Change Your Keyboard According To Your Mood

ROCCAT Isku FX Gaming Keyboard.

                                     Though there are lot of backlit gaming keyboards in the market, most of them are restricted to one colour. But this ROCCAT Isku FX keyboard can change its color to almost any color you want. There 16.8 million colour options and 6 levels of brightness to select from and you can programme the colour according to match the gaming action. 

                                      There is a Easy-Shift[+] key duplication system that allows for a total of 36 macro keys, which includes three thumbster keys which enables you to use them for custom game commands. The keyboard also has a 1000Hz polling rate with a 1ms response time. There is also a large wrist rest to keep your hands comfortably when you are gaming. This keyboard would get released during this week and the price of this would be 100 US Dollars.

Read More

Faster and Slimmer

Apple's New iMac Goes On Sale

                                              Apple's new iMacs are available for purchase in US and UK Apple online stores. Both the 21.5" and 27" versions are available and both versions will be shipped on December. The new iMac had done some changes to its design and now it is slimmer and has more performance than its predecessors. It comes with 3rd Gen i5 and i7 processors and the LED-backlit wide screen display promises a 75 percent less reflection and it also come with the IPS technology. New iMacs are also packed with better graphic cards that range from Nvidia GT 640M to Nvidia GTX 680MX s.

                                             They have also given the option of selecting a 3TB hard drive for your iMac (only up-to 1.5 TB was given previously.) or you could have a faster 768GB flash memory , which is exclusive for 27" version. They are also introducing FusionDrive technology, which is very similar to the Smart Response Technology (SSD caching) that we see on PCs. It also has 2 Thunderbolt ports and 4 USB 3.0 ports. New iMacs come with Apple OS X Mountain Lion and the link on the title will direct you to the Apple US store.

Read More

Smaller the Better

AMD Unveils, LiveBox, their Mini PC

                                          Computers have come a long way since they were first introduced. From large main frames to small net books that we use today computers have developed in a way that we can't even imagine sometimes. AMD, which normally manufactures processors and VGAs have gone out of their scope and unveiled their latest creation which is a Mini PC. Normally what you get in your mind when mentioned a Mini PC is a small version of normal tower desktops. But this thing is not small. It is tiny. Actually you could carry it in your hand. It is plugged directly into the socket and it also has 3G capabilities. 

                                           

                                          This is still a prototype model but yet it gives a lot of promise. The processor of LiveBox is a 1GHz AMD dual-core C-60 one and it is also equipped with a 1GB ram and a AMD Radeon HD 6200 graphics that provides 1080p viewing capabilities. The hard drive of this is 64GB SSD drive and it also have 2 USB 2.0 ports, 1 HDMI slot, 1 Ethernet port and a SD card slot. There is also a Sim slot for broadband connectivity and a bluetooth adapter is also included. Also LiveBox comes with Windows 8. The release date of this has yet to be announced, but it would get released in the near future.

Read More

Gaming Under a Budget

Building a gaming PC for under 1200 Dollars.

                                      Recently one of my friends asked whether I know a place to buy a good gaming PC for under 150000 Rupees (Approximately 1200 US Dollars.). I searched everywhere and I couldn't find a place to get a decent one. There are so called gaming PCs here in Sri Lanka that are in this price range which carry GT545 VGAs and 4GB rams. Seriously,  who puts a GT545 in to a gaming PC (It also costs around 1000 US Dollars here.)? Then it hit me. I used to go to the web site of I Buy Power (A company which makes custom gaming PCs) those days and try out different settings just to amuse my self. Sadly they only deliver these custom build rigs to USA and Canada. But yet I wanted to find out what I could build for a budget of 1200 US Dollars.  Finally I wound up building this.

