General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


AMD Reveals Specs on Five Upcoming Radeon R7 and R9 Series Graphics Cards

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:01 PM PDT

AMD Radeon R9 270XMeet the next generation of Radeon graphics cards

AMD has some big plans for its Radeon graphics cards, details of which have been trickling out over the past couple of weeks. As a primer, we highly recommend checking out our Live Blog coverage of AMD's GPU14 Tech Day 2013 along with Maximum PC Online Editor Jimmy Thang's photo gallery from his visit to Hawaii where the event was held (work can be so grueling sometimes!). Unfortunately those pesky NDAs prevent us from sharing details of AMD's R9 290X and 290 video cards, but in the meantime, we have full specs on no less than five other Radeon R9 and R7 Series parts. Let's get to it!

R9 270X, $199

In the R9 Series, there are two cards underneath the R9 290X and 290. These include the R9 270X and 280X. The R9 270X is being billed as the new $199 GPU king and is primarily intended for gamers rocking a 1080p monitor. At 1920x1080, this card should be able to handle high quality settings for any game out there. According to AMD, it's 49 percent faster than an Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 card in Battlefield 3 (at 1080p), 45 percent faster in Hitman Absolution, and 26 percent faster in Tomb Raider. Here are the specs:

  • Steam Processors: 1,280
  • Engine Clock: Up to 1.05GHz
  • Compute Performance: 2.69 TFLOPS
  • Memory Configuration: 2GB or 4GB GDDR5 / 256-bit
  • Memory Speed: 5.6Gbps
  • Power Connectors: 2 x 6-pin
  • Typical Board Power: 180W
  • PCI-E Standard: PCI-E 3.0
  • API Support: DirectX 11.2; OpenGL 4.3; Mantle

R9 280X, $299

For those who have $299 to spend on a graphics card, there's the R9 280X, which is built for gaming at 2560x1440. Using AMD's own benchmarking numbers once again, this part is supposed to be 20 percent faster than a GeForce GTX 760 in Battlefield 3 at 2560x1440 with 4xMSAA and Ultra settings, 39 percent faster in Tomb Raider at 2560x1440 with TressFX enabled, and 25 percent faster than Bioshock: Infinite at 2560x1440 with Ultra settings. Here are the specs:

  • Steam Processors: 2,048
  • Engine Clock: Up to 1GHz
  • Compute Performance: 4.1 TFLOPS
  • Memory Configuration: 3GB GDDR5 / 384-bit
  • Memory Speed: 6Gbps
  • Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin
  • Typical Board Power: 250W
  • PCI-E Standard: PCI-E 3.0
  • API Support: DirectX 11.2; OpenGL 4.3; Mantle

AMD Radeon R9 280X Benchmarks

R7 260X, $139

Moving down the totem pole, the Radeon R7 Series is represented by the R7 260X, R7 250, and R7 240 cards. All of these fall into the affordable category with the most expensive of the bunch being the R7 260X at $139 MSRP. Generally speaking, you can expect slightly better performance compared to the Radeon HD 5870, a part that debuted at $379 not all that long ago. Here's what you get with the R7 260X:

  • Steam Processors: 896
  • Engine Clock: Up to 1.1GHz
  • Compute Performance: 1.97 TFLOPS
  • Memory Configuration: 2GB GDDR5 / 128-bit
  • Memory Speed: 6.5Gbps
  • Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin
  • Typical Board Power: 115W
  • PCI-E Standard: PCI-E 3.0
  • API Support: DirectX 11.2; OpenGL 4.3; Mantle

R7 250

The remaining two cards fall into the sub-$100 category, with the R7 250 debuting at just $89. AMD is billing this card as "Graphics Core Next for everyone" with an "unbeatable value." Performance is roughly on par with (and slightly better than) a Radeon HD 5770. Here are the specs:

  • Steam Processors: 384
  • Engine Clock: Up to 1.05GHz
  • Compute Performance: 806 GFLOPS
  • Memory Configuration: 1GB GDDR5 or 2GB GDDR5 / 128-bit
  • Memory Speed: 4.6Gbps
  • Power Connectors: None required
  • Typical Board Power: 65W
  • PCI-E Standard: PCI-E 3.0
  • API Support: DirectX 11.2; OpenGL 4.3; Mantle

R7 240

Finally, we have the R7 240, an entry-level card with a low profile and single-slot cooling solution. AMD didn't provide pricing information on the part, though it did list out the system specs:

