Custom PC Magazine UK January 2013

SPECIAL REPORT: HOW QUANTUM COMPUTERS WORK
BUDGET CPUS 72
FROM
THE BEST-S ST-SELLING G MAG G FO OR PC HARDWA W RE, WA E, OVERCLOCK O LOCKING G, GAMING G G & MO ODDING G
AMD Trinity vs Intel Core i3 and Pentium Play Skyrim without a graphics card
PLUS
AMD MOTHERBOARDS HOW TO TURN AN OLD CPU INTO A USB THUMBDRIVE
WINDOWS 8: WHERES THE START BUTTON?
ISSUE 112
JAN 2013
4.50
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net Welcome to Issue 112

EDITOR BenHardwidge editor@custompc.co.uk TECHNICALEDITOR HarryButler GAMESEDITOR JoeMartin ARTEDITOR BillBagnall PRODUCTIONEDITOR JulieBirrell CONTRIBUTORS AntonyLeather, CliffHarris, GarethHalfacree,JamesGorbold, JimKillock,LucySherriff, PaulGoodhead,RickLane, SimonTreadaway,TracyKing PHOTOGRAPHY AntonyLeather, DannyBird GROUPADVERTISINGMANAGER BenTopp +44(0)2079076625 ben_topp@dennis.co.uk ACCOUNTMANAGER AdamMcDonnell +44(0)2079076620 adam_mcdonnell@dennis.co.uk SALESEXECUTIVE FinanTesfay +44(0)2079076898 finan_tesfay@dennis.co.uk USADVERTISINGDIRECTOR MatthewSullivan-Pond +16467179555 matthew_sullivan@dennis.co.uk
Editorial
Publishing & Marketing

GROUPPUBLISHER PaulRayner paul_rayner@dennis.co.uk MARKETINGEDITORIALEXECUTIVE PaulGoodhead paul_goodhead@dennis.co.uk LICENSINGMANAGER CarlottaSerantoni Carlotta_Serantoni@dennis.co.uk +44(0)2079076550 LICENSINGANDSYNDICATIONASSISTANT NicoleAdams Nicole_Adams@dennis.co.uk +44(0)2079076134 SYNDICATIONSENIORMANAGER AnjumDosaj +44(0)2079076132
Dennis Publishing Limited

Tel:02079076000fax02079076193 DIRECTOROFADVERTISING JulianLloydEvans MANAGINGDIRECTOR DENNISTECHNOLOGY JohnGarewal CEO IanWestwood NEWSTRADEDIRECTOR DavidBarker FINANCEDIRECTOR BrettReynolds GROUPFINANCEDIRECTOR IanLeggett CHIEFEXECUTIVE JamesTye CHAIRMAN FelixDennis SUBSCRIPTIONS Youcanmanageyourexistingsubscription throughwww.subsinfo.co.ukthisshouldbe yourfirstportofcallifyouhaveanyqueries aboutyoursubscription.Email:custompc@ servicehelpline.co.uk Annualsubs:UK39.99 UKsubs:08448440032 Overseassubs:Europe60, ROW80Overseassubs:+44(0)1795592906 LICENSING,REPRINTS,EPRINTS WrightsMedia 0800-051-8327(TollFree) PrintedbyBGP DistributedbySeymourDistribution Tel:02074294001
Advertising
Thepaperusedwithinthismagazine isproducedfromsustainablefibre, manufacturedbymillswithavalid chainofcustody.
Theadviceandinformationprovidedinthismagazineisgiveningoodfaith. DennisPublishingLimitedcannotacceptanyresponsibilityforanyloss,disruptionor damagetoyourdataoryourcomputersystemwhichmayoccurasaresultoffollowingor attemptingtofollowadvicegiveninthemagazineoronitswebsite.Ifthingsdogowrong, takeabreak.Theworldtendstoseembetterafteracupoftea. CustomPCispublishedmonthlybyDennisPublishingLtd,30ClevelandStreet, London W1T4JD,acompanyregisteredinEnglandnumber1138891. EntirecontentsDennisPublishingLtdlicensedbyFelden.
DONT TRY THIS AT HOME
WorldMags.net
January 2013
Welcome to Issue 112
WorldMags.net
CHEAP AS CHIPS
Whetheryouwanttobuildthe bestall-roundsystemonatight budget,orifyournextbuildsimplydoesnt needallthetop-endbellsandwhistles, weveroundedupsixofthebestbudget CPUstofindoutwhichdeservesaplacein yourPC,andputfournewSocketFM2 motherboardsthroughtheirpacestoo.
54
BUDGET CPUs
98
51
36
JoeMartindiscussesmoddingwith JasonBrice,whorecruitedsomeofthebest UnrealEngine3modderstomakeRekoil.
14 18
INMODWETRUST
TheStartmenuhasgone,andanew tile-basedsystemhasturnedup.Isthereany pointinupgradingtoWindows8onadesktop?
36
WINDOWS8
ROBOTBUTLERS
Howfarareweawayfromareal-life RobbytheRobot?
Canyoubuildasuper-quietPC withoutoverlysacrificingperformance?
42 86
NANOXIADEEPSILENCE1
Hardcoregamedeveloperscould learnathingortwofromsocialgames suchasFarmville,andsolveonlinegamers attitudeproblemwhiletheyreatit,argues CliffHarris.
92 98
TRULYSOCIALGAMING
GarethHalfacreeexplainshowan alternativeCPUinstructionsetcouldrender thesmartphonemarketARMless.
20
READMYMIPS
XCOM:ENEMYUNKNOWN
WHERESMYQUANTUM COMPUTER?
Someremadeclassicssurpassthe magicoftheoriginals,butnotallofthem.Joe MartinplaysthenewXCOMtoseehowitfares.
Howfarawayarewefromquantum computing,andhowonearthdoyoubuilda quantumcomputeranyway?RickLane investigates.
January 2013
WorldMags.net
98 WorldMags.net 54 118 54 118 18 36 104
1ssue 112
PRODUCTS REVIEWED
Hardware
CPU 40 AMD FX
Reviewed this month
OPERATING SYSTEM 36 Windows 8
25
CASE 42 Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 MOTHERBOARD 44 Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP7 NAS BOX 46 Synology DS213+
Custom kit
50 50 50 51 51
Grippy Pad Booq Mamba Courier Edifier Sound To Go Plus Arctic P402 Amazon Kindle Fire HD 16GB
110
MOREMONEY,MORE 104 PROBLEMS

Fromcrowd-fundingprojectsviaKickstarter topay-what-you-wantsystems,JoeMartin talkstothoseinvolvedwithnewgames industrybusinessmodels.
8 From the editor 11 Tracy King 12 Digital rights 14 Interview 16 Incoming 18 Science! 20 Mobile tech watch 24 CPC Elite products 48 How we test 82 Grumpy gamer 92 Dev perspective 94 The engine room 128 Retro tech 130 James Gorbold
Regulars
58 59 60 62 63 64 66 68 70 72
Budget CPU Labs test

AMD A8-5600K AMD A10-5700 AMD A10-5800K Intel Core i3-3220 Intel Core i3-3225 Intel Pentium G2120
FM2 motherboard Labs test

ASRock FM2A75 Pro4-M Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H Asus F2A85-M PRO MSI A85XA-G65
84 87 88 90 91
Games
XCOM: Enemy Unknown Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit The Amazing Spider-Man Tomb Raider Company of Heroes 2
Community
110 114
116
HOWTOTURNANOLDCPU INTOAUSBTHUMBDRIVE
DontknowwhattodowiththePentium4 stashedinyourdrawer?AntonyLeather showsyouhowtoturnanoldchipintoa thumbdrive.
Readers drives How to make your own USB thumbdrive 118 How to make a USB SSD case 122 Letters 125 Folder of the month 126 Your folding milestones
88
WorldMags.net
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
THE AMD WORRY
from the editor
AMDs new FX chips still cant compete with Intels equivalents, and this should be a concern
longwithmyinabilitytounderstandmusicwithauto-tuned vocals,andmyeyebrowstendencytosproutstray5inhairs, oneofthemainfactorsIassociatewithgettingolderisthe abilitysitbackandaskwhenyourewrong.Idontalwaysmanageit, butitmustbeharderforatechcompanytoadmitthatitswrong, especiallywhenitsinvestedsomuchmoneyinawrongproduct. Itdoeshappenthough.WhenNvidiasGeForceGX5800Ultrawas (rightly)slatedbycriticsforbeingahot,slothofaGPUwithafanthat soundedlikeawindtunnel,itlaterreleasedajokevideoshowing peopleusingitasahairdryer.Similarly,afterafewyearsofseeingits NetBurstarchitecturebeingtrampledby AMDssuperiorAMD64architecture,Intel eventuallywentbacktothedrawingboard, canningitsroadmapandinsteadfocusing itseffortsonthenewCore2architecture. ThiswasntaneasydecisionforIntel. Itwasntjustacaseofadmittingthatits flagshipCPUarchitecturewasntupto muchithadtocanhugeamountsofresearchanddevelopment,lay offstaffandreallocateresourcesonaninternationalscale.Itturned outtobetherightstrategy,butau-turnonthatscaleisnttakenlightly. Assuch,ImnowwonderingwhatAMDiscurrentlythinkingabout itsFXlineofCPUs.AMDhasaproblemhere.Itspouredahuge amountofresourcesintodevelopingtheBulldozerarchitecture, whichisalsothebasisforthePiledriverarchitectureusedinthenew FX-8350(seep40).Piledriveriscertainlyanimprovementover Bulldozer,butIntelhasalsoreducedthepowerconsumptionand tweakedtheperformanceofitsownchipsinthemeantime. TheresultisthatAMDsnewFXCPUsimplyisntworthconsidering. Itstillusesanunhealthyamountofpower,anditsperformanceis comparablyterribleinalmosteverythingexceptheavilymultithreadedsoftware.Inparticular,itsspeedingamesiswoeful.This shouldntcomeasasurprise,seeingasitsbasicallyatweaked versionofBulldozer,butifthisisAMDshigh-endCPUstrategynow thenImworried. IrememberwhenAMDsFXCPUsrepresentedthepinnacleof desktopCPUperformanceAMDcouldhappilycharge500for them,andpeoplewouldpay.However,evenat 164,thenewFXchips simplycantcompete.Thisisproblematicforenthusiastsbecause, withoutstrongcompetition,Intelcouldsoonbeinapositiontotake overtheentiremarketforenthusiastdesktopCPUs. AMDcanthankfullyfallbackonsome reallygreatproductsatthemoment,so Imsureitsfutureisstillsafe.ItsRadeon HD7000-seriesGPUsanditsnewTrinity CPUs(seep60)arereallycompetitive.In fact,ImplanningtoupgrademyHTPCto aSocketFM2rigbytheendoftheyear. However,FXisaworry.Whatcan AMDdoaboutit?Itcouldeitherpulloutofthetop-endCPUmarket altogether,oritcouldrepeatIntelsNetBurst-canningstrategy,admit thatBulldozersimplyisntuptothejob,andreallocateitsresources ondevelopinganewCPUarchitecture.Sadly,thelatterisprobablyfar tooriskyinthecurrentfinancialclimate,butIalsodontwanttolose AMDfromthedesktopCPUmarket.IreallyhopeAMDhassomething reallystrongonitsfutureroadmap;ifnot,wecouldbelookingatan Intel-onlyfutureasdesktopPCenthusiasts. BenHardwidgeistheeditorof CustomPC.HelikesPCs,realale andWarhammer40,000.
EDITOR@CUSTOMPC.CO.UK @MANSHARK
Its basically a tweaked version of Bulldozer, but if this is AMDs high-end CPU strategy then Im worried
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
POLITICS AND GAMES DONT MIX
Being a gamer doesnt necessarily make you a good politician, but at least it shows youre in touch
ouldyoutrustyourMPmoreifyouknewtheywerea gamer?Iwould,becauseitseasiertotrustpeoplewho arelikeme,andalsobecauseIdknowtheyhadapassing clueabouttechnologyandtheInternet,andsomeinsightintowhat millionsofpeopleofallagesdointheirsparetime.Idprobablybe foolish,becauseasweallknow,beingagamerdoesntexcludeyou frombeingajerk,butatleasttheydbea21stcenturyjerk. WhenitcomestoParliamentvotingonissuessuchasgamebans, investmentinpublicWiFi,taxbreaksfordevelopers,introducing codingtothenationalcurriculumandsoon,Idratherhaveagamer inmycorner. Iunderstand,though,thattogenerationsor mindsetsignorantorscaredofgamesandour increasinglyonlinelifestyles,theideathata politicianwouldengageingamingisworrying. ArecentUSstorythatsstillcausingupsetis thatofColleenLachovicz,theStateSenate candidatewhoseWorldofWarcrafthabithas ledtoquestionsaboutherfitnessforoffice. Somepeoplehaveleapedonthisas evidencethatshesanawfulpersonandthat shewastesvastswathesofhertimeplayinga gamewhensheshouldbewell,thatswheretheyrequiet.Ihavent seenanyofhercriticsstatewhattheydointheirsparetimeandjustify whyitsmoreappropriateforapublicservant. Itspossiblethatsomefolkbelievepoliticiansshouldspendtheir sparetimeworking,butIdbeamazedifmanyactuallylivethatway. Rather,Isuspecttheyvesimplyoverlookedthefactthatvideogames arejustoneofmanysortsofplaying,andthattheyprobablydont equatetheirweeklygameofgolforpokernightasanythingsimilar. InBritain,wedonthavemanypoliticiansopenlyinvolvedingaming. OneexceptionisMPandMurdoch-baneTomWatson,whohas appearedatgameeventssuchasGameCity.Inopposition,wehave, amongothers,KeithVaz,whoseemsnotjustanti-gaming,butactively campaignsforcensorshipandrestrictions,leadingthemediacharge. Britainneedsanactiveandhealthygamingindustry.Gamesarean increasinglyimportantpartoftheeconomyandweshouldbemaking them,notbanningthem.NotjustPCorconsolegames,butcasual gamesformobiledevices,becausetheyreonlygoingtobecome morecommon. IftheUSAcanuseapoliticiansgaminghobbyagainsther,itwill happenheretoo.IcouldntfindanydataonMPsandgaming,andI wascurioustoknowhowmanywouldadmittoaspendingaweekend playingHalo,soIdevisedatwo-question anonymouspollandemailedittoallthe currentBritishMPs. Sadly,only18MPscompletedthesurvey, whichisntalargeenoughsamplesizefrom whichtodrawanymeaningfulanalysis.One formersportsminister(irony!)emailedtosay shecertainlydoesnotplaygames,butonthe plusside,tenofthemsaidthat,yes,theyplay computergamesononeplatformoranother; sixwerePCgamers.Sothatssomecomfort, knowingthereareatleastacoupleofgamersinpower. ThelastwordgoestoCharlieElphicke,MPforDoverandDeal,who emailedmetosay,Iusedtobuildmyownhomecomputers.Iused Zalmanwater-coolingbeforetheyworkedouthowtomakechipsrun lesshot.Itjustgoestoshowyoucanbuildcomputers,enjoygaming, designwebsitesandserveasahandson,in-touchMPtoo. GamerandscienceenthusiastTracyKingdissectstheevidence andstatisticsbehindsomeofthepopularmediastories @TKINGDOLL surroundingtechandgaming
Games are increasingly an important part of the economy and we should be making them, not banning them
WorldMags.net
January 2013
11
WorldMags.net
Jim Killock
Careless talk costs lives

People often make horrible and misguided remarks on the Internet, but that doesnt mean they should be prosecuted for it
spateofarrestssince2010has landedaroundsevenpeopleincourt orjailformakingshockingremarks ontheInternet.Thesesocialmedia trialshavecentredonindividualssending grosslyoffensivetweetsorFacebook updates.Theyvebeenprosecutedunder Section127aoftheCommunicationsAct,and thesentenceshaveleftmanyofuswondering exactlywhatmightlandusintroublewiththe law,merelyforexpressingopinions,serious ornot,thatotherpeoplefindoffensive. Internationallawisclearthatyouhavethe righttobeoffensive.TheEuropeanCourtof HumanRightstoldtheUKbackin1976that youhavetherighttosaythingsthatoffend, shockordisturbthestateoranysectorofthe population.Ofcourse,thatsdifferentfrom intimidatingorthreateningpeoplewith violenceorlyingaboutthem.Therearelaws thatdealwiththeseproblems,buttheydont applytocaseswherepeoplearesimplytelling jokesorperhapsbeingstupidontheInternet. ItstartedwiththenowfamousTwitterJoke Trial.PaulChambersjokinglythreatenedto blowupNottinghamairport.Hesaid:Crap! RobinHoodairportisclosed.Youvegota weekandabittogetyourshittogether otherwiseImblowingtheairportskyhigh! Nobodyintheirrightmindwouldtakesuch athreatseriously,yetitfilteredslowlythrough securityandpolicesystemstothepointwhere Chamberswasprosecuted.Heappearsto havebeeninvestigatedasifhewasapossible terrorist,howeverunlikely;presumablyit beganasabox-tickingexercise,wherepeople chargedwithmaintainingairportsecurity felttheyneededtoinvestigatepurelybecause itstheirresponsibility.Atsomepoint,law enforcementchangedtack,andprosecuted himunderSection127aoftheCommunications Act,sayinghistweetwasgrosslyoffensive.
PaulChamberswaseventuallyacquittedfollowingseveralappeals,and celebritysupportfrompeopleincludingStephenFryandAlMurray
Ittookseveralappealstopersuadethe courtsthathewasinfactjoking,andshould beleftalone.Unfortunately,Chambersisjust oneofmanywhohaverecentlybeenarrested underSection127a.Othershaventbeenso lucky.WhileChambersbecameacause clbre,andwassupportedbycelebrities includingStephenFryandAlMurray,other peoplehavesimplyendedupbeingfound guiltyandservingsentences. Partofthisisbecausetheremarkspeople havemadearedistasteful,andoftenthe timingmakestheoffensivenessparticularly bad.Andwhowantstodefendpeoplemaking poorlyjudgedremarks?AzarAhmad,for instance,toldhisFacebookfriends: Peoplegassinaboutthedeathsofsoldiers! Whatabouttheinnocentfamilyswhohave beenbrutallykilled..Thewomenwhohave beenraped..Thechildrenwhohavebeen slicedup..!YourenemysweretheTalibannot innocentharmlessfamilys.Allsoldiersshould DIE&gotoHELL!THELOWLIFEF*****N
SCUM!gottaproblemgocryatyoursoliders grave&wishhimhellbecausethatwherehe isgoing.Hewassentencedto240hoursof communityserviceand300fineat HuddersfieldMagistratesCourt. Whilefewpeoplewouldthinkthathis statementwasparticularlyeloquentor helpful,thenumberofpeoplewhomake similarlyoffensiveremarks,eitherinpubs, ontheInternetorelsewhereinpublicmust bequitehigh. Alsothisyear,MatthewWoodswasgiven 12weeksimprisonmentinayoungoffender institutionafterpostingoffensivejokeson FacebookaboutthemissingchildrenApril JonesandMadeleineMcCann.JoshuaCryer receivedatwo-yearcommunityorderfor racisttweetsdirectedatfootballerStan Collymore.AfakeDaleCreganfanpagefor theaccusedmurdererofpoliceofficersNicola HughesandFionaBoneresultedinthearrest ananonymouspersoninGreaterManchester inSeptember.
12
January 2013
WorldMags.net
PhotobyPaulClarke
WorldMags.net
DanielThomas,whoposted thishomophobictweet aboutswimmerTomDaley, wasinitiallyarrested
PhotoofTomDaleybyTheRamblingManandKimRatcliffeofThinkEquestrian
broken,andapplytheideathatgrossly offensivemeanswhatanormalpersonwould findgrosslyoffensive.Thismeansthatthe sectioncanfunctionasageneralarbiterof tasteanddecency,ratherthanaserioustest ofcriminality.Furthermore,whatwefind ThisApril,thebloggerOllyCromwellcalled offensivewillbeverymuchattunedtonew acceptablenorms,andcrucially,thatwaste aBexleycouncillorac**tontheInternet,and cycles,soanyremarkaboutarecently publicresources.Therehavebeenmorethan wassentencedtoa12-monthcommunity controversialtopic,oronethatsimplyraises 4,700prosecutions,butthevastmajoritydont serviceorderandafive-yearrestrainingorder, indignation,couldfallfoulofSection127a. concernInternetcommunications.Itcarries preventinghimfromanycontactwithhislocal AnyteenagerwithaJimmySavilejokeright amaximumsentenceofsixmonths.Most councillors.Idontknowthedetailsofthe nowreallyoughttokeepittothemselves. messagesthataregrosslyoffensiveorofan case,butrestrainingordersoughttocome Theresalso,perhaps,alackofunderstanding indecent,obsceneormenacingcharacter fromaharassmentcharge,notfromaspeech ofthedifferencebetweenconsideredpublic canbeprosecutedunderothermore offence.Whenyourepreventedfrom remarksandimmediatereactions interactingwithyourlocaldemocratic madeonsocialmedianetworks,which THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO maybepartiallyprivate.Mostpeople representatives,thatreallyoughtto ringouralarmbells. treatthemasthelatter,andthelaw MAKE SIMILARLY OFFENSIVE Theexceptiontothisspateof needstoreflectoursocialattitudes, REMARKS IN PUBS OR prosecutionswasthecaseofDaniel ratherthancorrallingthepopulation ELSEWHERE MUST BE QUITE HIGH intotalkingandbehavinglikethe Thomas,whopostedahomophobic tweetaboutswimmerTomDaley,and editedmassmedia. wasinitiallyarrested.Thecaseseemsto Thedangeristhatweendupself-policing appropriateacts.Sothequestionis,whyis havehelpedtopromptthedirectorofthe ourspeechwhenitmightbebesttospeakout. section127abeingusedtopolicetheInternet, CrownProsecutionServicetoreviewthe Theworldwouldbeaboringandoppressive anddoesitevenneedtoexist? organisationsguidelinesaboutwhento placeifwehadtothinkabouthowthecourts Amajorreasonforthespateofrecent prosecute.Theirpublicconsultationis mightinterpretoureverythought. Internetprosecutionsmustlieinthenew makingtherightnoises,buttheresadanger powerofsocialmedia,andthevisibilityand thatthisisjustpaperingoverthecracks.It immediacyofthemessages.Peopleand isntclearthattheCommunicationsActs policemaybereadingthesemessages, powerisdesignedfortheInternetandsocial feeloutragedandthenreachforthelawbook. isexecutivedirectorof mediaatall. Section127aseemslikeaneatcatch-all,and campaignorganisation Section127adatesbacktotheanalogue perhapsisbeingusedwhereactualharmis TheOpenRightsGroup era,andwasoriginallydesignedtostop hardtoshow,soitwouldbedifficulttomake (www.openrightsgroup.org) peopleabusingpublicnetworks,such otheroffencesstick. astelephonesorthepostalservice,to Thatsbadenough,butcourtsseemtobe @jimkillock communicateinwaysthatwerebeyond playingalongtoo.Courtsdontlikelawsbeing
JIM KILLOCK
WorldMags.net
January 2013
13
WorldMags.net
Joe Martin
In Mod We Trust
S
ettingouttomakeablockbusterqualitymultiplayershooterisan intimidatingtaskforbigstudios,let aloneindieoutfits.Thatsthemission forPlasticPiranhaCEOJasonBrice,however, whohiredsomeofthebestUnrealEngine3 modderstomakePiranhasfirstgame,Rekoil. CPC: TellusabouthowtheRekoilteam cametoworktogether? Jason: IstartedPlasticPiranhawithafriend who was living in Sweden at the time. Having whowaslivinginSwedenatthetime.Having
Jason Brice recruited some of the best Unreal Engine 3 modders to make Rekoil. Joe Martin discusses the modding scene with him
justfinishedaprojectwithDICE,wewanted tomakeanFPSgame,soweimmediately begansearchingforpeoplethatcouldassist us.Theteamhaschangeddrasticallysince thattime,butwevenowassembledaworldclassensembleofprogrammers,artists andproducers. CPC: Youreunusualinthattheteamis spreadacrosstheworld,butyoupayaflat salarysothatanemployeeinSerbiagets the same as someone from the USA, right? thesameassomeonefromtheUSA,right? What was the motivation behind that? Whatwasthemotivationbehindthat? Jason: All this really means is that we arent Allthisreallymeansisthatwearent taking advantage of anyone due to their takingadvantageofanyoneduetotheir geographic location. You hear it all the time; geographiclocation.Youhearitallthetime; how a company sent their operations abroad howacompanysenttheiroperationsabroad
Interviewee: JasonBrice, level designerand CEOofPlastic Piranha
tosavemoneyandsoon.Wesimplyarent doingthat.Wefoundthebesttalentthatwas availabletous,anditjusthappenedtobe spreadaroundtheworld.Currently,wehave teammembersinGerman,Serbia,Sweden, Irelandandotherlocationstoo. CPC: Howdidtheteamshistoryofmodding formthetypeofgameyouwantedtomake? Canyoutellusaboutthephilosophybehind Rekoilsdesign? we wanted to ensure that Jason: Well, Well,wewantedtoensurethat modding tools would be available to everyone, moddingtoolswouldbeavailabletoeveryone, no matter what we did. Modding is how we nomatterwhatwedid.Moddingishowwe started, so naturally, we wanted to see people started,sonaturally,wewantedtoseepeople get the tools to create something awesome. getthetoolstocreatesomethingawesome. Fewer games seem to be launching CPC: Fewergamesseemtobelaunching with mod support now, even when theyre withmodsupportnow,evenwhentheyre based on engines known for supporting basedonenginesknownforsupporting modding elsewhere, such as Mirrors Edge moddingelsewhere,suchasMirrorsEdge on UE3. Why do you think that is? onUE3.Whydoyouthinkthatis? We believe modding is a feature thats Jason: Webelievemoddingisafeaturethats been removed from most games due to the beenremovedfrommostgamesduetothe fact that companies want to make money factthatcompanieswanttomakemoney from downloadable content (DLC). When fromdownloadablecontent(DLC).When people can make popular maps for the peoplecanmakepopularmapsforthe community that are fun to play, why would communitythatarefuntoplay,whywould people spend $15 on a map pack? peoplespend$15onamappack? Do you think thats had an effect on CPC: Doyouthinkthatshadaneffecton the modding communities? It seemed like themoddingcommunities?Itseemedlike there was a gold rush a few years ago, when therewasagoldrushafewyearsago,when
I THINK ITS NATURAL FOR MOST COMPANIES TO EXPAND, AND FORGET WHERE THEY CAME FROM
14
April 2012
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Rekoiliscreatedbyan internationalteamofmodders Settoshipwithten maps,Rekoilwillget freeDLCafterrelease
teamswerepickedupbystudios.That doesntseemtohappensomuchnow. Jason: Alotofthosemodteamsare responsibleformuchofthegreatcontent being created in games throughout the beingcreatedingamesthroughoutthe industry. One might argue that without mod industry.Onemightarguethatwithoutmod tools being readily available, the industry is toolsbeingreadilyavailable,theindustryis limiting the amount of talent that will be limitingtheamountoftalentthatwillbe available to create the games of tomorrow. availabletocreatethegamesoftomorrow. If you look around now, the modding scene Ifyoulookaroundnow,themoddingscene has definitely been reduced in size. I think the hasdefinitelybeenreducedinsize.Ithinkthe desire is still there, but there arent enough desireisstillthere,buttherearentenough titles offering the tools as part of the games titlesofferingthetoolsaspartofthegames release. We hope our tools can provide an release.Wehopeourtoolscanprovidean outletformoddingteams. often feels as though games have CPC: It Itoftenfeelsasthoughgameshave lost something by trying to reach wider lostsomethingbytryingtoreachwider audiences too. Is that why you talk audiencestoo.Isthatwhyyoutalk so much about Rekoil being for somuchaboutRekoilbeingfor coregamers? think its natural for most Jason: I Ithinkitsnaturalformost companies to expand, and forget companiestoexpand,andforget where they came from. Because wheretheycamefrom.Because ofthis,Ibelievegamersare starting to feel that publishers startingtofeelthatpublishers are taking advantage of them. aretakingadvantageofthem. As a result, weve taken the core Asaresult,wevetakenthecore gamer concept very seriously. These are gamerconceptveryseriously.Theseare
thepeoplethatwillplayourgamenightand day.Thesearethegamersthataregoingto telltheirfriendstocomeandjointhemfora roundortwo,andwhosevoiceshaveopinions and suggestions that matter theyre andsuggestionsthatmattertheyre fundamental to what were trying to do. fundamentaltowhatweretryingtodo.
CPC: Youvealsotalkedaboutthecompetitive sideofRekoilandeSportsupport. Jason: ESportshavebeenahighpriority fortheteam,asseveralofusplayin competitions. We think that having a good, competitions.Wethinkthathavingagood, straightforward, balanced shooter will be straightforward,balancedshooterwillbe widely embraced by the eSport community. widelyembracedbytheeSportcommunity. We plan on supporting the game by having Weplanonsupportingthegamebyhaving as many LAN events as possible. Well be asmanyLANeventsaspossible.Wellbe sponsoring tournaments with top-tier players sponsoringtournamentswithtop-tierplayers and giving server owners the ability to set up andgivingserverownerstheabilitytosetup games the way they wish. gamesthewaytheywish. How do you like to play Rekoil, and CPC: HowdoyouliketoplayRekoil,and which parts are you most proud of? whichpartsareyoumostproudof? I love that Rekoil is stripped Jason: IlovethatRekoilisstripped down to just the essentials. Its downtojusttheessentials.Its just you and your weapon. Its justyouandyourweapon.Its competitive, balanced and not competitive,balancedandnot a game of kill-streaks, level agameofkill-streaks,level ups and so on. Im also upsandsoon.Imalso pleased there will be pleasedtherewillbe around 14 maps. Well around14maps.Well probably release ten at the probablyreleasetenatthe start, and the other four as start,andtheotherfouras free DLC. We love the environments freeDLC.Welovetheenvironments weve created, and cant wait to share wevecreated,andcantwaittoshare them with everyone. themwitheveryone. Find out more info at www.rekoil.com Findoutmoreinfoat
WorldMags.net
April 2012
15
WorldMags.net
NEW HARDWARE
We take a look at the latest newly announced products

Corsairsall-in-oneliquidcoolersmightofferdamngoodcooling,notto mentionaneasysetupprocedure,buttheresnowayyoucouldcallthem quiet,evenontheirlowestfansettings.However,thatcouldsoonchange, asthecompanyhasjustupdateditssingle-fanH60coolersothatitincludes oneofCorsairsnewAirSeriesSP120fans. TheupdatedcooleralsofeaturesCorsairs fourth-generationcold-platedesignandlargerdiametertubingthantheoriginal.Meanwhile,the companyhasalsolaunchedthenewbasicH55 coolerbelowtheH60,whichfeaturesastandard fan.Corsairsaysthat theH55providesa simpleand effective upgradefrom abasicCPU aircooler.
HYDRO POWER
NEW ROCCAT GAMING MICE

ThegamingperipheralaficionadosoveratRoccathavejust designedtwonewgamingmicetheKoneXTDandthe KonePure.Eachmousehas576KBofon-boardmemory, alongwithadedicatedARMCPUandwhatRoccatmodestly callstheplanetsmostadvancedTracking&Distance ControlUnit.TheXTDmodelhaseightbuttons,whilethe Purehasseven. Visually,themaindifferencebetweenthetwomodels isthelightingsystem.TheXTD(pictured)hasfourmulticolouredLEDs,whichcanbeprogrammedtoperform effectssuchasbreathing.Meanwhile,thePureenables youtofullycontrolthecolourofitslightingsystem,withup to16.8milliondifferentcoloursavailable.TheKonePure andKoneXTDareavailablenow,costing62and72 respectivelyfrom www.eclipsecomputers.com
INTEL SSD HITS 20NM

IntelhasjustlauncheditsfirstSSDtobebasedonitsown20nmmultilevelcell(MLC)NANDflashmemory.AswithotherrecentInteldrives, thenewSATA6GbpsSolid-StateDrive335featuresaSandForce controller,ratherthananIntelcontroller.Inthiscase,itstheSF-2281, andIntelclaimsitscapableofsustained sequential read and write speeds of up sequentialreadandwritespeedsofup to 500MB/sec and 450MB/sec to500MB/secand450MB/sec respectively. The new drive is respectively.Thenewdriveis currentlyonlyavailablein a240GBflavour,andcan beboughtnowfrom www.scan.co.uk for143incVAT.
Wereceivedsadnewsaboutthe water-coolingmarketthismonth, asDangerDenannouncedthatits goingtoceasetrading.Originally founded in 2000 by Dan Stephens, Jeremy Burnett foundedin2000byDanStephens,JeremyBurnett andDennisLeach(thefirstthreelettersof eachfirstnamespellsDanJerDenwhenyou stringthemtogether),astatementonthe companyswebsiteon31Octobersaid that,After12yearsourhobbyhascome toanend.ItstimetopursueotherinterestsandDangerDenwill beclosingitsdoors.DangerDenwasoneofthefirstcompaniesto developproperthird-partywaterblocksforwater-coolingPCs. FarewellDangerDen,youllbemissed.
DANGER DEN STOPS TRADING
WorldMags.net
NOVEMBER OFFERS WorldMags.net
AT EXCEPTIONAL PRICES!
1&1 DOMAINS
SECURE YOUR DOMAIN AND SAVE!
TRUST THE UKs NO. 1

With more than 11 million customer contracts, over 2 billion in annual turnover, 5000 employees, 18 million registered domains and 5 high-performance data centres, we are one of the worlds largest web hosts and a leading domain registrar.
.co.uk .com .info
.99
rst year*
OFFER ENDS
FULL DNS CONTROL

Complete DNS and Contact Management via our easy-to-use 1&1 Control Panel
30/11/12
Included with all 1&1 Domains:

