General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Newegg Daily Deals: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit, WD Red NAS 3TB HDD, and More!

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 12:59 PM PDT

Windows 7

Top Deal:

Everywhere you look it's Windows 10 this and Windows 10 that. Hey, we get the excitement -- the desktop experience is back! It's also a free upgrade for Windows 7 and 8/8.1 owners, though if you're building a new system and need a brand new license, you'll need to pony up for one. Nevertheless, there's no need to pay full price. Just check out today's top deal for Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit (OEM) for $80 with $3 shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code: [EMCAXPA24]). Maybe you prefer Windows 7 to Windows 10, in which case enjoy! And if not, this is your upgrade ticket to Windows 10 without paying the full asking price.

Other Deals:

Samsung 850 Evo 2.5-inch 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Internal Solid State Drive for $78 with free shipping (normally $90 - use coupon code: [EMCAXPA27])

Western Digital Red NAS Hard Drive 3TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5-inch NAS Hard Drive for $105 with free shipping (normally $112 - use coupon code: [ESCAXPA22])

Seagate Hybrid Drives 1TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s NCQ 2.5-inch Laptop SSHD -Bare Drive for $70 with free shipping (normally $77)

Asus Radeon R9 380 GAMING 4GB 256-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express GAMING Video Card for $210 with free shipping (normally $247)

Thinking Inside Boxx: Why Overclocking Workstations Makes Sense

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 12:48 PM PDT

Big things in a little package

Apexx

Boutique builders come in different sizes and specialties. There are the ones primarily focused on gaming, like Maingear and Digital Storm, and a select few that deal with professional builds. The latter is the category Boxx fits into, though don't mistake the outfit for a cookie cutter operation.

There's an enthusiast edge to Boxx, hence today's introduction of what the company claims is the "world's smallest overclocked workstation," the Apexx 1. That's if you go with the Core i7 option, otherwise you can configure an Apexx 1 with a standard Xeon E5 processor, up to an 18-core Xeon E5 -2699 v3. Essentially your choice boils down to clockspeed or core count (that's an oversimplification, but you get the gist), both of which are liquid cooled.

The Apexx 1 is a compact machine measuring 4.7 (W) x 8.5 (H) x 9 (D) inches, yet it can pack some serious hardware. We're talking up to 32GB of DDR4-2133 memory, two 2.5-inch drives bays with up to 1.2TB SSD options, M.2 SATA support that can be fitted with either a 256GB or 512GB SSD, and a PCI-E 3.x x16 low profile slot with Nvidia Quadro or AMD FirePro graphics. It also has four USB 3.0 ports, two USB 3.1 Type A ports, eSATA, dual GbE LAN, 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. 7.1 channel audio, and a few other odds and ends.

Apexx Open

To Overclock or Not to Overclock?

It may not seem obvious to overclock a workstation. These systems tend to work with more mission critical applications than a typical gaming rig, but that hasn't scared off the folks buying systems like the Apexx 1.

"We have a steady demand for overclocked workstations. Once we educate our customers on the benefits of overclocking and how it can benefit their workflow, they're on board," Boxx Senior Product Marketing Manger Chris Morley told Maximum PC. 

And what are those benefits? It starts with faster performance and trickles down from there. 

"Overclocking may net more frame rates for gamers, but it makes money for creative professionals," Morley added. "Professionals can get more work done, faster, with an overclocked workstation" and in turn "get home to their families."

That's all fine and dandy but it all goes right out the window if a system is blue screening at every turn. Morley says that's not the case. In fact, he tells us "there's almost no difference in failure rates in the field" where there are thousands of overclocked Boxx systems currently in use.

Nevertheless, we wondered if customers tended to shy away from overclocked workstations. Surprisingly, they're not. Boxx's overclocked machines are finding homes all over the place -- virtual effects houses, defense contractors, major architectural firms, and so forth.

