,p72 £52
H SeagateBarracuda2TBST2000DM001 www.scan.co.uk www.seagate.com Issue104,p75 £84
I AsusXonarDG www.dabs.com http://uk.asus.com Issue99,p108 £24
J CrucialM4128GB www.ebuyer.com www.crucial.com Issue104,p64 £83
K Lite-On IHAS124-19 www.cclonline.com www.liteonit.eu Issue99,p108 £15
L MicrosoftWindows7HomePremium64-bit www.amazon.co.uk www.microsoft.com Issue 75, p46 £110
TOTALSYSTEMPRICE £972
A
G H I J LPSU HARD DISK SOUND CARD SOLID STATE DRIVE OPERATING SYSTEM
FGRAPHICS CARD
B D EMOTHERBOARD RAM COOLINGCPU
C
OCZ ZX Series 850W Power SupplyFully modular cable management system
• 850W Continuous Power• Ultra quiet 140mm ball-bearing fan
• +12VDC @ 70A Single Rail Design
• 80 Plus® Gold Certified• CCL Code - PSU0225
£124.96
OCZ ZX Series 850W Power SupplyFully modular cable management system
Ultra quiet 140mm ball-bearing fan+12VDC @ 70A Single Rail Design
Get FREE Next Day DeliveryUse this Code: #CPC-Freewww.cclonline.com/cpc
08000 50 10 10
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
26 April 2012
Our choice of the best hardware available
CM Storm Trigger Mechanical KeyboardPerformance Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
• High durability gold-plated CherryBlack Linear switches rated for over50 million key strokes
• Anti-ghosting 6 key rollover• CCL Code - KBD0458www.cclonline.com
£97.99
WE’REAWARD
WINNERS!
PC Pro 2011Highly Commended
Performance Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
This PC has the potential to be the finest gamingmachine you can find – aswell as an excellent all-round computer for office work, digital photography,video production andmedia playback
NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE (inc VAT)
A SilverStoneFortressFT02B-WUSB3.0 www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue85,p88 £191
B AsusMaximusVGene www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue106,p64 £150
C IntelCore i5-3570K www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk Issue106,p36 £168
D 8GBPatriotG2PGD38G1600ELK www.pixmania.com www.patriotmemory.com Issue106,p40 £37
E BeQuiet!DarkRockAdvanced www.scan.co.uk www.be-quiet.net Issue91,p74 £40
F PNYGeForceGTX6802GB www.scan.co.uk www3.pny.com Issue105,p36 £420
G CorsairProfessionalSeriesHX650 www.dabs.com www.corsair.com Issue97,p79 £90
H SeagateBarracuda2TBST2000DM001 www.scan.co.uk www.seagate.com Issue104,p75 £84
I AsusXonarDX www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue80,p63 £58
J CrucialM4256GB www.ebuyer.com www.crucial.com Issue104,p64 £175
K Lite-On IHAS123-19 www.cclonline.com www.liteonit.eu Issue99,p108 £15
L MicrosoftWindows7HomePremium64-bit www.amazon.co.uk www.microsoft.com Issue 75, p46 £110
TOTALSYSTEMPRICE £1,538
G H I J LPSU HARD DISK SOUND CARD SOLID STATE DRIVE OPERATING SYSTEM
FGRAPHICS CARD
A
B D EMOTHERBOARD CPU RAM COOLING
C
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
27April 2012
CM Storm Trooper Full Tower Gaming CaseRepresenting the apex of gaming full towers
• Two 90 degrees rotatable 4-in-3 HDD modules
• Supports up to 14 hard-drives
• A built in fan controller• Supports upto XL-ATX Motherboards• CCL Code - CAS0569
£107.58
CM Storm Trooper Full Tower Gaming Case
Two 90 degrees rotatable 4-in-3 HDD modules
Get FREE Next Day DeliveryUse this Code: #CPC-Freewww.cclonline.com/cpc
08000 50 10 10
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
Themost awesome components around, before reaching workstationterritory. We’ve included a dual 120mm liquid cooler kit as a baseexample, but the case has space for a variety of water-cooling setups
G H I J KPSU SOLID STATE DRIVE SOUND CARD HARD DISK OPERATING SYSTEM
A
NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE (inc VAT)
A SilverStoneTemjinTJ07B-W www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue63,p87 £276
B AsusMaximusVGene www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue106,p64 £150
C IntelCore i7-3770K www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk Issue106,p36 £252
D 8GBKingstonHyperXGenesisKHX1866C11D3P1K2/8G
www.overclockers.co.uk www.kingston.com Issue106,p40 £54
E NvidiaGeForceGTX6902GB www.scan.co.uk www.nvidia.com Issue106,p46 £880
F CorsairH100 www.scan.co.uk www.corsair.com Issue91,p74 £83
G AntecHighCurrentProHCP-750 www.scan.co.uk www.antec.com Issue 97, p78 £107
H OCZVertex4256GB www.ebuyer.co.uk www.ocztechnology.com Issue107,p44 £218
I CreativeX-FiTitaniumFatal1tyPro www.amazon.co.uk www.uk.europe.creative.com Issue62,p61 £103
J SeagateBarracuda2TBST2000DM0001 www.scan.co.uk www.seagate.com Issue104,p75 £84
K MicrosoftWindows7HomePremium64-bit www.amazon.co.uk www.microsoft.com Issue 75, p46 £110
TOTALSYSTEMPRICE £2,317
B DMOTHERBOARD CPU RAM
C E FGRAPHICS CARD COOLING
UPDATED
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
28 April 2012
Our choice of the best hardware available
www.cclonline.com
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TYPE CPU MOTHERBOARD COOLER RAM
NAME IntelCore i5-3570K AsusMaximusVGene ArcticFreezer i30 8GBPatriotG2PGD38G1600ELK
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.pixmania.com
MANUFACTURER www.intel.co.uk http://uk.msi.com www.arctic.ac www.patriotmemory.com
REVIEWED Issue106,p36 Issue106,p64 Issue104,p48 Issue106,p40
PRICE(incVAT) £168 £150 £30 £37
TYPE GRAPHICS CARD GRAPHICS CARD GRAPHICS CARD
NAME SapphireHD68701GB PNYGeForceGTX6702GB PNYGeForceGTX6802GB
SUPPLIER www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.sapphiretech.com www3.pny.com www3.pny.com
REVIEWED Issue102,p61 Issue107,p40 Issue105,p36
PRICE(incVAT) £140 £320 £420
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
29April 2012
Get FREE Next Day DeliveryUse this Code: #CPC-Freewww.cclonline.com/cpc
08000 50 10 10
Win a Sandisk Ultra 120GBSolid State Drive with CCL-Tech.netEntering is easy, simplygoto our facebook pagefb.me/CCLOnlineand click “Like” WIN
TYPE CPU MOTHERBOARD COOLER RAM
NAMEAMDA8-3870K GigabyteGA-A75M-UD2H GelidTranquilloRev.2
4GBCrucialBallistixSportPC3-12800C9
SUPPLIER www.aria.co.uk www.lambda-tek.com www.scan.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.amd.com www.gigabyte.com www.gelidsolutions.com www.crucial.com
REVIEWED Issue104,p38 Issue98,p34 Issue100,p86 Issue100,p96
PRICE(incVAT) £85 £64 £24 £26
TYPE CPU MOTHERBOARD COOLER RAM
NAME IntelCore i7-3930K AsusSabertoothX79 CorsairH80 16GBCorsairVengeanceCAS9DDR3
SUPPLIER www.novatech.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.dabs.com
MANUFACTURER www.intel.co.uk http://uk.asus.com www.corsair.com www.corsair.com
REVIEWED Issue101,p32 Issue101,p70 Issue101,p86 Issue101,p40
PRICE(incVAT) £444 £234 £72 £80
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
30 April 2012
Our choice of the best hardware available
500GB Seagate Momentus XT 2.5" Hard Disk DriveThe best bits of a hard drive and a SSD combined into one package
• Solid state hybrid drive delivers SSDlike performance with hard drivecapacity options.SATA II, 7200rpm, 32MB Cache•
• CCL Code - HDD1024www.cclonline.com
£69.99
WE’REAWARD
WINNERS!
PC Pro 2011Highly Commended
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
TYPE BUDGET CASE MICRO ATX CASE AIR COOLING CASE WATER COOLING CASE
NAME AntecOneHundred SilverStoneTJ08-E SilverStoneRavenRV03 SilverStoneTemjinTJ07B-W
SUPPLIER www.lambda-tek.com www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.antec.com www.silverstonetek.com www.silverstonetek.com www.silverstonetek.com
REVIEWED Issue92,p59 Issue98,p48 Issue103,p70 Issue63,p87
PRICE(incVAT) £45 £83 £105 £276
TYPE LGA1155 CPUWATERBLOCK
GEFORCE GTX 680WATERBLOCK
RADEONHD 7970WATERBLOCK
DUAL 120MMRADIATOR
NAMEXSPCRayStormCPU XSPCRazorGTX680
AquacomputeraquagrATIxforHD7970
AlphacoolNexXxosXt60FullCopper240mm
SUPPLIER www.aquatuning.co.uk www.aquatuning.co.uk www.aquatuning.co.uk www.aquatuning.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.xs-pc.com www.xs-pc.com www.aquacomputer.de www.alphacool.com
REVIEWED Issue107,p60 Issue107,p65 Issue107,p67 Issue107,p72
PRICE(incVAT) £51 £94 £76 £50
UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED UPDATED
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
31April 2012
Gainward NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Phantom 2048MBThe Gainward GTX 680 Phantom - A Low Noise Monster!
• GPU Clockspeed : 1150 MHz
• 2048MB GDDR5
• Memory Clockspeed : 3150 MHz• Dual DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort• CCL Code - VGA0594
£474.98
Get FREE Next Day DeliveryUse this Code: #CPC-Freewww.cclonline.com/cpc
08000 50 10 10
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
TYPE HARD DISK SSD NAS BOX
NAME SeagateBarracuda2TBST2000DM001 CrucialM4256GB SynologyDiskStationDS212j
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.co.uk www.dabs.com
MANUFACTURER www.seagate.com www.crucial.com www.synology.com
REVIEWED Issue104,p75 Issue104,p64 Issue104,p50
PRICE(incVAT) £84 £175 £160
TYPE 530W PSU 650W PSU 750W PSU 1.2kW PSU
NAMEThermaltakeSP-530PCWEU
CorsairProfessionalSeriesHX650
AntecHighCurrentProHCP-750
AntecHighCurrentPro1200W
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.com
MANUFACTURER www.thermaltake.com www.corsair.com www.antec.com www.antec.com
REVIEWED Issue97, p72 Issue97, p79 Issue97, p78 Issue96, p48
PRICE(incVAT) £52 £90 £107 £228
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
32 April 2012
Our choice of the best hardware available
CCL Elite Hawk II Gaming PCOur best selling gaming PC evolvedBetter Graphics - Bigger Hard Drive!• AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz CPU
8GB DDR3 MemoryAMD Radeon HD 68501TB Hard Drive, Built-in-WiFi
•••
• CCL Code - CCL-EL-HWK2www.cclonline.com
£399.98
WE’REAWARD
WINNERS!
PC Pro 2011Highly Commended
Pr ices correct at t ime of going to publ ishing. Images are for i l lustrat ive purposes only.
TYPE SOUND CARD 2.1 SPEAKERS HEADSET 5.1 SPEAKERS
NAME AsusXonarDX CorsairSP2500 AsusVulcanANC LogitechZ906
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.com
MANUFACTURER http://uk.asus.com www.corsair.com http://uk.asus.com www.logitech.com
REVIEWED Issue80,p63 Issue92,p79 Issue98,p57 Issue102,p50
PRICE(incVAT) £58 £182 £72 £242
TYPE 24INMONITOR 27INMONITOR TRIPLE MONITOR STAND
NAME DellUltraSharpU2412M DellUltraSharpU2711 XFXTripleDisplayMonitorStand
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.aria.co.uk www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.dell.com www.dell.co.uk www.xfxforce.com
REVIEWED Issue105,p64 Issue81,p56 Issue96,p58
PRICE(incVAT) £228 £529 £299
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
33April 2012
CCL Elite Griffon II Gaming PCNew Upgraded Version with SSD Drive,Bigger Hard Drive and Better Graphics• AMD FX-6100 3.3GHz CPU
8GB DDR3 MemoryAMD Radeon HD 78501TB HDD & 120GB SSD Built-in-WiFi
•••
• CCL Code - CCL-EL-GRF2
£949.99
CCL Elite Griffon II Gaming PCNew Upgraded Version with SSD Drive,Bigger Hard Drive and Better Graphics
1TB HDD & 120GB SSD Built-in-WiFi
Get FREE Next Day DeliveryUse this Code: #CPC-Freewww.cclonline.com/cpc
08000 50 10 10
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TYPE KEYBOARD MOUSE STEERINGWHEEL JOYSTICK
NAME CorsairVengeanceK60 CorsairVengeanceM60 LogitechG27 LogitechFlightSystemG940
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.com www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.corsair.com www.corsair.com www.logitech.com www.logitech.com
REVIEWED Issue101,p46 Issue104,p52 Issue92,p108 Issue92,p109
PRICE(incVAT) £85 £49 £190 £262
TYPE RPG FPS STRATEGY UNDERDOG
NAME ElderScrollsV:Skyrim DeusEx:HumanRevolution FrozenSynapse Trine2
DEVELOPER www.bethsoft.com www.square-enix.com www.mode7games.com http://frozenbyte.com
PUBLISHER Bethesda www.square-enix.com www.mode7games.com http://frozenbyte.com
REVIEWED Issue101,p100 Issue98,p96 Issue96,p92 Issue102,p98
PRICE(incVAT) £30 £30 £19 for two £12
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
36 DINOPCTYRANNOSAUR
3570K21stcenturytoy
38 INTELHD4000GRAPHICS
CantheIvyBridgegraphicscorecompetewithLlano?
46 CYBORGF.L.Y5Aflightstickwith
dualthrottlecontrolforlessthan£30
40 PNYGEFORCEGTX6702GB
Takeawayonestreamingmultiprocessor
48 CMSTORMQUICKFIRERAPID
Adinkymechanicalkeyboardfor£66
53 ENERMAXDREAMBASSAP001
AUSBsoundcarddisguisedasavalve
53 ANTECCLEANINGPRODUCTS
Weputthreekitcleanersthroughtheirpaces
52 KEYSONICKSK 3205
Keyboard,mouseandremoteinoneunit
52 PICOGENIEA100Aprojectorthat’s
sosmallitfitsintoasmartphonecase
34 August 2012
Our in-depth analysis of thelatest PC hardware
36
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
35August 2012
HOWWETEST,P50
OCZVertex4256GBWetakeourfirstlookatthenew
IndilinxEverest2controllerinsideOCZ’snewSSD 44
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
36 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Price£1,299incVATSupplierwww.dinopc.comManufacturerwww.dinopc.comSKUnumber trex3570K
IN DETAILCPU3.4GHzIntelCorei5-3570Koverclockedto4.3GHzMotherboard AsusP8Z77-VMemory8GB1,600MHzCorsairVengeanceDDR3GraphicsAsusDirectCUIINvidiaGeForceGTX6702GBSoundCreativeSoundBlasterAudigySEHarddisk2TBSeagate7200.14,Corsair120GBForce3SSDOpticaldrivesLite-OnBlu-rayreaderCaseCorsairCarbide400RCoolingCPU:CorsairH100;case:1x120mrearexhaustfan,2x120mmfrontintakefansPSUCorsairTX650MPortsFront:2xUSB3,FireWireRear:4xUSB3,2xUSB2,LAN,audioout,mic,headphone,opticalS/PDIFout,PS/2ExtrasWindows7HomePremium
otsurprisingly,theappropriatelynamedTyrannosaur3570KsportsanewIntelCorei5-3570K.Thischoice,plusnumerousotherhardwareselections,meansthatthe
Tyrannosaur3570KcostssignificantlylessthantheScan3XSVengeanceZ77wereviewedlastmonth(seeIssue106,p44).ThelatterincludedaCorei7-3770Koverclocked
to4.5GHz,butthischipcostsalotmorethantheCorei5-3570K,mainlyduetoitssupportforHyper-Threading.Forthemajorityofus,thiswon’tmakeahugeamountofdifference,butit’sworthconsideringifyouperformalotofmulti-threadedvideoencodingorrenderingwork.LackingHyper-Threading,theTyrannosaur3570Kismuchmoreofagaming-orientatedPC.Itstillpacksapowerfulpunchthough.TheCorei5-3570Khasbeenoverclockedto4.3GHz,andit’scooledbyaCorsairH100dual-fan,all-in-oneliquidcoolerintheroof.DinoPChasoptedforaGeForceGTX6702GB(see
p40)ratherthanScan’schoiceofaGeForceGTX6802GB.Inourtests,though,therewasaveryslimmarginbetweenthetwo.ThecardisAsus’GeForceGTX670DirectCUIImodel,whichfeaturesalargedual-fancooler.Thiswasincrediblyquiet,evenduringourstresstest,andtheGPUcoreneverroseaboveadeltaTof25°C.AsiswithmostPCspricedaboveagrand
thesedays,8GBofRAM,a2TBharddisk,aBlu-rayreaderandSSDareincludedasstandard;thelatterisaCorsairForce3.Ouronlymajorgripeisthechoiceofsoundcard–aCreativeAudigySE.Thisisfineforbasicuse,andevenprovides7.1surroundsound,butwe’dexpectanAsusorCreativeX-Fisoundcardinthispriceleague.Thisisall installedinaCorsairCarbide400Rcase,
whichhasa120mmexhaustfanandtwo120mmintakefans,aswellasremovabledustfiltersasstandardforeasycleaning.TheH100cooleractsasafurtherintake,withthewarmexhaustairbeingremovedbytheadjacent120mmexhaustfan.DespitecostingalotlessthantheCorsairObsidian650DthatScanused,the400RsportsUSB3ports,sturdy
constructionandplentyofspaceforexpansion,whilebeingafewinchessmallerinalldimensions.Meanwhile,anAsusP8Z77-Vmotherboard forms
thePC’sbackbone.Asus’Z77motherboardsarepackedwithfeaturessuchasWi-FiGo,whichsupportsDLNAmediastreaming,anditevenenablesyoutoturntheTyrannosaur3570Kintoawirelessrouter.Youalsogetthehighlyuseful FanXpert2software.ThiscameinveryhandywhentuningtheTyrannosaur3570K’scasefans–moreonthatlater.DinoPChasalsodoneagoodjobofcablerouteingandtidyingtheinsides;italsoprovidesatwo-yearpartsandlabourwarranty,followedbyoneyearlabouronly.
PERFORMANCEWithacorespeed200MHzlowerthantheScan3XSVengeanceZ77,andlackingHyper-Threading,itwasn’tsurprisingtofindthattheTyrannosaur3570KwasslowerinourMediaBenchmarks.Itwasmorethan100pointsslowerintheimageeditingtest,400pointsslowerinthevideoencodingtestandnearly300pointsslowerinthemulti-taskingtest. Itsoverallscore
of2,360wasafairwayshortoftheScanPC’s2,639.ThedropfromaGeForceGTX6802GBtoaGTX670
2GBsawasmalldropinframeratescomparedtotheScanPCtoo.TheTyrannosaur3570Kmanagedaminimumframerateof57fpsinArmaII,whiletheScanwas3fpsfasterat1,920x1,080atVeryHighsettings.InourShogun2CPUbenchmark,theTyrannosaur3570Kwasalso4fpsadrift,withaminimumframerateof28fps.There’sstillsomeroomtomanoeuvrethough.The
Tyrannosaur3570K’s4.3GHzoverclockisachievedusingavcoreof1.15Vand,giventhemaximumCPU
N
DINOPC
T. REXFast; good choiceof components;overclockable;great value formoney
BAMBIRAPTORNoisy exhaustfan; low-specsound card;modest overclock
THE MAX CPU TEMPERATURE WAS AMEDIOCRE 75°C, SO WE DECIDED TOTRY TO PUSH IT A LITTLE FURTHER
The use of a Core i5-3570K enables Dino PC toreduce the price of a pre-overclocked gaming rig
Tyrannosaur 3570K
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
37August 2012
PRE-OVERCLOCKED PC
GIMP IMAGE EDITING
Stock speed Overclocked
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
2,246
2,165
2,023
Scan 3XS Z77 OC
Dino PC 3570K
HANDBRAKE H.264 VIDEO ENCODING
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
3,821Scan 3XS Z77 OC
Dino PC 3570K
MULTI-TASKING
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
1,797
1,931
1,641
Scan 3XS Z77 OC
Dino PC 3570K
OVERALL
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
2,613
2,639
2,360
Scan 3XS Z77 OC
Dino PC 3570K
Stock speed min Stock speed avg Overclocked avgOverclocked min
ARMA II1,920 x 1,080, 16x AF, 4x AA
0 25 50 75 100
fps75
fps72
fps60
fps60
fps68fps57
Scan 3XS Z77 OC
Dino PC 3570K
3,7963,417
coretemperaturewasamediocre75°Cinourlab,wedecidedtotrytopushitalittlefurther.Byraisingthevcoreto1.25Vandthemultiplierfrom43xto47x,wehadthesystemstableat4.7GHz–a400MHzoverclock.Wealsoboostedthegraphicscard’spowerlimit
to120percent,thecoreby100MHzandmemoryby200MHz.ThissawtheTyrannosaur3570KbeattheScanPCintheimageeditingtestandnearlyequallingitoverallwithascoreof2,613–just26pointsless.ArmaIIsawtheminimumframerateriseto60fpsandtheaverageframerateshootupto75fpsfrom68fps–again,thisisfasterthantheScanPC.Ofcourse,youmakeanyoftheseadjustmentsat
yourownrisk,butitshowsthatthisspeciscapableofalotifyou’repreparedtopushit.Meanwhile,therearexhaustfanisbyfartheloudest
componentintheTyrannosaur3570K.StoppingitsawtherestofthePCchugalongatblissfullylownoiselevels.SettingthechassisfanprofiletosilentintheBIOSdidn’tmakemuchdifference,butthankfully,Asus’FanXpertIIsoftwareallowedustotweakthefanprofilecurvetopreventitfromgoingberserkevery
01 DinoPChasoptedforaquiet,fastand
overclockableAsusDirectCUIIGeForceGTX6702GB
02 Therearexhaustfanisbyfartheloudestcomponent
inthePC,butyoucantameitusingAsus’FanXpertIIsoftware
03 TheCreativeAudigySEisfineforbasicuse,butwe’d
expectanAsusorCreativeX-Fisoundcardinthispriceleague
timetheCPUwasunderload.ThissawtheCPUcoretemperaturerisebyjust2°Cunderload.
CONCLUSIONTheDinoPCTyrannosaur3570KisasolidPCthatcostsbarelymorethanthesumofitsparts.It’swellbalanced,fastandoverclockable.Onlythemeagredefaultoverclock,noisyexhaustfanandmediocresoundcardseeitmissaPremiumGradeaward.ANTONY LEATHER
customPC
88OVERALL
SPEED 21 / 25DESIGN 22 / 25
HARDWARE 22 / 25VALUE 23 / 25
01
02
03
TheCorsairH100all-in-oneliquidcoolerisperhapsoverkillforthemodestoverclock,butitprovidesplentyofheadroomforfurtheroverclocking
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
38 August 2012
LEFT 4 DEAD 21,280 x 720, High settings, no AA, 16x AF
1,920 x 1,080, High settings, no AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
fps48
fps31
fps55
fps36
fps28
fps18
fps31
fps22Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
0 25 50 75 100
fps30
fps20
fps38
fps26
fps22
fps15
fps27
fps18Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
Minimum Average
istorically,on-boardgraphicssystems–whetherbuilt intotheCPUorchipset–havebeenratherajoke,mainlybecausethey’vebeenmassivelyunderpoweredand,asa
result,haveonlyeverbeenusedformundanetasks,suchasbasic2DWindowswork.Manufacturershaven’thelpedtheirreputationeither,oftenoversellingtheirpotentialwithmassivelyinflatedclaimsabouthowtheirlatestarchitectureisgoingtorevolutionisegaming.Infact, itwasn’tuntil lastyear’sreleaseofAMD’sA-SeriesAPUsthatwesawanon-boardGPUthatpassedmuster.FastforwardtothepresentdayandIntelislooking
tosnatchsomeofthelow-endgraphicspiefromAMDviatheon-boardHD4000GPUinsomeofitsCorei5andCorei7IvyBridgeprocessors.Intel isobviouslyquiteexcitedaboutitschancestoo,asit’sseenfittodeemitsnewIvyBridgearchitectureas‘morethanatick’, indicatingthatithasdonemorethanjustsimplyshrinkthemanufacturingprocessusedtoproducetheprocessors.Thisclaimstacksuptoo,asthereareanumberof
significanttweakstotheunderlyingarchitectureoftheHD4000corecomparedwiththeHD3000corethatitreplaces.Theheadlinechangeistheincreasednumberofexecutionunits–thereare16intheHD
4000comparedtothe12ofitspredecessor.Arguably,amoresignificant(thoughlessglamorous)changeisthefactthatasecondtexturepipelinehasbeenaddedtothegutsoftheGPU.Thisenablesworktobefedtotheexecutionunitsmoreefficiently,andmeansthatdespitehavinga30percentincreaseinexecutionunits,eachonenowactuallyhas50percentmorepipelinebandwidthwithwhichtoplay.Intelhasalsotweakedthememorysub-
systemoftheGPU,grantingitadedicated256KBpotoftheprocessor’son-boardL3cache.Thisisalltheon-boardmemorythattheGPUcommands,however,soitneedstoborrowatrancheofsystemmemorytoo,asisusualforanintegratedGPU.
Allthissoundsjustdandythen,buthowdoestheHD4000GPUstackupagainstthecompetition?Well,forastart, itcostsmoretogetholdofone,asthetwoprocessorsthatcurrentlysportthecorearethe£250IntelCorei7-3770Kandthe£170Corei5-3570K.Ofcourse,thesearen’tprocessorsaroundwhichyou’dbaseasuper-lowbudgetbuild,butit’sconceivablethatyou’dseethei5-3570KinamediaPCforthelivingroom.Thissituationshouldchangesoon,however,asIntel isduetoreleasethedual-core,Corei3-3225withaTDPof55W,whichwillsportaHD4000GPUandshouldretailmuchclosertothe£100priceofthecompetingAMDA8-3870K.
PERFORMANCEArguably,thisisareleasethat’sneededtoo–inourgamestesting,theRadeonHD6550DcoreoftheAMDAPUoutperformedtheHD4000convincingly,despiteitbeingpartofacheaperchip.At1,280x720inLeft4Dead2,theAMDprocessor
was20percentfasterthanIntel’soffering–agapthatremainedconstantevenwhenweincreasedtheresolutionto1,920x1,080.Thisisn’ttosaythattheHD4000wasacomplete
flop,however,asitoutperformedtheHD3000corethatitreplacesbyquiteamargin.Itsminimumframerateof26fpsat1,280x720wassome45percent
H
INTEL
HIGH-DEFINITIONGRAPHICSLow power;vastly better thanHD 3000; runscool; exciting formobile computing
HIGH-DENSITYFLOPPYStill outperformedby FM1 APUs;supporting CPUsare currentlyexpensive
A credible step up, but it still can’tquite catch Llano on the desktop
HD4000Graphics
Intel’sHD4000coreiscurrentlyonlyavailableinpriceyCPUssuchastheCorei7-3770K–notexactlythefoundationofabudgetbuild
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
39August 2012
DIRT 31,280 x 720, Low settings, no AA, DX11
1,920 x 1,080, Low settings, no AA, DX11
0 25 50 75 100
fps50
fps32
fps70
fps40
fps41
fps24
fps59
fps30Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
0 25 50 75 100
fps32
fps26
fps38
fps29
fps26
fps21
fps33
fps24Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
DIABLO III1,280 x 720, High settings, no AA, no AF
1,920 x 1,080, High settings, no AA, no AF
0 25 50 75 100
fps26
fps18
fps55
fps41
fps22
fps14
fps40
fps33Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
0 25 50 75 100
fps14
fps9
fps31
fps21
fps11
fps7
fps22
fps16Radeon HD 6450
Radeon HD 6550D
Intel HD 3000
Intel HD 4000
quickerthanthe18fpsreturnedbytheHD3000core,andhauledthegamefromastutteringmesstoaplayableexperience.Italsooutperformedthe£30AMDRadeonHD6450discretegraphicscardthatwetestedforcomparison.SwitchingLeft4Dead2infavourofDirt3toldmuch
thesamestory,withtheon-boardHD6550DoftheAMDAPUcontinuallybetteringtheHD4000.Again,though,theHD4000wasstreetsaheadofboththeHD3000andthediscreteRadeonHD6450,returningaplayableframerateat1,920x1,080–afeatnotmanagedbytheothertwoGPUs.DiabloIIIthrewaspannerinthesilicon,however,
asboththeIntelGPUsperformedparticularlypoorlyinthistest–theHD4000evenfellbehindtheAMDRadeonHD6450discreteGPU.Wecouldn’tdeterminewhetherthiswasadriverissueornot(DiabloIII isanewgame,afterall),buteitherway,thisishardlyanexcuse,especiallywhentheAMDdriverworkedfine.
