Tech News
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Hardware Asylum Podcast now on Stitcher
In a valiant attempt to get the Hardware Asylum Podcast out to as many enthusiast ears as possible I have been working to get the Podcast into syndication for easy consumption by the masses. Of course the first step was to get a feed started with iTunes but, the iTunes directory is a fickle thing full of promise and heartache.
The next step in syndication is discovery. Over the past 50 episodes the podcast has enjoyed its fair share of listeners and I would like there to be more for the next 50. With that, it is time to branch out and move up.
Stitcher is a relatively new service that is similar to iTunes and covers a larger spectrum of shows and podcasts. Unlike iTunes you can also discover shows naturally by browsing their online directory.
Browse Stitcher's library of more than 25,000+ podcasts and radio shows. We'll help you discover shows you'll love. And you can listen to Stitcher on your iPhone, iPad, or Android.
Of course the best part is that they have mobile apps available giving you an easy way to follow the Hardware Asylum Podcast and know exactly when a new show goes live.
Check out the Hardware Asylum Podcast on Stitcher and let me know what you think!
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4Ghz Uncore on Gigabyte X99 Champion
For those of you unfamilar with Haswell and Haswell-E there are three basic frequencies you need to deal with when attempting to overclock.
- Core Frequency = which is Multiplier x Base Clock (BCLK)
- Base Clock = This is the speed of everything and defaults to 100Mhz (eg the PCI Express frequency)
- Uncore = This is the speed of the memory controller or you can call it the Northbridge frequency.
Question is, why are these important? Let's start with Base Clock as this is the speed of everything. Basically changing the BCLK will increase core frequency, memory frequency, Unicore and even PCI Express. Depending on motherboard quality you can sometimes get a decent overclock from this or it can spell disaster.
For instance 30 x 105 = 3150Mhz (core) and 2133Mhz x 105 = 2239Mhz (mem). Not bad for 5 extra mhz.
If you are running a non K edition processor adjusting the BLCK is your ONLY overclocking option. However, K and X edition processors offer a multiplier adjustment which opens up a whole new world and is how you reach 4.5Ghz on air.
I have been messing around with the latest Gigabyte X99 SOC Champion motherboard and decided to do some memory overclocking to test out the new "OC" socket and was able to run my Core i7 5960X at 4Ghz Uncore by doing nothing more than locking some frequencies and adding some voltage.
Now before you say "that aint no big deal" on most X99 motherboards they come with a traditional LGA 2011v3 socket that doesn't allow voltage adjustments for Unicore. Without voltage your memory overclocking options rather limited and often stop with setting XMP and rebooting. With the X99 Champion you can enable the extra CPU pins and get some rather substantial gains in memory overclocking, like this simple 4Ghz run I have posted here.
Right now the system is running 4.5Ghz core with the memory clock set to 2200Mhz at 100Mhz BLCK. I manually increased Uncore to 4Ghz and did some quick stability tests. The Sandra results are shown above at 50GB/s and I got over 600fps in the Call of Duty benchmark.
I'm sure 4Ghz isn't the limit and with any luck I can match Uncore with CPU Core or at least get somewhere close. Unfortunately, I have noticed that I cannot enable XMP with this method or run my memory modules anywhere near their rated speed. This could be an issue of temperature or a sub voltage I have yet to discover so I'll have to keep testing.
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Noctua launches NH-L9x65 low-profile CPU cooler and NF-A6x25 PWM fan
Vienna, March 11th 2015 - Continuing its recent focus on premium grade cooling components for compact systems such as ITX based gaming or Home Theater PCs, Noctua today released its new NH-L9x65 low-profile cooler and a 4-pin PWM version of its popular NF-A6x25 60mm fan. While the latter adds PWM support for automatic speed control to the proven NF-A6x25 design, the NH-L9x65 is a taller, performance-enhanced version of Noctua's award-winning NH-L9 low-profile coolers.
"Our NH-L9 coolers have become a default choice for customers seeking premium grade quiet coolers in the sub-40mm class, but with a height of only 37mm, their performance is inevitably limited", explains Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO), "The new NH-L9x65 provides the increased performance necessary to cool high end CPUs quietly while still offering excellent case and component compatibility."