Subdomain creation and redirection Masked URL Forwarding
1&1 DOMAIN APP

Check and register domains on-the-go
SUPPORT
24/7 phone and e-mail support
DOMAINS | E-MAIL | WEB HOSTING | eCOMMERCE | SERVERS Call 0844 335 1211 or buy online
* Offers apply to rst rst year of registration. Second year and subsequent years will be charged at the regular price. Visit www.1and1.co.uk for full offer details, terms and conditions. Prices exclude VAT.
www.1and1.co.uk
WorldMags.net
Lucy Sherriff
WorldMags.net
Robot butlers
W
eveallbeenthere.Youpress Ctrl-Ptoprint,butinsteadofthe chunkingandwhirringofink cartridgesandtherustlingof paper,youjusthearthegentledronethattells youeverythingisstillpluggedin.Cannotfind printer!thecomputercheerfullyannounces forthefourthtimeinarow.Youliftthemonitor, pointitattheerrantdeviceandyell,Thereitis! There!Icanseeit,whycantyou?! Nowimagineaworldinwhichyoucould askthisquestionforreal,andreceivean answerthatdidntrequireGooglingoferror codesoryourfamilyphoningyouforunpaid techsupport?Thisisthemodestaimofthe computersciencedepartmentatAberdeen University,whichhasjustscoreda1.1m grantfromtheEngineeringandPhysical SciencesResearchCounciltogetcomputers totalktousinasensible,ordinarylanguage. Thebigideabehindtheprojectisthatitwill increaseourfaithinautonomoussystems. Itsveryhumblingtorealisethata computercandosomethingbetterthanus, saysDrWambertoVasconcelos,asenior lecturerinComputerSciencefromAberdeen University.Andeventhen,wehavethat nigglingfeelingthatmaybeitdoesnt,and thatitsmakingbaddecisions.
Researchers are currently working on robotic systems that not only serve humans, but can also talk to them in an intelligible manner
Theideaisthatifthecomputerspeaksin awaythatmakessensetous,weremore inclinedtorespondtoitpositively.Theteamat Aberdeenisseveralweeksintoitsthreeyear project,andwhilethetechnologyitdevelops heremightenduphelpinguspunyhumansto disassemblenuclearpowerplants,thetest bedisrathermoreeveryday:thehome. Thedevelopmentlabisgoingtobeasmart house,whereallthedeviceshavetonegotiate withoneanothertoconserveasmuchenergy aspossiblewhilenotupsettingthehumans orMasters,asVasconcelossays.Thenthey havetobeabletojustifytheirdecisionsin naturallanguagewhenMastercomes homeandwantstoknowwhytheyve decidedtoswitchoffthefridge. Theyllbeabletosay,There wasnobodyinthehouse,and thefridgewascoldenough tokeepthefoodfreshforat leastfourhours,sowe switcheditofftosave power,headds. Vasconcelosexpands onthetheme.Inthis smarthouse,youmight gooutandleavealight on.Inthissituation, thereareplentyofcompetingpriorities.The lightswitchsaysitwantstoswitchoffthelight tosavepowerbecausetheresnoonehome.A secondcontrollermightsaythattheremight bepeopleupstairsthatithasntdetected,and itshouldleavethelightonalittlelonger. Thisdiscussion,whichtakestheformof formulaeandmathematicalproofs,willlead toajointplaninsimilarlyincomprehensible terms,saysVasconcelos.Thisisnt greatforhumans,sowegetthe appliancestomaketheirdecision, butalsoturnthatinto naturallanguagesothat peopleotherthan mathematicianscan understandwhythe lightshavebeenturned off,Vasconcelosexplains. Therearetwostrandsto theresearch:workingout howtogetthedevicesto negotiatesuccessfully;and developingamethodfor translatingmachine-speak intohumanlanguage. Vasconcelossaysthatsome informationwillalwaysbe givenpriority.Forexample,
18
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Saxenasteamhastaughtarobottospot whenahumanhasleftoutthemilk,and tidyitawaywithoutspecificinstructions
AshutoshSaxenafrom CornellUniversity
informationrelatingtosafetywillalways outrankapreference. Theteamdoesntyethaveasolutiontothe latterproblem.Thisiswhatwesetouttodo inourproject,saysVasconcelos.Well exploretechniquestosummariseand organisetheformallogicaswellasa networkofargumentsattackingoneanother, supportingothers,andsooncapture notionsofimportanceandrelevanceinproofs andarguments,andthencombinetextand graphicrepresentationsoftheformallogic toshowproofstohumans. Extensiveexperimentswithhumanusers willvalidateourapproachandhelpustowork outwhatworksandwhatdoesnt. Althoughthetestsetupishome-based, theworkwillhaveapplicationsinindustry, particularlyinauditingdecision-making processes,andassigningblamewhenthings gowrong.Itdoesntmatterifitspeopleor componentsthathavefailed.Itmeansyoull beabletofindapointofresponsibility.Maybe ahumaniscontactedatsomepointinan automatedprocessandgivesanokaytoa decision.Thatsthecheckpoint,Vasconcelos says.Itsveryimportantthattherearethese entrypointsforhumanstointerferewith machinebehaviour,eithertounderstandit orchangeitforthefuture. Aswellasteachingmachinestotalktous, scientistsarealsobusilyworkingouthowto makerobotsunderstandhowtoliveinour world.AtCornellUniversity,assistant professorofcomputerscience,Ashutosh Saxena,recentlywona$200,000grantfrom Microsofttofurtherhisworkdeveloping personalrobots,whichcouldonedaylivein ourhomes,andhelptheelderlyanddisabled witheverydaytasks.
Couldwebeclosetohavingrobotbutlers? Thatdependsonwhattaskithastoperform, saysSaxena.Just[tohavethem]cleanthe floor?Maybeafewyears.Todospecifictasks suchasputtingobjectsinproperplaces, maybefiveyears.Astasksgetcomplicated, itbecomeshardertomakethemreliable. Computers,asweknow,canbemindnumbinglylinearitmaybetheirbiggest strength,butitalsomakesuswantto defenestratethemmorethananyother object.Humans,ontheotherhand,arent. Saxenaandhisteamaretryingtomerge thesetwoworldsbyteachingrobotsto operateautonomouslyinadisorderly humanenvironmentusingapieceofgaming technology: MicrosoftsKinect3Dcamera. TheKinectcreatesadepthmapofthe environmentoriginallysothatyoucould controlaconsolewithjustyourbody.Butthe datafromthecameracanalsogivearobota mapofitsenvironmentandtheobjectsinit. Thenextstepistoteachtherobothowto recogniseandinteractwiththoseobjects. Todothis,theyneedtobetrainedabout theirenvironmentandmakeinferencesabout itbasedonpastexperience.Forexample, humanscanrecogniseamugevenifitdoesnt lookexactlylikeamugweveseenbefore. Saxenaisgettinghisrobotstodothesame. Therobotisshownexamplesofobjects withlabels.Forexample,itmayhaveseen severalexamplesofmugs,soitlearnsto identifythennotjustfromthemugs3Dshape andappearance,butalsofromthelearning context,suchaswhethermugsarefoundon thetable,hesays.Moreimportantly,its actuallylessimportantforarobotthatitsa mug,andmoreimportanttoknowthatits apickableobjectthatcancontainliquids.
Theresearchersarealsoworkingon gettingtheirrobotstounderstandourweird behaviour.Thisisalittleharder,butcouldend upbeingmuchmoreuseful.Forinstance,a homehelpermachinecouldnoticethatits personhadnottakenhispillsthatmorning, andbringthemedicinebottletohim. Saxenaexplainsthattherobotgets multimodalcuesfromtheKinectcamera: Therobotobserveshumansperforming activitieswiththeobjects,andlearnshow humansusetheobjectsandtheirpreferences withthem.Moreinterestingly,inoneofour works,therobotdoesntneedtoactually observehumansusingtheobjects.Instead,it canhallucinateabouthumansandfigure out[ananswer]byimagininghumansinthe environmentthatmakesthemostsense. Theteamhasevenmanagedtoteacha robottospotwhenahumanhasleftoutthe milkandtidyitawaywithoutneedingspecific instructions(http://pr.cs.cornell.edu/videos. php).Saxenapredictsthatthetechnology couldevenmakeitswayintosmartphones. Werejustlookingforwardtothedaywhen wedontevenhavetoinstructourrobotbutler tothrowthemalfunctioningprinteroutofthe window.Itwillbeabletofigureoutthatit needstobedoneallbyitself,andthentellus whywhenwegetbackfromthepub.
isajournalistwitha degreeinastrophysics whoknowsallaboutthe latestscientifictech. @lucysherriff
LUCY SHERRIFF
WorldMags.net
January 2013
19
WorldMags.net
Gareth Halfacree looks at the latest mobile hardware
Read my MIPS
F
oundedin1984byresearchersfrom StanfordUniversity,MIPShadsome successfulearlyyears.Itshigh-speed yetlow-powerinstructionsetwas usedbySiliconGraphicsforitsworkstations, withthecompanylaterbuyingwhatwas thenknownasMIPSComputerSystems Incorporated,andrebrandingitasMIPS Technologiesinadealvaluedat$333million. Thetargetofthedealwasthetechnology behindtheR2000andR3000processors. LaunchedtocompetewithIntels386and Motorolas68000,theR2000wasthefirst readilyavailablereducedinstructionset computing(RISC)processorbeatingARMs firstavailabledesignbytwoyears. AsaRISCchip,thesamebenefitsofARMs designssuchasreducedtransistorcount comparedtoCISCandreducedpowerdraw forsimilarperformanceappliedtoMIPS processors,makingthemanobviouschoice fortheburgeoninghandheldcomputer market.IntheearlydaysofWindowsCE palmtops,MIPSandARMwouldgoheadto head,butonlyonewinneremerged:ARM. WhenMicrosoftmovedfromWindowsCEto WindowsMobileandWindowsPhone,MIPS supportwasdroppedinfavourofadualarchitectureARMandx86approach. Havinglostwhatwouldlaterberecognised asthefighttobeattheforefrontofthe smartphonerevolution,MIPSlickedits woundsandconcentratedonotherareas.Its high-performance,low-powerarchitecture foundenoughtractioninnetworkingand high-performancecomputing(HPC)markets tokeepthecompanyafloat.NowMIPSisback anditintendstoremindARMthat,whileitmay havewonthebattle,thewarisntyetover.
Discussions about the CPU battleground usually focus on Intel and ARM, but MIPS is an exciting newcomer to the mobile CPU market
MIPSproAptivdesign includessomeneattricksto keepdataflowing
2009,whenthecompanyannouncedthat GooglesAndroidplatformhadbeenportedto theMIPSinstructionsetarchitecture.Later thatyear,MIPSwouldannouncemembership oftheOpenHandsetAlliance,confirming,if therewasanydoubt,thatitwaslookingatthe
mobilemarketafresh. Undernewchiefexecutive SandeepVij,Androidrelatedannouncements camethickandfast, includingthelaunchof theAinol7inIceCream Sandwichtablet,thefirst suchdevicetoretailfor under$100.Morerecently, KarbonnMobileswasthe secondcompanyinthe worldtoannouncean Android4.1JellyBean device,basedagainona MIPSprocessor. AswithARM,MIPSdoesntmakechips,but sellsdesignstothird-partymanufacturers. Unlikeamanufacturingcompanysuchas Intel,whichhastofindthecashtoproduce enoughprocessorstomeetdemand,MIPS andARMcansitbackandwatchthelicensing feescomefloodinginleavingtheirvarious partnersholdingmostoftherisk.Itsthisrisk thatsslowingtheadoptionofMIPSoverARM inthemobileindustry,withmostcompanies stilloptingforthetried-and-testedBritish option,butadesigniscomingthatpromises tochangeallthat:theMIPSproAptivcore.
MIPS PROAPTIV
Designedfortheperformancemarket,the MIPSproActiv ticksalotofboxes:availablein single,dual,quadorhex-coreflavours,the processorusesafusedtriple-dispatch superscalarout-of-orderexecutionengine, andahigh-performancefloating-pointunit, allinabundlethattakesuplessspacethan theequivalentdesignfromARMwhile boastingequivalentorgreaterperformance.
SOFTWARE SUPPORT
ThefirsthintsthatMIPSwaslookingtoget backintothehandheldmarketcameinJune
TheproAptivIPscalesuptosixcores,eachofwhichis claimedtobe50percentfasterthananARMCortex-A9
20
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Adual-coreproAptivdesigncanfit1MBofL2cacheinto thesamespacethatanARMsCortex-A15needsforthe processorsalone
MIPSclaimsthattheproAptivdesigneasilybeststhecompetition,butwillOEMsbeconvinced?
UsingdetailsreleasedatARMTechCon, MIPSpredictsthatadual-coreproAptivchip with1MBofL2cachewillbejustoverhalfthe sizeofadual-coreCortex-A15chip,soyoucan packfourproAptivcoresintothesamespace. Fordeviceswhereeverymillimetrecounts buthighperformanceisdemanded,thatsa powerfulargumentforamovetoMIPS. Cortex-A15performancemetricsarehard tofind,butarereadilyavailableforchipsbased onARMsCortex-A9designandMIPSlooks likeanearlywinner.UsingtheCoreMark benchmark,theproAptivdesignachieves ascoreof4.5perMHz,some50percent higherthantheCortex-A9thatsattheheart ofmostmodernsmartphonesandtablets. ConsideringthattheCortex-A9designis thebasisforhigh-performanceprocessors, includingNvidiasTegra3andSamsungs Exynos,thatsaprettyimpressivefigure. JustincaseyouthoughtMIPSmightjustbe bad-mouthingthecompetition,thecompany isquicktopointoutthattheproAptivdesign leavesitsownlast-generationproductsinthe dusttoo,withaboostofaround60percent comparedtoitsCoreMarkper-megahertz resultsfromthepreviousMIPS1074Kseries.
UNDER THE BONNET

Theseperformancegainscomefroma wealthofimprovementscomparedtoMIPS earlierdesigns,includingsomeclevertricks suchastheuseofinstructionbondingto makeasinglememorypipelineappearastwo tothehostoperatingsystem.Theresalsoan EnhancedVirtualAddressing(EVA)system forbetteraddressspaceutilisation,anda
sophisticatedbranchpredictionenginethat promisesfewercachemisses. Thefloating-pointunitisalsoparticularly clever.Unlikepreviousdesigns,whichran theFPUataslowerspeedthanthemain processor,theproAptivdesignrunstheFPU atthesamespeedastheCPU.Asaresult, latencyisreducedandthethroughput improved,whilethesmartuseofdedicated schedulersandincreasedparallelismmeans thatmoreinstructionscanwhizzthroughthe systemthaneverbefore. Asecond-generationcoherencemanager alsoboostsperformance,boastingadesign thatdropslatencyfromaround24cyclesto 11,andoffersarounddoublethesystem bandwidthovertheprevious-generation engine.TheresalsoadedicatedL2cache controllerwithinthecoherencymanager itself;thisrequiredaseparatecomponent inpreviousdesigns. ThefamilyofchipsenvisionedbyMIPS coversawidespectrum;mobileandtablet versionsrunningbetween1GHzand1.5GHz willfeaturesingle,dualorquad-coredesigns andanintegrateddigital-signalprocessor, whileset-topboxversionsnotencumbered bybatterylifewillreach2GHz. Thesamearchitecturewillalsopower futurenetworkdevices,withsingletohexcoreimplementationsrunningatspeeds between1GHzand2GHz. TheproAptivdesignisjoinedbythe interAptivandmicroAptivfamilies,each cheaperbutlesspowerfulthanthelast. WiththemicroAptiv,MIPSiseventargeting traditionalmicrocontrollermarketsheldby
thelikesofAtmelandNXPthelatter,funnily enough,usingARM-licenseddesigns.The designsarenowreadilyavailable,meaning thatitsuptothecompanyscustomersto makeproductsbasedonthechips.
MIPS vs INTEL vs ARM

WhileIntelandARMhavebeenfighting,MIPS hasbeenquietlyworkingontheproAptiv design,anditsnowcomingoutofleft-field. Suddenlythetwogiantsoneholdinga near-monopolyinthesmartphoneand tabletmarket,andtheotherholdingasimilar positioninthedesktop,laptopandserver marketsarefightingawaronthreefronts, andshouldMIPSclaimsforthebenefitsof proAptivswayOEMs,bothcouldloseserious groundinanincreasinglylucrativemarket. ThecomingfightissomethingofaDavid vstwoGoliathsepicwhileIntelhasmore than100,000employeesthroughoutthe world,andARMhasaround2,000,MIPSis amuchsmallerorganisationofaround160. WhetherthatwillhelpMIPSwithincreased flexibility,orhinderitwithalackofresources, incompetingwithtwoofthebiggestnamesin thechipindustryremainstobeseen.
isthenewsreporterat www.bit-tech.net.He knowsallabout the latestnewsinPCandmobiletech. @ghalfacree
GARETH HALFACREE
WorldMags.net
January 2013
21
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Our choice of the best hardware available
A
You dont have to spend an astronomical sum to get a decent PC. Our budget PC includes a superb Trinity APU, with a built-in Radeon HD 7660D GPU, plus 8GB of 2,133MHz RAM to boost the on-board graphics
MOTHERBOARD APU RAM COOLING
UPDATED
PSU
UPDATED
HARD DISK
UPDATED
OPTICAL DRIVE OPERATING SYSTEM
NAME
SUPPLIER www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk www.aria.co.uk www.cclonline.com www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.antec.com www.gigabyte.com www.amd.com www.corsair.com www.gelidsolutions.com www.bequiet.com www.seagate.com www.liteonit.eu www.microsoft.com
REVIEWED Issue 108, p36 Issue 112, p44 Issue 112, p60 Issue 112, p60 Issue 100, p86 Issue 110, p55 Issue 104, p72 Issue 99, p108 Issue 75, p46
PRICE (inc VAT) 37 56 93 47 25 55 42 14 119
A B C D E F G H I
Antec One Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H AMD A10-5800K 8GB Corsair Vengeance 2,133MHz CAS11 Gelid Tranquillo Rev.2 Be Quiet! Pure Power L8 530W 500GB Seagate Barracuda ST500DM002 Lite-On IHAS124-19 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE
488
QPAD MK-50 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard
with Cherry MX Red Switches Gold Plated Connectors Removable Keycaps Media Keys 2 Year Warranty CCL Code - KBD0455
WERE AWARD WINNERS!
www.cclonline.com
24 April 2012
PC Pro 2011
Highly Commended
WorldMags.net
58.16
Pr ices cor rec t at tim e o f g oi ng to publi shi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
A
As Core i7 motherboards and high-end graphics cards command a premium price, here are some components for a Core i5 PC that offer great performance and wont break the bank
MOTHERBOARD CPU RAM COOLING GRAPHICS CARD
PSU
HARD DISK
SOUND CARD
SOLID STATE DRIVE
OPERATING SYSTEM
NAME
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk www.dabs.com www.overclockers.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.silverstonetek.com www.gigabyte.com www.intel.co.uk www.patriotmemory.com www.arctic.ac www.amd.com www.bequiet.com www.seagate.com http://uk.asus.com www.samsung.com www.liteonit.eu www.microsoft.com
REVIEWED Issue 103, p70 Issue 108, p38 Issue 106, p36 Issue 106, p40 Issue104, p48 Issue 111, p62 Issue 110, p55 Issue 104, p75 Issue 99, p108 Issue 104, p68 Issue 99, p108 Issue 75, p46
PRICE (inc VAT) 104 79 173 37 28 150 55 69 24 80 14 119
A B C D E F G H I J K L
SilverStone Raven RV03 Gigabyte GA-Z77-D3H Intel Core i5-3570K 8GB Patriot G2 PGD38G1600ELK Arctic Freezer i30 AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB Be Quiet! Pure Power L8 530W Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 Asus Xonar DG Samsung SSD 830 128GB Lite-On IHAS124-19 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE
932
Fractal Design Core 1000 PC Case

A unique combination of design, features, cooling performance and value 2x 3.5" Bays, 2x 5.25" Bays 2x Front USB 2.0 1x Front 120mm Fan Supports up to 3x 2.5 SSDs CCL Code - CAS0478
www.cclonline.com/cpc 08000 50 10 10
WorldMags.net
31.19
April 2012
25
Pr i ces cor rec t at tim e o f go in g to publi shi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
A
This PC has the potential to be the finest gaming machine you can find as well as an excellent all-round computer for office work, digital photography, video production and media playback
MOTHERBOARD CPU RAM COOLING GRAPHICS CARD
PSU
HARD DISK
SOUND CARD
SOLID STATE DRIVE
OPERATING SYSTEM
NAME
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.amazon.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.co.uk www.dabs.com www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.silverstonetek.com http://uk.asus.com www.intel.co.uk www.patriotmemory.com www.bequiet.com www.amd.com www.seasonic.com www.seagate.com http://uk.asus.com www.ocztechnology.com www.liteonit.eu www.microsoft.com
REVIEWED Issue 85, p88 Issue 106, p64 Issue 106, p36 Issue 106, p40 Issue 91, p74 Issue 111, p70 Issue 110, p59 Issue 104, p75 Issue 80, p63 Issue 104, p68 Issue 99, p108 Issue 75, p46
PRICE (inc VAT) 180 150 173 37 41 336 115 69 59 160 14 119
A B C D E F G H I J K L
SilverStone Fortress FT02B-W USB 3.0 Asus Maximus V Gene Intel Core i5-3570K 8GB Patriot G2 PGD38G1600ELK Be Quiet! Dark Rock Advanced AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition Seasonic X-Series 660W Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 Asus Xonar DX OCZ Vertex 4 256GB Lite-On IHAS123-19 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE
1,453
Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D2V Motherboard
Amazing price Socket 1155 motherboard! Socket 1155 Motherboard MicroATX Form Factor Up to 16GB DDR3 Memory Gigabit LAN CCL Code - MBD0340
WERE AWARD WINNERS!
www.cclonline.com
26 April 2012
PC Pro 2011
Highly Commended
WorldMags.net
38.94
Pr ices cor rec t at tim e o f goi ng to publi shi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
A
The most awesome components around, before reaching workstation territory. Weve included a dual 120mm liquid cooler kit as a base example, but the case has space for a variety of water-cooling setups
MOTHERBOARD CPU RAM GRAPHICS CARD COOLING
PSU
SOLID STATE DRIVE
SOUND CARD
HARD DISK
OPERATING SYSTEM
NAME
SUPPLIER www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.overclockers.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.ebuyer.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk www.scan.co.uk
MANUFACTURER www.silverstonetek.com http://uk.asus.com www.intel.co.uk www.kingston.com www.nvidia.com www.corsair.com www.bequiet.com www.ocztechnology.com http://uk.asus.com www.seagate.com www.microsoft.com
REVIEWED Issue 63, p87 Issue 106, p64 Issue 106, p36 Issue 106, p40 Issue 106, p46 Issue 91, p 74 Issue 110, p64 Issue 107, p44 Issue 80, p63 Issue 104, p75 Issue 75, p46
PRICE (inc VAT) 227 150 249 40 779 82 167 160 59 69 119
A B C D E F G H I J K
SilverStone Temjin TJ07B-W Asus Maximus V Gene Intel Core i7-3770K 8GB Kingston HyperX Genesis KHX1866C11D3P1K2/8G Nvidia GeForce GTX 690 2GB Corsair H100 Be Quiet! Dark Power Pro 10 850W OCZ Vertex 4 256GB Asus Xonar DX Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM0001 Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE
2,101
128GB Crucial M4 2.5" Solid State Drive

Amazing performance and reliability One of the best SSDs you can buy today! SATA III Interface Read Speed: 500 MB/s Write Speed: 175 MB/s TRIM Support, 9.5mm Prole CCL Code - HDD0532
WorldMags.net
78.16
April 2012
27
Pr ices cor rec t at tim e o f go in g to publ is hi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
TYPE NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE(incVAT)
GRAPHICS CARD AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB www.overclockers.co.uk www.amd.com Issue 111, p61 150
GRAPHICS CARD Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 2GB www.scan.co.uk www.nvidia.com Issue 111, p68 276
GRAPHICS CARD AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB GHz Edition www.overclockers.co.uk www.amd.com Issue 111, p70 336
CPU Intel Core i5-3570K www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk Issue 106, p36 173
MOTHERBOARD Asus Maximus V Gene www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue 106, p64 150
COOLER Arctic Freezer i30 www.dabs.com www.arctic.ac Issue 104, p48 28
RAM 8GB Patriot G2 PGD38G1600ELK www.amazon.co.uk www.patriotmemory.com Issue 106, p40 37
Viewsonic VC310 Digital Video Camcorder
Captures Every Beautiful Moment Full 1080p Video Capture 3 Touch Screen 16x Digital Zoom HDMI Output CCL Code - CAM1738
WERE AWARD WINNERS!
www.cclonline.com
28 April 2012
PC Pro 2011
Highly Commended
WorldMags.net
49.99
Pr ices cor rec t at tim e o f goi ng to publi shi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
CPU Intel Core i7-3930K www.novatech.co.uk www.intel.co.uk Issue 101, p32 450
MOTHERBOARD Asus Sabertooth X79 www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue 101, p70 255
COOLER Corsair H80 www.dabs.com www.corsair.com Issue 101, p86 76
RAM 16GB Corsair Vengeance CAS9 DDR3 www.dabs.com www.corsair.com Issue 101, p40 56
UPDATED
TYPE NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE(incVAT) CPU AMD A10-5800K www.aria.co.uk www.amd.com Issue 112, p60 93
UPDATED
MOTHERBOARD Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H www.overclockers.co.uk www.gigabyte.com Issue 112, p68 56 COOLER Gelid Tranquillo Rev.2 www.scan.co.uk www.gelidsolutions.com Issue 100, p86 25
UPDATED
RAM 8GB Corsair Vengeance 2,133MHz CAS11 www.cclonline.com www.corsair.com Issue 112, p60 47
Acer G6 Series 21.5 Full HD LED Monitor

Acer's gaming style Full HD LED monitor 1x VGA, 1x DVI-D Inputs 1920 x 1080 Full HD Resolution 5ms Response Time LED-backlit Monitor CCL Code - MON0937
WorldMags.net
April 2012 29
79.96
Pr ices cor rec t at tim e o f go in g to publ ishi ng. I mages are for i llustrati ve pur poses only.
WorldMags.net
LGA1155 CPU WATERBLOCK XSPC RayStorm CPU www.aquatuning.co.uk www.xs-pc.com Issue 107, p60 51
GEFORCE GTX 680 WATERBLOCK XSPC Razor GTX680 www.overclockers.co.uk www.xs-pc.com Issue 107, p65 80
RADEON HD 7970 WATERBLOCK Aquacomputer aquagrATIx for HD 7970 www.aquatuning.co.uk www.aquacomputer.de Issue 107, p67 76
DUAL 120MM RADIATOR Alphacool NexXxos UT60 Full Copper 240mm www.aquatuning.co.uk www.alphacool.com Issue 107, p72 50
BUDGET CASE Antec One www.overclockers.co.uk www.antec.com Issue 108, p36 37
MICRO-ATX CASE SilverStone TJ08-E www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue 98, p48 78
AIR-COOLING CASE SilverStone Raven RV03 www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue 103, p70 104
WATER-COOLING CASE SilverStone Temjin TJ07B-W www.scan.co.uk www.silverstonetek.com Issue 63, p87 227
tter Gra Our best selling gaming PC evolved - Be

30
phics, Bigger Hard Drive - Better Deal!
AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz CPU, 8GB DDR3 Memory, AMD Radeon HD 7770 WorldMags.net April 2012 1TB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, Built-in Wi-Fi, 2 Year Warranty
WorldMags.net
530W PSU Be Quiet! Pure Power L8 530W www.scan.co.uk www.bequiet.com Issue 110, p55 55
660W PSU Seasonic X-Series 660W www.overclockers.co.uk www.seasonic.com Issue 110, p59 115
850W PSU XFX Pro 850W XXX Edition (Silver) www.overclockers.co.uk www.xfxforce.com Issue 110, p71 95
1.2kW PSU Corsair AX1200i www.scan.co.uk www.corsair.com Issue 111, p40 250
HARD DISK Seagate Barracuda 2TB ST2000DM001 www.scan.co.uk www.seagate.com Issue 104, p75 69
SSD OCZ Vertex 4 256GB www.ebuyer.co.uk www.ocztechnology.com Issue 107, p44 160
NAS BOX Synology DiskStation DS212j www.dabs.com www.synology.com Issue 104, p50 160
www.cclonline.com 10 10 WorldMags.net Call us on 08000 50 April 2012 31

M o n i t o r s a n d d e s k t o p b u n d l e s a r e a v a i l a b l e s e p a r a t e l y.
WorldMags.net
24IN MONITOR Dell UltraSharp U2412M www.scan.co.uk www.dell.com Issue 105, p64 221
27IN MONITOR Dell UltraSharp U2711 www.cclonline.com www.dell.co.uk Issue 81, p56 512
TRIPLE-MONITOR STAND XFX Triple Display Monitor Stand www.scan.co.uk www.xfxforce.com Issue 96, p58 299
SOUND CARD Asus Xonar DX www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue 80, p63 59
2.1 SPEAKERS Corsair SP2500 www.scan.co.uk www.corsair.com Issue 92, p79 182
HEADSET Asus Vulcan ANC www.scan.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Issue 98, p57 80
5.1 SPEAKERS Logitech Z906 www.amazon.co.uk www.logitech.com Issue 102, p50 251
d - Be Our best selling Intel gaming PC evolve

32 April 2012
tter Graphics - Bigger Hard Drive
Intel Core i5-3450 3.1GHz CPU, 8GB DDR3 Memory, NVIDIA GeForce WorldMags.net GTX 560Ti, 1TB Hard Drive, DVD Drive, 2 Year Warranty
WorldMags.net
KEYBOARD Mionix Zibal 60 www.lambda-tek.com www.mionix.net Issue 108, p71 101
MOUSE Maonix Naos 3200 www.overclockers.co.uk www.mionix.net Issue 108, p60 35
STEERING WHEEL Logitech G27 www.overclockers.co.uk www.logitech.com Issue 92, p108 200
JOYSTICK Logitech Flight System G940 www.amazon.co.uk www.logitech.com Issue 92, p109 249
TYPE NAME DEVELOPER PUBLISHER REVIEWED PRICE(incVAT)
RPG Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim www.bethsoft.com www.bethsoft.com Issue 101, p100 30
FPS Dishonored www.arkane-studios.com www.bethsoft.com Issue 111, p96 26
STRATEGY Frozen Synapse www.mode7games.com www.mode7games.com Issue 96, p92 19 for two
UNDERDOG Trine 2 http://frozenbyte.com http://frozenbyte.com Issue 102, p98 12
www.cclonline.com 10 10 WorldMags.net Call us on 08000 50 April 2012 33

M o n i t o r s a n d d e s k t o p b u n d l e s a r e a v a i l a b l e s e p a r a t e l y.
WorldMags.net
Our in-depth analysis of the latest PC hardware
Piledrivercore compete againstIvyBridge?
AMD FX-8350 40 CanAMDsnew
Super-quietcooling withoutsacrificingspeed?
DEEP 42 NANOXIA SILENCE 1
Amotherboardwith impressiveVRMcircuitry.
44 GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UP7
adual-coreCPU,butisit worththeextramoney?
SYNOLOGY DS213+ 46 Adual-bayNASwith
orsmartphoneinmid-air, ifyoutrustit.
SOUND GRIPPY PAD 50 EDIFIER 50 Suspendyourtablet TO GO PLUS Mmm,brushed aluminium.
ARCTIC P402 Is23enoughtobuy youarespectablesetof earphones?Wefindout.
51
AMAZON KINDLE FIRE HD 16GB TheUKfinallygets AmazonsAndroidtablets.

36
51
34
January 2013
WorldMags.net
HOWWETEST,P48 WorldMags.net
Windows 8 Pro
Waitaminute,this doesntlooklike Windows.Wetryoutthe newOStoseeifitsstill appropriateforuseon desktopPCs 36
WorldMags.net
January 2013
35
WorldMags.net
MICROSOFT Windows 8 Pro

All change as Windows gears up for the tablet generation, but is it still appropriate for desktops?
WINDOWS 7 Fast boot-up time; Metro interface great for tablets; improved Task Manager; better multi-monitor support WINDOWS ME Metro interface inappropriate for desktop; generally slower performance; lacks Media Center; no Aero; no Start button; struggles with non-certied drivers
singWindows8forthefirsttimeisratherlike goinghometofindsomeonehastakenaway yourfrontdoorandbrickeduptheholewith Duplo.Then,whenyougototheshedtosee ifyoucanengineerabreak-in,youfindthatallyour powertoolshavebeenreplacedbymulti-coloured pipecleaners.Yourlandlord,whoswaitinginthe gardenwithabigsmile,tellsyouthatyourlifeisnow goingtobeawholeloteasierthankstoallthegreat changeshesmade.Thenhestealsallyourchairs. Bynow,youprobablyknowthatWindows8isnt,by default,yourusualversionofWindows.Whenyoustart theOS,youregreetedbyabrand-newtile-basedStart menu,whichtakesupthewholescreen,andshows youaselectionofbig-screenapps.Then,whenyou findtheDesktopbuttonandclickonit,youretaken toaWindowsdesktopthatdoesnthaveaStartbutton inthecorner. Bigdeal,youmightthink.Loadsofoperating systemsdonthaveStartbuttons,sowhydoes Windowsneedone?Itdoesnt,ofcourse,butifits goingtoremovetheStartbutton,itneedstoreplaceit withsomethingthatworkseitheraswellorbetter.In thiscase,thereplacementisthetile-basedmenuwe mentionedearlier,whichMicrosoftcallsMetro. Why,Ihearyouask?Well,whenMicrosoftfirst startedpreviewingWindows7,itreleasedallsortsof videostoshowoffthenewmulti-touchfeatures,such aspeopleplayingvirtualpianosonWindows7tablets. Then,whenWindows7cameout,virtuallynopopular tabletssupporteditbecause,basically,theWindows desktopisreallyhorribletousewithjustatouchscreen,asyoucantachievethenecessaryprecision.
Microsoftsawthetabletmarkethooveredupby AppleandGoogle,andrealiseditneededtogetthis rightnexttime.TheanswerisWindows8theidea beingthatitgivesyouthebestofbothworldsinone package.Ithasthetablet-friendlyMetrointerface,and aloadofsupportingappsintheWindows8appstore, butyoucanalsorunstandardWindowssoftwareinit indesktopmode.Everyonesawinner,right? No,atleastnotinthiscase.Flippingbetweenthe MetrointerfaceandtheWindowsdesktopisfarfrom anaturalexperience,andonethatquicklybecomes achore.Thetwosystemsareclearlytargetedatvery differentdevicesand,whenyouconsiderthat MicrosofthasitsSurfaceprojectfortabletsanyway, youhavetowonderwhyitthoughtcouplingthetwo together wasagoodidea. ItisntthattheMetrointerfaceisbad.Infact,ona tablet,itworksbrilliantlyandsmoothly.Itsjustthatits socompletelyinappropriateforuseonadesktopPC withoutatouch-screen.Microsofthastrieditsbestto forcethetwosystemstogetherbyenablingyoutodock Metroappsontheleftorrightofthedesktop.However, theresnoreasontodothiswithmostoftheapps,as theyreagaingearedtowardstablets,andhavea limitedfeatureset.Wetriedoutseveralsocialmedia apps,andtrieddockingthemtoonesideofthe desktop,butnoneofthemwasanywherenearas flexibleandusefulastheirdesktopequivalents. Whenyoufirsttryoutthedesktopmode,youalso havethenhavethefrustratingchallengeoffinding everythinglikeanEasteregghunt,exceptyoucant doyourjobuntilyoucompleteit.WheresthePower button,forexample?Togettoit,youhavetomovethe
HOW MUCH?
Price 24.99(download); 49.99(boxed) Supplier http://windows. microsoft.com/en-GB/ windows/buy Manufacturer www.microsoft.com
YoucandockMetroappstotheleftorrightofthestandard Windowsdesktop
WherearealltheWindowsapps?HeretheyareintheSearch sectioninthenewMetrointerface
36
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
mousetothetop-rightcornertobringuptheCharms menu,wherefiveiconsglidesmoothlyovertheright edgeofthedesktop.Youthenneedtoclickonthe SettingsCharm,andthePowerbuttonisatthe bottom.YoullalsofindtheControlPanelhere. TheCharmsmenucontainstheSearchfeaturetoo, whichtakesyoubackouttotheMetroStartmenu.If youwanttofindtheCalculator,forexample,typeitin hereanditwillappear.IfyouclickonAppsinthe Searchmenu,youllalsoseeabigarrayoficons, showingwhatyouusedtogetintheStartmenu. Tomakemattersworse,someofthesettingsforthe wholeOScanonlybefoundintheMetroStartmenu, andothersonlyinthedesktopmenu.Youcantjust ignoreMetro Microsoftforcesyoutouseit. Forexample,Windows8hasaverylowtolerance fornon-certifieddrivers.Wecouldntinstallourlaser printerdriveronthedesktop,aswekeptgettingan errormessage,andthesetupprocessthenexited.If youwantWindowstoinstallnon-certifieddrivers (whichisessentialfortheaverageenthusiast),you havetogothroughaseriesofmenusintheMetro interfaceandthenrestartyourmachine. Likewise,wethenfoundthattheWindowsUpdate systemwasdifferentintheMetroanddesktopmodes, andweactuallyhadtousetheMetroversioninorderto updatecertainpartsofMicrosoftOffice. Inshort,Windows8sMetrointerfaceisaserious improvementoverWindows7fortablets,butits completelyunintuitiveonadesktopPC.Wewantedto befairthough.Humansarefamouslyhostiletowards change,anditmaywellbethatthisisjustanewway ofworking,anditbecomesbetterwhenyougetused toit.Sowespentaweekusingitasthemain Custom PC productionPC,wherewehadtoworkwithall ourdesktopappsoniteveryday,usingInDesign, Photoshop,MicrosoftOfficeandplayingvarious games,foraweek,toseeifitbecamebettertouse. Actuallyitdoes,becauseyoulearntotweakit.One essentialpurchasehastobeStardocksStart8app (www.stardock.com),whichcostsjust$4.99(3)and givesyoubacktheStartbutton.Cueamassivesighof reliefasyoucansuddenlyfindeverythingagain.You alsoquicklylearntojustignoretheMetroapps,as theyregenerallycompletelyinappropriatefora desktopcomputerwithoutatouch-screen.So,once youveforcedittoacceptnon-certifieddrivers,pinned yourdesktopappstothedesktoptaskbar,downloaded properdesktopversionsofyourappsandgotyour Startbuttonback,itsjustlikeusingWindows7again. Infact,insomeways,itsbetterthanacleaninstall ofWindows7.Theboot-uptimeismuchquicker,for astartconsistentlyfivesecondsquickeronourtest system.Theinstallationprocesshadnotrouble
OPERATING SYSTEM
detectingperipheralsconnectedtoUSB3portseither. ThenewlydesignedTaskManagerisgreattoo,giving youadetailedanduser-friendlybreakdownofhow yourPCisusingitsvariousresources. Multi-monitorsupporthasalsoimproved,with extramonitorsnowgettingtheirownindependent taskbarsifyouwantthem. However,thenewOSalsoexcludesafewother features thatyoumightbeexpecting.WindowsMedia Center,forastart,isntbundledasstandardanymore itsanoptionaldownloadthatwillsetyoubackan extra6.99.TheWindowsBackupsystemhasalso changedtoanewsystemcalledFileHistory,which onlybacksupyourWindowsLibraries(documents, pictures,musicandsoon),ratherthanspecificfolders elsewhere.Ontheplusside,whilethisismorelimited, itsmuchmoreuser-friendly,enablingyoutoeasily browsethefilesstoredinyourbackup.Usefully,itcan alsokeepahistory,asitsnamesuggests,offilesthat youvechanged,soyoucanrollbacktoprevious versionsifyouwant. YoualsodontgetAero,withitstransparent windows,anymore.Microsoftssaysitlooksgarish now.Ofcourse,trendsaredifficulttopredictinthe
WelcometoWindowsthisisthe newMetroStartmenu.Itlooks lovely,anditworksgreatona tablet,butitscounter-intuitive onadesktop
MissingtheStartbuttonand menu?InstallStardocksStart8 apptogetitback
38
WorldMags.net
January 2013
37
WorldMags.net
future,Microsoftmaybeprovedright,and theseethroughwindowswilllookalittlecheesy,butatthe moment,theflatcoloursandboxesthatoutline Windows8swindowsareananticlimax.Wepreferred Aero,andwedontcareifthatmakesusuncool.
OPERATING SYSTEM
looksasthoughAMDsimplyhasbetterWindows8 graphicsdriversthanNvidiaatthemoment.
CONCLUSION
WeunderstandwhyMicrosoftmadeWindows8the tabletmarketisbooming,andthedesktopmarketis declining.However,thedefaultpackageofWindows8, whichmarriesadecenttabletinterfacewithadecent desktopinterface,butthenmessesitupbyforcingthe twotoworktogether,isadisasterforanyonewho properlyusesadesktopPC.Andasthisis CustomPC, werereviewingitasadesktopoperatingsystem, ratherthanatabletOS. Aftersometinkering,youcangetWindows8todo whatyouwant,butthisisahassleand,asidefrom quickerboottimes,youdontgainanythingfrom theupgrade.ItisntlikeWindowsVista,whereyou toleratedtheclunkydriversupportandharddrivehammeringsearchsystem,butatleastyouhad DirectX10andtheAerointerface.Windows8doesnt offercomparableperks. Ifanything,ittakesawayperks,particularlywhen youconsiderthegeneralnegativeeffecttheOShadon ourperformancetests.IfyoualreadyhaveWindows7 HomePremium,dontbotherupgradingtoWindows8 onadesktopPC,evenforthecheapdownloadpriceof 24.99itisntworthit.IfyoubuyanewPCthathas Windows8,however,dontworryitsintimidatingat first,butyoucangetittobehaveifyoutinkerwithit.
BEN HARDWIDGE
PERFORMANCE
ThenewPowerbuttonisburiedin theSettingsoptionintheWindows Charmsmenu
Aftergettingusedtothequirksofthenewinterface, wethenwantedtoseehowitperformed.Everything workedexceptCrysis2oncewedupgradedittotheDX 11versionwiththehigh-restexturepack.Thisisa worry,butyoucanatleastgetitworkinginDX9mode. Allourothertestsransmoothly,althoughtherewere somenotableperformancedifferencesinsomeareas, asyoucanseefromthegraphs. Mostnotably,Windows8knockedaround100 pointsoffourimageeditingtestresult,and184 pointsoffthemulti-taskingresult.Similarly,theSATA 6Gbpsperformancealsodippedslightly,thoughnot disastrously,withthenewOS. Gamingperformancewasalsointeresting,aswe testedthenewOSonbothanAMDandanNvidiaGPU toseehowtheirrespectivedriversfared.AMDseems tohavegotitright,withWindows8eithermaintaining orevenimprovingframeratesinSkyrimandThe Witcher2. However,theNvidiaGPUdidntfarequiteaswell ourtestGeForceGTX670 producedaminimumof 60fpsinSkyrimat1,920x1,080inWindows7,butthis consistentlydroppedto55fpsinWindows8.Inshort,it
GIMP IMAGE EDITING

Windows 7 Windows 8 0 1,000
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM (DX9)

1,932 1,833
2,000 3,000 4,000
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF. With Radeon HD 7850
Windows 7 Windows 8 0 Windows 7 Windows 8 4,000 0
38fps 42fps
25
47fps 50fps
50 75 100
4.2GHzIntelCorei5-2500K CPU,AsusMaximusV Formulamotherboard, 8GBCorsair1,600MHz DDR3memory,OCZVertex 3128GBSSD,Nvidia GeForce306.97,AMD Catalyst12.10
TEST KIT
HANDBRAKE H.264 VIDEO ENCODING