CONCLUSIONIntel’son-boardGPUisstilloutclassedbyAMD’sGPUonthedesktop.TheA8-3870KanditsHD6550DGPUarefasterand cheaper,albeitatthepriceofahigherTDPandreducedCPUspeedHowever, inthemobileworld,where
AMD’sAPUshavevastlyreducedGPUcoresinordertosatisfyTDPandpowerconsumptiondemands,thissituationisreversed.ThisisalsoarguablytheareathatinterestsIntelthemostanyway,giventhecurrenttrendsinconsumers’PCbuyinghabits.Here,thefrugalpowerneedsandrelativelygoodperformanceoftheHD4000GPUmakemoresense.TheHD4000maybealetdownonthedesktop,butthatwon’tpreventitfrommakingwavesinthelargercomputingworld.PAUL GOODHEAD
ON-BOARD GRAPHICS
Processorsused:IntelHD4000–Corei5-3570K;IntelHD3000–Corei5-2500K;RadeonHD6550D–AMDA8-3870K
UnliketheHD3000core,andeventhediscreteRadeonHD6450,theHD4000managedtoproduceaplayableminimumframerateof26fpsinDirt3at1,920x1,080
Intel’sHD4000graphicssystemtakesupabigchunkoftheIvyBridgedie–we’vehighlightedthegraphicsportioninthisdieshot
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
40 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Price£320incVATSupplierwww.scan.co.ukManufacturerwww.nvidia.com
IN DETAILGraphicsprocessorGeForceGTX6702GB,916MHz-1,019MHzguaranteedPipeline1,344streamprocessors(916MHz-1,084MHzguaranteed),32ROPsMemory2GBGDDR5,6GHzeffectiveBandwidth192.26GB/sec,256-bitinterfaceCompatibilityDirectX11.1,OpenGL4.1Outputs/inputs2xDVI,HDMI,DisplayPort,2xSLIPowerconnections2x6-pin,top-mountedSize240mmlong,dual-slot
vidiahasbeencruellybludgeoningthecompetitionwithitsgiantbenchmarkstickrecently.First,theGTX6802GBcomprehensivelyoutclassedAMD’sRadeon
HD79703GB,thentheGTX6904GBdroppedintosnatchthefastestgraphicscardtitlebyacolossalmargin.However,whileAMDdeployeditsfull lineof7-seriesGPUsinafewmonths,withpricesrangingfromunder£100toover£400,Nvidia’sKepler-poweredcardsonlystoppedcostingnorthof£400recently,whencardssuchastheGTX6702GBturnedupwithits£320tag,alongwiththelow-endchips.Withthemodularnatureofthe28nmKepler
architecture, it’sbeenastraightforwardtaskforNvidia’sengineerstomakethereductionsnecessarytodrivedowntheprice.Afull-fatKeplerGPUsportsfourgraphicsprocessorclusters(GPCs)oftwostreamliningmulti-processors(SMs)each.TheGTX6702GBhassimplyhadoneofitsSMsdisabled,droppingthestreamprocessorcountto1,344andthenumberoftextureunitsto112(aGTX6802GBboasts1,536and128ofeachrespectively).NvidiahasalsochosentodroptheGPU’s
clockspeeds,althoughthisisrathercomplicatedbytheuseofNvidia’sGPUBoosttechnology,whichincreasesclockspeedsonthefly.TheGTX6702GBhasabaseclockof915MHz,atwhichitwillrunregardless,butalsohasaguaranteedboostclockof980MHztowhichitwillboostinthevastmajorityofgames.However,thisisonlyaworst-caseboost,withourstockcardcapableofboostingto1,084MHz–amuchlargerboostcurvethanthatoftheGTX6802GB,whichtopsoutat1,110MHz.Elsewhere,thememoryisunchangedfromthatof
theGTX680,with2GBofGDDR5runningat1.5GHz(6GHzeffective).The256-bitmemoryinterfaceisalsounchanged,givingatotalbandwidthof192.26GB/sec–notablylessthanAMD’scompetingcards.WhilethereductioninSMunitsandclockspeed
aren’ttoodrastic,theGTX6702GBishugelydifferentfromtheGTX6802GBphysically.Theentirecardmeasuresjust240mmacross(17mmshorterthan
theGTX6802GB),butpartofthisisthecooler–thePCBitselfmeasuresjust175mm.Apairof6-pinPCI-Epowerconnectorssitsalmostinthemiddleofthecard,whiletotherear,apairofDVIports,anHDMIportandaDisplayPortprovideplentyofflexibility.Aswiththerestof Nvidia’s6-series,the670supportsuptofoursimultaneousdisplaystoo.
PERFORMANCEArmaII istheleastfavourablegamefortheGTX6702GB,butitstillmanagedtomatchtheHD79503GBat1,920x1,080with4xAA,withaminimumof56fps.At2,560x1,600with4xAA,theGTX6702GBfellalittlebehind,though,withitsminimumof32fpscloseto10percentbehindtheHD79503GB.Thisistheexceptionratherthantherule,however–theGTX6702GBwasconsiderablyfasterinallourothertests.Theperformanceadvantagewasparticularlyclear
inBattlefield3.At1,920x1,080with4xAA,theGTX6702GBsurpassedtheHD79703GB–acardthat’s£40moreexpensive–thankstoaminimumof60fps.Itwas
muchcloserat2,560x1,600with4xAA,buttheGTX6702GBwasstillquickerthankstoaminimumof35fps,comparedtotheHD79703GB’s33fps.Impressively,there’slittlegapbetweentheGTX6702GBanditsbetter-endowedandcostliersiblinghere;theGTX6802GBwaslessthan10percentquicker.Dirt3alsosawtheGTX6702GBsurpasstheHD
79703GB.Itsminimumof67fpsat2,560x1,600with4xAAwas3fpsfasterthanthetop-endRadeon,and9fpsquickerthantheHD79503GB,whileagaincominginaround10percentslowerthantheGTX6802GB.TheGTX6702GBimpressedusinSkyrimtoo,
managingaminimumof66fpsat2,560x1,600with4xAA.Again,thissurpassedtheperformanceoftheHD79703GB,andwaslessthan10percentslowerthantheGTX6802GB.
N
PNY
70s ROCKFast performance;not much slowerthan GTX 680 for£100 less
70s HAIRStill too expensivefor most gamers
IMPRESSIVELY, THERE’S LITTLE GAPBETWEEN THE GTX 670 2GB ANDITS BETTER-ENDOWED SIBLING
Nvidia continues its assault, with this superb,but still rather expensive, GPU
NvidiaGeForceGTX6702GB
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
41August 2012
GRAPHICS CARD
ARMA II: OPERATION ARROWHEAD (DX9)
0 25 50 75 100
69fps
64fps
56fps
56fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
1,920 x 1,080, high AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
39fps
40fps
32fps
35fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
2,560 x 1,600, high AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
24fps
23fps
19fps
20fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
5,760 x 1,080, high AA, 16x AF
BATTLEFIELD 3 (DX11)
0 25 50 75 100
72fps
56fps
60fps
45fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
41fps
35fps
35fps
28fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
2,560 x 1,600, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
28fps
25fps
24fps
19fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
5,760 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
DIRT 3 (DX11)
0 25 50 75 100
100fps
110fps
85fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
80fps
68fps
67fps
58fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
2,560 x 1,600, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
56fps
42fps
49fps
38fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
5,760 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM (DX9)
0 25 50 75 100
84fps73fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
82fps
61fps
66fps
55fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
2,560 x 1,600, 4x AA, 16x AF
0 25 50 75 100
45fps
36fps
37fps
30fpsRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
5,760 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF
Minimum Average
Idle LoadIdle Gaming
Minimum Average
Lower is better Lower is better
128fps 111fps89fps
TOTAL SYSTEM POWER DRAW
0 75 150 225 300
230W
227W
88W
89WRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
PEAK GPU TEMPERATURE (DELTA T)
0 15 30 45 60
55°C
57°C
11°C
15°CRadeon HD 7950 3GB
GeForce GTX 670 2GB
AswithotherKeplerGPUs,theGTX670’sspeedismatchedbylowpowerconsumptionandcooltemperatures.Apeakpowerdrawof230WwhilerunningUnigine’sHeavenbenchmarkis3WmorethantheHD79503GB,but16WbelowtheGTX560Ti1GB.Meanwhile,thepeakloaddeltaTof55°Cisfine,withthecard’scoolerspinningupthefantomaintainaGPUtemperaturebelow80°C.
CONCLUSIONTheGTX6702GBcomfortablysurpassesboththeHD79503GBandHD79703GBinthemajorityofourtests.
At£320foranon-overclockedcard,it’sfairlypricedtoo,performingjust10percentslowerthanaGTX6802GB,despitecosting25percentless.Plentyofcustom-cooledandfactory-overclockedversionsareavailabletoo,attheusualslightpremiums.However,whiletheGTX670isundeniablyagreat
card,its£320priceisstillunlikelytotemptthoseonmoreconservativebudgets–we’restillwaitingfortheinevitablebutstillunconfirmedGTX660.However, ifyourpursestringsstretchto£320thentheGTX6702GBisafantasticchoice.HARRY BUTLER
TEST KIT3.3GHzIntelCorei52500K CPU,AsusP8P67motherboard,4GBCorsair1,600MHzDDR3memory,CrucialM225128GBSSD,Windows764-bit,NvidiaGeForce285.62,AMDCatalyst11.12
customPC
92OVERALL
SPEED 37 / 40
FEATURES 28 / 30
VALUE 27 / 30
ThePCBonlyaccountsfor175mmofthecard’s240mmlength
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44 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Price£218incVATSupplierwww.ebuyer.co.ukManufacturerwww.ocztechnology.comSKUnumberVTX4-25SAT3-256
IN DETAILInterfaceSATA6GbpsNominalcapacity256GBFormattedcapacity238.47GBControllerIndilinxIDX400M00-BCCache1GBDDR3-800Memorytype/amount16xIntel16GB25nmMLCNANDflashWarrantyFiveyears
heSSDworldisinupheavaloflate.HavingwaitedyearsforSSDstodipbelowthemagicalcostof£1pergigabyte,priceshavecrashedbyasmuchas40percentinthethreemonths
sinceourSSDLabstest(seeIssue104,p58),anddrivescannowbefoundatjust60ppergigabyte.OCZisalsolookingtofurtherupsettheapplecart
withitsVertex4,boastinganewIndilinxEverest2controller.Overthepastfewyears,OCZnaileditscolourstothegoodshipSandForce,withthecompression-baseddrivecontrollerusedinbothitsVertex2andVertex3drives.Now,though,OCZisexploitingitspurchaseofdrivecontrollerdesigner,Indilinx,toproduceitsowncontrollerchips,withtheIndilinxEverestcontrollerdebutinginOCZ’sratherdisappointingOctaneandPetrolSSDs.Thenewiterationlooksmorepromising,though,withsequentialperformanceclaimsofupto550MB/secreadand465MB/secwrite.However,OCZhasn’tdevelopeditsown
controllerfromscratch;itrecentlyrevealedthattheEverestcontrollerisbasedonadual-coreMarvellcontrollerchip,withcustomIndilinxfirmware.ThisisasimilartothecontrollerusedinCrucial’sM4andCorsair’sPerformanceProdrives(seeIssue104,p64),soithasaprovenreputationforperformanceandreliability,althoughitmakesyouwonderwhatIndilinxhasbeenuptoforthepastfewyears.Regardless,theresultingplatformisuniquetoOCZ.CrackingtheVertex4256GBopenrevealsthis
controllerchip,bearingthedesignationIDX400M00-BC.Arrayedaroundthecontrollerare1625nmIntelNANDmoduleswithtwo8GBdiespermodule,foratotalnominalcapacityof256GB.TheNANDandcontrollerarejoinedbyapairof512MB800MHzDDR3memorychips,actingascacheforthedrivecontrollertokeepperformancerunningsmoothlyandstutter-free.AsEverest2isa1:1drivecontroller,unlikethoseproducedbySandForce,ithandlesuncompressedandcompresseddataequally,meaningthatthedrivewillperformthesame,regardlessofyourdata’scompressionstate.
Aswe’vecometoexpectfromOCZ,theVertex4iswellsupported.Firmwareupdatesarealreadyavailable(we’vetestedusingthe1.4firmwarewithwhichmostdrivesnowship)andOCZ’sdownloadableSSDToolboxoffersextrassuchaspartitionmanagement,forcingTRIMandthesecureerasureofdata.Thecurrentfirmwareupdateisdestructive,though,sobesuretobackupbeforeinstallingit;theupdatecanbeperformedfromWindowswiththeVertex4connectedasasecondarydrive.OCZhasalsoextendeditswarrantytoamightyfive
years(comparedtothreefortheVertex3).WhileSSDsaretechnicallywrite-cyclelimited,OCZ’seffortsinreducingwritecycles,dubbedNdurance2.0,hasclearlymadeitconfidentenoughtoguaranteethat,evenunderheavyuse,theVertex4willremainhardy.
PERFORMANCETheVertex4startedwell inAS-SSDwithasequentialreadspeedof497MB/sec–amajorimprovementovertheOctane256GB’s432MB/secinthesametestandmoreinlinewithexpectationsfromahigh-endSATA6Gbpsdrive.However, itssequentialwritespeedhadusreachingfortheRestartTestbutton,aswecouldn’tbelievetheincreaseinperformance.Withasequentialwritespeedof461MB/sec,theVertex4256GBeveneclipsedtheCorsairPerformancePro256GB’sspeedof400MB/sec.OCZhasclearlyoptimisedthedrivefor4KBsingle-
queue-depthrandomreadstoo,withaspeedof27.18MB/secinAS-SSDbeingthefastestresultwe’veseen.A4KBsingle-queue-depthrandomwritespeedof87MB/secwasmorelikethespeedswe’reusedtoseeing,butstillamongthefastestwe’vetested.The4KB64-queue-depthrandomspeedsinAS-SSDwerealsoexcellent.Areadspeedof325MB/secis,again,
T
OCZ
PINNACLEFantasticperformance inevery sense; five-year warranty
ABYSSALMuch higher £/GBthan Crucial M4256GB
OCZ REVEALED THAT THE EVERESTCONTROLLERS ARE BASED ON
DUAL-CORE MARVELL CHIPS, WITHCUSTOM INDILINX FIRMWARE
A sumptuously quick SSD,but you have to pay for it
Vertex4256GB
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
45August 2012
SATA 6GBPS SSD
AS SSDSequential read/write (MB/sec)
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is better
Higher is betterHigher is better
0 150 300 450 600
497
461
513
293
513
279Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
AS SSD4KB single-queue-depth random read/write (MB/sec)
0 25 50 75 100
27
87
21
87
23
81Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
CRYSTALDISKMARK4KB single-queue-depth random read/write (MB/sec)
0 30 60 90 120
29
106
35
98
24
95Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
Higher is better
CRYSTALDISKMARKSequential read/write (MB/sec)
0 150 300 450 600
502
470
511
300
511
279Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
CRYSTALDISKMARK4KB 32-queue-depth random read/write (MB/sec)
0 75 150 225 300
237
242
200
230
194
238Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
AS SSD4KB 64-queue-depth random read/write (MB/sec)
0 100 200 300 400
325
309
205
238
153
212Crucial M4 256GB
OCZ Vertex 3 240GB
OCZ Vertex 4 256GB
Read Write
easilythefastestresultwe’veseeninthistest,whileawritespeedof308MB/secisalsooutstandinglyquick.MovingtoCrystalDiskMark,theVertex4256GB
repeateditssuperbperformance.Asequentialreadspeedof502MB/secandsequentialwritespeedof470MB/secagainhighlightthedrive’ssuperbwritespeeds.The4KBsingle-queue-depthrandomreadspeedswerealittlemundaneat29.32MB/sec,butthecorrespondingwritespeedof106MB/secisagainabest-everresultforasingledrive.Meanwhile,the4KB32-queue-depthrandomreadspeedwasalsoexcellentat237MB/sec,anda4KB32-queue-depthrandomwritespeedissimilarlycompetitive.What’smore,theVertex4256GBmaintainedits
performanceverywell.HavingfilledandemptiedthedriveanumberoftimesandthenforcedtheTRIM
command,itsreadandwritespeedswereunaffected,whichbodeswellforlong-termuse.
CONCLUSIONTheVertex4is extremelyquickacrosstheboard.Onlyitssequentialreadperformancelagsfractionallybehindthecompetition,anditstoweringwriteandrandomperformancemorethanmakeupforthis.However, whileCrucial’sM4256GBisslower, itcan
nowbefoundforjust£150(63ppergigabyte).TheVertex4256GB’s£218priceworksoutat92ppergigabyte–a50percentincreasethattheVertex4can’t justify,despiteitsspeed.Ifyou’relookingforthequickestsingleSSDonthemarket,thenthisisit,buttheCrucialM4256GBremainsourSSDofchoice.HARRY BUTLER
TEST KIT3.3GHzIntelCorei5-2500KCPU,AsusP8P67motherboard,8GBKingston1600MHzDDR3memory,NvidiaGeForceGTS250512MBgraphicscard,PCPowerandCoolingSilencer750WPSU,Windows7HomePremium64-bit,IntelRapidStorageTechnologydriver(iaStor.sys)
customPC
84OVERALL
FEATURES 18 / 20
SPEED 43 / 45
VALUE 23 / 35
ThenewiterationoftheIndilinxEverestcontrollerlookspromising,withsequentialperformanceclaimsof550MB/secreadand465MB/secwrite
WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
46 August 2012
JOYSTICK
HOW MUCH?Price£30incVATSupplierwww.pixmania.co.ukManufacturerwww.cyborggaming.comSKUnumberCCB4330200B2/04/1
IN DETAILConnectionWiredMaterialPlasticButtons12(additional12usingshiftkey)ExtrasDetachablestick,collapsiblebase,adjustablesurfaces,scrollwheel,8-wayhat,dualthrottle,twistaction
t’sbeenawhilesincewe’velookedatajoystick,forthesimplereasonthatnotmanyhavebeenreleasedsincethe
demiseofMicrosoft’sFlightSimulatorseries.Thankfully,Cyborg,abrandofMadCatzInteractivethatalsositsbesidelong-timeflightsimperipheralmakerSaitek, isstillchurningouttheoddjoystick.TheF.L.Y5caughtoureyemainlybecauseitcostslessthan£30;however, italsohasdualthrottlecontrol–ararefeatureatthisprice.Thismakesflyingmulti-engineaircraftthatlittlemorerealistic,especiallyifoneengineisonfireatthetimeandyouneedtothrottleitbackinahurry.TheF.L.Y5ispackagedinanextremelysmallbox.
Thestickisactuallydetachablefromthebaseandthelatterhastwolargeflip-outsupports,onewiththethrottlecontrolonit.Combinedwiththeremovablestick,theF.L.Y5canbestoredinasmallplaceuntilyoufeeltheneedforspeedagain.Alternatively, it’sidealforstashinginabagandtakingtoaLANorfriend’shouse.AswithmanyofCyborg’sR.A.Tmice,thereare
severaladjustablesurfacesontheF.L.Y5, includingtheheadandhead-buttons,aswellasthestickheightandangle.Atoolforthejobisprovidedinastorageslotontherightleg–essentiallyahexkey.Thisismorethanwe’veseenonajoystickbutit’saverywelcomeaddition;youcanbuyalargerorsmallermousetofityourhands,butjoysticksareusuallymadetosimilarsizes.Thereare12buttonsintotal, includingtheusual
triggerandthumbbuttons,butaShiftbuttondoublesthisnumberifyou’repreparedtoinstalltheincludedsoftware.There’saneight-wayhatswitchandascrollwheelattheneckofthesticktoo,withthelatterprovidingtheperfectmeansforadjustingthetrimofyourcontrolsurfaces.Oneortwoofthebuttonsarealittleflimsy,butthethrottlecontrolsfeelexcellentlysmoothandpositive,withabuttononthesideenablingyoutolockthemtogetherifyourplaneonlyhasoneengine.
TheF.L.Y5isalsofairlysturdy,andwobbleorflexingaren’tanissue,despitethedetachablestick.Thisisparticularlyimportant,asthestickrotatesforYawcontrol. Sadly,wecouldn’tseeawaytodisablethis,though,whichisworthbearinginmindifyoudon’tlikeusingthetwistfunctionforruddercontrol.
CONCLUSIONTheF.L.Y5’sobviouscompetitionisThrustmaster’sT-FlightHotasX,whichcostsalittlemore.It’ssturdierandhasalockabletwistactiononthestick’sYawcontrol,butit’salsolarger,lacksdualthrottlecontrol,hasfewerbuttonsandnoscrollwheel.TheF.L.Y5 isathomeonadeskforlongperiods,butit’sequallyhappytobequicklydismantledandstored.Youwon’tbeleftwantingforbuttonsorfeatureseither–thefactthatit’sadjustableandhasdualthrottlecontrolisamazingatthisprice.Ifyouneedafully-featuredjoystickbutcan’tspendmorethan£30,buytheF.L.Y5.ANTONY LEATHER
CYBORG
ICEMANAdjustable; dualthrottle; plentyof buttons;collapsible; cheap
SLIDERNot as sturdy aslarger joysticks;no twist actionlock; some flimsybuttons
F.L.Y5
91OVERALL
DESIGN 36 / 40
FEATURES 32 / 35
VALUE 23 / 25
THIS MAKES FLYING MULTI-ENGINEAIRCRAFT A LITTLE MORE REALISTIC,ESPECIALLY IF ONE ENGINE IS ON FIRE
A collapsible, adjustable flight stickwith dual throttle control for under £30
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48 August 2012
MECHANICAL GAMING KEYBOARD
HOW MUCH?Price£66incVATSupplierwww.scan.co.ukManufacturerwww.cmstorm.comSKUnumberSGK-4000-GKCC1
IN DETAILConnectionWired,USBCableBraided,removableMaterialPlasticandmetalExtrasExtraredWSADkeys
echanicalkeyboardshavebeenaroundfordecades,andformostofthattime,they’vebeenrelativelyunfashionabledevices–reservedfortypingpuristsandthosewho
consideredcheapermembranekeyboardsuncouth.Recently,though,we’veseenmechanicalkeyboardsexperiencearenaissance,withmanufacturerskeentotoutthemasthenextmust-havegamingperipherals.Asever,alotofwhat’ssaidismarketinghyperbole,
buttherearebenefitstousingamechanicalboard.Theytendtobeextremelysturdyforastart,asthemechanicalkeysneedtobemountedtoametalchassis.ThismakesevenasmallmodelsuchastheCMStormQuickFireRapidsurprisinglyweighty,lendingitafeelingofqualityandstability.Theothermajorbenefit,andtheoneforwhich
you’repayingaheftypricepremium,isthekeyswitchesthemselves,whichhavelongertravelandmoretactilefeedbackthanmembranekeyswitches.ThesilverQuickFireRapidwe’relookingathereusesCherryBlackswitches,althoughthere’salsoablackversionofthekeyboardthatusestheRedswitchestoo(SKUSGK-4000-GKCR1).However,theQuickFireRapid’sBlackswitches
haveaslightlyhigheractuationforce,whichcanmakethemalittlelessresponsive,asittakesmoreforcetoregisterakeypress.Thedifferenceisminor,though,andtheresistancecanbewelcomeinlonggamingortypingsessions,asitmakestypinglesstiring.TheothermajorcharacteristicoftheQuickFire
Rapidisitssize–theboardeschewsthetraditionalnumberpad,makingitalmostathirdsmallerthanotherkeyboards.Somepeoplewillundoubtedlymiss
theextrasize,butwecertainlydidn’tfeelrestrictedatanypointwhenusingtheboard.Infact,weappreciatedtheextraroomonourdesk.Ourmajorgripe,however, isthelackofawristrest–
mechanicalkeyboardstendtositalittlehigherupoffthedeskduetotheheightofthekeys,sohavingawristrestisimportantandasillyomission.Asit’sagamingkeyboard,theQuickFireRapidalso
sportsn-keyrollovertechnology,meaningthattheboardcanrecogniseanynumberofsimultaneouskeypresses.ThisonlyworkswhenconnectingthekeyboardviathebundledPS/2adaptor,however–USBuserswillbelimitedtosix-keyrollover,whichisn’tidealwhensomanynewmotherboardsdon’tevenhavePS/2connectors.Italsosportsmediashortcutkeysthatareaccessedviaafunctionkey,andahandy
featuretolocktheWindowskey,toavoidaccidentalpresseswhengaming.
CONCLUSIONTheCMStormQuickFireRapid’sdinkyproportions,solidbuildqualityandaffordablepricemakeitanattractivekeyboard.It lackssomeoftheflairofthemoreexpensiveCorsairVengeanceK60(seeIssue101,p46)butifthisisn’t importanttoyou,andyoudon’tmindpurchasingaseparatewristrest,thenit’sasolidmechanicalgamingkeyboardforthemoney.PAUL GOODHEAD
M
CMSTORM
WOLVERINESmall withoutfeeling cramped;sturdy; well priced
STORMNo wrist rest; only6-key rolloverwhen using USB
THE BLACK SWITCHES HAVEA SLIGHTLY HIGHER ACTUATIONFORCE, REQUIRING MORE FORCE
TO REGISTER A KEY PRESS
Small, and very nearly perfectly formed
QuickFireRapid
79OVERALL
DESIGN 32 / 40
FEATURES 25 / 35
VALUE 22 / 25
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50 August 2012
Thorough testing and research is the key to evaluatingwhether a productisworth buying, and decidingwhether or not there’s a better alternative
TESTS:WeusetheCustomPCMediaBenchmarks,CinebenchR11.5,WPrimeandCrysis.WealsotesttheresultantpowerdrawofthetestPCwiththeCPUinstalled.ThesetestsrevealabroadrangeofperformancecharacteristicsfortheCPU,fromimageeditingtogamingandfromvideoencodingto3Drendering.WerunallthetestswiththeCPUatstockspeedandagainwhenoverclockedtoitshighestfrequency.
Graphics cards aremainly evaluated on how fast they are for their price. However, we also consider the efficacyand quietness of the cooler. Every graphics card is tested in the samePC, so all results are directly comparable.
We judge CPUs onwhether they offer sufficient speed for the price. Part of a CPU’s speed score comes fromhow overclockable it is. Every type of CPU is tested in the samePC, so all results are directly comparable.
Thegraphicscardwe’rereviewingThegraphicscard3.3GHzIntelCore
i5-2500K
AMDFM1IntelLGA1155
NvidiaGeForceGTX5903GB
MSIA75MA-G55
AsusMaximusIVGene-Z
120GBPatriotWildfire
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
Windows764-bit
4GBCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
AsusP8P67Rev3 Windows764-bitSP1
Windows764-bit
AMDSocketAM3+
AsusCrosshairIVFormula
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
4GBofCorsair 4GBofCorsairAMDFM1
AsusP8P67Rev3
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HOW WE TEST
51August 2012
OurbenchmarksuitesimulateshowpeoplereallyusePCs,andahigherscoreisbetter.Youcandownloadthesuitefromwww.tinyurl.com/benchies
2.66GHzIntelCore2DuoE6750
2GBofCorsair1,066MHzDDR2
250GBSamsungSpinPointP120S
AsusP5KDeluxeWiFi-AP
TESTS:ByusingthefastPCdetailedontheleft,wecanbesurethatanylimitationsweseeareduetothegraphicscardontest.Wetestthefourgames(right)attheirmaximumdetailsettings,intheirhighestDirectXmode,andatthreeresolutions.High-endcardsshouldbeabletosustainplayableframeratesat2,560x1,600,while1,920x1,080ismoreimportantformid-rangecards; wenolongertestat1,680x1,050because1,920x1,080issocheap.Wealsotrytooverclockeverygraphicscardwetesttoseewhatdifferencethismakestothecard’sperformance.
Someproductsaregloriouslyoverthetop.TheseitemsofexcellentoverkillearnourExtremeUltraaward.
PremiumGradeproductsareutterlydesirable–we’deatnothingbutbeansuntilwecouldaffordthem.
ProductsworthyoftheProfessionalawardmake youandyourbusinessappearevenmoreawesome.
Approvedproductsarethosethatdoagreatjobforthemoney;they’rethecannypurchaseforagreatPC.
Forthosegadgetsandgizmosthatreallyimpressus,orthatwecan’tlivewithout,there’stheCustomKitaward.
