New(?) NVidia GT 200 GPU’s Review
Hey guys Icarus here again. It’s been a long few days since my last post, and I’ve been working really hard on those guides… but I came back on here, because I saw some interesting new stuff today.
So, if you go to any online retailer right now like Newegg, you WILL see the new NVidia GT 200 series GPU’s. Now, physical appearances always make first impressions, even if we try not to notice them. Hmm… these GPU’s look VERY similar to another GPU… right, the NVidia 8800 G92 series GPU’s! So, the moral of the story? They are essentially, still from the old GPU chipset.
And when I say old, I MEAN old. These GT 200 GPU’s are supposedly descendants from the older G80 chipset, and according to many benchmarks, performs almost as well as an NVidia 9800 dual-GPU card. Well, that’s one good thing… at least for now. Since the release of NVidia’s 9800 series GPU’s, the prices on those GPU’s have dropped dramatically, anywhere from 50 dollars to even 100 dollars. I remember when I looked at the 9800 series GPU’s and thinking “Who would buy these?”.
Well, now onto the price. Everything else looks good… EXCEPT for the price. Six hundred dollars? You gotta be kidding me! This is even more expensive than some of the 8800 series GPU’s, and the 9800 series GPU’s. Why would they do this? Well, I actually have no clue… except they just got released, so the prices may be a bit high. But even then, the prices are still too high. You can build a nice budget computer with the money you spend on the GT 200 series GPU’s. So I’m guessing these GPU’s are for high-end computer enthusiasts ONLY. Which means it doesn’t include me, you, and many other mid-budget computer builders like us. That’s bad.
Well… I guess NVidia just blew another fuse. These GPU’s might just be there to keep us glued to them; sure didn’t do that well. Now we’ll just have to see what ATI has in store for us. Maybe NVidia will learn their lesson one day… when it’s too late :p
Hope that provides some good reading. See you all later!
Icarus
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The Evolution of Cases
I’m almost done with the first of many volumes of guides to each and every component of computers! Since I didn’t get any answers on which component should have the first guide, I went ahead and continued on the guide of cases, since it was one of the easier topics to cover.
Anyways, so I’m currently finishing up the guides to cases, so might as well talk about cases. Today I’d like to talk about the steady but sure change in many of the newer cases today.
A few years ago, when making custom computers on your own was still at its development stage, cases was one of those components that you had to watch out for. One bad case, and all of your components can get fried. From aesthetics to air movement, the cases of a few years ago lacked many qualities that we now have today. The emphasis on these cases was not on keeping the components long term, but more on keeping the components from the harm of the outside world. Looking at this emphasis, the computer cases of a few years ago did this well. But its fan placements and air flow also acted against this emphasis. In short, the pros got canceled and pushed out by the cons, and the components, the case, and the consumer suffered a bit.
The cases today have changed, at least for the better. In today’s cases, we see a lot more companies using their new knowledge on air flow, and interior design. We see a lot more cases concentrated on cooling efficiently, and also cases made out of quality material. Also, new aesthetic looks keep emerging week by week, and this is a very promising sight to many gamers who are in need of cases with the looks, the performance, and the price. Companies have also added on special features, such as completely-toolless design. All of these add on to the fact that overall, the cases of today are a lot better.
However, there is one con to the cases of today. With many more companies putting the emphasis on design and performance, many companies start to create cases that are too expensive for the average computer builder. Since the largest custom computer builders are now in the range of mid-budget, companies should put more emphasis on price-to-performance ratios, but at the still time try to keep the same great performance that they can attain on a higher budget.
Well, hope that helps. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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Third Analysis: ATI 4800 Series vs NVidia 9900 Series
Hey guys, Icarus here. Today, I’ll be doing a third, further analysis between the ATI 4800 series and the NVidia 9900 series.
Well, it’s been almost a month since ATI delayed its new flagship GPU’s, the ATI 4800 series, and it still hasn’t come out yet! What is the problem with this? Are they taking more time to perfect their GPU’s? Are they having a major overhaul of their HSF on their GPU’s? Probably not. The large delay is most likely due to some technical difficulties, since the ATI 4800 series are supposed to be the evolutionary form of its former success, the ATI 3800 series. Whatever technical difficulty they are having, they might want to fix it very quickly, because the delay has a large effect on consumers: losing some people’s interests. In today’s world, many people have short attention spans, and if the GPU’s keep getting delayed, they will be forgotten more by others.
