General Gaming Article

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• Leaked Windows 10 Build Brings Peer-assisted Updates, App Downloads
• Best Antivirus Software
• Newegg Daily Deals: AMD FX-9370 Vishera, Asus VE278H 27-inch Monitor, and More!
• Asus ROG Lifts Curtain Ultra Slim G501 Laptop with 4K Display, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU
• Graphics Porn (March 2015): Skyrim by ProtologolusX
• Newegg Daily Deals: Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X OC Graphic Card, Intel Core i7 5930K, and More!
• These are the Full FCC Net Neutrality Rules
• Razer Upgrades Blade Pro Laptop with GeForce GTX 960M GPU and More Storage
• GeForce GTX 960M and 950M Chips Round Out Nvidia’s Mobile GPU Lineup
• XFX Radeon R9 370 Core Edition Leaks to Web, Higher End R300 Series Cards to Follow

Leaked Windows 10 Build Brings Peer-assisted Updates, App Downloads Posted: 15 Mar 2015 07:27 PM PDT Build 10036  is here On Monday, Microsoft's Gabriel Aul (general manager, OSG data and fundamentals team) admitted to the company erring on the side of caution and being "conservative" about releasing Windows 10 Technical Preview builds. Five days later, even as Aul and his team were still dithering over whether to speed up the release cadence in deference to public demand, a new Windows 10 build quietly leaked onto the web. For those keeping score at home, build 10036 is the third to have become available to the public in this manner and the seventh to have become available at all.   As pointed out by our friends over at Neowin, this build is from a "partner channel" and is therefore missing some of the features that Microsoft is known to be working on for the next public release. This one, for instance, does not have the Project Spartan browser. What it does have are a number of subtle changes from the last officially released build (9926). Some of these include the ability to make the Start Menu/Start Screen transparent, a new Task View interface, redesigned login screen, new app management tools, and the option to receive OS updates and apps via peer-to-peer (P2P) technology. The last one, which is perhaps the most interesting of the lot, is thought to be powered by the technology Microsoft acquired as part of its Feb 2013 acquisition of P2P content delivery provider Pando Networks. An unofficial changelog can be found at this link. Follow Pulkit on Google+

Best Antivirus Software Posted: 13 Mar 2015 11:57 AM PDT Which of these 10 AV Contenders deserves a spot on your pc? It's entirely possible to run rampant through a minefield without blowing yourself up, but do you really want to risk it? One wrong move or accidental step will have you forever regretting that decision. There are strategies you can employ that will lessen the chance of setting off an explosive, but unless you have a blueprint of the entire landscape, your luck is bound to run out at some point. Surfing the web without antivirus protection is similarly risky. You may think you're playing it safe by avoiding shady websites and staying away from illegal downloads, but you can't avoid danger entirely. Even if you do everything right, the security practices of other users and websites are out of your control; should a legitimate website become compromised, it could serve up malware to unsuspecting visitors. Likewise, a family member could unwittingly send you an infected file. While you're sipping your morning latte singing "Everything is Awesome," some black-hat teen in Russia is busy selling your stolen info on the underground market. Good luck explaining your situation to all three credit bureaus. In less dramatic fashion, you could simply end up with an infected PC that putters around like a beat-up truck with sugar in the gas tank. The alternative is to supplement your safe computing habits with security software. There are many suites available, so we rounded up 10 of the most popular AV applications—seven that cost money, three that are free—and ran rampant on the web to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Making the Grade Performance Impact and Scan Times Maybe 100 years from now, installing security software will actually speed up performance. We're not there yet, so evaluating the performance hit of each AV program still factors into our verdict. To gauge this, we record startup times and how long it takes to transfer large and small files. We also collect scores from PCMark 8 (system) and Peacekeeper (browser). All results are compared to a clean installation with no AV software, which we revert back to in between installing AV programs using Acronis True Image ($50, www.acronis.com). Full system scan times also affect scores. Annoyance Level Imagine hiring a bodyguard to follow you around, but instead of warding off muggers, he screams "Danger!" each time you walk past a dark alley. And when real danger does present itself, rather than jump into action, he freezes up until you tell him what to do. We've seen some AV programs act like that. AV software should take action on its own when there's a real threat, and false positives should be kept to a minimum. We also don't want to be badgered into purchasing additional protection. Features and Implementation Seven of the 10 AV programs in this roundup are fleshed-out security suites, which give them an immediate advantage over the three free programs in this category. However, it's not that cut-and-dried. We're not adding up bullet points and giving higher scores to the programs with the most features. Instead, we're on the lookout for features that we'll actually use, along with how well they're implemented. For example, a virtual keyboard that dodges potential keyloggers is great for signing into banking sites, but if we have to spend 10 minutes searching for the option in a convoluted menu layout, then we'd rather risk using our hardware keyboard. Pricing and Value While full-fledged security suites have an inherent advantage in terms of features, the free security programs own this category. The onus is on the seven other security suites to convince us the additional