  • Steam Processors: 320
  • Engine Clock: Up to 780MHz
  • Compute Performance: 499 GFLOPS
  • Memory Configuration: 1GB GDDR5 or 2GB GDDR5 / 128-bit
  • Memory Speed: 4.6Gbps
  • Power Connectors: None required
  • Typical Board Power: 30W
  • PCI-E Standard: PCI-E 3.0
  • API Support: DirectX 11.2; OpenGL 4.3; Mantle

TrueAudio

The last thing to point out is that TrueAudio technology will be featured on the R7 260X card, making it one of the first discrete GPUs in the world with a programmable audio pipeline. It's intended to transform game audio in the same manner that programmable shaders transformed graphics, AMD says. What this entails is a dedicated audio DSP solution for game effects.

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How to Build A Quiet-but-Powerful Gaming PC

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 04:46 PM PDT

We love Pure PC Power, and hate noise, so we set out to satisfy both primal desires with a hand-built and almost totally silent gaming PC

Powerful computer components often run hot, which requires loud fans or expensive liquid to cool them, bringing us to a central conundrum of the PC Power lifestyle—we want a big, powerful PC, but we want it to make as little noise as possible. Not only do noisy computers make it more difficult to relax, but there's a principle at work here—you should be the master of the space where you put your PC; you must bend it to your will, not the other way around.

This month, we decided to do just that and build a supremely powerful rig, then smother its noise output as best as we could. We haven't built a PC like this in a while, so the project gave us the chance to check out some new gear specifically designed for quiet computing, including a fanless CPU cooler from Zalman, a case fan from a company that usually only operates in Europe, and a closed-loop liquid cooler built for video cards. We stuffed it all into a "new to us" case from Fractal Design, and then tried to overclock the PC because, well, that's what we do here.

Starting out, we figured the thing that would probably make the biggest difference in our build (besides the components, of course) would be sound-absorbing panels. This would allow us to have some fans inside the system, as building a fanless PC with any amount of horsepower is simply impossible. Therefore, we went with Fractal Design's Define R4—a mid-tower known for its sonic excellence and balance of price and features.

We also liked the idea of a fanless CPU cooler, as Zalman had recently released its FX100 cooler, and it would mean a major element of our machine would be totally silent even when running at full speed. The only problem is it would also pretty much guarantee that we wouldn't be able to overclock due to heat buildup, which is always a problem with fanless coolers. Zalman also sent us a 92mm fan that could be dropped into the center column of the heat sink if we ran into cooling issues. Zalman labels the fan as "optional" for those running socket 2011 or 1133, but we would add "overclockers" to that list, as well. A company named Be Quiet had just sent us two 14cm Silent Wings 2 case fans, one of which we slapped in the front of our case for some additional airflow.

In the GPU department, we happened to have an Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 with a closed-loop water cooler from Arctic Cooling that includes a 120mm radiator and fan, so we used that since it's just what the rig-doctor ordered. Rounding out our components was a quiet PSU from Cooler Master, a solid-state drive from OCZ, a 1TB Caviar Black hard drive from WD, and a couple of sticks of RAM from Corsair.

INGREDIENTS
PART Price
Case Fractal Design Define R4

$110

Case Fan Be Quiet Silent Wings 2 14cm $20
PSU Cooler Master 800W Silent Pro Gold $150
Mobo Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H $135
CPU Intel Core i7-3770K $325
CPU Cooler Zalman FX100 $70 (street)
GPU Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 $450
GPU Cooler Arctic Cooling Accelero Hybrid $110
RAM Corsair Vengeance 2x 4GB $55
SSD OCZ Vertex 4 128GB $125
Hard Drive WD Caviar Black 1TB $90
OS Windows 7 64-bit OEM $100
Total   $1,740
Click the next page to see how we built the silent gaming PC!


1. Hybrid Theory

We didn't want to sacrifice video card performance to achieve low noise, so we got creative. Not long ago, we installed an Arctic Cooling Accelero Hybrid closed-loop liquid cooler on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 680 (these don't run as toasty as comparable AMD cards like the Radeon HD 7970, making our job a little easier). The Hybrid is basically like a Corsair H100, but designed for GPUs. Since we awarded it a 9 verdict and Kick Ass award for running so cool and quiet, it made sense to tuck this puppy into our build. The Fractal Design case we chose had an unoccupied 120mm fan grill on the bottom of the case, next to the power supply, perfect for our Hybrid's radiator and fan (image A). It's difficult to hear noise coming through the bottom of a case, so we used that to our advantage. 