Windows 7 Windows 8 0 1,000 2,000
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF. With GeForce GTX 670
3,367 3,339
3,000
60fps 74fps 55fps

25 50
73fps
75 100
MULTI-TASKING
Windows 7 Windows 8 0
THE WITCHER 2
1,677 1,493
1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
1,920 x 1,080, Ultra preset. With Radeon HD 7850
Windows 7 Windows 8 0 Windows 7 Windows 8 3,000 4,000 0 25 25
41fps 41fps
50fps 50fps
50 75 100
OVERALL
Windows 7
1,920 x 1,080, 4x AA, 16x AF. With GeForce GTX 670
2,325 2,222
0 1,000 Stock speed 2,000
59fps
75fps
64
OVERALL
37
Windows 8
59fps 73fps
50
Stock speed avg
customPC
75
100
Stock speed min
REBOOT TIME, INCLUDING POST (SECONDS)

Windows 7 Windows 8 0 7 14
SATA 6Gbps (MB/sec)

26
Windows 7 Windows 8 28 0 Write
50 50
150 Read 300
517 510
450
546 541
600
21
21
38
January 2013
WorldMags.net
Reliability WorldMags.net 24/7 support Flexibility Award winning
Secure technology
TECHNOLOGY
HOSTED
Value for money
Hosted Technology, that just works!

that just works!
se rv ic e A w ar d -w in ni ng
ity labil Sca
& THE FUTURE TODAY, TOMORROW
Reliability
Value for mo ney
Fl ex ib ili ty
If youre driven mad looking for hosted technology which gives you complete peace of mind, then look no further. Fasthosts has been taking the headache out of delivering industry-leading technologies, for thousands of customers, just like you for over 13 years. With wholly-owned and managed secure UK data centres and our team of experts, Fasthosts are always here, supporting you every step of the way. For help and advice call free on 0800 6520 444
Se cu rit y
tres cen data UK
24 /7
su pp or t
Technology you can rely on

today, tomorrow and the future
WEB HOSTING DOMAINS EMAIL DEDICATED SERVERS VIRTUAL SERVERS RESELLER HOSTING
Making business work better online
lity Qua
fasthosts.co.uk
or call O800 6520 444
b
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
AMD FX-8350
A step in the right direction, but still woeful
PILE OF GOLD Improves on Bulldozer in most tests; easy overclocking PILE OF POO Still terrible single-threaded performance; high power consumption
HOW MUCH?
Price 164incVAT Manufacturer www.amd.com Supplier www.scan.co.uk
IN DETAIL
Frequency 4GHz(4.2GHz TurboFrequency) Core Piledriver GPU None Numberofcores 8xphysical Cache L1:4x64KBshared instructioncaches,8x16KB datacaches(384KBintotal) L2:4x2MBL3:4x2MB Packaging AM3+ Thermaldesignpower (TDP) 125W Features SSE,SSE2,SSE3, SSE4a,SSE4.1,SSE4.2, 256-bitAVX,AESNI, PCLMULQDQ,AMD64, CoolnQuiet3.0,AMD-V, MMX,FMA4,XOP
hileAMDisconsistentlycompetitivewith NvidiaontheGPUfront,itstop-endCPUs havebeenconsistentlyoutperformedby Intelscompetitioninrecentyears.Last yearsBulldozerarchitecturewassupposedtobethe shotinthearmAMDneeded,buttheflagshipFX-8150 CPUfellfarshortofexpectations,offeringpoorsinglethreadedperformance,beforebeingagainsurpassed byIntelsIvyBridgeCPUsthisyear. TheFX-8350hasitsworkcutout,then,asitsnew Piledriverarchitectureismoreanoptimisedversionof Bulldozerthantheall-newarchitectureAMDarguably needstoleveltheCPUplayingfield.Piledriverstill usesthesamelayoutasitspredecessor,madeupof uptofourmodules,eachcontainingtwox86integer cores.Thecoresarentself-contained,though,and shareresourceswithineachmodule,suchasthefetch anddecodeunits,andthefloating-pointscheduler. Eachindividualcorehas16KBofL1datacache,with eachmodulesporting64KBofL1instructioncache and2MBofL2datacache.The8MBL3cacheisthen sharedbetweenallfourmodules.Ifthisallsounds familiar,itsbecauseitsexactlythesamephysical layoutasBulldozerand,withnodie-shrink,Piledriver evenhasthesame35nmproductionprocessand 315mmdiesizeasitspredecessortoo. Whilethecorearchitectureremainsrelatively unchanged,however,therehavebeenahostofminor improvements.Piledriversbranchpredictionand hardwarepre-fetcherhavebeenimproved,ashasits integerandfloating-pointscheduling,resultingin improvedIPC(instructionsperclock).AMDclaims improvementsofupto15percentinmulti-threaded benchmarks,aremarkableincreasewhenyou considerthelimitedphysicalconstraints. TheFX-8350,theCPUwhichbringsPiledrivertothe desktopCPU,isafull8-core(four-module)chipwith acorefrequencyofamighty4GHz.ThankstoAMDs TurboCoretechnology,itcanalsoboostthisupto 4.2GHzdependingoncoreloadandTDPheadroom. Plus,withanunlockedmultiplier,theresplentyof overclockingshenaniganstobehadtoo.A125WTDP isstillaconcernthough;Intelsprice-pointcompetitor, theCore-i53570KhasaTDPofjust77W.TheFX-8350
alsocontinuestheuseofAMDsAM3+socketand,as such,requiresanAMD9-seriesmotherboard(990FX, 990Xor970).
PERFORMANCE
Atstockspeeds,theFX-8350deliveredroughlywhat weexpected;asolidimprovementoverBulldozer,but stillalongwaybehindtheIntelcompetition.Inour MediaBenchmarksimageeditingtest,theFX-8350 producedascoreof1,020points,a133-point improvementovertheFX-8150,butstillover800 pointsbehindtheCorei5-3570K.Itsvideoencoding scoreof2,701pointswasalsoanimprovement,but againbehindtheIntelchip,whilemulti-tasking performancedidntseeanysignificantimprovement. InCinebench,theFX-8350againshowedgainsover itspredecessor,withascoreof6.92comparedtothe FX-8150s6.01.ThisalsodemonstratesthemultithreadednatureofPiledriverarchitecture,asit surpassestheCorei5-3570Kinthistest. However,gamingbroughtusbacktoearthwith abump.Atstockspeed,theFX-8350delivereda minimumofonly49fpsinSkyrim,whiletheCore i5-3570Kproducedaminimumof94fpsinthesame test.WetestedbothCPUswithaGeForceGTX690 sothatitwasntGPU-limited,andtheresultswere astounding.ThismeansthananyGPUabovea150 HD78502GBwouldbeCPU-limitedbytheFX-8350 inSkyrim.InShogun2:TotalWarsCPUbenchmark, theresultsdontmakeanybetterreading.Whilethe FX-8350sminimumframerateof17fpsisagreat improvementoftheFX-8150s13fpsinthesametest, theCorei5-3570Kembarrassesbothwithaminimum of28fpsatstockspeed. Whileitsstockperformanceremainshumdrum, theFX-8350isatleastmucheasiertooverclockthan theFX-8150.Increasingthemultiplierto24x,leaving theHTTat200MHzandincreasingthecorevoltageto 1.5Vproducedastable4.8GHzfrequencyoncewed raisedtheloadlinecalibrationtoUltra,anddisabled AMDC-statesandCoolnQuiet.Thisbumpedupthe FX-8350soverallscoreinourMediaBenchmarksto 1,914,whileitsminimumframeratesroseto61fps and22fpsinSkyrimandShogun2respectively.
40
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
However,acursoryglanceatthegraphsbelowwill showtheinsignificanceofthesegains;theCore i5-3570Kisevenquickerwhenoverclocked,and capableofaSkyrimminimumframerateof120fps at4.8GHz,closetodoublethatoftheFX-8350. Forachipthatmatchesitspredecessorssizeand transistorcount,however,theFX-8350surprisingly consumednotablylesspower.Loadandidlepower consumptionwereboth10Wlowerthanthatofthe FX-8150.Whatsmore,thankstosimpleroverclocking, ourtestsystemspowerusagewiththeFX-8350wasa whopping200Wlower,aswedidnthavetoadjustthe NorthbridgeorHTTvoltages.However,again,theIntel Corei5-3570Kconsumessignificantlylesspowerat loadalmost100Wlesswhenoverclocked.
CPU
CONCLUSION
Despiteimprovements,AMDsFX-8350remains painfullyoutmatchedbytheIntelCorei5-3570K.Inour MediaBenchmarks,theFX-8350trailstheIntelchip by26percentoverall.Itsgamingperformanceisalso comparativelyterrible,anditconsumestoomuch power.Unlessyouheavilyusemulti-threaded softwaresuchasMaxonCinema4D,theFX-8350isa thoroughlyuncompetitiveandunattractiveCPU.
HARRY BUTLER
InsideanewFXCPUbasedonAMDs Piledriverarchitecture
GIMP IMAGE EDITING

AMD FX-8350 AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0 1,000
1,020 887 1,177 1,077 1,862 2,392
THE ELDER SCROLLS: SKYRIM (ULTRA SETTINGS, 0X AA, 16X AF)

1,920 x 1,080 0x AA
AMD FX-8350 4,000 AMD FX-8150
49 fps 61 fps 45 fps 54 fps
102 fps 111 fps 88 fps 97 fps 94 fps 145 fps 165 fps
150 200
2,000
3,000

AMD FX-8350 AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0 1,000 2,000
2,701 2,520 3,160 3,164 3,063 4,245
Intel Core i5-3570K 0

Default settings
120 fps
50 100
3,000
4,000
SHOGUN 2 : TOTAL WAR DX9 CPU BENCHMARK

AMD FX-8350
MULTI-TASKING
1,260 1,283 1,401 1,439 1,721 1,915
22 fps 26 fps
AMD FX-8150 3,000 4,000 Intel Core i5-3570K
17 fps 23 fps 28 fps 34 fps 36 fps 43 fps

45 60
Overclocked avg
2,000
OVERALL
1,660 1,563 1,914 1,860 2,248 2,851
0
Stock speed min
15
30
Overclocked min
Stock speed avg
2,000
3,000
4,000
idle
TOTAL SYSTEM POWER CONSUMPTION

AMD FX-8350
95 W 110 W 136 W 97 W 120 W 160 W
CINEBENCH R11.5
AMD FX-8350 AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0 2.5
6.92 6.01 6.32 8.25 7.95 8.22
AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0 10 35 70
105
5.0
7.5
140 175 Lower is better
WPRIME v2.05, 32M

AMD FX-8350 AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0 2.5 Stock speed 5.0 Overclocked
7.354 8.754 7.445 7.754 9.484 9.783
Load
TOTAL SYSTEM POWER CONSUMPTION

AMD FX-8350 AMD FX-8150 Intel Core i5-3570K 0
213 W 224 W 161 W 267 W 364 W 586 W
7.5
10
Lower is better
120 Stock speed
240 360 480 600 Lower is better Overclocked
SPEED 33 / 50 FEATURES 11 / 15 VALUE 15 / 35
customPC
OVERALL
59
TEST KIT
OCZVertex3240GBSSD,8GBDDR31,600MHz(2x4GB) memory,CorsairH80liquid-cooler,AntecHighCurrent Pro850WPSU,NvidiaGeForceGTX690graphicscard, Windows764-bitSP1.Intel:AsusMaximusVGene motherboard.AMD:AsusCrosshairVFormula motherboard.Nvidiadriver:306.97WHQL.
WorldMags.net
January 2013
41
WorldMags.net
NANOXIA Deep Silence 1

Finally, a low-noise case that doesnt sacrice cooling
DEEP THOUGHT Extremely quiet; many features; good cooling at full speed; well-priced DEEP BLUE SEA Poor cooling at low fan speeds; heavy
HOW MUCH?
Price 90incVAT Supplier www.quietpc.co.uk Manufacturer www. nanoxia-world.com SKUnumber 4260285291005
IN DETAIL
Dimensions(mm) 220x532 x517mm(WxDxH) Material Steel,plastic Availablecolours Black, white,silver,anthracite Weight 11.3kg Frontpanel Power,reset, 2xUSB3,stereo,mic Drivebays 3xexternal 5.25in,5xinternal3.5in, 2xinternal2.5in Formfactor(s) ATX, micro-ATX,mini-ITX Cooling 2x120/140mm frontmount(fanssupplied), 1x140mmrearfanmount (fansupplied),2x 120/140mmrooffanmount (fannotsupplied)1x 120mm/140mmfloorfan mount(fannotsupplied),1x 120/140mmsidepanelfan mount(fannotincluded) CPUcoolerclearance 185mm Maximumgraphicscard length 315mm(445mmwith 3.5incageremoved)
ereusuallyalittlewaryofcasesthat boastaboutlownoise.Youreusually lookingataninflatedpricetag,and possiblysacrificesincoolingand features,astheseareoftennecessarytrade-offsto haveanykindofimpactontheamountofnoisemade byacase.Thankfully,Germancoolingcompany 120/140mmfanmountsinthebaseandsidepanel. Nanoxiabetterknownforitsfansandwater-cooling Thelatterishiddenbehindalatch,soitdoesntspoil coolantshasintroducedaninterestinglow-noise thelookofthecase.Inaddition,adual120mm-fan casethatsportsmostofthefeaturesyoudexpect radiatorcanbeinstalledintheroof,orinthefronttwin fromamid-rangecase. 120mm-fanslots,althoughonlyifyoumovethe3.5in Whatsmore,theDeepSilence1,Nanoxiasfirst drivecagestothemiddleofthecase. PCcase,costsjust90notbadwhenyouconsider Speakingofwhich,youllfindalltheusualmod whatyougetforyourmoney.Outside,itsequipped consinside,suchastool-freedrivebays,morecablewiththreeexternal5.25inbays,allhiddenbehinda routeingholesthanyoucanshakeastickat,alarge soundproofanddustproofmagneticdoor,a2-channel CPUareacut-outandeight3.5inbaysthatcanalso fancontrollerthatcanbehookeduptosixfans,two hold2.5indrivessuchasSSDs.Practicallyeverypanel USB3portsinapop-uppanelanda furtherdoorthathideseasilyaccessible THE ROOF HOUSES A FEATURE dustfiltersforthetwo120mmintakefans. THATS CLEARLY MADE NANOXIA Removabledustfiltersarealsolocatedin thebaseandbeneaththePSUmount. VERY PROUD THE AIR CHIMNEY Asstandard,theDeepSilence1hastwo front120mmintakefansandarear140mmexhaust andopeningsportssound-deadeningfoamaswell, fannotthemostpotentout-of-the-boxcooling andtheresplentyofspaceforlargecoolers,andupto arrangement,buttheresalsospacefortwomore 445mmofgraphicscardclearanceifyouremovethe 120/140mmfansintheroof,withfurthersingle appropriate3.5indrivecage. Meanwhile,theroofhousesafeaturethatsclearly madeNanoxiaveryproudanideathatthecompany callstheAirChimney.Thisisessentiallyjustalarge sectionoftheroofthatcanberaisedtoallowoptional fanstoexhaustwarmairtheresnoventorgrille here.Nanoxiaclaimsthisenhancesthelookofthe case,whilealsoreducingtheriskofanyspillages reachingyourhardware. Thecaseisextremelywellmadeandfeelssolid, althoughthisispartlyduetothesteelconstruction, whichresultsintheDeepSilence1weighingover 11kg.Theresawiderangeofcoloursavailabletoo, includingblack,silver,whiteoranthracite(pictured).At 517mmhighand532mmdeep,itsquitealargecase andNanoxiaclearlyrecognisesthis,asithasincluded Adoorhideseasilyaccessibledustfiltersforthetwo120mm intakefans an8-pinEPS12Vextendercable.
42
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
CASE
01 02
Practicallyeverypanelandopeningsportsaformofsounddeadeningfoam
PERFORMANCE
Wesetthefanstotheirmaximumspeedusingthefan controller,andranourusualthermaltests.Thecase managedaCPUdeltaTof52C,whichisonaparwith theCoolerMasterHAF912PlusandCorsairGraphite 600T.Meanwhile,theGPUdeltaTof41Csawit matchtheHAF912again;itwasevencoolerthanour favouriteair-cooledcase,theSilverStoneRavenRV03. Itwasoneofthequietestcaseswevetestedtoo, withjustalowthrumfromthefansthatwasnearly drownedoutbyothernoiseinourlab.Whenwe reducedthefanstotheirquietestsettings,thecase wasinaudibleabovetheambientnoiseinourlab. Sadly,thisalsosawthetemperaturesrise;theCPU deltaTincreasedby11CtoadeltaTof63Coneof thehottestresultsweveseenatthissettingand15C warmerthantheSilverStoneRV03onitsminimum fanspeedsetting.Meanwhile,theGPUtoppedoutat adeltaTof49Cnotthepoorestweveseen,but comparatively,theSilverStoneRavenRV03was5C cooleronitslowestfanspeedsetting.
03
possibilities,whichmeansthatyourchoicereallyboils downtohowmuchyouvaluelownoise. TheDeepSilence1wasstillveryquietatitshighest fanspeed,andofferedrespectablecoolingtoo.Italso costsaround15lessthantheRV03.Ifyoureobsessed withnoisereductionthenitsagreatchoice,although wedadviseaddinganotherfanortwoifyouplanon usingitatitslowestfan-speedsettingallthetime.

ANTONY LEATHER
Thelargecut-out behindtheCPUareawill enableyoutoinstallCPUcooler backplateswithoutremoving themotherboard
01
availableifyouremovethe appropriate3.5indrivecage
02 Upto445mmofgraphics cardclearanceis
Withsomanycable03 routeingholes,itseasy
tobuildaneatandtidyPCinside theDeepSilence1
CPU LOAD DELTA T TEMPERATURE

Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 SilverStone Raven RV03
52C 63C 45C

0 20 40
CONCLUSION
TheDeepSilence1isafantasticfirsteffortbyNanoxia. At90,itscompetitivelypricedforwhatitoffers.We particularlyliketheexpandablecoolingsystem,watercoolingsupportandfancontroller,butitspartytrickis itsextremelylownoiselevels.Itssoundproofingalso reducesthenoisemadebyCPUandGPUcoolers. SilverStonesRavenRV03isoneoftheDeepSilence 1smaincompetitors,anditwasslightlycoolerwhen bothcaseswererunningattheirmaximumfan-speed settings,althoughitwasalsosignificantlynoisier. Meanwhile,atminimumfanspeeds,theDeepSilence 1wasagainmuchquieterthantheRV03butthelatter cooledconsiderablybetter.Bothcasesalsohave similarwater-coolingpotentialandotherexpansion
48C
60 80
GPU LOAD DELTA T TEMPERATURE

Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 SilverStone Raven RV03
41C 49C 42C 44C

0 15 Full speed 30 Low speed 45 60 Lower is better
COOLING 24 / 30 customPC FEATURES 18 / 20 DESIGN 26 / 30 VALUE 17 / 20 OVERALL

January 2013 43
85
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
GIGABYTE GA-Z77X-UP7
Only overclocking enthusiasts need apply
EXTREME Drop-dead gorgeous; on-board overclocking buttons; smart 16x PCI-E arrangement XTR3M3! Overkill unless you want to set world records
HOW MUCH?
Price 290incVAT Supplier www.dabs.com Manufacturer www.gigabyte.com
IN DETAIL
Chipset IntelZ77 CPUsupport LGA1155Core i3,Corei5,Corei7,Pentium andCeleron Memorysupport 4slots: max32GBDDR3(2,400MHz) Expansionslots Five16x PCI-E3 (three16xorfour 8x),two1xPCI-E2 Sound HDAudioviaRealtek ALC898 Networking AtherosGigabit Ethernet,IntelGigabit Ethernet Overclocking CPUclock 80-133.33MHz,CPU multiplier16-63;max voltages,CPU1.85V,RAM 2.6V,PLL2.2V,PCH1.365V, VTT1.7V Ports 4xSATA3Gbps,6x SATA6Gbps,1xmSATA 3Gbps,1xPS/2,10xUSB3, 4xUSB2,2xLAN,4x surroundaudioout,linein, mic,opticalS/PDIFout,DVI, D-Sub,HDMI,DisplayPort Dimensions(mm) 305x264 (E-ATX)
e generally do our best to keep our advice All this clever jiggery-pokery with PLX chips and and recommendations as relevant to VRM circuitry has incurred a certain technical the real world as possible; well tell you overhead, however, and to this end Gigabyte has had if a product is overpriced, or if you can to equip the UP7 with a lavish ten-layer PCB, rather get better elsewhere. Just occasionally, though, its than a traditional six- or eight-layer PCBs, simply to satisfying to let our hair down, throw caution to the accommodate all the traces needed. Whats more, wind and take a look at something from the moneyGigabyte has stated that the VRM circuitry alone costs no-object end of the market. more than a budget H67 board, so its easy to see why This month, its the Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UP7 thats the cost of the UP7 is nudging 300. scratching our irresponsible, wallet-melting itch, as On top of this, you also get some clever OC-Touch its 290 price tag places it firmly in the big boys circle, buttons in the top left of the board, which enable you alongside the Asus Maximus V Extreme and the EVGA to tweak the base clock and CPU multiplier on the Z77 FTW (see Issue 109, p36). As youd expect, the fly in Windows. Plus, there are the more common UP7 is equipped with all manner of spangly features additions , such as voltage monitoring points, power aimed at making it the board with which to set and rest buttons and a POST code readout. overclocking records. PERFORMANCE The first, and most outrageous, of these features It would be borderline sacrilege to get your hands on is the huge amount of PCB area given to the VRM a board such as the UP7 and not run it overclocked, circuitry. A whopping 32 phases of CPU power so we raced through our stock-speed tests first. The circuitry reside here (along with an additional three UP7 proved reasonably quick straight out of the box; for the integrated HD graphics and two for the VTT), its overall Media Benchmarks score of 2,335 is one of which is more than weve ever seen crammed onto the best weve seen, but still 70 or so points behind the a single motherboard before. In comparison, our similarly priced Asus Maximus V Extreme. current Premium Grade LGA1155 motherboard, As we said, though, its overclocking thats the real the Asus Maximus V Gene, sports an 8 + 4 (CPU battleground for these boards, so without further ado, and HD graphics respectively) VRM arrangement. Its also worth noting that the VRM circuitry meets Gigabytes new-fangled GIGABYTE HAD TO EQUIP THE UP7 Ultra Durable 5 standard, so the UP7 WITH A TEN-LAYER PCB, SIMPLY TO sports the same posh PowIRstage ICs ACCOMMODATE ALL THE TRACES and high-current 60A chokes that we saw and praised on the GA-Z77X-UP5-TH we dived into the UP7s EFI. Unfortunately the UP7s (see Issue 110, p42). The task of cooling this frankly EFI is laid out in the same way as that of the UP5, prodigious amount of voltage circuitry is delegated to meaning that the options for the CPU voltage, system a heatsink assembly that also links, via heatpipes, to voltage, CPU multiplier and base clock are all on the Z77 chipset and a PLX PCI-E splitter chip. different pages. This is hardly a deal-breaker, but Its this splitter chip that feeds the four orange 16x it feels clunky compared with Asus elegant all-onPCI-E lanes, with eight lanes available to each if four one-page layout. graphics cards are present. Interestingly, the splitter At least you wont be short of options when youre chip can be bypassed by using the black 16x PCI-E rooting around in the EFI, though, as Gigabyte has slot if youre only using a single graphics card. taken the kitchen-sink approach; virtually everything Gigabyte claims this reduces latency, potentially is tweakable. Its almost a pity, then, that overclocking meaning the difference between a new world record our test Ivy Bridge CPU is such an easy task; simply and just another benchmark run.
44
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ramming 1.32V through the vcore and raising the multiplier to 48x was all it took to get our processor running at its maximum 4.8GHz clock speed. At these settings, the UP7 proved to be very quick, nudging ahead of the Maximus V Extreme (though only by 1 per cent) in our Media Benchmarks. We also had some fun playing with the on-board overclocking buttons, as our test CPU can actually boot and run the image editing portion of our test suite at 4.9GHz before promptly crashing as soon as the video encoding test comes into sight. Consequently, we achieved a run with the CPU at 4.9GHz for the image editing test, before stepping it down on the fly to 4.8GHz with the on-board button for the remaining two tests. This only netted us an extra 35 points or so (and we didnt count this as its official result, as it isnt technically stable), but these margins are important in competitive overclocking. Continuing the over-the-top theme, we also tested Battlefield 3 with a 3-way SLI setup. Disappointingly for the UP7, however, it returned a fractionally slower result than the Maximus in this test.
LGA1155 MOTHERBOARD
01
02
03
HWBot, then the board makes some sense. Its built for overclocking, and thats what it does best it will be far happier spending its life being abused on a test bench than simply sitting snug in a case.
PAUL GOODHEAD
CONCLUSION
The UP7 is clearly overkill if you only game, edit images and browse the Internet. However, if you want the bragging rights of four graphics cards, or are riddled with the overclocking bug and frequent
Withfourfull-sizedPCI-E slots,theUP7enables multi-GPUheaven
01
resideintheVRMarea
02 Awhopping32phases ofCPUpowercircuitry 03 Thebuttonsontheedge enableyoutooverclock
GIMP IMAGE EDITING

GA-Z77X-UP7 Maximus V Extreme 0 GA-Z77X-UP7 Maximus V Extreme 0 1,000
1,902 1,941
2,000
2,345 2,322
3,000 4,000
1,920 x 1,080, High settings, no AA, no AF
CRYSIS 2
yourCPUontheflyinWindows
GA-Z77X-UP7

3,345 4,329 3,463 4,312
1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000
Maximus V Extreme 0
25
50
75
100
MULTI-TASKING
GA-Z77X-UP7 Maximus V Extreme 0
1,757 1,792
1,000
1,997 1,952
3,000 4,000
5,760 x 1,080, 3 x GTX 670 in 3-way SLI, Ultra settings, 4x AA, 16x AF
BATTLEFIELD 3
GA-Z77X-UP7 Maximus V Extreme 0

Stock speed min
62 63
25 50
Overclocked min
72 74
75 100
2,000
OVERALL
GA-Z77X-UP7 Maximus V Extreme 0 1,000 Stock speed
2,335 2,399
2,000 Overclocked
2,890 2,865
3,000 4,000
Stock speed avg
Overclocked avg
customPC
TEST KIT
OVERALL
81
3.2GHzIntelCorei7-3770KCPU,8GB1,600MHzCorsair DDR3memory,128GBPatriotWildfireSSD,Nvidia GeForceGTX6802GBgraphicscard,Windows764-bit
WorldMags.net
January 2013
45
WorldMags.net
NAS BOX
SYNOLOGY DS213+
A fast dual-bay NAS box with great features, but its expensive
DS Amazing set of features; quiet; easy to set up; fast VIRTUAL BOY Very expensive
3.1GHzIntelCorei3-2100 CPU,MSIH61l-E35 motherboard,8GBCorsair 1,600MHzDDR3memory, Corsair128GBX128SSD, CorsairCX400WPSU, Windows7Home Premium64-bit.
TEST KIT
HOW MUCH?
Price 290incVAT Supplier www.dabs.com Manufacturer www. synology.com
IN DETAIL
Interface SATA3Gbps Numberofbays Two 2.5in/3.5in Maxharddiskcapacity 4TB Ports 2xUSB3,1xUSB2, 1xeSATA,1xSDcardreader, 1xGigabitLAN Harddiskconfiguration RAID0,RAID1,Synology HybridRAID,JBOD Features DLNA/UPnP, audioserver,photoserver, videoserver,iTunesserver, printserver,surveillance server,Bit-Torrentclient, cloudstorageserver,iSCSI Warranty Fiveyears
ASboxesareveryhandywhenitcomes tobackingupyourdata.Synology alreadyoffersthebestuserinterface ofanyNASboxwevetestedand,its recentlyreleasedanewversion,DSM4.1,plusa newrangeofNASboxes.TheDS213+isitsnewhighenddual-bayNASbox,whichreplacestheDS212+. Themostnoteworthychangesarethemovefroma 92MB/secwhendealingwithlargevideofiles,and 2GHzMarvellmv6282Kirkwoodsingle-coreCPUtoa at32MB/secwhendealingwithourtorturoussmall 1.06GHzFreescaleQorlQP1022dual-coreCPU,and filetest.Thesespeedsdroppedto70MB/secand thememoryinterfacehasbeenboostedfrom16-bitto 26MB/secrespectivelywhenwritingthesamedata. 64-bitaswell.WithsomanyNASfeaturesavailable, Evenso,thisissofastthatyoullneeda1Gb/sec suchasmediastreaming,cloudcomputingandeven routerandCAT5cableinyourhousetobeableto photoeditingusingtheincludedPixlrEditorpossible, takeadvantageofthesespeeds. adual-coreCPUisanincreasingly popularchoice. YOU CAN RECORD LIVE TV USING TheDS213+isequippedwithtworear USB3portsandareareSATAport,while SUPPORTED USB TV DONGLES, AND thefronthousesaUSB2portandSDcard CONFIGURE YOUR RECORDING reader.Thelatterportsmaybeusefulif SCHEDULE USING AN iPHONE youplantohouseyourNASinaneasily accessiblelocation,astheone-touch CONCLUSION copybuttoncanenableyoutodumpallthephotos TheDS213+is anothersolideffortfromSynology.It fromyourlatestholidaydirectlyontotheNAS.From doesntsportmanyupgradesoverpreviousmodels, here,youcansharethemwithFacebook,Picasaor butthemovefromsingle-coretodual-corehelpsit yourblog,orbackthemuptooneofthemanyonline todealwiththeincreasingnumberoftasksthat backupservicesinminutes. SynologysNASboxescanperform.Itsapriceyunit, Meanwhile,theunitslarge92mmfanisextremely though,especiallyconsideringitsunpopulated,and quiet,anditoccupiestheentirewidthofthecaseatthe 290canbuyyouahalf-decentSocketFM2mediaPC. back.Thismeansthathousingitinyourlivingroomis However,ifyouwantaNASbox,theDS213+sfast adistinctpossibility,asitwontdrawattentiontoitself. performanceandthesuperbDSM4.1userinterface, Thisisjustaswell,asoneofthebiggestadditionsto makeitthebestdual-bayNASboxweveseen. thenewOSisavideoplaybackandrecordingfacility. ANTONY LEATHER YoucannowrecordliveTVusingsupportedUSBTV dongles,andevenconfigureyourrecordingschedule usinganiPhonewhileyoureout.However,itslimited toDVB-Tbroadcasts. Synologyisalsomakingabigpushintocloud SPEED 34 / 35 computingand,byusingitsCloudStationappandfree DDNShosting,youcancreateyourownfreeDropboxFEATURES 33 / 35 likecloudstorage. Speed-wise,theDS213+isalsooneofthefastest VALUE 17 / 30 OVERALL NASboxesweveseen.Itwasabletoreaddataat
84
46
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
BuilD yOur OWn GaminG PC This ChrisTmas WiTh This DaBs.COm & COrsair exClusive BunDle!
Corsair 550W enthusiast series Tx550 80+ Bronze modular Psu
Search for
66.99
7LGJW500
Gigabyte 78LMt-S2P Motherboard, AMd FX-4100 AM3+ Black Edition Quad Core Processor, Corsair Memory 8GB (2x4GB) Vengeance rAM.
Gigabyte Pre-assembled Gamer Bundle

Search for
167.99
881VW500
49.99
Search for
Corsair Carbide series 200r Compact aT a x Case

8d00W500
standalone Price 284.96
exclusive Bundle Price 269.99

Corsair vengeance v m90 Performance mmO rTs Gaming mouse
Free mm200C gaming mat worth 9.99 with these Corsair mice
49.99
Search for
Corsair vengeance v m60 Performance FPs Gaming mouse

7rPYW500
52.99
Search for
7rPZW500
www.dabs.com/christmas
Terms and conditions: Prices and Coupon Codes are valid until 16th December 2012. Coupon Codes are one time use only and must be entered during the checkout process. Use coupons against the purchase of any online product at dabs.com. Free delivery uses our standard service for UK mainland. Surcharges for service upgrades and/or outlying UK regions apply. Nothing in this advertisement forms part of any contract. Errors and omissions excepted. All prices correct at time of going to print. See site for full details. Whilst stocks last. dabs.com, National Logistics Centre, Wingates Industrial Estate, Westhoughton, Bolton, BL5 3XU. Email assistance@dabs.com
10Off 25Off 40Off

OrDers Over 199
ENtEr CodE 10W5
OrDers Over 399
OrDers Over 599

ENtEr CodE 40W5
ENtEr CodE 25W5 WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Thorough testing and research is the key to evaluating whether a product is worth buying, and deciding whether or not theres a better alternative
We judge CPUs on whether they offer sufficient speed for the price. Part of a CPUs speed score comes from how overclockable it is. Every type of CPU is tested in the same PC, so all results are directly comparable.
amd fm2
Intel LGA1155
AsusMaximus VGene
8GB of Corsair 8GBofCorsair 1,600MHzDDR3
AMDFM2 AMD FM2
Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H
8GBofCorsair 2,133MHzDDR3
AMDSocket AM3+
AsusCrosshairIV Formula
NvidiaGeForce GTX6802GB
120GBPatriot Wildfire
Windows7 64-bit
TESTS: Weusethe CustomPC MediaBenchmarks,CinebenchR11.5,WPrimeandCrysis2.Wealsotesttheresultantpowerdrawofthe

testPCwiththeCPUinstalled.ThesetestsrevealabroadrangeofperformancecharacteristicsfortheCPU,fromimageeditingtogaming andvideoencodingto3Drendering.WerunallthetestswiththeCPUatstockspeedandagainwhenoverclockedtoitshighestfrequency.
Graphics cards are mainly evaluated on how fast they are for their price. However, we also consider the efficacy and quietness of the cooler. Every graphics card is tested in the same PC, so all results are directly comparable.
4.2GHzIntelCore i5-2500K
8GBCorsair1,600MHz DDR3
AsusMaximusV FormulaZ77
Windows 7 64-bit Windows764-bit SP1
The graphics card Thegraphicscard werereviewing
48
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
HOW WE TEST
2.66GHzIntelCore2 DuoE6750
250GBSamsung SpinPointP120S
AsusP5KDeluxe WiFi-AP
Ourbenchmarksuite simulateshowpeople reallyusePCs,anda higherscoreisbetter. Youcandownload thesuitefrom www.tinyurl.com/ benchies
Motherboards are evaluated on everything from layout and features to overclockability and value for money. Every motherboard is tested with the same components, so all results are directly comparable.
amd fm2
AMDA10-5800K
Someproductsare gloriouslyoverthe top.Theseitemsof excellentoverkill earnourExtreme Ultraaward. PremiumGrade productsare utterlydesirable wedeatnothing butbeansuntilwe couldaffordthem. Productsworthy oftheProfessional awardmake you andyourbusiness appeareven moreawesome. Approvedproducts arethosethatdoa greatjobforthe money;theyrethe cannypurchasefor agreatPC.
Intel Core IntelCore i7-3770K
Motherboard ontest
8GBofCorsair 8GB of Corsair 1,600MHzDDR3
Motherboard 8GBofCorsair ontest 2,133MHzDDR3
AMDPhenom Motherboard IIX61100TBE ontest
NvidiaGeForce GTX6802GB*
120GBPatriot 120GB Patriot Wildfire
Windows Windows7 7 64-bit
TESTS: Weusethe CustomPC MediaBenchmarksandseveralgames,andalsotest thespeedsoftheboardsSATAports.Wetrytooverclockeverymotherboardwereview bytestingforamaximumQPI,baseclockorHTTaswellasoverclockingtheCPUtoits maximumair-cooledlevel.WerunourtestsatstockspeedandwiththeCPUoverclocked.

