Personal computing discussed

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by sschaem
Thu Mar 12, 2015 1:36 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: Asus Zenbook UX305 and the new Macbook
Replies: 115
Views: 26449

Re: Asus Zenbook UX305 and the new Macbook

I'm in the market and here is my take: - The zenbook x305 uses a 800mhz core-M, the lowest end macbook model is 1.1ghz Thats almost a 50% performance difference. And if you look at any laptop, sometime even a 10% performance upgrade adds hundreds to the price. - The macbook is smaller and lighter by...
by sschaem
Wed Mar 11, 2015 6:47 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Über-high PPI w/o texture filtering - Damage says I'm crazy
Replies: 23
Views: 3564

Re: Über-high PPI w/o texture filtering - Damage says I'm cr

Think of this. You have a 2x2 texture : black:white white:black And you stretch it over your 19000x12000 super high res screen. With point sampling you will the screen divided into 4 square. With bi linear , even on a 1366x768, you will see a smooth gradient. So if the game is using smooth texture f...
by sschaem
Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:06 pm
Forum: The Back Porch
Topic: Apple Watch - HOW Much? :-O
Replies: 24
Views: 3177

Re: Apple Watch - HOW Much? :-O

Clearly, die hard Samsung user are not going to rush to buy this product. But Apple sold over 700 million iphone. So even if 1 in 10 buy the $350 watch in their lifetime, thats 24 billion in direct revenue. (Its also a very strong marketing tool for the brand / ecosystem) And a $10,000 watch is noth...
by sschaem
Tue Mar 03, 2015 1:44 am
Forum: Graphics
Topic: mantle "open api" and sdk shelved - gone proprietary
Replies: 31
Views: 3706

Re: mantle "open api" and sdk shelved - gone proprietary

Mantle seem to have been a success even so it never became a public API. Going forward we have Dx12 and Opengl next covering pretty well the PC industry, so Mantle can be kept as an internal API for AMD HW development. Microsoft ignored us, OpenGL consortium had no spine... so all I can say is *** T...
by sschaem
Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:14 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: The GTX 960 Ti worth it?
Replies: 10
Views: 6806

Re: The GTX 960 Ti worth it?

'typo' Civilization Beyond earth. From what I see the GTX 960 get ~54FPS at 1080p (GTX 760 42fps), so I cant imagine at 1600p it would would even break 35fps ? For a $200 fixed budget its a great option. I chimed in because for a brand new 1440p/1600p gaming PC build, I think spending an extra $50 o...
by sschaem
Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:29 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: The GTX 960 Ti worth it?
Replies: 10
Views: 6806

Re: The GTX 960 Ti worth it?

The GTX 960 is adequate for 1080p gaming, forget 1600p. (unless you go for much lower visual game setting) Even the GTX 970 'struggle' to reach 60fps in many games at 1440p, so a potential 960 ti will be lack luster at 1600p. But for $200 you dont have much choice. Note: I assume the game are title ...
by sschaem
Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:09 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: ETA for GPU and 1440p Variable Sync for $500?
Replies: 20
Views: 2474

Re: ETA for GPU and 1440p Variable Sync for $500?

The 390 would be overkill for 1440p and way over your $500 budget

but a 290 would will for ~$200 leaving $300 for a freesync monitor. tight if you are looking for a quality display >24", but not impossible ?
by sschaem
Tue Feb 17, 2015 7:42 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: R9 290X | Low Utilization / Performance
Replies: 31
Views: 6183

Re: R9 290X | Low Utilization / Performance

I always been against multi GPU solution for gaming... More problems then its worth. (but dual GPU should be A.OK for VR, when it comes) Having said that, you should not have issue in single GPU. what model 290x do you have? And do you see the problem when you run benchmark like inigine? Like score ...
by sschaem
Sun Feb 15, 2015 12:57 am
Forum: General Software
Topic: A treatise on Steam, and what Steam has become
Replies: 41
Views: 6004

Re: A treatise on Steam, and what Steam has become

I think steam is costly for what you get, but the part that irk me is that its a completely locked and proprietary platform. The DRM is strong and I'm sure some developer are ready to pay a third of their income for it, but Steam is past its days. The game industry need join forces to implement a un...
by sschaem
Fri Feb 13, 2015 5:47 pm
Forum: SFF Station
Topic: Build Advice for console-killer HTPC
Replies: 43
Views: 20533

Re: Build Advice for console-killer HTPC

Check TR review. The r9-285 is a better option then the GTX 960 at the moment.