Boxx's approach to overclocking is somewhat unique in that it guarantees the specific speed of a system during the warranty period, which could be three years. What that means is if an overclock proves unstable, Boxx won't dial it back 100MHz or whatever the case may be, it will replace the part that's having trouble keeping up.

"We also have universal BIOS settings for each model.That means an Apexx 2 Model 2401 @ 4.5GHz will have the same OC settings whether you buy 2 or 200," Morley says.

It's an interesting proposition, particularly for a compact box like the Apexx 1, which is 70 percent smaller than the aforementioned Apexx 2.

Pricing starts at $3,895 for a Xeon-based Apexs and $4,710 for a Core i7-5960X Extreme Apexx.

Microsoft to Open Five-Story Flagship Store in New York Next Month

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 11:26 AM PDT

Raising a new flagship

New York Microsoft

Microsoft is getting ready to open two new flagship retail locations, one in New York and the other in Sydney, Australia. Both locations have been six years in the making and will be Microsoft's largest stores to date.

The store in New York will be Microsoft's first full size store in Manhattan (it has a kiosk in Columbus Circle in Manhattan). It's a five-story, 22,696 square foot facility located at 677 Fifth Avenue, the old address for Fendi. The store's staff will be a diverse makeup coming from five boroughs and surrounding areas, with more than 19 languages spoken.

Microsoft's store in Sydney won't be quite as big -- it's over 6,000 square feet and spans two floors. It will have a retail sales space and an interactive area to serve local customers and businesses, with staff coming from over 11 countries and speaking more than 21 languages, Microsoft says.

"When we architected our retail plans, we committed to providing exceptional choice, value and service, and making a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. These flagship stores will deliver on these commitments, offering premier shopping destinations," Microsoft said in a blog post.

To celebrate the opening of two new flagship locations, Microsoft said it will donate more than $5 million in software and technology grants to select local organizations. Those organizations will be highlighted during the grand opening events.

As with past grand opening events, you can expect there to be prizes, special guests, and probably musical entertainment.

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GeForce Now Service Streams Games to Nvidia Devices for $8 Per Month

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 09:42 AM PDT

Netflix of games

GeForce Now

Services like Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify have proven there's a vast market for streaming services., and it looks like Nvidia will help itself to a slice of the pie. The way it will do that is through GeForce Now, a $7.99 per month on-demand gaming service for Shield devices (namely the Shield Android TV, Shield Portable, and Shield tablet).

This is sort of the end-game for Nvidia's GRID service, which has been operating in beta for the past couple of years. When GeForce Now goes live on October 1 in North America, GRID will go dark, though Nvidia insists that GeForce Now is more than just a renaming of GRID. Nvidia says it's "an entire new platform and architecture," one that's "faster, better, more reliable, and more robust," according to PCWorld.

GeForce Now will still stream games at 1080p and 60 frames per second, the first non-beta cloud-gaming service to do so. It will launch with over 50 titles. Most of them are slightly older games such as Batman: Arkham Origins, Lego Marvel Super Heroes, and Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, to name just a few.

Nvidia will also offer newer "Buy and Play Instantly" titles like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt ($60) and Saints Row IV ($20). In other words, some games will be available for sale

"GeForce NOW is all about instant gratification. But it took us a decade to invent the technology behind the service that streams GeForce GTX-quality graphics to SHIELD devices," Nvidia stated in a blog post.

Up in the air? GeForce Now will kick off with a free three month trial when it launches next month.

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How PC Power Supplies Work

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 12:00 AM PDT

A look at the gritty details of what gives your rig its juice

00 PSU opener

The power supply unit (PSU) is one of the PC components that we tend to take for granted. It sits in the case with a bunch of wires sticking out of it, and maybe once in a while we blow some air blown into it to get rid of dust bunnies. But it's arguably the most important piece of hardware in the PC because it does one thing: feeds the rest of the machine the electricity it needs.

Unfortunately, electricity as it comes out of the wall socket just isn't the right kind. Electronic devices are designed to use DC electricity, while what's coming out of the wall is AC. Plus, the electricity from the wall is way too powerful. This means the primary role of the PSU is to convert AC electricity into DC electricity at a safe level.