*Pleasenote:WetestAMDFM2motherboardsusingtheon-boardgraphics,nottheNvidiaGeForceGTX6802GB3GB
TESTS: ByusingthefastPCdetailedonthe left,wecanbesurethatanylimitationswesee areduetothegraphicscardontest.Wetestthe fourgames(right)attheirmaximumdetail settings,intheirhighestDirectXmode,andat threeresolutions.High-endcardsshouldbeable tosustainplayableframeratesat2,560x1,600, while1,920x1,080ismoreimportantformidrangecards; wenolongertestat1,680x1,050 because1,920x1,080issocheap.Wealsotryto overclockeverygraphicscardwetesttoseewhat differencethismakestothecardsperformance.
WorldMags.net
Forthosegadgets andgizmosthat reallyimpressus, orthatwecantlive without,theresthe CustomKitaward.
January 2013
49
Custom Kit
GADGET STORAGE
WorldMags.net
Written by Paul Goodhead Seen something worthy of appearing in Custom Kit? Send suggestions to paul_goodhead@dennis.co.uk
We check out the latest gadgets, gizmos and geek toys

GRIPPY PAD
TheGrippyPadisan 01 incrediblysimpleidea;
Price 7 inc VAT Supplier www.firebox.com Manufacturer www.gizzys.com
itsatacky(inagoodway)silicon padtowhichyoucanstickjust aboutanyitem,accordingtothe manufacturer.Welladmitwehad ourdoubts,butitworksbrilliantly. Itstuckfasttonearlyeverysurface wecouldfind,andevenfirmlyheld aheavyiPad2inplace.Theone caveatisthattheitemyoure stickingtothepadneedstohave aflatbackmostphonesand tabletswork,butourHTCDesire HDdidnt,duetoitscurvedshape. Themostdifficultpart,however,is learningtotrusttheGrippyPad. Itsunsettlingtoseeyour300 tabletsuspended5ftintheairby nothingmorethana7gadget, butitneverfailedusonce. PG MAGIC SCIENCE
15IN LAPTOP BAG
BOOQ MAMBA COURIER
isbeautifullymade.Theexteriorisfashionedfrom awaterproof,dyednatural-fibremixthatBooq developedespecially.Itsslightlyroughtotouch, butfeelsreassuringlythickandhard-wearing. Theinterioralsofeelssatisfyinglyrugged,with thickpaddingthatkeepsyourpreciouslaptopsafe,
Yes,weknow80isalotofcashfora 02 laptopbag.InBooqsdefence,theMamba
andhelpsthebagtokeepitsshape.Usefully, Booqalsobrandseachbagwithaunique Terralinqserialcode,whichcanberegistered onlinetohelpreuniteyouwithyourbagifyoulose it.Itmaybeanextravagance,butwewantone. PG WING DINGS COURIER

Price 80 inc VAT Supplier www.booquk.com Manufacturer www.booquk.com
MOBILE SPEAKER
EDIFIER SOUND TO GO PLUS

despitesportingabuiltin30mmx90mmbassradiatoranda classDamplifier.Foradevicethatsaroundthesizeofarelayrace baton,however,itmakesadecentfistofhittingthelownotes,andits onlywhenyouraisethevolumethattheabsenceisreallytelling. Theunitlooksgorgeous.Theone-piecebrushedaluminiumshellisboth ablessingandacurse,though.Itmustmakeupalargechunkofthe60asking price,whichisfranklytoomuchmoneyforthesoundonoffer,unlessyousimply musthaveaspeakerthatmatchesyourbrushed-aluminiumlaptop. PG VALIUM VOLUME
Price 60 inc VAT Supplier www.play.com Manufacturer www.edifier-international.com
03 Mobilespeakersgenerallysufferfromalackof bass,andtheSoundToGoPlusisnodifferent,
50
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
CUSTOM KIT
ON-EAR HEADPHONES
ARCTIC P402
apairofplasticbars,andtheon-earearcups aresolightthattheyalmostfeelhollow.This isntnecessarilybadthough.TheP402isvery comfortabletowear,thankstoitslackofmass, anditstaysinplaceforexactlythesamereason. Italsokicksoutasurprisingamountofnoise forsuchaninsubstantial-feelingset,withbass andtreblerelativelywellbalanceduptoabout 60percentvolume.Approachfullvolume, though,andthebasstakesover,meaningthat everythingelselosesdefinition.Wellfilethese undercheapandcheerful. PG ALL YOUR BASS ALL YOUR BASE
Price 23 inc VAT Supplier www.morecomputers.com Manufacturer www.arctic.ac
04 TheP402isalightweightsetof headphonestheheadbandissimply
7IN TABLET
AMAZON KINDLE FIRE HD 16GB
totheUK.Fortunately,itssuccessor,theKindle FireHD,hasarrivedinamoretimelyfashion,and atarelativelywallet-friendlypriceof159too. BasedonaheavilymodifiedAndroid4build,theFire HDisprimarilyacontentconsumptiondevice,andlackssome usualAndroidfeatures,suchastheGooglePlaystore.Thishasbeen replacedbyAmazonsownAppstore,whichisanannoyanceifyouve alreadysunkabunchofcashintoGooglesecosystem. Theaforementionedcontentispresentedfrontandcentre,with thehomescreendominatedbycarouselmenusshowingyourbooks, musicandLoveFilmmovies.Amazonisntbashfulaboutencouraging youtobuymorecontenteither;playanymusicyouvedraggedonto thedeviceanditwillaskifyoudliketobuymorebythesameartist; thelockscreenshowsadvertsfromAmazonpartnerstoo. Hardware-wise,theFireHDpacksadual-core1.2GHzprocessor andaPowerVRgraphicschip,whichjustaboutkeepsthepin-sharp andamazinglybright1,280x800IPSscreentickingalongadecent
05 AmazonsKindleFirelaunchedinthe USAayearago,butitsonlyjustmadeit
ACTUAL SIZE
framerate.Lagisnoticeablewhenscrollingthroughwebsitesand on-boardcontent,however.AlsonotableisthelackofhardwareGPS features,whicharepresentontheGoogleNexus7. IfyouregularlypurchasemusicandeBooksfromAmazon,and haveaLoveFilmaccount,theFireHDisasmarttravellingcompanion, andyoucertainlycantcomplainabouttheprice.However,wefavour theGoogleNexus7,asithasamoreopenplatform(youcanalways downloadtheKindleappfromtheGooglePlaystore),anditssuperior hardwaremakesforasmotherexperience. PG REIGN OF FIRE CHARIOTS OF FIRE
Price 159 inc VAT Supplier www.amazon.co.uk Manufacturer www.amazon.co.uk
WorldMags.net
January 2013
51
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Weve rounded up six of the best budget CPUs to find out which deserves a place in your PC, and put four new Socket FM2 motherboards through their paces too
hilewealwaystrytogetthebestperformancefrom PCkit,wealsorecognisethatnoteveryPCneeds, andnoteveryonecanafford,ahigh-endCPUand graphicscard.WhetheryourelookingtobuildaPC forbasicofficework,areonlyinterestedinalittlegamingorona tightbudget,theresstilllotsofchoiceatthelowend,especiallynow IntelandAMDhavereleasedtheirlatestcut-pricekit. AMDnowhasitsnewTrinity-basedAPUs,whichpackintegrated RadeonGPUs.Meanwhile,IntelhasextendeditsIvyBridgeCPU
CHEAP AS CHIPS
W
HARRY BUTLER AND ANTONY LEATHER
line-uptothesub-100market,completewithimprovedIntelHD graphics.WeveroundedupthreeCPUsfromeachmanufacturerto findthebestchipchoiceatthelowendofthewedge. However,thelaunchofAMDsnewchipshasalsoseentheswitch toanewCPUsocket,FM2,whichhasbeenaccompaniedbyafresh flowofnewmotherboards.Assuch,weveroundedupfourFM2 motherboardstofindthebestfoundationforyoursystem,should youoptforanAMDTrinitychip.
54
January 2013
WorldMags.net
HOWWETESTED,PAGE56 WorldMags.net
56 Howwetest 57 CPUarchitectureguide 74 Graphs 78 Featuretables 58 AMDA8-5600K 59 AMDA10-5700 60 AMDA10-5800K 62 IntelCorei3-3220 63 IntelCorei3-3225 64 IntelPentiumG2120 66 AsusF2A85-MPro 68 GigabyteGA-F2A75M-D3H 70 ASRockFM2A75Pro4-M 72 MSIA85XA-G65
56
contents
CPUs
FM2MOTHERBOARDS
WorldMags.net
January 2013
55
WorldMags.net
how we test
CPUs
WetestedthethreeIntel CPUsonanAsusMaximus VGene;thesameboardwe usetotestIntelsotherIvy BridgeCPUs.However,asnoneof thesechipssupportsoverclocking viathemultiplier,wewereunableto overclockthesechips.Inpractice,these budgetchipsarebettersuitedtoIntelsless feature-richchipsetssuchasH61,butour testinghereisfocusedonperformance. Meanwhile,someofAMDsTrinityrange ofAPUscanbeoverclocked,withtheA105800KandA8-5600KbothsupportingCPU andGPUoverclockingviaanunlocked performance.Weusedthesamespeed multiplierandGPUfrequency.Wefittedeach memorywhentestingIntelsthreechipstoo. chipinaGigabyteGA-F2A75M-D3HFM2 AlongsideourusualsetofMedia motherboard(seep68),asitprovedtobe Benchmarks,whichtestasystemsspeed acapableandstableoverclocker.AsAMDs inimageediting,videoeditingandmultion-boardGPUssharetheirmemorywith taskingperformance,wealsodraftedin thatofthesystem,wealsooptedtotestallsix thewPrime32MtestandMaxonCinebench CPUswith8GB(2x4GB)of2,133MHzCorsair 11.5totaxourCPUsmulti-threaded DDR3memory. computationalandrenderingperformance. Thismightsoundcounter-intuitivefor WhileyoureunlikelytobuyabudgetCPUfor budget chips, but 8GB of 2,133MHz memory budgetchips,but8GBof2,133MHzmemory 3Drenderingpurposes, now costs only around 15 more than the this still gives you an nowcostsonlyaround15morethanthe thisstillgivesyouan same amount of 1,600MHz idea of comparative sameamountof1,600MHz ideaofcomparative memoryand multi-threaded grantsa performance. significant Then,totesteach increasein chipson-boardGPU on-boardGPU performance,we performance, usedourexisting alongsideaminor ElderScrollsV: Weuse2,133MHzCorsairmemorysotheon-boardGPU bumpinsystem Skyrimbenchmark, intheAMDchipsgetsasmuchbandwidthaspossible
AlltheCorei3chipsaretestedonanAsusMaximus VGenethesameboardweusetotesthigh-endIvy BridgeCPUs
whichcapturestheaverageand minimumframerateover60 secondsofgameplay.For thesetests,wesetthe gamesdetailsettingsat theHighpreset,before alsodisablingantialiasingcompletely.GPU testingfortheAMDchipsusedthelatest Catalyst12.10WHQLdriver,whiletheIntel chipsusedthelatestIntelHDGraphicsdriver, 15.26.12.64.2761.Assomepeoplemaywish torunthesechipswithadiscretegraphics card,wealsotestedCrysis2at1,920x1,080 withnoAAatUltrasettingswithaGeForce GTX6802GBatestinwhichbothminimum andaverageframeratesareCPU-limited.
CPU SCORING
CPUperformanceisfactoredintothe performancescore,withon-boardGPU performance,overclockingabilityandpower consumptionformingthefeaturesscore. Thevaluescoreisgeneratedbycomparingof performanceandfeaturesscorestoeach chipsprice.Asisalwaysthecaseinour Labstests,wescoretheCPUsontestin comparisontoeachother,ratherthanin competitionwiththeentireCPUmarket.
FM2 MOTHERBOARDS
Finally,totesttheFM2motherboards,we optedforthemostpowerfuloftheAMDchips, theAMDA10-5800K,andagainequippedit with8GB(2x4GB)of2,133MHzmemory. CoolingwashandledbyaCorsairH80liquid cooler,althoughwithAMDschipsstubbornly refusingtooutputdesktopmonitoring information,wewereratherinthedark whenitcametomonitoringtemperatures. WethenranourMediaBenchmarks, andtestedon-boardGPUanddiscreteGPU performancetogiveusabalancedviewof overallspeed. Wealsomeasuredthetotal systempowerconsumptionatbothstockand overclockedsettings,withtheloadpower consumptionmeasuredwhilerunningboth Prime95andUniginesHeaven3benchmark topushthechipstotheirmaximumlimit.
WerunourSkyrimbenchmarkat 1,920x1,080withtheHighpreset andnoanti-aliasing
56
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
INSIDE INFORMATION
BUDGET CPUs
We take a look at the innards of Intel and AMDs latest budget processors
espitecompetingatthesameprice point,IntelandAMDsrangesof budgetchipsareverydifferent.AMDs newlineof32nmA10andA8APUs (acceleratedprocessingunits), codenamedTrinity,arethecompanys secondgenerationofAPUs,combining aCPUandaGPUonasingledie.The previousiteration,codenamedLlano, madeuseofAMDsageingK10 architecture(asusedinitsPhenomII CPUs),runningalongsideanEvergreenfamilyGPUthesameasthatusedin AMDs5000-seriesRadeonHDGPUs. ThenewTrinityAPUshavebeengreatly improved,andmakeuseofAMDslatest PiledriverCPUarchitecture.Thisisthe successortolastyearsBulldozer architecture,whichrepresenteda significantchangeincourseforAMDs processordesign.UnlikeIntelsIvyBridge architecture,whichusesself-contained CPUcoresalongsideasharedL3cache, Piledriverusesmodules. Eachmodulecontainstwointeger (wholenumber)executionunits,which arearguablycores,giventhatthevast majorityofaCPUsworkloadconcerns wholenumbers.Theseexecutionunits thenshareresourceswithinthemodule thatanindividualCPUcorewouldtypically havetoitself,suchasthefloatingpoint unit,andafetchanddecodeunit. EachTrinityA10andA8seriesAPU packstwoPiledrivermodulesforatotal offourexecutionunits(cores),andeach modulehas2MBofL2cache.However, unlikethedesktopPiledriverchipssuch astheFX-8350(seep40),Piledriverin TrinitydoesntuseanL3cache.However, whilethePiledriverarchitecturegives TrinityAPUsmorephysicalcoresthan Intelscompetingdual-corechips,AMDs architectureisntaseffectivewhenit comestoinstructionsperclock(IPC). AlongsidethePiledriverCPUcores, AMDalsoequipsitsTrinityAPUswithan
InsideanAMDTrinityAPU
integratedDirectX11.1-compatibleGPU, usingthesameGPUarchitecturefoundin theNorthernIslandsfamilyof6000-series GPUsreleasedin2011.AfullyfeaturedGPU initsownright,theHD7660DontheA105800Kusesasinglefront-endenginewithits owngeometryassembler,rasteriserand eighth-generationtessellator.TheGPUs 384streamprocessorsarethensplit betweensixSIMD(singleinstruction, multipledata)engines,witheachservedby fourtextureunitsforatotalof24.TheGPU sharesthesystemspoolofDDR3memory, withthebenefitthatusingfastermemory willboosttheintegratedGPUsmemory bandwidthand,subsequently,performance. WhileCPUandGPUfrequenciesvary throughoutAMDsrange,theA10andA8 APUsallsupport TurboCore.LikeIntels TurboBoosttech,thisenablesthechipto boostthefrequencyofindividualCPUcores, oreventheGPU,aslongasthechipremains withinitsTDP(thermaldesignpower)limit. Incomparison,IntelsCorei3andPentium IvyBridgeCPUsarerelativelysimilartoits high-endquad-corechipssuchastheCore
i5-3570K.OtherthanthesharedpoolofL3 cache,eachcoreisself-contained,withits own64KBofL1and256KBofL2cache. Thelow-endchipsdontsupportIntels TurboBoosttechnologyintheCPUportion ofthechips,althoughtheycanreduce frequenciesforidlecores. ThebiggestchangeforIvyBridge, however,isitsintegratedGPU,whichhas beenexpandedandimprovedtosupport DirectX11.Intelson-boardgraphicsare arrangeddifferentlytoAMDs;ratherthan SIMDs,Inteldubsitsgroupsofstream processorsslices,andcallsitsstream processorsexecutionunits(EUs). Each sliceholdsanumberofexecutionunits, withaseparatesingleslicecommonunit thatcontainstheL3cacheandrasteriser. WhileIntelsEU-countisvastlylower thanAMDsstreamprocessorcount,not allstreamprocessorsarethesame.Intels GlobalAssetsUnit(essentiallytheHD graphicsfrontend)isattachedtothe processorsringbusandL3cache,while theA10-5800KsGPUoperatesoutsideof thesharedmemorycontroller.
58
WorldMags.net
January 2013
57
WorldMags.net
Decent overclocking and GPU, but the A10-5800K makes more sense
PILEDRIVER Decent stock performance; easily overclocks above A105800K frequencies; fair on-board GPU PILES 100W TDP; A105800Ks GPU superior; Intel CPUs better for discrete GPUs
AMD A8-5600K
HOW MUCH?
Price 74incVAT Supplier www.ebuyer.co.uk Manufacturer www.amd.com/uk
heA8-5600KhasthesamepairofPiledriver coresastheA10-5700andA10-5800K,but clockedatalowerstockfrequencyof3.6GHz, withaTurboCorespeedofupto3.9GHz.Its 100WTDPmeansithasmoreheadroomforTurbo Coretoboosttoitshigherfrequency,though,andits unlockedmultiplierallowsoverclockingtoo. TheA8-5600Kalsocarriesascaled-downon-board GPUcomparedtothe5800K,withtheSIMDcount decliningtofourunitsof64streamprocessors,fora totalof256.Italsodropseighttextureunits,foratotal ofonly16,althoughitstillsportsROPs.Aswiththe A10-5800K,theA8-5600Ksupportsmemoryupto 2,133MHz(1,866MHzofficially),whichissharedwith theon-boardGPU.Atitsstockspeeds,theA8-5600Ks HD7560DGPUisclockedat760MHz,butaswiththe multiplier,thisisunlockedtoallowoverclocking. WhilefasterthantheA10-5700,theA8-5600Kis generallyslowerthanthePentiumG2120(seep64)in 2D.TheA8-5600Kscored959inourimageeditingtest comparedtothePentiums1,510.Avideoeditingscore of1871fortheA8-5600KsurpassedthePentiumchip byover200points,though,beforeamulti-tasking scoreof1,121againsawtheAMDchiploseout,withan overallscoreof1,317pointscomparedtothePentium G2120s1,499.TheIntelchipwasalsobetterindiscrete GPUperformance,withaminimumframerateof 49fpsinCrysis2,comparedtotheA8-5600Ks45fps. However,theA8-5600KthrashedalltheIntelchips inon-boardGPUperformance,evenwithitsscaleddownGPU.Aminimumframerateof21fpsinSkyrim
ismorethandoublethatoftheIntelCorei3-3225s IntelHD4000graphics,butstillcloseto20percent slowerthantheA10-5800Kyoullneedtodropthe settingsifyouwantittobeplayable. TheA8-5600Kalsoprovedanableoverclocker.With anadditional0.162Vonthevcore,foracorevoltageof 1.536V,wecouldrunthechipatastable4.4GHz.The GPUalsoprovedpliable,andreached1GHzwithout issue.ThisboostedtheA8-5600Ksoverallscoreinour mediabenchmarksto1,454only25pointsshyofthe overclockedA10-5800K.Meanwhile,theminimum framerateinSkyrimrosetoanear-playable24fps withasmalltweaktothesettings,youcouldhit25fps. Meanwhile,thepeaktotalsystempower consumptionof153Wwasthehighestontest,but stillnothingtoworryabout.
CONCLUSION
Despitebeingacapableall-rounderfor74,were unabletorecommendtheA8-5600K.Ifyouwantan all-in-onechip,the5800KssuperiorGPUmakesit worththeextra15,whiletheIntelCorei3-3220isa betterpartnerfordiscreteGPUs. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
79
58
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
SOCKET FM2 CPUs
A low TDP, but also lower clock speeds and no overclocking
AMD A10-5700
nliketheA10-5800K,whichpacksahefty 100WTDP,theA10-5700hasarelatively meagreTDPof65W.Thisisstill10Whigher thantheIntelchipsontest,butstillahealthy dropconsideringtheresrelativelylittlephysical differencebetweentheA10-5700andtheA10-5800K. Itspairofdual-corePiledriverunitsrunat3.4GHz, buttheycanalsoboosttoupto4GHz.However,asthe chipsTDPismuchlower,theA10-5700scapacityto boostallfourcoresinCPU-intensivecircumstancesis reduced.AsitlacksthatelusiveKmoniker,youalso cantoverclocktheA10-5700sCPUorGPU. DespiteitsreducedTDP,TheA10-5700carriesthe samecapableRadeonHD7660DGPUastheA105800K,withitsNorthIslandsarchitectureusingsix SIMDsof64streamprocessors,24textureunitsand eightROPs.TheGPUrunsataslightlylowerclock speedof760MHz,though,andwefoundthat,unlike theA10-5800KandA8-5600K,thechipwouldntwork with2,133MHzmemory,insteadcappingattheAMDrecommendedmaximumfrequencyof1,866MHz. AlthoughtheA10-5700canuseTurboCoretoboost to4GHz,itwasslowerthantheA8-5600Kintesting,a chipthatonlybooststo3.9GHzbutclearlydoessoona moreregularbasis.Theimageeditingscoreof919 wasthelowestontest,althoughthevideoencoding scoreof1,799pointsisrespectable,thankstothe multi-threadednatureofthePiledriverarchitecture. Thescoretailsoffagaininthemulti-taskingtestforan overallscoreof1,26650pointsbehindtheA8-5600K and100behindtheA10-5800K.
WithadiscreteGPUfitted,the5700sminimum framerateinCrysis2of44fpswasalsotheloweston test(albeitjust1fpsslowerthantheA8-5600K). Meanwhile,theA10-5700sreducedGPUclockand inabilitytosupport2,133MHzmemorysawits on-boardGPUsSkyrimperformanceslidealittle, butits384streamprocessorsstillresultedinan Intel-batteringminimumframerateof23fps.Even IntelsCorei3-3225withHD4000graphicscouldonly manageaminimumframerateof8fpsat1,920x1,080 withHighdetail,offeringlittlecompetition. TheA10-5700deliveredonitslowpower consumptionclaimstoo.WithbothPrime95and UniginesHeaven3benchmarklooping,weobserved apeaksystempowerof111W;33Wlowerthanwiththe A10-5800Kinstalled.
POWER Low power consumption; decent on-board GPU performance

Slower 2D performance than A8-5600K; no overclocking
CORRUPTION
CONCLUSION
Whileitconsumeslittlepower,theA10-5700slower TDPalsosees2Dperformancedropbelowthatofa chipthats15cheaper.WhileitsGPUremainshighly competitive,the33Wsaving(whichisonlyatpeakload anyway)isntworththedropinperformance. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
75
HOW MUCH?
Price 90incVAT Supplier www.ebuyer.co.uk Manufacturer www.amd.com/uk
60
WorldMags.net
January 2013
59
WorldMags.net
SOCKET FM2 CPUs
Improved 2D performance and a great on-board GPU

TRINITY Competent 2D performance; excellent onboard GPU; easy to overclock CROSSROADS Intel chips offer superior 2D performance; overclocking gains not that signicant; high power consumption under load
AMD A10-5800K
HOW MUCH?
Price 93incVAT Supplier www.aria.co.uk Manufacturer www.amd.com/uk
heA10-5800KsitsatthetopofAMDsTrinity line-up.Ithasapairofdual-corePiledriver modulesrunningat3.8GHz,withtheability toboosttoupto4.2GHz,iftheressufficient poweravailablewithinthechips100WTDPthreshold. TheA10-5800Kson-boardRadeonHD7660DGPU usessixSIMDs,eachwith64streamprocessors(384 intotal),and24textureunits.AswithAMDsLlano architecture,TrinitysAPUmakesuseofyourPCs DDR3RAMforGPUmemory,sofastermemorywill boostGPUspeedstoo.Officially,1,866MHzisthe maximumsupportedspeed,butmostmotherboards willallowforupto2,133MHz. Disappointingly,theA10-5800Klaggedbehindeven Intels70PentiumchipinourMediaBenchmarks. Theimageeditingscoreof1,002wasawhole500 pointsslowerthanthePentiumG2120,althoughthe videoencodingscoreof1,959beatthePentiumand camewithin10percentoftheCorei3s.Again,though, themulti-taskingscoreof1,155wasslowerthanthat ofIntels70chip.ShouldyoupairtheA10-5800Kwith adiscreteGPU,itsalsoslowerthananIntelchipin games.InCrysis2,itmanagedaminimumframerate of46fpscomparedtothe51fpsoftheCorei3s. WhilelaggingbehindIntelschipsintheserespects, though,theA10-5800Kson-boardGPUremains dominant.Aplayableminimumframerateof26fps inSkyrimat1,920x1,080withHighdetailisa phenomenalachievementforanon-boardGPU, crushingIntelsHDgraphicsunits,whichcant produceevenathirdofthesame3Dperformance.
UnliketheIntelchips,youcanoverclocktheA105800Ktoo.Byincreasingthevcoreby0.12Vto1.5V, usinga45xmultiplierandleavingthebaseclockat 100MHz,wehit4.5GHz.Wealsoincreasedthe on-boardGPUfrequencytoahealthy1GHz.The resultwasanimprovedoverallMediaBenchmarks scoreof1,476,a7.5percentincrease,withtheSkyrim minimumframerateclimbingtoasmoother29fps. However,theA10-5800Ks100WTDPseesitchomp morepowerthanIntelscompetition.UnderCPUand GPUload,werecordedasystempowerconsumption of144Watstockspeeds,and205Wwhenoverclocked; incomparison,Intelschipssawthetotalsystem powerremainbelow85W.
CONCLUSION
Whilethe5800KstillcantmatchIntelscompetitionin 2D,itson-boardGPUoffersgenuinelyplayable1,920x 1,080gaming,withtheabilitytooverclocksweetening thedeal.IfyouplantoinstalladiscreteGPU,theCore i3-3220isthesuperiorCPU,butifyoureafteraonechipfixthatcoversallbases,theA10-5800Kisthe clearchoice. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
62
81
60
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
The ideal budget partner for a discrete graphics card

HARLEY-QUINN Great 2D performance for just 95; low power consumption POISON IVY Poor on-board GPU makes discrete graphics a must for games
INTEL Core i3-3220
HOW MUCH?
Price 94incVAT Supplier www.scan.co.uk Manufacturer www.intel.co.uk
hereisntmuchdifferencebetweentheCore i3-3220anditspriciersibling,theCore i3-3225.BothuseIntels22nmIvyBridge architectureandoffertwoHyper-Threaded cores,sotherearetwophysicalandtwological threads.Theyalsobothhavethesamenippy3.3GHz clockspeed,thoughwithoutTurboBoosttechnology. Thedifferencethencomesfromthechipson-board GPUs.WhiletheCorei3-3225usesIntelslatestHD 4000GPU,theCorei3-3220isequippedwiththe inferiorIntelHD2500.TheHD2500stillsupports DirectX11,butitsequippedwithjustsixexecution unitscomparedtoHD4000s16units;however,both GPUshavethesame650MHzclock(withaboostup to1,050MHz). However,thisdropinGPUresourcesseestheCore i3-3220costingover15cheaperthanitssibling.As Intelson-boardgraphicssystemsaresopoorthata discreteGPUisrequiredfordecent3Dperformance, thismakesitamoresuitablepartnerforacapable mid-rangeGPUsuchasAMDsRadeonHD78502GB. Intermsofspeed,theCorei3-3220performedvery similarlytoitssibling,theCorei3-3225,althoughthere wassomevariance.Needlesstosay,thissawtheCore i3-3220easilysurpassAMDsA10-5800Kin ourMedia Benchmarks,withtheCorei3-3220simageediting score1,537beingvastlysuperiortothatoftheAMD processor.Thevideoencodingandmulti-tasking scoresof2,145and1,410respectivelywerealsohigher thanthoseoftheA10-5800K,althoughnotbysucha significantmargin.
DiscreteGPUperformancewasalsostrong,witha minimumframerateof51fpsinCrysis2usingaGTX 6802GBa10percentadvantageovertheA10-5800K. However,theon-boardIntelHD2500graphics generatedghastlyperformanceinSkyrimat1,920x 1,080.Aminimumframerateofjust4fpsisafifthof thatachievableusingtheA8-5600K,achipthats20 cheaper,andmakestheCorei3-3220entirelyunsuited to3DgamingunlesspairedwithadiscreteGPU.Of course,theHD2500GPUoffersotherbenefits,such asIntelslong-vauntedbutrarelyutilisedQuickSync videoencoding,butformostpeople,theseareoflittle use.Meanwhile,apeakpowerconsumptionofjust 78Wisverylowand,astheCPUdoesntsupport overclocking,thestockIntelcoolerdoesthejobfine.
CONCLUSION
TheCorei3-3220slowerpricetaganddowngraded graphicsmakeitastrongbudgetCPU.Onitsown,it isntforgamerswhoprioritisefragsandframerates, butitcanformthebasisofagreatbudgetgamingPC whenpairedwithadiscreteGPU.Itsalsothebest budgetCPUforthosenotinterestedingaming. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
80
62
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
LGA1155 CPUs
Great 2D performance, but the dire on-board GPU adds 15 to the price
INTEL Core i3-3225
heCorei3-3225hastwoHyper-ThreadingenabledIvyBridgecores,foratotaloffour threads(twophysicalandtwological).While thismayseemtoputitatadisadvantage comparedtothefourphysicalcoresofAMDsTrinity APUs,Intelschipsarefarmorecapablepercore. TheCPUcorerunsatasetfrequencyof3.3GHz,but doesntuseIntelsTurboBoosttofurtherincrease performance.Thisallowsthechiptoshipwithalow TDPofjust55W.AstheCorei3-3225isntaKchip, theresnounlockedmultipliertoallowoverclocking. AlongsidethepairofIvyBridgecores,Intelhas equippedtheCorei3-3225withitstop-specIntelHD 4000graphicsprocessorthesameon-board graphicschipfoundinitshigher-specificationCore i5andCorei7chips.HD4000boasts16execution units,andnowsupportsDirectX11andhardware tessellationtoo,althoughitstilllagsbehindAMD whenitcomestopure3Dperformance. Conversely,theCorei3-3225leaveslittledoubt aboutitssuperiorityoverAMDsTrinitychipswhenit comesto2Dperformance,butthegapbetweenthe twoisnow smallerthanpreviously.Animageediting scoreof1,533pointsinourMediaBenchmarksis50 percentfasterthantheA10-5800Kinthesametest, whileavideoencodingscoreof2,131isaround10per centquickerthanthetop-specTrinitychip.Meanwhile, anoverallscoreof1,690pointsseestheCorei3-3225 holda20percentadvantageovertheA10-5800Katits stockspeeds.EvenwhenweoverclockedtheA105800Kto4.5GHz,itremainedover200pointsadrift
overall. InCinebench,however,thereslittledifference betweentheAMDandIntelchipsatstockspeeds,and theA10-5800Kisnotablyquickeronceoverclocked. DiscreteGPUperformanceagainseestheCore i3-3225bettertheAMDcompetition,withaminimum framerateinCrysis2of51fpscomparedtotheA105800Ks46fps.However,theIntelson-boardGPU seesitfallflat,anddespitetheuseofIntelHD4000 graphics,theCorei3-3225isonlyabletoproducea minimumframerateof8fpsinSkyrimat1,920x1,080 withHighdetail.Inthesametest,AMDsTrinitychips areallcapableofatleastdoublethisframerate. Powerconsumptionwasverylow,however,witha peakloadofjust85Wforthewholesystem.
BRIDGE Fast performance in CPU benchmarks; low power consumption; fast with discrete GPU CHASM Poor on-board GPU; 15 cheaper i3-3220 performs very similarly in CPU tests
CONCLUSION
DespitetheCorei3-3225sexcellentperformancein 2DappsandgameswithadiscreteGPU,itson-board graphicsarepoor,despitebeingamongthebestIntel canoffer.YoullneedadiscreteGPUforanymoderate 3Dgaming,thusmakingtheHD4000graphics redundant.AstheCorei3-3220offersthesameCPU performancefor15less,itsthebetteroption. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
77
HOW MUCH?
64
WorldMags.net
January 2013
63
WorldMags.net
LGA1155 CPUs
Too slow on any front to consider buying

CPU performance still quicker than A10-5800K, low power consumption
INTEL Pentium G2120

G-POLICE
G-UNIT Rubbish on-board GPU; tangibly slower than Core i3-3220
HOW MUCH?
fIntelsCorei3chipsaretooexpensive,the PentiumG2120offersthenextstepdownthe IvyBridgeladder.Atjust72,itsthecheapest chipontest,competingwithAMDsA8-5600K, andatfirstglance,itdiffersonlyslightlyfromitsmore auspiciousbrethren.TheG2120boaststwo3.1GHzIvy Bridgecoresbut,aswiththei3chips,noTurboBoost support.TheresnoHyper-ThreadingforthePentium chipeither;justthetwophysicalcores. ThePentiumG2120son-boardgraphicsisalsoa stepdown.ItsIntelHDgraphicschipmatchestheHD 2500graphicsoftheCorei3-3220,withsixexecution unitsclockedbetween650MHzand1,050MHz,and DirectX11support,butitlacksmanyofIntelsextra features.Thismeansthereslimitedvirtualisation support,noQuickSync,noWirelessDisplayandno ClearVideoHDTechnology.Basically,itsanIntelchip withthecleverstuffyoualmostneveruseremoved. Withalowerclockspeedandfewerfeaturesthanits stablemates,notsurprisingly,thePentiumG2120is alsolightonpower,withaTDPofonly55W. Withonlya200MHzstepdowninper-clock performanceincomparisontotheCorei3-3220,the PentiumG2120accountsforitselfwellinourMedia Benchmarks,withanimageeditingscoreof1,510 pointsonly30pointsbehindtheCorei3sand50per centfasterthaneventhe88A10-5800K.However, thelackofHyper-Threadingimpactedvideoencoding performance,withascoreof1,660pointsbeingthe slowestofanychipontest;eventheA10-5700was 139pointsquicker.Thankfully,thePentiumG2120
recoveredinthemulti-taskingtest,withascoreof 1,329againeclipsingtheAMDcompetition.The PentiumG2120sflawsshowedelsewhere,though, withthelowestscoresbyalargemargininthemultithreadedworkloadsofwPrime32MandCinebench. Also,asitboastsonlysixexecutionunitsinitsHD Graphicsunit,theG2120wasjustaspoorasitsteammatesingames.Aminimumframerateof4fpsin SkyrimisasixthofthatachievedbytheA8-5600K. PerformancewithadiscreteGPUwasbetter,though, witha49fpsminimuminCrysis2betteringtheA105800K;itsalso4percentslowerthantheCore i3-3220.Meanwhile,thepeakpowerconsumption of73Wunderfullloadwasalsoverygood,and comfortablythelowestontest.
CONCLUSION
Whileithasatemptinglowprice,thePentiumG2120s flawsareclear.AlongsideitspoorGPUisitslimited multi-threadedperformance,whichcripplesvideo encodingandsimilarlyintensivetasks,makingitillsuitedasastand-alonechip.TheA10-5800KandCore i3-3220arepricier,butbettersuitedtotheirroles. HB
scores
customPC
OVERALL
66
76
64
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
SOCKET FM2 MOTHERBOARDS
A decent board for a good price, but it cant quite catch the Gigabyte
RED BULL Inexpensive; PCI and PCI-E slots HRT A little aky when pushed; EFI isnt as slick as the competition
ASROCK FM2A75 Pro4-M
HOW MUCH?
Productcode FM2A75 Pro4-M Price 60incVAT Supplier www.overclockers.co.uk Manufacturer www.asrock.com
SRocksFM2A75Pro4-Misamicro-ATX board,butunliketheAsusF2A85-MPro,it hasbothPCI-EandPCIslots.However,it lacksDisplayPort,andhasfewerUSB3and SATA6Gbpsports.Plus,withtwoPCI-Egraphics cardsinstalled,thesecondslotdropsto4x,potentially affectingperformance. Otherwise,though,theFM2A75Pro4-Msdesign comesuptrumps.The24-pinATXconnector,SATA portsandon-boardUSB3connectorarelocatedatthe edgeofthePCB.The12-pinEPS12Vconnectorisinset alittle,butotherwiseyoullhavenoissuesfittinglarge CPUcoolersorrouteingcablesoutofsight.Unlikethe GigabyteGA-F2A75M-D3H,theFM2A75Pro4-Malso hasaheatsinkonitsVRMs,whichbecameverywarm onalltheboardsontestduringoverclocking. TheFM2A75Pro4-Malsodetectedthecorrect memorytimingsandhadnoissuesrunningitatits ratedspeedof2,133MHz.TheEFIlayoutisalittle messyincomparisontoAsusandGigabytesdesigns thoughyouhavetoscrollupanddownwholepages tofindsettingsthatshouldbegroupedtogether,butit atleastprovidesabsoluteCPUvoltagecontrolrather thanoffsetcontrol,alongwithaccesstomostotherkey voltages.Atstockspeed,theFM2A75Pro4-Mwasona parwiththeGigabyteboardinmosttests,andithada smallleadinthevideoencodingtesttoo.However,like theGigabyteboard,itlaggedbehindtheA85Xboards. Thiswasntthecaseinthegames,though,where itsminimumframeratesof26fpsand46fpsinSkyrim andCrysis2respectivelywerewithinafractionofthe
otherboardsontest.Its46MB/secSATA6Gbpswrite speedwastheonlycauseforconcern,butthiswasthe casewiththeotherexamplesontesttoo. Wealsomanagedtooverclockour5800Kto4.4GHz withtheFM2A75Pro4-Mto4.4GHz,usingavcoreof 1.5Vanda44xmultiplier,whiledisablingCoolnQuiet, CPUthermalthrottleandCoreC6modeintheEFI. However,itfailedtosmoothlyrecoverfromacoupleof overzealousoverclocksaproblemwedidnthave withtheGigabyte.WealsomanagedtoboosttheGPU corefrequencyto1GHzaswell,whichsawamajor boostinouron-boardgraphicsSkyrimtest,withthe minimumframeraterisingfrom26fpsto29fps. Meanwhile,theincreaseinCPUspeedsawtheoverall scoreinourMediaBenchmarkssuiteriseto1,463,but Crysis2withadiscreteGPUsawlittleimprovement.
CONCLUSION
Despiteitslowprice, theFM2A75Pro4-Mkeepsup withtheAsusF2A85-MPro,whichcostsnearlytwice asmuch.However,thecheaperGigabyteoffersa superiorBIOSandmoreoverclockingheadroom, whilealsorecoveringbetterfromfailedoverclocks. AL
scores
customPC
OVERALL
68
83
66
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
dLAN 500 triple your network options