                                                Lets see the specifications of this beauty. The casing is a CoolMaster Storm Enforcer one and the casing is Laser Engravable. It has a Gigabyte B75M-D3H motherboard and the processor is a quad-core 3.4Ghz Intel 3rd gen Core i5 3570 one with 6MB Level 3 cache. The cooling system is a Liquid Cooling one with a standard 120mm fan. I also selected the overclock option which boosts up the speed by 20% for just 20 Dollars. You might be wondering why I choose an i5 processor instead  of an i7 one. Firstly i7 one costs 100 Dollars more. Secondly it doesn't have any affect to your gaming performance. Because what i7 processor does is, it makes a virtual core for every physical core (Hyper Threading), which is not supported by games. So if you are solely buying a PC for gaming giving that extra bucks for an i7 processor is useless. But if you are using softwares like photoshop then an i7 processor would benefit you.If you are thinking of a higher FPS rate the overclocked i5 would do better than i7 one in that category too. 

                                                       I choose a 16GB (4GBx4) DDR3 ram option with a clock speed of 1866Mhz, which is faster than the 1333Mhz ones we see here. When it came to selecting a video card I had to be careful because I was under a budget. So I went with an AMD Radeon HD 7870 single card with a 2GB graphics memory. The other option I had was the Nvidia GTX 660. But Radeon 7870 outperforms the Nvidia one in a reasonable margin in benchmark tests. It is also better than the GTX 660Ti in most areas and 660Ti costs about 100 dollars more than 7870. So the Radeon 7870 seems like the best option for the budget. When it comes to the power option I had to pick a Power Supply over 550 Watts as Radeon 7870 craves for it. So I choose a 850 Watt AZZA Dynamo power supply for all the power needs of my PC. 

                                                             Then it came to the memory option. I so badly wanted to install a SSD but my budget didn't allow me to do so. So I took the next best option. I choose a SSD cache drive which caches your most used applications as they were installed in a primary SSD. So that means even though your data is in a normal magnetic hard drive the SSD caches the data you use frequently and make them work faster as if they are stored in a SSD drive. We are able to do this thanks to the Intel's Smart Response Technology. So I choose a 60GB Kingston V+200 as my SSD cache and a 2TB 7200rpm ,6 Gb/s, single hard drive as my primary storage. I choose a Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE sound card as I am kind of an audiophile. I also selected an Intel Pro 10/100/1000 Network Card and an Asus 300Mb wireless USB adapter for connectivities. I used a 24x LG DVD R/RW as my optical drive and a 12-in-1 card reader to plug in the memory cards. I also choose an iBuyPower gaming keyboard and a mouse as it was the only option I could choose without exceeding the budget. But if you want some real gaming gear go for Razer or Logitech. There are also giving Nexuiz and Sleeping Dogs for free because I choose the Radeon HD 7870 and also a 16GB USB 3.0 flash drive for the systems over 1000 Dollars. 

                                            The price of the whole setup was 1199 Dollars(about 150000 Rupees). It is not the best gaming rig out there. But it is a pretty decent setup (Which would enable you to play Battlefield 3 in the Ultra mode without any lagging) ,specially under a budget . If you are searching for a gaming desktop for a budget this would be an option that you could consider.

                                                 

                     

Read More

Sony embraces Windows 8

Sony's new Windows 8 powered computers.

                                           All are excited about the new Windows 8 operating system and all hardware manufacturers are also revamping their line-ups to get them ready for the new platform. Sony has also revamped two new models that embrace new Windows 8 platform and both these computers take the advantage of new touch optimized platform of it. The first model they unveiled is all new Sony Tap 20. The other model is Sony Duo 11 Ultrabook. The new Sony Tap 20 is an All-in-One PC but at the first glance it looks like a giant tab. The all new Sony Duo 11 is also looks more like a cross between a tab and an ultrabook. So as we could see Sony is emphasizing more on the mobility factor of theses devices to make them ultra portable. Lets check the specifications of these two models.

Sony Tap 20 Specifications.