Motherboards are evaluated on everything from layout and featuresto overclockability and value formoney. Everymotherboard is testedwith the same components, so all results are directly comparable.
TESTS:WeusetheCustomPCMediaBenchmarksandseveralgames,andalsotestthespeedsoftheboard’sSATAports.WetrytooverclockeverymotherboardwereviewbytestingforamaximumQPI,baseclockorHTTaswellasoverclockingtheCPUtoitsmaximumair-cooledlevel.WerunourtestsatstockspeedandwiththeCPUoverclocked.
IntelCorei5-2500K
AMDPhenomIIX61100TBE
Motherboardontest
Motherboardontest
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
IntelCore MotherboardMotherboard 4GBofCorsair AMDA8-3850 Motherboardontest
4GBofCorsair1,600MHzDDR3
AMDA8-3850
NvidiaGeForceGTX5903GB*
2TBWesternDigitalCaviarBlack
Windows764-bit
Windows72TBWesternDigital2TBWesternDigital
*Pleasenote:WetestedAMDFM1motherboardsusingtheon-boardgraphics,nottheNvidiaGeForceGTX5903GB
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PROJECTOR
PICOGenieA10002 We’lladmitthatwewereprettydismissiveofthe
PicoGeniewhenwefirstheardofit–aprojectorbuiltintoaniPhonecase,thathastobecrapright?Imagineourshock,then,whenitturnedouttobereallyratherexcellent.Granted,youneedthelightsturneddown,asthelampdoesn’thaveoodlesofpunch,butthepictureiscrisp,clearandeasilyfocuseduptoasizeofaround50inusingthefocusingring.The2Wspeakerbuiltintothecaseissufficienttoo,makingitidealfortravellingorimpromptubusinessmeetings.It’sexpensive,ofcourse,butifmoneyisnoobject(oryoucangetonethroughwork)thenyouwon’tbedisappointed. PG
ALADDIN GENIEPrice £200 inc VAT Supplierwww.theaccessoriescrowd.comManufacturerwww.thepicogenie.moonfruit.com
MEDIA CENTRE KEYBOARD
KEYSONICKSK-320503 InteractingwithmediaPCscanbea
clunkyexperience,whereyouoftenhavetoswitchbetweenyourkeyboard,mouseandremote,dependingonwhatyou’redoing.ThisiswhyKeysonichasdevelopedthe3205.It’saroundthesizeofaBlackberry,soit’shardlyanobtrusivepieceofkit,butitmanagestopackinmediacontrols,atouchpadandakeyboardwithouteverfeelingcramped.TheRangeisgoodtoo,andalthoughtypingonthekeyboardisfiddly,youshouldn’thavetodothistoooften.Ouronlygripeisthebuildquality–itfeelsextremelylightweightandinsubstantial,andweexpectbetterfor£40. PG
PLASTIC FANTASTICPrice £40 inc VAT Supplierwww.amazon.co.ukManufacturerwww.keysonic.de
52 August 2012
CustomKitWe check out the latest gadgets, gizmos and geek toys
Written by Paul GoodheadSeen something worthy ofappearing in Custom Kit?
Send suggestions [email protected]
BOARD GAME
MEMOIR ‘4401 Memoir’44hastheperfectlearningcurve, inthatit’seasy
topickup,buthardtomaster.AllthescenariosinthebundledbookarebasedongenuineWWIIbattles,andseeoneplayertakingtheroleoftheAlliesandtheothertheAxis.ActionscanonlybetakenwhenyouhavethecorrespondingOrderCard,however,makingitfrustratingifyou’reinagoodpositionbutcan’texploit it.Thisoftenleadstothefeelingthatit’stherunofthecards,ratherthangoodgeneralship,thatwillwinyouthegame. PG
WAR HUH?Price £39 inc VAT Supplierwww.amazon.co.ukManufacturerwww.daysofwonder.com
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CUSTOM KIT
53August 2012
CLEANING SPRAY
ANTECAdvanceNaturalSpray60ml05 Antec’sAdvanceNaturalSprayismadefrom100percentnaturalingredients,andhasno
chemicaladditives.Afterall,everythingnaturalisgoodforyou,exceptdeadlynightshade,snakevenom,poisonoustoadstoolsand,well,yougetthepicture.Antecalsoguaranteesthere’snoammoniaoralcoholinthesprayand,unliketheothercleaningproductsontest, it’sscentless,soatleastitwon’tmakeyourroomstink.Itdoesitsjobwell,althoughitslowviscositymeansthatyou’llhavetobequickwhencleaningvertically-orientateddevicessuchasmonitorsorTVs.Italsosmearedeasierthanthe3xStrengthspray,meaningthatit’sonlyreallyworthconsideringifyouobjecttotheusualsmellofcleaningproducts. PGFAKE NATURALPrice £5 inc VAT Supplierwww.ebuyer.comManufacturerwww.antec.com
CLEANING GEL
ANTECAdvanceDeepCleanGel06 ThesecondofourtrioofcleaningproductsistheDeepCleaningGel,whichincludesacarry
pouch.Italsohasaposhercloththanthetwosprays.Asyou’dexpect, it’sthickerthantheliquidsprays,soit’snotgoingtorunawayorevaporatebeforeyoucanuseit.Thegelcleanedoursmartphonetoastandardthathasn’tbeenseensinceitwasnew,anditwasgoodatwardingoffourdirtyfingerprintstoo.Theonlydownsideisthatit’smoreexpensivethanthe3xsprayandonlysuitedtocleaningsmallgadgets,thankstoitsthicknessandlackofasprayapplicator. PG
HAIR GEL JELLYPrice £8 inc VAT Supplierwww.ebuyer.comManufacturerwww.antec.com
CLEANING SPRAY
ANTECAdvance3xStrengthSpray60ml07 Ifyoureallywantacleanerthatwilldothejob,weadviseoptingforthe3xStrengthSpray,
whichhasbeendevelopedbyAntectobearuthlessbacteriakiller.Aswellasitsantibacterialproperties, it’salsothickerthantheNaturalSpray,soitstickstosurfacesbetter,andwefoundittobelesssmearytoo.Theresult isareasonablypricedproductthatdoesagreatjobofcleaningyourkit,evenifyouaren’tparanoidaboutgerms.Costingonly£1.40morethantheNaturalCleaner,thereseemslittleexcusenottohaveoneoftheseinyourdeskdrawer. PG
KIM&AGGIE MARY POPPINSPrice £7 inc VAT Supplierwww.ebuyer.comManufacturerwww.antec.com
USB SOUND CARD
ENERMAXDreamBassAP00104 TheDreamBassisanaffordable
USBsoundcard,styledtolooklikeavalvefromanoldschoolamplifier.Bothheadphoneandmicrophonemini-jacksareprovided.Enermaxclaimsthatitwillprovideimprovedplaybackandrecordingqualitythankstotheon-boardVIAVT1620Achip,whichsupports24-bit/192KHzsamplingandhastwohigh-qualityDACs.However,theoutputoftheDreamBassAP001isdisappointinglybass-heavy,makingalmostalltypesofmusicsoundunbalanced–asthoughyou’rehearingitthroughawall. It isn’tadjustableeither–thereisn’tevenaTonetabintheWindowsSoundControlPanel,althoughthereisthebizarreoptionforanextrabassboostintheEnhancementstab.Ontheplusside,theextrabasswasmorewelcomeingames,whichtendtoemphasisebassinsoundeffects,butitsunbalancedperformanceineverythingelsemeansthat you’dbebetteroffstickingwithon-boardsound. PGBASE BASSPrice £23 inc VAT Supplierwww.systo.co.ukManufacturerwww.enermax.co.uk
05
06 07
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HOWWETESTED,PAGE56
Eversincechildhood,we’retaughtthatelectronics+water=bad,justthesamewaywelearnthattoasters+forks=
dangerous.However,water-coolingyourPCneedn’tbearecipefordisaster.Infact,ithasthepotentialtoquietlyandeffectivelycoolallthehardwareinsideyourPCwithaminimumoffans.Overthepastfewyears,there’sbeen
ahugeincreaseinclosed-loopliquid-coolingsystems,suchasCorsair’sH100andPNY’sliquid-cooledGTX5801.5GB.However,whilesuchproductsofferaquickandeasyrouteintotheworldofwatercooling,theylackstyleandflexibility;there’snowaytoaddaGPUblockorswapoutthepump,andthey’llneverlookasgoodasawell-maintainedcustom-builtloop.Buildingyourownloopmightbemoreexpensive,butit’sfarmorecustomisableandalotmoresatisfying.However,withamultitudeofdifferent
waterblocksfordifferentCPUsockets,nottomentiondifferentdesignsforeverytypeofgraphicscard,choosingtherightpartscanbetricky.Thisiswhywe’ve
56 Howwetested58 AquacomputerCuplexKryosHF59 WatercoolHeatkillerCPURev3.0CU60 XSPCRayStormCPUWaterBlock62 KoolanceVID-NX68064 WatercoolHeatkillerGPU-X³GTX
680HoleEdition65 XSPCRazorGTX68067 AquacomputeraquagrATIxforHD797068 WatercoolHeatkillerGPU-X³GTX
79X070 XSPCRazor797071 AquacomputerairplexXT24072 AlphacoolNexXxoSXT60FullCopper
240mm73 PhobyaG-Changer240Ver.1.2Black74 XSPCEX240MultiportRadiator75 Graphs76 HowtofitCPUandGPUwaterblocks80 Howtomountyourpumpandradiator
55August 2012
COOLCUSTOMERPicking the rightwater-cooling parts canbe a shot in the dark, sowe’ve roundedup loads of blocks and radiators to helpyou build the perfectwater-cooling loop
56
roundedupseveralCPUandGPUblocksandradiators,sowecanfindoutwhichareworthyofyourplumbing.HARRY BUTLER
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56 August 2012
how we tested
Testingwater-coolingpartsisadifficultprocess,andit’sfraughtwithaveritable
shed-loadofvariables.Thefactthatalmostnotwowater-coolingloopsarealikewhenitcomestotubinglength,pumpflowrateandchoiceofCPU/GPUblockmakestheprocessverycomplex.Forthismonth’sLabstest,wedeviseda
doubleelimination-styletest.First,wetestedthethreeCPUblocksontheirown,plumbedintoaloopladenwithcoolingcapacityandahigh-flowrate.Havingfoundthebest,wethenmovedontotheGPUblocks,testingthreeGeForceGTX6802GBblocksandthreeRadeonHD79703GBwaterblocksontheirrespectivecards.Withthebestagainfound,wethen
plumbedboththewinningCPUblockandwinningGTX6802GBblockbackintotheloop,thistimeswappingouttheradiatortodeterminethebestforuseinacombined
measureaCPUorGPUblock’seffectonwaterflowrateunderbothhigh-andlow-flowcircumstances.Tomeasureflowrate,weusedaCole-
Parmerflow-meter,withaminimumsensitivityof2litres/min(120litres/hour),plumbedintotheloop.Usingstandard1/2infittings,theflowofwaterthoughtheflow-meterforcestheweightinsideupwards,indicatingflowrate.Asacoolant,weuseddeionisedwater
throughout,asit’scheapandplentiful–idealwhenfrequentlychangingpartsandplumbing.However,forlong-termwater-coolinginstallations,it’simportanttoaddabiocidetoyourcoolanttopreventorganismssuchasalgaefromgrowinginthewarm,wateryconditionsinside.Alternatively,you
canusepre-mixedcoolants,whichincludeabiocideelementandareavailableinawholerangeofattractivevibrantandgarishcolours.We’rebigfansofMayhem’sPastelrange,althoughat£15/litre,it’sagreatdealmoreexpensivethanstandardwater.Forareservoir,weusedasimpleXSPC
5.25indrivebayunit,asithasaneasy-accessfill-port.ForboththeCPUandGPUblocktests,coolingfortheloopwasprovidedbya30mmthick,triple-120mmfanradiatorfittedwiththreePhobyaG-Silent1,600rpmfansblowingthroughtheradiator.ThiswaschosentoprovidecoolingpowerthatwasfarmorethanjustasufficientlevelfortheCPUandGPUblocks.Thisway,wecouldgaugetheirabilitytoremoveheatfromourtesthardwarebetterthanwecouldwithourdual120mmtestradiators.Fortubing,weusedclearMasterklear
1/2ininner-diameterPVCtubingthroughout,connectedtoourhardwarevia1/2inMonsooncompressionfittings.Weused1/2intubingtoremoveanychanceofit impactingonourcoolingorflow-ratemeasurements.Smaller1/4in(6mm)inner-diametertubingisstillaviablechoice,though,particularlyforlower-flowloops.Withjustthepump,radiator,flowmeterandreservoirplumbedin[inthatorder),werecordedaflowrateof9.5litres/minwiththepumpatfullspeedand3litres/minatitslowestspeed.
THE TEST BENCHThewater-coolingloopisonlyhalfthestorythough;wealsoneededatoastytestsystem
WeusedaSwiftechMPC655(LaingD5Vario)pump,whichiscapableofupto25litres/minofflow
WeusedasimpleXSPCdrivebayreservoir,asithasaneasy-accessfillport
FLOW RATEInadditiontothetemperatureresults,you’llalsonoticethatwemakerepeatedreferencetoflow-rateresults,butwhyisthisimportant?Basically,inorderforyourwater-coolinglooptowork,itneedstohavewaterpumpedarounditconstantly.Afasterflowratedoesn’tmeanthatyourloopisnecessarilycoolerthough.Afterall,thewaterisallthermallyconductive,howeverfastit’sbeingpushedaroundtheblock.Flowrateonlyreallybecomesaproblemifitstartsdroppingbelow1litre/min,which
meansthatallthekitinthisLabstestisfine.Thatsaid,ifyouwanttoaddmanyblockstoyourloop,perhapsformultiplegraphicscardsandchipsetcooling,thenit’sworthlookingforkitwithahigherflowratetobesurethatitwillbeabletosustainyourloop.Inshort,goodwater-coolingcomponentsshouldbedesignedsoasnottoimpedeflow,sowe’veincludedtheflow-rateresultsforyourreference,andaccountedforthemintheDesignscore,ratherthanthePerformancescore.
CPUandGPUloop;amuchmoredemandingtestthanonewithaloopthatsimplycontainseitheraGPUorCPUblockalone.
THE GEARThroughoutourtesting,weusedaSwiftechMPC655LaingD5Vario12Vpumpwith1/2in(13mm)fittings(suchpumpsarealsoavailablefromAlphacoolanddirectfromLaing).Oneofthemostprovenandpopularwater-coolingpumpsaround,theLaingD5-Vario,iscapableofupto25litres/minofflow,withaheadpressureof3.7matfullpower(4,800rpm),whilealsoallowingyoutodropitsspeedtoamorevibration-friendlylevelof1,800rpm.Thisenabledusto
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57August 2012 57August 2012
WATER COOLING
toheatitup.WhileanewIvyBridgeCPUwouldseemliketheobviouschoice,itsthermalissuesarebelievedtobeinternal(rumoursaboundregardingIntel’sallegedchoicetousealow-qualitythermalpastebetweenthedieandtheCPU’sheatspreader).Assuch,we’veinsteadplumpedforanIntelCorei7-2600KrippedfromthebosomofourLGA1155heatsinktestsystem,fittedintoanAsusP8Z68-Vmotherboardalongside4GBof1,600MHzDDR3memory.However,whileour
heatsinktestsystem’soverclockedclockspeedof4.1GHzusingavcoreof1.325Visenoughtotestaircoolers,itisn’taschallengingtoagoodwater-coolingloop,soweknockeditupanotch,resultinginaCPUfrequencyof4.6GHzandavcoreof1.385V.Toremoveanothercommon
variablewhenitcomestocooling,allCPUandGPUblocksweremountedusingPhobyaHeGreasethermalpaste,althoughsuppliedthermalpadsandthermaltapewereusedassuggestedineachblock’sinstructions.TotestboththeGeForceGTX6802GB
andRadeonHD79703GBwaterblockperformance,weagaindidn’tsettleforstockspeeds.TheGTX6802GBwasoverclockedbyadding150MHztoitsbaseclock(increasingitshighestboostclockto1,260MHz),and
increasingitsenergydrawby32percent,whiletheHD79703GBwasoverclockedto1,125MHzwitha10percentincreasein
powerdraw.TheGTX6802GBwas
placedunderloadusingGPUstress-testFurMark,pushingthecardtothelimitofitsextrapower,buttheRadeon’smoreaggressivepowermanagementcircuitrymeantthatwehadtouseUnigine’sHeavenBenchmarktotesttheHD79703GBblocks.BoththeCPUandGPUblocksweretestedusingtheLaingD5-vario’smaximumandminimumpumpspeeds.Finally,totestthe
radiators,webuiltthesameCorei7-2600KsystembasedaroundthebestCPUandGeForceGTX6802GBwaterblocks,andswappedoutthetriple-120mmfanradiatorforeachradiatorontest.Sinceweonly
testeddouble120mm-fanradiators,wetestedeachwithapairofPhobyaG-Silent
1,600rpmcoolingfansrunningatfullspeedina‘push’configuration.We’dalsoliketosayabigthankyouto
www.aquatuning.co.ukforprovidingthesamplesandtestingequipmentforthismonth’sLabstest.Thefolkstherearealovelybunch,andifyouvisittheirforumonbit-techathttp://tinyurl.com/FreeAquaShipping,youevengetfreeshipping.Otherwater-coolingsuppliersareavailable,ofcourse,andasalways,itcanpaytoshoparound.
OurtestRadeonHD79703GBwasoverclockedto1,125MHzwitha10percentincreaseinpowerdraw
OurtestGeForceGTX6802GBwasoverclockedby150MHz
FurMarkisusedtoplacetheGeForceGTX6802GBunderload,whileUnigine’sHeavenBenchmarkwasusedfortheRadeonHD79703GB
WeusedaSandyBridgeCorei7-2600Koverclockedto4.6GHztotesttheCPUblocks
58
WARNINGWatercoolingcanbehazardoustoyoursystemifsetupincorrectly.CPCassumesthatyou’recompetenttofitthesecomponents,andtakesnoliabilityforspills,leaksordamagetoyourPCcausedbyincorrectinstallation.
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58 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode10378Price£67incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.aquacomputer.de
quacomputerisoneofonlyafewwater-coolingmanufacturerstooffertop-to-bottomcoolinghardware,includingitsAirplexradiators,CPUandGPUblocks,
pumpsanditsAquaerofancontrollers.LiketheWatercoolHeatkiller(opposite),theKryos
isavailableinmanydifferentfinishes,fromaffordablePolyoxymethylene(POM)toasuper-expensivesilvermodel(yes,really).TheKryosHFsitsinthemiddle,andisfinishedinattractivesteelandpolishedcopper,withitssculptedmountingarmsslottedintoeitherside.At420g,theKryosistheheaviestCPUblockontest,
withalargecoppercontactplateandheatexchangerrestingbeneaththeheftytop-plate.ThelatterissecuredviafourAllenboltsthreadedthroughfromthecopperbase,whichisfinishedtoamirrorsheen.Sadly,thetwo1/4inthreadsintheKryos’top-plate
weren’tsufficientlyspacedtoaccommodateour1/2inMonsooncompressionfittings,butstraight1/2infittingsandsmaller1/4incompressionfittingsfittedwithoutissues.Thecentrethreadisclearlymarkedastheintake,withtheupperthreadtheexhaust.Whileitmightlookthepart,though,theKryoswas
extremelyfrustratingtofit. Itusesthecombinationofabackplateandabolt-throughmount,butcomplicatesthiswithnumerouswashers.Welostpatiencewithitnumeroustimes,tryingtobalancewashersbetweenthebackplateandmotherboardwhilethreadingmount-boltsthroughallthree.Havingfinallysucceededinattachingthemount,securingtheblockisachievedusingfoursprungscrews.However,
they’reallmanuallytightenedscrewswithnocutsforflat-headorPhillipsscrewdrivers,makingapplyingevenmountpressuretricky.Frankly, it’safiddlyandconvolutedmountingprocessandwhoeverdesigneditdeservesaneternityofhavingtoinstall it,Atlas-style.Plumbedintoourtestloop,theKryossurprisedus
bycominglastinthecoolingstakeswithadeltaTof42°C.Whilethisisbetterthananexpensiveall-in-oneliquidcooler, it’s2°CwarmerthantheXSPCRayStorm(seep60)and1°CwarmerthantheWatercoolHeatkiller.However,theKryosdeliveredwhenitcametohigh-flowperformance,withaflowrateof7litres/minwithourpumpsettofullspeed.However,thisdippedto1.5litres/minduringlow-flowtesting.
CONCLUSIONTheAquacomputerKryosHFmightlookthepart,butitsmountisawkwardandclunkytoinstall,anditscoolingpowerwasalsoafewdegreespoorerthantheRayStorm.WhenyoufactorintheKryos’£15moreexpensiveprice, it’sdifficulttorecommendcomparedwiththecompetition.HB
FONZYCapable cooling;decent high-flowrate
FOZZYHorrible to mount;some 1/2incompressionfittings won’t fit;expensive
AQUACOMPUTER CuplexKryosHFA convoluted mount and high price – you can find better elsewhere
A
scores
76customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 34 / 40
DESIGN 21 / 30
VALUE 21 / 30
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59August 2012
CPU WATERBLOCKS
HOW MUCH?Productcode10320Price£52incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.watercool.de
ermanmanufacturerWatercoolproducesmanydifferentversionsofitsHeatkillerCPURev3.0CPUwaterblock,allusingthesamecopperbase,butwithdifferenttop-plates.
TheCUversionseestheblockcladingleamingcopperandbrushedstainlesssteel,anditlooksabsolutelygorgeous.It’ssuretokeepitscopperygoodlookstoo,thankstoacoatofclearvarnishtopreventtarnishing.Beneaththetop-plate,theblock’scopperbaseplate
andheatexchangeraremassive,withsixAllenboltsaroundtheedgeofthebaseplatemakingiteasytodisassembleandclean.However,you’llneedtomakesurethatyourmotherboarddoesn’thaveanycapacitorsinsidetheLGA1155socketperimeter,asthelargebasemayfoulthem.Whiletheblock’spairof1/4inthreadfittingsareset
intoacopperplate,they’reveryclosetogether,makingithardtouse1/2incompressionfittings.Evenwhensecuringstraight1/2infittingswithjubileeclips,thefitwasstillverytight,makingtheHeatkillerhardertoplumbintoourtestloopthanthecompetition.Ratherthanbundlinganumberofdifferentmounts
withtheHeatkiller,WatercoolsellsspecificallyequippedversionsforeachCPUsocket.TheLGA1155kitwetestedisfittedusingasetofboltsthreadedthroughfromthebackofthemotherboard,ontowhichthecoolerismountedviaasprungAllen-keyscrewateachcorner.It’sasurprisinglysimpleprocess,moresothantheRaystorm(seep60)duetotheuseoftool-tightenedscrews.Oddly,though,Watercooloffersabackplatemountasanoptionalextra.Whilethe
standardbolt-mountisperfectlysolid,thedecisiontoomitthebackplateseemsratherstingyconsideringthe£52pricetag.Connectedtoourtestsystemandplacedunderload
for30minutes,theHeatkillerofferedgreatcooling,withadeltaTof41°C–just1°CofftheXSPCRayStorm.However, itwasalsothemostrestrictiveblockontestathighflowrates,withaflowrateatourpump’smaximumsettingof6.5litres/min.Atlow-flowrates,though,thiswasreversed,with2litres/minbeingthebestoftheCPUblockswetested.TheHeatkillerisclearlybettersuitedtolow-flowloops,suchasthosethatmakeuseofmultiplewater-blocks,althoughitshigh-flowperformanceisn’ttoofarbehinditsrivals.
CONCLUSIONTheHeatkillerisgreat-looking,goodatcooling,simpletoinstallandcompetitivelypriced.However,despiteitslargesize, itstruggleswithsome1/2incompressionfittings.Assuch,it justlosesouttotheXSPCRayStorm,whichofferssupportforawiderarrayoffittings.HB
CUSimple installation;looks fantastic
PBSome 1/2incompressionfittings don’t fit;comparativelyrestrictive athigh-flow rates
WATERCOOLHeatkillerCPURev3.0CULGA 1155Attractive and easy to fit, but it’s hard to fit 1/2in compression fittings
G
60
scores
84customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 35 / 40
DESIGN 25 / 30
VALUE 24 / 30
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60 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode10402Price£51incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.xs-pc.com
akingXSPC’smulti-socketCPUblockoutofitsbox,weweresurprisedbyitssimplelooks.WhiletheWatercoolandAquaComputerblocksaremadeentirelyofcopperandsteel,
theRayStormsportsaplainblackacetalexteriorbuiltaroundacoppercontactplateandheatexchanger.XSPChasdoneitsbesttoimprovethelookswitha
plasticmountingbrackettoppedwithabrushedaluminiumfascia.Theresultstill lacksthepanacheofthecompetition,butit’shelpedbytheinclusionofpre-drilled3mmLEDholesonallfoursidesoftheplasticmountingbracket.WiththepairofblueLEDs,theblockiseasilylitupandimmediatelylooksgreat.DespitebeingthesmallestCPUblockontest,the
RayStormoffersapairof1/4inthreadfittings,spacedsufficientlytoaccommodateourMonsoon1/2incompressionfittingswithroomtospare–theonlyCPUblockontesttoofferthisleveloffittingsupportHowever,theRayStormmissesafewtrickswhen
itcomestoinstallation.BackplatesareincludedforLGA1155andLGA775sockets,witheachattachedbyasmallamountofdouble-sidedtape.Theblock’sfourscrews,threadedthroughthecornersoftheclearplasticmount,screwdirectlyintothebackplate.Frustratingly,eachscrewrequiresbothapairofwashersandaspringtoprovidemountpressure,andwehadtopickwashersoffourmotherboardseveraltimesduringinstallationaftersomescrewsslipped.Mountingpressureisalsoalittleimprecise,aseachscrewisheadless,soyoucan’tuseascrewdrivertoaccuratelytightenthem.Alowernut
oneachfittingcanalsobeadjustedtoapplyadditionalmountpressure,butagain,you’reonlyabletomanuallytightenit.Anyconcernsaboutmountingdisappearedonce
wehadtheRayStormplumbedintoourtestloop,however.ACPUdeltaTof40°Cunderextendedloadwasthebestontest(albeitbyjust1°C),whileamaximumflowrateof6.75litres/minwasonly0.25litres/minbehindtheleastrestrictiveblockontest.Whilethisisadropof2.75litres/minincomparisontoaloopwithoutaCPUblock,asignificantdegreeofflowratereductionisinevitableforanyCPUorGPUblock.Meanwhile,droppingthepump’sflowratetoitsminimumsawaflowrateof1.8litres/min.
CONCLUSIONWhilenotasflashyasthecompetition,theXSPCRayStormgetsitrightwhenitcomestoperformanceandcapability,withthelowestdeltaTontestandfullsupportfor1/2incompressionfittings.At£51,it’salsothecheapestblockontest,makingitthecomfortablewinner.HB
TSTORMBest cooling ontest; supportslarge compressionfittings; LED-litmount
TEACUPSlightly fiddlymounting
XSPCRayStormCPUWaterBlockMatches great performance with sensible design
CPU WATERBLOCKS
62
scores
91customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 37 / 40
DESIGN 27 / 30
VALUE 27 / 30
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62 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode12574Price£103incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.koolance.com
oolancegenerallyfocusesonthemoreexpensiveendofthewater-coolingmarket,andtheVID-NX680isnoexception,weighinginatover£100.Thisfull-coverGTX6802GB
blockisanimposingbeast,platedinshinynickelandtoppedwithblackPOMacetal.TheVID-NX680comprisestwosections–alower
nickel-platedcopperbaseandheatexchanger,andatop-plateofacetalwithaninlaidnickelplate.Theuseofnickel-platedcopperwon’taffectaloopifmatchedwithcoppercomponents,butitshouldn’tbemixedwithsilverorunplatedbrasscomponents.Insideisamuchlargerareaofdenselypackedthin
channelsabovetheGPUblockthantheotherblocksontest,withasecondarrayoflessrestrictivechannelsabovethecard’spowercircuitry.Thefitting pointsarearrayedateitherendoftheblock,withfittingsscreweddirectlyintotheblockratherthanusingaseparateacetatemount.Thegulfbetweenthefour1/4infittings(twoupwards,twodownwards)alsomeansthatitcansupporteventhechunkiestcompressionfittings.InstallingtheVID-NX680tooklongerthanthe
otherblocksontest,duetoKoolancesupplyinglargesquaresofthermalpadsratherthanpre-cutlengths.Therearejusteightmountingscrewsrequiredtosecurethe680gVID-NX680toyourcard.Washersareincludedforeachscrew,asareapairofnickel-platedbrass1/2inblankingfittingsfortheunusedports.FittedtoouroverclockedGTX6802GB,runningat
abaseclockof1,156MHzanda32percenthigherTDPthanastockcard,theVID-NX680delivered
outstandingcooling.ItsdeltaTof23°Cwas2°CcoolerthanboththeotherGTX680blocksontestandanincredible31°CcoolerthanastockGTX6802GB’saircooler.Withsomuchcoolingheadroom,theGTX6802GB’sGPUismorelikelytoGPUboosttoo,resultinginhigherclockspeeds.Apeakflowrateof6litres/minwas0.8litres/minsuperiortothatoftheXSPCRazorGTX680(seep65),and0.3litres/minbehindtheHeatkillerGTX680(seep64).Theheftysectionofnarrowchannelsdoesn’tseemtonegativelyaffecttheflowratemuch,despiteofferingacoolingadvantage.