NEW!
3 Gigabit LAN ports
Any power socket can become a network point
dLAN 500 AVtriple+ Powerline adapter for connecting up to 3 network-compatible devices Home network via the power line with transmission rates of up to 500 Mbps Connects computers and consumer electronics to each other and to the Internet Simple and secure; can work in any room or building Direct connection of up to 3 devices with the integrated Gigabit switch The integrated socket ensures that no power socket goes to waste
The Network Innovation
www.devolo.co.uk WorldMags.net
Tel.: +44 (0)1865 244141, Email: sales@devolo.co.uk
More information:
WorldMags.net
Exactly what a Socket FM2 motherboard should look like
Cheap; great EFI; good overclocker
GIGABYTE GA-F2A75M-D3H
GIGABYTE
LOVE BITE Basic feature set; slightly slower performance than A85X boards
HOW MUCH?
Productcode GA-F2A75M-D3H Price 56incVAT Supplier www.overclockers.co.uk Manufacturer http://uk.gigabyte.com
henbuyingamotherboardand CPU,itsusuallygoodtospend moreontheCPUthanthe motherboard.Withthe A10-5800Kretailingforalittleover100, thisshouldntbetoodifficult,butwith motherboardssuchasMSIsA85XA-GD65 andAsusF2A85-MProretailingfor86and109 respectively,thecostofA85X-chipsetmotherboards fliesinthefaceofeverythingTrinityhasgoingforit theabilitytobuildacheapgamingsystemthatcan betterasimilarlypricedIntelsetup.Thankfully, GigabytesF2A75M-D3Hhasnailedthesweetspot. Atjust56,itshalfthepriceoftheAsus,meaning yourmotherboardandCPUcombo,shouldyouoptfor theA10-5800K,willcostaround160insteadofover 200.Afterall,for200,youcouldpickupanIvyBridge PentiumCPU,acheapLGA1155motherboardanda RadeonHD77701GBafarmorepotentgamingmix. Themicro-ATXF2A75M-D3HsportsAMDsA75 chipset,butwhileAMDwouldhaveyoubelievethat onlytheA85XchipsetallowsfortwodiscreteGPUsin CrossFireX,theF2A75M-D3Hmanagesthisfeattoo. Itsportstwo16xPCI-Eslots,butthedownsideisthat thesecondslotislimitedtojust4x,whereastheMSI offers8xinbothslotsinCrossFireX mode.However,thoselookingtobuild adual-GPUsetupwouldbemuch betteroffwithahigher-endIvyBridge setupthananFM2systemanyway,so thepointismoot. Theboardalsohassingle1xPCI-E andPCIslotsforfurtherexpansion, givingyouabalancedsetupandplenty ofoptionswhenitcomestosound cardsandTVtunercards,especiallyas youcanuse1xPCI-Edevicesin16x PCI-Eslotstoo.TheA75chipsetis limitedtosixSATA6Gbpsports, althoughthiswillbemorethanenough foratypicalSocketFM2system.As withalltheotherboardsontest,the GA-F2A75M-D3Hhasaplethoraof videooutputstoo,althoughitlacks DisplayPort,unliketheMSIandAsus. Meanwhile,thelayoutisalso generallygood.Therearenoheatsinks
ontheVRMcircuitrysurroundingtheCPU socket,sotheresverylittletogetintheway oflargeCPUcoolers.ThemainPCI-E expansionslotisalsopositionedsothat dualortriple-slotgraphicscardswontfoul theSATAportsorUSB3header.However, useofthelowerslotislikelytoobscurefourof thesixSATAports.TheDIMMslotsarepositioned fairlyclosetotheCPUsockettoo,butmostSocket FM2coolerscanberotated;youcouldalsousetwo DIMMsindual-channelmodeinslotsoneandtwo thefurthestandthird-furthestfromtheCPUsocket givingyoualittlemorebreathingspace.
PERFORMANCE
Weinitiallyfoundthesystemcrashedwhenmanually settingtheRAMtoitsrated2,133MHzspeed,buton closerinspection,thetimingswerealittletootight. SettingthemtotheRAMsratedvaluessolvedthe problem,butwedidnthavethistiming-misdetection issueonanyotherboards.Thenagain,theboard officiallydoesntsupportmemoryhigherthan 1,866MHz,sowecantreallyholdthatagainstit.At stockspeed,theF2A75M-D3Hadmittedlydidntlight upourperformancegraphs,beingtheslowestboard
68
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
THE EFI WAS EXCELLENTLY LAID OUT AND RICH IN OPTIONS, APART FROM THE VCORE ADJUSTMENT LACKING AN ABSOLUTE VOLTAGE MODE
ontestinmanyofthem,butusuallybylessthan 5percent.Itsoverallscoreof1,372inourMedia BenchmarkswasslightlyshortoftheMSIA85XAGD65,forexamplenotadealbreakerbyanymeans. Overclockingprovedtobeasurprisinglypleasant experiencewiththeGA-F2A75M-D3H.TheEFIwas excellentlylaidoutandrichinoptions,apartfromthe vcoreadjustmentlackinganabsolutevoltagemode. OurA10-5800Ktestchipquicklyroseto4.5GHzafter settingthevcoreto1.5VanddisablingCoolnQuietand C6Stateoptions.However,increasingthisto4.6GHz witha1.55Vvcoresawtemperaturesrisetotoasty levelsandresultedinanunstablesystem.Wealso managedtoincreasetheGPUcorefrequencyto 1GHzfrom800MHz.Theboardwasabletorecover brilliantlyfromfailedoverclockstoo,whichthe ASRockFM2A75Pro4andAsusF2A85-MProfailed tomanageonoccasions. TheincreaseinCPUspeedsawtheoverallMedia Benchmarkssuitescoreriseover100pointsto1,476, whilethisandtheincreaseinGPUfrequencyresulted intheminimumframerateinSkyrimleapingfrom 26fpsto29fps.AddingaGeForceGTX6802GBtothe systemfortheCrysis2testdidntseeagreatbenefit fromtherathertameoverclockwemanagedto achieveontheA10-5800KAPU,butthiswasthesame onallourmotherboards.Theoverclockalsosawover 60Waddedtotheloadsystempowerdrawthisis worthbearinginmindifyouintendtokeeppower consumptiontoaminimum.
CONCLUSION
Despiteslightlyslowerresultsthansomeoftheother boards,thebargain-tasticGA-F2A75M-D3Hwas neverfarbehindandmanagedtooverclockourA105800KAPUasfarastherestofthepacktoo.Combined withlotsofexpansionoptions,andanexceptionallylow pricecomparedtotheA85Xboardsontest,itsdifficult nottorecommendunequivocally.Italsohastheedge ontheASRockFM2A75Pro4withitssuperiorEFIand excellentoverclockrecoverysystem.Itstheperfect choiceforabudgetSocketFM2gamingsystem. AL
87
OVERALL
70
WorldMags.net
January 2013
69
WorldMags.net
A solid FM2 motherboard, but it struggles to justify its price tag

MADRAS Excellent EFI system; good layout; plenty of features KORMA Double the price of A75 motherboards
ASUS F2A85-M PRO
HOW MUCH?
Productcode F2A85-MPRO Price 109incVAT Supplier www.overclockers.co.uk Manufacturer http://uk.asus.com
susF2A85-MProcoststwiceasmuchasthe nextcheapestFM2boardontest,anditsalso noticeablypricierthantheMSIA85XA-GD65, whichsportsthesameA85Xchipset. Itsalsoamicro-ATXboard,soitsunderstandably thinonexpansionoptions,withjusttwo16xPCI-Eslots andtwo1xslotslocatedinbetween.TheresnoPCI slotand,unlikethecheaperMSI,therearenopower, resetorCMOSclearbuttonseither.However,thereare sevenSATAconnectors,sixofwhichareangled,plus AsususualperkssuchasUSBBIOSFlashbackand itsAISuiteIIsoftware,includingFanXpert2. Thelayoutdoesnthaveissueseither,withthe8-pin EPS12Vconnectorand24-pinATXconnectorboth locatedattheedgeofthePCB,althoughyoulllose oneofthe1xPCI-Eslotsifyouuseadiscretedual-slot GPU.Asyoudexpectatthisprice,theF2A85-MPro alsohasthefullcomplementofvideooutputs, includingDisplayPort,HMDIandDVI-D.Plus,should youwishtodabbleinsomedual-GPUmalarkey,italso supportsCrossFireX,withitstwo16xPCI-Eslots runningat8xwithtwographicscardsinstalled. Atstockspeed,theF2A85-MProprovedtobe slightlyfasteroverallthanboththeA75-based motherboardsontest,beatingtheminallourMedia Benchmarkstestswithanoverallscoreof1,407 around30pointsahead,althoughthisequatestoless than3percent.Inourgametests,itwasmuchthe same,withtheF2A85-MProslightlyaheadbutnotby much,withminimumframeratesof26fpsinSkyrim usingon-boardgraphicsand48fpsinCrysis2witha
discreteGPU.ItwasalsoslightlyaheadintheSATA tests,withaleadofafewmegabytespersecondover theothermotherboards. OverclockingtheF2A85-MProwasalsoeasy, thankstoanothercrackingEFIsystemfromAsus. Wewerequicklyupto4.4GHzaftersettingthevcore to1.485V,anddisablingtheAMDPowerNowandC6 stateoptions.Sadly,wecouldntreach4.5GHz,aswe managedwiththeGigabyteandMSIboards,though, withPrime95persistentlyfailingonthesecondcore. Thankfully,thisdidnthaveahugeimpactonspeed tests;theF2A85-MProlostitsleadbutoverclocking stillsaw60pointsaddedtotheoverallMedia Benchmarksscore.Wealsomanagedtoincrease theGPUclockspeedto1GHz;alongwiththeCPU overclock,thisadded1fpstotheminimuminSkyrim.
CONCLUSION
TheF2A85-MProisasolidFM2boardwiththeusual Asusperks.However,itspriceisludicrousgivenhow similarlyalltheotherboardsontestperformed.It hasmarginalspeedadvantagesatstockspeeds,but thereslittleotherevidencetojustifytheextraoutlay. AL
scores
customPC
OVERALL
72
80
70
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Lots of expansions slots and fast performance, but too pricey for a Trinity system
BOARD On-board power and reset switches; good overclocker; plenty of expansion options BORED Expensive compared to A75-based boards
MSI A85XA-G65
HOW MUCH?
Productcode A85XA-G65 Price 86incVAT Supplier www.overclockers.co.uk Manufacturer http://uk.msi.com
hankfully,notallA85Xchipsetmotherboards costnearlytwicethepriceofthetwoA75 motherboardswevetestedthismonth.MSIs great-lookingA85XA-G65retailsforamore reasonable86,andwhilethisisstill26morethan thecheapestSocketFM2examplesontest,atleastit goessomewaytowardsjustifyingtheextraoutlay. ItstheonlyATXmotherboardontest,forastart,and assuch,ithasfarmoreexpansionslotsthantheother boards,withtwoPCI,three1xPCI-Eandtwo16x PCI-Eslotsmorethanenoughoptionsforthevarious combinationsofTVtunercardsandsoundcardsyou couldassemble.Evenifyouinstalltwodual-slot graphicscards,theextraPCBreal-estatemeansthat youllstillhaveaccesstoonePCIslotandone1xPCI-E slot.SportinganA85Xchipset,theA85XA-G65offersa totalof16PCI-Elanesifyouweretousetwodiscrete graphicscardsinCrossFireXmode,witheachslot gettingeightlanes. ThePCBbristleswithfeaturestoo.Comparedtoall theotherboardsontest,ithasthemostfanheaders, themostSATA6Gbpsportsandthebestcooling.Its alsotheonlyboardtoofferon-boardpower,resetand CMOSclearswitches.Thelayoutisexcellenttoo,with themajorityoftheSATAportsmountedparalleltothe PCB.Meanwhile,themotherboardpowerconnectors arelocatedrightattheedgeofthePCB,asarethe powerandresetswitches.The A85XA-G65alsoincludesMSIs OCGenieoverclockingfeature, whiletheEFIsystemisclear andeasytouseaswell. Whichevermonitoryouown, theA85XA-G65willbeableto caterforit,withVGA,DVI-D, DisplayPortandHDMI connectorsallavailableon therearpanel,alongwithtwo USB3ports(afurthertwoare availableviaanon-board header),plus8-channelaudio andanopticalS/PDIFoutput.
ASRockA75motherboards.Itsscoreof1,038inour imageeditingtestwas36pointsclearoftheGigabyte, andtheMSIsvideoencodingscoreof2,025wasthe fastestontest.Itwasthequickestagaininthemultitaskingtest,althoughitsleadovertheGigabytewas alesssubstantial15pointshere.Overall,thisgaveit thefastestscoreontestof1,411;39pointsaheadof theGigabyte. ItsSATA6Gbpsreadspeedswerealittleslower thanwereusedtoseeingfromthelatestIntel-based motherboards,anditswritespeedswerenoticeably lower,withnearly100MB/secbeingloppedoffthe maximumspeedweveseenfromourOCZVertex3 SSDonIntelmotherboards.However,wecanthold thisagainsttheA85XA-G65,asalltheboardsontest returnedsimilarresults. InourSkyrimtest,usingtheon-boardRadeonHD 7660DGPU,theA85XA-G65managedaminimum framerateof26fps,whichwasonaparwiththeother boardsontest.WetheninstalledourGeForceGTX 6802GBgraphicscardforourCrysis2test,andthe A85XA-G65returnedaminimumframerateof48fps againroughlythesameastheothersontest. WethenheadedintotheEFItobeginoverclocking, andwequicklygotourA10-5800Kstableat4.4GHz usingavcoreof1.485V,whilealsodisablingAMDs CoolnQuietandtheC6Stateoptions.Itrecognised our2,133MHzmemorycorrectlyandsettheright
PERFORMANCE
AswiththeAsusF2A85-MPro, theA85XA-G65wasslightly fasterthantheGigabyteand
72
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WITH TWO PCI AND THREE 1x PCI-E SLOTS, THERE ARE ENOUGH OPTIONS FOR VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF TV TUNER CARDS AND SOUND CARDS
timingstoo.Wethenmanagedtopushitanother 100MHzto4.5GHz,matchingtheGigabyteboard, whileusingavcoreof1.5V.Anymorethanthisresulted ineitherinstabilityortheCPUthrottling. WealsopushedtheGPUto1GHzwithoutneedingto touchanyothervoltages.Thecombinationresultedin someusefulperformancegains;theimageediting testscoreroseby45points,thevideoencodingscore by137pointsandthemulti-taskingtestscorerose byover60points,withallbuttheimageeditingtest provingtobethefastestresultsontest.Itmanaged a131-pointgainintheoverallscoreofourMedia Benchmarkssuitewithascoreof1,500againthe fastestontest,whileSkyrimsawahandyleapfrom aminimumframerateof26fpsto28fps. Clearly,ifyoullbeusingtheon-boardGPUtoplay games,overclockingtheCPUandGPUelementsof AMDsnewAPUsyieldsnoticeablegains.Sadly, Crysis2didntseemuchofanincreasewithadiscrete GPUinstalled,withjust1fpsbeingaddedtothe minimumframerate.Meanwhile,intermsofpower consumption,thesystemdrew145Wfromthewallat stockspeedunderload,andthisroseto210Wonce wedoverclockedthesystem.
CONCLUSION
TheA85XA-G65proveditselftobeagoodperformer, acapableoverclocker,andaboardwithplentyof featuresandexpansionpossibilities.Itsexcellent EFI,combinedwithpowerandresetswitches,great layoutandabundanceofportsmeansthatyouget morefortheextraoutlaycomparedtotheA75chipset motherboardsontest,althoughonlyifyourbudget gamingsystemincludesafull-sizedATXcase. However,theseextragubbinscomeatacost,and costisanimportantfactorwhenbuildingabudget rig.Itmaybeagreatmotherboardthatssignificantly cheaperthanAsusoffering,butAMDsAPUsareall aboutgamingonabudget;ifyoudontneedtheextra expansionroomthenGigabytesGA-F2A75M-D3H offersbettervalueforyouraveragebudgetbuild. AL
85
OVERALL
74
WorldMags.net
January 2013
73
WorldMags.net
CPU RESULTS
GIMP IMAGE EDITING
Intel Core i3-3220 1,537
BUDGET CPU RESULTS

Intel Core i3-3220 2,135 2000 fps Intel Core i3-3220
MULTI-TASKING
1,410
Intel Core i3-3225
1,533
Intel Core i3-3225
20002,131 fps
1,959 2,062
Intel Core i3-3225
1,408
Intel Pentium G2120
1,510
AMD A10-5800K
Intel Pentium G2120
1,329
AMD A10-5800K
1,002
1,137
AMD A8-5600K
1,871
2,006
AMD A10-5800K
1,155
1,229
AMD A8-5600K
959
1,137
AMD A10-5700K
1,799
AMD A8-5600K
1,121
1,220
AMD A10-5700K 0 400
919 800 1,200 1,600
Intel Pentium G2120 0 600

Stock speed
1,660 1,200 1,800 2,400
AMD A10-5700K 0 400
1,080 800 1,200 1,600
Overclocked
OVERALL
Intel Core i3-3220 1,694 Intel Core i3-3220
WPRIME 32M
16 Intel Core i3-3220
CINEBENCH V11.5
3
Intel Core i3-3225
1,691
Intel Core i3-3225
16
Intel Core i3-3225
Intel Pentium G2120
1,499
AMD A10-5800K
16 18
AMD A10-5800K
AMD A10-5800K
1,372
1,476
AMD A10-5700K
19
AMD A8-5600K
AMD A8-5600K
1,317
1,449
AMD A8-5600K
16
19
AMD A10-5700K
AMD A10-5700K 0 450
1,266 900 1,350 1,800
Intel Pentium G2120 0 6

Stock speed
24
25
Intel Pentium G2120 0 1 2
3 4 3 Higher is better
12
18 24 Lower is better
Overclocked
(High quality, 1,920 x 1,080, 8x AF, AA disabled)
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM (ON-BOARD GPU)

26fps
CRYSIS 2 (GEFORCE GTX 680 2GB)

(Ultra quality, 1,920 x 1,080, Edge AA, DX11, High-Res textures, GeForce GTX 680 2GB)
POWER CONSUMPTION (WATTS)

76fps 76fps Intel Pentium G2120 Intel Core i3-3220 Intel Core i3-3225 AMD A10-5700K 45 46 46 33 33 AMD A10-5800K 60 33 AMD A8-5600K 57 80
Idle
32fps 35fps 29fps 26fps 30fps
Intel Core i3-3225 Intel Core i3-3220 Intel Pentium G2120
51fps 51fps 49fps 46fps
73 78 85 111 144 205 153 207 110 165 220
AMD A10-5800K 29fps AMD A10-5700K 23fps 21fps AMD A8-5600K 24fps Intel Core i3-3225 8fps 7fps 7fps 10 20
Stock speed min
70fps 67fps 69fps 65fps 68fps 63fps 60
AMD A10-5800K 47fps 45fps AMD A8-5600K 47fps 44fps 0

Overclocked min
12fps
Intel Core i3-3220 4fps Intel Pentium 4fps G2120 0
AMD A10-5700K 30 40
Stock speed avg
20
Overclocked avg
40
0
Load
55
76
Overclocked idle
Overclocked load
74
January 2013
WorldMags.net
For Optimum Performance: Cases, PSU & Coolers Roundup
WorldMags.net
Midgard II
Features:
Case:
Fancy, soft & elegant Leathercoating on top & front panel Three external 5.25 drive bays with toolfree holders & 1 extra Slim-ODD bay
Case:
Asgard
Features:
Screw-less tooling for 5.25 bay installation Screw-less tooling for 3.5 bay installation 120mm preinstalled black fan 3 more fans can be mounted in different areas for best possible airow 4 x 5.25 bays will be able to house all your optical drives 5 trays for your 3.5 HDD Tool free design & a gorgeous outlook
Six internal 2.5/3.5 drive bays by tool-free hard-drive trays with anti-vibration rubbers Middle HDD cage is removable for long VGA card installation within 330mm Downside PSU space with removable dust lter Eight cooling fans available at most for your optimized airow Top I/O with 1 super speed USB3.0 port, 2 USB2.0 & HD audio in/out jacks 2.5/3.5 SATA HDD docking station on the top panel CPU backside hole for easy cooler installation Window side panel available
59.99
29.99
PSU (power supply):
Centauro Range
Features:
Ofcial approved 80Plus Bronze efciency certicate Easy cable management by meshed modular cables High compatibility by single 12V rail for high-end system conguration Great DC output quality by low ripple noise & low voltage regulation Stable & continuous output in 50C ambient temperature Low noise by thermal fan controlled 14cm silent fan & two voltage synchronized 3 pin connectors Universal AC input by active PFC & up to 0.99 PF rate Compliant with latest EU ErP Direction Fully safety certicated with CE, FCC, TUV & UL Complete electric protection by OVP, UVP, OTP, OPP & SCP
PSU:
Tauro
Features:
Over 85% efciency & meets ofcial 80Plus Bronze certicate High compatibility by single 12V rail for high-end system conguration Great DC output quality by low ripple noise & low voltage regulation Stable & continuous output in 50C ambient temperature Low noise by thermal fan controlled 13.5cm silent fan & two voltage synchronized 3pin connectors Universal AC input by active PFC & up to 0.99 PF rate Compliant with the latest EU ErP Direction Fully safety certicated with CE, FCC, TUV, & UL Complete electric protection by OVP, OCP, UVP, OTP, OPP, & SCP
starting from 34.99
starting from 64.99
Prime SD 1484
Features:
Cooler:
Cooler:
Dark Knight Nighthawk

(Stealth Edition) Features:
H.D.T. (Heat-pipe direct touch) technology Back plate & Spring screw to prevent M/B bended 3pcs 8mm high performance U type heat-pipes Overall black nickel heatsink 4pcs white LED/ transparent black fan Anti-vibration rubbers prevent fan vibration & also absorb vibration noise Light weight 120mm highly efcient PWM fan
H.D.T (Heat-pipe Direct Touch) technology Patent Blade-Fin technology increases 20% of ventilation & drops 10% noise Patent Blade-Fin technology is good at the prevention of keeping dust away from the ns edge Special ns (T: 0.5mm) style combination provides efcient air ow Unique & Patent Anti-vibration rubber fastens prevent vibration & absorb noise Dual fans installed option, 140mm / 120mm Equipped with multiple clips to support Intel LGA1366/1156/1155/775 & AMD AM3/AM2+/AM2
39.99
all available from
31.99
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
MOTHERBOARD RESULTS
GIMP IMAGE EDITING HANDBRAKE H.264 VIDEO ENCODING
Asus F2A85-M Pro 1,042 1,098 MSI A85XA-GD65 2,025 2,162 MSI A85XA-GD65
SOCKET FM2 MOTHERBOARD RESULTS
MULTI-TASKING
1,170
1,234
MSI A85XA-GD65
1,038
1,103
Asus F2A85-M Pro
2,010
2,075
Asus F2A85-M Pro
1,169
1,189
1,002
1,137
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
2,001 2,047
1,155
1,229
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
1,001
1,124
1,959
2,062
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
1,140
1,219
300
600
900
1,200
600 Stock speed
1,200
1,800
2,400
400
800
1,200
1,600
Overclocked
OVERALL
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
AMD SATA 6GBPS READ (MB/sec)
AMD SATA 6GBPS WRITE (MB/sec)
1,412
1,463
Asus F2A85-M Pro
533
Asus F2A85-M Pro
465
MSI A85XA-GD65
1,411
1,500
MSI A85XA-GD65
531
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
464
Asus F2A85-M Pro
1,407
1,477
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
530
463
1,372
1,476
526
MSI A85XA-GD65
463
450
900
1,350 Overclocked
1,800
150
300
450
600
120
240
360
480
Stock speed
(High quality, 1,920 x 1,080, 8x AF, AA disabled)
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM (ON-BOARD GPU)

26fps 29fps 26fps
CRYSIS 2 (GEFORCE GTX 680 2GB)

(Ultra quality, 1,920 x 1,080, Edge AA, DX11, High-Res textures)
POWER CONSUMPTION (WATTS)

33 MSI A85XA-GD65 59 33 ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4 60 33 Asus F2A85-M Pro 57 33 Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H 60 0
Idle Load
ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4
32fps Asus F2A85-M Pro 35fps 32fps MSI A85XA-GD65
48fps 48fps 48fps 49fps 46fps ASRock FM2A75 Pro-4 47fps 46fps Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H 47fps 0
Overclocked min
69fps 67fps 70fps 72fps 67fps 71fps 68fps 69fps 60 80
145 210 144 192 144 186 144 205 110 165 220
Asus F2A85-M Pro 27fps 34fps 26fps 29fps 26fps MSI A85XA-GD65 28fps 0 10 20 30 35fps 40 32fps 35fps 32fps
20
40
55
78
Stock speed min
Stock speed avg
Overclocked avg
Overclocked idle
Overclocked load
76
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
CPU FEATURES
Price* (inc VAT) Suppliers website Manufacturers website Packaging Frequency Max Turbo Boost/ core frequency Max overclock Core design Number of cores Cache Lithography TDP GPU Stream processors/ Execution units GPU frequency DirectX compatibility 93 www.aria.co.uk www.amd.com/uk FM2 3.8GHz 4.2GHz 4.5GHz Piledriver 4 physical 2 x 64KB & 4 x 16KB L1, 2 x 2MB L2 32nm 100W HD 7660D 384 800MHz 11.1 AMDA10-5800K AMDA10-5700 90 www.ebuyer.co.uk www.amd.com/uk FM2 3.4GHz 4GHz N/A Piledriver 4 physical 2 x 64KB & 4 x 16KB L1, 2 x 2MB L2 32nm 65W HD 7660D 384 760MHz 11.1 AMDA8-5600K 74 www.aria.co.uk www.amd.com/uk FM2 3.6GHz 3.9GHZ 4.4GHz Piledriver 4 physical 2 x 64KB & 4 x 16KB L1, 2 x 2MB L2 32nm 100W HD 7560D 256 800MHz 11.1 IntelCorei3-3225 109 www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk LGA1155 3.3GHz N/A N/A Ivy Bridge 2 physical, 2 logical 2 x 64KB L1, 2 x 256KB L2, 3MB L3 22nm 55W Intel HD 4000 16 650-1050MHz 11 IntelCorei3-3220 94 www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk LGA1155 3.3GHz N/A N/A Ivy Bridge 2 physical, 2 logical 2 x 64KB L1, 2 x 256KB L2, 3MB L3 22nm 55W Intel HD 2500 6 650-1050MHz 11
BUDGET CPUs AND FM2 MOTHERBOARDS
IntelPentiumG2120 72 www.scan.co.uk www.intel.co.uk LGA1155 3.1GHz N/A N/A Ivy Bridge 2 physical 2 x 64KB L1, 2 x 256KB L2, 3MB L3 22nm 55W Intel HD Graphics 6 650-1050MHz 11
SOCKET FM2 MOTHERBOARD FEATURES

ASRockFM2A75Pro4-M AsusF2A85-MPro Price* (inc VAT) Supplier Manufacturer Form factor Dimensions (mm) Features Chipset RAID Audio Fan headers Ports IGP output 16x PCI-E Additional PCI-E PCI DIMM Storage Audio Network USB 2/USB 3 Overclocking Base frequency range CPU multiplier range CPU voltage (max) RAM voltage (max) CPU-NB voltage (max) Other Cooling Extras Passive VRM and Southbridge heatsinks CrossFireX Support Passive VRM and Southbridge heatsinks CrossFireX support, BIOS Flashback button 100-136MHz 14-63x 1.55V 1.8V 1.55 100-136MHz 14-63x 1.55V 2.135V 1.8V HDMI, VGA, DVI-D 2 x PCI-E (one at 16x, one at 4x) One 1x 1 4 slots (max 64GB) 5 x SATA 6Gbps (AMD A75), 1 x eSATA 6Gbps 4 x surround audio, optical S/PDIF out Realtek RTL8111E Gigabit LAN 10/4 DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, DVI-D 2 x PCI-E (one at 16x or two at 8x) Two 1x 0 4 slots (max 32GB) 7 x SATA 6Gbps, 1 x eSATA 6Gbps 4 x surround audio, optical S/PDIF out Realtek 8111F Gigabit LAN 10/6 A75 0, 1, 5 and 10 via A85X 8-channel HD audio via Realtek ALC892 3 AMD A85X 0, 1, 5 and 10 via A85X 8-channel HD audio via Realtek ALC892 4 60 www.overclockers.co.uk www.asrock.com Micro-ATX 244 x 244 109 www.overclockers.co.uk http://uk.asus.com Micro-ATX 244 x 244
GigabyteGA-F2A75M-D3H 56 www.dabs.com http://uk.gigabyte.com Micro-ATX 244 x 244 A75 0, 1, 5 and 10 via A85X 8-channel HD audio via Realtek ALC892 3 HDMI, VGA, DVI-D 2 x PCI-E (one at 16x, one at 4x) One 1x 1 4 slots (max 32GB) 6 x SATA 6Gbps (AMD A75) 4 x surround audio, optical S/PDIF out Realtek RTL8111E Gigabit LAN 10/4 100-140MHz 8-79x + 0.3V 1.9V +0.3V Passive Southbridge heatsink CrossFireX support
MSIA85XA-GD65 86 www.overclockers.co.uk http://uk.msi.com ATX 305 x 244 AMD A85X 0, 1, 5 and 10 via A85X 8-channel HD audio via Realtek ALC892 5 DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, DVI-D 2 x PCI-E (one at 16x or two at 8x) Three 1x 2 4 slots (max 32GB) 8 x SATA 6Gbps (AMD A85X) 4 x surround audio, optical S/PDIF out Realtek RTL8111E Gigabit LAN 10/4 90-190MHz 8-63x 1.65V 2.010V 1.5V Passive Southbridge and VRM heatsinks CrossFireX support, power and reset buttons
* Prices correct at time of going to press
78
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
c p m o t s u c E IMAGE EXCLUSIV
Rise of the Triad
ely Super-fast and deliberat eof wild,Interceptors remak he Apogees classicRiseoft at for Triad aimstofill aniche th d by toolonghas been ignore nd dark major studios. Itsgorya same in theextreme, butatthe elf time, it refusestotakeits ar as seriously even goingsof nd to remakethe ludicrousa ode self-explanatoryDogM of theoriginalgame. This some exclusiveshotshowsoff d of thecrazy weapons an . classic, floatypower-ups
GRUMPYGAMER 82 Theotherside XCOM:ENEMYUNKNOWN 84 Illegalalien
TOMBRAIDER 90 Survivorhorror
91
COMPANYOFHEROES2 Winteriscoming
Killerbunnies
87 HELLYEAH!WRATHOF THEDEADRABBIT 88
DEVPERSPECTIVE 92 Trulysocialgaming THEENGINEROOM 94 Wetakealookat
THEAMAZING SPIDER-MAN Worldwidewebhead
CryENGINE,butcanit play Crysis?

82
80
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Readers Night Wed, 28 November, 9 till late

Theplace OurCounter-Strike:Sourceserver Whatyouneed Anup-to-dateCounter-Strike: Sourceinstallation GAMESERVERIPADDRESSES 32-playerBC2 85.236.101.22:16667 32-playerCS:Source 85.236.101.24:37015 FINDUSONSTEAM Publicgroup http://steamcommunity.com/groups/ CustomPC ModernWarfare2 http://steamcommunity.com/ groups/CustomWarfare2
WorldMags.net
January 2013
81
WorldMags.net
GAMING
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN
Games editor Joe Martin has been working on some illuminating new projects lately
ll be honest; the past few months have been rather a blur for platforms, we decided to drop it and focus on the single-player. We me, for reasons that Ive only occasionally touched upon in decided that it was better to do one mode well than two modes badly. these pages. Ive moved house, launched my own podcast Multiplayer wasnt the only idea we dropped; there were alternate called Unlimited Hyperbole (http://tinyurl.com/VanityJoe), scoring systems and a different campaign mode, but multiplayer played too many games to count and travelled all across the country was the feature that reviewers noticed was missing when the game too. Its been a busy year, and one thats seen me tackle all sorts of came out. The reaction was positive, however, and the game received exciting challenges too, such as designing games. many high scores, although multiplayer was obviously missed. Designing games hasnt just been exciting though; its been Im not being bitter, and I dont think its unfair to criticise a game downright illuminating too. Take Split for lacking a specific feature; however, in Decision, the quiz game for mobiles on this particular instance, it was a feature we BIOSHOCK 2 WAS WORSE considered and chose not to include for a which I worked with former CustomPC editor Alex Watson, for example. The very good reason. FOR THE INCLUSION OF project taught me a very valuable lesson In a way, Im reminded of BioShock. MULTIPLAYER, AND THE about game development, in that it isnt as That too was slightly faulted for its lack uninformed a process as it can sometimes TIME SPENT DEVELOPING of online play and the result was BioShock 2 seem from the outside. had multiplayer built into it. IT COULD HAVE BEEN To clarify what I mean by that, I first need But you know what? The game was BETTER SPENT to explain a little about Split Decision. The worse for the inclusion of that feature, quickest way to do that is to say that its a and the time spent developing it could have ELSEWHERE nonsense quiz game, in which you have to been better spent elsewhere. decide whether something is one patently As a critic and gamer, I know its often ridiculous answer, or one other patently ridiculous answer. For valid to challenge a game for lacking a specific feature, but as a game example, is Luna Lovegood a Harry Potter character or an adult designer, I now know that not all those challenges are as simple as movie actress? Its fast, quirky, based on the board game of the same they seem. This seems especially true when you consider that none name and has a selection of different modes you should read more of the user reviews echoes the concerns of the critics. at www.splitdecisionapp.com and then buy multiple copies. Anyway, the point is that Split Decision has a lot going for it, but one WHAT IM PLAYING IvebeenplayingFTLalotlatelywhileon feature it doesnt have at the moment is a multiplayer mode. It was holiday.IoccasionallydocumentmyadventuresonTwitteras @ an idea we considered, but since this was the first game many of us JoeThreepwood,ifyouwanttofollowalong! had worked on, and as we were already aiming for multiple mobile
82
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Better the enemy you know

X-MEN Tense; challenging; strategic X-RATED Fiddly camera; caricatured art
XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN
THE KNOWLEDGE
Price 29.99incVAT Publisher 2KGames Developer FiraxisStudios Website www.xcom.com
herearegoodandbadremakes, andthedifferenceiseasyto explain;goodonescapture theessenceoftheoriginal andexpanditinameaningfulway. Badonesdont. Althoughithas distractingly cartoonaesthetics,XCOM:Enemy Unknownisoneofthegoodones.Its difficultandtense,anditisntafraidto punishyouformistakesthreefacetsthatformed theessenceoftheoriginalsandarerepresented perfectlyhere.Itsalsoslickerandmorereasonably pacedthanbefore,layingoutclearobjectivesforyou toworktowardsateverystage. Noneoftheseobjectivesisasimportantastheone implicitintheserioustone,however.Yourethenew commanderoftheXCOMtaskforce,personally ladenwiththeresponsibilityofinvestigatingand repellinganalieninvasion.Capturingspecificbases andperformingresearchmaymakegoodshorttermaims,butyouroverallgoalisgrander.In planningtheexpansionofyourbaseandleading
yourtroopsontheground,youdetermine thefateofthehumanraceandXCOM neverletsyouforgetthat,evenasyou sacrificewholecountriesforthe biggerpicture. Thesetwocomponents battlefieldsandbase-buildingform thebulkoftheXCOMexperience.In yourHQ,youregivenacutawayviewof yourbase,andyoucanthenexpandasyou wish,althoughyoullincursignificantcostsinthe process.Yourealsoabletodeterminewhatyour scientistsresearch,basedonwhatyouvesecuredin thefield,andyoucancustomiseyourtroopsinthe barrackstoo. Outinthefield,XCOMbecomesaturn-based strategygameakintotheoldFalloutorJagged Alliancetitles.Viewingthebattlefromabove,you weightheoddsofeachshotfiredandtrytoengage theenemyonanygroundspossiblecapturing wherefeasible,orslaughteringifitisnt. Inordertoaccomplishthatgrandergoal,youll needavastskill-set,andanaccomplishedplayer
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
84
November 2012
WorldMags.net
2012 Electronic Arts Inc, EA, the EA logo, Medal of Honor and Danger Close are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Frostbite is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. 2, PlayStation, PS3, and are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. KINECT, Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
WorldMags.net
REVIEW
YOULL NEED A VAST SKILL-SET, AND AN ACCOMPLISHED PLAYER WILL BE LEFT FEELING LIKE A SKILLED SCIENTIST, ENGINEER, ECONOMIST AND STRATEGIST
willbeleftfeelinglikeaskilledscientist, engineer,economistandstrategistallatthe sametime.Theresoftennorecoveringfrom yourmistakeseither;whensoldiersdie,they dieforgood. Whilethisbombardmentofresponsibility canmakeXCOMfeelalittleoverwhelmingat first,Firaxisdoesitsbesttoeaseyouintoit.A panelofadvisorsandalengthytutorialare onhandtomakesureyourerrorsarenttoo egregiousand,whilethealieninvasionis certainlypunishingattimes,theinterlopers arerarelyunfairintheirattemptstodestroy you.TheresultisthatXCOMhitsthatsweet spotwhereitsalwayschallengingandtense, butrarelyoppressivelyso. Infact,whileXCOMhasalotofother strengthsthesheerbreadthofbuildingand researchoptionsmeanstherearetacticsfor alltypesofplayer,forexampleitsthis senseofchallengethatwemostappreciate. Inanagewheretoomanygamesdilute themselvesinordertosellmorecopies, However,wieldingtheheavysexplosive XCOMbucksthetrend.Ratherthanmaking powersrevealsoneoftheareasinwhich itselfeasier,itcallsforyoutoplaybetter. XCOMtumblesalittle,namelytheclumsy Youcanplaybetterbytakingadvantageof interface.Liketheartwork,theUIisstylised thenewfeaturesandideasthathavebeen tothepointofridicule,withlittlehalf-shields workedintotheoldformula.Incombat, floatingeverywheretohighlightavailable soldierscannowexecutesomepretty coverandcameracontrols,whichmake advancedmanoeuvres;sniperscanuse free-aimingreallytricky.Combinethatwith jetpackstolaunchintotheair,forexample. acompletelackofgraphicaloptionstoplay Likewise,grapplinghookscanbeusedto withandyoullseethatXCOMisntperfect. takecoverquickly,althoughtheyalsohave However,letsnotgetcarriedaway.XCOM thesecondaryfunctionoflookingcoolwhen mayhaveafewtinyflaws,buttheyre shownviathecinematiccameratoo. temperedbygreatersuccesseselsewhere. Thentheresthedestructibleenvironment. Firingrocketsrequiresunusualprecision Soldiersrandomlyfallintospecialistroles butitdoesntruinthegame. oncetheyreachacertainrank, Themostimportantaspect unlockingskillsintheprocess. ofthegameisthatFiraxishas Theserangefromthe nailedthetoneandnarrative, previouslymentionedsniper creatingaboardgame-like togenericassaultandsupport experiencethatconsistently classes,butourfavouriteis hitsthesweetspotbetween undoubtedlytheheavywho punishmentandreward. canblastholesinwallsandopen OVERALL JOE MARTIN newlinesofsight.
85
86
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
WorldMags.net
November 2012
85
WorldMags.net
THE XCOMMUNITY
Whiletheadoptionofanalmostcel-shadedartstylemayfeellike astepbackfortheXCOMseries,oneoftheareaswhereEnemy UnknownregainsgroundisingivingtheXCOMseriesits multiplayerdebut.Itsafeaturethatslikelytobedivisiveinthe eyesoflong-termfans,obviously,butonthewholewequitelike it.Surprisinglyforagamewithsomanylayerspliedintoit,the aspectthatmakesXCOMsmultiplayermodeworksowellisthat itskeptverysimple.Yourelimitedtotwoteams,eachofwhichis givenacertainnumberofpointstospendonunitsastheywish thenthetwosidesfight.Itssimpleandnomorecomplexthan necessarywhenitcomestotheoveralldesign. Whenyoureplaying,however,itshugelycomplex.Ifyoure anythinglikeus,youllspendagesagonisingoverwhichsquad setuptochoose;doyoufavourlotsofweakunitsorjust afewhigh-poweredones?Willyouwieldonlyhuman forcesormixaliensintoyourline-uptoo?Thereare plentyofdecisionstobemade,noneofwhichdetracts fromthefactthatamultiplayergameofXCOMis relativelydisposablewhenyoulookatthewholegame. Ultimately,itsthatdisposabilitythatmakesthe multiplayermodesoattractivetoo,asitsagreatpalate cleanserforwhenyourefatiguedbythestressof campaignmanagement.Well,thatandthefactthat youreabletoplayasthealiens.Personally,wefavour usingweakeralienssuchas theThinMan(whocanpoison enemiesandleaparound levelswithease)tosupport heavierhumanforces. Asanaside,itsworth sayingthatweapproveofthe transparencywithwhich Firaxishasapproachedthe multiplayersideofthegame too.Intherun-uptorelease, designerJakeSolomonspoke atlengthabouthowtheteamwaspreparedforthebacklashfrom fansovertheinclusionofamultiplayercomponent,whilealso talkingabouttheinspirationbehindit.ItturnsoutthatFiraxiswas mainlyinfluencedbyafan-madeexpansiontotheoriginalgames thestillfreeandexcellentUFO2000,whichyoucangrabfrom http://ufo2000.sourceforge.net
Whenmakingthemultiplayer component,Firaxissaysitwas influencedbyUFO2000afan-made expansionfortheoriginalgames
REVIEW
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
86
November 2012
WorldMags.net
REVIEW
WorldMags.net
HELL YEAH! WRATH OF THE DEAD RABBIT