2. European Styling!

We were looking forward to working with the Fractal Design Define R4 case for more than just its built-in sound-dampening panels. It's also about an inch wider than normal, so there's more room behind the motherboard tray for cable management. (The extra width also leaves room to add a 140mm radiator to the rear exhaust fan, but we don't need that feature this time.) In addition, the drive cages have preinstalled rubber feet designed to absorb the vibration of a mechanical drive's moving parts (image B). We also decided to remove the upper drive cage, which was secured with a couple of thumbscrews, to increase airflow in the middle of the chassis where our GPU is located. Besides, we didn't need the second drive cage since we were fine just using the three bays in the lower cage. The power supply mount also has rubber feet, and a gasket in the rear that helps with sound absorption and dust prevention.

3. On Silent Wings

Even though the case includes one intake fan and one exhaust fan, we wanted a third case fan to help provide some airflow to our fanless CPU cooler. The R4 has two intake fan mounts in the front, and we weren't worried about adding an extra fan to a "quiet PC" because the added noise would be muffled by sound- dampening material. We used the unoccupied lower mount to install the Be Quiet Silent Wings 2 fan, which is like the R4's stock fans in that its blades are shaped to reduce turbulence.

To install it, we just pressed on the fan grill to pop it open, affixed the fan to the included cage, then snapped it shut—no tools needed (image C).

4. The Drive to Win

We decided to skip an optical drive, since they can make a lot of noise when they spin up, and just installed Windows from a USB stick. For our OS we naturally wanted a solid-state drive since they have no moving parts and make no noise, so we went with an OCZ Vertex 4 because it's one of the best performers at 128GB and its size is sufficient for our OS needs. The Define R4 allows you to install two SSDs underneath the motherboard tray, between the board and the case. But the screws go through the top of the tray (image D), so the motherboard needs to be removed to install the drives. For simplicity's sake, we installed the SSD next to the mechanical drive in the lower drive cage, as its slide-out trays have screw holes for SSDs. There was enough room between the back of the drives and the side panel that right-angle SATA cables were not required.

5. One Less Fan

We really liked the idea of using Zalman's new fanless CPU cooler for this build, since it's totally silent and would go a long way toward minimizing our machine's sound output—after all, the CPU cooler, along with the GPU cooler, is responsible for the lion's share of the noise a system emits. Since we already had the GPU on a liquid diet, silencing the CPU too should make our machine so quiet not even a bat could hear it. Of course, we also wanted a high-performance machine, so we were taking a bit of a gamble on whether a fanless cooler would work, but we figured it was worth a try.

Since it's a passive cooler, the Zalman is absolutely massive. This made plugging things in around the CPU socket tricky, as the cooler mostly obstructed the 8-pin motherboard power connector (image E). The CPU fan header was also completely out of reach (Zalman bundles an optional 92mm ZM-SF2 fan). You can install the cooler with the fan before putting your motherboard in the case, but then the cooler blocks the 8-pin connector. With the fan plugged in, we had to tilt the board about 30 degrees to wrestle the 8-pin cable into its socket.

6. Fighting the Power

Power supplies are another area where we can eliminate noise. When your system starts demanding a lot of power, that power amounts to a lot of heat going through the PSU. Its fan may have to spin pretty hard to keep up, so you want a PSU with a fan that won't create a lot of turbulence when you crank it to 11. We began our build with a Cooler Master 720-watt Silent Pro M2, and as its name implies, it's designed to operate quietly. We'd used it in a previous build, so we could confirm it would not emit more than a low hum. It seemed like a no-brainer to drop in our Define R4 case.

Unfortunately, the M2 was about a half-inch too long, and didn't leave enough room for the Accelero Hybrid radiator, which we mounted on the bottom fan grill next to the PSU. It seemed simpler to just get a different PSU rather than mount the Hybrid where its fan would be easier to hear. We had several other options on hand and ultimately chose the Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold (image F) because it has received positive reviews for its silent operation.

Silent but Deadly

Although it took time and some creativity to fit the FX100 fanless CPU cooler into the Define R4 case (due to the cooler's unusually large dimensions and the case's midsize stature), it was able to keep our Core i7-3770K in the mid-70s Celsius with Prime95 running its most challenging test (in-place large FFTs). That's not too shabby for a fanless cooler, especially considering that our CPU was running eight threads at 100 percent load. If you place a high premium on low noise and don't care about overclocking, this cooler may fit your needs, assuming you can wedge it into your chassis. In retrospect, we would have preferred either a smaller cooler or a larger case, as this particular combo provided woefully little clearance between the top of the motherboard and the top of the case, making connecting the 8-pin power cable up in the corner of our mobo a major chore. Many full-towers fit that description, and Fractal Design makes a full-tower version of this case called the Define XL R2.