Now, the NVidia 9900 series… There have not been any significant delays or technical difficulties rumored by other resources, but I am willing to bet that this will also be delayed. Since their somewhat disappointing release of their 9800 series GPU’s, they will have to make this GPU as perfect as possible in every aspect: performance, price/performance ratio, and of course, the benchmarks and its numbers. If they don’t, they will disappoint many consumers, like me, who are still willing to have hope for NVidia. At this pace, it does not look for NVidia, because ATI keeps improving step by step, while NVidia is stalled. They’re still at the same stage, and have been for over 6 months now. I believe it’s time to move on to something new :p
Anyways, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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Now it’s June… Where’re the Video Cards??
Hey guys, Icarus here. Today, I’m going to be talking about the ATI 4800 series GPU’s, because it’s coming up really really really… wow can’t say it enough. REALLY Soon.
According to TomsHardwareReview, the ATI 4800 series will include the standard ATI Radeon 4850 GPU, the ATI Radeon 4870 GPU, and the ATI Radeon 4870×2 GPU’s. This will be ATI’s newest series of GPU’s open for the public, and this will be one LARGE monster. From how ATI has been doing for the last few months, this will be another large evolution from their previous GPU’s.
Since its unsuccessful release of the ATI Radeon 2900XT GPU’s, ATI has really been kicking their work up. From their perfect ATI 3850 and 3870 GPU’s, to docking prices down on their popular 3870 GPU’s, and their release of the first dual-GPU card in years, the 3870X2, ATI has consistently been improving their GPU’s tremendously. I used to use both NVidia and ATI cards, and I used to like NVidia GPU’s a lot more, because, well, they used to be better. But now, with ATI moving along extremely well, I might just have to try these new GPU’s. So far, the ATI 4800 series looks excellent, and with its price range so far, it will be a KILLER move against NVidia, and, also, a move for the better for us, the consumers.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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These last few days…
Hey guys, Icarus here. One more thing I forgot to tell you guys about.
I’ve been compiling a guide for all of you, guides on specific components, and everything about them. Basically it’s a 101 lesson on each component, that will take you from the basics, all the way up to advanced topics. So, if you guys have any specific components’ guides you want first, please request them. Other than that, I must go work on the guide more and polish them. I will probably ask you all to look through the guide and see if ou have any suggestions on the layout/more topics. See you all later!
Icarus
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The Icarus Guide: How to Distinguish between Graphics Cards
Hey guys, Icarus here back from a few days of gruelling studying. I apologize for the lack of articles, this week is finals week for me, and I’ve been working my BUTT Off studying and making sure I know every bit of information I can possibly fit into my small brain(haha). But today I wrote a guide for all of you new-comers out there.
So, if you’re new to the vast and awesome field of custom, home-made computers, you’re most likely looking for components to put your first computer together. You’ve first decided to tackle which graphics card is right for you. You’ve got your budget divided into priorities(CPU and motherboard should be up at the top), and now you’re onto picking out your own GPU, your FIRST pick ever.
So you come across some popular retailers such as Newegg or ClubIT or MWave, and you see some great GPU’s that fit right into your budget. You narrow your choices down to one TYPE of GPU, and now you’re ready to buy! But wait… there’re many of the same GPU’s, just with different brand names, some have different specs, and some have different prices. Which one are you going to choose?
Well, if that’s your problem, you’ve come to the right place. So, as soon as you have a general idea of your budget, and narrowed your choices down to one type, take a look at all of the GPU’s in your category. Especially pay attention to:
1. Price
2. Specs(clock speed especially, warranties)
and last, but not least,
3. Brand.
After observing these questions, you have a little bit of homework to do. If you really want to look out on ways to save some money, try to predict the price-to-performance ratios based on those numbers on the specs sheet. That’ll give you a general idea of which ones you should be looking at. Then, look around on Google or any other popular search engines for some brand-reviews. Look especially for product quality, warranties, and customer service. Once you find solutions to all 3 of these factors, you will definitely have narrowed down your list to one choice: your perfect GPU.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Icarus
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The ATI 4800 Series is Right Around the Corner!
Hey guys, Icarus here. I want to try to re-explain the ATI 4800 series, because it’s right around the corner now! Today is a day in early June, and the ATI 4800 series is expected to be released in early- to mid-June.
So, what’s so hyped up about this? It’s not; I really don’t like it when the media hypes something up so much that the standards go so high. You have to be realistic. Sure, there’s always a chance that the ATI 4800 series will be the next candidate for the title of “the Ultra killer”, but you also have to be realistic. The last time ATI got close to beating an Ultra, or surpassed the Ultras in some benchmarks, was the ATI dual-GPU cards.
However, there is always hope. This ATI 4800 series is supposed to take into account all of the small, itty-bitty mistakes on the ATI 3800 series, and in addition to that, increase the overall performance. The ATI 4800 series will also be moderately cheap, not like the NVidia Ultras, where an outrageous cost turned everyone away. The ATI 4800 series will definitely be something to look forward to this month. I will most definitely.