Due to its compact heatsink and the renowned 14mm thin NF-A9x14 PWM fan, the NH-L9x65 stands only 65mm tall (the same height as low-profile expansion cards), which makes it ideal for use in compact HTPCs or Small Form Factor cases that offer limited clearance for CPU coolers. With 65 instead of 37mm height and four instead of two heatpipes, the NH-L9x65 is more powerful than its smaller siblings yet retains their 95x95mm footprint, which guarantees 100% RAM and PCIe compatibility on Intel based ITX mainboards and makes the cooler more convenient to work with as it doesn't overhang near-socket connectors.
Topped off with the professional SecuFirm2™ multi-socket mounting system for Intel and AMD, Noctua's renowned NT-H1 thermal compound and 6 years manufacturer's warranty, the NH-L9x65 fuses everything users have come to expect from Noctua's larger coolers into a compact premium package for space restricted systems.
"With the trend towards highly compact, ITX based builds, 60mm fans are in demand again", says Mag. Roland Mossig (Noctua CEO), "Since more and more ITX mainboards offer PWM speed control on the case fan header or even multiple PWM headers, we're now providing a 4-pin PWM version of our popular, award-winning NF-A6x25 model."
The new PWM version of the NF-A6x25 sports Noctua's custom designed NE-FD1 IC for fully automatic speed control via 4-pin fan headers and comes with a Low-Noise-Adaptor to reduce the maximum speed during PWM control from 3000 to 2300rpm. Its superb running smoothness, SSO2 bearing and Noctua's trusted premium quality make it an elite 60mm choice for the highest demands.
Prices and availability
The new models are currently shipping and will be available shortly. The manufacturer suggested retail prices are as follows:
NH-L9x65: EUR 44.90 / USD 52.90
NF-A6x25 PWM: EUR 14.90 / USD 17.90
About Noctua
Designed in Austria, Noctua's premium cooling components are internationally renowned for their superb quietness, exceptional performance and thoroughgoing quality. Having received more than 3000 awards and recommendations from leading hardware websites and magazines, Noctua's fans and heatsinks are chosen by more than a hundred thousand satisfied customers around the globe. -
GIGABYTE Launches New X99 Champion Series Motherboards
Of course a day after I launch the Hardware Asylum Podcast about the Big XTU Challenge where I rag on the X99 SOC Force EOL I get this..
City of Industry, California, March 6th, 2015 – GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards is proud to announce today the addition of 4 new high performance motherboards to their comprehensive Intel® X99 chipsets offering with the X99 Champion series. The new motherboards consist of the X99-Gaming 5P, X99-UD4P, X99-UD3P and the already famous X99-SOC Champion.
“Since its launch in January, the GIGABYTE X99-SOC Champion motherboard has become the undisputed performance leader for X99 motherboards with over 30 top overclocking scores under its belt including 10 World Records, commented Henry Kao, Vice President of GIGABYTE Motherboard Business Unit. “With the launch of our latest X99 Champion series of motherboards, we wanted to extend the same levels of performance leadership including support for the world’s fastest DDR4 memory to our X99 G1™ Gaming and Ultra Durable series motherboards.”
DDR4 memory modules are available at a stock frequency of 2133MHz, but memory vendors encode XMP profiles which can automatically modify the frequency and timings of the supported memory modules to work in par with your CPU. With the X99 Champion Series, GIGABYTE is offering a tested and proven platform that ensures proper compatibility with profiles up to 3200MHz, and exclusively 3400Mhz for the X99-SOC Champion.
Paired with DDR4 memory such as the Corsair® Limited Edition Orange Dominator® Platinum kit, which was custom designed for the GIGABYTE X99-SOC Champion motherboard, users can take advantage of better responsiveness during gaming and faster operation execution in memory demanding works applications.
GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards also provide support for RDIMM memory which allows users to use greater density memory sticks up to 16GB per stick. This paired with a range of exciting features such as the GIGABYTE’s Amp-Up Audio, Killer™ E2200 or Intel® gigabit Ethernet controller and unique GIGABYTE Ultra Durable™ features means that users can truly build a PC that brings them exceptional performance and durability.
Genuine All Digital Power Design
GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards use an all-digital CPU power design from International Rectifier® which includes both digital 4th Generation digital PWM Controller and industry-leading 3rd Generation PowIRstage™ controllers. These 100% digital controllers offer incredible precision in delivering power to the motherboard’s most power-hungry and energy-sensitive components, allowing enthusiasts to get the absolute maximum performance from their next generation Intel® Core™ processors.