layers of protection and added amenities are worth paying for when free protection is a mouse click away. Malware Detection To ensure we do this category justice, we not only run our collection of tests—visiting infected websites and attempting to load malware samples—we also take into consideration the results of three independent testing labs: Virus Bulletin (www.virusbtn.com), AV-Test (www.av-test.org), and AV-Comparatives (www.av-comparatives.org). Going this route paints a broader picture of protection than we're able to test on our own. Bitdefender Internet Security Let's get straight to the point—Bitdefender lays the smackdown on malware like it has a personal score to settle, but like any good hitman, it goes about it without drawing attention to itself. The high level of effectiveness is what makes Bitdefender's Autopilot mode a feasible option. When engaged—you have the option of turning it on during installation—Bitdefender mans the controls and silently takes out threats as you stumble across the web. There are no pop-ups asking for your permission to take out a target, just lethal protection against menacing malware. Even with Autopilot mode turned off, Bitdefender isn't bothersome. We actually prefer to leave Autopilot disengaged so that we know when we just stepped on a mine, but either way, Bitdefender offers the same high level of protection. It blocked nearly all of our attempts to sneak malware onto our system, and even when we did manage to download and install a malicious program, Bitdefender detected something was amiss and scrubbed our testbed clean. Our results aren't unusual. Bitdefender has passed every single VB100 comparative test by Virus Bulletin since August 2010, and in AV-Test.org's latest report, it scored perfect marks across the board (Protection, Performance, and Usability). Out of nearly more than 19,600 malware samples deemed widespread and prevalent by AV-Test, Bitdefender nabbed them all. Bitdefender's interface is easy to navigate and somewhat friendly for touch operation, for those who care. We also like that it includes a built-in file shredder, allowing you to permanently delete files. All of this security goodness weighs on the package—it takes up a bit more space than most AV programs, and we sometimes noted longer boots and file-transfer performance. We're not too harsh on this simply because you're not likely to notice the impact without a stopwatch. Turning on Autopilot mode allows Bitdefender to man the controls without ever having to ask for your input. Bitdefender Internet Security $70 (1 Year, 3PCs), www.bitdefender.com Kaspersky Internet Security 2014  More of the same from a familiar face Having consistency in the AV space can be a double-edged sword. What do we mean by that? Whereas some security programs look and act drastically different each year, Kaspersky seems to have found a formula it's comfortable with and is sticking with it. That's great for the things that work well, but it also means the same blemishes go unattended. The user interface looks the same as it did last year and the year before that. If you're rocking a fancy hybrid laptop with a touchscreen display, you'll appreciate being able to tap dance your way through the menu system, which features large controls. Getting where you want to go isn't always intuitive, though the most common actions you're likely to perform are easily accessible. Kaspersky's scan engine continues to run down malware like a demolition car, though it sometimes takes a moment to kick into gear. Rather than create a roadblock for dirty files, Kaspersky will often let an infected file reach the desktop before running it over and sending the infected code to the digital graveyard. We found Kaspersky's detection rate to be nearly on par with what independent third-party testing labs report, though it did let a potentially unwanted program (PUP) lock our mouse cursor into a small box on the desktop. It took a bit of persistence (and Safe Mode) to undo the damage, but we eventually got rid of the offending program. We'd also like Kaspersky to rely less on our input when it finds a threat and take decisive action on its own. Gripes aside, Kaspersky offers effective protection. It also bundles welcome extras like a virtual keyboard to evade keyloggers, a rescue media builder in case things go really wrong, and a vulnerability scanner to see if any programs present a security risk. Kaspersky's interface is equally suited for mouse and touch controls. Kaspersky Internet Security 2014 $80 (1 Year, 3PCs), usa.kaspersky.com Norton Internet Security Lightweight protection that beats up malware like a heavyweight boxer Symantec dropped the yearly designation for its Norton product line, so instead of Norton Internet Security 2014, it's now simply Norton Internet Security (NIS). This change doesn't affect current or future subscriptions—you're always eligible to download the latest version of NIS as long as your subscription is current. This born-again AV continues to atone for its sinful past. Power users still find this hard to fathom, but ever since Symantec rebuilt NIS from the ground up in 2009, it's been one of the better security products on the market. It installs in under a minute, is lean on system resources, and pounces on malware like a hungry cat chasing a three legged mouse. We didn't have as many third-party reports to lean on for NIS this year as we normally do, so we threw some additional infected files of our own into the mix. Anytime we managed to evade the scan engine, NIS's SONAR technology would spring to action and zap our malware based on whatever suspicious activity it detected (precisely as SONAR is designed to do). There are a lot of settings for power users to play with, though less-savvy users are better off leaving things alone. NIS leaves very little room to nitpick. If we were in charge of the program's development, we'd add a virtual keyboard for logging into sites like banking institutions, and we'd clean up the basement levels of the menu interface. The sleek UI is only skin deep—as you crawl through the