After we installed the FX100's optional 92mm fan (found at Frozencpu.com for $18), CPU temps were about on par with similar-size "skyscraper" coolers like the Noctua NH-D14 or the Phanteks TC14PE, with idle temps in the low-to-mid 30s Celsius and load temps in the high 60s, and it operated about as quietly. We were also able to get a stable overclock of 4GHz (from a stock speed of 3.5GHz). Going higher created noticeable fan noise when the system was under load, even with the sound dampening in the R4.

Putting the Accelero Hybrid radiator on the bottom of the Define R4 chassis gave us the quietude we had hoped for, even when running GPU benchmarks. The Hybrid device includes a small fan blowing on the card, so the memory and voltage regulation modules didn't overheat. Since this fan didn't have to cool the GPU, it didn't have to work nearly as hard, so it stayed nice and quiet.

Overall, this build was one part cooling experiment, and one part PC-building exercise. Though our final system was dead quiet, it took us awhile to get there, thanks to the quirks of the fanless cooler and the stringent low-noise requirements we set for ourselves. Given a second shot, we'd go with a standard CPU air-cooler with fans first, or water cooling. Maybe next time we'll cool both the GPU and the CPU with water, and maybe even try something as exotic as an exterior radiator/reservoir.

Benchmarks

ZERO

POINT

Premiere Pro CS6 (sec) 2,000 2820 (-29%) 
Stitch.Efx 2.0 (sec) 831 836
3DMark 11 Extreme 5,847 3390 (-42%)
x264 HD 5.0 (fps) 21.1 15.5 (-26%)
ProShow Producer 5.0 (sec) 1,446 1427 (-1%)
Batman: Arkam City (fps) 76  49 (-35%)

Our current desktop test bed consists of a hexa-core 3.2GHz Core i7-3930K @ 3.8GHz, 8GB of Corsair DDR3/1600, on an Asus Sabertooth X79 motherboard. We are running a GeForce GTX 690, an OCZ Vertex 3 SSD, and 64-bit Windows 7 Professional.

PS4 Controller Confirmed to Work on PC

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 03:18 PM PDT

Sony executive promises basic compatibility with PC

The PS4's DualShock 4 controllers will work with Windows PCs "by default" according to a series of tweets by Shuhei Yoshida, president of Worldwide Studios at Sony. Basic functions like the analog sticks and buttons will be available without extra drivers although the controller's special functions, like the front-facing touchpad and gyroscope, won't work. 

PS4 controller

Most PC-compatible game controllers function through Microsoft's XInput Game Controller API which essentially makes any controller function as an Xbox 360 controller. The PS3's DualShock 3 controller isn't compatible without first installing third party drivers like Better DS3 whereas the wired 360 controller has plug-and-play compatibility.

With the PS4 set to launch in November, the DualShock 4 controller will be the first next-gen controller compatible with the PC. Microsoft has already revealed that the Xbox One controller won't be ready for the PC until 2014.

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Column: Why We Build

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 02:09 PM PDT

Deputy Editor Gordon Mah Ung explains why we build PCs

I've heard from plenty of OG nerds who have long since given up on rolling their own rigs. They almost always ask the same question: "People still build PCs?" or "Why build?"

Look, I'm not against buying a PC, and I believe there are actually tons of good reasons to buy a prebuilt PC, such as support, warranty, and better pricing than you or I could ever get by building. OEMs also offer expertise and/or technology that's inaccessible to most home builders—such as outfitting a three-way SLI machine with custom water-cooling, or building in a nifty mini-tower chassis that the public can't get. And to be honest, I'd much rather have a relative or friend buy an OEM machine than to custom-build one because I don't want to be on the hook for the 3 a.m. calls. Let's not even get into laptops, which are verboten to DIYers.

budget battle PCs

This image was taken from our battle of the budget builds article.

But none of those reasons take away from the pure joy I get out of building a PC. Getting a seat in our little budget build-off was a plain hoot. For a hardcore PC nerd, there's nothing so exciting as sorting through parts lists looking for just the right components that will let you vanquish your foes. For that article, Tom, Chris, and I spent an afternoon taunting one another over our respective hardware choices and then sweating bullets when we realized a competitor's machine might actually be better. Once all the parts were in house, we built the machines side-by-side in our common area so we could peer over each other's shoulders. I mean, I did have a spare Core i7-3770K—no one would notice, right?

