GAMERS DECIDE - AMD

The AMD Chip Security Flaw Explained

Pltzr13 — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 20:27:48 +0000

Earlier this week a security start-up, CTS Labs, released and created a website that claims AMD has 13 vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit. According to the website these vulnerabilities can be found in AMDs Ryzen and EPYC product lines and are classified in four different categories; RYZENFALL, FALLOUT, CHIMERA, and MASTERKEY.

Based on the available information these vulnerabilities can be used by attackers to upload malicious malware to take over the AMD processor, steal network credentials, and attack the operating system. The different vulnerabilities can be exploited together, meaning that hackers could use different flaw combinations to make their attack more devastating.

For gamers this means that their PCs can be compromised and they run the risk of losing access to gaming accounts and various information on their PC. Before there is any more panic it should be noted that while these flaws are dangerous they are not as easily exploited as the whitepaper and amdflaws.com have made them out to be.

According to a tweet by Dan Guido, CEO of Trail of Bits, "Regardless of the hype around the release, the bugs are real…and their exploit code works." Guido also tweeted, "Yes, all the flaws require admin [privileges] but all are flaws, not expected functionality."

In addition to the coverage of the security flaw, CTS Labs has been under a lot of scrutiny for how they distributed the information. Apparently AMD hadn't heard of CTS Labs until CTS contacted the company with their 24 hour deadline to fix the problems that they found in their hardware. The 24-hour period raised some flags due to the fact that security researchers usually give the chip company more time to fix the problem. Information about Meltdown and Spectre wasn’t released until months after it was first discovered.

Then there is the website and whitepaper CTS made, which contained an aggressive stance towards AMD. Then another website, Viceroy Research, made statements like AMD being worth nothing and that they’ll declare bankruptcy. This has raised concerns that the website and research was an act of sabotage. So far there has been no solid proof, but there is enough circumstantial evidence that points to sabotage.

AMD has conducted their own research into the reported flaws, though they are still analyzing the security risks the company has developed a plan to mitigate these security risks. Most of the plans involve developing patches for MASTERKEY, RYZENFALL, and FALLOUT, AMD does plan on bringing in a third party to help develop a patch for CHIMERA.

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AMD Ryzen 2: Top 5 important facts you need to know

Pltzr13 — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:17:43 +0000

2018 is in full swing for AMD with news of their Ryzen 2000, aka the Ryzen 2 or Ryzen Pinnacle Ridge. We got our initial information from the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) where AMD gave a presentation of the second generation Ryzen chips and a timeline of what they plan for the future. Since then there have been articles on the performance of the new CPUs and the improvements that have been made to it. With all of this information and all of these technical terms it’s easy to get confused or lost. So here are the important things that you need to know about the next generation of Ryzen CPUs.

Release Date

AMD will be releasing the Ryzen 2 processors in April of this year. These chips will be exclusively for desktops use, but AMDs presentation at the CES has made it clear that they do intend to release mobile chips later on this year.

What’s New?

The Ryzen 2 has been designed to be smaller than the first generation, going from 14 nanometers to 12 nanometers, which combined with the new Zen+ core design will allow for a faster processor. To further boost the speed of the Ryzen 2 and ensure that the new chips won’t slow down at the wrong time AMD has also incorporated the Precision Boost 2.

The Precision Boost 2 will increase and maintain the speed of the processor by constantly checking its speed and temperature. To make sure that the Ryzen 2 will be able to handle the heat AMD has improved the cooling system using a soldered heat spreader which will dispel excess heat.

Platform

The release of the Ryzen 2 doesn’t mean you will have to rebuild or purchase a new setup. The new processors will be able to integrate with older hardware, so AMD users can switch out the older Ryzen processor.

Price

AMD hasn’t released any details on the specific price of the Ryzen 2 or its product line. There has been speculation online that prices will be roughly the same as the previous generation. Until more details come out there is no guarantee that the price will remain the same or will be higher due to the changes made in the design of the Ryzen 2.

Will it make a difference?

So far AMD has made it clear that there will at least be a 10 percent increase in performance from the downsizing of the new processor alone. This may not seem like much now, but with the design improvement and the additional features there will be a difference in the overall performance of the Ryzen 2.

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The Top 10 Bestselling CPUs of 2017

Pltzr13 — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 20:54:03 +0000

A new year means upgrades of the latest tech, in this case the new central processing units (CPU) for laptops and desktops. During this time many get pulled into the hype for the latest and greatest, while forgetting that the one’s that came out just last year are still available.

What is a CPU and why is it important for gaming?

A central processing unit or CPU is the brain of a computer. It carries out every order we input into the PC, whether you are typing out an essay or watching a video, it goes through the CPU. From software and hardware to accessories, the CPU handles everything. If a task on the PC requires a lot of processing power to get done then it limits a PCs multitasking ability.