CONCLUSIONTheKoolanceVID-NX680isbig,brashandveryimpressive.Offeringa2°Ctemperatureadvantageoverbothotherblocksontestpluscompetitiveflowrates, it’sclearlythebestchoiceifyouwanttosqueezeeverylastdropofperformancefromaGTX6802GB.However, itspricetagmakesitthemostexpensiveblockontestthismonth,andtheXSPC’smulti-portfittingoffersmoreflexibilityandisonlymarginallyofftheVID-NX680’scoolingability.HB
B1-LANCERBest-on-testcooling for theGTX 680 2GB;nickel-platedshininess;supports 1/2incompressionfittings
BOIL-LANCERExpensive
KOOLANCEVID-NX680This huge block boasts great cooling, but it comes at a high price
GEFORCE GTX 680 WATERBLOCK
64
scores
85customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 37 / 40
DESIGN 24 / 30
VALUE 24 / 30
K
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64 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode12578Price£81incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.watercool.de
artofWatercool’sHeatkillerwaterblockfamily,theGPU-X³GTX680isagorgeouscombinationofcopperandstainlesssteel. It’saverythinblockand,iftheGTX6802GBdidn’t
includeadual-slotPCI-EpowerconnectorsetupandrearI/O,wouldcomfortablymakethecardsingle-slot.Theblockcomprisesalowercoppercontactplate,
upperstainlesssteeltop-plateandaholedcopperplateattachedtothetop.ThecoppercontactplatealsohasextendedmouldingsonitsmilledbasetomakedirectcontactwiththeGPU,memorychipsandpowercircuitryoftheGTX6802GB,withtherequisitecut-throughholetoaccommodatethetwocapacitorstowardsthetopofthecard.Insidetheblock,adeepchannelrunsoverallthe
heat-producingcomponents,withmanynarrowchannelsovertheGPU.Watercoolclaimsitdevelopedtheblockwithafocusonminimisingflowresistance,andtheunobstructedchannelsinsidebackthisup.Toppingofftheblockistheholedcopperplatethatsitsontopofthestainlesssteeltop-plate.Thisisanentirelyaestheticaddition(youcanbuytheblockwithoutitfor£5less),butadds flairtothedesign.Theblock’squartetof1/2inthreadfittings(two
upwards,twodownwards)areattachedviaanacetalblockfittedtothetopofthecard.Twochromed1/2inAllen-keyblankingscrewsareincludedtoblockofftheunusedports,buttheportsaresoclosetoeachotherthatyoucan’tuselarger1/2incompressionfittings.Straight1/2infittingsand1/4incompressionfittingsdofit,however.
Installationissimple,with11screwssecuringtheblocktoastockGTX6802GB.Washersarealsoprovided,alongwithanAllenwrenchtofirmlysecurethesuppliedAllenscrews.FittedtoouroverclockedGTX6802GB,theGPU-X³
GTX680matchedthecoolingabilityoftheXSPCRazor680(seeopposite),withadeltaTof25°C.Thisisahugeimprovementoverthe54°CdeltaTofastockGTX6802GB,evenbeforeyoufactorinthemassiveoverclock,althoughtheKoolanceVID-680(seep62)offeredevenbettercooling,withadeltaTof23°C.TheHeatkillerprovedtobethekingwhenitcametoflowrate,however,withahigh-flowrateof6.3litres/minandalow-flowrateof2litres/min.
CONCLUSIONMatchingtheXSPCRazorGTX680withitscoolingpower,andsportingalowerpriceofjustover£81,theHeatkillerGPU-X³GTX680isastrongcontenderforyourcash.However, itsinabilitytosupportlargercompressionfittingsandtheXSPC’sflexibilityseetheHeatkilleredgedoutofthewinningspot.HB
T-100Good cooling; lowprice; unrestrictiveblock design
T-XLacks the fittingflexibility of theXSPC RazorGTX 680; 1/2incompressionfittings don’t fit
WATERCOOLHeatkillerGPU-X³GTX680HoleEditionGood cooling at a fair price, but it just loses out to the XSPC
P
scores
82customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 34 / 40
DESIGN 22 / 30
VALUE 26 / 30
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65August 2012
GEFORCE GTX 680 WATERBLOCKS
HOW MUCH?Productcode12582Price£94incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.xs-pc.com
SPC’sRazorGPUwaterblocksallsharethesamegeneralaesthetics,withacopper,CNC-machinedbaseandinternalcavity,toppedwithabrushedstainlesssteel
top.Theresult isasharp-lookingGPUblockthat’sincrediblythin,buttheRazorGTX680alsohasamulti-portmountblockthatstandsproudofthewaterblock.Themulti-portconnectorsportsseven1/2in
fittings;twoupwards,twodownwards,twostraightoutandaseventhata45-degreeoutwardsangle.Theresult isablockthat’seasytointegrateintoanyexistingsetup,withplentyofflexibilityforexpansionorconnectiontoasecondcardinSLI.XSPCevenincludesfivechromed1/2inscrew-inplugsandthenecessaryO-ringstoblankoffanyunusedfittings.Meanwhile,themilledcopperbasehasraised
sectionstoactivelycooltheGTX6802GB’score,memoryandpowercircuitry,withaholecutthroughtheblocktoaccommodatethepairofcapacitorsnearthetopofthecard.Insidetheblock,waterchannelsrunoverallheat-producingcomponentsandthrough1mm-thickchannelsfittedovertheGPUitself.FittingtheRazorGTX680toastockGTX6802GB
isstraightforward,astherearenowasherstoinstall.Havingremovedthestockcooler,you’llneedtoapplytheincludedstripsofpre-cutthermaltapetothememoryandpowercircuitry,beforeplacingtheblockontopofthecard.Ninecross-headscrewssecuretheblocktightlytothecard,andthere’snoneedtousethestockcard’ssquareGPUtensionbracket.WhileweusedPhobyaHeGreaseasthermalpastetotestall
threeblocks,XSPCalsoincludesasachetofitsownK2thermalpasteforfitting.WithourGTX6802GBrunningat132percentofits
standardTDPandoverclockedtoabaseclockof1,156MHz,werecordedapeakdeltaTof25°C–halfthatofastockGTX6802GB.ThisisthesamedeltaTastheWatercoolHeatkillerGTX680,but2°CwarmerthantheKoolanceVID-680(seep62).However,theRazorGTX680wasalsothemostrestrictive,withahigh-flowrateofjust5.2litres/min –15percentlowerthantheHeatkillerBlock–andalow-flowrateof1.5litres/min.However,weobservednotemperaturedifferencebetweenhigh-andlow-flowrate,sothisislittlecauseforalarm.
CONCLUSIONWhileit isn’tthecoolestorcheapestGTX680blockontest,theRazorstruckthebalancebetweenthetwobestblocksandisaidedbyitsexcellentmulti-portconnector,offeringunmatchedflexibility. Italsolooksfantasticinitsstainless-steelfinish,resultinginahigh-qualityandhighlyrecommendedGPUblock.HB
SHARPENEDSupports seven1/2in fittings andincludes blankingscrews; goodcooling; fair price
BLUNTEDNothing to report
XSPCRazorGTX680Capable performance, and an incredibly flexible choice of fitting points
X
67
scores
89customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 34 / 40
DESIGN 28 / 30
VALUE 27 / 30
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dLAN®500 –triple thenetworking
performance
The Network Innovation
3LANports
dLAN® 500 AVtriple+
• Powerline adapter for connecting up to3 network-compatible devices
• Home network via the power linewithtransmission rates of up to 500Mbps
• Connects computers and consumer electronicsto each other and to the Internet
• Simple and secure: functions in every room,in every building
• Direct connection of up to 3 devices withthe integrated Gigabit switch
• The integrated socket ensures that noelectrical outlet goes towaste
NEW!
www.devolo.co.ukMore information:
Every power outletbecomes a network jack
Every power outletbecomes a network jack
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67August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode12576Price£76incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.aquacomputer.de
quacomputer’s79703GBwaterblock,deckedoutingleamingpolishedcopperandstainlesssteel,certainlylooksthepart.Thelowercoppercontactplateandheat
exchangercoversmostofthegraphicscard,andtheCNC-milledbasehaslargeflattenedsectionstomakecontactwiththe memorymodulesandGPU.DuetotheHD79703GB’suseofchunkycapacitors,there’salsoalargeindentcutintothebasetodirectlycoolthepowercircuitry–vitalforoverclocking.Meanwhile,astainlesssteeltop-plateisinlaidinthe
largecopperbase,andissecuredusing12Allenboltstoallowforremovalwhencleaning.There’salsoasecondcopperplatestandingproudofthesteeltop-plate,bearingAquacomputer’s3DFlowbranding.Thissecondcontactplateisvital,asitcontainsa
raisedflowchanneltoallowcoolanttoriseoverthetallcapacitorsandflowdownintoachannelplacedovertheVRMs,offeringdirectpowercircuitrycooling.Therestoftheblock’sinteriorisdominatedbyalargeareaoftightlypackednarrowchannelsarrayedontopoftheGPU,providingthemosteffectivecoolingforthelargeTahitiXTGPU,atthecostofflowrateimpedance.Cappingoffthedesignisanacetalfittings-block,
equippedwithfour1/4inthreadfittings–twoupwardsandtwodownwards.Bothsetsaresufficientlyspacedtoaccommodate1/2incompressionfittings,andtwo1/2inscrewplugsareincludedfortheunusedports.Theinstallationprocedureisalittlestrangethough,
asiteschewstheuseofthermalpadsforthememorymodules, insteadsimplyadvisingyoutodeposita
smallamountofthermalpasteontoeach(althoughnoneisincluded).AthermalpadisprovidedfortheVRMsandpowercircuitry,however.Meanwhile,securingtheblockisaccomplished
viatencross-headscrews,withnoincludedwashers,makinginstallationveryquick.FittedtoouroverclockedHD79703GB,running
at1,125MHzandaTDP10percentabovestock,theaquagrATIxofferedoutstandingcooling,withapeakdeltaTofjust14°C–afantasticdropof39°Cincomparisontoastockair-cooledHD79703GBandcomfortablythebestontest.Theblock’snarrowchannelsreducedflowrate,though,withahigh-flowrateof5.5litres/minandalow-flowrateof1.5litres/minbeingthelowestofthethreeHD79703GBblocks.
CONCLUSIONAswellasofferingthebestcoolingoftheHD79703GBblocksontest,theaquagrATIxforHD7970isalsothecheapest; it’sarguablythebest-lookingtoo,makingittheobviouschoiceforthoselookingtowater-cooltheirHD79703GB.HB
ATRONBest cooling ontest; low price;straightforwardmount
RINZLERNo thermal pasteor tape included;more restrictivethan other blocks
AQUACOMPUTERaquagrATIx forHD7970The cheapest HD 7970 block also delivers the best cooling
RADEON HD 7970 WATERBLOCKS
68
scores
89customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 37 / 40
DESIGN 24 / 30
VALUE 28 / 30
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68 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode12536Price£81incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.watercool.de
haringmorethanafewdesigncueswiththeAquacomputeraquagrATIx7970(seep67),theWatercoolHeatkillerGPU-X³79X0issimilarlydeckedoutinstainlesssteelandcopper,and
warrantedanappreciativecoouponremovalfromitsbox.We’rejustsuckersforshinycopper.Despiteitsnamehintingatmultiplecardsupport,
theGPU-X³79X0isonlycompatiblewiththeRadeonHD79703GB,withthelargecoppercontactplateandheatexchangerprovidingthebasefortheblock.Apolishedstainlesssteeltop-platesitsontopoftheheatexchanger,withasecondcopperplatehousinganelevatedchanneltoallowcoolantflowtocleartheHD79703GB’stallcapacitors.Securedtogetherby15Allenbolts,theblockcanbefullydisassembledforcleaningwithsomepatience.Insidetheblock,thewaterchannelflowsdirectly
overthecard’sDDR5modulesandthroughacentralareaofnarrowchannelsplacedovertheGPUcontactplatetoensureeffectiveheattransfer.Meanwhile,aseparatechanneliscutintothesectiondirectlyabovetheVRMstoprovidedirectcoolingtothepowercircuitry,withwaterflowingtotheseparatechannelviatheraisedcoppersectionontheblock’stop-plate.Theblock’sfour1/4inthreadfittingsaresuppliedby
aseparateacetalblockfittedontopofthecard.They’renarrowlyspaced,however,andlarger1/2infittingsclash,evenwiththesupplied1/2inscrewplugs.InstallationoftheGPU-X³79X0isalittletiresome
too,thankstoitsuseofindividualsquaresofthermaltapeforeachofthe12GDDR5memorymodules.A
largerthermalpadisincludedtoensurecontactwiththeVRMs,buttheendresulthaduswringingourhandsinannoyanceatunwrappingyetanothertinysquareofthermaltape.Yousecuretheblocktothecardvia11Allenboltswithwashers,however,whichismucheasierthanfittingthermaltape.FittedtoouroverclockedHD79703GB,runningat
1,125MHzandat110percentofastockcard’sTDP,theGPU-X³79X0deliveredadeltaTof17°CunderloadinUnigine’sHeavenbenchmark.WhilethisisamassiveimprovementoverastockHD79703GB,whichpeaksatadeltaTof53°C,it’s3°CwarmerthantheaquagrATIx7970.TheGPU-X³79X0offeredhigherflowrates,however,withahigh-flowrateof5.5litres/minandalow-flowrateof1.5litres/min.
CONCLUSIONWhiletheGPU-X³79X0isahugeimprovementoverthestockcooler, it isn’tthecoolestblockontest. It’salsofiddlytofit,andslightlymoreexpensivethantheXSPCorAquacomputerblockstoo.It’sstillaqualityblock,butitfacesstiffcompetition.HB
SROBOCOPDecent coolingand flow rate
ED-209Many individualthermal pads;some 1/2incompressionfittings don’t fit
WATERCOOLHeatkillerGPU-X³ 79X0A solid block, but it’s outshone by the competition
RADEON HD 7970 WATERBLOCKS
70
scores
80customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 34 / 40
DESIGN 22 / 30
VALUE 24 / 30
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70 August 2012
HOW MUCH?Productcode12547Price£80incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.xs-pc.com
iblingtotheXSPCRazorGTX680(seep65),theRazor7970matchestheformer’sthincopperandstainlesssteeldesign,andsupportsboththeHD79703GBandHD79503GB.
ThecentralheatexchangerandcoppercontactplateissmallerthanthoseoftheWatercool(seep68)andAquacomputer(seep67)HD7970blocks,asitonlydirectlycoolstheGPUandRAM,withraisedmouldingsonthebasetomakingcontactwitheachGDDR5chip,whilearaisedsectionmakescontactwiththeGPU.Thebrushedstainlesssteeltop-plateisattached
tothecoppercontactplatewith13Allenscrews,enablingittoberemovedforcleaningifrequired.Theresult isaverythinblockindeed.Inside,waterchannelsflowoverthemajorityofthecard’smemorymodules,withanangledstackoftightlypacked1mmfinssetdirectlyabovetheGPU.UnliketheWatercoolandAquacomputerblocks,there’snoraisedchanneltodirectflowovertheVRMs;instead,theRazor7970hasaluminiumheatsinksattachedtoeithersideoftheblocktocoolthecard’spowercircuitry.Whilethisreducestheblock’seffectivenessatcoolingVRMs,ithastheaddedbenefitofreducingflowimpedance.Duetoitsthindesign,theRazor7970’sfittingsare
mounteddirectlyontheblock,incontrasttotheRazorGTX680’slargemulti-portconnector.Thefour1/4inthreadfittingsaresothinthatdeeperfittingswillactuallyblocktheinlet,soXSPCincludessmallstandoffstoensurecompatibility.Weinstalledourlarge1/2inMonsooncompressionfittingswithoutany
problems,andapairofscrewplugsisincludedtocloseofftheunusedports.FittingtheRazor7970wassimple,thankstothick
andeasilyappliedpre-cutthermalpadsfortheRAMandVRMs.Theblockissecuredusingtencross-headscrewswithaccompanyingwashers,andasmalltubeofXSPCthermalK2thermalpasteisincludedtoo.FittedtoouroverclockedHD79703GB,theRazor
7970producedadeltaTof18°C–4°ChigherthantheAquacomputeraquagrATIx7970butstill35°Ccoolerthanastockcard.WhileitscoolingwasinferiortothatoftheotherHD79703GBblocksontest,however,theRazor7970’sflowratewasbetter,withahigh-flowrateof6litres/minandalow-flowrateof2litres/min.
CONCLUSIONWhileit’scapable,theRazor7970lackstheflexibilityofitsGTX6802GBsibling.ItalsoprovidedtheworstcoolingoftheHD79703GBblocksontest,althoughit’sstillahugeimprovementoverastockcard.It’sagoodblock,buttheaquagrATIx7970ischeaperandofferssuperiorcooling,albeitatlowerflowrates.HB
KEENSupports both HD7970 3GB andHD 7950 3GB;easy to fit; littleflow impedance
DULLLacks directVRM cooling
XSPCRazor 7970Lacks the flexibility of its GTX 680 sibling, but still a solid choice
S
scores
87customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 33 / 40
DESIGN 28 / 30
VALUE 26 / 30
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71August 2012
DUAL 120MM RADIATORS
HOW MUCH?Productcode31103Price£37incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.aquacomputer.de
quacomputer’sairplexradiatorsrunfromthebudgettotheludicrous(itsmodularradiatorscostwellover£150),withthe XT240fallingintotheformercategory.Atjust
£37,it’sthecheapestpieceofkit inthismonth’sLabs,butthatdoesn’tmeanit’slackinginqualityorability.Withdimensionsof275mmx123mmx45mm,the
XT240offersamid-pointbetweenhalf-andfull-height.Thismeansthatmanymorecasescanaccommodateit,aswellasthenecessarycoolingfans,withoutcompromisingtoomuchsurfacearea.However,therehavebeensomesacrificestogetthe
pricedown,withtheXT240offeringonlyapairof1/4inthreadfittingsinthestandard90-degreeorientationfromtheradiator.Eachportisfullyseparatefromtheother,forcingflowthroughtheradiatorfins.However,justhavingtwo1/4inthreadfittingslimitsthedirectionatwhichfittingscanentertheradiator,andmaynecessitatetheuseofangledor90-degreefittings,dependingonyourlooplayout.Thelackofanaerationportalsomeansyou’llneedtorotatetheradiatorfullyonceit’splumbedinandfilled,beforefittingit intoyourcase,toensuretherearenoairbubblesintheradiator.Despiteonlyshippingwithapairofports,theXT240
includesplasticscrewcapsforbothitsportstopreventoxidisationduringshipping.Aquacomputeralsoincludesapairof120mmrubbervibration-dampeningpadstoreducefannoise,andeight30mmscrewstomountapairof120mmfanstotheradiator.Plumbedintoourfullywater-cooledtestsystem,
usingtheXSPCRayStorm(seep60)andXSPCRazor
GTX680(seep65),theXT240delivereddisappointingcoolingabilityconsideringits45mmthickness.ACPUdeltaTof52°Cwasthehighestofthefourradiatorstested,aswastheGPUdeltaTof31°C.ThecoolantdeltaTtemperatureof12°Cwasalso2°Chigherthanthe60mmfull-heightradiators, indicatingtheXT240’sreducedthermalcapacity. Itshigh-flowrateof4.25litres/minwasalsolowerthanthatoftheAlphacool(seep72),butsurpassedthatofboththePhobya(seep73)andXSPC(seep74).
CONCLUSIONWewerehopingthattheAquacomputerairplexXT240wouldofferbettercoolingthankstoits45mmthicknessandincreasedsurfacearea.Sadly, itscoolingwastheworstontest,althoughtherewereonlyafewdegreesbetweenitandtheverybest. Itsno-fussapproachisstillsuretoattractthoselookingforacheaperloop,andinthisregard,itsbudgetpricetagalsomakesitstrong.However,aquality60mmradiatorsuchastheAlphacoolshouldstillbeyourfirstchoiceifyourcasecanaccommodateit. HB
AIRPLEXLow price; nounnecessaryextras
COMPLEXLacks flexibility;disappointingcooling ability
AQUACOMPUTER airplexXT240A basic, mid-height dual 120mm radiator that’s also cheap
A
72
scores
74customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 29 / 40
DESIGN 18 / 30
VALUE 27 / 30
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HOW MUCH?Productcode35279Price£50incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.alphacool.com
hilewe’reonlylookingatAlphacool’sradiatorinthisLabstest, it’sanotherwater-coolingcompanythatoffersawholerangeofgoodiesforyourliquid-
coolingneeds,frompumpstoreservoirs.TheNexXxoSXT60FullCopper240mmisitstop-enddual120mm-fanradiator,andit’scertainlyaheftybeast.Itweighs1,484gandmeasures280mmx124mmx
60mm,qualifyingitasafull-heightradiator(30mmradiatorsarehalf-height).Whilethisreducesthenumberofcasesintowhichitcanbemounted,thelargersizeandsurfaceareaoffersimprovedcooling.Theradiator’sfittingsaresplitbetweentwosealed
sections,withnoflowbetweenthemotherthanthroughthefinsoftheradiatoritself.Eachsectioncarriesthree1/4inthreadfittingsfacingup,downandstraightout,offeringavarietyofplumbingoptionsandtheabilitytomounttheradiatorinanyorientation.What’smore,thevarietyofthreaddirectionsalsoreducestheneedforflow-limiting90-degreefittings.Aseventhde-aerationport1/4infittingisfoundat
theoppositeendoftheradiator,whichcanbeusedtobleedairfromtheradiatoruponinitialfilling.It’sbestnotforgotten,oryoumightfillyourlooponlytodepositcoolantalloverthedesk.RumoursthatthisoccurredduringourtestingoftheNexXxoSXT60areunfoundedliesandwillbevehementlydenied.Alphacoolincludesfive1/4inthreadscrewstofill fiveofthesevenports,aswellasfullsetsofmatchingcopper-colour30mmand35mmAllenfanscrewstofullykitouttheradiatorwiththecoolingconfigurationofyourchoice.Meanwhile,
fin-spacingisfairlyopenand,accordingtoAlphacool,optimisedforfanswithlowandmediumairflow.TheNexXxoSXT60producedverycapablecooling
withourtestsystem’sCPUandGPUunderfullload.TheCPUdeltaTof51°CisnotablyhigherthanwithasingleCPUblockintheloop,butthisisduetothecumulativecoolingofboththeGPUandCPU.TheGPUdeltaTof29°Cis4°ChigherthantheGPUblockinalooponitsown,whilethecoolant’sdeltaTof10°Caboveambientis2°Ccoolerthanthetwohalf-heightradiatorswetested.Meanwhile,theNexXxoSXT60’simpactonflowratewasminimal,withaflowrateof4.5litres/minbeingonlymarginallylowerthanthesameloopwithnoradiatoratall (4.6litres/min).
CONCLUSIONTheAlphacoolNexXxoSXT60FullCopper240mmimpressedus withitsfittingflexibility,coolingandlowflow-rateimpedance.Atafewpenniesbelow£50,it’sthemostexpensiveradiatorontest,butit’sworththepremium.Ifyouhavetheroomforafull-height60mmradiator,thisistheonetobuy.HB
RADSeven 1/4inthread fittings;very low flow-impedance;good cooling
BADComparativelypricey; 60mmdepth limitscompatible cases
ALPHACOOLNexXxoSXT60Full Copper 240mmGreat cooling, loads of ports and very low flow-impedance
W
scores
88customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 35 / 40
DESIGN 27 / 30
VALUE 26 / 30
72 August 2012 WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
73August 2012
DUAL 120MM RADIATORS
HOW MUCH?Productcode35286Price£45incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.phobya.com
hePhobyaG-Changer240Ver.1.2BlackispartofPhobya’s premiumfamilyoffull-heightradiators,basedaroundcopperfinsandbrasschambers(thesectionsinto
whichthefittingsrun).At1,151g,it’sslightlylighterthantheAlphacoolNexXxoS(seep72),anditsdimensionsof294mmx125mmx60mmmeanthatithasslightlymoresurfaceareatoo.TheG-changermatchesitschunkysizewithtwo
pairsof1/4infittingssplitbetweenitstwosealedchambers.Pointingdownwardsorstraightoutthebackoftheradiator,thelayoutprovidesplentyofflexibilityfortubinginstallationinsideyourPC,althoughtheAlphacooloffersanadditionalpairshouldyouneedthefull180degreesoffittingrange.AttheoppositeendoftheradiatorisableedingscrewfittedwitharubberO-ringseal,foruseasadrainportforairtrappedintheradiator.Remembertodirecttheradiatorupwardswhenlooseningittoavoidspillages.Includedwiththeradiatorisapairofblackplastic
1/2inscrewplugsforthepairofunusedfittings,alongwitheight30mmmountingscrewsandfourchassismountingscrews–everythingyouneedtogettheradiatorplumbedintoyourloop,baryourchoiceoffittings.Withtheradiator’ssetsoffittingssowidelyspaced,theuseofeven1/2incompressionfittingsisnoproblemeither.PlumbedintoourcombinedloopwithanXSPC
RayStorm(seep60)coolingaCorei5-2600Kat4.6GHz(vcoreat1.385V),andanXSPCRazorGTX680(seep65)fittedtoaGTX6802GBrunningatabaseclockof
1,156MHz,theG-Changer240wastaskedwithdissipatingcloseto400W.However,wewerepleasedtofindthatitofferedoutstandingcoolinginthisregard;aCPUdeltaTof50°Cwas1°ClowerthanthatprovidedbytheAlphacoolNexXxoS,whiletheGPUdeltaTwasagain1°CcoolerthantheAlphacool.Coolanttemperaturewasalsoverygood,withadeltaTofjust10°C–2°Ccoolerthanthe45mmand30mmradiatorsontest.However,whiletheG-Changerofferedthebestcoolingontest, it’salittlemorerestrictiveontheflowrate,withourloopreportingahigh-flowrateof4.1litres/minwiththeG-changer240fitted.
CONCLUSIONWiththebestcoolingofanyradiatorontestandapriceofjustover£45,thePhobyaG-Changer240Ver.1.2Blackiscertainlyimpressive.TheAlphacoolNexXxoS’greaterfittingflexibilityandlowerflow-rateimpedance,alongwithitssimilarlycapablecooling,seeit justsqueezeahead,buttheG-Changer240stillcomeshighlyrecommended,particularlyifyou’relessconcernedaboutfancyfittingangles.HB
FEARBest cooling ontest; well-priced;bleed port
LOATHINGFewer fittingsthan theAlphacool; pricierthan half-heightradiators
PHOBYAG-Changer 240Ver. 1.2BlackGreat cooling and price, although the Alphacool has more fittings
T
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86customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 37 / 40
DESIGN 21 / 30
VALUE 28 / 30
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HOW MUCH?Productcode35414Price£51incVATSupplierwww.aquatuning.co.ukManufacturerwww.xs-pc.com
heEX240Multiportisthesmallestradiatorontest,withasizeofjust280mmx121mmx35.5mm.Itshalf-heightclassmeansthatit’smucheasiertofit inastandardchassis,andat
just527g,it’salsosurprisinglylight–closetoathirdoftheweightoftheAlphacoolNexXxoS(seep72).Duetoitssmallersize,theEX240doesn’thavea
separatechambersystem,insteadusingasplit-singlechambertohouseitsfittings.Inthepast,suchdesignshaveattractedcriticismduetomanufacturersnotfullysealingthetwochambers,allowingcoolanttoflowfromonechambertotheotherinsteadofthroughtheradiator.However,wewerehappytofindthattheEX240’schamberswerefullysealed,sothere’snothreatofcoolantbypassingtheradiator’sfins.Feedingintoeachhalfoftheradiator’schamber
arethree1/4inthreadfittingsat90degreestoeachother.Thisallowsforagreatdealofflexibilitywhenitcomestoinstallation,withthepotentialtomounttheradiatoreithersideup,orforyourfittingstorunstraightintotheradiator.However,XSPCsurprisinglydoesn’t includeanyscrewplugsforthesethreads–adisappointingomissionconsideringtheAlphacoolNexXxoSincludesfivesuchplugsandisstillcheaperthantheEX240.Apackofeight6mmchassismountscrews,aswellasasetofeight30mmfanmountscrews,areincludedthough.Plumbedintoourradiatortestingloop,comprising
anXSPCRayStorm(seep60)andRazorGTX680(seep65),theEX240managedtopunchsurprisinglyaboveitsweight,withitsCPUdeltaTof51°Cmatchingthatof
theAlphacoolNexXxoS.AGPUpeakloaddeltaTof32°Cislessimpressive,however,andis3°CabovethebestcoolingofferedbythePhobyaG-Changer240.Acoolanttemperatureof38°Cunderlinestheradiator’sreducedsurfacearea,andassuch,itsabilitytodissipateheatfromtheloop.Howevar,theendresult isstillveryclosetothatofthefull-height60mmradiators.Apeakflowrateof4litres/minfortheloopindicatethattheEX240isslightlymorerestrictivethantheotherradiatorsontestthough.