Better idle power, usually faster, and about $40 cheaper. (~$170 nowdays on newegg)
by sschaem
Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:06 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Building a NEW gaming rig
Replies: 7
Views: 2990

Re: Building a NEW gaming rig

If you are going to spend over a grand, spend the extra $30 and get an i7-4790k I would also go for 8GB, and a few years from now, if needed add another 8 GB. Also it seem like a big investment for a low to mid range gaming PC . 1080p, driven by a 2GB GTX 960. At CES last month samsung said their li...
by sschaem
Sat Feb 07, 2015 3:53 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks
Replies: 88
Views: 14886

Re: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks

Indeed this card will consume more than the current nvidia cards so if you value power savings, the card is not for you. Crisis averted Keep in mind that power savings also means less heat as well. It also means you don't need a beefy PSU to power a video card. Some numbers for reference (Anandtech...
by sschaem
Fri Feb 06, 2015 3:55 am
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks
Replies: 88
Views: 14886

Re: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks

US average to 12 cents, Germany one of the highest in the 'developed' worlds is 36 cents. (note: the leak show the 380x to be almost equal to the GTX 980 in term of power efficiency) But lets compare a 290x to a GTX 980, just ballpark numbers to get a sense of the cost involved. Anand show a 60w dif...
by sschaem
Thu Feb 05, 2015 11:50 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks
Replies: 88
Views: 14886

Re: Sketchy AMD 390X/380X Benchmarks

From the rumors so far its both. Massive (4096 'cores') and water cooled (leaked picture look very much like the 295x cooling solution).

My guess is that this card is will be in $600 range...
by sschaem
Thu Feb 05, 2015 2:47 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: AMD 380x revealed?
Replies: 5
Views: 1913

AMD 380x revealed?

I see post here and there about a leaked benchmark that show the 380x to be 63% faster then the r9-290x (for the same power usage) They say the 295x is still AMD top card, but 63% faster then the r9-290x would make the 380x about 40% faster then the GTX 980 in all games, (and even more at 4K) Also f...
by sschaem
Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:42 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: R9 290X | Low Utilization / Performance
Replies: 31
Views: 6183

Re: R9 290X | Low Utilization / Performance

Check the clock rate on GPU #2 The slower of the 3 card will drive the other 2. Could it be that you fan control changed ? As a test you can try to do it up the max fan speed of the middle card, like set it to 90% If this help, you might be able to esely add a fan that help blow cool air on your 290...
by sschaem
Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:29 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: Nvidia GTX 970 VRAM Limitation
Replies: 77
Views: 22212

Re: Nvidia GTX 970 VRAM Limitation

Hopefully we are past the 4GB confusion by now. To recap: The OP didn't highlight any issue with addressing 4G. but the fact that the GX970 is suffering performance issues >3.2GB, while the 980 doesnt. I dont think any game truly leverage >3GB today (its mostly texture cache) , so even if nvidia, in...
by sschaem
Thu Dec 04, 2014 2:09 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: GPU Upgrade
Replies: 27
Views: 4034

Re: GPU Upgrade

Heat/Noise is a non-issue as long as you have a well-vented case Depends where you live and what season it is. That heat isn't disappearing. It's dissipating into your room. If I close the door to my office in the summer time and run games it gets toasty, and that's with only a GTX 660. Even with t...
by sschaem
Wed Dec 03, 2014 4:15 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: GPU Upgrade
Replies: 27
Views: 4034

Re: GPU Upgrade

The 290 makes the 290x look costly... In general the 290x is 10% faster for $100 more One example of modern gaming: http://www.guru3d.com/articles_pages/call_of_duty_advanced_warfare_vga_graphics_performance_benchmark_review,7.html side note: Notice how 'bad' the GTX 970 perform, even so its a $330 ...
by sschaem
Tue Dec 02, 2014 5:05 am
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: GPU Upgrade
Replies: 27
Views: 4034

Re: GPU Upgrade

The gtx 970 is 50$ more then the 290x and can be significantly slower.