We'll take a look into how a PSU does this, and the actual hardware inside it that makes this possible. As a visual aid, we'll be cracking one open to expose its innards.

Quick Primer: types of power supplies

Power supplies come in two main flavors: linear and switched mode.

Linear power supplies are simpler, requiring only a few steps to convert AC electricity into DC electricity. They expend energy constantly and normally dump excess energy as heat and will require larger components for high power delivery. This limits them mostly to smaller power applications. Where they really shine is that their output has little noise to worry about, and laboratory-grade bench supplies will often be linear for this reason.

A switched mode power supply, on the other hand, has an internal switch that controls the flow of electricity going into the rest of the power supply. While this adds complexity, it has a couple of benefits. The first is that the power supply uses less electricity than a linear power supply. The second is that the switching action generates high-frequency AC electricity, which in turn allows some components, such as inductors and transformers, to be smaller. The downside is that the switching creates a lot of noise that needs to be filtered in the output and possibly shielded to prevent leakage.

From AC to DC: steps in a power supply's process

As mentioned, the primary job of the power supply is to convert AC to DC. Once the DC electricity is made, it turns this into the appropriate voltages for the components to use. It gets a bit complicated once other features are taken into account, so here's a block diagram breaking it down:

01 Psu_block_diagram

Block diagram of a PC power supply. Red lines are AC, green lines are DC.

Here's a picture of the PSU we're examining with the parts that do all of those steps highlighted. In case you're wondering about the white goop and plastic sheets, the goop is to minimize vibrations while the plastic sheets are to isolate components from touching either each other or the chassis, which has the ground wire connected to it.

02-psu Layout

Step 1 – Filtering the AC input

Electricity coming out of the wall is very noisy, for a number of reasons. The first step is to filter out as much of the noise as possible, using a combination of capacitors (known as X and Y capacitors) and inductors. In addition, there may be some protection circuitry similar to that found in surge protectors to guard against sudden in-rushes of current.

If the power supply has a physical voltage switch, the input either goes into a voltage doubler circuit or continues on. The voltage doubler is used when the input is 115V, so that the rest of the power supply only has to work with 230V regardless of the actual input. If there's active power factor correction, then it takes care of this step. Thus if the power supply takes 115V–230V with no physical switch, there's a good chance it has active power factor correction.

03-ac Filter And Recitfier

This picture shows the bulk of the AC filtering and parts of rectifying the AC electricity described in step 2. The screws in the middle of the heatsink attach a diode for power factor correction (described in step 3) and a couple of switching MOSFETs (responsible for switching described in step 4).

Step 2 – Rectify and filter

Electricity coming from the wall is alternating back and forth between positive and negative voltages. This causes current to flow back and forth throughout the wires, producing no real work over time. Rectifiers convert the alternating current into a purely positive current as seen in the picture below:

04 Rectifier_circuit_with_graph

AC input to a full-wave rectified output (from Falstad's Circuit Simulator).

A reservoir capacitor is used to capture energy from the still alternating flow to turn it into a more flat and stable one.

05 Filter_cap_and_ripple

Notice that on the output, there's a sort of saw-tooth pattern. This is because the capacitor can only be charged up when the voltage of the rectified output reaches a certain point to the peak voltage. Otherwise it's discharging. The lowest and highest points in the saw-tooth form what is known as ripple. The amount of ripple depends on the quality, capacity, and type of capacitor. High-quality power supplies will keep ripple to a minimum.

As an aside, the ATX specification calls for no more than five percent ripple on the 3.3V, 5V, 5V_SB, and 12V lines.

Step 3 – Power Factor Correction (PFC)

Power factor is a phenomena that happens with AC circuitry. There are two types of power in AC circuits: active and reactive power. Active power is power that's being used on resistive loads, like turning a motor. Reactive power is power that works on components such as capacitors and inductors to charge them up, with no work done on the actual load.