CONCLUSIONWhileweweren’texpectingthebestcoolingfromahalf-heightradiator,theXSPCEX240accountedforitselfwell,betteringthe45mmairplexXT240(seep71)andonlyfallingafewdegreesbehindthefull-heightradiators.However,withnoscrewplugsforanyofitssix1/4inthreadfittings,theEX240isexpensiveatover£50.Theairplexisabetterchoiceforthespace-constrained,whilethePhobyaandAlphacoolfull-heightradiatorsoffersuperiorcooling,aslongasyourcasehasroomforthem.HB
TEXTREMESix ports offerflexible fitting
MUNDANEPoorer coolingthan full-heightradiators; noscrew plugsincluded;expensive
XSPC EX240Multiport RadiatorVery expensive for a half-height radiator and lacks any screw plugs
scores
65customPC
OVERALL
COOLING 30 / 40
DESIGN 16 / 30
VALUE 19 / 30
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WATER COOLING
??????
CoolantdeltaT°C
GPUdelta
T°C
CPUdelta
T°C
Flow
rate(min)
Flow
rate(max)
Flow
rate(min)
Flow
rate(max)
Load
delta
T°C
Load
delta
T°C
Load
delta
T°C
Flow
rate(min)
Flow
rate(max)
CPUblocks
temperature
010
2030
4050
Aqu
acom
puter
Kryos
Watercool
Heatkiller
CPU
rev3.0
XSPC
Ray
storm
4241
40
RadeonHD7970
3GBblocks
temperature
05
101 5
20
XSPC
Razor
7970
Watercool
Heatkiller
GPU-X_
GTX
79X0
Aqu
acom
puter
Aqu
agrATIx
for7
970
18
17
14
GeForce
GTX6802G
Bblocks
flow
rate
(litres/min)
02
46
8
XSPC680
Razor
Koolance
VIC-N
X680
Watercool
Heatkiller
GPU-X_
GTX
680
5.2
1.5
61.6
6.3
1.6
CPUblocks
flow
rate(litres/min)
02
46
8
Watercool
Heatkiller
CPU
rev3.0
XSPC
Ray
storm
Aqu
acom
puter
Kryos
6.5
2
6.75
1.8
71.5
RadeonHD7970
3GBblocks
flow
rate
(litres/min)
02
46
8
XSPC
Razor
7970
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GPU-X_
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Aqu
acom
puter
Aqu
agrATIx
for7
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62
5.5
1.5
51.5
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temperature
010
2030
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GPU-X_
GTX
680
XSPC680
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2525
23
Radiatorstemperature
010
2030
4050
60
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240
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3131
29
28
1212
1010
525151
50
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76 August 2012
ater-coolingyourPChasneverbeeneasier.Allthepartsareavailableofftheshelf,andinmanysizes
andcolours.However,notallthepartsareuniversallycompatible.ManygraphicscardmakersalterthePCBsfromthereferencedesign,makingithardforwaterblockmakerstoofferuniversallyicompatiblehardware.Thankfully,whichevergraphicscardyou
have,youcanwater-coolit,andwe’llshowyouhowtochoosetherightwaterblock,andavoidcompatibility issues.We’llalsobeshowingyouhowtofitbothfull-coverandGPU-onlyblocks,aswellasCPUwaterblocks.Inaddition,we’realsoshowingyouhowtomountpumpsandradiators(seep80).
IDENTIFY YOUR GRAPHICSCARD’S PCBAlthoughmanygraphicscardsuseidenticalGPUs,alotofmanufacturersalterthelayoutorsizeofthePCB,whichmeansthatmanyfull-coverwaterblockswon’tfitsomegraphicscards.Usewww.coolingconfigurator.com tofindoutwhichblocksfityourmodel,andseeif itdiffersfromthereferencePCB.YoucanalsocompareyourPCBwithimagesofreferencecardsonGoogle.
CHOOSE YOUR BLOCK – 2Ifyourgraphicscardisn’tareferencedesign,youcanstillwater-cool it,butyou’llneedaGPU-onlywaterblock.Theseareusuallycompatiblewithawidevarietyofgraphicscards,buttheyonlycooltheGPUcore–you’llneedseparateRAMheatsinkstocoolthememory.YoucouldalsofitheatsinksontheVRMs,buttheseshouldbeokayifyourcasehasgoodairflow.
CHOOSE YOUR BLOCK – 1Ifyourgraphicscardisunalteredthenit’sbesttooptforafull-coverwaterblock.Thesearesingle-pieceblocksthatcooltheGPUcore,memoryandveryoftentheVRMstoo.Thisistheeasiestwaywater-coolyourgraphicscard;allthehotspotsarecoveredandthere’slittle(ifany)needforadditionalairflow,asyourwater-coolingsystemwilldealwithallthewasteheat.
LOCATE THE HEATSINK SCREWSAllair-cooledgraphicscardshavefourlargescrewssurroundingtheGPU,andsometimesnumerousothersdottedaroundthePCB.TheseholdthecoolertothePCBandanyhotspots,suchastheGPUcore,RAMandVRMs.You’llneedtoremovethesebeforeattemptingtoremovethestockheatsink.
CPUand graphics cardwaterblocksFromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
RAMheatsinksFromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
Tube fittingsFromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
Self-grip pliersFromwww.halfords.co.uk
ScrewdriverFromwww.halfords.co.uk
W
Fit Graphics card &CPU waterblocksThinking ofwater-cooling yourPCafter thismonth’s Labs test?AntonyLeather showsyouhow to choose and fit CPUandgraphics card blocks
s card &s card &
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HOW TO FIT WATERBLOCKS
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REMOVE THE HEATSINKDisconnectanycablesbetweenthePCBandcooler,suchasthefan’spowercable.Removingthecoolercanbetricky,asthethermalpastebetweentheGPUcoreandheatsinkcanactlikeglue.Twistingitslightlyandthenliftingoneedgegentlyusuallydoesthetrick. If itreallydoesn’twanttoplayballthenholdahairdryerovertheheatsinkforaminuteortwo;thiswill loosenupthepaste.
MOUNT THE RAM HEATSINKSIfyourgraphicscardisn’tareferencemodel,you’llneedaGPU-onlywaterblock.TheseareeasytofitandareverysimilartoCPUwaterblocks.Astheydon’tcooltheRAM,you’llneedtoinvestinsomeRAMheatsinkstohelptodissipatetheheat.Don’tbetemptedtoignorethemunlessyouhaveafanpointingdirectlyattheRAM,asmemorychipscanbecomeveryhot.
TEST-FITPlacethewaterblockontopofthePCBandlineitup.MakesuretheblockissittingflatonthePCBandmakinggoodcontactwiththeGPUcore,andcheckthatthemountingholeslineupcorrectly.Moreimportantly,makesurethatit isn’tfoulinganycapacitorsorothercomponentsonthePCB.Thisshouldn’tbeaproblemifyouusedtheconfiguratorinstep1,butitneverhurtstobecertain.
CLEAN THE CORECleanofftheoldthermalpasteusingalint-freeclothormicrofibretowel–don’tusetissueorkitchenroll,asthesecanleavebehindparticlesthatwillhamperthermaltransfer. It’salsoworthapplyingthenewthermalpastebeforefittingtheblock(step7),asyou’llbeabletoseeif it’smadecontactwiththeGPUcorecorrectly.
INSTALL THE FITTINGSInstallthetubefittingsbeforeinstallingtheblock–doingsoafterwardswillresultinafairamountofstressbeingappliedtotheblockandPCB.Thisisespeciallyimportantifyou’reusingaGPU-onlywaterblock–full-coverwaterblocksaremuchmoreresilient.
PLAN YOUR TUBINGFull-covergraphicscardwaterblocksusuallygiveyoutheoptionofhavingtheinletandoutletoneithersideofthewaterblock.Thiscanmakematterseasierwhenconnectingthetubingtoyourcomponents.Forinstance,youmightwantonetubecomingfromtheCPUwaterblockabove,butthendowntoyourpumpinthebottomofthecase.Planyourtubingroutenowsoyougetthisright.
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HOW TO FIT WATERBLOCKS
78 August 2012
LINE UP THE HOLESTofitthewaterblocktothePCB,it’susuallyeasiesttolayitonaflatsurfacesothatyoucanlineuptheholes.Makesureyou’veappliedthermalpasteandusedanythermalpadsaspertheinstructionsthataccompanyyourwaterblock.
MOUNT THE FITTINGSAswithgraphicscardwaterblocks, it’s importanttoinstallyourtubefittingsbeforeinstallingthewaterblock.Thiswillpreventanyexcessiveforcebeingappliedtotheblock, itsmountoryourmotherboard.What’smore, it’sfareasiertodothisoutsideofyourcaseandawayfromthemotherboard.
CHOOSE YOUR CPU WATERBLOCKTherearecountlessCPUwaterblocksfromwhichtochoosethesedays.Makesureyoucheckthemanufacturer’sdescriptionforanyincompatibilities,orusewww.coolingconfigurator.com.Also,consideriftheblockhasspacefortwocompressionfittingssidebysideifyou’replanning tousetheseratherthanthemoretraditionalbarbs.
SECURE THE SCREWSPlaceallthescrewsintheirappropriateholesandstarttighteningthem.Don’tdothisoneatatime–instead,tighteneachalittlewaythenmoveontothenext.ThiswillhelptopreventthePCBfromwarpingandensureanevenmount.Evenso, it’sworthcheckingthePCBasyoutightenthescrewstoensureitdoesn’tbecomewarped.
SECURE THE BLOCK TO THE BOARDInstallingawaterblockisusuallyeasierthanfittinganaircooler,butchecktheinstructionstoseeifyouneedtotightenallthescrewsequally,oriftheyhavelock-offpointsthatpreventyoufromtighteningthemtoomuchortoolittle–anevenmountisimportant. Ifnecessary,tightenthemasbestyoucan,thentweakthemwhenthesystemisrunningtoseeifyoucanloweryouCPUtemperaturefurther.
TEST FITAsalways,test-fittingisimportant.TherearegenerallyfarfewercompatibilityissueswithCPUwaterblocksthanthosemadeforgraphicscards,buttheystillexist.Whenyourwaterblockarrives,yourfirst jobistocheckthatit’scompatiblewithyourmotherboard.
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80 August 2012
e’vepreviouslycoveredmountingaradiatorinyourcaseroof,butradiatorstandsofferoneoftheeasiestways
tosecurearadiatorinyourcase.They’regreatifyoudon’thaveenoughspaceinyourroof,orifyoudon’tfancytakingaDremeltoit.Allyouneedisalargeenoughspaceandaventedsidepanel(ifyourcasedoesn’thaveavent,we’llshowyouhowtomakeoneinthefuture).We’llalsolookathowtomountyourpump.
Therearemanywaystodothis,butscrewingthepumpstraighttoyourbayreservoirorcasecanleadtosignificantvibrationandnoise.We’veusedoneofPhobya’spumpmountingsets,whichincludesneoprenepadsandanti-vibrationmaterial.Thesereducevibrationsfromyourpump,enablingyoutoreducenoise.Theyalsoenableyoutomountyourpumpjustaboutanywhere.
DOWNLOAD RADIATOR TEMPLATESHeadtowww.aquatuning.co.ukandgototheradiatorssection.Here,underAccessories,you’ll findasectioncalledRadiatorTemplates.You’ll findfreelydownloadabletemplatesofallthemajorradiatorsizes,whichyoucanprintouttodeterminewhichradiatorwillfitbestinyourcase.
CHOOSE YOUR RADIATOR STANDRadiatorstandsarefairlynewonthewater-coolingscene,buttheycanmakemountingradiatorsincrediblyeasy.They’reavailableinallsortsofshapesandsizes,andevenforexternaluse.It’sassimpleasmountingtheradiatortothestand,thenmountingthestandtotheradiator–that’sit.
TEST-FITTest-fityourfreshlyprintedtemplatetoseeif it fits inyourcase–inourexample,wewanttomakesureitfitsbetweenthebackofthecaseandthedrivecage.Alsocheckforclearancebehindandabovethetemplate–expansioncardsmightgetintheway,forexample.
SECURE THE RADIATOR ANDFANS TO THE STANDThereareseveralwaystoattachyourradiatorandfanstothestand.Ourstandwasjustthinenoughtoallowustoinstall itbetweenthefansandradiatorusingthestandardmountingscrews.However,youcouldalsoinstallthestandattherearoftheradiator,dependingonwhereyouwantittobepositioned.
Radiator standFromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
Radiator templatesFromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
PhobyaNoise Destructor V.1Fromwww.aquatuning.co.uk
3Mmounting tapeFrommosthardwarestores
W
mount pumps& radiatorsThere are plenty ofways tomount radiators andpumpsbutAntonyLeather showsyouaneasy route that also avoids unwanted vibrationsThere are plenty ofways tomount radiators andpumpsbutAntony
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HOW TO MOUNT PUMPS AND RADIATORS
APPLY ADHESIVE TAPEThestandcanbesecuredinmanyways.Ithasmountingholesifyou’repreparedtodrillsomeholesinyourcase;youcouldalsouseVelcroifyouwanttoremoveiteasilyor, likeus,youcoulduse3Mmountingtape.Asmallamountoneachfootisenoughtofirmlyholdthestandinplacewithouttheneedfordrilling.
APPLY THE MOUNTProtectiveplastichidestheadhesivesidesofthepads,andthisneedstoberemoved,butleaveontheouteredgesfornow.Stickthepadstothefoamandpressdownfirmlytostickthemtogether.Nowremoveoneoftheouteredgesandpressthisontothebaseofthepump.
CHOOSE YOUR PUMP MOUNTNeopreneisusuallythepaddingofchoiceformountingpumps.ThisPhobyaNoiseDestructorV.1setincludesdouble-sidedadhesivepadsandalargefoammid-section.Thepadshavescrewholesformostmajorpumpbrands,butyoucanusuallyjustrelyonthepadstoholdeverythingtogether.
MOUNT THE STANDIfyou’reusing3Mmountingtape,youcansimplypressthestandintothecaseinthepositionrequired.Afirmpushisallthat’sneeded.Itmayhelptoinstallthefittingstotheradiatorpriortomountingit inthecase,butinanyevent,youshouldbeabletoremovetheradiatorfromthestandquiteeasily.
FIT IT TO YOUR PCPlacethewholeassemblyinthedesiredlocationand,whenit’s inplace,pressdownfirmlytoensurethateverythingstickstogether.You’renowfinished–withseverallayersofinsulatingfoamandnodirectcontactbetweenitandyourcase,yourpumpshouldnowonlybeenseenandnotheard.
TEST-FITPlacethepumponthemountinthedesiredlocationtomakesureitfits.Themountisover1inthick,soyou’llneedtoaccountforthisinyourplans–itdoesasterlingjobofabsorbingvibrationthough.Youmayalsowanttotrimofftheexcesspaddingandshapethemounttothebaseofyourpump.
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DishonoredHonestly,it’samiraclethatwe’vewrittenanythingforthisissue,aswe’vebeenshakingwithexcitementsinceseeingBethesda’sDishonoredearlierthismonth.It’sanempoweringFPS/RPGstealthgamefromthedesignerofDeusEx,thestudiobehindDarkMessiah:OfMightandMagic,andtheartistsofHalf-Life2.Thisshotisfromanassassinationmissionbasedinanuptownbath-housefromDishonored’scompellingfantasyuniverse.
82 August 2012
84 GRUMPYGAMERDecisions,decisions
86 DIABLOIIIThedevilyouknow
88 SNIPERELITEV2Abandonallscope
92 WARLOCK:MASTEROFTHEARCANE
Saywhatyouciv
93 CRYSIS3Oldaliens,NewYork
94 DEVPERSPECTIVEReviewmirror
96 THEENGINEROOMInsideUE3
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83August 2012
Readers’Night Wed, 4 July, 9 till late
Theplace OurCounter-Strike:SourceserverWhatyouneed Anup-to-dateCounter-Strike:Sourceinstallation
GAMESERVERIPADDRESSES32-playerBC2 85.236.101.22:1666732-playerCS:Source 85.236.101.24:37015
FINDUSONSTEAMPublicgroup http://steamcommunity.com/groups/CustomPCModernWarfare2 http://steamcommunity.com/groups/CustomWarfare2
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i knowIreallyshouldn’thaveanythingtocomplainabout,butI’magrumpysodandIcan’thelp it.Lately, I’vefoundmyselfevenbecomingannoyedabouttheamountofchoiceavailableinthegamesmarket.Thingssurearen’twhattheyusedtobe,
bahhumbug!WhenIwasakid itneverseemedasif therewerethatmany
gamesavailableforeitherourAmigaorfledglingPC–orfewgoodonesanyway.Pocketmoneywouldbesavedupfor just thetwoorthreepresumeddecentreleasesoftheyearand,whilesomeofthemturnedouttobeduds, thatdidn’tmatter. Ifyou’reonlybuyingthreegamesayearthenyou’regoingtobeabletospeed-runthemall,evenif theyturnouttoberubbish.EvenwhenImovedawayfromhome,
thistrendcontinued.Asapoor,PotNoodle-devouringstudent Iwaslowonfundsandwouldonly forkoutmycashforthefewgamesthat Iknewwouldgivemevalueformoney–GTA:ViceCityandMorrowind, forexample.Nowadays, though, itseemstherearesomanymoregames
competingforourattention–therearedozensofsameyshootersandexplosiveracers,hundredsofJRPGsandenoughreal-timestrategytitlestobombabunker.Partly, this isbecausetheindustryhasswelledwithmoneyandtalent inrecentyears,buttheburgeoningandincreasinglycompetitive indiescenemakesasizeablecontributiontoo.Theresult is that it’sbecomingharderto identify theinteresting
titlesfromthemiasmaoftedium–there’salwaysamodernclassicorhiddengempassingmeby. Ialwayspledgethat I’llcomebacktotheseundoubtedlydeservinggames,but Ialmostnevermanage
Somany games are being releasednow, but few of themare actuallyworth playing
it. I’mtoobusykeepingpacewiththeconstantly incomingwaveofblockbustersandsleeperhits.Asif thatweren’t fatiguingenough, I’moftenparalysedbychoice
whenIdofindmomentsofdowntime.TherearejusttoomanygameswaitinginmyPileofUnplayed–Icanneverdecidewheretobegin. I’ve justspenttheentireweekendtellingSteamtodownloadgameswhich,bythetimethey’re50percentcomplete, I’llnolongerwanttoplay. I’lldeletethepartiallydownloadedgame,downloadanotherone–andthecyclerepeats itself.
EvenwhenIdomanageto installsomething, itneverholdsmyattentionfor long.Anythingthatdoesn’t instantlycapturemyinterest isusuallydisregardedasIcontinuesearchingelsewhere.Therearejust toomanygamestoplay,andwhat’smostfrustratingofall is thattheratiobetweenqualityandquantitydoesn’tseemtohavechangedasaresult.Therearemore
games,buttherearen’tanymoregamesactuallyworthplaying.Mysituationisprobablyalittlemoreextremethanthatofothers;
asajournalist Ireceivealotof freegames,butSteam’sregularsaleseventheplayingfieldbyoftenmakinggoodgamesavailableforafewpennies.SoifyoueverfindyourselfwithnothingtoplayonarainySundaymorning,despitetheraftofgamesavailable, thenfearnot;youaren’talone.FIND ME ON TWITTER: @JOETHREEPWOOD
WHAT I’M PLAYING I’vebeenbusyworkingonanewpodcastcalledUnlimitedHyperbole–findoutmoreatwww.joemartinwords.comandconsidertheimageaboveasahint
SPOILEDFORCHOICE
There are just too manygames waiting in my Pileof Unplayed – I can neverdecide where to begin
GAMING
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THE KNOWLEDGEPrice£32.99incVATPublisherActivisionBlizzardDeveloperBlizzardWebsitehttp://eu.battle.net/d3
iabloIIIhasalotofexpectationsbuiltaroundit.Somebelieveditwouldbethebestgameever,whileothersthoughtBlizzard’s
onlinerequirementsandauctionhouses(seeopposite)spelledacynicalendfortheseries.SomethoughtBlizzardwouldinnovate,othersthoughtitwouldstagnate.Ultimately,nobodywasright.DiabloIIIis,much
likeStarcraftII, justmoreofthesamecomparedwithitsforebear.Youstillceaselesslyclicktohooveruprandomlootandturnhordesofdemonsintoarterial
mist;despiteaslewoftweaks,nothingmuchhaschanged.NewcharacterclassessuchastheWitchDoctorandalterationstotheskillsystemsultimatelydon’tchangethat,andthere’snothinginDiabloIII’scoresystemsthatmadeusgaspwithsurprise.Thisisn’ttotallybad,however.Blizzardhasn’t
fixedwhatwasn’tbroken,meaningthatDiabloIIIisjustasmuchfunasthepreviousgames.Almost.Unfortunately,notallofDiabloIIIisassembledwiththelevelofpolishforwhichBlizzardisusuallyknown.Theintroductionleavesseveralfundamentalissuesunexplainedtonewcomers,forexample,whilethemanualonlycontainsflavourtext–weoftenhadtoALT-Taboutofthegametoonlineguides.
Someofthenewfeatureshaveglaringoversightstoo.Followerscannowberecruitedtosupportyourheroinbattle,
forexample,butquicklybecomeannoyingwhentheyrepeatthesamestockconversations.
However,thefactthatthesetinynigglesare
DSHOUT AT THEDEVILAddictive;no-nonsense
DEVIL WOMANOnlinerequirement;poor tutorial
Thedevil youknow
86 August 2012
THE HELLFIRE CLUBBlizzardhasquietlydistanceditselffromthe1997HellfireexpansionfortheoriginalDiablo.HellfirewasanauthorisedexpansioncreatedbySierraOnline,butBlizzardwasn’tinvolvedinitsdevelopment.AmongthenewfeaturesitintroducedwasaMonkclass,whichthencuriouslydisappearedinDiabloII.Blizzard’sbroughtbackthemelee-based,spirituallypoweredMonkinDiabloIII,butsaystheinterpretationisn’trelatedtotheoneinHellfire.Eitherway,DiabloIII’sMonkisstillourfavouriteclass!
DIABLO III
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definitivereasonforustorecommenditoverthecompetition.What’smore,theonlinerequirementandreal-moneyauctionhousesrepresentastepbacktoplayerswhodon’twanttheirexperiencesointensivelydefinedbyBlizzard.DiabloIIIisdefinitelyagreatgamewhenit
workssmoothly,anditworksjustaswellinsingle-playermodeasitdoeswithagroupoffriends.It’sexciting,addictiveandfuntoplay,butit’shardlyaground-breakingnewexperience,anditdoesn’tcomeanywhereclosetojustifyingtheamountofhypebuiltuparoundit.JOEMARTIN
REVIEW
DiabloIII’smainissuessaysalotabouttherestofthegame’ssolidconstruction.It’sfantasticatdolingoutasenseofsatisfaction,whilealsoofferingenoughpunishmentonthetougherdifficultylevels(annoyingly,thesehavetobeunlocked);hardcorefanswillhaveplentytoplanfor.It’sanincrediblyaccessibleclickfestandanoverwhelminglyin-depthRPGatthesametime–thedefinitionofbeingeasytopickup,yettoughtomaster.TheproblemthatDiabloIII
faces,though,isthatitdoesn’tdoahugeamounttoinnovateandisn’tquiteasperfectasexpectationsmayhaveledustobelieve;therefore,there’sno
BLIZZARD HASN’T FIXEDWHAT WASN’T BROKEN,
MEANING THAT DIABLO IIIIS AS MUCH AS FUN AS
ITS PREDECESSORS
80OVERALL
87August 2012
BATTLING BATTLE.NETOneareawhereDiabloIIIisdecidedlydifferentfromitspredecessorsisofflineplay;thereisn’tany.ToplayDiabloIII,youneedtosignupforaBattle.netaccountandlogin.Ifyoucan’tgetonlineortheservergoesdown,youcan’tevenplayinsingle-playermode.ThisapproachhassomeadvantagesforthosewhowanttoplayDiabloIIIonline,by
makingco-opacinchandcheatingimpossible,butitalsobringscaveats.Therewillneverbeanymods,forexample,andthegame’slaunchperiodwastypifiedbycrashingserversandunstablegamestoo.Thegame’sviabilitydirectlydependsonthecommercialsuccessofBlizzardandDiablotoo,althoughtheWoWdeveloperisunlikelytocollapsesoon.Blizzardclaimsthathavingthegamelinkedtoitsserversiscrucialforwardingoff
would-behackersandprotectingtheauction-housesystembuiltintothegame.Thisconsistsoftwotypesofmarketthatcanbeaccessedfromthemainmenu,throughwhichplayerscansellanyitemstheyfindinthegameandwhichtheydon’twanttoeitherselltoanin-gamemerchantorbreakdownformagicalcomponents.Oneoftheauctionhousesfeaturestransactionsthatdealonlyinin-gamegold,while
theotherhandlesreal-worldmoney–acontroversialdividethatmayunbalanceDiabloIII’smultiplayerfarmorethanafewhacks.Themoremoneyyouwanttoputintothegame,thebetteryourcharacterwillfare,itseems.WhileBlizzard’sintegrationofthesesystemsissmoothlyaccomplishedandaclear
stepforwardsintermsofhowitthinksgamesneedtobeprotectedandfinancedthesedays,itisn’tafeaturethatwe’rekeenon.Itfeelscrassandcynicallymotivatedtohavesuchfeaturesbuiltintoagamethat’salreadyexpensiveatlaunch,andwhichisonlyplayablethroughtheclosedBattle.netsystem.Ontopofthat,itdiminishesthefocusofthegameforthosewhowanttoplaysoloand,whileitprotectsDiabloIIIfromplayer-madehacks,italsoopensituptoothertypesofexploitation.It’scurrentlyworthtoleratingtheonlinerequirement,assumingBlizzardsortsoutits
overloadedservers,asDiabloIIIisamultiplayer-focusedgame.However,ifBlizzardexpectsustodropmoremoneyintothegamejusttounlockGatheringPantsofFire,thenit’sverymuchmistaken.
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THE KNOWLEDGEPrice£29.99incVATPublisherRebellionDeveloperRebellionWebsitehttp://sniperelitev2.com
nipinggames,likepokergames,areoneofthemostdeceptivelydifficulttypesofgamestodesignbecause,whiletheideaofarealisticsnipingsimsoundsfun,theactual
ideaisboringandfrustrating.Realsnipersspendhoursordayssatontheirown,waiting–itisn’texactlyconducivetoanexcitinggame.SniperEliteV2thereforehasto provideenough
tensiontofeellikemorethanjustashooter-with-sniper-rifle,whilealsodeliveringenoughactionandmovementtostaveoffboredom.It’salinethatthegamewalksprettywell,althoughitleansmoreheavilytotheshootersideoftheequationduetotherecklessnessthat’spromotedbytheinclusionofregeneratinghealth.WefrequentlycaughtourselvesshoulderingourriflesinfavourofSMGs,orlobbinggrenadesinsituationswhereasilencedpistolwouldsuffice,purelybecauseoftheminimisedrisk.Thesniperrifleishugelyrewardingwhenit’sin
play,however,especiallyifyouincreasethebulletrealismlevelstomaximumandrecognisethattheheadshotisn’tactuallyalwaysthemosteffectivewaytokill.Atthatpoint,youcanstarttoweavesomebeautifulbullet-magic,detonatinggrenadesonenemies’beltsorinjuringfoesinsuchawaythattheirfriendsarecalledouttohelp.Theimpactofeachbulletishammeredhome
throughRebellion’snewx-raycamera,whichpansinslow-motionaroundyourvictimsandshowsthepath
ofthebulletthroughthebody.Likeallslow-motioncameras,thiscangrowtiresomeafterawhile,butitalsoencouragedustotryharderforspecificshots–suchaskillingtwoenemieswithasingleround.Whilethesnipingislotsoffun,though,thelevels
don’talwaysdojusticetotheunderlyingsystems.Thesecondlevelinthecampaign,forexample,startsbrilliantlywithacovertassaultonaGermanbasewhereyoucanuserockettestlaunchestodisguisethesoundsofyourshots.Barelyminuteslater,however,theactionshiftstolongundergroundtunnelsfilledwithenemiesthatpourfromnowhereonceyou’respotted.Thisisdisappointing,anditisn’thelpedbythepoorstorytelling.Supposedlyyou’reaUSsniperwhoiskillingorcapturingNaziscientists
SHEADSHOTCo-op; goodgunplay
SHOT-PUTRepetitive;awkwardlybalanced
Abandonall scope
88 August 2012
STUDIO PROFILE –REBELLIONWhileRebellionisstillfarfromahouseholdname,theOxford-basedstudiohasbeenoneofthemostimportantindependentUKstudiossinceitwasfoundedin1991.Thisispartlyduetothefranchisestheteamhasworkedon,includingthefirstAlienvsPredatorgame,butalsobecausefounderJasonKingsleyischairmanofTIGA,thetradeassociationforUKdevelopers.Asifthatweren’tenough,thecompanyalsopublishes2000AD!