options, the menu takes on a different look. It's also tailored more towards savvy users, which could be a turn-off for some people. In addition to a two-way firewall and intelligent spam controls, Symantec bundles in a deep-scanning utility called Power Eraser for stubborn infections, and a Safe Web scanning app that combs your Facebook feed for malicious links. It's nice to have these baked in, though they're both freely available to everyone. Norton Internet Security $100, us.norton.com Panda Internet Security 2014 Trying a little too hard to fit in When you start hanging around a new group of people, you might change your style to blend in with your peers. So it goes with Panda Internet Security 2014 and Windows 8/8.1. Panda didn't just take a page from Windows 8's design scheme, it swiped the entire playbook and then gave itself a dramatic makeover. The result is that Panda's interface is a natural extension of the Modern UI in Windows 8, which bodes well if you're a fan of the design. Unfortunately, it appears the developers spent more time dressing up Panda and not enough time teaching it tricks. For example, Panda includes a set of parental controls, but they lack even basic scheduling options. What's even worse is they don't support Internet Explorer 11, the latest version of IE introduced with Windows 8.1 earlier this year. To be fair, Panda is working on fixing this and it might even be compatible as you're reading this, but for now, it's a glaring omission for a security suite that's trying so hard to fit in. Panda's lumbering scan engine is also a mixed bag. There's no sense of urgency in performing a full-system sweep, and not much time is shaved off when running subsequent scans. This is in stark contrast to most other AV programs that skip over files that haven't changed since the last scan. To Panda's credit, it caught most of our malware, and it scores well with the labs we check in with. However, we did manage to trip up Panda a few times, though in almost every case, it eventually picked itself up and figured out that something was wrong. One thing that likely helped in these cases is that we enabled Panda's TruPrevent option. This gives Panda the green light to analyze the behavior of programs and is essential in catching unknown threats that haven't yet been added to its virus database. Ideally, Panda would enable this option by default. Panda's resemblance to Windows 8 is uncanny (and intentional). We like that Panda includes a virtual keyboard, which makes it more difficult (not impossible) for hackers to steal your login information with a keylogger. Panda also includes built-in backup software to automatically back up files to the cloud or local storage on a set schedule—nothing earth-shattering, but a welcome add-on. Overall, Panda does a decent job of standing guard against malware, but there are other suites that do it better. Panda Internet Security 2014 $70 (3 PCs, 1 Year), www.pandasecurity.com/ McAfee Internet Security 2014 Turning over a new leaf Minus a few missteps here and there, McAfee's been on the verge of breaking into the ranks of one of the top AV solutions. That may sound like malarkey to old-school PC users who have spent hours uninstalling bundled McAfee software on systems belonging to family and friends, but one of the advantages to running these roundups is we get to see how a program evolves over time. What we've witnessed is a transformation from a lumbering and lethargic AV into light-footed security. However, the level of protection hasn't been up to our standards, until now. We threw potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), Trojans, drive-by downloads, and an assortment of other malware at McAfee. Unlike in years past, we couldn't sneak anything by McAfee's on-demand scanner. We checked with a few AV testing labs and are confident that our experience is the norm, not the exception. That isn't to say that McAfee's perfect. Pop-ups alert you when something foul is detected, but McAfee does a poor job providing details on the threat. We'd be willing to overlook this, except McAfee makes it a little too easy to bypass its recommended course of action. In our opinion, security software should either be decisive and neutralize a rogue file, or give us enough information to make the proper choice ourselves. McAfee's interface isn't sexy, though it is functional and tuned for touch. It's also a little slow to react at times, such as trying to cancel a scan. It doesn't affect the entire menu, but there are definitely instances of lag. McAfee's interface won't win any beauty pageants, but it's mostly easy to navigate and friendly for touch. There's quite a bit included in McAfee's security suite—a file shredder, network traffic monitor, vulnerability scanner, and miscellaneous tools to help justify the price tag. To the point, this is the best version of McAfee yet, though there's still room for improvement. McAfee Internet Security 2014 $80 (3 PCs, 1 Year), home.mcafee.com ESET Smart Security An effective antivirus for nerds and newbs alike Sheldon is often seen playing on an Alienware laptop in The Big Bang Theory, and if he has antivirus software on that thing, it's probably ESET Smart Security. It's a nerd's paradise. You could spend an afternoon frolicking through the advanced settings and fine tuning ESET to your liking. On the flipside, there's nothing forcing you into the deep end—the main window offers access to the most commonly used functions. Underneath it all is a scan engine that takes out malware with extreme prejudice. Our modest collection of foul files never stood a chance, and it didn't matter how many intentionally wrong turns we took on the web, ESET never stopped watching our six. Our experience jibes with the major testing labs—ESET collects VB100 award from Virus Bulletin like it has an addiction. Like most other modern security software, there was only a negligible performance impact. File transfers took ever-so-slightly longer on our Windows 8 testbed; if you're rocking an older system, the performance hit might be exacerbated, but overall