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- Tutorial: How to overclock the GTS 450
- Tutorial: Windows 7 HomeGroup not working? Try these quick fixes
- Review: CoolerMaster CM Storm Inferno
- 20 reasons you should switch to Linux
- Review: Asus O!Play HD2
| Tutorial: How to overclock the GTS 450 Posted: 05 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST  Finally Nvidia has given us a graphics card based on its Fermi technology for less than a ton. AMD has had this end of the market sewn up in DX11 terms for around a year now, so it's about time. The GTS 450 has been priced and specced to go directly up against the Radeon HD 5770. In vanilla trim it's a very close race with both cards having the lead in some benchmarks and falling behind in others. When you look at the GTS 450's overclocking chops, however, you'll realise that you can really push this card past what the overclocked HD 5770 can achieve. We saw the Asus Top edition of the GTS 450 with a huge factory overclock, beating the MSI HD 5770 Hawk in practically all areas. So, with a little luck, some judicious tweaking and an aftermarket cooler, we should be able to push this new kid on the block to impressive heights. And the graphics card is possibly one of the easiest components of your machine to overclock the hell out of. They are robust enough that even when you push them to the very limits, they'll still come back for more. Overclocking can shorten the life of your GPU, but likely as not the graphics card is the one component that everyone can replace with the minimum of technical knowledge, and it's also the component that's likely to be upgraded the soonest. So, live fast, die in obsolescence is our motto for graphics cards. And in the mean time you can get the sort of performance out of your sub-£100 card that you'd be paying another £50 more for only a couple of months back. Things are set to change again soon with AMD's HD 6000 series cards imminent, and the volume segment of the market in its sights. For now though, cook the clocks of your wee Fermi and enjoy the ride. How to overclock the GTS 450
1. No matter which manufacturer's GTS 450 you have slotted lovingly into your PC, there's only one application we'd recommend and that's MSI's excellent Afterburner. Simply download the software and the manual, and the hard work can begin.
2. Well, I say hard, but GPU overclocking applications such as Afterburner make everything an absolute doddle. Its clear, simple GUI and detailed hardware monitor help to make the process as simple as possible. Both Asus and EVGA have their own tools, but Afterburner is the clearest and easiest to get hold of. If you do have one of MSI's cards then the application will give you full access to the voltage tweaking elements of your card.
3. If not you can still do all the memory, core clock and shader shenanigans you need to get more from your card. Voltage tweaking is probably the easiest way to shorten the life of a GPU, so be wary. As well as the actual tweaking software you'll need a stress tester. There's no point hitting 1GHz on the core clock in Windows alone without testing if it will in games too. Unigine's Heaven 2.1 Benchmark is a beast, but that takes a long time loading. A better bet is FurMark. You can leave this application running on your Windows desktop as you tweak, helping you look out for artefacts as you go. So let's get tweaking. First, we'll attack the memory clocks. Step the frequency up by 5-10MHz and apply the settings, then check the FurMark window for signs of artefacting, for at least a couple of minutes, and then step it up another notch. Keep doing this until signs of artefacting begin to rear their ugly heads. 4. Once you hit the limit, step it back a notch and do some more stress-testing using Heaven 2.1 Benchmark.
5. Now, reset the memory slider to its default position and start over with the Core/Shader clock slider. Essentially, it's the same drill as with the memory clock. Once the Core limit is found, bring up the memory clock to the previous stable overclock and stress test with both clocks. You may find with both clocks up high you get more artefacting. To solve this issue you need to figure out which of them is giving you the problem, and drop the relevant slider. But how can you tell?
If it's a memory problem, that will manifest itself as solid blocks of colour, and if it's a processor problem then you'll see either pixel-sized dots or bright flashes. Once you've nailed the artefact problems, hit 'Apply at startup' and you're finished. 