SNIPERELITEV2
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allonhisown,butthere’ssolittlecharacterisationthatthisjustificationisirrelevant.WhileSniperEliteV2hasitsfaults,italso works
brilliantlyattimes–whenyou’reshootingthetipsoffwarheadsordetonating vehiclefueltanks,forexample.Italldependsonjusthowartfulyouwanttobewiththetoolsthegameprovides,whichispartofwhatmakestheco-operativemodesomuchfuntoo;here,youcanhaveanallyeithersupportyoudirectlyoractasyourspotter.WhilethequalityofgunplayplacesSniperEliteV2
inourgoodgraces,though,itdoesn’tearnmuchbeyondthat.Thereareobviousfeaturesmissing,suchasafiringrangetotestnewweaponsandadvancedstealthoptionssuchasdisguises,whichleavethegamefeelingalittleempty. It’sworthalookforballisticbuffs,butlacksthescopetobeanessentialpurchaseforanyoneelse.JOEMARTIN
89August 2012
75OVERALL
GRAPHICS COMPARISONSniperEliteV2maybeheadedtoconsolesaswellasthePC,butRebellionhasalwaysbeenaPCdeveloperatheartandthat’ssomethingwhichmanifestsitselfpleasantlyinthelookandfeelofthegame.Notonlyisthereabunchofdetailedconfigurationoptionsthatletyouspecifyjusthowyouwanttocontrolthegame–suchashavingdifferentmousesensitivitiesoneachaxisorwhenscoped–butthegraphicsaresuperbtoo.Thismeansthattherecommendedsystemrequirementsareatouchhigher
thantheyareontheaverageconsoleport,butit’sgreatnewsforthoseofuswiththelatestgear.You’llneedaDirectX10cardwithatleast256MBofVRAMjusttoscrapeinundertheminimumrequirements,butthere’salsoalotoftessellation,andevenamorphologicalanti-aliasingmodethatusestheDX11compute
shader,soaDX11cardwillstandyouingoodstead.Forourpart,aRadeon6900letusplaysmoothlyatextremeresolutionswiththesettingsallpushedtomaximum.Whenitcomesto
customisingthegraphics,SniperEliteoffersahealthyselectionofpresetoptions,anditalsoauto-detectswhatyoursystemcanhandle.Ifyouwanttofiddle,though,there’sadecentselectionofoptionsthatletsyoupushtheenginefurtherbyenablingfeaturessuchasambientocclusionoralteringtheshadowandanti-aliasingsettings.PushingtheAAashighas
possibleshouldbeapriority,asthiswilleliminatethejaggededgesofverticesthatcanappearwhenlookingatlargescenes.However,theTextureDetailandDrawDistancesettingsaretheonesthatmake
thebiggestdifference,controllingtheamountofsurfacedetailandhowfaryoucanseedetailrespectively.WhileTextureDetailhasamajoteffectontheoveralllookofthegame–asyoucanseefromthescreenshotsaboveshowingtheextremeLowandUltrasettings–DrawDistanceactuallyimpactsonthegameplay.Simplyput,ifyoucan’tseeveryfarthenyoucan’texpecttolivelongasasniper,nomatterhowfastyourhealthregenerates.Asaresult,werecommendpushingDrawDistancetomaximum,evenifyouhavetoturndownothersettingsinordertoachievedecentperformance.
LOW
LOW
HIGH
HIGH
Distance
Textures
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THE KNOWLEDGEPrice£14.99 incVATPublisherParadoxInteractiveDeveloperInoCoPlusWebsitewww.warlockmasterofthearcane.com
amessuchasWarlock:MasteroftheArcanedon’tneedintroducing–thescreenshotstellyou
what’sonoffer.Thisisatile-basedstrategygameinthesameveinastheCivilizationseries, inwhichyourtaskistocrushyourenemiesandestablishdominionovertheworld–thatmuchisobvious.Instead,it’sthenuancesthatshouldreceiveallthe
attention,suchashowParadoxhastransplantedtheCivformulatoafantasysettingandreplacedstandardarmyunitswithorcs, impsandtheundead.Warlockevencastsyouasanin-gamecharacter–anoverseeingGreatMagewhocandirectlyinvolvethemselvesinbattlesbycastingspellsusingharvestedmana.Thepurposeofthesespellsrangesfromhealingandbuffingthroughtocreatingfirestormsandsummoningallies–andyou’llneedthemall,asWarlockdoesn’tletyoustackunits,soit’seasytoendupinvulnerableformations.However,whileWarlockdistinguishesitselfwith
extra-dimensionalplanesandoptionalquests, italsodiffersfromCivinthattheonlywaytowinisthroughmilitaryconquest.There’snodiplomaticorscientificgoaltoaccomplishand,althoughyoucannegotiatewithotherplayersandresearchnewspells,bothsystemsarewoefullyundernourished.Forexample,wecouldn’tfindatechtoshowyouthepathtowhichyourcurrentspellresearchwill lead.ThebiggestissuesconcerntheAIenemiesthough:
theotherGreatMagesyoumustdefeattowin,andthewildmonstersthatlittertherealm.Thelatter’smainflawisthatthey’renumerousandunbalanced–aKrakenoncewipedoutourentirearmywithasingletentacle,whiletheTheGreatMagessufferfromoccasionallybrokenstrategies.It isn’thardtohavefoescaughtupinrepetitiveloopswheretheykeepsummoningthesameunit,onlytoberepelledeverytime.EithertheAIonlybelievesinvictorybyattrition,orthere’saflawintheunderlyinglogic.Despitethesesmall issues,however,
Warlockretainsthecoreappealoftheturn-basedstrategygenre.It’seasyto
findyourselfplayingfor‘justonemoreturn’asyouploughtowardsmagicaldomination;theattractivepresentation,streamlinedsystemsandaccessibleinterfacealldotheirjobwell.Thecomparativelylow
pricehelpstoo.Itmaynotbeasdeepandinvolvedas
bignamesinthegenre,andithasitsfaults,butWarlockneverthelessremainsafunandcompetentlyassembledgamethat’sworthalookifyou’readevoteeoftheseries,orwhenitgetsaSteamdiscount.JOEMARTIN
G
WARLOCK:MASTEROFTHEARCANE
DIRE CHARMStraightforwardstrategy;attractivepresentation
JUST DIREBuggy AI; difficultmonsters
Whatwe’re Tolkien about
65OVERALL
92 August 2012
YOURMAJESTYWarlockisn’tovertlylinkedtootherParadoxgames,butit’ssetintheMajestyfranchise’sworld,Ardania.Paradoxboughttherightstothisfantasystrategyseriesin2007,asitsCEOFredrikWesterwasafan.Sincethen,it’sreleasedaspateoftitlesintheseries,spanningPCsandtablets.However,youdon’tneedtoplaythepreviousgamestounderstandWarlock.
theCivilizationseries, inwhichyourtaskis
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PREVIEW
rytek,likeDavidBowieattheendofLabyrinth,isexhaustedfromlivinguptoourexpectations.Nobodyatthestudiowouldeveradmittothis,we’resure,butwhenlookingatCrysis3, it’s
hardtoseeanythingbutadeveloperaimingforacomfortablemiddlegroundafteryearsofthanklesslysupplyingPCgamers’demand.AfterFarCry,weaskedformoregraphical
splendourandtacticalfreedom.CrytekgaveusCrysis,andwerespondedbycomplainingaboutpoorperformance,fiddlycontrolsandlackofstructure.
CrytekgaveusCrysis2,placatingdetractorswithconsole
supportandamoreregulatedenvironment.WedismissedthesestepstooandCrytekhasofferedCrysis3
asacompromise.Thejungleofthefirst
gamehasmergedwiththecityofthesecond,the
CryEnginehasbeenimprovedtoofferagreaterspectaclethan
before,and there’s agreaterfocusonslower,moretacticalgameplaytoo.MuchofthisisembodiedinCrysis3’s
newsignatureweapon,acompositebowthatfiresmodifiedarrowstoeitherstun,explodeorimpaleenemies.ItcanbefiredwithoutlosingtheNanosuit’sinvisibilitycloak,andthebowisflexibleenoughtomeetalltypesof
encounter.Wieldingthebow,creepingthroughtherainforeststhathavetakenoverNewYork,
it’simpossiblenottofeellikeRambo.
RambofeelslikeanimportanttouchstoneforCrysis3inotherwaystoo,asCrytekhaspushedthestorydownanexplicitlyaggressivepath,castingyouagainasProphet.He’scaughtupintheescalatingwarbetweenCELLIndustriesandtheCephaliens,andhasgoneontheoffensive.Inthedemonstrationwesaw,Crytek’screativedirectormaderepeatedreferencestohowProphet,backedupbyPsycho,hadchangedfrombeingthehuntedtothehunter.IfProphetandPsychoreallyarethehuntersthis
timearound,youcanbesurethattheirpreyisthemostdangeroustypeimaginable.ThedemonstrationwesawtookplaceinChinatown,whichhadbecomeabug-infestedswampowingtothehugebiodomethatCELLIndustrieshadraisedoverthewholeofNewYork,andfeaturedahostofnewenemies.Someoftheseweremerelyalienvariationsonfamiliarthreats,suchastheCephScorcher,whichstridesaroundsprayingahoseofnapalm,whileothersweremoresubtleanddangerousfoes.TheCephDrone,forexample, isanon-aggressiveunitthatcandisableyourNanosuit’sstealthmodewithascanningbeam.Asthedemonstrationebbedfromstealthto
violence,wewerepleasedtoseethatCrysis3offersawiderarrayofapproachesthaneitherofthefirsttwogames,withyoursuitnowabletoremotelyhackenemysystemsorwieldCephheavyweaponry.Wewerealittledisappointedbythegraphicsinthe
demo–it’shardtoseehowthey’vemovedonsinceCrysis2.However,Crytekassuredusthiswasbecausethedeveloperwasconcentratingonimprovingperformance,ratherthanfidelity.We’llhavetowaittoseehowefficienttheseimprovementsarethough;we’lltellyoumoreassoonaswehavemoredetails.JOEMARTIN
C
CRYSIS 3Somewhere, over theRambo
THE KNOWLEDGEPublisherElectronicArtsDeveloperCrytekWebwww.crysis.ea.comReleasedateSpring2013
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Cliff Harris
hatwasthenameofthelastPCgameyoubought?Youcanprobablyrecall if itwasgood,whetheritliveduptoyour
expectations,iftheframeratesweresmoothandif ithadanyreplayabilityfactor.You’llalsoprobablyrememberthenegatives–if itwasgeneric,buggy,repetitiveandnotactuallythestyleofgameyouexpected.Nobodyknowsmoreaboutyourimpressionsofthegamethanyou,right?Butdidyoureviewthegame?Idon’tmean
professionally,foramagazinesuchasCustomPC,orforawebsite.I’mtalkingaboutuserreviewsandratings.Didyouwriteaforumcommenttofriendssayingwhetheritwasgoodorbad?Orgiveita1-5starratingbyclickingonawebsite(maybethesitefromwhichyouboughtit)?OrevenclickSteam’sRecommendtoFriendsoption,ortheubiquitousFacebookLikebutton?Thechancesare,youdidnoneofthese
(apologiesifyoudid).Thepercentageofbuyerswhorateandreviewgamesisstaggeringlylow.Itvariesbyplatform,andprobablybygenretoo,butit’sagiventhattheoverwhelmingmajorityofgamersneverpassanyinformationbacktotheworldabouttheiropinionsofagame.Thisislefttotheimpliedmarketforcesfromthesalesofsequels,DLCorothergamesbythesamedeveloper.I’mgoingtotrytopersuadeyoutochange
thisbehaviour,andencourageyoutopostonlinereviewsandratingsofgames,soheregoes.WhenItweetedaquestionaboutwhysofewpeoplerateagame,Ireceivedsomequiteinterestingreplies.Tome,theyoftenseemedfairlyself-defeatingandsurprising.Overwhelmingly,peopledidn’treviewor
ratetheirpurchasesbecauseofalackofperceivedpersonalgainfromdoingso.Thegeneralconsensuswasthatyoudidn’t ‘get’anythingforreviewingagame.Therewasnoincentive,andthereforenobodytookthetime.Therewerealsosuggestionsthatittooktoomucheffort,butgivenwe’retalkingaboutan
Reviewyour games
emailsignupatworst,andasingleclickontheLikebuttonatbest,wecanprobablywrapthisintothegeneral‘what’sinitforme?’justification.Iftherewasanyrealincentive,youwouldn’tletthebarrierofhavingtologin,orsignupafreeaccount,stopyouratingsomething(unlessyou’reterminallylazy!)SohowcanIpersuadeyoutoreview
games?Wellfirstly, Iproposethatit’sintheinterestofthecommongoodthatallnewgameshaveaverylargenumberofindependent,honestreviewsfromawiderangeofpeople.There’sageneral‘wisdom-
of-crowds’principleatworkhere.Ifagameonlyeverreceivestworeviews,andthey’rebothfrompeoplewholikeacertainstyleofgame(saythey’rebothpickyaboutrealisminfirst-personshooters),thenthereviewscoreforaperfectlyfun,playablebutslightlycasualFPS(thinkCallofDuty,ratherthanArma)canbetotallyoutofkilterwiththepotentialthatgamehastoentertainitstargetmarket.Somepeoplereadeveryreview,notethe
bylines,andgettoknowthereviewers’quirksandopinions.However,thesearetheminority.Thevastmajorityofusreadreviews‘blind’,assumingthereviewerisprettymuchlikeus.Thiscanneverreallybetrue.Whentheprofessionalreviews(andI’mnot
arguingagainstthem)arecombinedwithahugenumberofuserratingsandmini-reviews,yougetatotallydifferentpicture.Thegamemightbegiven3/5butmysteriously,theuserreviewscomeoutat4.7/5,with1,000userratings.Whenyouseethat, itpromptsyoutodigdeeper.Maybethosereviewers’tastesdidn’tmatchthegamedesignwell.Maybetheyplayedthegameonhardwarethatperformedunusuallybadlywithitsengine;whoknows?Inshort,morereviewsequalsmore
informationonapotentialpurchase.Moreinformedpurchasesnotonlymakehappier
W
NotusingtheRecommendtoFriendsoptiononSteam,orclickingthe1-5starratingonAmazon?Whythebloodyhellnot?
Manyuserreviewscanformdifferentviewsofagamethanthoseofafewprofessionalreviews,asseenonsitessuchasMetaCritic
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gamers,buttheyalsomakeforabetterindustryall-round.Itmeansthatgamedevsthatmakegoodgameshavemoresales,andcanre-investtomakemoregoodgames.Everybodywins.Well,notquiteeveryone.Intheabsenceofalargenumberofuser
opinionsonagame’squality,bigpublisherscansometimesstackthedeck–a$10millionadvertisingcampaignishardtoignore,andthehypemachinesforgamesgrowbiggereachyear.It’snotatallunusualtohearaboutgameswhosemarketingbudgetstotallydwarfedtheactualdevelopmentbudgets.Ifuserreviews,ratingsandopinionsbecomemorewidespreadandmorereliable,thentherelativepowerofthemarketingjuggernautrecedesslightly.Wouldthatbesobad?Ofcourse,asanindiegame
developer,Icomeatthisfromaspecificangle.BiggamessuchasCallofDutyreceivethousandsofprofessionallywrittenreviews,letalonealltheratingsandreviewsofordinarygamers.Atinypercentageofpeoplerategames,butwhenamillionpeoplebuyatitle,youtendtogetalotofclicksonthoseratingsstars.IfyouwanttoperformsomeresearchtofindouthowBattlefield3plays,youwon’tencounterashortageofopinions.It’sdifferentwithindiegamesthough.
Someindiegamesaremadebyoneperson,andachievemaybe1,000sales(orless)intotal.Suddenly,areasonableguessthatonein500gamersbothersspreadingtheiropinionsmeansthatanalysisof‘coolindieplatform
topollute.Thesituationcanneverchangewithouteithergovernmentssteppingin,orincentivesthatrewardindividualaction.Ican’tseegovernmentssteppinginto
ensurethatyourateDiabloIIIonafive-pointscaleanytimesoon,norwouldwewantthat,soI’mtryingtodomybitbyrationalargument.Facefacts;atsomepoint,you’vemadeapurchasingdecisionforagame,atleastinpartbasedontheopinionandscoregivenbyarandomstrangerontheInternet. Inaverysmallway,thatindividualgaveyousomethingforfree,whichisanunbiasedopiniononapurchasingdecision–youprobablyappreciateditatthetime.Atsomepoint,someonelikeyou,whowas
busy,orcouldn’tseethepoint,actuallydidspontaneouslydecidetofireuptheirbrowserandtypethewords‘justboughtGameX,here’smyopinion’ontheirfavouritegamingforum.Thatpersoncouldeasilybeyou;itcostsyounothingexcepttime,andbehonest,youcouldskipsomeofthoseYouTubecatvideosnowandthentomakethetime.
CLIFFHARRISistheone-mancodingwizardbehindPositechGames(www.positech.
co.uk),thedeveloperofGratuitousSpaceBattles
@cliffski
game#65’isthinonthegroundindeed.Thepercentageofindiegamesalesthatcomedirectlyorindirectlyfromcriticalanalysisinforumthreadsandpersonalblogsisveryhigh.Infact,theentirebusinesssurvivabilityofsomeindiegamesisattributablepurelytooneortwogamerswhostartathreadonwww.penny-arcade.comorwww.somethingawful.com.Grass-rootssharingofcriticalopinionistheindieequivalentofSuperBowladsforbillion-dollartitles.Let’sassumeyou’rewithmesofar.You
agreethatalargenumberofuserreviewsand
ratingsaregood,andwouldchangetheindustryforthebetter.Whyhassuchanobviouslygoodideanothappened?Well, ifyoureadanypop-sciencebooks,you’vealmostcertainlyencounteredthephenomenaofthe‘tragedyofthecommons’. Inshort,thetragedyofthecommonsisaproblemwhereeveryonecollectivelybenefitsfromacollectiveaction,butnobodyhasanypersonalincentivetocarryoutthataction.Aclassicexampleispollution.Societyis
betteroff ifnobodypollutes,buttheeffectofanysinglepersonstoppingpollutionisalmostzero.Mostpeoplecontinuetopollute,whilewonderingwhyeveryoneelseiscontinuing
IndiegamessuchasFrozenSynapseandAmnesia:TheDarkDescentaren’tavailabletobuyfromAmazon,anddon’thave$10millionadcampaigns–theirsuccessreliesonwordofmouthonline
IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO HEARABOUT GAMES WHOSE
MARKETING BUDGETS DWARFTHE DEVELOPMENT BUDGETS
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Rick Lane
henitcomestoengines,Epiccertainlylivesuptoitsname.UnrealEngine3(UE3) hascapabilitiesfarbeyondthe
graphicshorizon.Thecompletepackagecatersforsound,physics,animation,input-managing,networkingandscripting,andit’sdesignedtobeflexible,scalableand,mostofall,powerful.Sinceitsdebutin2006,it’sbeenusedtocreateover150games.Youcouldwriteabookonthepreciseway
UE3packsinthatdetail,buttobebrief,thetwoimportantareasarematerialsandlighting.UnlikepreviousversionsoftheUnrealEngine,youcan’tsimplytexturean
theengineroom
Games have used UE3 since 2006, and Epic has kept updating it too. Rick Lanetalks to third-party developers about why this veteran engine is still so appealing
WobjectinUE3.Texturingwasassimilatedintothemorecomplexmethodofcreatingmaterialsinstead.Thisallowsformuchgreaterdetailandvarietyonsurfacesthroughvarious‘channels’,suchasnormalmapping,whichcreatestheillusionofbumpsanddentsontoaflatobject.Thisisarguablythemostvitalmaterialchannel,asitgivesroomsandobjectsmoresubstance.Intermsoflighting,UE3movedonfrom
theper-vertexlightingofUE2,allowingforlightingsubdivisionwithinpolygons,whichproducesamorenaturalblendingoflightandshadow,andhighlycomplexpost-processeffectssuchascrepuscularrays–lightshaftsthatappearwhenapowerfullightsourceispartiallyobscured.Morepracticallightingtechniquesincludedtheapplicationofshadowmapstostaticmeshes.Usingthis,shadowscastbyin-gamelightsarecodeddirectlyintotexturesandthenappliedtothebuildingblocksofthelevel,resultinginhighlyrealisticshadingatarelativelylowcosttohardware,astheenginedoesn’thavetoconstantlycalculatetheshadow’sposition.
DevelopingUE3wasn’tsimplyacaseoftakingadvantageofthelatesthardwareandAPIinnovations.WhileoptimisinglevelsinUE3isnowlessofaconcernthankstosixyearsofhardwareadvances,backin2006,itwasapriority.UE3madesomeleapsinthisarea.Acombinationoflevel-streamingsupportandtheautomaticremovalofoccludedobjectsintheplayer’sviewfromtherenderingpipelinehelpedtolightentheloadontheprocessorsofthetime.However,evenawell-optimisednew
enginewillalwaysrequirebettertechtorunitandadditionaltimetolearnit.‘Almosteveryonehadtolearnnewproduction
Normalmappingcancreatetheillusionofbumpsanddentsonaflatobject,asyoucanseeontheserooftops
UE3supportscrepuscularrayslightshaftsthatappearwhenapowerfullightsourceispartiallyobscured
UnrealEngine3
UE3hasareputationforalackofcolourvariation,butthat’salldowntoartdirection.Itenablesawidevarietyofcoloursfromdirtybrownandorangetobrightdaylightblue
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pipelines–artistsespecially,’recallsTripwireInteractive(developerofKillingFloorandRedOrchestra2:HeroesofStalingrad)leadleveldesigner,AdamHatch.‘Initially,productivitywassloweddownbecauseofallthenewprocessesandstepsthathadtobemadetomakeasinglepieceofart.Ourdevelopermachineshadtogetasignificantupgradetobuildandprocessallofthecoolnewstuffweweremaking.’Inaddition,Epicconstantlyupdatesits
software.In2009,itrevealedmultiplenewfeatures,includingarevampedlightingsystemformoredetailedsoft-shadows(shadowswithblurred,dispersededges,asopposedtohardblacklines),soft-bodyphysicsformoreaccuratesimulationof‘deformable’objectssuchasclothandcardboardboxes,dynamicfracturingeffectsonsurfacematerialsandtheabilitytosimulatelargecrowdsofNPCs.Althoughalwaysexciting,theseupdates
havesometimesprovedtobeadouble-edgedswordforTripwire.‘Therealityaboutaddingallthenewstufftoourgameisthatwelosealotoftimemergingoverthecode,anddealingwithpotentialbugsandissueswedidn’tforesee.WehadtostopmergingtoEpic’slatestcodebaseaboutayearbeforeweshippedsothatwecouldkeepourversionoftheengineasstableaspossible.’Epic’ssupportenablesdevelopersto
concentrateonmakinggamesratherthanlearningalloveragainhowtomakethem.Theengine’sstabilitywithintheindustryisprimarilywhynewUE3gamesarestillbeingmade.OneofthenewestisTribesAscend.ToddHarris,COOofHi-RezStudios,explainswhythedeveloperchoseUE3forTribes:‘Asafastmultiplayershooter,wewantedTribestohavegreat-lookinggraphics,butalsofluidrun-timeperformance,andUE3isknownfordeliveringboth.’ComparingTribestoRedOrchestrais
intriguing.Despitebothbeingmultiplayershootersrunningonthesameengine,they’restartlinglydifferent.WhereasROisatactical,authenticandbrutalshooter,Tribesisadeadly,lightning-quicksci-fisport.ThishighlightsUE3’sadaptability–youcantinkerwithalmosteveryfacetoftheengine.HarrisdescribesafewofHi-Rez’sown
alterations.‘Wemodifiedthein-game
physicstosupportplayerskiing,jet-packing,andthebehaviouroffiredprojectiles,’hesays.‘Itwasimportanttoustopreservethe“feel”ofTribesandweadaptedtheenginearoundthatgoal.Tribesisn’tonlyfastandfluid,butitalsoallowstheplayertoseemanyotheropponentsoveralargewide-openbattlefield.Thisiswhyweperformedcustomserver-sidetechnicalworkaroundthereplicationofallthoseplayer-actors,andsupportingthosemanyplayersbeingvisibleon-screen.’Tribes alsosubvertsmanyofthecommon
criticismsdirectedatUE3,inparticularitstendencytowardsplastic-lookingcharactermodelsandadistinctlackofcolourvariation.However,thisismoredowntoEpic’schoiceofcoloursinitsowngames,ratherthanalimitationoftheengine–takealookatthescreenshotsofTribesandit’sclearthatneitherofthosecriticismsapply.‘TheTribesaestheticisduetodeliberateartassetcreationmorethananycustomtechnicalsolution’,saysHarris.‘Theenginecandelivermanydifferentvisualstyles,soit’ssimplytheresultofstrongartdirection.’
TheideathatUE3canonlyproduceboring,brownenvironmentsisamyth.UE3usesfloating-pointvaluestostorecolour,asopposedtootherdesignapplicationssuchasPhotoshop,inwhichcoloursrunonafixedchannelfrom0to255.Soif0.0isblackand1.0isalushsummergreen,thescalecanthenbemultipliedovertoproducefurthersaturationandeveneffectssuchascolour-basedillumination.UnrealEngine3’sfutureseemsstable.
AlthoughtherecentrevealofUE4probablymeansthatUE3willeventuallyberetired,UE3’sOpenGLcompatibilityandrecentdemoonFlashindicateamobileandtablet-basedexistencethatcouldextenditslifespan.Also,UE4isalongwayoff.Hi-Rezsaysit’s‘excitedaboutthepossibilityofmorereal-timelightingoptions’forUE4,butsaysit’salso‘realisticaboutthehardwarerequirements.’Tripwire,meanwhile,hopesthehardwarerequirementswilltakeintoaccountthelengthywaitforanewengine.‘IwouldliketoseeUE4continueto
bescalableandempowerustomakegamesthatwillworkonawidevarietyofhardwareandcomputers,’saysHatch.‘Whilewewantourfuturegamestohavepremium-levelgraphicsonhigh-end,top-of-the-linehardware,wewanttoabletosupportoldermachines,butwithreducedvisualfidelity.’Theseresponseshintatthelegacythat
UE3willleavewhenit’sfinallysuperseded.Itslonglifeandcontinuingsupportmeansthatmanydevelopershavebecomecomfortableusingit.Thisenduringsuccessalsomeansthatconvincingdeveloperstomoveonfromitmaynotbeeasy. Topplingthisking’sreignwon’tbeeasy.