it's a fairly lean and efficient AV. ESET includes anti-theft protection. With so many users going mobile these days, this could prove an invaluable tool. Once you report your device stolen, you can track its whereabouts, receive webcam pictures, and send a message to the screen. Another feature that good-hearted geeks will appreciate is being able to send files to ESET. These can be malware samples that the scan engine missed, or false positives. Savvy users will appreciate the wealth of submenus and options at their disposal. We don't have a ton to complain about. The interface is due for an overhaul, there's no time-management option in the parental controls, and the anti-spam feature hasn't worked with Thunderbird since version 5—boo! These gripes don't detract from the overall package, though they do stand in the way of a Kick Ass award. ESET Smart Security $80 (3 PCs, 1 Year), www.eset.com Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus Reigns light and effective from the cloud Take everything you know about antivirus protection and security suites, roll it into a ball, and flush it down the toilet. Done? Now, let us introduce you to Webroot, which very well might represent the future of security. Webroot works on the assumption that today's threats come from the Internet, so rather than install a bulky suite and maintain it with product updates and security patches, Webroot works most of its malware fighting mojo from the cloud. There is a small program to install, which takes all of a few seconds. If you choose the custom option, you can have Webroot generate a random name for itself to thwart malware that might try to block known security programs—that's smart thinking. Once installed, Webroot scans your system, both to look for obvious signs of malware and also to take inventory of what's installed. From then on, Webroot sits idly by, waiting for malware to make the first move. When it detects a file doing something nefarious, Webroot blocks it from making changes, or rolls back any changes that might have been made when you weren't connected to the Internet. Don't let the local interface fool you, Webroot works its magic almost entirely from the cloud. What sets Webroot apart from other cloud solutions is that its online infrastructure was purpose-built to be its backbone rather than exist to supplement local definition scans. This allows Webroot to take up very little space, use fewer resources, and still remain effective—it's essentially a bigger, more robust cloud. Webroot took pole position in full system scan times, though it missed some dirty files that were later detected when we directed it to focus solely on those files. This is the trade-off—Webroot won't necessarily clean your system of infected files during an initial sweep, but there's a good chance it will catch them when activated. As a security suite, Webroot lacks parental controls or spam protection, and its outbound firewall serves as a supplement to the built-in firewall in Windows. However, you do get a password manager based on Lastpass, a built-in system optimizer, and a file shredder via right-click context menu. By default, the shredder only bypasses the recycle bin. To truly obliterate a file, you'll need to change the Secure Erase level to medium (overwrites with three passes) or maximum (seven passes). Webroot is a bit feature-poor for a security suite, but it's also the cheapest of the paid packages. With a 70-day money back guarantee, what's to lose? Webroot SecureAnywhere Internet Security Plus $60 (3 PCs, 1 Year), www.webroot.com AVG Antivirus Free 2014 Pro bono protection for the cost of a sales pitch You don't buy bottled water, you think extended warranties are a waste of money, and you sure as hell aren't going to pay for security software. Fair enough, we won't begrudge you any of those choices, but if you opt to install AVG Free for antivirus protection, get ready for a series of sales pitches. Whenever you have cause to fire up AVG's dashboard, you'll see a banner ad imploring you to give the full Internet security suite a 30 day test drive. There's an option to hide the banner, but it's only temporary—the next time you load the dashboard, it's there again. AVG also teases freeloaders with locked options that are only available to paid users, such as anti-spam controls and identity alerts. Hey, AVG's developers have to eat, right? What you do get is above-average malware protection with a surprising amount of configuration options. If you opt for AVG, we recommend spending some time going through the settings to make sure everything aligns with your expectations. For instance, AVG will scan for potentially unwanted programs, but there's an additional option for enhanced scanning that isn't checked by default. When enabled, AVG goes a step further by analyzing legitimate apps that might be misused or contain unwanted add-ons like toolbars. And if you're using an older PC—say, from the XP era—you should enable the "thorough scanning" option to look for older exploits and software flaws that don't apply to modern systems. AVG's dashboard is littered with options that you can only use when you upgrade to the full-fledged (paid) security suite. AVG caught the majority of our malware samples, though not all of them. This is in line with what AV-Test.org experienced, which rated AVG's performance a 4.0 out of 6.0. Assuming you're not spending the majority of your time in the web's dark alleys, AVG should keep you safe, but there are better options. AVG Antivirus Free 2014 free, free.avg.com Avira Free Antivirus A blueprint for free security To say that Avira is popular in the antivirus space is a gross understatement. According to Avira, over 200 million users around the world put their trust in its software. So should you, if you're looking for free security. Of course, this isn't a popularity contest, though there are advantages to serving a large number of users. In this case, Avira has a large pool of users to draw information from regarding new and emerging threats, which are then stored in a database in the cloud. Unless