Wi huge scratchy teeth
BRAIN Delightful animation; original vision PINKY Predictable; only has one joke
THE KNOWLEDGE
Price 9.99incVAT Publisher SEGA Developer Arkedo Website www.projecthellyeah.com
oyoulikeRenandStimpy?Ifnot,youmayas wellstopreading,butifyoudothenreadon. HellYeah!isirreverentandhumorous, delightinginthesortofgrossexcessesthat onlycartoonsseemabletotacklewithoutrebuke.Its gloriouslygoryanddeliberatelywildasclosetoa RenandStimpygameasyoureeverlikelytoget. Theopeningminutesalonedashfrombunnyrabbit bathtimetoorbitalsharkbombardment,andrender eachwithexorbitantdetail. HellYeah!alsorefusestotakeitselfseriously.It breaksthefourthwallintopiecesandtheminimalist storycentresaroundAsh,asaw-bladewielding bunnyprinceofHellwhoselifeisruinedbydemonic paparazzi.Asiftherewereanyotherkind. Spurredintoacampaignofcarnage,Ashdecidesto killeveryonewhoeversawtheincriminatingphotos, witheachactingasamini-bosstobeovercome.Most arenthardtodefeat,asHellYeah!ismoreinspiredby theAnimaniacsthanContra,butthereareafewtough nutstocrack. Underneaththecartoonysheen,HellYeah!isntas stronganaction-platformerasitmayseem,however. Thebrightcoloursandludicrousgorearereallyjusta veneercoveringapredictableplatformerandasetof occasionallyfunnymini-games.ThisiswhytheRen thanactualcontent.Thereareafewinterestingideas andStimpyquestionissoimportant;ifbasehumour inthemix,suchasyourabilitytoharvestthesoulsof andgratuitouslygrossanimationareenoughforyou enemiesandputthemtoworkharvestingnewtoys, thenyoullbelaughingnon-stop.Ifthey buttheyarentagrippingenoughbasis arent,HellYeah!willonlybefunnyforthe onwhichtorecommendthewholegame. firstfiveminutes.Thisisbecause, AllthisdoesntmeanHellYeah!is ironically,itonlyhasonejoke. bad,however.Itsjustfocusedonavery Stripawaytheirreverenceandithas particularniche.Andevenifyoureafan littlefoundationtherearejustminiofthatparticularniche,thegamestill gamesandadesignthatleansmore requiresyoutooverlookafewflaws. OVERALL JOE MARTIN towardsmeaninglesscustomisation
50
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
WorldMags.net
January 2013
87
WorldMags.net
REVIEW
Marvel-lous?
WEBHEAD Fast and uid DEADHEAD Tedious; consolefocused
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN
THE KNOWLEDGE
Price 24.99incVAT Publisher Activision Developer Beenox Website www.theamazing spidermangame.com
he Amazing Spider-Man originally came out heAmazingSpider-Manoriginallycameout onconsolesmuchclosertothefilmsrelease, withActivisiondelayingthePCversionuntil now.Havethoseextramonthsbeenusedto improvethegame?No.Instead,PCgamersgetan occasionallylaughablyunoptimisedport,acontrol systemclearlynotadjustedforkeyboardplayers,and levelswithalmostsolelySewerorCrateflavours. Thatsaid,BeenoxhasworkedontheSpider-Man franchiseforawhile,andhasclearlylearnedto animatetheweb-slingerwell.Spideyarchesthrough theairbeautifully,andwhilecombatisbasicallyjust buttonmashinguntilyouunlockmoreinteresting powers,themovesatleastlookgood. Thestorylineisntjustmeaninglessfluffeither. Instead,thegamecarriesonfromwhereTheAmazing Spider-Man(themovie,notthegame)leftoff. Oscorphasbeenexperimenting furtheronthecross-speciesdrugs thatcreatedTheLizard,makingavirus thatescapesthelabsandinfectsthe populace.Withthehelpofthenow de-poweredCurtConnors,Spideyhas tosavethecity.
50
Alongtheway,youcanparticipateinallsortsofsidemissions,fromcollectingcomicshiddenacrossthe citytopreventingsimplecrimesandtakingphotos. CompletingthesechallengesgainyouXPthatcanbe usedtolevelup.However,fewofthesemissionsare remarkable,andmostoftheunlocksarentworth pursuingonceyouhavethebasicstealthupgrades, whichcanhelpwithsomeofthetrickiersections. Whiletheanimationslookgood,youcantsaythe samefortherestofthegame.Environmentslook grainyandflat,withManhattanprovinglargebut lackinginpersonality.Movingaroundthecitycanbe tedioustoo;whiletheresacoolWebRushfeature thatletsyoudashtohighlightedvantagepoints,webswinginginvolvesmerelyholdingdowntwobuttons. Thisnotonlydoesntcaptureanyofthejoyfulnessof beingSpider-Man,butalsogetsverydull,veryquickly. TheAmazingSpider-Manhasgood ideas,buttheyrelostamongawkward menus,paddedlevelsandmonotonous side-missions.Itoffersnothingthatother Spider-Mangameshaventdonebefore, orbetter.BacktoArkhamCitywego.
JOE MARTIN
OVERALL
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
88
November 2012
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
A Lara-Lara fun?
TOMB RAIDER
THE KNOWLEDGE
Publisher SquareEnix Developer Crystal Dynamics Website www.tombraider.com Releasedate March2013
tfirstglance,SquareEnixsTombRaider rebootmakesalltherightnoises.Itsableak andbrutishneworigin-storyforLaraCroft, pitchingherasanexplorerwannabewho getsshipwreckedandisthenforcedtobecomethe realdeal.Ratherthancontendingwiththeusual skeletonsandgorillas,Larahastofighttheelements andthestrangemenwhoprowltheisland. Sofar,sogood.Thegameisalsoexclusivelylinear, buttheresroomforexplanation,andchallengessuch ashuntingforfoodandfindingshelterproveenjoyable. Evenduringthehourswespentwiththegame,there wasplentyofopportunitytoseeLaragrow,aidedby CrystalDynamicsfantasticartandaudiowork.The writingisexcellenttoo,withLaramutteringand encouragingherselfthroughpain,illuminatingthis newversionofthecharacter. Unfortunately,TombRaiderfallsdownwhenit comestodirection.Itssimplytryingtoohardtotellyou thestoryitwants,ratherthanlettingyoudiscoverit yourself.Everyfewsteps,acutsceneinterruptsthe flowandseizescontrol.
WhatmakesitworseisthatCrystalDynamicsis clearlyawareofthisissue,sotheplayerisinvolvedin thecutsceneswherepossible.Theresultisatrailof tediousQuickTimeevents{QTEs)whereyoure constantlyputinapositionofpressingabuttonata secondsnotice.QTEscanbedonedecently,butits bafflingthatanyonethinksaspeedquizinwhichthe onlyquestionisDie?Yes/Noisaninterestingformat onwhichtobuildasubstantialportionofamultimillion-dollarproduct. Thefinalportionofthepreviewcodeweplayedwas particularlyfrustrating.Thiscontainsthecontroversial sceneinwhichLarahastorepelawould-berapistand killhiminself-defenceamomentCrystalDynamics hassaidistheturningpointforhercharacter.However, itsruinedbypromptsflashingonthescreentellingyou tomashXsoyoudonthavetorestartthewholeroutine. WehopetheseQTEsandneedlessinterruptions areonlyahallmarkoftheearlychaptersthatcanbe overcome,butitsstillasignificanthurdle,andonewe hopeCrystalDynamicswilljumpbeforerelease.
JOE MARTIN
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
PREVIEWS
Zerg Russia
COMPANY OF HEROES 2
THE KNOWLEDGE
Publisher THQ Developer Relic Entertainment Website www.companyof heroes.com Releasedate 2013
esignerQuinnDuffykicksoffhispresentation bytellingahallofjournalistsandlong-term fansthatsnowisabigfeatureinourgame. Behindhim,ahugescreenshowsmen trudgingthroughsnowdrifts,asDuffypointstotheir bootsastheysinkintothesnow.Itisntathrilling openingtoapresentation,butthatdoesntmatter. TheoriginalCompanyofHeroesisstilloneofthe mostpopularandbestWorldWarIIstrategygames everand,frankly,thereslittleroomforimprovement. Snowdrifts are as good a place to start as any Snowdriftsareasgoodaplacetostartasany and, as it turns out, Duffy is just getting and,asitturnsout,Duffyisjustgetting warmedup. The cold climate is at the very heart Thecoldclimateisattheveryheart of Company of Heroes 2, it seems ofCompanyofHeroes2,itseems which shouldnt come as a surprise whichshouldntcomeasasurprise giventheRussiansetting.Infantry movementandmoraleisaffected byit,whileunprotectedunitswill die if you build campfires. According dieifyoubuildcampfires.According toDuffy,Relichasputworkinto comrade reactions too, although in the comradereactionstoo,althoughinthe demonstration soldiers did nothing but demonstrationsoldiersdidnothingbut shiver when an ally succumbed to the cold. shiverwhenanallysuccumbedtothecold.
Initially,theeffectsofthecoldoninfantryonlyseem likeaflavour-enhancer;somethingtoramhomethe hostilityoftheenvironmentwithoutseriouslyimpacting theflowofamatch.However,thisimpressiononlylasts untiltanksstartcrushingyourfires,limitingyour abilitytomoveeffectively. Tanksarentimmunetocoldeitherfrozenlakes dotthelandscapeand,whilemostwilltakethe weightofheavyarmour,theyarentuniversallystable. Commandersmustwatchoutforcracksormissiles, which will shatter the surface until the water freezes whichwillshatterthesurfaceuntilthewaterfreezes over again. Players can cripple enemy forces with overagain.Playerscancrippleenemyforceswith a single explosion if they play it right. asingleexplosioniftheyplayitright. Theres more to World War II than just the TheresmoretoWorldWarIIthanjustthe cold, of course, even on the Eastern Front, cold,ofcourse,evenontheEasternFront, but with months of active development left butwithmonthsofactivedevelopmentleft in the schedule, Relic isnt in a rush to intheschedule,Relicisntinarushto show off everything yet. The final game showoffeverythingyet.Thefinalgame will span from Operation Barbarossa willspanfromOperationBarbarossa to the Battle of Berlin, but Relic totheBattleofBerlin,butRelic wouldnt reveal any further details wouldntrevealanyfurtherdetails this early in the schedule. Well thisearlyintheschedule.Well keepaneyeonthebetainstead.
JOE MARTIN
OUT NOW
TM
UK.medalofhonor.com
TM
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Cliff Harris
Battlefield3awardsextra pointsforcarryingoutcertain supportactivitiesinyoursquad, butitneedstogofurther
Truly social gaming

ndevelopercircles,thewordsocialin Regardlessofyourviewofcasualandsocial Inpractice,though,despitealltheseefforts, thecontextofgamingoftenprecedes games,theresstillalargegapinperception thegamefeelsmuchmoreantisocialthan aderisivesnort,possiblyjoinedby betweenthehardcoreconsoleandPCgames socialtome.Duetotherandomworking sarcasticuseofthewordmonetisation (theCallofBattlefieldMenXXIIIs)andthefreehoursofmyjob,Itendtogameatoddtimes. andastreamofbuzzwordssuchasMAU,DAU to-playsocialgamessuchasFarmville.The Invariably,myfriendslisteithershows andARPPU.Monthlyaverageusers,daily attitudetomultiplayerdesignisvastly everyoneasbeingoffline,orthosewhoare averageusersandaveragerevenueper differentinthesetwogenres. playingagameareinfullservers.Beinga payinguser,ifyouwerewondering. WhatissurprisingisthathardcorePC super-impatientgamer,Icantbebothered Thesuggestionisoftenthatsocialgames gamemakersdontlearnfromcasualgame towaitaroundinaqueuetoplayagameIwant arenothingofthesort,butratherrepresenta makers;eveniftheydontlikethewaysocial tobeenjoyingrightthereandthen. cynicalattemptbythesuitstogetmarketing gamingisimplementedinFarmville,the IfIdomanagetojoinagamewithafriendor andpromotionforfree(byturningeveryplayer currentimplementationofsocialgamingin twoplaying,Imgenerallyontheotherteam, intoarecruitmenttool,probably oratleastinadifferentsquad.No referredtoascarbon-basedvirality in-gamepopuptellsmeafriendhas GABE NEWELL, ALWAYS A GUY vectors).Meanwhile,playersfriends joined,andtheyarenthighlighted WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE OF differentlyinthein-gameHUDorthe aremerelytreatedasmineable resourcesforprogressinginthegame. GAMING, HAS SUGGESTED SUCH scoreboard.Attheendofabattle,Im Ihaveagreatdealofsympathy notaskedifIwanttoaddthatserveras A SYSTEM ALREADY withthisview.However,itsworth afavourite,andthegamedoesntwork hardcorePCgamesleavesalottobedesired. rememberingthatwereintheveryearly outwhostuckcloseandhelpedmeinmy Mycurrentonlinegameofchoiceis stagesofsocialgaming.Currentgames squad,andaskifIwanttoaddthoseplayersas Battlefield3.Onthesurface,itsbursting representthefirstattemptsatanentirelynew friends.Allofthisseemsfairlyeasytoimprove, withsocialfeatures.Theresafriendslist waytomake,promoteandsellgames,and fromatechnicalpointofview,especiallyfor bothinOriginandthegameitself.Thereare theethosandstylemaywellchangeforthe AAAdeveloperswhoarerichinmanpower. platoonsyoucanjoin,theabilitytochatwith, betterovertime.Socialgamescertainly Myrealdesire,though,isnttoimprovethe andsendmessagestootherplayers,add seemtobepopular,eveniftheinitialflurry experienceforthe5percentofthetimeIm clantagstoyournameandsetfavourite ofexcitementaboutFacebookandZynga gamingwithsomeoneIknow,butto servers.Plus,theresavastarrayofstats stockpricesmighthavebeensignsofoverly encourage,throughgamedesign,anatural forcomparisonpurposes. optimisticexuberance. tendencyforplayersasawholetoplaynicely.
92
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Evenifyoudontlikethewaysocialgamingis implementedinFarmville,socialgaminginhardcore PCgamesstillleavesalottobedesired
GabeNewell,alwaysaguywithaneyeon thefutureofgaming,hassuggestedsuch asystemalready,althoughithasntbeen implementedjustyet.Couldsuchasystem bemadetowork?Idefinitelybelieveso. BF3awardsextrapointsforcarryingout certainsupportactivitiesinyoursquad.You get+10fordroppinghealth,but+20ifitwasfor asquadmate,forexample.Thisisagreat pieceofdesign,butitshouldgomuchfurther. IshouldreceivebigbonusesifIspotaunit thatsthentakendownbyasquadmate,a bonusforstoppingavehicletoallowasquad matetogetinandmaybeextrabonusesfor revenge-killsagainstenemieswhoinjuredor killedmysquadmates.Therecouldbeeven higherbonusesifthesepeopleareinmy friendslisttoo.Ofcourse,thereverseshould alsobetrue.WhynotdeductpointsifIrunpast aninjuredsquadmate/friendasamedic withoutstoppingtohelp,ordropsupplies? Rewardsystemscanencourageteamwork andfairplayinotherways.MostFPSgames allowtheoptionforyoutoautojointhecurrent losingteam,butthisshouldberewarded,as youreencouraginggamebalance.Ifyour squadhasfoursupplypeopleandnobody else,maybeyoushouldberewardedfor swappingtothemedicrole?Sniperscouldbe encouraged,throughthepointssystem,to playavariedrole.Campinginthesamespot beyondthreekillscouldbepunished,andyou couldberewardedforachievingmultiplekills fromsubstantiallydifferentlocations. Whynotawardapointforeveryminutein whichImwithin20mofmysquadleader,or penalisemeforplayingmorethan75percent
ofthegameoutsidethatdistance?Or,totake sucharbitrarystatsoutoftheequation,why notjustgivemelittlethumbs-upbuttonsnext tomysquadmatesattheendofabattle? Asimplethumbs-upclickindicatesthey playedwell,maybegivingthematinystats boost.MaybeIcouldonlychooseoneof them,andthusselectthebestteamplayer. Followingthistoitslogicalconclusion,a playersteam-playreputationcouldbean entirelydifferentstatistic,maybegaining themfirstplaceinserverqueues,oreven settingasideentireserverstoberestrictedfor thosewithapositive,orhighteam-playscore. Whatsmore,ifyoudontliketheseideas, youdonthavetousethem.Youcouldjust makethemserver-configurable,likefriendly fire,andhaveteamworkserversthat encourageit.Toomuchefforthasbeenput intostatstracking(nodoubtinsearchofthe elusiveperfectbalance),andnotenoughinto encouragingtruefunandteamwork. Youmightobjecttosuchrulesorsystems asbeingmanipulativeonthepartofthe designer,buttheyarentreallyanydifferentto theexistingsquad-basedbonusesinmany gamesalready.So-calledgamificationisa provenwaytoencouragechangesin behaviour,andIdsuggestthatsuchforced systemsareneededtoovercomewhats generallycalledthetragedyofthecommons aphenomenawhererationalindividual actionleadstocollectiveirrationality.Toputit inBF3terms,everyengineerwantssomeone todeployaSOFLAM(lasermarker)toboost theirsurface-to-airmissilelock-ons,but nobodyactuallywantstobetheSOFLAM
player.Toencourageit,letsjustgivethe SOFLAMplayerabigfatbonus. Whilewereatit,whynottackletheattitude ofonlinegamersthatJoediscussedlast month(seeIssue111,p86)?Readingthe in-gamechatforanyFPSisenoughtomake youweepforhumanity,withallmannerof racistandhomophobictermshandedoutthe minuteonepersonshootsanother.Foralong time,Iplayedonforeignservers, soIwasnt distractedbytheabuseonthescreen. Thetruesolutiontothis,ofcourse,isproper policing.IfEAcantrackhowmuchtimeIve carriedaDA0-12shotgun,itcanstoreevery wordIvetypedinthechatlog.Itwouldbeno efforttohaveareportbuttonthattriggereda moderatortocheckachatlog,andhandout infractions.Playerscouldforfeitallstats gainedinanybattlewheretheyreabusive, andmaybeforfeittheirentireaccountifit happenstwiceinaweek. Imnotagambler,butIdwagerapretty instantincreaseincivility(andthusnegligible loadonmoderators)ifsuchapolicywere implemented.Ifitwas,wewouldmaybeget onestepclosertotrulysocialgaming.
istheone-mancoding wizardbehindPositech Games(www.positech. co.uk),thedeveloperofGratuitousTank Battles @cliffski
CLIFF HARRIS
WorldMags.net
January 2013
93
theengineroom
Rick Lane
WorldMags.net
CryENGINE
But can it run Crysis?
repareyoureyeballsasweexplore thebiggestandboldestgraphics systemthissideofphoto-realism. CryENGINEistheposterboyof high-endPCgaming,rubbingagainstthe cuttingedgeofgraphicstechnologysince CryENGINE1arrivedin2004.Furthermore, fiveyearsonsincethereleaseofCryENGINE 2,canitrunCrysis?oftenremainsthefirst questiongamersaskwhenconsideringaPC upgrade.Somuchso,infact,thatitsbecome aregularjokeinthecommentssections underonlinetechstories. Ofcourse,thatfamousphraseactually stemsfromcomplaintsabouttheoriginal Crysis tendencytostrugglewiththecurrent hardwarefromthetime,butCarlJones, directorofbusinessdevelopmentfor CryENGINE,takesthejokeingoodhumour. Itsnobadthingtobeassociatedwiththe mostpowerfulhardwareintheland,andstill lookingatitasakindofbenchmarkpieceof technologyfortestinghardware.
CryENGINEgamesarestillfrequently usedforbenchmarkingpurposes,and whilethatquestionstartedasasillymeme, answeringitpositivelyhasbecomethe hallmarkofqualityPChardware.Its certainlythecasewithallourtechnology thatwedontjustbuilditforcurrent hardware,butalsowithaviewtothefuture, statesJones. Thishasbeenthecasesincethevery beginning.CryENGINE1madeitsdebutas atechnologydemoforNvidianamedX-Isle: DinosaurIsland.Thedemobecamethe basis forCryteksfirstgame,FarCry,which stunnedFPSfansatthetimewithitswideopen,colourfulenvironmentsandreal-time lightingeffects.Cryteksgoldenrulesoon becameeverythingreal-time. Ourenginewasthefirsttoallowinstant iterationforeverything,saysJones.There wasnobaking[pre-rendering]oflighting, nobakingofgeometrywithbinaryspace partitioningoranythinglikethat.Everything
wasreal-time,soyoucoulditerateand createcontentmuchmorequickly. CryENGINEismoreorlessuniqueinthis respect.Withotherengines,manyaspectsof rendering,suchaslightingonsurfaces,are pre-calculated,determiningpreciselyhowa surfaceortextureislit.Althoughthissaves onpowerrequirements,itsalsoalaborious, time-consumingprocess.Conversely, CryENGINEmakesallthesecalculations duringgameplay. CryENGINE1introducedCrytekasa contenderfortheleadingdeveloperof advancedgraphicstechnology;until2004, thiswasacloseracebetweenEpicandID. WithCryENGINE2,Cryteksurpassedboth, creatingthemostimpressivegraphics enginethathadevergracedaPCmonitor, andbyasignificantmargin. Gettingtothisstagewasnoeasytask. Tobuildsuchanadvancedenginewhile remainingrealisticallywithinthepower limitsofdesktopPCsin2007required
94
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
significantinventiononCrytekspart.Were ThePCwasstrugglingasaplatform,Jones contributestoaparticularsurface.This arealR&Dcompany,saysJones.Wespend statesfrankly.Itsgreatnow;thePCismuch additionalstepmeanstheprocessingcost alotofourmoneyonexperimentingwith moreontherise,butforaperiodoftime, ofthelightingisfixed,andthereforethe graphicstechnology.Wemakeamajor thePCwasreallylosingouttotheconsole enginesperformanceismorestable. investmentinthat. market.Itwasobviousthatwereallyneeded Althoughtheprimaryconcernfor OneofCryteksmorefamiliarinventions tomaketheenginerunonconsoles. CryENGINE3wasgettingittoworkonless wasSSAO,orscreenspaceambient Workthenbeganonthethirdversionof powerfulhardware,thisdoesntmeanthat occlusion.Ambientocclusionthemethod CryENGINE,oneofthemostintriguing Crytekstoppedinnovating.Forexample, ofapproximatinghowlightradiatesoff iterationsofanyengineyet.Crytekwasfaced CryENGINE3broughtwithitanewversion (usually)non-reflectivesurfacessuchas withtheprospectofbringingCryENGINEs of SSAO.Whenyouhaveabunchoflights woodorskinwasafamiliartechnique,but muscletohardwarethatwasntreallyfitfor withinaroom,itchangesthewayocclusion monstrouslyexpensiveintermsofhardware thejob,withoutcompromisingonthevisual works,andcertainareasofitshouldbe toimplement.SSAOenabledasimilarly qualitythathadmadeitsname. coloured[accordingtothecolourofthe high-qualityresultwithoutgobblingup lights],saysTracy.Soweinvented WITH DEFERRED RENDERING, anywherenearasmuchpower. thisfeaturecalledSSDO,whichis Andthiswasnttheonlyareainwhich thesameasSSAO,exceptittakes ALL LIGHT-TO-SURFACE Crytekinnovated,asseniortechnical colouredlightsintoaccount. INFORMATION IS STORED IN artistSeanTracyexplains.Someof CryENGINE3itselfmadeitsdebut thereallyexcitingstuffwaslight inMay2011,poweringCrysis2the A TEXTURE KNOWN AS propagationvolumes.WehadourGI firstCrytekgametobereleasedon THE G-BUFFER [globalillumination]technology;a multipleplatforms.Soonafter, techniquewithyoucouldtakehundredsof Thesolutionlayinatrickcalleddeferred however,theyearsofconsoledomination lights,puttheminacertainvolumeandit rendering.Intraditional(forward) werecomingtoanend,andthePChad wouldonlycastaparticularrenderedtarget. rendering,asurfacehastoberendered swungintofavouroncemore.Notlongafter Itwasjustareallycheapwaytocreatea multipletimesforeverylightthatinteracts Crysis2hittheshelves,Crytekalsoreleased massiveamountoflights. withit,whichrequiresadditionalprocessing theUltraUpgradeforthePCversion,which Evenwithsuchattemptsatkeeping powerforeachrender.Withdeferred enabledDirectX11featuressuchas CryENGINE2onalead,itneverthelesstook rendering,alllight-to-surfaceinformation tessellationanddisplacementmapping, aheftybiteoutofmanyrigswhenitwas isstoredinatextureknownastheG-buffer. bothofwhichareusedtogivegreaterdepth initiallyreleased.In2008,CrysisWarhead Thelightsarethenrenderedasgeometryin anddetailonsurfaces,emphasisingvisual improvedtheenginesperformance theworld;asspheres,conesandsoon, effectssuchastheheightgapbetweenbrick significantly,butbythatpointtherewas whichaccesstheinformationstoredinthe andmortarinawall.AccordingtoJones, anotherproblemloomingonthehorizon. G-buffertocalculatehowaparticularlight CryENGINE3usesaspecialtypeof
96
WorldMags.net
January 2013
95
theengineroom
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
displacementmapping,whichwillbe introducedinCrysis3.Pixel-accurate displacementmappingisactuallyalotmore efficientthantessellation,withmanymore possibilities,butitsuniquetoCryENGINE; nootherenginecandothat,heclaims. AnotherimportantfacetofCryENGINE3is thatmanymorethirdpartieshavesignedup aslicensees.Historically,CryENGINEhas beensurprisinglybehindotherenginessuch asUnity,UnrealandevenSourcewhenit comestolicensing.Jonespointsoutthat, untilrecently,licensingwasntapriorityat Crytek.CryENGINE1and2hadbeen licensedondemand,hesays.Itwasanice sidetothebusiness,butwedidntfocusonit. Nowtherehasbeenarenewedeffortto giveotherdeveloperstheopportunitytouse CryENGINE,includingafreelydownloadable SDKforanyonewhowantstoexperiment withthetoolsandtheenginespotential. ThatshowIgotthejobhereatCrytekfive yearsago,saysTracy.Itwasntcalled CryNetatthetime;itwascalledCryMod.We weremodders,justloadingupFarCryand messingwithit,andnowImhere. OneofCryteksmorerecentlicenseesis Piranhagames,developerofMechWarrior Online.MechWarrioris interestinginterms ofhowithasadaptedCryENGINEtosuitits needs.Boththekeyfeaturessuggestedin itstitlebigstompyMechsandtheonline componentrequiredaheftydoseof tinkeringwiththeengineinordertomake thedevelopersintentionsareality. Fromthestart,wehadtositdownand createanewpipelineforMechcreationwith thedesignersandartists,explainsMatthew Craig,technicaldirectoratPiranha.Itwas harderearlierintheprojectwhenthe pipelineswerentasmature,andwewere
ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACET OF CRYENGINE 3 IS THAT MORE THIRD PARTIES HAVE SIGNED UP AS LICENSEES
stilllearninghowtostitchtogetherallthe variouspiecesthatgointomakingupa Mech.Unlikenormalgamecharacters, Mechsarecomposedofmanyvarious componentsthatweneedtobeableto blowoff,andtheyneedtoreceivevarious typesofdamagetoo. Addedtothisistheproblemof communicatingthemovementand destructionofthesemassive,complex charactersacrossanetwork.CryENGINE wasntoriginallydesignedwithmassive onlinegaminginmind,sotherehavebeen manychallengessurroundingthe networkingarchitecture.Wevehadto carryout alotofworkoptimisingserver performanceandreducingnetwork bandwidthrequirements. LiketheCrytekgamesofold, MechWarriorOnlineisaPCexclusive,and itsalreadymade$5million,regardlessof theusualprofit-makinghindranceofnot beingreleasedyet.ThePCsresurgencealso meansthedevelopersatCrytekitselfcan
onceagainconcentrateonwhattheyenjoy doingmostpushingthecapabilitiesofrealtimegraphicsforwards. Interestingly,Crytekseesalotofpotential incomputeshadersandGPGPUprocessing, withgraphicssoftwareandhardware powerfulenoughtoimproveoverall applicationperformancebeyondgraphics, intoareassuchasphysicsandAI.Intermsof environment,lightingandparticleeffects, withinayearwellbeabletodoprettymuch whatyoudexpectfromaPixarmoviein thoseareasofrendering,buttohavethat runninginrealtime,claimsJones. Ofcourse,CryENGINEisnttheonly heavyweightengineintown.DICEs Frostbyte2isprobablytheclosest contemporary,althoughasaninternal engine,ithasnodirectcompetition.The biggestapproachingcompetitorisUnreal Engine4,whichhasfollowedCryENGINEs examplebyadoptingafullyreal-time pipeline.However,Jonesisconfidentthat, whileEpichascaughtupwithCryteks technology,itwillstillhavealongwaytogoto makethenewengineworkableintermsof developinggames.Makingeverythingrealtimeisreallytough,andwevebeenthrough allthepain.AlotofEpicsstuffisreal-time, butitsgoingtobealotofpaintomaintainthe engineatthatpoint. Ofcourse,graphicsarentthebe-alland end-allwhenitcomestoagameengine. Differentengineshavedifferentstrengths, suchasUnitysflexibility,HPLsphysicsand Sourcesanimation.However,itssafetosay thatCryENGINEis,andwillremainforthe foreseeablefuture,themostvisually advancedandinventiveengineonthe market.Cryteksachievementsreallyare a(ahem)farcryfromanythingelse.
96
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
QUANTUM COMPUTER?
98 January 2013
WHERESMY
WorldMags.net
Were often told that new research has brought us one step closer to real quantum computing, but just how many steps are involved in this journey, and how on earth do you build a quantum computer anyway? Rick Lane investigates
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
Aboveimage:Fotolia.com Imagesofsingle-atomtransistorandScanningTunnelling Microscope (p100-101)courtesyofCentreforQuantum Computation&CommunicationTechnology,Universityof NewSouthWales,Australia.www.cqc2t.org
fyoufollowtechnews,atsomepoint youveprobablyreadareportabouta newscientificmarvelthatwillbring quantumcomputingonestepcloser orcloserthaneverbeforeInfact, youveprobablyreadquitealotofthem. Almosteverynewsarticlethatannouncesa newpieceofquantumcomputingresearchat somepointremarksthatitbringsquantum computersonestepcloser.Buttherearestill noquantumcomputersintheshops.Where thehellsourquantumcomputer? Theproblemisthatnoneofthesereports evermentionshowmanystepsremain,and itturnsouttherearequiteafew.Imagineif between1830and1930,everyadvancein
quantumstatesareveryfragile,explains electricalengineeringwasdescribedas Aaronson.SchrodingersCatonlyremains thismaybringclassicalcomputerscloser inthesuperpositionofaliveanddeadaslong saysScottAaronson,associateprofessorof asnobodylooksatit.Theproblemisthat electricalengineeringandcomputerscience whateverislookingatitdoesnthavetobea atMIT.Itsprobablytrueinaway.Itsjusta person;itcouldjustbeastrayparticlepassing strangewayofdescribingitbecauseittakesa throughthebox. longtime.Sciencedoesntmoveatthespeed Asinformationisstoredonthequantum ofthenewscycle. particlewhileinthe Quantumcomputersare superposition,theinformation usuallydescribedasfollows: isgraduallylostoncethe acomputerinwhichthe superpositionstartsto quantumbitsorqubits decohere,asitssystem thequantumequivalentof componentsbeginto traditionalbitsinaclassical interactwiththeenvironment. computerutilisethe Consequently,findingways quantumphenomenonof toincreasethecomputers superposition,theability fault-tolerancetothis toexistinmultiplestates ScottAaronson,associate decoherenceeffectisone simultaneously,toperform professorofelectricalengineering ofthekeystobuildingalarger, calculationsmuchfasterthan andcomputerscienceatMIT usefulmachine. aregularcomputer.Imagine Avitalpartofthisisquantumerrorthatyoucouldsimultaneouslywashanddry correction.Thisemploystheinfamously yourhair,oreatbreakfastandbrushyour difficult-to-describephenomenon(noother teethatthesametime(withoutmakingan disciplinedoesweirdphenomenaquitelike enormousmess).Bydoingthosetasksin quantumphysics)ofEntanglement. parallel,youcouldperformthemmuchfaster. Inverybasicterms,this[entanglement] Unfortunately,thismakesquantum occurswhenparticlesbecomecorrelated computerssoundlikefasterversionsof inpairswhileinsuperposition,andwill classicalcomputers,likeanupgrade,which predictablyinteractoverlargedistances.This doesntaccountfortheradicaldifference canbeusedtospreadinformationfromone betweenthem.Theyworkdifferently,theyre qubitacrossseveral,protectinginformation builtdifferently,andwhentheyreeventually againstdecoherence. largeenoughtobepractical,theyllbemostly Sowhyexactlyarescientistsputtingso usefulfordifferenttasks. mucheffortintoadevicethatsimmensely Themediaclichofbringingquantum difficulttobuild?Forwhatexactpurpose computersonestepcloserismisguided, couldweusequantumcomputers? sincequantumcomputersalreadyexist. Currently,theunderstandingisthat Theproblemisthat,whiletheseexisting quantumcomputerswouldbeusefulin quantumcomputersareatthecuttingedge threespecificareas.Aaronsonhasspent ofscientificknowledge,theyrecomparatively aconsiderableamountoftimefiguring rudimentaryintermsoftheircapabilities.The outjusthowmuchpotentialisheldby majorityamounttonomorethanthreeorfour quantumcomputers. qubitsinexperiments,withmorepowerful Themostfrequentlycitedcapabilityof buildsperhapsreachingnineortenqubits. quantumcomputersisbreaking Themajorobstaclefacedbyphysicistsand cryptographiccodes.Mostoftodaysonline engineersinthisfieldisanotherquantum securityisbasedonacryptographiccode phenomenoncalleddecoherence.This knownasRSA,whichbasesitssecurityon occursbecausequantumsuperposition factoringlargeintegers,somethingclassical (theabilityforparticlestoexistinmany computerscanthandle.A(fully-scaled) statesatonetime)canonlyoccurwhenthe quantumcomputersabilitytoperform superpositionisntbeingobserved.The
100
WorldMags.net
January 2013
99
WorldMags.net
Again,aquantumcomputersabilityto occupymanystatessimultaneouslywould enableittosearchthroughavastamount ofdataandbringbackresultsfasterthan classicalcomputers,althoughherethespeed increasewouldntbeasexponentialasin cryptography.Itskeytounderstandthatthe squarerootofanastronomicalnumbermay stillbeastronomical,Aaronsonpointsout. Thesquarerootoftentothethousandth powerisnearlytentothefive-hundredth power,butthatwillstill pushforwardwhatyoure abletoachieve. Thisabilityisntlimited tosolvinghypothetical mathematicalproblems;it Asidefromsimply haspracticalimplications garneringabetter too.Anytaskthatrequired understandingofprecisely searchingthroughalarge howquantumparticlesact amountofdatatofindan insolidobjects,simulating optimalsolutionwould quantumenvironmentsin benefit.Trivially,itcould thiswaycouldalsohelpin makesearchingGoogle theresearchofentirelynew DrDanBrowne,physicslectureratUCL slightlyfaster,butitalso materials,andpossibly haspotentialinDNA eveninthepharmaceuticalindustryandthe sequencingandpossiblyevenspace creationofnewdrugs. exploration,whereitcouldbeusedfor Finally,quantumcomputerscanhelpto calculatingroutesbetweenplanetary solvewhatareknownascombinatorial bodies,throughasteroidfieldsandsoon. searchproblems.Anexampleofthisisthe Sowhiletheusesofaquantumcomputer travellingsalesmanproblem,inwhichthe mightinitiallyseemquitelimited,theybegin computerisgivenalargenumberofcities toballoonwhenyouconsiderpragmatic andtheirpairwisedistances,andthenmust implementationsthatstemfromthetheory. calculatetheshortestroutetovisiteachcity Therealsomaybemanymoreusesfor onceandthenreturntoitspointoforigin. quantumcomputersthattheoristsand scientistshaventconceivedyet.Working outthewaysthatyoumightuseamachine thatdoesntexistyetisntexactlyeasy. Indeed,werestillatthestagewherewere workingoutpreciselythebestwaytobuild one.Asaresult,therearecurrentlyawide varietyofdifferentarchitectures.DrDan Browne,aquantumtheoristatUniversity CollegeLondon,guidedusthroughsomeof themorefamiliarbuilds.Itslikearace,he says.Therearesomanydifferentapproaches beingfollowedup,wedontyetknowwhichis goingtowintherace. Oneofthemostpromisingarchitecturesis anion-trapquantumcomputer.Thisinvolves
TheScanningTunnellingMicroscopeused tocreatethesingle-atomtransistor
multipleoperationsatonce,however,would enableittobreakthosecodes. Thankstotheirabilitytocomputea factoringalgorithmdevelopedbyPeterShor in1994,quantumcomputerswouldbeso adeptatbreakingRSA,thatoneofthe popularlymentioneddangersassociated withthemisthat,shouldonebeconnectedto todaysInternet,theentireworldssecurity systemswouldbeinstantlyvulnerable. However,thefactofthematteristhat quantumcomputerscodebreakingabilities aremorelimitedthanisinitiallyapparent. Onefactorthatisntusuallymentionedin populararticles,explainsAaronson,isthat thereareothercryptographiccodesthatwe dontknowhowtobreak,evenwithaquantum computer.Soifquantumcomputersbecome practicalthenitsmostlikelythatwellswitch overtothoseothercodes.Itslikeanarms race.Aaronsonalsosuggestsitslikelythat certaininstitutions,suchasthemilitary,may havealreadyswitchedtotheseothercodes sometimeago. Anotherproposeduseissimulatinglarge quantumenvironments,whicharecurrently verydifficulttoaccuratelysimulateduetothe billionsofvariables.Thatsthekindofthing aquantumcomputerdoesinitssleep, saysAaronson.Butitsactuallythemost importantuseinpractice.Ifweevergeta practicalquantumcomputer,Ithinkthat thatsthemaintaskthattheyllbeusedfor, becausetheyhavesomanyapplications.
ITSLIKEARACE; THEREARESO MANYDIFFERENT APPROACHES BEINGFOLLOWED UP,WEDONTYET KNOWWHICHIS GOINGTOWIN THERACE
100
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
Thesingle-atomtransistorinallits(tiny)glory.Singleatomtransistorshavebeenmadebefore,buttheteam inSydneyisthefirsttocreatethemrepeatedlywiththis levelofprecision
suspendingionsinanelectromagneticfield, andstoringthequbitsintheelectronicstates oftheions.Ion-trapshavealotgoingforthem. Itsveryeasytogettheionstointeractwithone another,andtheycurrentlyholdtherecordfor themostnumberofentangledqubitsat14. Theonlydownsidethatisthationstendto decoherequitequickly.RecentNobelPrize winnerDavidWeinlandcontributedmuchto ion-trapquantumcomputing. Amorerecentlydevelopedarchitectureis opticalquantumcomputing.Provedfeasible justaftertheturnofthemillennium,optical quantumcomputersusephotonsindividual particlesoflightasopposedtoions,tocarry quantuminformation.Allthetechnologieswe useforcontrollinglightsandrouteinglights, ideasthatareveryimportantintheoptical fibresusedbytheInternet,forexample someofthosetechnologiescanbeusedto thinkaboutrouteingandcontrollingsingle photons,Browneexplains.Theuseof similartechnologytofibreopticsinoptical computingisoneofitsmainadvantages,as italsomeanstheresalotofinfrastructure alreadyinplacethatcouldbeusedtotransmit informationusingphotonicqubits. Ion-trapsandoptics/photonicsarethetwo best-knownand,sofar,mostpromisingways tobuildaquantumcomputer,butthereare twootherarchitecturesbeingconsidered.The firstistheadiabaticarchitecture,popularised bytheCanadiancompanyD-Wave;thishas beenacontroversialfirminthefieldof quantumcomputingforalongtime. In2008,D-Waveclaimedtohavebuilta128qubitchip,andlastyear,itannouncedD-Wave Onethecompanyboastedthiswasthefirst commerciallyavailablequantumcomputer.
Theprocessofmakingthetransistor isntautomated,andeachonetakes severalhourstocreate
SCIENCE DOESNTMOVEAT THESPEEDOFTHE NEWSCYCLE