This got me thinking, why do we build?

We build because we like the control we get—from the parts selection, to the color, to even the shape and size of the case. We can wire it tight or leave it messy. (Yeah, I left my budget rig messy. I charge $5 to clean up wiring.)

We build because it's cathartic. Yeah, the day sucked, the bills came in, and you just had a spat with your spouse, girlfriend/boyfriend, or pet, but nothing makes it all fade away like cracking open a stack of boxed hardware you've been collecting and finally building that brand-new rig. When the last part is installed and you're installing the OS, it's better than Miller time.

We build because we're green. My co-workers think I'm nuts when I try to save even an old stock Intel LGA775 cooler or a box of DDR2 RAM, but I do it because I know eventually I'll have enough leftover parts to assemble a PC and set it loose rather than sending it to the big e-waste bin in the sky.

One last thing: We build because we love PCs.

June 2013: Battle of the Budget Builds

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 12:22 PM PDT

June 2013 Issue

In the PDF archive of the June 2013 issue you can find:

  • Budget-builds battle
  • Microsoft Surface Pro
  • Solid-state knowledge
  • EVGA GeForce Titan
  • Razer Edge Pro
  • And more!

Analyst Issues 'Buy' Rating for Twitter Ahead of IPO

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:36 AM PDT

TwitterMost anticipated tech IPO since Facebook

Twitter has filed paperwork for its Initial Public Offering (IPO), and in doing so is generating hype in the tech industry that hasn't been seen since Facebook's IPO in June 2012. It's even received a "Buy" rating from at least one analyst, even though the microblogging service isn't yet available on the stock market. Apparently the consensus is that Twitter will get off to a quicker start than Facebook did.

Facebook debuted at $38 per share, but quickly fell beneath that price, where it stayed for a long time. Those who didn't panic and jump ship are now rewarded with stock that's selling for nearly $51 and appears to be trending upward.

Robert Peck, an analyst with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, believes Twitter will debut at around $28-$30 per share before jumping to $50 per share within a year, Reuters reports. Not bad for a service that simply allows people and businesses to post 140-character messages.

The vast majority -- 87 percent -- of Twitter's revenue comes from advertising, which it began selling in 2010. Twitter plans to generate additional ad revenue through Twitter Amplify and real-time targeted TV ads, where it could rake in $1 billion in ad revenue from YouTube alone, The Verge reports.

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Sprint to Sell Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 for Only $50 Starting October 11

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:11 AM PDT

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0Score a sweet Android tablet for cheap

It's pretty rare to score a desirable tablet for a fraction of its retail price, but if you're willing to ink a 2-year service agreement with Sprint, you'll soon be able to bring home a Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 for $50 (plus tax). Sprint says the $50 price tag is an introductory rate, though it's unclear how long that price is valid. What we do know is that it goes into effect on October 11, 2013, in all Sprint channels, including Sprint Stores, Spring Business Sales, web sales, and via telephone.

Initially it will only be available in White, though Sprint says it will offer a Midnight Black version for the holidays. Other features include a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, 7-inch display with a 1024x600 resolution, 3MP rear-facing camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, microSD card slot, micro USB port, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

Sprint says users can add a data plan for the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 to their account starting for as little as $5/month (it's also eligible for Sprint's One Up upgrade program). Over the life of the contract, that's $120 for service plus $50 for the tablet itself, or $170 combined. That's still less than the $200 retail cost for a Wi-Fi Galaxy Tab 3 7.0.

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Are Convertible All-in-One PCs the Next Big Thing?

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:32 AM PDT

Asus Transformer AIOIntel's rallying vendors to promote 2-in-1 PCs in 2014

Within the last year or so, the all-in-one (AIO) form factor finally started gaining ground, in large part because prices came down to more affordable levels. With the advent of touchscreen computing and, by extension, Windows 8/8.1, the time may be ripe for AIO vendors to lure customers over, and that's what they're going to try to do in 2014, though they won't be pushing just ordinary AIO systems.

According to Digitimes, first-tier vendors other than Apple are getting ready to promote convertible AIO systems in a big way. Volume shipments of these 2-in-1 systems are scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2014.