you have the unlucky distinction of being the very first out of over 200 million users to stumble onto a brand-new strain of malware, there's a good chance that whatever evil lurks in the shadows will have already been cataloged. This isn't just a theory of ours—Avira consistently scores high marks from third-party testing labs. In our own tests, Avira knocked nearly every harmful file unconscious, and in many cases it would follow up detection with a supplementary scan just to make sure no traces were left behind. One thing Avira doesn't seem to do is skip over unchanged files during subsequent scans. Other AV programs use this technique to reduce scan times, and we're not sure why Avira doesn't. Traversing Avira's menus feels a bit convoluted at first. If you spend enough time poking around, you'll feel better about your ability to drill down to an advanced option without any missteps, but who wants to spend time studying an AV software's layout? At least there's a fair amount to play with. Don't be fooled by the firewall option in Avira—it's actually just hooking into the Windows firewall. As with most freebie options, Avira lacks extra features like a two-way firewall, spam controls, and a game mode, which hushes the software when it detects you're playing a game. Still, this is our top pick for no-cost security. Avira Free Antivirus free, www.avira.com Avast Free Antivirus Slightly new look, same reliable protection Like Avira, Avast boasts over 200 million installations on planet Earth—that seems to be the magic number in free AV. That's to say Avast is no Johnny-come-lately to the PC-protection party, though it does sport a slightly freshened-up interface that's a bit more streamlined compared to last year's release. Weaving in and out of advanced settings is mostly straightforward and logical, though it's a bit odd that Avast buries the update option in the Settings menu. Avast doesn't scan for potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) by default. Even worse, the option to turn it on lies several menus deep (Settings > Active Protection > File System Shield > Sensitivity). Given that malware often piggybacks on top of seemingly legitimate programs, Avast should at least give users the option of enabling PUP protection during installation. Only one of our malware samples went undetected during a system sweep. Avast also did a good job blocking access to harmful websites, though we were successful in downloading an infected file. This doesn't concern us too much, considering how many sites and downloads we put these programs through, and for the most part, Avast does well in third-party testing, save for AV-Test.org, which notes a below-average score in detecting zero-day malware attacks. While the free version of Avast doesn't include amenities like a firewall, spam protection, and parental controls, you do get a rescue media option (USB or CD) along with a software updater that alerts you to outdated programs. This is a thoughtful inclusion, as black-hat hackers are always on the hunt for security holes to sneak malware through. Avast recognizes the importance of keeping third-party programs up to date and will let you know which ones have an upgrade available. Most of Avast's attempts to upsell security are confined to the Store menu, which is where you'll find add-ons and upgrades available for purchase. We like this tactful approach, as well as Avast in general. Avast Free Antivirus free, www.avast.com What's the Deal with Adware? If you've ever been called upon by a family member or friend to clean up their PC, then you've undoubtedly seen what a horrific mess bundled adware can have on a system. Toolbars and hijacked searches are common aftereffects of what happens when a person doesn't pay attention to the fine print, and so are random pop-ups and other types of cruft. They're not only annoying, but they can impact performance, too. With that being the case, have you ever wondered why many antivirus programs leave adware alone? Unfortunately, the onus here falls on the end user. In many cases, they agreed to be bombarded with advertising when they installed a particular program. One way a developer can offer his or her program for free is by bundling in adware, and usually there's an option to not install the supplementary software. However, it's not always obvious—we've trained ourselves to skip over fine print and boring legalese. Still, it would be unscrupulous for AV programs to remove adware that a user agreed to install in exchange for a free application. It's unfortunate, but it's the way it is. Not all types of adware play by the rules, and perhaps you never agreed to install a toolbar, yet there it is. While your AV software might not detect it, there are other security programs that will. It's a good idea to scan your system every so often with a program like Malwarebytes (Free, www.malwarebytes.org), which won't interfere with your AV. Avoid Drive-By Downloads Careful where you click on the web or you could get run over by a drive-by download. These are the web's equivalent of a hit-and-run, only they're entirely intentional and always intended to do you harm. The scary thing about drive-by downloads is that they come at you when you least expect it. You might have a favorite website that you visit every morning, but if that site is compromised by a hacker, that innocent looking ad banner or link to an article could serve up malware and you'd never know it. It's best to err on the side of caution. Installing antivirus software goes along with smart computing habits as your top two lines of defense, but there are other steps you can take. One of the biggest is to make sure your browser plug-ins are all up to date. An easy way to do this is to use the BrowserCheck tool by Qualys (Free, http://bit.ly/MPC_Qualys). This handy tool will analyze your browsers and plugins, and then offer to fix any out-of-date software it finds. We also recommend uninstalling or disabling Java if you don't have a specific need for it. There are still many applications that require Java, so this isn't an option