In terms of gaming, CPUs affect the entire gaming experience. CPUs read all of the information that a game has and translates it into character controls, levels, saved files, etc. on the PC.

Having an inadequate CPU will affect the response time and the smoothness of a game. If the processor can’t keep up with the requirements of a game then the game would react slower to player commands and moving the camera to look around the game’s environment will pause or even freeze. This can results in a bad experience for gamers in player vs player mode and even those who are playing solo.

The power and performance of the CPU plays another important role in PC gaming. Different games have different power requirements, meaning they require a certain amount of watts to operate. A first person shooter will need less power than a game like League of Legends that has multiple characters, with a wide array of gameplay, controls, etc. Games that have lower power requirements will usually have a better performance because they take up less watts, so they aren’t causing the processor to push itself.

Why do some CPUs sell more than others?

CPUs are readily available online and in stores, but the processors that are available all differ from one another. There are many different CPU models for gamers and non-gamers. Some models sell more than others due to the needs of the user. Gamers will want CPUs that are fast and have high performance ability, while non-gamer’s will want CPUs that can handle basic programs and daily use.

Within the different CPU series there are several different features and specs. Meaning that each CPU series is made to handle certain jobs or focus on certain features. There are high-tier processors that are built for gaming and a heavy workload, low-tier processors that are made for basic programs and everyday use, and of course we have mid-tier processors that is a combination of both. Different models sell better because of these features.

The other deciding factor is the price of a processor. While PC users want to have the right processor, the fact is that money plays a large role in the decision making process. The more powerful CPU models that can handle gaming are more expensive. These models, like Intel’s Core i7, are made with gaming and entertainment in mind. Some processor’s costs around $350-$700 alone depending on the make and model and if you are buying a prebuilt laptop or desktop the CPU model can cause the final price to go up or go down.

Top 10 bestselling CPUs of 2017

These CPUs were chosen based on the number of units sold from February-December of 2017 from a sales report made by Mindfactory and looking at the top sellers from Amazon.com, excluding the 8^th Generation Intel Processors and AMDs latest Ryzen processors.

1. Intel i7 7700K

Price: $330 Core: 4 Base Speed: 4.2 GHz Max Speed: 4.5 GHz

One of the first models that came out in 2017. The i7 7700K has good gaming capabilities, but according to several reviews it runs hot so a better fan or cooling system may be needed.

2. Intel i5 7600K

Price: $230 Core: 4 Base Speed: 3.8 GHz Max Speed: 4.2 GHz

A CPU with multitasking abilities and can handle gaming. Comes with a “turbo” setting where it will kick in depending on the current workload.

3. Intel i5 7500

Price: $195Core: 4 Base Speed: 3.2 GHz Max Speed: 3.8 GHz

Similar to the 7600k model this CPU offers the same abilities as the 7600K, but has a lower speed and cheaper price.

4. AMD R5 1600

Price: $180 Core: 6 Base Speed: 3.4 GHz Max Speed: 3.6 GHz

Not the most powerful AMD CPU, but offers a cheaper alternative to the more expensive models.

5. AMD R7 1700

Price: $300 Cores: 8 Base Speed: 3.0 GHz Max Speed: 3.7 GHz

One of the cheaper options to the R71800X, this model offers the same capabilities as the 1800X the only difference being speed.

6. Intel i5 7400

Price: $180 Core:4 Base Speed: 3.0 GHz Max Speed: 3.5 GHz

Like the other i5 models offered in 2017 this CPU is good for multitasking and boosting speed where it needs to. The only downside, according to reviewers, is that there were times where the CPU stayed in the “turbo” mode and started to produce more heat.

7. AMD R7 1800X

Price: $500 Core: 8 Base Speed: 3.6 GHz Max Speed: 4.0 GHz

This processor possesses many good gaming qualities, but is one of the more expensive models.

8. Intel i3 7100

Price: $115 Core: 2 Base Speed: 3.9 GHz Max Speed: N/A

Not the fastest CPU around, but according to buyers it’s a good CPU for everyday use. It didn’t reach the same sales number, but it was consistently purchased throughout 2017.

9. AMD R5 1400

Price: $140 Cores: 4 Base Speed: 3.2 GHz Max Speed: 3.4 GHz

Similar to Intel’s i3 AMD’s R5 1400 model was purchased consistently in 2017. Compared to other CPUs this model is pretty basic, but it does offer gaming capabilities suited for gamers.

10. Intel i7 8700K

Price: $330 Cores: 6 Base Speed: 3.7 GHz Max Speed: 4.7 GHz

This model was released near the end of 2017 and was one of the more popular CPUs being bought.