So I don't see how the 970 makes any sense ATM.
by sschaem
Mon Dec 01, 2014 3:45 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: GPU Upgrade
Replies: 27
Views: 4034

Re: GPU Upgrade

Remember : the 290x is $299 and the GTX 980 is $549. I have a 290x and the power/heat is a non issue. Also look at recent games, the GTX 980 struggle to have a lead on the 290x. So you pay an extra $250, for maybe a 10% speedup in some games... Also the 290x will work for sure with all freesync moni...
by sschaem
Thu Nov 27, 2014 4:05 pm
Forum: Hot Deals
Topic: Radeon R9 295 X2 for £479.99...
Replies: 2
Views: 2111

Re: Radeon R9 295 X2 for £479.99...

this is THE best GPU for occulus rift. As scaling woud be 100% perfect and work with every game.

To bad the rift is not out yet...

That to say, people with dual GPU in any form will finally get perfect scaling / benefit from their investment.
by sschaem
Tue Nov 25, 2014 3:32 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Super low budget... Older i5\Xeon Quad or newer Pentium?
Replies: 14
Views: 3895

Re: Super low budget... Older i5\Xeon Quad or newer Pentium?

Stay away from the Pentium G3258, first they dont all overclock to 4.8ghz. And even if you can push them to that , they stop being power efficient as the voltage goes through the roof. Also if this is a gaming box, check recent benchmark. This CPU perform pretty bad, and is not supported anymore in ...
by sschaem
Sun Nov 23, 2014 8:47 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: A TR review on CPU power from p4's/FX chip till todays
Replies: 6
Views: 1998

Re: A TR review on CPU power from p4's/FX chip till todays

How much was the i7-2600k in late 2010? $349 How much is a i7-4690k in late 2014? $349 Both 4 core, 8 threads... And I paid about $230 for my 4 core 4 thread CPU in 2007. A graph would show very clearly that performance per dollars have decelerated dramatically in the past 10 years. Now what would a...
by sschaem
Sat Nov 22, 2014 1:31 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Rumor: Qualcomm considering AMD Buyout?
Replies: 44
Views: 7099

Re: Rumor: Qualcomm considering AMD Buyout?

Lol, oh boy here we go again. For years it was "Hey rumour has it that IBM was considering an AMD buyout" then news comes out about IBM getting rid of their fabs and Qualcomm becomes the new "Hey guiz, I heard they might buy AMD" company. The longer they go without making a prof...
by sschaem
Fri Nov 21, 2014 9:35 pm
Forum: System Builders Anonymous
Topic: Super cheap build
Replies: 39
Views: 5823

Re: Super cheap build

My personal experience: stay away from any pentium for gaming. Its not worth it and you will regret it quickly.

But yea, if its just for a WoW box, yea, go for it.

And if you are truly on a budget, try EBAY...
by sschaem
Fri Nov 21, 2014 6:09 pm
Forum: General Hardware
Topic: Rumor: Qualcomm considering AMD Buyout?
Replies: 44
Views: 7099

Re: Rumor: Qualcomm considering AMD Buyout?

The LAST thing qualcomm would want to do is enter the x86 market. Also AMD x86 business is at an end in the server sector. AMD flagship server are still remnant from the 32nm buldozer CPU from 2011.... The really only place where AMD makes money on x86 products is on consoles now. So qualcomm would ...
by sschaem
Wed Nov 19, 2014 11:33 pm
Forum: Mobile Tech
Topic: So grabbed a new Samsung Note 4
Replies: 8
Views: 2768

Re: So grabbed a new Samsung Note 4

Did you buy it unlocked at $836 , so $1800 with tax for both ?

Or if it was with a contract? then how much total over 2 years ?
by sschaem
Wed Nov 19, 2014 7:18 pm
Forum: Processors
Topic: Normal CPU temperature
Replies: 18
Views: 12797

Re: Normal CPU temperature

In general you want to have the smallest gap possible between idle and load temperature. For example if cooling system try to chill the chip at idle, and you have high temp under load, this is bad. Large gap in idle/load is what can kill your chip prematurely. As a side reference TSMC silicon is rat...
by sschaem
Tue Nov 18, 2014 11:07 pm
Forum: Graphics
Topic: nVidia's latest ploy
Replies: 52
Views: 6101

Re: nVidia's latest ploy

im still not sold on how good mantle is i was praising it before it was released thinking it would increase performance drastically but since it has been released it has shown almost no benefits except of the lowest of the low end cpu's and most gamers usually have a decent cpu so it hasnt really d...
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