for everyone, but unless you're one of those folks, this is just another potential path for malware to enter your system. The same goes for Flash. Firefox users can also install the NoScript add-on, which blocks JavaScript, Java, Flash, Silverlight, and other active content by default. AV FEATURES Bitdefender Kaspersky Norton Panda McAfee Webroot ESET AVG Avira Avast Email  scanning Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y IM scanning Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N N Virtual Keyboard N Y N Y N N N N N N Facebook scanning Y N Y N N N Y Y Y N Heuristics Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Firewall Y N Y Y Y Y Y N N N Spam controls Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N N Parental Controls Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N N File Shredder Y N N N Y N N N N N AV PERFORMANCE Bitdefender Kaspersky Norton Panda McAfee Webroot ESET AVG Avira Avast Scan 1 (min:sec) 3:42 9:00 6:40 13:55 9:45 0:42 3:48 4:33 7:53 6:20 Scan 2 (min:sec) 0:46 1:01 2:15 12:30 6:40 0:15 0:26 0:38 7:48 5:09 PCMark 8 3,444 3,427 3,446 3,442 3,422 3,439 3,447 3,437 3,426 3443 Peacekeeper 2,199 2,199 2,206 2,171 2,218 2,162 2,214 2,209 2,210 2,210 Boot (seconds added) +3 +2 +0 +3 +2 +3 +1.5 +2 +1 +2 3GB File Transfer (seconds added) +0 +0 +0 +3 +0 +0 +1 +1 +1 +1 Our test machine has an Intel 2.8GHz Core i7-930, Asus P6X58D Premium, 4GB Corsair DDR3/1333, Radeon HD 5850, 120GB Kingston SSDNow V300 (OS), Western Digital Red 3TB 7,200rpm (storage), and Windows 8.1 Enterprise

Newegg Daily Deals: AMD FX-9370 Vishera, Asus VE278H 27-inch Monitor, and More! Posted: 13 Mar 2015 10:04 AM PDT   Top Deal: Before long it will be summer, and that means hotter temps. Is your PC cooling scheme up to par? Now's the time to think about such things, and if you're in need of a new CPU, check out today's top deal for an AMD FX-9370 Vishera Black Edition Processor for $250 with free shipping (normally $270 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN24]). This 8-core chip comes bundled with a liquid cooling kit from Corsair to fight off high temps. Also be sure to check motherboard compatibility (see description). Other Deals: Asus VE278H Black 27-inch 2ms LCD Monitor w/ Speakers for $210 with free shipping (normally $230 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN47] ; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) LG 34UM95-P Black 34-inch Class 5ms UltraWide LCD Monitor for $750 with free shipping (normally $1000 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN42]) Corsair HX850 850W Modular Power Supply for $130 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN38] ; additional $30 Mail-in rebate) Adata DashDrive UV128 32GB Flash Drive for $11 with free shipping (normally $15 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN44])

Asus ROG Lifts Curtain Ultra Slim G501 Laptop with 4K Display, Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU Posted: 13 Mar 2015 09:40 AM PDT Slim and sexy, but is it fast enough? Typically when a graphics company announces a new GPU, as Nvidia did yesterday with its GeForce GTX 960M and 950M additions, hardware partners follow suit with systems build around the parts. And so it goes, as today Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) unveiled the G501, a thin and light 15.6-inch gaming laptop with a 4K Ultra High Definition resolution powered by the GTX 960M. As a mid-range GPU in Nvidia's GeForce GTX 900M Series, I'm not sure the GTX 960M packs enough punch to drive a comfortable gaming experience at 4K (3840x2160; 282 pixels per inch), though I'll reserve judgement until the benchmarks provide a definitive answer. If not, there's always the option of dialing down the resolution and/or display settings. Since there are other benefits to a 4K display, doing so while gaming wouldn't necessarily defeat the purpose, though it's certainly something to consider. Both the GTX 950M and 960M were designed specifically for slim systems like the G501. In this instance, the G501 measures just 0.81 inches thick and weighs 4.54 pounds. Part of that is due to the lightweight aluminum construction. It also sports red bezel accents for added visual appeal, along with a red-backlit keyboard with 1.6mm of key travel and marked WASD cursor keys. Cooling chores are handed by two fans and copper heat pipes. The CPU and GPU are independently cooled based on each one's demands, resulting in a cool and quiet laptop. Rounding out the feature-set is an Intel Core i7 4720HQ processor, 16GB of DDR3 RAM, 512GB PCI-E x4 solid state drive, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, SD card reader, three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, Thunderbolt, headphone/mic combo port, 96Wh battery, and Windows 8.1 64-bit. The Asus ROG G501 will begin shipping in April for $1,999. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Graphics Porn (March 2015): Skyrim by ProtologolusX Posted: 12 Mar 2015 04:54 PM PDT Showcasing the sexiest, most photogenic game screenshots this side of the Internet We've got something a bit different planned for the March edition of Graphics Porn. We've showcased other places and individual artists, but we haven't yet featured an individual game. This month, we're doubling down on Skyrim and bringing you 15 different spectacular shots of the HD texture–filled world of what's now a four-year-old game. Most of the screens are of places or environments, but we've also included a few particularly stunning pictures of characters. Props to ProtologolusX for providing all of the screens! Whether you've been following our handy-dandy guide on how to capture beautiful-looking game screens or simply print-screening some beautiful wallpaper-worthy game moments, we want to be able to share your captured works of art with the world. If you think you can do better than the pictures submitted below, please email your screenshots to mpcgraphicsporn@gmail.com so we can show them off. Make sure to include the name of the game, a title for the screenshot, and a description of what's happening on-screen.