Power factor is the ratio between the sum of the active and reactive power (called apparent power) and the active power itself, and is always lower than 1. Power factor correction aims to get this ratio as close to 1 as possible. While this sounds similar to efficiency, efficiency is an inherit component of electronics that cannot use all of the electricity to do useful work and dumps what it can't use as heat.

There are two types of power factor correction: passive and active. Passive PFC uses inductors, a passive electric component. Active PFC uses control circuitry and transistors, or active electric components.

Step 4 – Switching

Switching clumps a few actions together to achieve the same effect: allow electricity to flow through to the rest of the power supply. Other functions of switching include:

  • Protection circuitry, such as overvoltage, overcurrent, overpower, and short circuit protections.
  • Provide basic feedback to the computer, the most important one being the power good signal, which tells the motherboard that the PSU is good to go.
  • Create a high-frequency (in the tens of kilohertz range) AC output. The reason is that this allows the transformers used in the next step to be small.

Switching requires feedback from the output in order to work properly. This is done by tapping into the output voltages that feed into the computer.

06-control Circuitry

This is the control circuitry for handling switching.

Step 5 – Transform

Transformers are used to step down the voltage to a primary 12V line and a secondary 5V line. The main 12V line is then stepped down further using DC-to-DC converters to 5V and 3.3V for the PC to use. A secondary 5V line is used to supply the 5V standby power circuitry so that the computer can turn on from the front power switch.

Step 6 – Rectify output and filter

After transforming the input into a safe voltage level output, it's time to rectify and filter once more, because what's coming out of the transformer is AC electricity. It's basically a repeat of step 2.

07-output Rectifier

The picture shows the rectifier on the right, which for this model is the half-wave type. This means only half of the AC wave is used. This is most likely a cost-saving measure to avoid needing a more complex transformer. To the left of the rectifier are the capacitors used for filtering.

The output is tapped back into the switching circuit. For safety reasons, the output circuitry is not directly connected to the input circuitry. That is, there's no PCB trace or wire connecting the two. To get around this, this power supply uses an isolating transformer. In other power supplies, they may use what is called an optocoupler. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opto-isolator)

Step 7 – Convert and regulate

Since only 12V is created from the main transformer, DC-to-DC converters are used to create the 5V and 3.3V. Regulators help keep voltages as stable as possible. The following images show the output of these lines. The output wires are very thick because they have to support a lot of current.

08-12v And 3v Outputs

The 12V and 3.3V lines come out here.

09-5v And 3v Outputs

The 5V line comes out here.

10-main Output

All of those wires lead into the main distributor PCB. Nothing fancy going on here.

You may have noticed there were two 12V lines coming out of the output (noted by the label "12V2" on the PCB). This would imply that this particular power supply has two 12V rails, most likely distributed between the main 24-pin connector and EPS12V connector for one rail with the peripherals, including the PCI Express connector, for the other.

Putting it all together: It takes a lot to convert electricity

For the seemingly simple task of converting electricity, the power supply goes through more than a few steps to ensure the safe, correct electricity plugs into your components. While this article scratches the surface of its inner workings, we hope the information gives a better appreciation of an often overlooked part.
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMORPG News

MMORPG News

Fallout 4: Hey There Good Lookin'! - Latest Video Explores Charisma

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 08:45 AM PDT

Hey There Good Lookin

The fourth in a series of Fallout 4 videos has arrived that will give players the lowdown on Charisma, that attribute that makes anyone a charmer. This latest video follows the earlier ones on Strength, Endurance and Perception. Check it out!

General: Divinity: Original Sin 2 Smashes Goal as Campaign Ends

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 07:28 AM PDT

Divinity: Original Sin 2 Smashes Goal as Campaign Ends

Larian Studios has wrapped up the KickStarter initiative for Divinity: Original Sin 2 with nearly 50,000 backers funding the project for $2.03M USD. Because of the overwhelming success, several stretch goals were unlocked including Chris Avellone joining as a staff writer, Strategist Mode, Undead as a playable race, The Hall of Echoes playable area, and Love/Hate Relationships.

