PCI express & SLI

PCI express is the result of intel labs' rework on the classic PCI bus, allowing data to be transfered at twice the speed of an 8x AGP video connector. Also, PCI express allows for multiple video cards to be used simultaneously. With NVIDIA, this is called "SLI" (Scalable Link Interface) and ATi's response is "Crossfire". Currently, SLI is only available on newer intel-based and NForceSLI-based chipsets. Crossfire is available on Radeon Xpress Chipsets. For SLI to work, you must have 2 indentical video cards, in identical PCI-e x16 slots. So, if you had for example a BFG 6800GT Overclock series, and wanted to run SLI, you'd need another BFG 6800GT Overclock series. ATi is a little more leniant. The brands can be different, and you could even use another core, as long as the card in PCIex16_1 slot (the first PCI-e slot) is "Crossfire enabled". For example, you could use a Radeon x850xtPE CE in PCI 1 and then have an x850, an x850 Pro, an x850xt,or an x850xtPE in slot 2. The major difference is that in SLI, one card renders the horizontal while the other renders vertical. in CF, one card renders a 'checkerboard' like pattern, and the second card fills in the blanks. For the most detailed specs, see http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/printpage.php?id=378

XBox 360

The XBox360 has finally been released from Microsoft. but, and although many sites are giving beautiful detailed reviews on the gameplay, I'm here to review the hardware chosen. (all specifications courtesy of www.gaminghorizon.com)

The system has a whopping tri-core 3.2GHz CPU, an IBM PowerPC based processor, with 1024KB of L2 Cache. This processor is capable of pulling 9 billion dots per second.

Unlike the original XBox, the 360 has an ATi-based graphics processor, running at 500MHz, with 10MB of DRAM and an amazing 48 pipelines (the ATi Radeon x850xt only has 16)

The system comes with another 512MB of dedicated 700MHz GDDR3 (Graphics) RAM.

The audio leaves a little something to be desired, not even reaching the quality of a cheap SoundBlaster Live! (96Khz 24-bit audio). The integrated sound card on the XBox 360 is only 48Khz, 16-bit audio.


If you choose to upgrade to the $399. XBox 360 non-core system, you get a 20GB hard drive, wireless controllers and the ability to play XBox 1 games.

Intel Vs. AMD

With all the fuss between Intel and AMD, Here's a little artice I wrote for www.pctechbytes.com describing the differences.

Call of Duty 2 Review

I recently purchased Call of Duty 2. First let me say: Shell out the extra cash for the DVD version. I didn’t realize that it was 7 CDs, in a nice big hulk-sized box. After installing the game, I fired up the single player on my two test machines:

AMD Athlon64 2800+
Radeon 9600SE
1.5GB PC2700

And

AMD Athlon64 3200+
nVidia GeForce FX6600 256MB
2GB PC2700

Then I viewed it on my friend’s computer:

Intel Pentium 4 2.66GHz
ATi Radeon x850xt
1GB PC2700

The game has a great story line, but unless you’ve got a hulking nice computer, you’re going to run it 640x480@60Hz with everything turned off. But if you do have a nice computer, those graphics look nice. The game plays well, runs smoothly and has a great story line and multiplayer. I give it a 9.5 out of 10.

The Utilitarian Computer

The Utilitarian Computer

I’ve compiled a list of some good free applications that will help make your every day work life easier, that I am personally using now.

1. StarDock ObjectDock
This program resembles the Dock from Mac OSX. It is fully customizable and lets you put shortcuts to your most used programs and files right at your fingertips.
2. Konfabulator
This isn’t so much a utility as a utility manager. With Konfabulator you can install “widgets” which are themselves utilities. I personally recommend “FileBucket” which keeps files and folders at your fingertips, as well as Scribbler, which will automatically add anything you copy to a 20-item clipboard, for you to access later.

Enough is enough

An interesting article at Sysinternals reveals that new Sony DRM techniques are applying hidden registry keys and files (or "Rootkits") to the systems of anyone who buys a Sony copy protected CD. Read more there to see the exact specifications of how it's working.

"So Fast You'll Swear It's Broadband"

Recently we've seen a swarm of commercials from NetZero about the 3G "The Next Generation of Dial-Up" Claming to get near-broadband speeds from a dial up modem. The truth is they can't. And even their own technical support admits that they won't. I called and spoke with a NetZero representative. He said himself "Well, it is using regular phone wire through regular lines in a regular modem, we're achieving, at our best rate, 56,800bits per second" So basically you're getting an extra 200bps, or .2Kbps. or .025KB/s. That's terrible. So don't believe the hype. Do the research. know the numbers.