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How To Buy A CPU for Gaming: 10 Things You Must Know

Pltzr13 — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 16:23:16 +0000

10 Practical things you need to know before buying that CPU for gaming

Gaming is one of the more taxing operations for desktops and laptops. As such having the right set up for the job is important when buying a CPU. If you don’t have the right set up you run the risk of not only a bad gaming experience, but pushing your PC too far which can cause it to crash.

Here are 10 important things you should know when buying a CPU for gaming.

10. Platform: Desktop or Laptop?

There are two options for PC gamers- gaming on a desktop or on a laptop. There are pros and cons for each so it comes down to your personal preference. The CPUs for these set-ups are different so you need to know what kind of platform you want to play on.

9. Price

Gaming CPUs are not cheap. If you are purchasing a prebuilt PC or building your own then you need to know what your budget is. The more high-end processors can cost up to $1,000 while the lower-end ones can go for roughly $250, maybe lower. Prices can vary depending on where you buy the CPU but you want to get a rough idea of what your budget is.

8. Needs

What do you need from the CPU? Will you need it to handle occasional gaming or do you need it for hardcore gaming. There are several CPU models out there that can handle different workloads. Lower-tier CPUs are generally good for internet and using Microsoft office programs. Mid-tier CPUs do the same, but they are faster and can handle some gaming. Then there are high-tier CPUs that are built for gaming and editing software. Depending on how often you plan on playing games you might not need to get the most expensive gear.

Also keep in mind that different games require different processing speeds and memory space, this information can usually be found online or on the box. If there are several games that you want to play, focus on the system requirements for the game that has the highest specs and purchase the CPU accordingly (this waythe CPU will be able to handle the other games with no problem).

7. Brand: Intel or AMD

Once you’ve figured out what you can afford and what you need, next you’ll want to figure out which brand you want to buy from. Each company has their own specialties and offers a selection of CPU series with varying features, performance ability and prices. Intel is known for being fast and having a good performance, making their CPUs good for general use and gaming. AMD on the other hand has moderate speeds and good graphics. AMD while not as fast as Intel is still reliable and is more affordable than most Intel CPUs, so if you have a tight budget you may want to stick with AMD.

6. Compatibility

If the PC is prebuilt or custom made it doesn’t matter, what matters is that the new CPU you want to use is compatible with the hardware you have. This can mean either picking a different CPU, buying additional components to go with the new CPU or starting from scratch.

5. Number of Cores

When picking out a CPU look at the number of cores it has. The core of a CPU is basically the processor within the CPU itself. The cores are in charge of going through all of the data sent to the CPU. Having multiple cores means that the CPU will be able to get things done faster, but having a lot of cores doesn’t mean more gaming power. Gaming software uses a certain number of cores, so the key is to figure out the exact number of cores you need so you utilize the processor completely. Most gaming CPUs come with a standard four core system, which is optimal for gaming. A dual core system shouldn’t be considered because those CPUs are not meant for gaming.

4. Temperature

Sounds weird I know, but it is important to understand how much heat a CPU will produce when it’s being used for gaming. Gaming software requires a lot of power and processing speed which will produce heat. If for some reason the CPU is producing more heat than it should or it’s not cooling down fast enough, there is a risk of overheating the CPU and causing permanent damage to the PC.

In most cases CPUs have high heat thresholds that they can handle, but if the CPU is being overclocked to compensate for a low processing speed to play a game then it will start heating up. In cases like these once the average temperature of a CPU is found you want to keep in mind how often it will be pushed beyond its limits. By understanding the average temperature of a CPU and how much it will be pushed gamers can upgrade their cooling systems to compensate for the extra heat and keep their gear from burning out too soon. Or they can choose the proper CPU that can handle the games they want to play.

3. Graphics

The CPU works in tandem with a graphics processing unit (GPU) when you play a game. The CPU describes the games environment, while the GPU takes that information to paint the picture on the screen. If the CPU or the GPU are not equal in terms of power you run the risk of having poor graphics. When the CPU runs faster than the GPU the processor won’t wait for the GPU to catch up and will actually skip over it, this causes the screen to freeze. If it’s the other way around and the GPU is faster than the CPU the graphics will be rendered on the screen faster than the commands can processed by the CPU. Explain how it works.

2. Frequency

This is basically the speed of the CPU. The frequency of a CPU is measured in gigahertz (GHz), so when a game needs a dual-core system at 2.0 GHz it means that the game needs a CPU with at least two cores and a minimum base speed of 2.0 GHz. For gaming you want to make sure that the CPU can handle the speed requirements the game software has, if the frequency is too low the processor will push itself to meet that speed and if it can’t the response time and graphics will be slow.

1. Overclocking

Overclocking is the CPUs ability to go beyond its “base” speed. A CPU is overclocked by sending more voltage into the CPU, this enables a CPU to work faster to operate gaming and editing software at the cost of producing more heat. A CPUs ability to overclock will mean that you don’t have to pick a more expensive CPU that goes over your budget. The downside though is that overclocking will slowly damage the CPU, shortening the CPUs lifespan.