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| Tutorial: Windows 7 HomeGroup not working? Try these quick fixes Posted: 04 Dec 2010 04:00 AM PST  In theory, HomeGroups are supposed to simplify the process of sharing key folders and printers on your network. Sadly, they can be more trouble than they're worth – try these troubleshooting tips. 1. Windows 7 only Remember, HomeGroups only work on PCs running Windows 7 – if your network includes computers running earlier versions of Windows, Linux or Mac OS, use the standard filesharing options instead. 2. Visit Action Center Click the flag icon in the Notification area of the Taskbar and click Open Action Center. Select Troubleshooting > Network and Internet, and click HomeGroup to launch a troubleshooter. 3. Check your network type HomeGroups will only work on networks designated as Home not Public or Work. Verify this on each PC by opening the Network and Sharing Center – if necessary, click the link under the network name and select Home. 4. Workgroup settings It shouldn't matter, but verify that each PC is on the same workgroup – view and change your workgroup by right-clicking Computer and selecting Properties, then click "Change settings" if necessary. 5. Public Folder sharing options Click "Change advanced sharing settings" in the Network and Sharing Center – expand "Home or Work", scroll down and verify that both Network Discovery and "Public Folder sharing" are On. 6. Check the Firewall Networking problems can often be traced to your firewall. If you can connect with the firewall switched off, you'll need to tweak its settings so it doesn't block network traffic – visit the firewall vendor's website for more help and advice if necessary. 7. Fix error 0x80632094 Your PCs need to support IPv6 and have it enabled in order to connect to a HomeGroup: from the Network and Sharing Center click "Change Adapter Settings", right-click your network adapter and choose Properties, then verify the TCP/IPv6 entry is ticked. 8. Check services Press [Windows] + [R], type "services.msc" and press [Enter]. Check the following services are running: HomeGroup Listener, HomeGroup Provider, Peer Name Resolution Protocol, Peer Networking Grouping and Peer Networking Identity Manager. 9. Fix error 0x80630801 Leave the HomeGroup, then delete the contents of the c:\ Windows\ServiceProfiles\ LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking folder – you'll need to click "Continue to" when prompted to access the LocalService folder, and AppData is a hidden folder. 10. Forget HomeGroups Remove the HomeGroup from your main computer, then click "Change advanced sharing settings" and configure your network manually. Once this is done, you can then share any individual folder by right-clicking it and choosing Share with > Specific people. 
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| Review: CoolerMaster CM Storm Inferno Posted: 04 Dec 2010 02:00 AM PST  CoolerMaster has been making a name for itself all over the components market. Last month it absolutely nailed the power supply supertest and we've been loving its chassis for many a long year. The gaming peripherals market hasn't been so fertile a ground for it up until now, but a new spin-off company has seen CM Storm take that slightly poisoned chalice on. First off was the rather impressive Sentinel Advance gaming mouse. We checked it out at the beginning of the year and a very favourable 4 out of 5 it got too. The CM Storm Inferno is of a similar ilk but redesigned WITH MORE BUTTONS. That's very important in gaming mouse terms, as are LED light-shows and headline-grabbing numbers in the DPI space. But there's something that feels rather cut-down and cut-price compared with CM Storm's last rodent-based outing. It feels like the budget sibling, and while it's cheaper by a fiver, it still feels a lot more lacking than that. The fact that the Sentinel Advance can hit a superior 5,600dpi isn't nearly as important as the lightweight feel of the Inferno. It's the same weight as the Sentinel Advance but lacks the extra weights you can drop in the base. It also doesn't have its older brother's reassuring solidity either. There's just a little too much play in the buttons, making them too feel lightweight. If this were CM Storm's £15 entry-level gaming rodent we could forgive it these failings. But the company has already produced a decent mouse you can pick up for practically the same price. This would be that difficult second mouse then… Related Links
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| 20 reasons you should switch to Linux Posted: 04 Dec 2010 02:00 AM PST  There are hundreds of compelling reasons why Linux is better than all the rival operating systems. Here are just 20. 1. Linux is free No matter how many computers you install it on, the cost of Linux remains the same: zero. In these days of multi-computer households, this can be a massive saving, especially when you consider the cost of all the programs you have to add to a standard Windows installation. 2. Software repositories Having all the software you need in one place saves you having to trawl the web to find the program you're missing. It also means the software has been independently checked and digitally signed by the distro's developers, making it almost impossible to pick up a root-kitted version.
The same developers also keep track of updates and add them to the repository, providing you with automatic updates without every program needing a 'phone home' feature. 3. Live CDs Live CDs are one of the best innovations of the Linux world. To be able to load a complete desktop on any computer by booting it from a CD or USB stick is a great way of using your favourite distro away from home, demonstrating Linux to yet-to-be-converted friends, checking hardware compatibility or fixing a broken Windows system. 4. Rapid evolution Windows Vista took five years to appear, and was seen by many critics and users alike as a big step backwards, if not a complete flop. Since Windows 7 would take another three years to come along, that was virtually an eight-year wait for an operating system upgrade! In contrast, most Linux distributions have an updated release every six to nine months (with the obvious exception of Debian). If you don't like the upside-down menus or whatever features Ubuntu decides to add to its current release, you can skip it – the next version will be only months away. 5. Linux is free Didn't we already mention this? Yes, but this is a different free: it's the freedom to do whatever you want with the software. This isn't restricted to copying, but also hacking. Even if you don't have the skills to do so, you can take advantage of the efforts of others. In fact, you probably already do so, as most distros use a modified version of the standard Linux kernel. 6. Powerful shell While some criticise Linux for its use of the shell, this really is a powerful advantage. Easy GUIs are good, and we need to be able to carry out standard administration and configuration tasks using a GUI, but sometimes a shell can be so much faster and more flexible, unlike a DOS box. 7. Multiple desktops