IR Digital PWN and IR PowIRstage® ICs
This new generation of IR® digital power controllers and PowIRstage® ICs feature Isense technology, which provides more precise current sensing accuracy. This helps evenly distribute the thermal loading between the PowerIRstage® ICs, preventing the overheating of each individual PowIRstage®, resulting in longer lifespan and better reliability.
Server Level Chokes
GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards features Server Level Chokes.- Server level reliability
- High current capacity
- New design reduces heat created by power loss and provides efficient power delivery to CPU VRM area.
Long Lifespan Durable Black™ Solid Caps
GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards integrate the absolute best quality solid state capacitors that are rated to perform at the maximum efficiency for extended periods, even in extreme performance configurations. This provides peace of mind for end users who want to push their system hard, yet demand absolute stability.
6x (30?) Gold Plating
GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards come equipped with a 30 micron thick gold plating, 4 PCIe slots and over the DIMM slots, which means that enthusiasts can enjoy better connectivity, absolute reliability and longevity for the diverse connectors overtime, without having any concerns about corroded pins and bad contacts.
Creative® Sound Core3D™ Quad-Core Audio Processor Plus Creative SBX Pro Studio Audio Suite
Exclusive to the gaming motherboard of the X99 Champion series, the X99-Gaming 5P features the world’s first Quad-Core Creative Sound Core3D Audio Processor plus Advanced Creative SBX PRO STUDIO Audio Suite. SBX Pro Studio™ suite of audio playback technologies delivers a new level of audio immersion. Realistic surround sound, the ability to clearly hear specific sounds in a gaming environment are just a few elements of SBX Pro Studio that enhances the overall experience, be it movies, games or music.
Realtek ALC 1150 115dB SNR HD Audio with Built-In Reat Audio Amplifier
Featured across the other Champion motherboards is the Realtek ALC1150, a high-performance multi-channel High Definition Audio Codec that delivers an exceptional audio listening experience with up to 115dB SNR, ensuring users get the best possible audio quality from their PC.
The ALC1150 provides ten DAC channels that simultaneously support 7.1-channel sound playback, plus 2 channels of independent stereo sound output (multiple streaming) through the front panel stereo outputs. Two stereo ADCs are integrated and can support a microphone array with Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC), Beam Forming (BF), and Noise Suppression (NS) technologies. The ALC1150 incorporates Realtek proprietary converter technology to achieve Front differential output 115dB Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR) playback (DAC) quality and 104dB SNR recording (ADC) quality.
Killer Networking
The GIGABYTE X99-Gaming 5P motherboard features the Killer™ E2200, a high-performance, adaptive gigabit Ethernet controller that offers better online gaming and online media performance compared to standard solutions. The Killer™ E2200 features Advanced Stream Detect technology, which identifies and prioritizes all network traffic to ensure important applications that require high-speed connectivity are prioritized over less important traffic.
Intel® GbE LAN with cFos Internet Accelerator Software
Additional GIGABYTE X99 Champion series motherboards feature cFos Speed, a network traffic management application which helps to improve network latency, maintaining low ping times to deliver better responsiveness in a crowded LAN environment. cFos Speed works in a similar way to an OS driver, monitoring network traffic packets at the application layer, allowing optimization and improved network performance for specific applications.GIGABYTE X99 Series Motherboard Models*
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Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog Review @ ocInside
I'm posting this because. reasons.
Some older gamer might still remember it ... one of the most famous joystick in the world was the Atari CX-40 - an orange button with a black handle. Nearly 30 years later, the technology has made great progress so that we can proudly present the latest generation of joysticks today - the Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog. In fact, it is a set of two devices. As the name implies, HOTAS means Hands On Throttle And Stick. So take your seat, bring your seat in an upright position, fasten your seat belt, stop drinking and smoking. We are now taking off !
Last time I played a game without a mouse and keyboard was back in the Mechwarrior 2 days and when I was done with that title all of the gear went into a box never to be seen again. Not sure I would be in the market for a "Thrustmaster" but, I can't speak for everyone.
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ZOTAC ZBOX EN760 Plus Review @ Vortez
Zbox might be the future, still doesn't have the raw horsepower of a desktop but can rival any portable computer out there.