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Evil Geniuses Giving Away 2 AMD Ryzen CPUs

Alienelbows — Sun, 13 Aug 2017 17:47:03 +0000

Esports team Evil Geniuses and AMD pair up for giveaway

The elite and unapologetically intense gamers at Evil Geniuses have taken on corporate sponsorship in a recent giveaway. AMD, one of the top producers of graphics cards for gaming rigs worldwide, has teamed up with EG to give away two of the recently released Ryzen 7 1800X graphics cards.

If that sounds like a lot of extra numbers and letters tacked on (which it is), don’t be misled. As part of AMD’s continued effort to evolve alongside the freakishly competitive world of esports gaming, the graphics card giant is touting the Ryzen 7, which was released in March of 2017, as their flagship model.

It comes as no surprise that esports giants Evil Geniuses are backing the giveaway. Having dominated in numerous arenas such as Street Fighter 5, DOTA, and the Call of Duty franchise, Evil Geniuses takes no prisoners and is unapologetic in their self-appointed superiority. The teams are primarily from the United States but feature players from the far off Nordic lands of Denmark and Sweden where the Dragonborn has a summer home.

While competitive gamers such as Evil Geniuses have legitimate reasons for owning such cards, the casual or even semi-hardcore gamer might find it to be a bit much. Regardless, the folks at AMD are encouraging participants to sign up for the giveaway multiple times. This is sure to please gamers based on the $499 price tag attached to the AMD card upon its release in March 2017.

Participants can gather entries by logging onto Twitter or Facebook via the sweepstakes page here (entries are limited to four per person). Participants will be required to follow @AMDGaming on Twitter, visiting AMDGaming on Facebook or by following AMD’s Twitch page to guarantee an entry. Participants can max out their fourth entry by visiting the Evil Genius's page on Facebook.

Two lucky winners will win the coveted AMD Ryzen 7 1800X CPU while another two will receive team jerseys from the folks at Evil Geniuses that will be “customized to their liking.” Check out the sweepstakes here before entries are no longer accepted.

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Nvidia and AMD – 10 differences you must know

StrongWitherwin — Wed, 05 Jul 2017 12:15:31 +0000

10 Interesting Differences Between AMD and Nvidia

Nvidia and AMD are both competitors when it comes to graphic cards. Most people have brand loyalty towards one or the other which makes people support their card and put it on a pedestal, while considering the other to be simply garbage. Here are 10 differences you must know between Nvidia and AMD

1.AMD has a lot more experience in the field of computer parts

The AMD Logo, featuring their green "arrow"

AMD was founded on 1st of May 1969
Nvidia was founded somewhere in April 1993

AMD has been in the game from the early start of electronic chips, while Nvidia joined the game not that long ago. All facts consider, Nvidia is doing much better than AMD and others, proof Nvidia being crowned the “Smartest Tech Company in the World”, winning against the mighty Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and more.

2.When looking at stock price and company value, Nvidia dominates AMD

Nvidia's stock price is growing quite constantly

The price of one share from AMD is around $12.5
The price of one share from Nvidia is $139.3, around 9 times larger

Nvidia also has a market cap (company worth) of almost $80 billion, while AMD sitting at almost $11.2 billion. But still, both AMD and Nvidia are still bellow Intel’s market cap, AMD’s CPU rival, which is valued at $156.3 billion

3.Nvidia has the GPU with the highest overclock

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060

Someone managed to take the Nvidia GTX 1060 to 3 GHz core speed, from the 1.5 Ghz it originally started with
AMD doesn’t have such a victory in GPU overclocking, but they hold the record for the highest overclock on a CPU, with an 8.8 GHz AMD FX-8350

Overclocking consists in making the said component faster by raising the core speed/memory speed over the manufacturer’s stock and “safe” speed. By doing so, you are getting free performance at the cost of straining the said component more and risking it to fry if done poorly. Only do overclocks if you know what you are doing.

4. In 2016, Nvidia has made more revenue than AMD

Nvidia is doing really well for itself

AMD managed to get $ 4.26 billion in revenue, but still managed to achieve a negative income of almost $500 million
Nvidia on the other hand got $6.91 billion in revenue, which translated into $1.67 billion in their back pocket as positive income

AMD seems to struggling quite a lot, but this will probably change due to the CPUs that AMD released in 2017.

5. Nvidia has more employees than AMD

Nvidia's logo, featuring an eye. Nvidia is also borrowed from the latin word "vivendre" which means to perceive, or see

Nvidia has around 10.000 (January 2017) employees, all of which seem to be very hardworking considering how good Nvidia is doing
AMD has around 9.100 (Q4 of 2016) employees, who are not only focusing on the graphics card market, but also the CPU market.

Maybe force does indeed come in number.