Rift: Trion Introduces New Patron & Credit Pack Prices

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 07:21 AM PDT

Trion Introduces New Patron & Credit Pack Prices

Beginning October 7th, Rift players will have to pony up more cash in order to be a Patron subscriber or to purchase credit packs for use in the game. Locking in a subscription now, however, will allow players to retain the current, lower Patron price once the new structure goes live.

Gloria Victis: All But the Kitchen Sink - Massive Gameplay Update Deploys

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 07:12 AM PDT

All But the Kitchen Sink - Massive Gameplay Update Deploys

The Gloria Victis team has sent word that the latest update has been applied to the game that brings a number of overhauled mechanics on board as well as some new mechanics as well.

General: Third Times a Charm with Romero's Aftermath

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 10:50 PM PDT

Third Times a Charm with Romero

Seeking to take the game in a different direction, a number of Infestation developers broke away from OP Productions and formed their own studio, Free Reign Entertainment. Free Reign licensed the engine, and got to work on a "spiritual successor" called Romero's Aftermath.

Darkest Dungeon: Lots to Explore in 'Those From Below' Update

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 02:07 AM PDT

Lots to Explore in

The Darkest Dungeon team has published the official update notes for the latest game update called Those From Below. The update pits players against fish-people and drowned sailors, seven different types, in fact. The game also includes, new music, new art, curios, and bosses.

Blade & Soul: The Faithful Companion - Weapon Upgrading Detailed

Posted: 30 Sep 2015 01:42 AM PDT

The Faithful Companion - Weapon Upgrading Detailed

The Blade & Soul team has published a new article that reveals details behind one of the game's more unique features: Upgrading weapons. In the earliest stages of the game, players will receive a Hongmoon weapon that will remain with them throughout the balance of the game.

Mass Effect: Andromeda: Theme Park Attraction Coming to California's Great America

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 02:52 PM PDT

Theme Park Attraction Coming to California

Bioware has just announced that a new Mass Effect-themed attraction will be opening at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California in 2016. The attraction will feature 3D technology and 4D effects with a live performer escorting attendees on a journey to a planet where they will fight to save the day.

World of Warcraft: All We Hear Are Crickets, Blizzard! What's Up with Legion?

Posted: 27 Sep 2015 05:32 PM PDT

All We Hear Are Crickets, Blizzard! What

It's been awhile since we wrote about World of Warcraft, not because we wouldn't like to, but because there is honestly next to nothing new to write about. Don't misunderstand: There's nearly always something that can be said about WoW. Right now, however, what people want to know is the one thing that we have heard next to nothing about since Gamescom at the beginning of August: Legion.

Guild Wars 2: Managing the Many - New Squad UI Debuts

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 11:37 AM PDT

Managing the Many - New Squad UI Debuts

During last weekend's Twitchcon, ArenaNet revealed the first information about the forthcoming Squad UI. Squad UI allows players to manage large groups of players throughout the entire game world. Commanders will be able to harness the power of up to fifty players, further subdivided up to fifteen times.

General: Battletech KickStarter Begins - Mechanized Mayhem!

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 11:23 AM PDT

Battletech KickStarter Begins - Mechanized Mayhem!

Harebrained Schemes has announced the release of the Battletech KickStarter initiative. The base game has been self-funded by Harebrained Schemes with backers assisting in the funding of further development of Battletech.

General: 5 MMO-Related Things I Hate

Posted: 27 Sep 2015 05:39 PM PDT

5 MMO-Related Things I Hate

The word hate can have very different levels of meaning. So, to be sure it's clear, the topic of this article refers to things that fall pretty low on the intensity scale. To illustrate what I mean, my wife thinks I hate turnips. I don't. However, when given the option to take or leave them, I'll almost invariably do the latter. This doesn't mean I passionately detest them.