Epic’s2009updatebroughtalotofnewfeatures,includingarevampedlightingsystemformoredetailedsoftshadows,whichyoucanseeunderneaththeship
UE3enabledtheapplicationofshadowmapstostaticmeshes,resultinginmorerealistictextureshadowingatarelativelylowcosttohardware
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98 August 2012
Pre-orders. Downloadable content. Collector’s editions.Joe Martin doesn’t remember the games industry alwaysbeing this nakedly commercialised. Now, he sets out todiscover what’s changed
I tseemsstrangetoremembernow,butbackinthe1990sthesortofmarketingtacticsweseeallthetimenowweren’tcommon.Youcouldn’tpre-ordergames,andtheinfrastructureforsupplyingday-onedownloadablecontentwasn’tthereyet,
meaningthatinsteadwehadexpansionpacksreleasedsixmonthsdowntheline.Evenspecialeditionswererare;gamessuchasThief
andDungeonKeeperwouldbegiven‘Gold’releaseslong
aftertheirinitiallaunch,usuallycombiningastrategyguidewithanextralevelortwo.Theindustryworksalittledifferentlyinthe21st
centurythough.Pre-ordersarenowahallmarkoftheindustry,alongwithotherequallyinsidiousmarketingtechniques–day-onedownloadablecontentandexorbitantlyexpensivecollector’seditions,whicharriveassteeltinsstuffedwithtat.Gamershavecometoacceptthesestrategies
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ANALYSIS
99August 2012
ascommonplace,althoughwhatisalittlemoresurprisingishowtheindustryitselfhascometorelyontheminordertostayviable.‘Pre-ordersarevitallyimportantbecausethey’rea
measuringstickforretailerswhentheydecidehowmuchstocktobuyinfordayone,’saysChrisThomas,anaccountmanagerforCBSInteractiveandexpertongamemarketing.Whilebricks-and-mortarretailersfaceavarietyofobstacles
tostayviableinanincreasinglydigitalmarket,guessingexactlyhowmuchstocktheyneedtosatisfydemandisperhapsoneofthehardesttoovercome.Buytoomanycopiesandyou’llcreateasurplusthat’shardtoshift,butstocktoofewandyou’llneedtoturncustomersaway.It’satoughbalancingact.Pre-ordering,however,makestheprocesseasier.Retailers
knowtheminimumamountofstocktoorder,whilealsogainingafirmindicatorofthepopularityofthefinalproduct.‘Around50,000pre-ordersisconsideredhealthyformost
games,’saysThomas,althoughthereareobviouslytitlesthatperformmuchbetterthanthis.CallofDuty:BlackOps2,forexample,receivedmorepre-ordersonthedaythatitwasannouncedthaneithertheoriginalBlackOpsorModernWarfare3intheirentirerun-uptolaunch,accordingtoActivision.Theprimaryfunctionofpre-ordersislogisticalthen?
Notquite.Pre-ordersmayhaveoriginallybeenconceivedtostabilisestockingissues,butthey’vebecomesocommonthatthey’vespreadtootherareastoo.DigitaldistributorssuchasSteamandGreenManGamingregularlyofferpre-orderdealstoo,eventhoughtheyaren’talwayslimitedinquitethe samewayasretailstores.Thisisn’ttosaythatdigitaldistributorscan’t
runoutofstock,ofcourse;in2009,ValvediscountedPreysoheavilythatitsoldoutitsentireallotmentoflicencekeysfasterthantheycouldbereplenished.Still,orderingmorekeysforadigitalstorewillalwaysbequickerthanrestockingshelves.Thepointisthat,eventhoughpre-
orderswereoriginallyintendedtoaidbricks-
and-mortarstores, justbecausewe’reheadedtowardsanincreasinglydigitalfuturedoesn’tmeanthatpre-orderswillbephasedout.DiabloIII, forexample,despitebeinganonline-onlygamethatneedstotieintoBlizzard’sBattle.netsystem(seep86), isstill themostpre-orderedgameinhistoryaccordingtobothBlizzardandAmazon.‘Publishersarealwaysgoingtowanttofront-loadthemoney
theyget,sopre-loadingonSteamwillstillbesuper-important,’saysThomas.‘Ifyoucantakemoneybeforeprovidingadeliverableproduct,that’salwayspreferable.’
GOTTA COLLECT ‘EM ALLIt isn’tonlythewaythatgamesaresoldthat’schangedinrecentyears,butalsothemannerinwhichtheproductsarepackaged.Gameshavealwaysbeencollectible,butit’sonlysince2000thatpropercollector’seditionshavetakenoff.Infact,particularlylong-runningseriessuchas
MaxPayneillustratethistrendexcellently,astheoldergamesarepresentedalotmoresimplythantheirmoderncounterparts.NeitherofthefirsttwoMaxPaynegameshadanysortofcollector’sedition,forexample,butRockstar’slatestinstalment?Well…TheSpecialEditionofMaxPayne3isasighttobehold.It
containsacopyofthegame’soriginalsoundtrack,exclusiveartprintsbasedonconceptartfromthegame,abullet-shapedkeyringwithasecretcompartment,apackofmultiplayerskins
basedontheoriginaltitles,aDLCpackofextraweaponsanda10instatuetteofMaxhimself.There’salsoacopyofthegameobviously–but
thatfeelslikeanafterthoughtcomparedwithalltheothergoodies.Nowonderitcosts£96incVAT.Unlikepre-orders,though,wherethemotivation
ismoreconcernedwithensuringbusinessefficiencyandminimisingwaste,collector’seditionssuchasthishaveamuchsimplerfocus–makingmoney.Theydon’t improvethewaythatretailersconductbusiness;theyjustofferbettermarginstopublishers.
Alduinisn’tasscaryinthisform,butheisexpensive
Therearesomeexpansionpackswedon’tmiss,however
HMVhasplayedhosttoanincreasingnumberofliveeventsandlaunches.LiveeventssuchasthosehostedbyMLGarethefuture,saysCBSInteractive’sChrisThomas
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‘Collector’seditionsarejustaquickwaytomakemorecashmarginforpublishers,’asourcefromamajorhigh-streetretailertoldusonconditionofanonymity. ‘ThatMaxPaynestatuemayaddabout£30totheperceivedprice,butitcostsonly£1.20perunittomake.’Again,though,digital
distributorshaven’tmissedatrickandhavestartedtooffertheirown‘digitaldeluxe’versionsofgames,eventhoughtheycan’tofferthephysicalgoodssuchast-shirtsandstatues.Thiscreatesevenbettermargins,ofcourse,whilealsoofferingplayersitemstheycanuseimmediately–exclusivemaps,weapons,skinsandsoon.‘Added-valuedigitalcontentisthemostprizedbythe
majorityofgamers,’saysHMV’sheadofpress,GennaroCastaldo.‘Itgivesyouamorerewardingexperienceandhelpsyougetmoreoutofagame.Itcanalsogiveyousomeadditionalcommunitystatus–[makeyouseemtobe]a‘serious’gamer.’ThisopinionissupportedbyGOG.comtoo,whotolduslast
monththatmanycustomersbuygamestheyalreadyownonitsstorejusttosupporttheteamandgainaccesstothedigitalextrasbundledwiththere-releases.Soundtracks,apparently,arethebestwaytoaddvaluetoanoldergame,whileextrain-gamecontentworksbetterfornewgames.
THE DOWN LOADProvidingin-gamecontentanddownloadablecontent(DLC)thatdoesn’tupsettheaudienceforwhichit’sintendedisoftenadifficulttask,however.Alltoooften,gamerswillreactbyaccusingdevelopersofusingDLCtoprofitfromelementsthat
shouldhavebeenincludedintheoriginalgame,orofgivingunfairadvantagestothosepreparedtopaymorefortheirgames.RichardWhitelock,aveteran
gamedeveloperwhohasworkedonDLCforgamessuchasAVP,offersadifferentopinion,however.Asheseesit,while
DLCmayhaveobviousbenefitswhenitcomestomarketinggames,it’salsoatremendouslyusefuldesigntool. ‘DLCcanbearefreshingchancetoshowoff,toperformanencore,and
respondtocriticismandpraise,’saysWhitelock.‘[DLCenables]adialoguewiththeplayersnottypicalforAAAsingle-releaseprojects.’Likepre-orders,whileDLCmaybeaboneofcontention
withconsumers,ithasbenefitsfortheindustry. Inpreviousdecades,progressionwasslowduetothetimeandresourcesrequiredtoiteratejustonegame;theonlywaytoimproveagamewastomakeasequel,whichonlyhappenedwithverysuccessfultitles.WithDLC,though,developerscanimplementideasmorequicklyandjudgetheirsuccessjustasfast.‘DLCfeelslikeanintermediarybetweenfinalboxedproducts
andfullyiteratedonlinedevelopment,’saysWhitelock.‘Sotobringtheadvantageofonetotheotherisusefulfordevelopers.’WhileDLCmayhelpdeveloperstoimprovetheirtitles,
however,someofthewaysinwhichit’sdistributedcanbeannoyingformanygamers–suchaswhenDLCisattachedtoaspecificretaileraspartofapre-orderbonus.Thisisincreasinglythecaseforbig,triple-AreleasesandgamessuchasMaxPayne3,whichalsoofferextramultiplayermapsifyoubuyfromcertainstores.They’reexcellentexamplesofhowthe
Whenyouleavethesefiguresaloneforafewhours,theybattleeachother. You’dbesurprisedhowwellinsultswordfightingfaresagainsttheNanosuit
Soundtracksarepopularwitholdergames,apparently
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SAVY GAMER?Withtheeconomyinitscurrentstate,itisn’tsurprisingthatalotofgamersarelookingtosavesomecash,andit’sherethatwebsitessuchashttp://savygamer.co.ukstepinbyroundingupallthelatestdeals.‘There’splentyofopportunitytogetfantasticgamesatlowpricesthesedays,’saysfounderLewieProcter.‘Thevastmajorityofcollector’seditionscanbeboughtforreducedpricesifyouwaituntilafterrelease,forexample.‘Personally,Ithinkit’sdisgracefulhoweagerpublishersaretogetinto
bedwithretailers,’hesayswhenitcomestonewertypesofdeal,suchasretailerexclusives. ‘Itmeansthatretailersarelesslikelytocompeteonprice.Intheworstexamples,balance,gamedesignandpacingarecompromisedtoenablethegametobechoppedintobitsinthefirstplace.’
confluxofdifferentbonusesandincentivescansometimespullattentionawayfromthegameitself.Themotivationandreasoningforcreatingretailer-exclusive
contentisn’tasobviousasit isforpre-orders,however,andfewofourintervieweessaiditaddedgenuinevaluetoagameonanyfront.Theironlyrealpurposethatwecoulddivinewasasaformoffreeadvertisingforeachgame.‘I imaginethesearePRtools,’speculatedCBSInteractive’sChrisThomas,‘togiveeachretailerareasontoshoutabouteachgame.’Theproblem,ofcourse,isthatsomanytitlesareadopting
thisapproach,andevensomeofthebiggestreleasescanbecomelostintheshuffle;thisforcespublishersandretailerstomakeanevenbiggerefforttoattractattention.
LIVE AND LET LIVEIf there’soneaspectofamoderngamelaunchyoudefinitelywouldn’thaveseeninthemid-1990s,it’sthemidnightlaunch.TheveryideaofhundredsofpeoplequeuingupfordaysjusttogettheirhandsononeofthefirstcopiesofDiabloorCallofDutywouldhavebeenludicrousadecadeago.‘Overa1,000fansturnedupfortheDiabloIIIevent,’says
Castaldo.‘Somestartedqueuingthreedaysbefore,andtherewereevensomewhocamefromGermany…gamesincreasinglyputonthemorespectacularlaunches.’AccordingtoCastaldo,gamelaunchesarebecomingmore
ofafocusforHMV,perhapsbecauseit’sonedefiniteadvantagethatretailstoreshaveoverdigitalcompetitors.Asthecompanyseesit,HMViswell-placedtostagetheseeventsandaccommodatethelargenumbersofpeoplewhooftenturnup.ToThomas,though,theseliveeventsarereallyonlythe
beginning.We’llhavetothinkofeventsonanentirelydifferentscalewhenitcomesfuturegamemarketing.‘Thefuture,asfarasI’mconcerned,islivegamingandeSports,’saysThomas.‘It’shugeinAsiaandAmerica,whicharetypicallyayearahead
oftheUK.Therearemorepeopleinsomeofthesestadiumsthanatmostfootballmatches.’There’slittledoubtamongexperts–andgamers–thatlive
gamingeventsarebecomingamuchbiggerpartofthemarket.Thomaspointstogame-streamingsiteshavinghad230percentgrowthoverthepast12months,forexample,whileevenacasualglanceatorganisationssuchasMultiplayandMLGrevealaburgeoningindustry. IntheUK,though,thesuccessoftheseeventshascreptuponusslowly,ratherthaninanoticeablerush.Thebigquestionisn’tsomuchifliveeventswillbeimportant
topublishers,buthowthey’llchoosetocapitaliseonit inthefuture–andifgamerswillrespondaswellastheyhavetotheintroductionofpre-ordersandDLC.
Doesanyoneeveractuallyreadthoselittleartbooks?
TheeditionwiththeMaxPaynestatuemaycost£96,butguesshowmuchitcoststomake?
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102 August 2012
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103August 2012
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Your chance to get involved in CPC and bit-tech
CPC:WhatoriginallyinspiredyoutobuildBlueHorizon?Keir:Thefuninvolvedwithcreatingscratch-builtPCswasmymain
inspirationthroughoutthebuild.It’sprovidedmewithcountlesshoursofentertainmentovertheproject’slongconstructiontime.Ialsosoughttomakeanimprovementovermypreviouscaseatthesametime,whileupgradingmyhardwareandfinallymakingtheleapfromaharddrivetoanSSD,asthesewereslowlybecomingaffordablewhenIstartedtheproject.Icurrentlyhavetwo
mods–SilentFiberglassandBlueHorizon.SilentFiberglasswasmyfirstattemptatmakinga
powerful,yetalmostsilent,computer,whilealsotryingtomakesomethingalittledifferentfromtheaveragecase.Itwasalsowheremyideaforacompletelycustom-built,case-mountedradiatorcametolife. Ididn’thavemuchtimetodesignandbuildSilentFiberglass,resultinginseveralflawsinthedesignaswellasfeaturesthatdidn’tworkasexpected.BlueHorizonwastherefore
designedasadirectimprovementtoSilentFiberglass,
whereIaimedtosolvetheflawsofmypreviousbuildandaddnewspecificationstothedesignrequirements.Tothatend,Ibeganbymakingthecustom
radiatormoreefficient,theinternalspacemuchneaterandprovidingroomforafullATXpowersupply. Ithendecidedtouseastandardcaseshapeinordertomakethemachineassmallaspossible,whilestillbeingabletoaccommodateanATXmotherboardandfull-sizedgraphicscard.Ialsoneededtobuildinanadequateamountofspacebehindthemotherboardtraytoaccommodateallthewiresandtubes,enablingthevisible
sectionstobeasneataspossible.OnceIhaddecidedonthebasic
specificationsforthedesign,Ibegantheconstructionoftheframeandmadesuretheoverallbuildqualitywasimprovedovermypreviouscase.Whiletheconstructionwastaking
NameKeirGrahamAge21OccupationCurrentlyacquiringcomputernetworkingcertificationsLocationTodmordenMainusesforPCMovies,music,gamingandtheInternetLikes Gaming,sci-fiandconstructingthingsDislikesUKweather,traffic,Brusselssprouts
KeirGraham’sdistinctive
modwasmadeusing
machine-milled raw
aluminiumanda
selectionof hand tools
– it even featuresa
custom-built radiator
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105August 2012
place,theaestheticsofthecasecontinuallyevolvedasIcameupwithnewdesignsandmanufacturingtechniques.
CPC:WhatdifficultiesdidyoucomeacrosswhenbuildingBlueHorizon?Keir:ThemainproblemIcameacrossduringtheprojectwastheconstructionofthe
radiator,asthedesignIchosewasalittletooambitious,whichmeantthatIhadtocompletelyredesignit. Ioriginallyplannedtomaketheradiatorfromtwohollowaluminiumpanelsfilledwithcoolant,buttheyendedupbeingtoodifficulttomake,soIchangedthedesigntoanextrudedaluminiumheatsink.Fromthereon,thebiggestdifficulties
concernedfiguringoutwaysinwhichtocreatethevariouspartsofmydesign,whichcostmeafairamountoftimeandwastedmaterial insomecases.Ialsofellvictimtohumanerroronoccasion,whichrequiredmetomakeentirepartsagain.
CPC:Whatmaterialsdidyouusetomaketheshellofthecaseandwhy?Keir:Rawaluminiumwasmymainchosenconstructionmaterialthroughouttheproject.Aluminiumishasapleasantsilveryappearance,butit’salsostrong,light,easy
106
toworkwithanditdoesn’tcorrodeinmostcircumstances. What’smore,sincetheentirecaseismadefromrawaluminium,youcaneasilysandawayanyscratchesonthesurfaceofthemetal.AcrylicwastheothermaterialIusedthe
most;Iusedthisforallthelightstrips,aswellasthePSU,radiatoranddrivebaycovers.Ichosethismaterialbecauseithasahighresistancetoscratchescomparedwithotherglossyplastics,anditcanbepolishedaftermachiningtoo.Italsohasareasonablylowmeltingpoint,enablingittobeeasilybentintocurvesusingaheatgunandwoodenjig.
CPC:Howdidyouworktheheatsinkintothewater-coolingsystem,anddoesitworkasyouexpected?Keir:Theradiatorhasoutperformedallmyexpectations,maintaininganaveragetemperatureof32°Cwhenidleand47°Cwhile
ENTERYOUROWNPCATHTTP://FORUMS.BIT TECH.NET
SYSTEM SPECSCPU Intel Core i5-2500K overclocked to 3.3GHz, usingauto-overclocks with Asus EPU
GPU AMDRadeonHD 3850 overclocked to 705MHz
StorageOCZ Agility 3 SSD, and 1.5TBWestern Digital5,200rpmhard drive for data
MemoryCorsair Dominator 1,600MHz (CAS 8-8-8-24)
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V/GEN3
PSUCoolerMaster GX RS-650
Cooling Laing DDC pumpmotor with customhousing,Zalman ZM-GWB3GPU block, EK-Supreme LTx nickel-plated CPU block, Bitspower 45-degree fitting, 10mmbarbs, Alphacool 90-degree rotary fittings, extruded 30 x30cmheatsink fromwww.birminghamaluminium.com asradiator, and Feser OneUV acid-green coolant
SEEMORE
ofKeir’sshiny,glowingmarvelinthefullprojectlogathttp://tinyurl.com/ProjectBlueHorizon
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106 August 2012
under100percentstresstesting,andthisiswithanoverclockedGPUandaroomtemperatureof21°C.Italsorequiresalmostnoforcedconvectionfromthefanwhenidle,soit’sextremelyquiet–thePSUfanistheloudestpartofthecase.Ispecificallydesignedthecasetocontain
thislarge,side-mountedheatsink/radiator,whichmeantthatIcouldalterthecasedesigntoperfectlyaccommodateitbeforeIevenbeganconstruction.Thistechniquealsogavemetheopportunitytohideasmuchtubingaspossible,givingthecaseaneatandsimpleappearance.
CPC:Whattoolsandmachinerydidyouuse?Keir: Iusedavarietyoflargemachineryandhandtools,althoughtheBridgeportmanualmillingmachinewasmyfavourite,andtheoneI mostfrequentlyused.It’saverywell-designedpieceofmachinery,whichenabledmetodrill,cutandmillallthematerialsusedinmyprojectwithveryhighprecision.Ialsooccasionallyusedalathewiththe
millertocreatepartssuchasthepumphousing,whichrequiredaccurateshapingofaluminiumtoensurethateachpiecefittedtogetherperfectlytoavoidleaks.Althoughthemillingmachineandlathe
aregreatmachines,theyalsohavealimitedworkarea,soIusedajigsaw,palmsanderandanglegrinderwheneverthemachinesprovedtoosmall. I foundthejigsawtobethemostaccuratetoolforcuttingpanelsoutofsheetaluminium,andtheanglegrinderwasthe
quickestforcuttingorsmoothingoutanymetalsurface.Meanwhile,thepalmsanderprovidedthequickestwaytoachieveaverysmoothsurfaceaftergrinding.
CPC:Howlongdidittakeyoutocompletetheproject?Keir:Theentireprojecttook20monthstocomplete,althoughIwasonlyworkingonitwhenIhadsomefreetime,whichwasoftenjust16hoursaweekatthemost–Imadenoprogresswhatsoeverinsomeweeks.
CPC:WhathaveyoulearnedfromtheprocessofbuildingBlueHorizon?Keir: I’vebeenlearningthroughouttheentireproject,particularlyintermsofgainingknowledgeaboutthebesttechniquestoproducecomplicatedparts,althoughI’ve
BEAWINNER!ToenteryourmachineforpossibleinclusioninReaders’Drives,yourmodneedstobefullyworkingand,ideally,finishedbasedintheUK.Simplylogontowww.bit-tech.netandheadovertotheforums.Onceyou’rethere,postawrite-upofyourmod,alongwithsomepics,intheProjectLogsforum.Makesureyoureadtherelevantrulesandadvicestickythreadsbeforeyoupost.Thebestentranteachmonthwillbefeaturedhere,wherewe’llprintyourphotosofyourprojectandalsointerviewyouaboutthebuildprocess.Fameisn’ttheonlyprize; you’llalso getyourhandsonafabulousselectionofprizes–seeright.
alsolearnedaboutnewmaterialsandtools.Alargeamountoftheknowledgegainedwassimplyfromhavingfirst-handexperience–Ispentaconsiderableamountoftimeandeffortdiscoveringhownottomakevariousparts,althoughthisisallpartoftheenjoymentofsuchaproject.
CPC:Areyouhappywiththeendresult,andisthereanythingyou’ddodifferentlyifyoubuiltitagain?Keir:I’mverypleasedwiththefinalresult–it’sperformingasIexpected,andinsomeaspects,evenbetter.Thelightingprovidesagentleglowbothinsideandoutsidethecase,aswellasbeingabletoprovideanevenUVsourceforallthecleartubing–preciselytheeffectforwhichIwasaiming.ThemajorityofthechangesIwouldmake
wouldconcerntheconstructiontechniques,andsomeofthematerialsIused.Mymainalterationwouldbetofindanalternativetobrazingrodstofastenthelargepanelstogether,asitturnedouttobeverydifficulttoevenlyheatallthepartsatthesametime.Iwouldalsomakethepumpfromatoughplastic,andthenhaveitcoatedinchrome–thiswouldgiveitthesameappearance,whileavoidinganygalvanicreactionswithoutrequiringpaint.TheonlydesignareaIwouldchangewouldbetoextendthesidepanelallthewaytothebottomofthecase,therebyhidingthepaintedstripalongthebottomandcreatingacleanerappearance.
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HTTP://FORUMS.BIT-TECH.NET
ThePhobyamoddingkitisdesignedwiththemodderinmind,offeringgreatvalueformoneyandqualityproducts.ThekitincludesNano-G12SilentWaterproof1,500rpmmulti-optionfans,whichuseaninnovativefan-bladedesign.Asstandard,thefansincludebraidedblackcablestokeepyourcaselookingasneataspossible.Thefansarealsosuppliedwithaspecialcablethatletsyourunthefanat5Vratherthan12V,reducingthenoiseemittedinordertohelpyoutobuildasilentsystem.Thekitalsoincludesthe
60cmPhobya3-pinMolexto4x3-pinMolexY-cable.This
pre-braidedextensioncablegivesyouextrarouteingoptionsinyourcase,anditalsoenables
youtorunuptofourfansfromonecompatiblemotherboardheader.Meanwhile,the
PhobyaSATA3cablesincludedinthekitofferthesamegreatqualitybraidingastherestofthePhobyarange,whilealso
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shinealightonyourmods.
We’ve teamed up with some of the world’s leading PC component manufacturers and retailers tooffer this great range of prizes to each lucky Readers’ Drives winner. If your creation is featured in themagazine then you’ll walk away all three of the prizes listed on this page, so get in your entries!
CORSAIR CARBIDE SERIES 300R CASEAND 550W TX MODULAR POWER SUPPLYTotalvalue£142incVATManufacturerwww.corsair.com
CorsairbelievesthatagreatPCstartswithagreatcase.TheCorsairCarbideSeries300Risacompactexpressionofthiscorephilosophy.Itpacksinaremarkablenumberoffeaturesgivenitscompactdimensions,providesbuilderswithtonnesofroomforexpansion,andhasamazingcoolingpotential.And,likeallCorsaircases,it’sbuiltusingthefinestmaterialsandfinishedtothehigheststandards,soitwillwithstandseveralyearsofupgrades.Justasaqualitycaseis
essentialtobuildingaqualityPC,ahigh-performance,high-qualitypowersupplyisalsoavitalingredient.Basedontheaward-winningTXV2Series,thenewEnthusiastSeriesModularPSUsaddamodularcablingsystemforimprovedinstallation
PHOBYA MODDING KITValue£50incVATManufacturerwww.phobya.com,www.aqua-tuning.co.uk
flexibility.TXModularpowersuppliesarebuiltusingqualitycomponents,andarerigorouslytestedandqualifiedat100percentloadatanambienttemperatureof50°Cforunmatchedreliability.They’redesignedtoasuperiorstandard,sothattheynotonlymeettheATXspecification,butalsoexceedit. Inadditiontounmatchedquality,TXModularPSUsarealsopower-efficient,offering85percentenergyefficiencyorhigherat50percentload.WithaCorsairCarbideSeries300Rcaseand
550WTXModularpowersupplyattheheartofyourbuild,you’llhavethefoundationsforatrulyawesomegamingmachine.
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108 August 2012
OVErClOCK an InTElCOrE i5-3570K
nourrecentoverclockingmasterclass(seeIssue105,p92),weremarkedthat itwasalmosttooeasytooverclockIntel’sSandy
Bridge-basedCore-i52500KCPU.Imagineourfaces,then,whenwefoundoutthatthesuccessortotheCorei5-2500K,theIvyBridge-basedCorei5-3570K,waseveneasiertooverclock.Theonlyadjustmentsyoushouldneedto
makearetothemultiplier (ortheturboratioif, likeourselves,you’reusinganAsusboard)andthevcore–youdon’tevenneedtomessaboutwiththePLLvoltageanymore.This is,ofcourse,great intermsofsimplicity,but italsotakessomeofthesenseofadventureoutoftheprocess.AswithotherLGA1155processors,we
don’tsuggestmonkeyingaroundwiththebaseclock,asthiscancauseinstability intheotherbusesthatrelyonit. It’salsoworthconsideringheat–IvyBridgeprocessorsoutputalotof it inaverysmallspace–much
PaulGoodhead showsyouhow to get your CPUup to4.5GHz
moresothanSandyBridgeprocessors.Asaresult,youneedtobesureyourcooler isuptothejobbeforeoverclockingtothislevel,and
makesureyoukeepaneyeonyourcoretemperaturesinCoreTemp(www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp) too.
GIMP IMAGE EDITING
Stock speed OverclockedHANDBRAKE H.264 VIDEO ENCODING
MULTI-TASKING
OVERALL
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
2,1891,862Intel Core i5-3770K
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
3,9553,160Intel Core i5-3770K
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
1,8651,721Intel Core i5-3770K
0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
2,6702,248Intel Core i5-3770K
0 25 50 75 100
Intel Core i5-3770K
Stock speed min Stock speed avg Overclocked avgOverclocked min
ARMA II: OPERATION ARROWHEAD (DX9)1,920 x 1,080, Very high settings, no AA, no AF
fps118fps102
fps104fps92
WHAT WE USEDCPU: Intel Core i5-3570K MOTHERBOARD: AsusMaximus V Gene
RAM: 8GB 1,600MHz COOLER: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced
STORAGE: 120GBPatriotWildfire SSD GRAPHICSCARD:Nvidia GeForce GTX 590 3GB
PSU: 800W SOFTWARE: CPU-Z, Prime95, CoreTemp, CPCMedia Benchmarks
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109August 2012
pro tipWeknowwesaidwedon’t
recommendtweakingtheIvyBridgebaseclock,asevensmallchangescanaffectstability.However,ifyouwantevenmoremegahertz,oryouhaveamultiplier-lockedCPU,thenit’sworthtrying.Backupyourdatafirst,asyou’llbeoverclockingtheSATAbus,whichrisksdatacorruption.ThebeststableIvyBridgebaseclockwe’veseenis109MHz,butthatwaswithLN ,sothebestyoucanhopeforisaround105MHz,whichwillstillprovideanextra170MHzwitha34xmultiplier.
PressDeletewhenyourPCstartstoaccesstheEFI.Ourmotherboardsendsusdirectly intotheoverclockingoptions,butyoumayneedtofindyours–theyshouldbeclearlylabelled.Oncethere,settheoverclockingmode(calledAiOverclockTuneronourboard)toManual.
Nowscrolldowntothevoltageoptions(orswitchtothevoltagescreenifyou’reusingaGigabytemotherboard)andlocatetheCPUvoltage.Adjustthisto1.3(eitherbytypingitorpressingthe+button)andpressEnter.
YounowneedtosaveyourchangesandexittheEFI.Youcanusuallydothisbyscrollingtothemenuonthefarright,orbypressingF10andselectingtheappropriateoptioninthemenuthatappears.
Ifyou’reusingthesameboardastheonewe’reusing,settheTurboRatiooptiontoManualandchangetheoptiontitled1-CoreRatioLimitto45.Ifyouhaveaboardfromadifferentmanufacturer,locatetheCPURatioorMultiplieroptionandchangethatto45.