6.Nvidia was partner with many game developers over the years

Tomb Raider, released in 2013

Borderlands, some Batman Games, Devil May Cry 4, and more were made focusing Nvidia
Prey and Tomb Raider are two of the games which were made partnered with AMD

Both brands work fine in any game, doesn’t matter if the developer was partnered with one or the other.

7.Nvidia has better high-end graphics cards

The current graphics card king, the Nvidia Titan Xp

The Nvidia leads with the Nvidia Titan Xp, which is a graphic card which can push 4K
AMD sits with the AMD RX 580 and AMD R9 Fury X, which are in fact way slower than the Nvidia Titan Xp

All hail King Nvidia Titan Xp! At least for the time being.

8. Nvidia’s CEO has a much larger net worth compared to AMD’s CEO

Jen-Hsun Huang, or Jensen Huang, Nvidia's CEO

AMD’s CEO, Lisa Su, has a net worth of around $1.2 million
Nvidia’s CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang, topples what with a net worth of $3.5 billion

This is such a large difference. Jen-Hsun Huang in a single year manages to make more money than Lisa Su out of his salary alone. In 2007 he had a salary of over $24 million.

9. AMD and Nvidia changed the gaming industry with new technology

DirectX 12, heavily based on AMD's Mantle API (Aplication Programming Interface)

AMD created AMD Mantle which was the base of DirectX 12
Nvidia changed how A.I (Artificial Intelligence) by creating the first deep learning supercomputer, while also making A.I for self-driving cars

We will see how all of these translate into the future.

10. Nvidia is much better in VR (Virtual Reality)

The Oculus Rift, headset used to experience VR (Virtual Reality)

The Nvidia GTX 1060 gets an 8.1 in the SteamVR benchmark
The AMD equivalent, the RX 580, gets a 7.1 in the SteamVR benchmark

For now, don’t even bother with AMD for Virtual Reality.

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How to choose the best graphics card for gaming?

StrongWitherwin — Mon, 03 Jul 2017 14:45:52 +0000

Many argue that the graphics card is the most important component in an entire PC, and for gaming that’s 100% true. CPUs (Central Processing Unit) manage to hold their performance much better with age, unlike the GPUs (GPU meaning a Graphics Processing Unit) so you will probably change your GPU more often. Knowing that there are 2 companies, AMD and Nvidia, and that they’re subtly throwing pebbles at one another to achieve dominance, it’s a good idea to know on what you are spending your money before you buy a GPU, especially considering that a GPU isn’t particularly cheap.

AMD or Nvidia?

When you are faced with the question: Which brand is better? AMD or Nvidia? The answer is surprisingly simple. Both. In the world of PC components, there are many people who are “fanboys” or “fangirls” of a certain brand. These people will try their best to tell you that one brand is way better than the other just because they can. The brands are just as good, it only depends on what you are looking for.

The GPUs have many specifications like:

Core speed
Memory speed
BUS (Memory interface)
Graphic memory
Shader units
Memory bandwith
ROPs (Render Output Units)
TMUs (Texture Mapping Units)
and many more.

Honestly, most of these don’t even matter to you because they don’t tell you much and thus, I am going to cover what really matters and what it’s really irrelevant when buying a GPU.

Why core speed doesn't matter?

The GPU core speed it’s basically useless when comparing one GPU with another, especially when comparing two GPUs from a different manufacturer. The GPU core speed is measured in MHz, and generally the higher the number, the faster the card is, but in reality this is really relative. The GPU core speed is very dependent on the architecture, fabrication process, TMUs, and ROPs. When comparing an AMD R9 280x which has a core speed of 850 MHz, GCN 1.0 architecture and a 28 nm fabrication process against the AMD RX 460 which has a core speed of 1090 MHz (around 20% higher), GCN 1.3 architecture and a 14 nm fabrication process, in many games you can see that the AMD R9 280x is faster. Why? The AMD R9 280x has: Faster and larger graphic memory, more TMUs, more ROPs, more shader units, and others. The only thing that the core speed can tell you, is whether the core can use all the available memory. If I get the 4GB version of the RX 460 instead of the 2GB version, practically I am not getting 2GB extra. I am getting less because the core coupled with the TMUs and ROPs aren't fast enough to use all the extra memory.

What about memory speed?

Same thing can be said about memory speed. The AMD R9 280x has a memory speed of 1500 MHz while the AMD RX 460 has a memory speed of 1750 MHz. The AMD R9 280x still fairs a lot better than the newer card. Why? The AMD R9 280x has a larger BUS. 384 bits on the AMD R9 280x compared to the AMD RX 460’s 128 bits, giving the AMD R9 280x more memory bandwidth, and this is just one of the motives.