General: Might & Magic Heroes VII Launches

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 10:52 AM PDT

Might & Magic Heroes VII Launches

Fans of hybrid RPG-RTS games will be happy to hear that Might & Magic Heroes VII has officially launched after a successful beta run. MMHVII continues the twenty year legacy of the series and was developed by Limbic Entertainment.

Divergence Online: Ethan Casner 'Ask Me Anything' -- TOMORROW!

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 10:37 AM PDT

Ethan Casner

Divergence Online's Ethan Casner will join us on the MMORPG.com forums for an "Ask Me Anything" Q&A event.

Gloria Victis: Get Into the Lore

Posted: 28 Sep 2015 03:41 PM PDT

Get Into the Lore

Although Gloria Victis is highly focused on skill-based combat and great PVP experience, immersion and credibility of its world are crucial as well. That entails a need for complex, believable lore, as well as a deep and mature storyline. Characters that the players will meet have their own personalities, stories to tell, personal beliefs and value systems.

Neverwinter: A Chat with RA Salvatore About Underdark and D&D Storytelling

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 09:28 AM PDT

A Chat with RA Salvatore About Underdark and D&D Storytelling

Last week we got the chance to talk with renowned fantasy and D&D author R.A. Salvatore. Salvatore is responsible for some of the best Dungeons and Dragons fiction ever written. He is also the writer who put dark elves on the map with his famous stories about Drizzt Do'Urden. Recently, while finishing up his latest novel, Salvatore took up the chance to write a quest line for Perfect World's D&D MMO Neverwinter.

Neverwinter: Bruenor & Drizzt to Join Up in Underdark This Fall

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 09:44 AM PDT

Bruenor & Drizzt to Join Up in Underdark This Fall

This Fall, Neverwinter players will have a trio of fantastic Wizards of the Coast D&D goodness to experience this fall with a quest line written by RA Salvatore and the chance to adventure alongside two of D&D's most iconic heroes: Drizzt Do'Urden and Bruenor Battlehammer.

Star Trek Online: Go Forth & Conquer - Admiralty System Revealed

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 10:07 AM PDT

Go Forth & Conquer - Admiralty System Revealed

The latest developer blog to hit the Star Trek Online site covers the upcoming Admiralty System, a way for players to send their Admiralty ships on missions hoping to reap the rewards in both tangible means and in terms of prestige and influence. Major political forces in the galaxy will seek assistance that coincides with progress earned in various campaigns.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: v3.1 and Beyond Revealed During Tokyo Game Show

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 09:56 AM PDT

v3.1 and Beyond Revealed During Tokyo Game Show

MMOGames has a nice write up of the recent Final Fantasy XIV presentation during the Tokyo Games Show. During the panel, the team revealed the first details about what players can expect with the v3.1 update called "As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness".

Armored Warfare: Set Cannons on FUN! Head Start Begins Oct. 1, OBT on Oct. 8

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 08:09 AM PDT

Set Cannons on FUN! Head Start Begins Oct. 1, OBT on Oct. 8

Obsidian Entertainment and My.com have revealed new details about the forthcoming open beta test for Armored Warfare. Head Start to OBT will begin for Founder's Pack owners on October 1st with the full open beta to kick off for everyone on October 8th. OBT will feature five classes of vehicles, 9 PvP maps, 15v15 PvP battle mode, 25 PvE maps and player military bases.

WildStar: Reloaded and Overloaded

Posted: 29 Sep 2015 07:58 AM PDT

Reloaded and Overloaded

WildStar is back! Well, it didn't really go anywhere to begin with, but to say that Carbine's freshman game was an underappreciated title would be an understatement. WildStar has always been a bit of an underdog, and today marks the relaunch of the MMO as a Free to Play game. And at least so far, the relaunch seems to be working from a hype perspective, because those megaservers have definitely been feeling the pressure. Read on for more of our Day One thoughts on a Free to Play Nexus.
Posted by Shri Krishna
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