At the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, Intel demoed several larger size AIO systems that would qualify as convertibles, but rather than match the 18-inch to 27-inch systems that were shown off, vendors believe the most popular sizes will be in the 20-inch to 21-inch range.

Some vendors are already promoting such devices, including HP, which released its 20-inch Envy Rove AIO last month. So have Asus (Transformer AIO) and Lenovo (Horizon AIO), both of which launched their respective products earlier this year.

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Razer Blade, Edge Pro Now Available at Select Best Buy Locations

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 08:57 AM PDT

Razer BladeBest Buy becomes first U.S. retailer to sell Razer systems

Computer savvy users have little fear about shopping online, especially if doing so translates into a lower price, but there's something to be said for being able to try something out before you commit. If you happen to live close to a Best Buy (and/or are willing to make the trip), you may be able to sneak a peek at the Razer Blade 14-inch gaming laptop and Razer Blade tablet for gamers, as both are now available in approximately 100 Best Buy locations nationwide.

"Two years ago, Razer was known as a niche company that made the world's best gaming peripherals," says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. "Today, we are leading the charge in tablet and laptop innovation with systems available at Best Buy stores across the country. This is truly a gratifying day for our company and for gamers and computer aficionados alike."

Best Buy is actually the first retailer in the U.S. to showcase Razer's systems, and it will be the only brick-and-mortar to carry the above mentioned items.

The Razer Blade runs $1,999 and includes a 14-inch display (1600x900), Intel Core i7 4702HQ processor, 8GB of RAM, GeForce GTX 765M graphics, 256GB solid state drive, Qualcomm Killer NIC (802.11n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0), built-in stereo speakers, three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4a output, 1.3MP webcam, Windows 8 64-bit, and a few other odds and ends.

Razer Edge Pro

As for the Razer Edge Pro, it costs $1,449 and includes a 10.1-inch display (1366x768), Intel Core i7 dual-core processor, 8GB of RAM, GeForce GT 640M LE GPU, 256GB SSD, a single USB 3.0 port, 2MP webcam, and Windows 8 64-bit.

Be sure to read our reviews of the Razer Edge Pro and Razer Blade.

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Nvidia Lowers Price on Select GeForce GTX Graphics Cards

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 07:49 AM PDT

Asus GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GBLower prices in effect today

It seems like we're always saying it's a great time to be a PC gamer, and certainly that holds true today. Part of what makes that true right now is a series of price cuts by Nvidia on a handful of graphics cards, including the company's GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB, GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB, and GeForce GTX 660. Many Boost cards come with a $75 in-game credit voucher, and most 660s come with a voucher for a free copy of Batman Arkham Origins, while supplies last.

New pricing breaks down as follows:

  • GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB: $130
  • GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 2GB: $150
  • GeForce GTX 660: $180

In some cases, prices are even cheaper if you're willing to play the mail-in-rebate game. One example is an Asus GeForce GTx 650 Ti Boost 2GB for $130 after a $20 rebate card. It's a dual-fan card with DirectCU II cooling technology and an overclocked core (1085MHz, up 52MHz over reference). Like many of the cards, it comes with a $75 in-game coin coupon for WarFrame, Marvel Heroes, and Neverwinter ($25 for each game).

Nvidia says it expects Newegg, TigerDirect, and NCIX to all be live with the new pricing today.

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


PlanetSide 2 players hosting 24-hour play-a-thon to raise money for breast cancer research

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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PlanetSide 2 players hosting 24hour playathon to raise money for breast cancer research
As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, folks are probably seeing pink crop up all over the place in their daily lives. And now that color has landed in the gritty world of PlanetSide 2. A group of outfits on the Connery server has banded together to organize a 24-hour play-a-thon to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to aid in its search for a cure.

On October 26th, Genocidal Rampage (CASH), 666th Devil Dogs (666), TRG, and OP4 will be hosting this 24-hour livestream event where players from all factions can unite against "the real Fourth Faction" and donate to the cause. Using the event's GoFundMe site, players can show their support by pledging to support favorite streamers or even placing bets on competitive events during the stream. Of course, just being a part and showing support and solidarity is also welcome! Those wishing to participate in the play-a-thon as streamers should contact MagnmStallion (CASH), LadyShade (666), Oblivion (TRG), orTheLostLenore (OP4).

MassivelyPlanetSide 2 players hosting 24-hour play-a-thon to raise money for breast cancer research originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On the ground at the League of Legends World Championships

Posted: 07 Oct 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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On the ground at the League of Legends World Championships
It was about 1 p.m. at the Staples Center on Friday, and there was already a crowd. Five hours later, the mass of people would swell to many times the size, as security officers struggled to cram people into the building.