Newegg Daily Deals: Sapphire R9 290 Tri-X OC Graphic Card, Intel Core i7 5930K, and More! Posted: 12 Mar 2015 12:53 PM PDT   Top Deal: Spring is here! Well, not officially -- there's still a little over a week to go before closing the book on winter, but the snow is melting, the temperature is rising, and birds are once again singing. And with spring comes rain, which in turn leads to wet clothes and slip hazards. Who needs that? Nope, it's best to stay inside and rock out with your Steam library out. Before you start catching up on your stack of games you picked up this winter, check out today's top deal for a Sapphire Radeon R9 290 Tri-X OC Graphics Card for $270 with free shipping (normally $300; additional $20 mail-in-rebate). Add coupon code AMDSAPNCAA3 to knock another $10 off. Combined with the rebate, this overclocked, tri-fan beauty can be yours for $240! Other Deals: Intel Core i7-5930K Haswell-E 6-Core 3.5GHz LGA 2011-v3 Processor for $560 with $3 shipping (normally $580) Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2x8GB) 288-Pin DDR4 2400 (PC4-19200) Desktop Memory for $160 with free shipping (normally $170 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN32]) WD Black Series 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive for $120 with free shipping (normally $130 - use coupon code: [ESCAPKN23]) G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2x4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $55 with free shipping (normally $60 - use coupon code: [EMCAPKN36])

These are the Full FCC Net Neutrality Rules Posted: 12 Mar 2015 11:46 AM PDT The full rules disclosed and open Today the FCC released the full rules surrounding net neutrality, officially called the Open Internet Order. The rules themselves have not changed, the essence of what we've known up until this point, has not changed. The following three hardline rules stand firm: No Blocking: broadband providers may not block access to legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices. No Throttling: broadband providers may not impair or degrade lawful Internet traffic on the basis of content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices. No Paid Prioritization: broadband providers may not favor some lawful Internet traffic over other lawful traffic in exchange for consideration or any kind—in other words, no "fast lanes." This rule also bans ISPs from prioritizing content and services of their affiliates. Also, the FCC states it will not be applying over 700 rules to the order, specifically the following: "Today, our forbearance approach results in over 700 codified rules being inapplicable, a "light-touch" approach for the use of Title II. This includes no unbundling of last-mile facilities, no tariffing, no rate regulation, and no cost accounting rules, which results in a carefully tailored application of only those Title II provisions found to directly further the public interest in an open Internet and more, better, and open broadband. Nor will our actions result in the imposition of any new federal taxes or fees; the ability of states to impose fees on broadband is already limited by the congressional Internet tax moratorium. This is Title II tailored for the 21st Century. Unlike the application of Title II to incumbent wireline companies in the 20th Century, a swath of utility-style provisions (including tariffing) will not be applied. " Essentially what this means is that consumers can expect prices to remain in the hands of providers because the same pricing regulations applied to common utilities, will not be applied to ISPs, and not governed by state bodies. What this also means is that local municipalities are now opened to local providers coming in and setting up camp, delivering more options and more competition. This is what I have been saying in the past several articles regarding the FCC rules on net neutrality. Interesting to note is that the FCC also states in the order that ISPs can no longer play double dipping, classifying themselves as common carriers, and not, whenever they see fit for a business advantage: "This Order also revisits the Commission's prior classification of mobile broadband Internet access service as a private mobile service, which cannot be subject to common carrier regulation, and finds that it is best viewed as a commercial mobile service or, in the alternative, the functional equivalent of commercial mobile service." This rule specifically calls out Verizon as an example, where Verizon had been taking advantage of an old loophole to circumvent established rule sets.  Prior to today, questions were still floating around on how specific the FCC would be and where it would be loose. With the full rules listed, the circumstances around net neutrality are now clear. If you've been following the issue, recall that the camps were split on what the FCC would and wouldn't do. Many were concerned about price hikes, and taxation, but these concerns can now be put to rest. In creating the Open Internet Order, the FCC also decided to publicly govern itself, inserting check-and-balances to ensure it couldn't overstep its own rules. Read the full Open Internet Order here (PDF).