What I am trying to say is that don’t bother buying a GPU just because it has high core speed, because it has many TMUs, ROPs, and shader units, or because it has a high memory speed. All those values make a whole, and buying a GPU just because it has a high value isn’t taking you anywhere. A GPU can have 5000 MHz core speed, if it has 64 MB of memory it won’t run any newer game at all.

Then what should I look for in a graphics card?

First things first, you should check online for benchmarks. A benchmark is a test that puts the GPU at its limits, and gives a score on how well it performs. If I go on passmark.com, and check both of the cards and how well they fare over there I can see that the AMD R9 280x has a score 5802, while the AMD RX 460 has a score of 4335. It doesn’t matter that the AMD RX 460 is newer, the older card in this scenario is better. Passmark.com is one of the many sites that have benchmark scores. You can check Youtube and look for people playing certain games and see for yourself how it performs. You can check multiple combinations, a AMD R9 280x paired with a weaker CPU will perform worse in benchmarks than when you pair it with a better CPU. Look for every benchmark possible online and see how certain GPUs fare in certain games. This way it’s a lot easier to understand and it’s easier to compare two GPUs, even if they are from a different manufacturer.

The AMD RX 460, even though it has a higher core speed(or clock) and a higher memory speed, still moves slower than the R9 280x

Are there any huge differences between AMD and Nvidia?

No, not really. Nvidia has overall better driver support due to it being a larger company and specializing on GPUs only. Thus, larger team focusing on the same thing with a bigger budget. AMD focuses GPUs and CPUs, and seeing how the company isn’t as big as Nvidia you can sometimes see that the Nvidia drivers have less bugs compared to the ones from the AMD. So, smaller team which has to focus on more things with less available funds to begin with. But, it doesn’t mean that the AMD drivers are bad, the drivers from AMD are good and over the course of the years they keep getting better and better. Some people say that AMD cards are very power hungry and it will cost you a fortune to keep an AMD card up and running, and that’s true but only if you look at AMD 5 years ago. If you look at Nvidia’s 1060 and compare its power consumption to its AMD rival, the AMD RX 580, you can see they the have a difference of TDP of 30W (120 on the Nvidia card vs 150 on the AMD card) which is miles better than how it was years ago. You should note the fact that Nvidia has certain gimmicks like Hairworks, which when are ran on an AMD card, the AMD card will struggle. Also, some video editing software or video recording software work better on Nvidia because they have better support for that in some regard. The huge difference is that at the time being (early July 2017) AMD has a poor roster of models compared to Nvidia's choices. AMD doesn't have any high-end cards, unlike Nvidia which as plenty, but this will probably change when the Vega family of cards from AMD will release.

The fight between AMD and Nvidia keeps going on, but for now Nvidia has the high-end performance lead

Anything else other than benchmarks?

The graphic memory amount also plays a factor, up to a degree. When playing at 1080p, you might struggle quite a bit with 2GB of graphic memory, but 4GB is probably fine. When going up a notch, 4GB might struggle sometimes with 1440p, but it really depends on the card. Same with 4K, you can’t expect a 2GB to run at 4K, but a 8GB piece might be fine. So before all of this, look into how a certain card runs at a certain resolution, either the one that you have or the one that you would want to play at. Also, look on what kind of memory the GPU has. If the card has DDR3 memory on it, it will be a lot slower than a card with GDDR5 memory.

Bear in mind that games don’t need only a fantastic GPU to run flawlessly. They need a strong CPU just as much. Framerates are mostly influenced by the CPU, not the GPU. If a game runs bad at 480p knowing that you have a GPU that can push way over that, you can expect it to run just as bad at 1080p if the GPU can theoretically push it there. Don’t upgrade without knowing beforehand what PC part is dragging you down, and if something is dragging you down try to upgrade that too sometime in the preferably near future.

If you plan to buy a used piece that still holds its ground today, know that sometime in the (distant) future the games will change from DX 11 (DirectX 11) to DX 12 (DirectX 12) completely. DX 12 games are already out, but not many game developers use DX 12, and when the standard will change that card won’t receive any more drivers and will result in a waste of money.

If a card doesn't have DX12 support, when DX12 will become the norm the game won't even run

What's the most important factor out of them all?

It's pretty straight forward. Only buy a GPU that you can afford and that you know you are going to use properly. If you plan to just play League of Legends and you are getting a $700 monster, you aren’t doing yourself a favor. If you have a $200 budget, don’t compare a $200 GPU to a $700 GPU because you don’t achieve anything. Check benchmarks for cards at your budget, and choose what’s right for you.

And this is not even the most expensive card out there

To summarize, all the card specifications are mostly useless to you. Look up online for benchmarks, see how a game performs, see how a certain piece of software performs, think of what you are going to play and what you want to do with it, and last but not least do what you can with your budget and don’t panic when a new card will arrive, that’s the nature of GPUs.