Thetroubleis,manyofD-Wavesclaims haveyettobeverified,andtheadiabatic architectureisntparticularlywell understood.Browneattemptstodescribe itusingananalogy.SayyoureintheGrand Canyonandyouwanttofindthedeepestpoint init.Onewayyoumightdothatistotakea tennisball,throwitaroundandseewhereit endsup.Eventually,youdhopethatvia gravityitwouldendupinthelowestpart. However,sometimesitwontitmight becomestuck,andtheD-Wavearchitecture isabitlikethat. Thefinalarchitectureisperhapsthemost intriguing.Itscalledtheone-wayquantum computer.Creatingthisinvolvesentanglinga largenumberofqubitsintowhatsknownasa clusterstate,whichcanthenperformsinglequbitmeasurements.Theentangledstateis destroyedintheprocess,hencetheterm one-way.Brownehaswrittenextensively aboutone-wayquantumcomputing.Thefact thataquantumcomputerhasmorepower, webelieve,thanaclassicalcomputer,means itsactuallyveryhardtopredictthestates insideaquantumcomputer.Butwhenwe makeoneparticularstate,weknowprecisely
whatstateweretryingtomake.Thatmakes iteasierforus,inprinciple. Allthesearchitectureshavesimilar potential,soitisntasifthescientific communitycanchoosethemostpromising oneandcollectivelypursueit.Thevast numberofquantumcomputerarchitectures givesagoodindicationofjusthowdifferent theyarefromtheirclassicalcounterparts. Thatsaid,someresearchprojectsare attemptingtocreatequantumtechnologies thatseemmorefamiliar.DrMartinFuechsle isaresearchfellowattheUniversityofNew SouthWalesinSydney.InFebruarythisyear, Fuechslewaspartofateamattheuniversitys CentreforQuantumComputationand CommunicationTechnology(CQC2T),which madeheadlinesbycreatingtheworlds smallesttransistorasinglephosphorous atomplacedinsideasiliconcrystal. Withmysupervisor,ProfessorMichelle Simmons,whoisnowthedirectorofour centre,Icameupwiththeplantomakethe device,andhowtomakethedevice,says Fuechsle.Iwasalsodowninthelab,and Iwastheonethatdidthefabricationand measurementsatcryogenictemperatures. Thetransistordemonstratesmanipulation ofatomswithpreviouslyunheard-of precision.Itscreatedbyplacingphosphorous atomsonthesiliconchip,andthencoveringit inasinglelayerofhydrogenatoms.Next,a ScanningTunnellingMicroscopeisusedto removesomeofthoseatomswhilethechipis inanultra-high-vacuumenvironment,which
102
WorldMags.net
January 2013
101
WorldMags.net
makesthoseexposedareashighlyreactive. Finally,thechipisheated,whichremoves thelayerofhydrogenandincorporatesthe phosphorousatomsintothesiliconchip. Theramificationsofthisdevelopment revealanintriguingcrossroadsintermsof modernresearchintocomputation.Onthe onehand,thetransistorrepresentstheend ofMooresLawtheobservationthatthe numberoftransistorsonacomputerchip doublesinsizeroughlyeverytwoyears,tothe pointwheretransistorsreachtheatomiclevel andcantbemadeanysmaller.Cramming thesetransistorsintothesamesizeofareais becomingincreasinglyproblematicfor companiessuchasIntelandIBM. Thatmeansthatthepitchofthetypical gatelengthis22nmalready,Browneexplains. Anatomisroughlyanangstrom(atenthofa nanometre)insize,sothismeansthatthe channelbetweenyoursourceanddrainon thattransistorisonly200atomswide. Increatingthischip,theCQC2Tisalmosta decadeaheadofthepredicteddatefortheend ofMooreslawusefulresearchforthose currentlyscratchingtheirheadsabouthowto furtherincreasemicro-processingpower overthenexttenyears.However,theres anotherpotentialuseforthistechnology. Althoughthistransistorisdistinctlyclassical computertechnology,itmayalsocarryover intoquantumcomputers.Theteamsnext stepistotakethetransistoranduseitfor performingquantumlogicoperations. Thereareseveralwaystodothis,says Fuechsle.Firstofall,youneednotonlyone transistor,buttwotocoupletogether,soreally twoqubits.Youcanthendemonstrateatwoqubitoperation,suchasacontrolledswap operationwhereyouswapinformationfrom onetotheother.Thenextstepistonotonly haveoneatomicallypreciseatombuttwo, andthentostartperformingoperations. TheCQCTisnttheonlyresearchteam interestedincombiningquantumtechnology withsiliconeither.Infact,justacoupleof monthsago,thetwowerehappilymarriedin Bristol.InSeptember,researchersatBristol UniversitysCentreforQuantumPhotonics (CQP)announcedthecreationofasmall quantumsiliconprocessingchip.
ANALYSIS
DrMarkThompson,deputydirectoroftheCQP,with thesiliconquantumchip
Smallerthanapenny,thischipcontainsmicrometre featuresandguideslightusinganetworkof waveguides.Theoutputofthisnetworkcanbeseen onthesurfaceofthechip
Asiliconquantumchipnexttoa20pcoin.Itcontains nanometre-sizedfeatures,guidinglightinanetwork ofwaveguidesinthecentralpartofthedevice
ErmanEnginandDamienBonneauatCQPmeasure theperformanceofasiliconquantumchip
Wemadeourfirstquantumcircuitsusing glass,saysDrMarkThompson,deputy directoroftheCQP.Effectively,wewere makingtinyglasslight-channels.Thelight wouldpropagatethroughtheseglass channels,actingasglasswaveguides.We wouldgenerateoursinglephotons(the qubits)andinjectthemintotheseglass waveguidecircuits.Wedemonstrateda rangeofexperiments,includingon-chip quantumlogicoperations,asimpleversion ofShorsfactoringalgorithmandsmall-scale programmablequantumcircuits.
Themovefromglasstosiliconenabledthe creationofachipthats1,000timessmaller thantheglass-basedcircuits,andbringswith itanothersignificantasset.Oneofthebig advantagesofdevelopingsiliconquantum technology,isthatinthefuture,wecoulduse allthemass-manufacturingtechnologies andtechniquesofthesiliconmicroelectronics industry,saysThompson.Siliconhashad, what,fivedecadesofintensiveresearch?In somerespects,wecannowstarttouseall thatknowledgetomakequantumphotonic circuitsratherthanelectriccircuits. Combiningquantumtechnologywithour deepunderstandingofsiliconholdsmassive potentialforthefutureofcomputing, includinghybridsofquantumandclassical computers.Thompsonpointsoutthatall quantumtechnologywillneedtobecombined withclassicaltechnologyinorderforusto interactwithitanyway,andthattherearealso differentschoolsofthoughtintermsofthe powerneededbytheclassicaltechnologyin ordertocontrolthequantumcomputer. However,ifwecanfindsufficientusefor quantumtechnologyinthehome,andacquire sufficientengineeringknowledgetobuildit, theendproductmaywellbeaquantum componentasopposedtoaseparate, individualcomputer.Inessence,anupgrade. Insomerespects,whatwellprobablyhave isadedicatedquantumprocessor,justlike youhaveadedicatedGPUinsideyour computer,Thompsonsays.Youllprobably haveaquantumprocessingunitinsideyour computer,andwhenevertheresacertain problemthatcanbetackledmoreefficiently usingaquantumalgorithm,thenitwouldcall upthequantumprocessingunittoperform thatpartofthecalculation. Evenifeverythingworked,suchadevice isalongwayoff.Asforthetimescale,the researchersweaskedsuggestedthatitcould betenyearsbeforeaquantumcomputeris builtthatcanperformanoperationthatcant beperformedbyaclassicalcomputer,and approximately20yearsbeforeoneisbuilt thatcanbeputtopracticaluse.Ratherthan infinitelybringingquantumcomputingoneor twostepscloser,werenowbeginningtogain anindicationofhowmanystepsareleft.
102
January 2013
WorldMags.net
Photo by Jasmine Meinecke
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
MOREMONEY, MOREPROBLEMS
From crowd-funding to pay-what-you-want systems, this year has seen established publishers come under threat from and take advantage of several new ways of conducting business. As the way games are funded and sold continues to change, Joe Martin talks to those involved
focusingexclusivelyonthefree-to-play format.ThentheresOnLive,whichis reportedlybouncingbackafteradifficult year,andSlightlyMadStudiosnewWeapons ofMassDevelopmentprogramtoo. However,withsomanynewideas clamouringforattention,andwith2013fast approaching,itsworthaskingwhichofthese businessmodelsarereallyingamersbest interests.Whatdotherealitiesofgame developmentsayabouttheindustry,and howmightthatmessagechangeinthe yearstocome? (Fallout),ChrisRoberts(WingCommander) andChrisAvellone(Planescape:Torment). Currently,ChrisAvellonesisometricRPG, Project:Eternity,holdstherecorditraised $3.9millioninjust30dayswithoutgoing anywherenearpublishers. Whiletheseprojectshavebeen successful,theprospectofusingKickstarter tofundthedevelopmentofgamesisless hopefulforstudiosthatlackthebignamesof the1990s.Earlierthisyear(seeIssue108), wespoketoDennisDryden;despitehaving 15yearsofexperience,hewasntableto raise$25,000tofinishhisalreadyplayable prototypeofaWipeout-styleracinggame. Morerecently,LogicArtiststurn-based explorationtitle,Expedition:Conquistadors, onlyjustmanagedtoscrapeinunderthe wire.Ithitits$70,000goalintheend,but onlyinthefinaldaysofthecampaign. Wehadsomemajorslumpsinour pledges,saysLogicArtistscreativedirector JonasWver.Wedidnthaveanybignames onourteam,andwerekindofunknown. If hetheryourelookingatcrowdfundedprojectssuchasDouble FineAdventure,orpay-whatyou-wantinitiativessuchasThe HumbleBundle,theresnodenyingthat2012 hasbeeninterestingforgamedevelopers. Aplethoraofnewbusinessmodelshas allowedfan-popularbutcommercially middlingdeveloperstobreakawayfrom publishers,whilesmalldevelopershave hadachancetomakeanimpacttoo. Eventheadventuregamegenrelong presumeddeadordyinghasbeenrevived intheexcitementofthesenewmethods. DeveloperssuchasTimSchafer(Dayofthe Tentacle)andCharlesCecil(BrokenSword) haveshowntheresamarketforthese gamesafterallnomatterwhatthemoney menhavebeensayingforthepastfewyears. Thatsaid,thebiggercompanieshavent beentwiddlingtheirthumbs.Publishers suchasSquareEnixareexperimentingwith allmannerofnewideastosellgamestous, whileCrytekhasbravelydeclareditwillbe Kickstarterisnttheonlycrowd-funding platformouttherecompetitorIndiegogois creditedwithfirstpopularisingtheconcept offan-fundedprojectsbutasfaras2012 is concerned,Kickstarteristhemainone.Tim Schaferusedittotrytoraise$400,000from fansandgot $3.3millioninstead,opening thefloodgates.Aglutofotherbig-name developersfollowed,includingBrianFargo
Its us vs them
106
104
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
IronHelmet
Conquistadors PathofExile TeamFortress2
Gambitious Hitman:Blood Money
IronHelmet
Conquistadors
WorldMags.net
January 2013
105
WorldMags.net
wehadntmadeit,wedhavehadtomoveout ofouroffice,andmostofuswouldprobably havehadtoworkonapart-timebasis. InheadinguptheKickstartercampaign forConquistadors,Wverdiscoveredthat, whiletheplatformmaylooklikeafunding candylandfromoutside,thatisntactually thecaseatall.Infact,therearesignificant disadvantagestousingKickstarter,notleast ofwhichisthe5percentfeetakenfromany successfullyraisedtotals. Themaindisadvantageisthatitsvery easytogetinoveryourhead,saysWver. Ifyoudontplanyourrewardtiersvery carefully,orifyougetmoresupportthanyou expected,youcanbecomeboggeddownin logisticsandadministrativetasks. Thisisexactlywhathappenedtostrategy developerWarBalloonGames,whichraised $36,000thisyearforamobileversionof spacegameStarCommand.The5percent feeandunfulfilledpledgesleftadentthat wasonlyexacerbatedwhentheteam thenhadtospend$10,000justonreward fulfilment.Pileon$16,000instart-up costsandasingleshowingatPAXEast, andtheteamwasleftwithjust$6,000with whichtodevelopthegame.Itwasthentaxed onthat,andendeduptakingondebtjustto keepworking. Otherteamswontgothatfar,however. Afterraisingandspendingcloseto$30,000 inpledgesforhorrorgameTheHaunts, developerMobRulesGamesdecidedtojust shutupshop.Themoneyhasbeenspent,but thegamewillneverbemade.Manybackers havevoicedoutrage,notrealisingthat Kickstarterdoesntexisttofunctionasa pre-purchasingsystem,andthatno protectionisofferedonpledgedamounts. IworrythatmanypeopleseeKickstarter thatway,fullyexpectingtogetsomethingfor theirmoney,saysWver,whoremains anxioustoseewhatwillhappenwhenabignameKickstarterprojectinevitablyfailsto deliver.Kickstarterdoeshaveadvantages [but]thereareveryfewsafebetsin
THESUCCESSRATE FORGAMESON KICKSTARTERIS ONLYSOMEWHERE AROUND25PERCENT

JONAS WVER , CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LOGIC ARTISTS
independentgamedevelopment,hewarns. ThesuccessrateforgamesonKickstarteris onlysomewherearound25percent.
Ifgamersarecommittedtotreating Kickstarterasjustanotherpre-purchasing platform,anddontseeitasawaytoactually driveinnovation,thequestionis,wherewill thatdrivecomefrom?Oneoftheanswers currentlybeingputforwardisanew,slightly differentideacalledGambitious. ForyearsIvebeenfrustratedbythe processthroughwhichcreatorsraise funds,saysUKIEchairmanandGambitious co-founderAndyPayneOBE.Weseemto liveinaworldofendlesssequelsand franchisesoccasionallyallofuswant somethingabitdifferent. Gambitiousseekstosolvethisproblem andmore,saysPayne.Itsacrowd-funding platformostensiblysimilartoKickstarter, butfocusedsolelyongames;itofferssome uniquefeatures,suchaslettingthepublic investinthedeveloperitself.Developersare protected,sotheyretaincertainintellectual propertyrightsandcreativecontrol,but gamersareotherwisefreetobuyequity andshareinprofits. Thatisntalleither;developersalso benefitfromthesupportofPayne,aswellas otherindustryveteransnotablyDevolver DigitalandGatheringofDevelopers foundersHarryMillerandMikeWilson. Weneedtoensureweaddrealvalueto thewholeprocess,saysPayne.Weall haveextensivevideogameproduction experience,andareallpassionateabout
Feeling lucky
developerskeepingholdoftheirintellectual propertyWewanttohelpdevelopersmake therightbusinessdecisions. TheproblemforGambitious isthat, whileKickstartercanmovetooquicklyfor developers,Gambitiouscanmovetooslowly tobeofuse.Monthsafterlaunch,thereare stillonlysevenprojectslistedonthesystem and,whiledeveloperinvestmentmaybean excitingprospect,itisntonethatnecessarily interestsgamers,andtheymaynotbeready tohandleiteither.Theresultisthat,while GambitiousfixessomeofKickstarters issues,italsobringsnewones,althoughthe teamremainsoptimisticforthefuture. Imconvincedcrowd-fundingwillbea reallyimportantpartofhowgamesare fundedandmade,saysPayne.Traditional formsofinvestmentrarelybacktrue innovationintermsofcontentintime, throughexperienceddevelopershelping youngerteamsandshiningalightonnew ideas,weexpectthistoevolve.
However,itisntjuststart-upsand developersthatareevolving,butpublishers too.Theyreconstantlylookingfornewways tobringtheirgamestomarkettakeCore Online,SquareEnixsnewadvertisingand microtransactionplatform,forexample. Whenwelaunched,weonlyhadone businessmodel,whichwasalevel-based purchaseinspiredbyarcades,explains SquareEnixsdirectorofbusiness development,JacobNavok.[But]Iwanted toletplayerspayforcontenthoweverthey want.Ireadalotofcommentsandoneuser wrotesomethinglike:Thegameisgreat,the onlyproblemisthatyouhavetopayforit whichItookatfacevalue. ThequestionNavokaskedhimselfthen was,ifsomegamerswanttoplayforfree,and somewanttopayforjustthecontentthey want,howdoestheplatformactonthat? Shortlyafterwards,CoreOnline,which hadbeenindevelopmentfortwoyears,was
The empire strikes back
108
106
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
Going slightly mad

Oneofthemoreexoticideastoemerge recentlyistheWeaponsofMass DevelopmentprogramSlightlyMad Studiosusesforitsnewracingsim, Project:Cars.Customersbuytieredtool packs,whichlettheminteractwiththe gameasitdevelops.Thelowestpack merelyletsyouplaymonthlybuildsand readminutes;thehighestletsyouattend meetingsinperson,accessscriptsand much,muchmore. Historically,weveneverhadmuchsay intermsofgamedesignbecausethe publisher-fundedmodeldoesntworkthat way,SlightlyMadproducerSuzyWallace saysofWMDsinspiration.TheWMD model,though,letsusmakefinaldesign decisionswhileactivelyinvolvingthevery peopleforwhomwemakegames. WMDisntjustinspiredbyregretand fuzzy-feelings,butspecificissuesarising frompublisher-fundedapproaches. Wallaceexplainsthatfocusgroupingwas especiallydisruptive,asitoftenoccurred toolateindevelopmenttoactuallychange anything,whileWMDallowsforconstant, dailytestingwithaconsistentcommunity. Aswellasgivingfeedback,theWMD communityisactivelyinvolvedinmajor designdecisions,continuesWallace.If wereunsurewhetherourplayerswant noncircuit-basedfictionaltracksinthe gameornot,wedonthavetopinthe gamessuccessonaneducatedguess. Instead,wejustopenupapollandask. WallaceadmitsWMDhasproblemsthebiggestbeingtheteamsinitialinability todealwiththousandsofdissentingvoices -butthesehavebeeneasilysolvedthrough communitymanagement.Rightnow, SlightlyMadplanstocontinuedeveloping WMDasaplatformandtouseittocontinue creatingtitlesinthefuture.
Project:Cars
THE MAIN DISADVANTAGE IS THAT ITS VERY EASY TO GET IN OVER YOUR HEAD
Conquistadors
JONAS WVER , CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LOGIC ARTISTS
WorldMags.net
January 2013
107
WorldMags.net
overhauled.Thenewversionletsyouplay classicgamessuchasHitman:BloodMoney inyourbrowserforfreeifyouwatchadverts asthegameloads.Alternatively,youcanbuy onlythelevelsyouwant,orthewholegame atadiscount;itsuptoyou. Theideaofintroducingadvertisinginto gameexperiencesisntonethathas traditionallysatwellwithgamers,ofcourse. SquareEnixcaughtalotofflakwhenit retroactivelyaddedasmallbanneradvert toloadingscreensforDeusEx:Human Revolution,forexample,butCoreOnlinehas beeninformedbythatfeedback.InNavoks mind,theplatformnowworkslikeaTV series;watchitforfreeandcopewiththe adverts,orbuytheDVDtoskipthem.Thats thekeyforme,hesays,giveoptions to playersandallowthemtodecidehowthey wanttoplay. CoreOnlineisnttheonlynewbusiness modelwithwhichSquareEnixhasbeen experimenting;italsocontinuestosupport rentalservicessuchasOnLiveandisactive onGooglesChromeWebStoretoo.Infact, thepublisherseemstobetryingtobeonas manyplatformsaspossible,maybehoping thatevenifthemajorityofthesefail,thenthe onethatsucceedswillhelptoilluminatethe futureoftheindustry. Ithinkadvertisingwillbeasignificant optionforsupplementaryincomeinthe future,andpossiblyevenaprimaryoption dependingonhowtheecosystemevolves, Navokspeculates.Consumers,advertisers andpublishersneedtofindthemodel enticingforthattohappenweneedto moveinthedirectionthatgivesflexibility andchoicetoplayers.WhatIloveaboutfreeto-playgames,forexample,isthatwelldesignedonesletauserpaytotheir satisfactionwiththegameitself. Othersworkinginthefree-to-playspace aremorecautiousaboutembracingthe suddenpopularityofthatformat,however. Crytekmayhaveshockedusallwiththe announcementthatitwasgoingtotallyfree-
THATS THEKEYFOR ME,GIVEOPTIONSTO PLAYERSANDALLOW THEMTODECIDEHOW THEYWANTTOPLAY

JACOB NAVOK , SQUARE ENIXS DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
to-playinthefuture,stakingeverythingon thepopularityofthistrend,butthemajority offree-to-playgamesarestillbelowpar. Manyfreegamescompromisetheirgame designtosellmoremicrotransactions,Chris Wilsonsaysregardinghisworriesaboutthe format.Wilsonsstudio,GrindingGear Games,hasbeenworkingonfree-to-play RPGPathofExilesince2006,buthasbeen carefultosteerawayfromchargingplayers forcontentinthesamewayasCoreOnline. Instead,ratherthanchargingforboosts orconvenienceitems,PathofExileonly chargesforcosmeticitemsadecisionborn fromtheteamsbeliefthatgooddesign respectstheusers.ToGrindingGear,whileit maybepossibletowedconventionaldesigns andoldgamestonewbusinessmodels,this oftenisntintheplayersbestinterest. Idratherpaythefullpriceforagame thatsdesignedtoentertainyouthanpay nothing,followedbyamandatoryseries ofsmalltransactionsforagamethats structuredtonickel-and-dimetheplayer, saysWilson.WedesignedPathofExileas astandalonegame,ratherthanrelyingon underhandedtacticstosellprogress Developersneedtorespectthedesiresof thecommunity. Unfortunately,Wilsondoesntbelieve mostfree-to-playdeveloperssharehisview, accusingthemajorityofthemofbeing graduallycorruptedbythemoney-making capacityofthemodel.Hissuggestionisthat, iffree-to-playdoesbecomethedefactoway ofdoingbusiness,thentheindustrywill becomeaverycynicalplaceindeed.Crytek
maywellbehappy,butthosewhodontlike thetrendsimpliedbythemajorityoffree-toplaygameswillbeharddone-byJonas Wver,forexample. Free-to-playgamesaretypicallyawful, andeverytimeItrytoplayoneIendupwith aterribletasteinmymouth,saysWver whenaskedtoimaginethispossiblefuture. Imnotrulingoutthattheycanbedonewell, butIhaventyetbeenluckyenoughtofind onethatdidntgooutofitswaytosabotage myenjoymentinordertosqueezealittle moneyoutofme. Thankfully,Jonasdoesntthinkagames industrydefinedbyfree-to-playtitlesis particularlylikely.Instead,heargues pragmatismandpointsoutthat,whilenew ideashaveemergedinrecentyears,they haventdestroyedtheoldideasbehindthem. Steamhasbeenaroundfornearlyadecade, butthehighstreetisstilljustaboutstanding, andifyoulookhardenough,therearestill sharewaregamesdoingtheroundstoo. Evencoin-operatedarcademachines arestillaroundinsomeformoranother, heexplains.SowhileIdontseeanyreason tobelievepeoplewillstopinventingnew businessmodels,Ialsodontbelievethe existingmodelswillevergoaway. WhileWverstopsatpragmatism,Andy Paynetakesthatideaandrunswithittothe pointofpureoptimism.Ifthemarketis gettingmorecrowded,heexplains,thenthat canmeanonlyonething:competition.Asan entrepreneur,hefindsthattremendously exciting,whileasagamer,hehopesitwill leadtogreater,grandergames. Accesstogamershasneverbeeneasier, giventhedigitalrevolution,saysPayne, pointingtothelikesofSteam,Originand OnLive.Thatsbeenmatchedbythesheer weightofreallygreatcontent,though,much ofitfreetoplayoratleastfreeatthestart. Competitionhasneverbeenasfierceand,at theendoftheday,developersstillneedto startwithareallygreatgameiftheywantto getanywhere.
108
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ANALYSIS
what business plan?

Forallthiscynicaltalkofbusinessplans, somedevelopersprefertogowiththeflow. WhenJayKurbzleft2KGamestofoundhisown studio,IronHelmetGames,hehadnoideawhat businessmodelhewasgoingtouse,orifhedtry tomakemoneyfromthematall. IstartedIronHelmetsoIcouldmakemyown smallgames,saysKurbz.Iwantedtoexplore interestingnewideasandIcouldseealotof opportunitiestogetoutthere,takerisksandhave somefun.Thebusinessmodelwassecondary. IronHelmetwhichmakessomeofthebest hardcorestrategygamesweveseen,including thelegendaryNeptunesPridehasendedup adoptinganunusualflavouroffree-to-playso far.Youcanplaythegamesforfreeifyouwant, buttheyreallmultiplayergames,soifyouwant toplayprivatematcheswithpalsthenyouneed apremiumkey,whichwilllastforafewmonths. TheresanargumentagainstKurbzslackof businessplanning,butitdoesntseemtobother him.Askedaboutthesystemssuccess,hell admitonlythatitcoversthecostoftheservers andthatheshappyaslongasthatstrue. Theproblemwithmanyfree-to-playgames isthebusinessmodelcomesfirst,andthenthe gameplayiswrappedarounditIjustwantto makegoodgames,hesays.NeptunesPride2is nowindevelopmentand,whenaskedaboutit,he simplysays:Idontknowwhatthemodelwillbe yet,butImhappywithwhatwehave.
Project:Cars
Conquistadors
FREE-TO-PLAYGAMES ARETYPICALLYAWFUL IENDUPWITHA TERRIBLETASTEIN MYMOUTH

CHRIS WILSON, GRINDING GEAR GAMES
TheHaunts
WorldMags.net
January 2013
109
WorldMags.net
Your chance to get involved in Custom PC
Name PaulJosephMTan Age 27 Occupation Graphicdesigner andphotographer Location Philippines MainusesforPC Internetand roadshows Likes Guitars,photography,art,MDPC, basketball,drawingandmodding Dislikes Disrespectfulpeople
In just two weeks, Paul Tan designed and built this modern military machine from aluminium sheets, although he had to miss out a lot of sleep to finish it in time
include.IwasamazedbythisnewZ77 motherboard'slooksand,sinceAsusreally wantedtoshowcasetheboardwithoutaGPU, thechallengewasclear.Idecidedtobasethe ideaforthecasearoundastandardbench table,whileincorporatingtheheavy-duty imageofAsus'TUFcomponents. Iwantedtobuildacasethateffectively housedthemotherboard inarigidsuitofarmour withasolidbody,butwith amodernapproach.Asus madeitclearthatitdidn't wantmetoincorporate anyweapons,orviolence orwarmotifsinthebuild; thatworkedforme becauseIwantedthismodto standoutfromotherbuildswitha militarytheme. CPC: Whatspecsdidyouchoose,andwhy? Paul: Thepurposeoftheprojectwassimply toshowcaseandexposetheAsusSabertooth Z77,soIdidn'tinstallanAsusgraphicscard, asIwantedeveryone'sfullattentiontobe focusedontheboarditself. IalsoselectedaCorsairH100coolerwith someCorsairAirSeriesSP120fans,since thecombinationoffersverygoodcooling, whilesimultaneouslycomplementingthe motherboard'sheavy-dutylook.
CPC: Whatinspiredyoutobuild ArmorsuitZ77? Paul: Asusapproachedmewiththe ideaofcreatingademonstration system,fromthegroundup,toshowcaseits newTUFSabertoothZ77motherboardat Computex2012;thecompanyalsogaveme somedetailsoftheideasthatthemodshould
SYSTEM SPECS
CPU Intel Core i3 Ivy Bridge GPU Intel on-board Storage Corsair 128GB Performance Pro SSD Memory Corsair 8GB Vengeance DDR3 Motherboard Asus TUF Sabertooth Z77 PSU Corsair TX850M Cooling Corsair H100
110
January 2013
WorldMags.net
ENTERYOUROWNPCATHTTP://FORUMS.BIT-TECH.NET WorldMags.net
ofPaulsprojectat http://tinyurl.com/ z77armor
SEE MORE
Forthesamereason,IalsousedCorsair Vengeancememory,asitsdesignreally complementstheAsusSabertooth'stheme. IalsoinstalledaCorsairAirFlowFan2to addsomemoredetails,andaCorsair PerformancePro120GBSSD,asIwantedto makethebuildreallycompactandeasyto transport.Finally,IdecidedtouseaCorsair TX850Mtopowerthesystem.
CPC: Whatothermodshaveyoubuilt? Paul: IbuilttheLamborghiniReventonMKII PC,whichactedasmyworkstation.Iwas reallyinlovewithReventoncars,soI incorporatedthedesignintomyPC.Ialsobuilt myNikeAdvancePCfortheCoolerMaster ModContest2011,andwasverygladtoseeit awardedsecondplace.Mythirdmodwasthe DarkKnightPC,whichismypersonalrig,and
alsoanupgradefrommyReventonPC,which Iusefordesignworkandgaming. CPC: Whatmaterialsdidyouuse,andwhy? Paul: Ionlyusedaluminiumsheetsin1mm, 2mm,6mmand15mmthicknesses,as aluminiumislightandeasytobend.Iusedthe 1mmsheetsforthebody,motherboardcover andradiatorshroud,andthenIusedthe2mm
112
WorldMags.net
January 2013
111
WorldMags.net
and6mmsheetsfortheradiatorholder. Finally,Iusedthe15mmsheetsfortheside panels/sidefendersofthecaseitself,inorder togiveitasolidlook. CPC:Whattoolsandmachinerydidyouuse, andhowdidyoufindworkingwiththem? Paul: Iusedarotarytoolfordrillingand cuttingsomeparts.Itwasmyfirsttimeusing one,soIwasgladthatIdidn'tenduphurting myhandsintheprocess.Ialsousedawaterjetcuttingmachine,whichwasreallycool, althoughitisn'treallyappropriateforcutting smallholesordesigns;alaserismore precisewhenitcomestosmalldetails,but it'salsoexpensive. CPC: Whatdifficultiesdidyoucomeacross whenbuildingArmorsuitZ77? Paul: TherewerealotofobstaclesIhadto overcome,sincethiswasmyveryfirst scratch-builtPC.ThefirstissuewasthatI onlyhadoneweektodesigneverythingfrom thestart,andjustonemoreweektoexecute thedesign,includingallthecuttingand assemblywork.Togetthejobcompletedin time,Icreatedthedesignandmechanical drawingsusingAdobeIllustrator,without stoppingforabreak. Then,tomakethebigcutsquicklyand precisely,Iwenttotheaforementionedwaterjetcuttingshop.Italsotookalotofresearch, plustrialanderror,beforeIcouldmanually bendthealuminiumsheetswithoutany problems.Thenextproblemwasdealing withthepaint,asIaccidentallydamagedthe coverpartofthemotherboardadaybefore shipmentofthecase.Therewasnotimeto waste;Ihadtosanditagainandcutsome morestickerstocoverupthedamage,thenlet itdryforonlyafewhours.It'sagoodjobthat thisallwentwell! CPC: Whatsortofmediainteresthas ArmorsuitZ77attractedsofar? Paul: Sofar,it'smainlycapturedtheattention ofAsus'staffinTaipeiandtheUSA.Theyloved itsomuchtheygavemeafreeGeForceGTX 690card.Italsoattractedtheattentionof someofthepopularmoddersinthe community,oneofwhomisBillOwen, whofeaturedthemodonhiswebsite(www. mnpctech.com).Asusalsofeaturedmeon itsRepublicofGamerswebsite,andCorsair
loveditsomuchthatthepeopletheregaveme someDominatorPlatinumRAM.Finally,it's alsoreceivedalotofLikesonFacebook. CPC: Whathaveyoulearnedfromthe processofbuildingthisproject? Paul: Ivelearnedalot.Firstly,dontevertryto skipsleep!Ialsolearnedhowtoconstructa scratchbuildforthefirsttimeinjusttwo weeks,andhowtousearotarytool.IthinkI basicallylearnedtobemorepatient!
CPC: Areyouhappywiththeendresult,and isthereanythingyou'ddodifferentlyifyou builtArmorsuitZ77again? Paul: ImreallyhappywithArmorsuitZ77so far.Mostofthebuildprocesswentsmoothly, andtheendresultlookshowIimaginedit beforeIstarted.Infact,theendproduct actuallyexceededmyexpectations.However, ifIbuiltitagain,Iwoulddefinitelyinstallsome PCI-EriserssothatIcouldinstallafast graphicscard.
BE A WINNER!
ToenteryourmachineforpossibleinclusioninReaders Drives,yourmodneedstobefullyworkingand,ideally, finishedbasedintheUK.Simplylogonto www.bit-tech.net andheadovertotheforums.Once yourethere,postawrite-upofyourmod,alongwithsomepics,intheProjectLogsforum.Make sureyoureadtherelevantrulesandadvicestickythreadsbeforeyoupost.Thebestentranteach monthwillbefeaturedhere,wherewellprintyourphotosofyourprojectandalsointerviewyou aboutthebuildprocess.Fameisnttheonlyprize; youllalso getyourhandsonafabulous selectionofprizesseetheoppositepagefordetails.
112
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
HTTP://FORUMS.BIT-TECH.NET
Weve teamed up with some of the worlds leading PC component manufacturers and retailers to offer this great range of prizes to each lucky Readers Drives winner. If your creation is featured in the magazine then youll walk away all three of the prizes listed on this page, so get in your entries!
Totalvalue 142incVAT Manufacturer www.corsair.com CorsairbelievesthatagreatPCstartswithagreat case.TheCorsairCarbideSeries300Ris acompactexpressionofthiscore philosophy.Itpacksina remarkablenumberoffeatures givenitscompactdimensions, providesbuilderswithtonnesof roomforexpansion,andhas amazingcoolingpotential.And, likeallCorsaircases,itsbuilt usingthefinestmaterialsand finishedtothehigheststandards, soitwillwithstandseveralyears ofupgrades. Justasaqualitycaseis essentialtobuildingaquality PC,ahigh-performance,highqualitypowersupplyisalsoavital ingredient.BasedontheawardwinningTXV2Series,thenew EnthusiastSeriesModularPSUsadda modularcablingsystemforimprovedinstallation
CORSAIR CARBIDE SERIES 300R CASE AND 550W TX MODULAR POWER SUPPLY
flexibility.TXModularpowersuppliesarebuilt usingqualitycomponents,andarerigorously testedandqualifiedat100percentloadatan ambienttemperatureof50Cforunmatched reliability.Theyredesignedtoasuperior standard,sothattheynotonlymeettheATX specification,butalsoexceedit.Inadditionto unmatchedquality,TXModularPSUsarealso power-efficient,offering85percentenergy efficiencyorhigherat50percentload. WithaCorsairCarbideSeries300Rcaseand 550WTXModularpowersupplyattheheartof yourbuild,youllhavethefoundationsforatruly awesomegamingmachine.
PHOBYA MODDING KIT
Value 50incVAT Manufacturer www.phobya.com,www.aqua-tuning.co.uk pre-braidedextensioncablegivesyouextra routeingoptionsinyourcase,anditalsoenables youtorunuptofourfansfromonecompatible motherboardheader.Meanwhile,the PhobyaSATA3cablesincludedinthekit offerthesamegreatqualitybraidingas therestofthePhobyarange,whilealso securingyourconnectionwith latchedconnectors.Aswellas this,thekitincludesthePhobya SlimGuideController,whichgives youtheoptiontovarythespeed ofotherfansinyourcase,while thePhobyaTwinLEDsletyou shinealightonyourmods.
ThePhobyamoddingkitisdesignedwiththemodderinmind,offering greatvalueformoneyandqualityproducts.ThekitincludesNano-G 12SilentWaterproof1,500rpmmulti-optionfans,whichuse aninnovativefan-bladedesign.As standard,thefansincludebraided blackcablestokeepyourcaselooking asneataspossible.Thefansarealso suppliedwithaspecialcablethat letsyourunthefanat5Vratherthan 12V,reducingthenoiseemitted inordertohelpyoutobuilda silentsystem. Thekitalsoincludesthe 60cmPhobya3-pinMolexto 4x3-pinMolexY-cable.This
WorldMags.net
January 2013
113
WorldMags.net
makeYourown our own USB thumBDrive