Razer Upgrades Blade Pro Laptop with GeForce GTX 960M GPU and More Storage Posted: 12 Mar 2015 09:03 AM PDT A sharpened Blade Nvidia earlier today announced two new GPUs for thin and light gaming laptops, the GeForce GTX 950M and 960M, and right on cue, several hardware partners have jumped on board with new and revised notebook models. One of them is Razer, which today announced the release of its refreshed Blade Pro laptop with GeForce GTX 960M graphics and a higher storage ceiling, up to 1TB. The 960M with 4GB of GDDR5 memory replaces the GeForce GTX 860M that was shipping with the previous version. And as for storage capacity, instead of topping out at 256GB (SSD), you can now configure up to 512GB of SSD storage and up to a 1TB hard drive. Razer's 17.3-inch (1920x1080) Blade Pro starts at $2,300 and comes standard with an Intel Core i7 4720HQ processor, 16GB of DDR3L-1600 RAM, 128GB SSD + 500GB HDD (256GB SSD + 500GB HDD and 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD options available), GeForce GTX 960M GPU, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GbE LAN port, three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI 1.4a output, stereo speakers, 3.5mm mic/headphone combo jack, 2MP webcam, Windows 8.1 64-big, and various other bits. You can configure and order a Blade Pro here. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

GeForce GTX 960M and 950M Chips Round Out Nvidia’s Mobile GPU Lineup Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:40 AM PDT Two new GPUs for laptops Nvidia today rolled out its GeForce GTX 960M and 950M GPUs, the latest additions to its GTX 900M Series. The new GPUs bring up the rear of Nvidia's latest generation of laptop graphics, slipping underneath the GeForce GTX 965M, 970M, and flagship 980M. You'll mostly find the new parts in thin and light gaming laptops where Nvidia promises they'll deliver "never-before-seen levels of gaming performance" for the category. "Today's launch is with immediate availability too, so gamers today have more thin and light gaming notebooks to choose from than ever before. In fact, many of them have now joined the 'size does matter' club which means their notebooks are less than one-inch thick. So, if you've been itching to take your gaming on the go with a portable notebook design, now's your chance to play with the big boys!," Nvidia says. Nvidia hasn't updated its GPU page with specs for the new parts yet, though it did reveal some supported features, such as BatteryBoost -- as its name suggests, this is supposed to give gamers longer battery life when unplugged from the wall. The GeForce GTX 960M and 950M also include support for ShadowPlay (record gaming moments and share them on YouTube or stream live to Twitch), Optimus (optimizes notebooks for best graphics performance or best battery life, depending on the application), and of course DirectX 12. Nvidia's newest GPUs are shipping today in a number of upgraded systems from hardware partners such as Asus, Alienware, Razer, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Clevo, Gigabyte, and others. Update Nvidia added product pages for both GPUs right as this article was going live. The specs for the GeForce GTX 960M include 640 CUDA cores, 1,096MHz base clock, uknown boost clockspeed, and GDDR5 memory clocked at 2,500MHz on a 128-bit bus (80GB/s bandwidth). The GeForce GTX 950M is spec'd similarly, but with a 914MHz base clockspeed, 1,000MHz (DDR3) or 2,500MHz (GDDR5) memory clockspeed, and 32GB/s or 80GB/s of memory bandwidth. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

XFX Radeon R9 370 Core Edition Leaks to Web, Higher End R300 Series Cards to Follow Posted: 12 Mar 2015 08:12 AM PDT AMD R300 Series is around the corner We know that AMD is getting ready to refresh its graphics card lineup -- a refresh that's long overdue, as far as we're concerned -- though it looks like the first of the upcoming Radeon R9 300 Series won't be a flagship part. At least that won't be the case if, as rumored, XFX launches its Radeon R9 370 Core Edition video card powered by AMD's Trinidad Pro processor next month. The rumor originates at Videocardz, which caught wind of the forthcoming card by a reader of the site claiming to work for XFX. According to the supposed XFX employee, the first GPU of the R300 Series will be Trinidad Pro, and the site believes him to be telling the truth after a new leak from XFX seemed to corroborate his story. If true, the R9 370 Core Edition (R9-370A-ENF) will come in 2GB and 4GB GDDR5 versions, both with a 256-bit memory bus, single 6-pin PCI-E power connector, and two Dual-Link DVI ports flanked by HDMI and DisplayPort. R300 Series Based on the rumors so far, the R9 370 Core Edition will be a mid-range card. Here's a look at the full lineup: AMD Radeon R9 390X: 28nm Fiji XT GPU, 3,584 cores, 224 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 4GB memory, $599 AMD Radeon R9 390: 28nm Fiji Pro GPU, 3,328 cores, 208 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 4GB GDDR5, $399 AMD Radeon R9 380X: 28nm Hawaii XTX GPU, 2,816 cores, 176 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 4GB GDDR5, 512-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R9 380: 28nm Hawaii Pro GPU, 2,560 cores, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 4GB GDDR5, 512-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R9 375X: Tonga XT GPU, 2,048 cores, 128 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2GB GDDR5, 384-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R9 375: Tonga Pro GPU, 1,792 cores, 112 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2GB GDDR5, 256-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R9 370X: Trinidad XT GPU, 1,280 cores, 80 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 2GB GDDR5, 256-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R9 370: 28nm Trinidad Pro GPU, 1,024 cores, 64 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 2GB GDDR5, 256-bit, price unknown AMD Radeon R7 360X: Bermuda GPU, 896 cores, 128-bit GDDR5, price unknown AMD Radeon R7 350X/340X: Oland GPU, 320 cores, DDR3 and GDDR5 memory, 128-bit AMD Radeon R5 300: Caicos GPU, 160 cores, DDR3 memory, 64-bit None of these are official or set in stone, and as you can see, more is 'known' (rumored) about the higher end GPUs than the lower end ones. So, take these specs with a block of salt. There are also a few benchmarks scattered around the web, though their legitimacy is a huge question mark, expecially when putting up numbers like this. Regardless, it looks like we won't have to wait long to see what kind of performance AMD's R300 Series brings to the table. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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