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Nvidia Showcases Destiny 2 in 4K Ultra HD

Jack_Fury — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 15:08:55 +0000

Powering New Generation First Person Shooters

Nvidia has recently released a video showing how Destiny 2 runs on the GeForce GTX. The video features gameplay footage running at 60 FPS, on the GeForce GTX.

60 fps (frames per second) is the optimal frame rate for first person shooter games. When it comes to how much graphic processing power you need, it depends on two things; 1) the game's requirements and 2) how you match that requirement with a graphics card. Framerate per second should be optimized, especially for competitive multiplayer games to ensure that you're not at a disadvantage (think frame lags in counterstrike).

Here's the gameplay footage:

Destiny 2: 4K PC 60 FPS Homecoming Gameplay First Look – On GeForce GTX

Playing at low frame rates can be annoying with all the lag and stuttering. To experience the best graphics that new generation FPS games can offer, gamers may want to invest in a more powerful graphics card. New generation games like Destiny 2 will require more powerful graphics cards to run smoothly.

Lower tier graphics cards can be purchased for around $100 while the most powerful graphic cards cost around $1,000.

Games like Solitaire would require the most basic graphics cards while graphic intensive first-person shooters like Destiny 2 or Battlefield 1 would demand at least a mid range graphics card to run smoothly.

In the graphics card market, AMD's Radeon™ R9 Series is the main competitor to Nvidia's GeForce GTX.

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Destiny 2 is scheduled for release in Q4 2017

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AMD Radeon Owners Get Lots of New Goodies in the Latest Software Update

aleksandar2 — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 21:51:13 +0000

Now You Can Stream and Record Your Gameplay With AMD Radeon Software

With the new software update from AMD, Radeon owners will get a lot of new features that could enchance their gaming experience. Now, with the new Crimson ReLive Edition software update, you will be able to stream, record and even edit your gaming footage.

Not only that, but it comes packed with the Instant Replay option. Nvidia users have been enjoying these features using Nvidia’s Share (or Shadow Play as it used to be called) so it’s nice to see that AMD is keeping up with the times.

Is the Software Any Good

According to AMD, your gameplay will only suffer a small dip in framerate when using ReLive. Battlefield 1 seems to only suffer a 4 percent framerate dip while Overwatch suffers only 3 which sounds impressive. There are also updates to FreeSync. Gradual refresh rate has been added for notebooks and laptops and of course lots of new graphics options which will make your games look just a little bit nicer.

Another useful feature also dynamically adjusts your games settings so they don’t overwork your graphics card (it’s turned off by default, but if you think your computer is getting a bit hot, you might want to flip that switch on).

Anything Else

There are also some minor but cool features like the upgrade advisor which scans your games and tells you what you should upgrade to make the game you’re playing smoother, and a tool which lets you know if your cabels are connected correctly. All in all, it seems like AMD has taken some notes from Nvidia and have done their homework well.

If you are a proud AMD Radeon Graphics card owner you can download this new update right now.

I Can Stream Too Now, Y’know

For more information check out this link.

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Biggest Software Release Ever Doesn’t Actually Seem Like an Overstatement

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10 Biggest VR Companies in 2017

Mbartley — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:43:37 +0000

The Controller is You

2016 saw the rise of the Virtual Reality (VR) Company. PlayStation VR, Google Cardboard, the release of the Oculus rift and vive, amongst other major milestones, helped push VR as a viable platform to release games and software on. What is VR? No matter what company you go with for your VR hardware, the idea is the same: total immersion. You move your head to the left and the camera pans to the left. You reach out and touch something in the virtual “space” and it reacts based on what you did. Some companies are taking it a step further by developing sophisticated platforms that the gamer will actually walk on to simulate movement in the game. With some of the biggest game of 2017 including support for VR users, it’s looking like the next year will be a solidifying one for the burgeoning virtual reality market. Here is a look at 10 of the biggest VR companies looking to shake things up in 2017.

1. Google

Google Cardboard proves you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy immersive VR

Google has always been at the forefront of technological innovation. Besides its search engine that makes 100 million dollars a day; Google has pushed phones, computers, the ill-fated Google glass and now the California Company can throw its multi-colored logo on VR tech as well. Google Cardboard is one of the cheapest ‘headsets’ available. Essentially a papercraft project, the simple brown box holds a VR ready phone in place on the users head so that they can use VR apps and videos the way they were meant to be used. Google has also created a FREE software suite called Daydream for programmers to use in the making of virtual reality apps.

You can find out more about Google’s VR initiative here.

Get a look at the flashier Daydream View headset

2. Virtuix

Hopefully this gaming exercise fad lasts longer than Pokemon Go!