Bored with your USB thumbdrives functional appearance? Antony Leather shows you how to make your own
hiletheycanbeimmensely useful,USBthumbdrives oftenlookbland.Thisis especiallytrueofthegeneric, bargain-basementtypes,whichareoften housedinunadventurousplasticboxes. Thankfully,therearewaystoaddsome pizzazz,orevencreateyourowncustomcase. Youcancreateamouldandusecastingresin tocreatepracticallyanyshapeofUSBflash driveyouwant,andthenadddyesorglitterto makereallyitstandout. Alternatively,youcanalsogothewholehog andusearandomobjectsuchasaLEGObrick orMicroMachineasthehousingforyour creation.Asthisis CustomPC,wedecidedto dustoffanoldLGA775Core2processorand putittouseasaUSBflashdrive.Nowthat even32GBUSBflashdriveswillsetyouback lessthan15,thereslittlereasonnottogive thisatry.
Make a cast-mould thumbdrive
PICK THE RIGHT FL ASH DRIVE
If youre keen on obtaining a glowing effect through transparent acrylic then its very important to choose a USB flash drive that has a powerful access LED. Some dont have an access LED at all, while others have a point light, rather than a bright LED. Shop around until you find one that suits your needs.
There are plenty of options when it comes to creating your custom USB thumbdrive. You can use clear or opaque casting resin, and also use dyes to give the otherwise clear finish a coloured tint. You can also add glitter, pieces of metal or other objects to jazz up your design a little more.
DECIDE ON COLOURS AND DESIGN
Clear plastic casting resin (250g for casting one USB flash drive) www.ebay.co.uk Plasticine or wax and polystyrene foam Mostartsupplystores Epoxy resin (for making a CPU flash drive) Mosthardwarestores
REMOVE ENCLOSURE AND INSPECT PCB
Dismantling a USB flash drive is usually pretty easy, despite the fact that most are sealed units. Ours just needed a little persuasion with a small screwdriver, but be careful not to damage the PCB. Once youve removed it, plug it into a PC to make sure it still works.
There are several ways to create the shell. You can use sections of wood to create a cube-shaped mould, or Plasticine or wax with a polystyrene cast to create a mould instead. We used high-density polystyrene foam to create a 1:1 scale model of our shell. Use sandpaper and a Stanley knife to trim the foam to shape.
PL AN YOUR CASTING MOULD
114
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
CREATE A MOULD
The foam enables you to create a mould using Plasticine, into which you can pour the casting resin. Its easy to work with Plasticine, so you can create many shapes and sizes of enclosures. Once youve moulded the Plasticine around the foam, start digging out the foam, taking care not to deform the mould.
INSERT USB THUMBDRIVE
The easiest way to suspend the USB thumbdrive is to simply insert it into the wall of the Plasticine. As its very small and light, the Plasticine should be strong enough to hold it in place while the resin sets. Its worth filling the USB connector with spare foam, as the Plasticine will dig into the connector as you insert it.
The casting resin usually doesnt start to set for at least 20 minutes after mixing, but you should still prepare your working area and mould, so that youre ready to pour the resin directly into your mould as soon as possible, just to be safe. Use a plastic tub to mix the resin, following the guidelines about the mix ratio.
MIX CASTING RESIN
We decided to add some glitter to the resin, which will reflect the LED light and add a little pizzazz. Quickly add this, or your chosen material, and then mix the resin. Its important to mix it thoroughly but not too vigorously, as this can introduce air bubbles, which will be trapped in the resin.
ADD GL ITTER TO CASTING RESIN
Once youve mixed the resin, give your mould a once-over, making sure the USB thumbdrive is still centred in it, and that the mould is resting on a flat surface. You can then pour the casting resin into the mould.
POUR CASTING RESIN
Dont be tempted to mix the resin around to fill the corners, as youll run the risk of the edges becoming frayed instead of straight gravity will do its work. Setting times will vary depending on the type of casting resin, but its usually best to wait 24 hours before removing the mould from your new USB thumbdrive.
ALLOW TO SET AND REMOVE MOULD
116
WorldMags.net
January 2013
115
WorldMags.net
Make a CPU thumbdrive
01
02
CHOOSE YOUR OBJECT
Rather than using casting resin, you can use an existing object to house your USB thumbdrive. LEGO bricks work well, as do Micro Machines, but we had an old Core 2 CPU lying around collecting dust, so we decided to put it to good use.
MEASURE THE PCB
Before you do anything, measure up the PCB and your chosen object to make sure everything will fit. There isnt a lot of room under the IHS of a CPU, so make sure there are no tall components on the PCB. You dont need a large, powerful LED either, as the hole of the PCB will be enclosed within the CPU.
03
04
Youll need to remove the IHS first, by running a scalpel around the edges of the CPU to cut away the adhesive. This is exactly the same as the method used in last issues Ivy Bridge modding guide. It will help to hold the CPU in a pair of pliers, using kitchen roll to prevent scratches.
REMOVE ADHESIVE
REMOVE THE IHS
Most CPU cores are held to the IHS using solder, and this can make it tricky to remove them from each other. If prying open the IHS with a small screwdriver doesnt work, its worth investing in a mini-blowtorch to heat the solder. These only cost a few pounds and will do the job in seconds.
05
06
Youll need to commit heresy and remove the CPU core, using either a Dremel with a cutting or grinding disc, or a screwdriver and knife to gradually cut away at it. You may also need to cut a recess in the CPU package, and youll need to cut out a small section of the IHS to allow the thumbdrive to pass through it too.
MAKE ROOM FOR THE THUMBDRIVE
Line up the thumbdrive on your CPU, apply a generous amount of epoxy to the PCB and replace the IHS. Its worth placing a heavy object on the CPU to ensure it sets tightly together. Epoxy will need an hour or so to set, but its best to leave it overnight before you try inserting it into a USB port just to be sure.
STICK IT TOGETHER
116
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
make a USB SSD case

hereareplentyofUSB32.5in externalenclosuresaround,but theyrarelylookparticularlyeyecatchingand,moreimportantly, theyneverallowyoutoseethesexypieceof kitinsidethechipsandPCBofthesolid statedriveitself. Inthisguide,weshowyouhowtocreate yourowncompletelytransparentexternal 2.5inenclosure,whichwillbestrongenough towithstandyearsofbumpsandknockstoo. AllyouneedisaDremel,mountingtape, someacrylicandacheap,third-party enclosuretomodify.WithdecentSSDs availableforjust50,thisisarelatively inexpensiveprojectthattakesjustacouple ofhourstocomplete,whilealsoprovidinga perfecthomeforanoldSSDifyouhaveone.
SSDs look great out of their shells. Antony Leather shows you how to create a clear 2.5in enclosure and turn it into a super-fast USB 3 drive
REMOVE OUTER CASE
Nearly all 2.5in SSDs are housed in a two-piece case that can be dismantled by removing a few screws. Dont worry about damaging your SSD by doing this there are no moving parts, and its easy to put back together again. Go ahead and remove the casing.
Youll need to remove the USB 3 to SATA adaptor thats located inside the donor enclosure, usually found at one end of the device. It may be secured using screws, which will make removing it easy. If not, youll probably have to prize the case apart using a small screwdriver.
DISMANTLE E XTERNAL ENCLOSURE
Dremel with cutting and routing attachments Mosthardwarestores 3M mounting tape Mosthardwarestores File or sandpaper Mosthardwarestores Epoxy Mosthardwarestores 2.5in external USB 3 enclosure Mostonlineretailers
FIT USB 3 TO SATA ADAPTOR MARK UP ACRYL IC
The adaptor has a USB 3 connector at one end, and SATA data and power connectors at the other. Connect the adaptor to your SSD and check that it works by connecting it to a PC. Sadly, few are illuminated, so you wont see an access LED flickering.
Now its time to start making the enclosure. We aimed to make it as small as possible, so we marked up the acrylic with cutting guides only a few millimetres larger than the SSD itself. Rather than opt for a bland box, we decided to create a curved edge by heating and bending a band of acrylic.
118
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
CUT AND BEND ACRYL IC
We used a gas hob to create our curved edge, as we were only dealing with a small section move it slowly above the flames but not so slowly that it burns. It will only require a few seconds of heating before it can be bent to shape. You can then cut out the rest of the acrylic we used a Dremel and cutting disc for this job.
ATTACH EDGE SECTION
Sand the sections to ensure theyre flat, using a file or low-grit sandpaper. If you want, you can also flame-polish the edges them by holding them in a gas hob for a few seconds. This melts the acrylic, creating a shiny edge. We then used a small amount of epoxy to glue the sections together.
We wanted to avoid using screws and, since we had no plans to remove our SSD from the enclosure, we attached 3M mounting tape to the SSDs underside to secure it to the acrylic. This is strong stuff, so double-check that you know where the SSD needs to be mounted first. You can then attach the lid section using epoxy.
MOUNT SSD AND L ID SECTION
CREATE END SECTION
Our USB 3 connector didnt slot all the way into the adaptor; this gave us room to fit an end section to our enclosure and cut a small hole for the cable. We used a Dremel to cut the section to size so that it fitted neatly over the rest of the enclosure.
CUT CABLE HOLE AND ATTACH END SECTION
We used a routing attachment for our Dremel to cut and shape the hole for the USB 3 connector into an oval. Using clear acrylic meant that lining up the hole with the connector on the SSD was simple. We then used a tiny amount of epoxy to glue the end section to the rest of the enclosure.
Leave the epoxy to set for a few hours before you put the enclosure under too much stress. You can then use a Stanley blade to trim away excess epoxy. If youre feeling adventurous, you could also spray-paint the enclosure and use edging tape to create some fancy designs, while still allowing you to see the SSD inside.
YOURE FINISHED
WorldMags.net
January 2013
119
for the win!
WorldMags.net
WIN! A 1,600W LEPA PSU

WORTH 249
hisisapieceofkitthatwefeelreally privilegedtobegivingaway.Youdontget muchmorepremiumthanthisfullymodular 1,600WpowersupplyfromnewbrandLEPA. Yes,thatsright1,600Wofpowerisonoffer. Infact,LEPAevensaystheG1600canhandle 1,700Watpeakload.Italsospreadsthe12V
loadoversixrails,eachofwhichisratedat 30Aidealforsystemswithfouroverclocked graphicscardsandtwooverclockedCPUs. Meanwhile,a135mmball-bearingfan keepstheunitcoolandquiet,andthehighdensityPCBensuresthattheG1600onlyhas adepthof180mm,meaningitwilleasilyfitinto
mostdecentATXcases.Notonlythat,but theG1600alsohas80PlusGoldcertification, withLEPAclaimingitcandeliveramaximum efficiencyof93percent.Formore information,visit www.lepatek.eu/g1600 TobeinwithachanceofwinningthisPSU, justanswerthequestionbelow.
Q
120 January 2013
Howmanywattswouldbegenerallyconsumedby afull30Acurrentona12Vrail? a) 48W b) 1,6000W c) 360W
with LEPA Competition 112 in the Subject line.

Closing date: 15 December, 2012
competition@custompc.co.uk
Email your answer to
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
ATHLETE
Enermax 2012. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of the respective proprietors. Reserve changes without prior announcement.
EXTREME
TRIATHLOR & TRIATHLOR FC THE NEW LONG RUNNERS

The latest games are a challenge for every PC, the hardware is running hot and the graphics cards and processors are exceeding their limit of performance. Therefore it is essential to trust in a strong and reliable PSU to power the system stably over long years even at extreme conditions. With the new Triathlor and Triathlor FC series, Enermax presents two endurance athletes who aim for the best score in all categories, well-toned with first-class components and two muscly 12V rails. Due to the silent running T.B.Silence fan, they are never breaking sweat. Triathlor and Triathlor FC stand for extreme sports on the highest level. From 300W up to 700W.
WWW.ENERMAX.CO.UK/TRIATHLOR-FC www.awd-it.co.uk www.scan.co.uk specialtech.co.uk www.yoyotech.co.uk WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
Letters
GLOBALLY OFFENSIVE
I read Joes Globally Offensive article, nodding along to myself about members of the FPS community spoiling games for other gamers through their disruptive actions. What we need is an innovative company, such as Valve as it so happens, to take an approach similar to safe browsing tools such as Web of Trust, but with a gaming slant. I foresee users approving of players with whom they enjoy playing, and disapproving of players that spoil their games. You would have to rank the approvals and disapprovals suitably. If a heavily disapproved-of player disapproves of you for some reason then it would have to count less than a highly approved-of player, as such players could vindictively abuse the system. The same could also hold true with approvals to discourage disapproved players from attempting to increase their general community approval rating by approving each other to increase their scoring. In addition, you should be able to revoke past approvals, and make them disapprovals, to punish community members who build up approval so they can disruptively abuse that status. Once thats in place, server admins could use such a system of approvals and disapprovals to bar disruptive players from their servers, further reinforcing the general consensus of the communitys feelings towards disruptive players. Its just a nugget of an idea that could possibly work, or maybe Im just a dreamer. Richard Paul Ben replies: You could be on to something here actually. As Cliff points out this month (see p92): If EA can track how much time
Send us your feedback and correspondence to editor@custompc.co.uk, with Letter in the Subject line
HTPC TIPS
I really enjoyed your article on HTPCs, and Ive been using one as my main source of viewing live and recorded TV, as well as Blu-ray discs, for several years. Old hardware can still cut it (except when it comes to gaming!). My system is an old AOpen XC-Cube with an Intel 965 chipset, a Core 2 Duo E6600 and 2GB of DDR2 RAM. The only recent upgrade was an AMD Radeon HD 6450 to keep Bluray playback smooth. May I also suggest readers look at the following: Ive carried a DA0-12 shotgun, it can store every word Ive typed in the chat log. It would be no effort to have a report button that triggered a moderator to check a chat log, and hand out infractions. Arcsoft TotalMedia Theatre for an excellent MCE Blu-ray plug-in. www.mymovies.dk offers TV and movie metadata integration, which is much better than Microsofts own. Visit www.shark007.net for a comprehensive codec set that enables MCE to play almost everything. For a great iPlayer plug-in, have a look at MCE-media-core. Its very smooth and quick to update.
HTPC AUDIO
I really enjoyed the HTPC article in the December issue. I was, however, surprised that the systems audio capabilities werent Oh, by the way, the twin HD Freeview mentioned. When playing a Blu-ray movie, a tuner from Black Gold costs around 100, stutter-free video stream is only half the story, as audio plays such a large part in the experience. The ability to output TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio is a big factor for many HTPC users such as myself who use audio over HDMI. Also 150W picoPSUs should be able to power these systems, reducing both the noise and space required. Keep up the good work on an awesome mag. StuartHathawayrecommendsvisitingwww.shark007.netfora Sam Clarke comprehensivecodecsetthatenablesMCEtoplayalmosteverything
122
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
not 165 as stated. I have one and, even though the picture is excellent, its let down by the UK still only having four Freeview HD channels! Stuart Hathaway Ben replies: I think I can outdo you on the retro HTPC specs! My system uses a Socket 478 Northwood Pentium 4, along with 2GB of RAM, a Radeon HD 3450, Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music and a dual-tuner Hauppauge TV card. Ill be upgrading it to an FM2 rig soon though the old setup is fine for audio playback and standard video, but it really struggles with HD video streaming. Thanks for your tips, and youre right about the Black Gold tuner card the one we were looking at was a quad-tuner card, rather than a dual-tuner card. The limit of four HD Freeview channels is a big issue here, though, I agree. Why pay 100 for a TV tuner card just so you can get four HD channels, when one that costs half the price will do everything else? This is especially true when you consider the cost of a Sky+ HD or equivalent Cable/Tivo subscription too.
FEEDBACK
Follow us on Twitter at @custompcmag

@Willybobs82 Justreading youropiniononHTPCsin issue111of@CustomPCMag,and feltinspiredtomakeone.Oh,an articleonhowtomakeone?Nice! @Airwane Doyouhavealink Do you have a link to an article that explain what toanarticlethatexplainwhat PCmoddingis? is simply short for modify Ben: Mod Modissimplyshortformodify forus,itbasicallymeansmodifying aPCcomponentforyourownneeds. @Tigernos Readingthenew@ CustomPCMagandlaughed thattheonlynegativegiventotheGTX 670isitcantquitedogamingon3 monitors.#IWantOne @Norro21 HTPCtouch-screen= pointless.TheTVisalreadya screen,andpeopleuseremotestheyrenevergonnauseit.Whatyou needissmartphone/tabletcontrol.
DO I NEED A NEW GPU?

As always, I enjoyed the latest edition of the magazine. I took a recent recommendation and have installed a Samsung SSD. Wow! The boot times are incredible, and concur with your positive thoughts about this upgrade. When you last did a graphics card Labs around a year ago, you included a table that showed an upgrade path for legacy cards. I took the advice and went for the GTX 460 Hawk, which impressed me, but is it now time to move on? If I went for the AMD HD 7850, would I notice a difference, and would my folding ppd increase? How about updating the table for CPUs as well? I see that my Core i5-2500 has slipped from the radar now. Is a Core i5-3570 a cost effective upgrade at the moment? Keep the moneyspending ideas coming! Malcolm Bunn Ben replies: Glad youve discovered the joys of a solid state system drive getting
Ben: Yousee,thisisexactlywhat peoplealwaystellme,yetIstillfind myHTPCtouch-screenimmensely useful.Ithinkitalldependsonhow youuseyourHTPC.Alargepartofmy HTPCspurposeisfunctioningasa losslessaudiojukeboxinmyhi-firack IdontwanttohavetheTVonwhile Implayingmusic;thatsareally clunkywaytointeractwithamusic deviceIwantaself-containedhi-fi PC.IfthatisnthowyouuseyourHTPC thenIagreeitmaybepointlessforyou, butnotatallforme.
an SSD is the best upgrade you can make right now in terms of general PC use. We were pushed for space when we did the last graphics card Labs (see Issue 111, p54), so we didnt include the upgrade table, but a
ARadeonHD7850willbemuch quicker thanaGeForceGTX460 whenitcomestogaming
Radeon HD 7850 will certainly give you a decent frame-rate boost over a GTX 460. The question to ask yourself when upgrading is what your PC needs to do faster. If your monitor has a standard 1,920 x 1,080 resolution then the Radeon HD 7850 will enable you to smoothly play Crysis 2 in DX11 with the high-res texture pack, and with all the settings maxed out your GTX 460 wont be able to handle this. However, AMD chips still arent great for folding. For you, Id instead recommend upgrading to a GeForce GTX 660 2GB the GK106 Kepler architecture on which its based is great for folding, and its fantastic in games too. And theres no need to upgrade your Core i5-2500 to a Core i5-3570 Sandy Bridge chips offer more than enough power for most people.
WorldMags.net
January 2013
123
WorldMags.net
Specification
Intel Pentium G840 2.8GHz CPU 8GB DDR3 RAM NVIDIA GeForce GT 640 Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D2V 500GB SATA-III Hard Disk Drive DVD+/- RW Writer Drive Built-in Wi-Fi Adapter
CCL Code - CCL-EL-OWL2
From Only 399.99 inc VAT
Prices correct at time of going to publishing (17th October 2012). st es Images are for illus t r a t i v e p u r p o s e s o n l y. M o n i t o r s a n d d e s k t o p b u n d l e s a r e a v a i l a b l e s ep e p a r a t e l y.
Call us on 08000 50 10 10
WorldMags.net
www.cclonline.com
WorldMags.net
Join our folding team and help medical research
WHAT IS FOLDING?
Folding@homeusesthespareprocessingcyclesfromyourPCsCPUandgraphicscardsformedicalresearch.Youcandownload theclientfrom http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html andourteamsIDis35947.Onceyoupassasignificantmilestone, youllgetyournameinthemag.Youcanalsodiscussfoldingwithusandotherreadersonthe www.bit-tech.net forums.
We catch up with folder of the month: JediMasterJonny

CPC: Whoareyouandwhatdoyoudo? JediMasterJonny: JediMasterJonny is Jonny OConnell (on the left in the photo) and Andrew Emms (right). Weve both recently graduated with computer science degrees from Cardiff University, and decided to stay on to research PhDs. CPC: Whydidyoustartfolding? JediMasterJonny: Were both massively into science, and love computers with the biggest possible numbers. Combining the two led us to Folding@home. CPC: Whatexcitesyoumostaboutfolding? JediMasterJonny: Being part of something thats potentially beneficial to practically everyone. Our PCs are idle much of the time, but the fact they could be researching diseases at the same time makes folding too good an opportunity to pass up. CPC: HowmanyPCsdoyouhavefolding? JediMasterJonny: Three. I have a temperamental, erratic beast with a Core i7-950 and three water-cooled GTX 580s. Meanwhile, Andrew has two solid PCs based on a Core 2 Duo and a Sandy Bridge Core i5 chip, which run 24/7 and pick up the slack when my PC (regularly) throws a tantrum. They used to live in our respective homes, but the heat made it difficult to be in the same room as them. Since then, theyve been moved to our air-conditioned research office. CPC: Whatsyourbestfoldingkit? JediMasterJonny: Easily the 580s. They produce loads of points compared to their CPU counterparts. Plus, as theyre under water, they can happily keep it up 24/7. CPC: Doyouintendtokeepupyourcurrent productionlevel? JediMasterJonny: As the computers are kept in a cool office with free electricity, we plan to keep folding for the duration of our PhDs, which is a few more years yet, or until my PC goes up in a dramatic ball of smoke. CPC: Anytipsforfellowteammembers? JediMasterJonny: If anything goes wrong, the answers can normally be found on the forum (http://tinyurl.com/FoldingForum). Also, use remote control software. Folding can be temperamental, and its frustrating when you leave your PC folding for a weekend, but find it stops on a Friday evening. CPC: Whatdoyourfriendsandfamilythink aboutyourfolding? JediMasterJonny: My friends think its a greatcause,butmyfamilydoesntreally understand,nomatterhowmanytimesI explainittothem. CPC: Whatsyourworstfoldingexperience? JediMasterJonny: Updating video drivers. Updates either cause BSODs, or my PPD to fluctuate; its a real gamble.
CPC: Andthebest? JediMasterJonny: It was good to move into the top ten producers chart. Its taken a lot of tweaking to get my rig stable at 24/7 folding load, and I can now see my effort paying off. CPC: Wouldyouchangeanythingaboutyour currentfoldingsetup? JediMasterJonny: I would love to see how the new Kepler cards perform, and their power efficiency really appeals to me. Teamrank 134 Worldrank 4,618 Score 7,462,091 Workunits 2,824 Dailypointsaverage 4,648 TOPFOLDERS Thismonthsshout-outsgotoScorpuk, Ben_LambandLambo_uk.Ifyoufoldunder thesenames,emaileditor@custompc.co.uk
126
WorldMags.net
January 2013
125
WorldMags.net
MILESTONES THIS MONTH
Username Points milestone Username Points milestone Username Points milestone Username Points milestone
Fr4ggle heavyattack a5pin blotty HundredMetal LifeLongGamer Pickles96 BeautifulNight HogarthUK PodgePapin Evilpaperclip KimE12 MortalWombat TacticalFluke {HSP}Dazzler Forquare Jay88018 Mustathomi Padsta TheManicGibbon aingram86 breadbin123 Anselm
20000 20000 40000 40000 40000 40000 40000 50000 50000 50000 60000 60000 60000 60000 70000 70000 70000 70000 70000 70000 80000 80000 90000
Halldor jgwozdzicki LboroSlider matthewedward cornish mattydinx MazyMony Mike_energise Rich_S JackDK Killaov NoizDaemon666 pipnina pipnina RJSzynal Bnorus Hitmeze Mr_Jonny_T stupottyuk bigg Chebob Ptarmigan seaford-college stevec83
100000 100000 100000 100000 100000 100000 100000 100000 200000 200000 200000 200000 200000 200000 300000 300000 300000 300000 400000 400000 400000 400000 400000
th3_F15T alastair_paley ittoms rjcman THE_EVIL_ RAPIER Exodeath Archaon88 sascomd weebob maxrealism only_happy toxic43 andy_owen Scammelio boiled_elephant Javaman Munky Osiris_Blue YbrFinX
400000 500000 500000 500000 500000 600000 700000 700000 700000 800000 800000 800000 900000 900000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000 1000000
GraciasD10 Sportodalamagia 2000000 JimWall paul_warden Desertbaker Lambo_uk 8Core HoistaWheelie SicoAnimal BGonz808 kirk_hobson Abomin81on dapperdave Dolphin(CPC) Keith_Chung TheFlipside cave_diver davidj2010 Serpentine tarka_dahl 2000000 2000000 3000000 3000000 4000000 5000000 5000000 6000000 6000000 7000000 7000000 8000000 8000000 8000000 9000000 9000000 9000000 9000000
THE NEXT OVERTAKE

World Team name rank Points Daily points average Time until overtake
6 7
MaximumPC Magazine CustomPC& bit-tech
6,116,280,623 5,666,863,580
4,254,277 4,664,017
3Years 0
126
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
TOP 20 OVERALL
Rank Username Points milestone
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
TOP 20 PRODUCERS
Work units
109,329 143,191 93,954 15,794 142,568 60,132 72,296 32,764 5,741 46,591 34,139 10,138 3,107 7,363 45,372 38,464 56,281 33,738 86,309 52,436
Username
Dave_Goodchild DocJonz phoenicis zz9pzza coolamasta Lizard StreetSam Christopher_N._Lewis Wallace CustomBitChimps Nelio fir3x BennieboyUK One_Box saspro The_M2B Lordsoth Standin_wave PS3/LanDi PC_Rich
Points
398,528,894 268,328,485 223,349,417 211,014,628 209,452,305 131,878,662 107,003,868 104,971,497 99,951,645 94,385,866 81,191,795 64,706,069 61,286,969 61,210,022 57,534,603 54,619,757 51,645,482 51,449,554 48,446,611 48,414,846
Rank
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Username
Nelio Scorpuk DocJonz Ben_Lamb coolamasta Slowlemon Lambo_uk Wallace Dave_Goodchild One_Box _Fanatic Lordsoth Shetland_Overclockers Christopher_N._ Lewis kirk_hobson PC_Rich debs3759 LordBadger fir3x The_M2B
Dailypointsaverage
491,473 347,264 325,039 291,144 199,338 164,966 158,069 151,612 120,377 119,677 105,340 103,103 102,426 93,576 90,934 88,659 87,689 83,601 82,610 71,594
Overallscore
81,191,795 19,238,065 268,328,485 12,235,014 209,452,305 10,908,531 3,273,095 99,951,645 398,528,894 61,210,022 16,420,292 51,645,482 17,367,585 104,971,497 6,974,687 48,414,846 10,525,289 36,695,977 64,706,069 54,619,757
Ben_Lamb dd debs3759 Slowlemon Leroyingo sonic_vortex Lordsoth One_Box Nelio Christopher_ N._Lewis
10000000 10000000 10000000 10000000 20000000 20000000 50000000 60000000 80000000 100000000
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Coming next month in

Budget cases Full steam ahead
Choosingabudgetcasecanbetricky, asitseasytoendupwithaflimsy chassiswithnospacetoroute cables.Nextmonthwetestawhole loadofthemtofindthebestbargain.
WefirstsawLianListrain-shaped mini-ITXcaseatComputexiteven hasatrackandmoves!Willthisget thecaseindustrybackontrackor makeitgoofftherails?Wefindout.
Water-cooledPCsneedalittleTLC nowandthen.AntonyLeathertakes youthroughtheprocessofflushing yourradsandfiltering,pluscleaning andleak-testingyourloop.
Flush your loop
Mince pie megatest
Theyvebeenintheshopsforseveral monthsalready,butwhichofthehigh streetsseasonalpastriesismost deservingofyourfestivepennies?We eataloadofpiessoyoudonthaveto.

*Pleasenotethatthesestoriesaresubjecttoproductdelays,kitnot turningup,andtimewastedarguingaboutStarWarsontheInternet.
On sale 13 December, 2012
WorldMags.net
January 2013
127
WorldMags.net
Whathappenstothe desktopbeyond640x480
Windows 95
W
iththefuroresurrounding MicrosoftsremovaloftheStart buttoninWindows8(seep36), youdthinkithadbeenastapleof everyWindowsOSsinceBillGatesfirstposed forthatdodgyphotosetonhisdesk.However, forthelesswrinklyPCenthusiastsamong you,whohavehadthegoodfortunetogrowup inagraphicallydrivenworld,theStartbutton andtaskbarwerenewfeaturesaddedto Windowsin1995themostsignificant desktopOSupgradeinthePCshistory. BeforeWindows95,Microsoftsflagship icon-drivenOSwasachaoticjumbleofideas thatrequiredveteranexperiencetonavigate.I sayicon-driven,butthefirsttwoversionswere reallyjustagraphicalfront-endforDOSyou foundyourprogramslistedintextform,and theiconsonlyappearedwhenyouminimised theapps.Infact,thefirsttwoversionsof Windowswerentreallyusedseriouslyby manypeople.Thetext-basedDOSwas preferredforthis,asithadnooverheads,and overheadswereaseriousbusinesswhenyou onlyhad512KBofRAMandnoharddrive. ThefirstbreakthroughversionofWindows thatstartedtobecomeusedwidelywas Windows3,andthen3.1,whichbroughtusa propericon-driveninterfaceandfeatureswe nowexpect,suchasscreensavers.Thiswas alsothepointatwhichmanypeoplestartedto
Now that Microsoft has removed the Start button from Windows 8, Ben Hardwidge recalls when it was rst introduced
useWindowsasthepreferredplatformfor launchingdesktopappssuchasword processorsandspreadsheets,whichhad previouslybeenfirmlyintheDOSdomain,with softwaresuchasWordPerfect,Supercalcand Lotus123beingfavouritesintheDOSera. Windows3.1wasstillapigthough.Trying togetittoconnecttotheInternetrequireda lotoffiddlingaroundwiththird-partyapps (mentionTrumpetWinsocktoaPColdhand andwatchthemshudder)and,importantlyfor
Iconsfailtorearrange afterresizingwindows
PLUG AND PLAY SOON EARNED ITSELF THE NICKNAME OF PLUG AND PRAY
enthusiasts,itwasalsorubbishforgames. ThiswasbeforewehadDirectX,soatthis point,Windowswasreallyjustforbusiness appsandSolitaire.Ifyouwantedtoruna game,youhadtoexittoDOS,andthenuse yourspeciallypreparedbootdisktoloadthe correctsoundcardandCD-ROMdrivers. CommonstaplesoftheWindowsinterface thatwenowtakeforgranted,suchasthe Computer(thenMyComputer)iconfor accessingyourdrives,theStartbutton,the clockandspeakervolumeiconinthecorner, thetaskbarandtheDocumentsfolder,were
allincludedwithWindows95.More importantly,manygamescouldbeplayed directlyfromtheOS.However,Windows95 hadaRecycleBinfullofissuestoo. Long-termreadersmayremembera featureIwrotein2005,inwhichItriedtolive withtechnologyfrom1995fortwoweeks, includingWindows95.ItturnedoutthatId forgottenalotWindows95squirks.Tryingto installdriversoftenrequiredaridiculous amountofpatienceWindows95introduced PlugandPlay,butthissoonearnedthe nicknameofPlugandPray,asitregularly failedtodetecthardwareproperly. Youalsosoonbecameusedtothenow infamousbluescreenofdeath,andyour machinelockingup.Littlequirks,suchas iconsnotrearrangingthemselveswhenyou resizedawindow,ornotstretchingthe desktopbackgroundbeyond640x480,make Windows95lookdistinctlyamateurintodays world.IfanewOSbehavedinthesameway now,itwouldbeslated.Itwasmucheasierto launchaflawedOSwhenpeoplewereusedto stuffnotworkingproperly. Flawsaside,thegeneralinterfacelaida foundationthatslastednearlytwodecades. Thefactthatsomanypeoplestrugglewith WindowswithoutaStartbuttonistestament tothewayinwhichWindows95revolutionised thewayweinteractwithourPCs.
128
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA OF PCs
james GorBolD
James Gorbold salivates over the prospect of even smaller PCs

forcebehindNUC,thenewformfactorwouldntbepossiblewithout anumberofotherindustrytrends. Forexample,NUCusesHDMIoutputsratherthantraditional analogueD-Suboutputs.Thismightnotsoundlikeabigdeal,butas HDMIisdigitalratherthananalogue,itmeansthattheGPUdoesnt needaDAC(digitaltoanalogue)converter,whichwouldberequiredby asystemwithaD-Suboutput. Inaddition,becausesomanylaptopshaveincludedminiPCI-E slotsoverthepastcoupleofyears,theresnowachoiceofhundreds ofcompatibleSSDs,aswellasWiFiand Bluetooth,toinstallinyourNUC. Dontworry,Imnotgoingtostartspouting preposteroussoundbites,suchasthePCis dead,longlivetheNUC;however,anew smallerthaneverformfactorclearlyhas enormouspotentialtoreinvigoratethe desktopmarket. Italsoopensthedoortolotsofnew opportunitiesinareassuchasindustrial computinganddigitalsignage,whichareboth ripeforhigh-performance,smallformfactorsystems. Assomebodywhosecareerstraddlesboththecommercialand enthusiastPCmarkets,Icanalsoseehowalotof CustomPC readers mightlikeanNUCtoo.Afterall,itopensuppossibilitiesforlotsofnew moddingprojects,suchashomeservers,andofcourse,canIfitaPC insidethat?casemods. JamesGorboldfellinlovewiththeoriginalIBMPCintheearly 1980sandhasbeenbuilding,tweakingandoverclockingPCsever since.Hehaswrittenanarticleinalmosteveryissueof Custom PC andnowhelpsScanComputerstodevelopnewsystems.
ackwhenIwasafull-timetechnologyjournalist,oneofthe aspectsofthejobImostenjoyedwastherecreationofthe Christmas-morningfeelingwhenmanufacturerssentusa newproducttoreview.Admittedly,Ididntusuallyfeelthesamelevel ofexcitementwhenacut-down,mid-rangeproductarrivedin the CustomPC labasIdidwhenanall-singing,all-dancingnextgenerationCPUorGPUarrived.However,thatsallchangednow, asitspreciselyacut-down,mid-rangeproductthatscaughtmy attentionthismonth. TheproductinquestionisIntelsNUC,also knownastheNextUnitofComputing.NUC actuallyreferstoaseriesofnewproducts thatadherestoanewformfactorthatmakes mini-ITXlookpositivelyoverweight. Forexample,whilemini-ITXboards measure170 x170mm,NUCboardsarea mere102 x102mm.NUCboardsalsohave amuchshorterI/Obackpanel,meaningthat NUCcasescanbealotsmallertoo. TheothermajordifferencebetweenNUC andmini-ITXisthat,ratherthansimplyreleasingthespecsto manufacturerstomaketheirowndesigns,Intelhasdesignedseveral completeNUCs.Inotherwords,anNUCisacompletePC. Whatsmore,unlikeearlierattemptstomakestandardsfortiny PCs,suchasnano-ITXandpico-ITX,whichwereoftenhamstrungby theirwoefullyunderpoweredVIAprocessors,NUCswillbeavailable withavarietyofIntelCPUssuchasCelerons,Corei3s,i5sandeven i7s.Thismeansthatyougetallthegoodnessofafullyfledgedx86 processorthatcanrunofficeapplications,playHDvideosandenable youtoplaybasicgamesonafranklytinycomputer. WhileIntelssuccessinloweringthepowerconsumption,and thereforetheheatoutputofitsCPUs,isundoubtedlythemaindriving
A new smaller than ever form factor clearly has enormous potential to reinvigorate the desktop market
130
January 2013
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net
WorldMags.net

Custom PC Magazine UK January 2013

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originalbeschreibung:

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Custom PC Magazine UK January 2013

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

SPECIAL REPORT: HOW QUANTUM COMPUTERS WORK

AMD MOTHERBOARDS HOW TO TURN AN OLD CPU INTO A USB THUMBDRIVE

WINDOWS 8: WHERES THE START BUTTON?

WorldMags.net Welcome to Issue 112

Publishing & Marketing

Dennis Publishing Limited

Thepaperusedwithinthismagazine isproducedfromsustainablefibre, manufacturedbymillswithavalid chainofcustody.

DONT TRY THIS AT HOME

Welcome to Issue 112

Whetheryouwanttobuildthe bestall-roundsystemonatight budget,orifyournextbuildsimplydoesnt needallthetop-endbellsandwhistles, weveroundedupsixofthebestbudget CPUstofindoutwhichdeservesaplacein yourPC,andputfournewSocketFM2 motherboardsthroughtheirpacestoo.

JoeMartindiscussesmoddingwith JasonBrice,whorecruitedsomeofthebest UnrealEngine3modderstomakeRekoil.

TheStartmenuhasgone,andanew tile-basedsystemhasturnedup.Isthereany pointinupgradingtoWindows8onadesktop?

Hardcoregamedeveloperscould learnathingortwofromsocialgames suchasFarmville,andsolveonlinegamers attitudeproblemwhiletheyreatit,argues CliffHarris.

GarethHalfacreeexplainshowan alternativeCPUinstructionsetcouldrender thesmartphonemarketARMless.

Someremadeclassicssurpassthe magicoftheoriginals,butnotallofthem.Joe MartinplaysthenewXCOMtoseehowitfares.

Howfarawayarewefromquantum computing,andhowonearthdoyoubuilda quantumcomputeranyway?RickLane investigates.

98 WorldMags.net 54 118 54 118 18 36 104

Reviewed this month

OPERATING SYSTEM 36 Windows 8

MOREMONEY,MORE 104 PROBLEMS

Budget CPU Labs test

FM2 motherboard Labs test

DontknowwhattodowiththePentium4 stashedinyourdrawer?AntonyLeather showsyouhowtoturnanoldchipintoa thumbdrive.

THE AMD WORRY

from the editor

POLITICS AND GAMES DONT MIX

Careless talk costs lives

Interviewee: JasonBrice, level designerand CEOofPlastic Piranha

We take a look at the latest newly announced products

NEW ROCCAT GAMING MICE

INTEL SSD HITS 20NM

DANGER DEN STOPS TRADING

NOVEMBER OFFERS WorldMags.net

TRUST THE UKs NO. 1

.co.uk .com .info

FULL DNS CONTROL

Included with all 1&1 Domains:

1&1 DOMAIN APP

Saxenasteamhastaughtarobottospot whenahumanhasleftoutthemilk,and tidyitawaywithoutspecificinstructions

isajournalistwitha degreeinastrophysics whoknowsallaboutthe latestscientifictech. @lucysherriff

2009,whenthecompanyannouncedthat GooglesAndroidplatformhadbeenportedto theMIPSinstructionsetarchitecture.Later thatyear,MIPSwouldannouncemembership oftheOpenHandsetAlliance,confirming,if therewasanydoubt,thatitwaslookingatthe

Adual-coreproAptivdesigncanfit1MBofL2cacheinto thesamespacethatanARMsCortex-A15needsforthe processorsalone

UNDER THE BONNET

thelikesofAtmelandNXPthelatter,funnily enough,usingARM-licenseddesigns.The designsarenowreadilyavailable,meaning thatitsuptothecompanyscustomersto makeproductsbasedonthechips.

MIPS vs INTEL vs ARM

isthenewsreporterat www.bit-tech.net.He knowsallabout the latestnewsinPCandmobiletech. @ghalfacree

PRICE (inc VAT) 37 56 93 47 25 55 42 14 119

TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE

QPAD MK-50 Pro Gaming Mechanical Keyboard

WERE AWARD WINNERS!

SOLID STATE DRIVE

PRICE (inc VAT) 104 79 173 37 28 150 55 69 24 80 14 119

TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE

Fractal Design Core 1000 PC Case

SOLID STATE DRIVE

TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE

Gigabyte GA-H61MA-D2V Motherboard

WERE AWARD WINNERS!

SOLID STATE DRIVE

TOTAL SYSTEM PRICE

128GB Crucial M4 2.5" Solid State Drive

TYPE NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE(incVAT)

TYPE NAME SUPPLIER MANUFACTURER REVIEWED PRICE(incVAT)