At first glance, one could confuse the fans flooding the street as normal sports fans, but then you notice the cosplayers, the Intel-sponsored jerseys and an enormous Tryndamere statue. The Staples Center was packed to the gills with fans all eager to watch one thing: the final matches to determine who would walk away with the Summoner's Cup and the title of League of Legends World Champions.

Continue reading On the ground at the League of Legends World Championships

MassivelyOn the ground at the League of Legends World Championships originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Pre-orders now available for EverQuest II's Tears of Veeshan expansion

    Posted: 07 Oct 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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    Preorders now available for EverQuest II's Tears of Veeshan expansion
    EverQuest II's next expansion is right around the corner, and SOE has now opened pre-orders for Tears of Veeshan. Pricing for the pre-orders is $39.99 for the standard edition and $59.99 for the collector's edition.

    As we all know, pre-orders are all about the goodies. So what do players get for reserving their digital copy of the expansion? Those who go for the standard edition will receive a pre-order exclusive Veeshan Loyalty Cloak as well as an Aerayky Monk mercenary named Slymar. Those who opt for the collector's edition get a new Ethenere prestige home and a Shissar plushie to put in it, an Etherwing mount, a painting, and a two-hour XP potion on top of the previously mentioned items.

    MassivelyPre-orders now available for EverQuest II's Tears of Veeshan expansion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Stream Team: Decisionally challenged weather edition, October 7 - 13, 2013

    Posted: 07 Oct 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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    The Stream Team  Decisionally challenged weather edition, October 7  13, 2013
    I don't know about you, but in my neck of the woods Mother Mature is suffering some kind of identity crisis. In the span of a single day we have had bone-chilling cold and frost, sun-scorching heat, and monsoon-inspired rainstorms. Every time we have a season-appropriate cold snap, the second I go to remove my air-conditioner, we have a blistering heat wave. People were pumpkin harvesting in shorts for heaven's sakes! Is it fall? Or is it summer? If the weather is any indication, we need to institute a new season. We could call it Summall. Or maybe Falmer. Then people can just expect to employ heavy coats and shorts within hours. Like they do in Colorado!

    Like the weather of late, I'll admit to being decisionally challenged at times (especially when trying to pick what to do in a game with so many options!). Luckily, for any who suffer that same affliction, your favorite Stream Team hosts will never conflict on the Massively TV schedule. So who's playing what when this week? Check out the schedule and see!

    Continue reading The Stream Team: Decisionally challenged weather edition, October 7 - 13, 2013

    MassivelyThe Stream Team: Decisionally challenged weather edition, October 7 - 13, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Yulgang 2 glides to launch in late 2013

      Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:30 AM PDT

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      Yulgang 2 glides to launch in late 2013
      A new free-to-play MMO is on the horizon, and chances are that you've never heard of it. The game is Yulgang 2, a martial arts title that boasts a couple of interesting features. Yulgang 2 has an air sprint system that allows players to do multiple jumps, glide, and stick a landing as long as a key combo is pulled off successfully. Speaking of combos, the game also features non-targeting combat that utilizes skill combos for devastating effect.

      Yulgang 2 is scheduled for a Q4 2013 launch in Southeast Asia, but no IP block means anyone can play on the upcoming English server. You can check out its teaser site or take a gander at its official trailer after the jump.

      [Source: Cubizone press release]

      Continue reading Yulgang 2 glides to launch in late 2013

      MassivelyYulgang 2 glides to launch in late 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: Do you roll alts when you don't need to?

        Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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        The Daily Grind - Do you roll alts when you don't need to?
        One of my favorite things about Final Fantasy XIV is the flexible class system which basically eliminates the need to roll an alternate character. Usually alts exist to provide access to different classes and associated gameplay tropes, but in FFXIV that's not necessary. I mean, sure you can roll an alt if you want to, the game allows multiple slots per account, but why bother when one character can literally be every adventuring, crafting, or gathering class and swap between them all at will?

        This isn't a new idea, of course, since skill-based games like Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, and others featured a variation on this design theme over a decade ago. It feels fresh, though, because the vast majority of modern MMOs force players to accept unchangeable classes shortly after character creation.