Sony Tap 20

• Processor: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3317U (1.7 Ghz, with Turbo Boost up to 2.6Ghz)
• Ram: 4GB DDR3
• Graphics: Intel HD 4000 integrated
• Storage: 750GB, no SSD cache.
• Optical Drives: None
• Display: 1600x900 pixels 20" IPS LCD touchscreen with Bravia Engine.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet.
• Connectors: 2 USB 3.0 ports, SD Card Reader.

Sadly Tap 20 doesn't have a VGA connector or a HDMI port to connect it to external displays.

Sony Duo 11 Ultrabook Specifictions

Sony Duo 11

• Processor: Intel 3rd Generation Core i5-3317U (1.7 Ghz, with Turbo Boost up to 2.6Ghz)
• Ram: 6GB DDR3 for standard version, can upgrade.
• Graphics: Intel HD 4000 integrated
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Optical Drives: None
• Display: 1920x1080 pixels 11.6" IPS LCD with Bravia Engine.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Intel's Wi-Di capability.
• Connectors: HDMI port, VGA port, 2 USB 3.0 ports, SD Card Reader.

                          World is waiting for the big release of Windows 8 on the October 26th and as the signs indicate the computing would never be the same afterwards. 

                                          

Read More

Beauty with a Beast inside

The All New Qosmio X875

                     When you think of a gaming laptop, you normally think of a ruggedly built bulky machine. But do you want a gaming laptop with a classy look that make others jealous. Then here is an option for you. Toshiba brings the all new Qosmio X875 to give you a gaming experience with a class. Qusoimo range has always being the performance range of the Toshiba laptop line-up. The selected model for the article is Qosmio X875-Q7291 and lets check the specifications of this beauty.

                      The selected version comes with an Intel 3rd generation Core-i7 -3610M processor that has a clock speed of 2.30Ghz. It comes with a 16GB DDR3 ram that has a clock speed of 1600Mhz. The GPU is one of the most important things when it comes to gaming. This version comes with a 3GB GTX 670M GPU. So with this combination it is safe to say that this laptop is capable of running any game ,that has come yet, in medium to high quality without a lag. The Q7291 version also comes with a 1.75TB hard disk that is the combination of a 750GB (7200rpm, Hybrid 4GB SATA) and a 1TB (5400rpm, SATA) one.

                          The display of this is a 17.3 inch 3D one that is capable of viewing 1080p resoloutions. It also features harmon/kardon quad speakers for a higher listening pleasure. It also has a Blu-ray player, a 3D stereo Webcam, a backlit keyboard, an Intel wireless network adapter, 6 USB ports (3 USB 3.0 and 3 USB 2.0) and all these features are powered by a 8 cell battery. The selected version comes with 64bit Windows  7 HP. The laptop weighs a bit more than the day to day use ones. But at 3.4 kg it is not the heaviest one when it comes to gaming laptops. So in conclusion we could say that this a good option for a gamer who wants some style and class. You could click the title to go directly to the Toshiba site to check about other versions.

Read More

The First Gaming Laptop Revised!

The New Razer Blade

                    Razer is famous among gamers for quality gaming gear that they make. They also made the "World's First Gaming Laptop", as they say, Razer Blade about a year ago. You might be wondering then what should we call all those Alienware and Asus ROG laptops. Though they are made for gaming, you can hardly call them a 'Laptop'. You can't carry a Asus ROG laptop or a Alienware one where ever you go because of their size and weight. But this Razer Blade laptop had all the specifications that you need to have a good gaming time and the size and weight of a normal day to day laptop. It has been about a year since they introduced there first Razer Blade laptop and now they have revised it and made a up to date version that suits today.
                        The selected version of Razer Blade has a Intel Core i7 quad core processor that has a clock speed of 2.2 Ghz.The chipset of this beast is an Intel HM77 Express one. It also has a 8GB Dual Channel DDR3 ram (1600Mhz). The GPU of this laptop is a 2GB GDDR5 NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660M one. The storgae consists of a 500GB hybrid hard drive with 64GB mSATA SSD drive(Cache Acceleration). It comes packed with Windows 7 Home Premium 64 Bit edition. The new Razer Blade also comes with the cool Razer SwitchBlade interface that you saw on the previous version which acts as a touchpad and a touch-screen that enables a lot of interaction. As you could see the new Razer Blade is packed with some serious specifications. But what makes it the "First Gaming Laptop"? This 17-inch beast weighs only 6.6 pounds and is under 0.8-inch thick. So it is safe to say at the moment this the most portable gaming laptop you could buy for your money in the world.
Click the title to go directly to the Razer website.