YoualsoneedtoturnoffCPUSpreadSpectrum,asitplayswiththeCPUclockslightly,whichcanaffectoverclocks.Onourboard,thisoptionwaslocatedbelowthevoltageoptions,butitmaybesomewheredifferentonyourboard.
CheckyouroverclockisstablebyrunningPrime95forawhile,andrunCPU-ZandCoreTempinthebackground,soyoucanmonitorwhat’sgoingon.Ifit isn’tstable,gobacktotheEFIandlowertheCPUmultiplieralittleandtestagain.
NowyouneedtomakeyourRAMrunatthecorrectspeed;inourcase,this was1,600MHz.OpentheMemoryFrequencymenuandselectthecorrectoptionforyourmemory.Thespeedofyourmemoryisusuallydetailedonthesideofthemodules.
Finally,makesurethatyourmotherboardisdeliveringthecorrectvoltageviatheLoad-lineCalibrationoption.Inourcase, itwaslocatedintheDIGI+PowerControlmenu,butit’susuallynearthevoltagecontrols.Setthistothehighestlevelyoucan–Extremeinourcase.
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PSUsdon’tgetmuchmorepremiumthanthis.OurgoodfriendsatSeasonicareofferingyoutwoofitsgorgeous1,000WP-1000PSUs.
ThisisoneofthefewPSUstoreceivethe80Plus (www.80plus.org)Platinumaward,offeringefficiencyof20percentat90percentload,92percentat50percentloadand 89percentat100percentload.There’salsoamassivesingle12Vrailoffering83Aofheadroomfor
multiplegraphicscards,nottomentionanoverclockedCPU.Six8-pin
(6+2)PCI-EconnectorsaresupportedbythisfullymodularPSU,andit’scertifiedforusewith3-waySLIandCrossFireXsetupstoo.Meanwhile,the120mmSanAcedualball-bearingfanwillkeepthe
PSUcoolandquiet,andSeasonic’sS2FCandS3FCfancontrolsystemsalsoenable‘hybrid’fanlessoperation,wherebythefanisswitchedoffunlessthePSUhitsa20percentor40percentloadrespectively.Formoreinformation,visitwww.seasonic.com
WORTH £225EACH
Q Emailyouranswer [email protected]
with ‘SeasonicCompetition 107’ in theSubject lineClosing date: 1 July, 2012
WhichrailsuppliesmostofthepowertoPCI-Egraphicscards?a)+3.3V b) +12V c)+5V
WIN!SeasonicP-1000Platinum1000WPSUs
UP FORGRABS
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114 August 2012
WHERE’S MYMOTHERBOARD?IwasinterestedtoreadtheIvyBridgemotherboard
comparisoninthismonth’sCustomPC. It justsohappensthatwithinthepasttwoweeks, IdecidedtobuildamonsterPCusinganAsusP877-VPromotherboard,anIntelCorei7-3770,8GBofCorsairRAM,a750WCorsairPSU,anNvidiaGeForceGTXG680andaSilverStoneRavencase. Iwasdisappointednottoseemymotherboardmentionedinthelistof thosetested,asIwonderedwheremyboardwouldbeplacedinthislist. Iwastoldthat itwasthetopoftherangewhenIboughtthepartsfromScan,andnowI’mworriedbecauseIthoughtIwasbuyingthebest.AnyIdeas?TonyPollock
Benreplies:SorryTony,butwesimplydon’thavetheresourcestorevieweverymotherboardwhenanewchipsetisreleased–Asusalonehasreleased14
Z77motherboards,nevermindeveryoneelse.However,we’vehadalookattheAsusP877-VthatwasincludedintheDinoPCTyrannosaur3570K(seep36)thismonth–it’sagreatboardforoverclocking,hasloadsofroomforexpansionandtheWi-FiGofeature(whichcaneffectivelyturnit intoawirelessrouter)isbrilliantaswell.TheProversionoftheboardbasicallyaddsacouple
ofextraUSB3ports,fourextrapowerphasesfortheCPUandacoupleof
otherbitsandbobs.Wehaven’treviewedit,butit’ssafetosayyouhaven’tmadeabadchoice.
BAD DATESGoodmorningandgooddaytoyou,ohpersonalcomputerwizardrymasters.Justaquickquestion–couldyoupleasesortoutthedatingsystemonyourmagazines?Mypoorlittlemindcan’tcopewithreceivingtheJulyissuemid-May.Whydoesthishappen?WhenIstartedreadingCPC, itwasafewweeksout,buttwomonths?!RobHickling
Benreplies:Here’salittlehistorylessonforyou,Rob.WhenwestartedCustomPC,wedecidedtoreleaseittwoweeksaftertheotherPCmags,sowecouldincludelater-releasedkitandgainanadvantageinthefirsttwoweeksonthenewsstand.Wealsodecidedtoputthedateonemonthahead,
LettersSend us your feedback and correspondence [email protected], with ‘Letter’ in the Subject line
CHI WITH EVERYTHINGI’vebeenreadingtheIvyBridgereviewinIssue106,andInoticedthatonp38,inthePerformanceparagraph,yousaythattheCorei53570Kis‘agreatgamingchi’.IsthisasimpletypingmistakeorareyouimplyingthatIntelhasmanagedtopackagethetraditionalChinese‘lifeforce’usedin
China’smartialartsandmedicineintoeach3570K?I’vejustboughtaPCwitha3570K(notbasedontheinclusionofChi)andI’mlookingforwardtonextmonth’smagazinewhereI’llfindoutjusthowgoodadecisionImadebyoptingforaGeForceGTX670overaGTX680.Greatmagasalways.AndrewTaylor
Benreplies:ThanksAndrew–youmadeagooddecisionwiththegraphicscard.Asfor‘Chi’,itcouldonlyhavebeenatypo–asaScrabbleplayerIonlyspellit‘Qi’anyway!
Get a kick out of pointing out the shortcomings of others?It’s okay – so dowe
Wedidn’thaveroomtorevieweveryZ77motherboard,butthatdoesn’tmeantheAsusP877-VProisn’tgood
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115August 2012
@carlosmunoz0885DoyouthinkaQ6600at3GHzwith4GBof1,066MHzDDR2wouldbottlenecka6870CrossFireXsystem?Thanks!
Benreplies:Thatdependsonmanyfactors–whichgamesyou’replayingand,moreimportantly,whichmotherboardyou’reusing.IfyouhaveanoldIntel965board,thanyou’reonlygoingtogeteightfirst-genPCI-Elanespercard,whichwilllimityourbandwidth.Thatwillalsobeapowerfulgraphicssystem,andyoumayfindyourselfgettingCPU-limitedathighresolutions,whichisn’twhatyouwantwhenyouhaveanoldCPU.OneRadeonHD6870inthatsystemwillbefine–twoispushingitifyouwanttogetthebestfromyourgraphicscards.
@PeterODonnellReallyenjoyedthe@[email protected]!
Benreplies:Thanks!Gladyouenjoyedit.
@BiggKennyMyfriendsallbelievethatyoumightaswellhavean850WPSUforaPCwithoneGPU.Isthisoverkill?
Benreplies:Yes.Infact,ourSandyBridgetestsystemonlydrewatotalof373Wwiththedual-GPUGeForceGTX690installed,andrunningatfullload.It’salwaysgoodtohavesomeslack,though,asyoucanthensafelyinstallextracomponents,andexperimentwithoverclockingyourCPUandGPU.TheThermaltakeSP-530PCWEUandCorsairHX650werecommendinourElitelist(seep31)aremorethanadequateformostsingle-GPUsystems.
FEEDBACK
Follow us on Twitter at @custompcmag
sothatitwasclearCPCwasn’treleasedatthesametimeastheoldermagazines,butalsosothatitstill lookedcurrentwhenthecompetitionturneduptwoweekslater.Asageneralrule,magazinedatesarealwaysamonthaheadofthereleasedateanyway,tomaximisetheirshelflife,butourmagisevenfurtherahead.Italwayshasbeen–it isn’tanewstrategy.There’snowayofgoingbacknowthough–withoutreleasingtwoAugustissues,forexample,andthatwouldbeevenmoreconfusing.
CORRECTIONHUMBLE PiIfyou’reoldenoughtorememberthehome-computingera, thenyoumayalsorememberspendingthebestpartofadaypunchinginhundredsof linesofcode,onlytofindoutthatafewbitsof itdidn’twork,andyouhadtowaituntilnextmonthtocorrectthem.Well,sadly,it looksasthoughthesedayshaven’tentirelydisappeared,asafewpartsofthecodeintheRaspberryPi featurewerebrokenintheeditingandlayoutprocess,andwon’tworkintheircurrentstate.Herearethecorrections:
MakeaRaspberryPimediacentre:Step6: Ignorethecarriagereturninthemiddleofthecode.
Step7:Thedoublequotesinthecommandneedtobestraightquotes,ratherthanopen-and-closequotes.
CreateaRaspberryPiNASbox:Step3:Thefirstcommandhasanunnecessary‘t’ontheend. Itshouldread:gksudo leafpad /etc/samba/smb.conf
Step6:Shouldread:Youshouldnowhaveaccesstothecontentsoftheattachedstoragedevice.Forhintsonsecuringaccess,gototheterminalandtype:man smb.conf
ProgrammingtheRaspberryPi:Step4:Shouldread:You’llneedtoput:import RPi.GPIO as GPIOatthetopofyourPythonprojecttousetheGPIO
library,afterwhichyoucanstarttouseyourRaspberryPiasanoverpoweredArduino-alike.
Step5:Shouldread:Configurewith:GPIO.setup(NN, GPIO.XX),where‘NN’ is thepinnumberand‘XX’either‘IN’or ‘OUT’.Readapinwith:input_value = GPIO.
input(NN)orturnonanoutput with:GPIO.output(12, True)
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AVAILABLE AT:
Titanium Internet Security 2012April 2012
LABSWINNER
O N D E M A N DDETECTION TEST
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AUG 2011AUG 2011
ADVANCED+
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Stop the Nooo! Face before it starts.trendmicro.co.uk/noface
© 2012 Trend Micro, Inc. All rights reserved. Trend Micro, Titanium and the t-ball logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Trend Micro, Inc.
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117August 2012
Join our folding team and help medical research
WHAT ISFOLDING?Folding@homeusesthespareprocessingcyclesfromyourPC’sCPUandgraphicscardsformedicalresearch.Youcandownloadtheclientfromhttp://folding.stanford.edu/download.htmlandourteam’sIDis35947.Onceyoupassasignificantmilestone,you’llgetyournameinthemag.Youcanalsodiscussfoldingwithusandotherreadersonthewww.bit-tech.netforums.
CPC:Whoareyouandwhatdoyoudo?enigmo:MynameisRobMcCarthy,andI’manITsupportengineerforamajorLondonuniversity.
CPC:Whydidyoustartfolding?enigmo: Initially, Iuseditasahardwarestresstest,asI likebuildingnewsystems,andtryingtomakethemasfastandstableaspossible.However,asI learnedmoreabouttheproject,andhavingrunSETI inthepast, Idecidedtodedicateat leastonemachinetoitfull-time–anancien1.7GHzPentium4thatsqueezedoutaround600ppd.AssoonasIhadthosefirst fewworkunitsundermybelt,itwasarunawaything.
CPC:Whatexcitesyoumostaboutfolding?enigmo:Thefactthat it’s furtheringmedicalscienceplaysabigpart.ThinkingitcouldbeoneworkunitononemachinethatprovidesamissinglinktoacureforAlzheimer’s isthrilling,eventhoughyoucouldprobablyneverpinitdowntosuchspecifics.There’salsothesenseofcommunityandcompetition–youcanseesomeoneonyourthreatlistyoudidn’tseebefore,andhopontheforumandaskwhatthey’rerunning.Oryoucouldaskforadvicefrompeopleforaboutaextractingafewextrappdfromanewpieceofkit.
CPC:HowmanyPCsdoyouhavefolding?enigmo:Five,butthatchangesdependingonwhetherI’mgaming,howtheoverclockon
Wecatch upwith folder of themonth: enigmo
mymainrig isfaringandwhetherI’vebrokenaVM.Ihavetwoi7-2600Kboxes,twoolderCorei5s,andmyCore2QuadQ9550box.Atthemoment, I’manall-SMPfoldinghouse. Ihaven’t foldedonaGPUinmonths,afterexperiencingseveralstabilityandheatproblems. I’mtemptedtostartmy560Ti-448folding,but IdoubtIcouldaffordtheextraleccy!
CPC:What’syourbestpieceoffoldingkit?enigmo: MyoverclockedCorei7-2600K. Itpilesupthepoints–whenIcanstandthepowerandnoise.
CPC:Whichoperatingsystemsdoyouuseforyourfoldingmachines?enigmo:Amix, includingWindows7,UbuntuVMandNotFred’sDiskless.Theppd bumpIsawfrommovingtoaVMfromanativeWindowsconsolewasprettybig,soI intendtomovemoretowardsVMs–theymeanthatthemachinesarealittlemoreflexibleanyway.
CPC:Anytipsforfellowteammembers?enigmo:Noproblemistoo‘stupid’ toaskaboutontheforums.Whatever it is,someonehasprobablysolveditbefore,soaskaway.
CPC:What’syourworstfoldingexperience?enigmo: Infernal,damnableandinfuriatingcoreerrorsthatcouldonlybesolvedbyblattingtheinstallandstartingagain.Oh,andatoastedGeForceGTX460.
Teamrank56 Worldrank1,564Score18,144,391 Workunits 14,052Dailypointsaverage30,676
TOPFOLDERSThismonth’sshout-outsgotoBMHandfatchef.Ifyoufoldunderanyofthesenames,[email protected]
118
CPC:Andthebestexperience?enigmo:Hittingtenmillionpoints justbeforelastNewYearandseeingmynameintheTop20producers’chartataroundthesametime.Plusseeingmyusernameinthemagazineforthefirsttimeyearsago.
HTTP://FORUMS.BIT-TECH.NET
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MILESTONES THIS MONTH
Username Pointsmilestone
Username Pointsmilestone
Username Pointsmilestone
Username Pointsmilestone
Bnorus 100000
edmundkong36 100000
EgAp10 100000
Evil_Pillsbury 100000
Filce 100000
Laguna2012 100000
McSpoon 100000
Millsy79 100000
Pickles 100000
Rosyglo 100000
siddallj 100000
SourDipRaita 100000
SystemOfDiscord 100000
the_kille4 100000
G0UDG 200000
JimmyMcRees 200000
emdal 300000
GarethFlatlands 300000
LittleTodden 300000
Munky 300000
RayCampbell 300000
Teflon 300000
YbrFinX 300000
Archaon88 400000
bastardo_bill 400000
CCHS 400000
ittoms 400000
SazD 400000
ForGrace 500000
kornvdd 500000
Osiris_Blue 500000
Andrew_Dixon 600000
Bigadz1 600000
cs278 600000
VasileiosZografos 600000
yes 600000
beads 700000
Eldorado-Bit-tech 700000
Igniseus 700000
Number14 700000
Scammelio 700000
ShortMunky 700000
Yattiaman 700000
8Core 800000
CheeZee73 800000
Dobbs2010 800000
geonectixs 800000
Pete 800000
GandalfDDUK 900000
sco0by 900000
CopperHead1960 1000000
CyberX 1000000
Desertbaker 1000000
Godfoder 1000000
hazza_t 1000000
Optimusprime1985 1000000
Slowlemon 1000000
SyLvEsTeR20007 1000000
Abomin81on 2000000
Daniel_Selley 2000000
DrJAG 2000000
FingAZ 2000000
meandmymouth 2000000
SicoAnimal 2000000
Sparkymatt 2000000
Andy_good_life 3000000
DrDaveSell 3000000
Mark_Skeldon 3000000
RabidMongoose 3000000
Votick 3000000
JediMasterJonny 4000000
luckybfocus 4000000
Scorpuk 4000000
Team_Thurlow 4000000
redironman 5000000
cave_diver 6000000
davidj2010 6000000
Dolphin(CPC) 6000000
Serpentine 6000000
m1rr0rMan 8000000
Worldrank
Teamname Points Dailypointsaverage
Timeuntilovertake
7 CustomPC&bit-tech 5,193,480,634 3,651,075 0
14 awachs 2,021,158,427 4,694,850 8.1Years
19 HewlettPackard 1,604,379,698 4,287,391 15.7Years
THE NEXT OVERTAKE
a5pin 20000
JoshEllie-17 20000
l1ghtm4st3r 20000
mwhhammond 20000
pitprop 20000
Raoul589 20000
blotty 30000
TacticalFluke 30000
FlamingWolfman 40000
Forquare 40000
Mecael 40000
Wispa 40000
KyralTim 50000
nsymons 50000
rob_woolcott 50000
Tom_Evans 50000
BaskB 60000
bigg 60000
Chrisz0rz 60000
darthvanman 60000
Glyn_Mason 60000
pj33val47 60000
anadir2 70000
KINGOFTHESWING 70000
pipnina 70000
ThreeFN 70000
dodgykeeper 80000
natwilford03 80000
Clotten 90000
mar_duke 90000
mattydinx 90000
Pausanias828 90000
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Username Pointsmilestone
HTTP://FORUMS.BIT-TECH.NET
TOP 20 OVERALLRank Username Points Workunits
1 Dave_Goodchild 379,590,470 106,787
2 phoenicis 223,349,417 93,954
3 DocJonz 216,658,218 139,234
4 zz9pzza 211,014,628 15,794
5 coolamasta 185,080,782 140,861
6 Lizard 129,923,269 59,810
7 StreetSam 102,894,737 70,354
8 Wallace 80,889,860 5,636
9 Christopher_N._Lewis 72,472,228 31,678
10 CustomBitChimps 68,650,154 35,891
11 BennieboyUK 61,155,216 3,077
12 saspro 56,930,297 45,029
13 fir3x 52,506,457 8,269
14 Standin_wave 50,493,352 33,463
15 greenfrog.biz 47,587,865 161,805
16 PS3/LanDi 47,227,013 85,905
17 One_Box 43,592,468 6,322
18 The_M2B 43,176,705 35,572
19 Justin_Wells 40,373,133 72,158
20 PeteBee 39,282,369 22,329
TOP 20 PRODUCERSRank Username Dailypointsaverage Overallscore
1 DocJonz 271,965 216,658,218
2 coolamasta 206,435 185,080,782
3 Wallace 139,937 80,889,860
4 Nelio 122,219 33,916,146
5 One_Box 116,414 43,592,468
6 StreetSam 111,739 102,894,737
7 The_M2B 90,069 43,176,705
8 Scorpuk 84,799 4,761,278
9 Lordsoth 79,175 38,701,215
10 fir3x 74,576 52,506,457
11 LordBadger 69,235 26,620,530
12 Abomin81on 59,217 2,644,686
13 JediMasterJonny 53,663 4,399,476
14 m1rr0rMan 47,516 8,162,636
15 BMH 46,935 14,859,340
16 FingAZ 46,524 2,575,340
17 fatchef 43,820 11,002,587
18 PC_Rich 43,663 38,442,919
19 SyLvEsTeR20007 43,335 1,699,344
20 Christopher_N._Lewis 42,941 72,472,228
tarka_dahl 8000000
Al_Bert 9000000
BeauchN 9000000
pompeyrodney 9000000
fatchef 10000000
Frank_Kehoe 30000000
Nelio 30000000
The_M2B 40000000
fir3x 50000000
Wallace 80000000
StreetSam 100000000
119August 2012
Onsale 19July, 2012*Pleasenotethatthesestoriesaresubjecttoproductdelays,kitnotturningupandtimespentstaringatHarry’sshortswhich,believeitornot,he’sbeenwearingforseveralmonthsnow.Also,oneoftheseisafake.
GamingperipheralsHarryiscurrentlyamassingahoardofgamingkeyboardsandmice,whichhe’sgoingtobeputtingthroughtheirpacesingamestoseewhichonesdeserveyourcash.
HotSourceRicklanecontinuesexploringgameenginesbyinvestigatingValve’shugelypopularSourceengine,thebackboneofmanypopulargamesfromCSStoLeft4Dead2.
SilenceyourPCIfthesuddensilencewhenyouswitchoffyourPCgivesyouasenseofreliefthenyouneedhelp. We’llexaminethemanywaysinwhichyoucanreduceyourmachine’sirritatingwhirrs.
Nunswith gunsFollowingtherecentHitmantrailer,nextmonth’sissuewillbepackedwithsexualisedviolenceandgratuitousboothbabeshotsfromE3,followedbyabizarreapologythatshowswestilldon’tgetit.
Comingnextmonth in
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120 August 2012
luesky,greengrass,blackroads,whiteclouds,ayellowsunandaredFerrari.SimplerequirementsforaPCdrivinggame,youmightthink,
butsuchluxuriesweren’tavailabletoallPCgamersintheOutrun-era.LikemanyearlyPCgamers,IstartedoutwithaCGAmachine,whichcoulddisplayfourcoloursonthescreenatonce.Theyweren’tevenusuallygoodcolours–cyanandmagentaweretypicallytwoofthem.Ifyouwanted16coloursthenyouhadtohandoverseveralhundredpoundsforan8-bitISAcardsuchastheGenoaSpectra4800picturedontheright–anEGAgraphicscard.Introducedin1984,EGA(Enhanced
GraphicsAdaptor), finallybroughtnon-stupidcolourstoPCgraphics.Atabasiclevel,EGAenabledthePCtodisplayall16ofthecoloursinthestandardpalette(onlyavailableintextmodeinCGA)at320x200and640x200.Italsoaddedabrand-new640x350modewitha64-colourpalette(6-bitRGB),anditcoulddisplay16ofthesecolourssimultaneouslyifyourcardhadenoughRAM.Thisprobablysoundsprettyrubbish.Tobe
fair, it isrubbish,butitwassuchamassiveimprovementoverCGAthatitcompletelytransformedPCgamingfrombeinglaughablysub-Spectrumtobeingsomethingvaguelyrespectable.Itwasn’tcheapthough.Notonly
EGAgraphicsBen Hardwidge recalls his very firstgraphics card upgrade, when a hugecircuitboard bought you 12 more colours
that,butifyouwantedthe640x350modethenyouneededanewmonitortoplugintothe9-pinportontheback.ThetotalcostofanewEGA
monitorandgraphicscardstartedoffcostingthousandsofpounds,butgraduallycamedowntosanelevelsafterafewyears.Theotheralternativewasmyroute–usingasecond-handEGAcardwithanoldCGAmode,andatleastgettingall16coloursatCGAresolutions.Therewasjustoneproblem.
ThecardwassetupforanEGAmonitor,anditwouldn’tworkonmyoldCGAmonitoruntil IsettheDIPswitchescorrectly.Settingtheselittleswitchesinthecorrectorderenabledthecardtobootupinavarietyofresolutionsandcoloursettings, includingCGA,EGAandMDA.Thereweretenswitches,andnodocumentationwithmysecond-handcard.Inanagewhereyoucouldn’t justlookfortherightdiagramsontheNet,thismeant
thattherewerepotentiallyhundredsofdifferentcombinationstotrybeforeIcouldgetittowork.
Thecardpicturedhasonlytwojumperswitchesforselectingdisplaymodes,whichismuchsimpler,butyou’llalsonoticeanotherportonthebackplate.Thisisanothercuriosityfromthatera,whenexpansioncardsoftentriedtocovermanybasestomakethemmoreappealing.Thatextraportisaparallelport,enablingyoutoattachaprintertoyourmachineaswellasanEGAmonitor.Youusedtoseealotofthisthen–earlySoundBlaster16susedtohaveIDEconnectorstoo.EGA’sreignwasshort-lived.
Itstartedofftooexpensive,andwaslaterusurpedbythesuperiorVGA(generally640x480with16coloursand320x240with256colours),butitchangedthePCfromabusinessmachinethatcouldplaygamesbadly,toaversatilemachinethatcouldplaygameswithhalf-decentgraphics.EGAscreenshotslookslightlygarishnow,
withtheirlimitedcolourpalette,buttheimprovementoverCGAwasphenomenal.Upgradingagraphicscardnowmightenableyoutogofrom1,920x1,080to2,560x1,600,orenablesomeextradetailoptions,andthat’sgreat,butit’snothinglikethedifferencebetweenfourcoloursand16.I’mnowgoingtolookformycopyofCommanderKeen.
B
Phototaken
byKonstantinLanzet
Greengrass?Browntreetrunks?Yeah,that’sbetterthansplatteringmagentaandcyaneverywhere
EGA
CGA
EGA
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a sIwritethis, I’mjustcoolingdownafterasessiononDayZ.AsI’msureyouallknowbynow,DayZisamodforArmaIIthatturnstheplayerintoasurvivorinalandfullofzombies.Let
metalktoyouaboutthisforamoment.Youspawnonabeachwithahandgunandafewsupplies.To
survive,youneedtofindfood,waterandbetterweapons.Thismeansthatyouhavetosneakintohouses,factoriesandtowns,stayingclearofthewanderingzombies, inthehopethatyou’ll findsomeofthatstuff.Andthereareotherplayersouttheretoo.Theymighthelpyou,ortheymayjustkillyouandtakeyourstuff. Ifyoudie,byzombieattackorcrossbowbolt,you’rebackonthatbeachagain.Allyourhard-earnedgearisgone.It’sadangerous,frighteninggame.It’salsoanincredibleexperience.Andit’sagamethatwouldnever,everbe
made.Noguyorgirl inasuit,makingadecisionbasedonprojectedsalesanddemographics,wouldeverputupmoneyforthedevelopmentofthisridiculous,cruelanimalofagame,yetitexists.Itexistswithinanothergame,becausethatothergameallowedit.Modsareimportant.Theycomefromapositiveandbeautifulplace.
Someoneplaysagameandthensays‘Wouldn’t itbecoolif..?’Thentheychangethatgametoseeexactlyhowcoolitwouldbe.It’stheultimateexpressionofwhatI’mnowgoingtocall ‘coolerism’.Modsaretheproductofacommunitythatwantstomakegamescooler.‘Wouldn’tArmaIIbeevencoolerifyoucouldplayamultiplayergamefullofzombies?’‘Wouldn’t itbecoolifHalf-Lifehadsomekindofmultiplayerteam-basedgamebuilt in?’Coolerism:Thepracticalpursuitofanimprovedgaming
experience,throughwish-fulfilmentand‘coolification’.Cooleristsneedtools though.PCdevelopersandpublishers
needtounderstandthatthere’saproudtraditionofmodsinthePC
Modders understand a philosophy that’shard for publishers to grasp. Let meintroduce you to coolerism
community.Theyhavearesponsibilitytomakethecoolerist’spursuiteasier.ModtoolsarethelifebloodofthePCgamingexperience–thebuildingblocksofnewgenresandnewexperiences.Thisbringsustoafundamentalcooleristbelief:allPCgames
shouldshipwithmoddingtools.Themodsshouldbeofficiallysupported,andthebestofthemshouldbechampioned.Basically,theuniquePCmodcommunityneedstobetreasuredandloved.Imean,lookatthegamesconsoles.There’snoplaceforthe
cooleristphilosophyinthatweird,restrictedworld.Ifagameisgreatonagamesconsole, it’sexactlythatgreatforever.Itnevergetsanycooler.Itcan’t.Andthegame’spublisherwillsay, ‘Oh,butwe’llmakeitcooler!We’llreleasenewdownloadablecontent!’Buttheydon’tknowcool. It’sallbottomlinewiththem.Coolisn’tevenafactorwiththesecreeps.CooleristsneedtobeataPC.That’shomeforthem,andtheyneedtofeelwelcomethere.
DayZhasbeensuchasuccessthatArmaIIhasrocketedbacktothetopoftheSteamsaleschart,andyouneedtogetluckytologonbecausetheserversarerammed.YoucouldeasilysetasideanhourforsomeDayZandthenspendthathourleapingfromservertoserver,hopingtogetconnected.Butyouknowwhat?Itdoesn’tmatter.Everyoneisstillthere,clickingaway,hopingtogetinvolved.Sure,it’samessrightnow,butif it’sanewexperience–wecandealwiththat.Letusin!We’repatient.Wegetit.We’reallcoolerists.
RobertFlorenceisthestarandwriterofBBCcomedyBurnistoun,co-writerofMocktheWeekandTheITCrowd,andanenthusiasticgamerwho’srediscoveringthejoysofPCgaming
@ROBERTFLORENCE
If a game is great on aconsole, it’s exactlythat great forever. Itnever gets any cooler
WHYPCGAMEMODSMATTER
122 August 2012
WHYPCGAMEMODSMATTER
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Chillblast.comwww.chillblast.comwww.eclipsecomputers.comwww.aria.co.ukwww.ebuyer.comwww.novatech.co.uk WorldMags.netWorldMags.net
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