        And maybe that conditioning is why I'm sorta having a hard time when it comes to roleplaying in FFXIV. Mechanically, I much prefer the game's flexibility to the rigidity of most themeparks. When it comes to creating a believable backstory, though, it's very easy to end up with a Mary Sue since your character can literally be good at everything. So, yeah, I rolled an alt. How about you, Massively readers? Do you roll alts even when you don't need to? Why?

        Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

        MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you roll alts when you don't need to? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          MMO Week in Review: Dread Masters of the Force

          Posted: 06 Oct 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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          MMO Week in Review Dread Masters of the Force
          At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

          There's a dread moon rising in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but for once, that's actually a good thing. You see, Patch 2.4 dropped this past week (after accidentally downloading a day early), bringing with it a new moon to explore, the continuation of the Dread Masters storyline, and a pair of level 55 operations for experienced players to tackle.

          Of course, that update wasn't the only event happening this past week; hit the jump to catch up on the latest and greatest from the MMO scene.

          Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Dread Masters of the Force

          MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Dread Masters of the Force originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Oct 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            EVE Evolved: Deployables in Rubicon

            Posted: 06 Oct 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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            Game title image
            Last week I looked at EVE Online's upcoming Rubicon expansion, which aims to kick off CCP's long-term vision of deep space exploration with a series of new deployable structures. Until now, most structures have come in the form of modules that can only be added to starbases anchored at moons. Starbases are owned by corporations rather than individuals and require a significant financial and logistical investment to set up and maintain, putting them quite far out of reach for new players. Rubicon will fix this with a relatively inexpensive new personal Depot deployable that can be anchored anywhere in space.

            The mobile Depot is a small feature that was no-doubt trivial to implement, but it could have a massive impact on the shape of the EVE sandbox. The module offers a way to store your items and refit ships in the middle of hostile territory, and this is the first of a new breed of structure that will ultimately unlock deep space for exploration. This expansion will also give us a new auto-looting tractor beam structure and a Siphon Unit that actually steals resources from nearby starbases. Not much is known about these three deployables beyond the basic information already released, and there's a ton of potential for new complementary structures that could be released in the future.

            In this week's EVE Evolved, I examine the impact that Rubicon's two biggest deployable structures could have on the EVE sandbox and think about new structures that could be released in the future.

            Continue reading EVE Evolved: Deployables in Rubicon

            MassivelyEVE Evolved: Deployables in Rubicon originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Shroud of the Avatar presents founder town home and female armor

              Posted: 06 Oct 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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              Shroud of the Avatar presents founder town home and female armor
              If you wanted to be the envy of all of your virtual friends by living in the swankiest house in the neighborhood, chances are that you chipped in to become a founder for Shroud of the Avatar. Assuming that this is the case, the devs have a few impressive interior and exterior screenshots of the Founder Lord Town Home to show you. After all, who wouldn't want to live in a castle in their neighborhood?

              This latest update of the developing game also includes pictures of the Benefactor Edelmann Village Home and a sneak peek at what leather and plate armor looks like on female avatars. For once in a fantasy RPG, these actually look sensible instead of steel lingerie, so applause all around.

              MassivelyShroud of the Avatar presents founder town home and female armor originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMORPG News

              MMORPG News


              The Secret World: Live Forum Q&A With Funcom's Joel Bylos - TOMORROW!

              Posted: 07 Oct 2013 06:47 AM PDT

              Live Forum Q&A With Funcom

              Join us tomorrow at 3PM ET in our The Secret World subforum for a live Q&A with Funcom's Joel Bylos.

              MMOGaming News

              MMOGaming News


              MMOsite Morning Call: Weekly Cosplay Highlight [10.07]

              Posted:

              MMOsite Morning Call: Weekly Cosplay Highlight [10.07]


              Hi, dear MMOsiters! Another Monday morning date with you~this week we offer you the amazing cosplays of Tifa, Saber, Attack on Titan and lots of the familiar game characters you might be interested in. Get some relax and energy from our MMOsite Morning Call, now take a look at these cosplay highlights! Enjoy~

              Path of Exile Gets Full Launch on October 23

              Posted:

              Path of Exile Gets Full Launch on October 23


              Grinding Gear Games has announced their Hack and Slash RPG title Path of Exile's Open Beta is soon coming to an end and the game will be officially launched on October 23, it will also be available through Steam network.

              MMOsite This Week: New MMOs Standing in the Queue

              Posted:

              MMOsite This Week: New MMOs Standing in the Queue


              Here is the latest MMOsite This Week – Weekly News Roundup, in which place you can get an overall important news reported this week. Take a review to see what has happened this week in MMO world.

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