Read More

Join the Republic Of Gamers.

Asus Launches ROG TYTAN CG8890 Gaming Desktop PC

                      Republic of Gamers has been somewhat of an icon in the Gaming World because of the raw powered gaming laptops and desktops they create. This time Asus launched its new ROG gaming desktop and when you look at the specifications, you could see that it is a true beast. the first thing you notice is the liquid cooling system of it. Asus has also included a one click overclocking feature to the liquid cooled Core i7 processor of this beast. This is of course a behemoth in power and also in size with dimensions of 11.8 x 20.8 x 24.8 inches (We could see why it's called TYTAN). It is powered by a 6 Core Ivy Bridge Core i7-3960X processor on an intel X79 chipset. The one-click turbo over clocking allows you to dynamically overclock this ROG TYTAN up to 4.2 Ghz without restarting. The ROG logo on the case and bottom grill lights indicate the three different system readiness states blue for 3.8 GHz (Startup mode), and red for both 4 GHz (Turbo Gear mode) and 4.2 GHz (Turbo Gear extreme mode) clock speeds.
                       When you turn the machine into the Turbo Gear mode the case of this ROG transforms (Yes you read it right. It transforms!)by automatically opening up its top and side panels to reveal its cooling fans that exhaust hot air and redirect cool air into the system. The CG8890 has a Rampage IV Formula motherboard which has four PCIe 3.0/2.0 x16*2 and two PCIe 2.0 x1 expansion slots, four 3 Gb/s SATA and four 6 Gb/s connections and this comes with a choice of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (with 2 GB of dedicated DDR 5 video memory) or 690 (with 4 GB VRAM and supporting up to four screens) GPU options.
                     The CG8890 is capable of having up to 15TB HDD and 256GB SSD storage. It also has dual channel DDR3 memory that is given upto 16GB. The in-built sound card is a Realtek ALC892 one but there is the option of selecting a ASUS Xonar DX sound card. Optical drive options include a SuperMulti DVD burner and a Blu-ray writer (with space for a second drive if required). A 16-in-1 media card reader, two USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0 ports have been included on the front and to the rear there are two 6 Gb/s eSATA ports, four USB 3.0 and six USB 2.0 ports, an optical S/PDIF out and a 8-channel audio I/O, a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, a Clear CMOS button and a ROG Connect On/Off switch. All of these features are powered by a 900W power supply. The ROG Tytan CG8890 comes with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition pre-installed. It also comes with a USB ROG keyboard and a ROG 4000dpi gaming mouse. The pricing of this gaming powerhouse is yet to be revealed.

Read More

Looks like somebody's getting a treat! Again.

Borderlands 2 get released.

                            The first game of Borderlands became famous for its cel-shaded graphics which gave a cartoonish 3D atmosphere which was really cool. It also had many missions and a random item generator as in Diablo which could generate over 17,000,000 weapons which assured you hours of fun game-play. The sequel to this 2009 game, Borderlands 2 got released in United States yesterday. The game was developed by gearbox and published by 2K games. The game is powered by the heavily modified famed Unreal Engine 3. In Borderlands two you are capable of developing your character as in a role playing game. So gearbox refers this game as a role-playing shooter. Have to wait for sometime before it hits here but lets hope it is worth the wait.

Read More

Optimus Prime of the Ultrabooks.

Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A

                Asus is always known for giving products that have an edge over the simillar products of different brands. Ultrabooks were first introduced by the intel. But before that there was MacBook Air. Event though the intel ultrabooks were good they couldn't match with the Apple supremacy. It is Asus who made the real rivals for Apple. Asus Zenbook UX21 is the first ultrabook to perform head to head with MacBook Air. But now there are new players in the field. Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A is one of the star players in the ultrabook arena these days. It has a brushed aluminium finish which makes it one of the best looking ultrabooks.
                Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A is powered by an intel 3rd generation Core i7-3517U processor that has a clock speed of 1.9 Ghz. The processor also features the latest intel HD 4000 graphics. UX31A is also equipped with a 4GB ram and there is a 256GB SSD(Solid State Drive) that is also a prime feature in this Asus Zen Prime UX31A. It also has 2 USB 3.0 ports, a SD and MMC card reader, a micro HDMI port and a mini VGA port. Asus has also included a Bang & Olufsen speaker to give better a louder and better listening experience. The display is a 13.3 inch 1080p HD one which of course you don't expect in an ultrabook. At 1.2 kg the ultrabook is impressively light. But the price is not light as this is a high-end device. You can check out for the latest prices of Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A on major online stores.

Read More

Software of the week

Fraps

                Ever wanted to show off your friends the kill streak you had in COD or Battlefield. Or how awesome you are at MMORPGs. Or have you ever wondered how people put up such videos in to YouTube. Here is the answer. The software is called 'Fraps'. It enables you to capture videos realtime. It is also a benchmark software which shows you the frame rate per second when you are playing a game. Also it can capture screenshots with a press of a key. And the best part is it's totally free.

              You have to do a simple thing to capture your favorite game. Just start Fraps as the administrator and then start your game and press the Hotkey when ever you want to record. To stop recording press the key again. And click the title to go directly to the Fraps download page. There is also a full version with more options, but you have to purchase it.

Read More

Are you a gamer?

Alienware M17x R4

              Okay I admit that this is not something new. This was actually released about 5 months ago but I thought of writing about it as it is one of my dream laptops. I know that you might be thinking why buy a gaming laptop when you can make a better gaming rig that has better performances for a much less cost. But my fellow friends at university know how a good gaming laptop would make the difference between a kill or a death.
                Alienware is renowned among gamers as a Ferrari is renowned among Car Lovers. The company, owned by Dell Inc., is famous building quality gaming Laptops as well as Desktops.Alienware M17x R4 is one of their high end gaming laptops and lets what it offers to its staggering price of US$ 2499.00. It has large 17 inch 1080p HD 3D display which looks brilliant. Alienware is offering 3 variants of Intel's 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processors which are 3610QM, 3720QM and 3820QM ,all quad-core chips from the high end lineup, and the selected model comes with a 3610QM processor. The system comes with a 8 GB 1600Mhz DDR3 ram and you can upgrade it up to 32 GB. It also has a 2GB nVidia GTX 680M VGA, which all you game enthusiasts must know that is a killer. The hard drive is a 1TB (2x500GB at 7200rpm) one but Alienware offers more options including Solid State Drives(SSD) according to your preference.
                       It also bundled up with Windows 7 64Bit Home Premium edition, a Slot-Loading dual layer DVD burner(DVD+-RW,CD-RW). The other features include a Intel® Centrino® Wireless-N 2230 With Bluetooth 4.0,a Creative Sound Blaster Recon3Di with THX TruStudio Pro Software,an Alienware M17X R4 with Soft Touch,an Alienware M17x 240W A/C Adapter,an English Keyboard, an Alienware Documentation,Additional Software,a 90WHr 9-Cell Primary Battery and the Standard Nameplate. The laptop weigh 11.6lbs which is of course too heavy for a laptop. But the performance that comes with it sure would worth carrying that extra pounds.

Read More

Rival for Siri?

Intel brings Siri-like voice commands to Ultrabooks

             New Intel ultrabooks will come with a voice recognition software that enables direct interaction with the ultrabook through voice commands. To see the whole story click the title.

Read More