EN760 Plus is a mini-PC which features a dual-core Intel processor, 8GB DDR3 and NVIDIA’s GTX 860M. Along with these components there are also many features which gamers and enthusiasts are likely to find useful. On paper EN760 Plus appears to be quite a capable machine, but will it be able to handle everything we throw at it?
I have seen demos of these machines playing high-end triple A titles but never bothered to check the specs. Seems like an important thing to do, maybe next time.
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Gigabyte X99 SOC Champion Reviews
Most enthusiasts would agree that X99 motherboard rumors have been rather flat since CES except for the new X99 SOC motherboard from Gigabyte called the Champion. or.. Gigabyte X99 SOC Champion if you like the long proper name. This motherboard is designed to replace the X99 SOC Force and goes back to the Gigabyte OC roots by giving you plenty of overclocking controls without the hardware bloat.
As I heard from Gigabyte the Champion is designed with memory overclocking in mind and should push X99 performance higher than ever. Assuming the system is properly overclocked and cooled with LN2. Not many review sites bother with LN2 anymore but, they aren't afraid to put the hardware thru their testing suite to give you an "accurate" assessment.
Web Reviews
- GIGABYTE X99 SOC Champion LGA 2011-v3 Review @ [H]
- GIGABYTE X99-SOC Champion Review @ Hardware CanucksI'm still waiting for my sample and when it arrives I plan to look at what changed between the Force and Champion editions and maybe, just maybe, do some LN2 testing and see just how good my 5960X really is.
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The Podcast of the Month @ Podcast Land
One of the side benefits to having a podcast listed on iTunes is that other sites tend to use that directory to create an index of active Podcasts. Podcast Land is one such site and they take things a step further and implemented a cleaver voting system (read: popularity contest) two determine a podcast of the month.
I was trolling /r/Podcast and noticed they feature the Podcast Land podcast of the month at the top of the subreddit for the entire month.
Here is a crazy idea. For those of you who like the Hardware Asylum Podcast, how about throwing down a vote to make it the podcast of the month over at Podcast Land.
Just enter an email address and press vote.
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EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC - Now Equipped with 4GB of GDDR5 Memory
March 3rd, 2015 – The EVGA GeForce GTX 960 delivers incredible performance, power efficiency, and gaming technologies that only NVIDIA Maxwell technology can offer. This is the perfect upgrade, offering 60% faster performance and twice the power efficiency of previous-generation cards*. Plus, it features VXGI for realistic lighting, support for smooth, tear-free NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, and Dynamic Super Resolution for 4K-quality gaming on 1080P displays. These new versions come outfitted with 4GB of high speed GDDR5 memory giving you higher texture qualities and better 4K performance!
The new EVGA ACX 2.0+ cooler brings new features to the award winning EVGA ACX 2.0 cooling technology. A Memory MOSFET Cooling Plate (MMCP) reduces MOSFET temperatures up to 11°C, and optimized Straight Heat Pipes (SHP) reduce GPU temperature by 5°C. ACX 2.0+ coolers also feature optimized Swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, delivering more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU.
New Features:
- 4GB of High Performance GDDR5 Memory – Improved 4K gaming performance and higher texture qualities!
- dBi (dB Noise Inverter) – EVGA’s ACX 2.0+ fan turns off below 60C, generating 0dB of noise.
- MMCP (Memory MOSFET Cooling Plate) – Full size cooling plate makes direct contact with memory and MOSFETS, reducing memory up to 9°C and MOSFET up to 11°C.
- QSD (Quick Switch Dual BIOS) – Multiple integrated BIOSes allow you to switch to the secondary with the flick of a switch.
- OPT (Optimized Power Target) – The power target is precisely tuned for the perfect balance of thermal, power and performance, offering 33% more power over reference.
- SHP (Straight Heat Pipes) – Triple 8mm straight heat pipes offer 6% better heat dissipation than bent heat pipes with reduced thermal resistance.
Learn more about the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 4GB lineup here: http://www.evga.com/9604GB
See the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC video overview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65mjPjodnnk
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10 Years of Techgage.com
I prolly shouldn't promote other hardware review sites this way but Rob Williams is a good friend of mine and I'm happy to see that he, and his website, is still alive and kicking after 10 long years.
To help celebrate the occasion it seems the familar yellow/orange site color has been replaced with a nice blended shate of blue and they may have some hardware promotions in the near future.
Rob, hats off buddy! May there be 10 more!