Have you ever watched a Windows user trying to juggle several programs and windows on screen at once, assuming they have enough resources to run several programs? Multiple desktops makes it easy to have many programs and windows open all at once, but only have to deal with the ones you are using right now. For example, you could have your email and internet on one desktop, a game on another, and the work you're supposed to be doing on another. A flick of the mouse is all that's required to switch between them. 8. Independent distributions Distributors are responsible for selecting and packaging software. Even if the distributor employs some of the programmers of a particular program, it isn't obliged to use that program irrespective of any shortcomings, unlike the situation with a certain large, monolithic software company. Software evolves because the distros only include what they feel is the best or most appropriate. 9. Drivers included Some claim that Windows 7 supports more hardware than Linux. In fact, the reverse is true. Windows 7 supports very little hardware – most hardware requires you to install drivers from the manufacturer. On the other hand, the majority of hardware is supported directly by the Linux kernel, so you can just plug and play – this is one of the reasons live CDs work so well. 10. Runs on any platform Linux runs on just about any hardware you can name, from mobile phones to supercomputers. The open source nature of the kernel and software means it can be ported to another architecture by a third party if the existing developers see no need. The end user doesn't need to care about the underlying hardware. 11. No commercial deadlines The release of a commercial operating system requires much planning in terms of coordinating marketing and promotion, so release dates are adhered to, even if the software isn't ready. Linux distros have no such pressures, and tend to adopt a 'release it when ready' approach, which means there are fewer post-installation bugs to deal with. 12. Interoperability Linux plays well with other systems. It recognises that there's a place for Windows and Mac OS X and will install alongside them, share files with them, and generally be nice to them. This is very different from the Windows view that multibooting means choosing between Windows 7 and Vista. 13. Community support The community support of Linux is unparalleled, mainly because there is no clear demarcation between developers and the rest of the community. Web forums and mailing lists are frequented by the software developers themselves, giving prompt and authoritative help, as well as the opportunity for users to give direct feedback and discuss suggestions with the developers. 14. Any colour you like, except brown Everything on Linux has an alternative, from the desktop you use to the package manager and even the filesystem holding it all. You can pick what's best for your needs, whether you want impressive eye candy or fast and light for older hardware. 15. Pick and mix With Linux, there is no commercial vendor trying to lock you into certain products or protocols. Instead, you're free to mix and match and choose what works best for your business. If you want to run KDE programs on a Gnome desktop or even the other way round, you can. If you want to cherry pick the best bits from each distro, you can. There are even DIY distros, such as Gentoo, that enable you to build a custom environment. 16. Security Linux is inherently more secure than Windows, because security is a feature of the core system, not a boltedon afterthought. With a firewall at the heart of the kernel and the virtual impossibility of slipping malware into the software repositories, a Linux computer can devote all its resources to running your programs, rather than being bogged down with security programs running all the time. 17. Lack of malware Malware is virtually unheard of on Linux. This is mainly down to the open source nature of the software. If you install from your distro's repositories, you know the software has been checked by them. 18. Thousands of programs included A Linux distro is not just an operating system; it comes with thousands of free applications. While other systems consider a desktop, web browser and mailer to be all you need, a typical Linux distro includes everything you could possibly want: internet tools, office software, multimedia and games. If it's not on the installation disc, there are thousands more available for download. 19. No reinstallations When problems occur in Linux, they can be fixed directly. You don't even need to reinstall when you want to update to the latest version of your distro. 20. Pick a distro And if you don't like it, pick another, and another. Most distros keep user data on a separate partition, so you can flit between distros like a hyperactive butterfly, and still keep all your settings, emails and so on intact. 
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| Posted: 04 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST  There's been no shortage of competent media streamers hitting our test benches over the last year or so. Asus' original O!Play HD1 was little different, offering myriad format compatibility and fairly basic functionality for a decent price. The Asus O!Play HD2, though, has a trick up its sleeve: USB 3.0 compatibility. Elsewhere it's still the same Realtek powered device, with NAS, BitTorrent and iTunes server options to boot. It happily copes with practically any file format you throw at it and manages local HD video content without problems. But times are tough for the standard media streamer and I don't think the addition of a still under-subscribed interface will make much difference. The difficulty is in the availability of cheaper and increasingly more powerful net-tops, and the spectre of Google TV and other TVs with internet and PC connectivity. The O!Play does come with some internet-ready apps, such as Picasa and Flickr, plus a weather and stock reporter, but these do precious little to elevate it. There is the promise of an Opera browser in the next firmware update and Asus claims it will continue to add apps in, but at the time of writing those are still a little way away. Still, the O!Play is a functional little device and this time around there's the addition of an internal HDD slot that I'd wager will get more use in the short term than the USB 3.0 port. Unfortunately, the tightly closed Realtek platform offers little room for manoeuvre for the manufacturers, and with others like the fully internet-savvy, open-sourced Boxee Box from D-Link just landing, it's a tough market for this capable little box. Related Links
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