Another reason why I’m so excited about the ATI 4800 series is that it might take away the almost-monopolized NVidia GPU market. Then, hopefully, NVidia will become more competitive and start pumping out amazing GPU’s like it used to a few years ago when it was competing neck to neck against ATI.
Well, that’s all for now. See ya later!
Icarus
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A Controversial Issue: Intel vs. AMD
Hey guys, Icarus here. As many of you know, Intel seems to be always one step ahead of AMD when it comes to CPU’s. Everyone says “Intel kicks AMD’s _____(fill in your word here)”. But is this really true?
Only a couple of years ago, AMD was kicking Intel’s butt with their own, new dual core processor, the Athlon X2’s. They were one step ahead of Intel at that time when Intel was still on the Pentium series, and everyone had an AMD CPU. AMD was in, and Intel seemed to be slipping away.
However, two years ago, Intel countered AMD with their own dual-core series CPU’s, the Intel Core2Duo’s. Now this was one large monster; it practically beat the heck out of every AMD CPU. From overclocking capabilities to processing power, the Intel Core2Duo’s left the AMD CPU’s in the dust. Since then, Intel has been always one step ahead of AMD, be it from quad-core CPU’s to developing 45nm CPU’s.
See, Intel seems to be a lot better than AMD right? But that’s not the whole truth. Intel’s CPU’s beats AMD CPU’s at certain benchmarks, but when it comes to running an Intel CPU and AMD CPU side by side, with all of the default settings, they’re actually quite close. Remember, numbers do not tell the whole truth. It’s like Graphics cards: you’ll have the largest benchmark number in your group of friends, but you won’t notice that much difference between the two screens. Same with CPU’s; Intel will surpass AMD when it comes to overclocking and other non-default settings, but when it comes to raw performance on stock settings, some AMD CPU’s actually come close to Intel’s CPU’s.
So, why does everyone think Intel is so much better than AMD? Mainly because of marketing, and the media. We’re all swayed by the media without noticing, and unless someone observant enough puts an Intel CPU’s benchmark and AMD CPU’s benchmark side by side, no one will notice.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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What is Modding?
Hey guys, Icarus here. Have you guys ever found a page on “modding” your computer case? Or have you seen a computer forum with a main thread called “Modding”? Have no idea what it is? Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Modding is one of two things:
1. Changing the case’s physical appearance and/or improve the performance of the case
2. Build your own case from scratch.
Those two definitions are the basics to modding. Now, anything goes in modding, from just drilling a fan hole on your side panel, to designing and building your own case from scratch, from whatever material you have worked out. It’s completely up to you.
There are no disadvantages to modding, except that it may take you some time to complete your mod. All that it takes is some imagination, calculations, and a theme, and you can create a completely new, unique case on a theme that you’ve always loved. Or your case had horrible air-cooling, so you added a few fan holes to add additional fans to your case, and your case now has great air-cooling. Anything goes, and again, only good things come with modding. It’s completely up to you.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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Pros of Cons of Computer Forums in General
Hey guys, Icarus here. I go around many computer forums these days, looking for new things to learn about specific current products, and I’ve noticed a general trend, so I’m gonna talk about forums in general tonight.
So, if you’ve ever joined a computer forum, there’s one obvious advantage: they’ll treat you well. Any good computer forum will treat you as they would want to be treated, and with the number of people registered in popular computer forums, there’s always someone there to answer your questions with their own expertise.
This leads to my next advantage: the wealth of information in a forum. In almost all forums, you can read messages that were out a week ago or a month, or even further back, and read those for some reviews on older products. Or, if you’re looking for people’s opinions on a newer product, you just post the thread on the forum, and wallah, you have a review there for you, or a link that leads you to one. Popular computer forums have so many people registered now-a-days that there’s always going to be at least one person who will have a solution to your problem. This means UNLIMITED resources… yes you saw right. UNLIMITED.
However, nothing is perfect, so I will now state one large con to computer forums in general. Having more people in a computer forum to answer your questions is an awesome thing, but it also brings one large disadvantage: the general comments. A popular computer forum does not mean that every member will have statistics to back their claims up, and most members, now-a-days, will simply post an answer to your question without benchmarks or stats to back his or her claim up. So how do you know that the person’s statement is true. You don’t. You’ll have to hope that someone more knowledgeable in that field will see your post and correct the post above with statistics and benchmarks. Without stats or benchmarks, you won’t have a clue if what the person is saying is right. Even the statements that seem so right may be critically wrong.
Well, that’s all for tonight. Good night everyone!
Icarus
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