The name of the game, when it comes to virtual reality, is immersion. Why would we, as gamers, otherwise want to strap a TV to our face? Virtuix, an Austin based startup, and their Omni “active virtual reality motion platform” want players to literally feel their characters exhaustion. The Omni is essentially a giant trackpad that players can “walk” on to move their character in the game. The device connects to your PC and VR headset of choice via Bluetooth and works with any game that supports VR or gamepad input. What is even more interesting about this is the price point. DIY sets started at 250 dollars when the Kickstarter (long since fulfilled) went live which promises a reasonable price point when this piece of tech goes into mass production.

The Omni pad in action

Virtuix’s official website.

3. Oculus Rift

Oculus Rift was the first major VR brand to gain recognition in gaming circles.

The one that started it all, Oculus is the brand that put VR on the map. Bought by the social media monster Facebook back in 2014 for 2 billion dollars, their Rift headset and (newly released) controllers created the early industry standard for VR technology. Not resting on those laurels, the Oculus Company is now developing a self-contained VR environment that, when complete, will not require calibration or extra equipment outside of wearing it on your head.

The Oculus website.

Games for the Oculus are what it’s all about

4. Sony

PlayStation VR utilizes the standard PS4 controller or a pair of the PlayStation motion controllers

Sony has stepped into the VR market swinging with its PlayStation VR device. Similar in design and style to the HTC Hive and Oculus Rift, the set up consists of two motion controllers and a headset. The hardware is restricted to the PS4 and PS4 Pro. Sony seems to understand that one of the biggest issues facing the VR market right now is price and game availability and to combat this the PlayStation VR is the cheapest full VR set on the market. Sony has also guaranteed support from numerous game developers including Rocksteady, 2K and Square Enix.

Some game developers like Square Enix are fully embracing the possibilities of VR

Check out the PlayStation VR here.

5. Nvidia

Like it’s competition at AMD, NVidia is promising that all of its future GPU’s will be VR ready

NVidia is a household name for PC gamers. They have, like many of the companies listed here, been not just at the forefront of gaming technology innovation but the reason that innovation was possible thanks to their lines of graphics processing units. Now, NVidia is making the jump to VR with their own developer’s kit called VRWorks. VRWorks is, in NVidia’s own words “a comprehensive suite of APIs, libraries, and engines that enable application and headset developers to create amazing virtual reality experiences.” As of now, the basic suite is available to anyone who wants it and NVidia has more VR programs in the pipeline for 360 video and VR sound.

More information is available at VRWorks’ website.

Watch Adam Savage make a mess in VR funhouse

6. Microsoft

You won’t get to play with one of these babies for a long time

Oculus, Sony, HTC; all of these companies have cornered the VR market. To compete against them Microsoft started development on hologram based technology. Enter the HoloLens. The HoloLens isn’t just VR or augmented reality; it is mixed reality. Draw a character in a 3D modeler and he will pop up on the desk next to you. Guide Conker (yes that Conker) across your couch and entertainment center in search of coins. The promise of the HoloLens is certainly visible in these early apps and the possibilities for gaming or more commercially minded enterprises is limitless. The developer edition of the HoloLens is going to set you back 3,000 dollars which is unfortunate for us peasants because there is no solid release set for the home edition.

Get jealous at the HoloLens official site.

Conker bounces on your couch!

7. Valve

Three headsets, three characters… Half Life 3 confirmed.

If the PC itself is the heart of a gamer then Valve's Steam client is the blood that flows through it. Steam made the market that is direct downloading and now they are bringing VR into the fold unlike anyone else. First, Valve has taken to ensuring that all of the VR games and programs available through their client are compatible with as many VR headsets as possible (including OSVR). Secondly, Valve offers training with their Steamworks to help developers get the most out of VR (for 3,000 dollars a person).

Steam’s website (for those who don’t have the client installed already… all four of you).

Steam going the extra mile to show us what VR looks like

8. AMD

AMD is producing a strong line of VR ready graphics cards at competitive prices

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has always been the more budget friendly choice for Gamers looking for CPU’s and GPU’s to build their gaming rigs with. It would be unfair, however, to mention NVidia in a list of companies expanding the VR platform without giving mention to AMD’s equally ambitious efforts. They too are fully prepared for the VR bubble with VR ready graphics cards and their own in house developer’s tool kit for creating virtual reality apps.

See more of AMD’s VR ready equipment here.

Enjoy some AMD VR sizzle reel

9. Linden Labs

VR… inside of a video game? The future is here.

Linden Labs is most famous for their popular MMO Second Life. The San Francisco located company is now throwing their hat into the VR ring with Project Sansar. Sansar is meant to be a VR “experience creator” for everyone. Instead of pre constructed play places like most VR games out there, it will give users tools to make their own spaces. This will go past gaming as well. Linden Labs CEO, Ebbe Altberg, wants his VR to encompass the spectrum of entertainment, business and lifestyle. The open program is currently in a “beta” of sorts, and is usable by invite only. Its release is slated for some time in 2017.

Linden Labs CEO speaking about the future of VR

10. Owlchemy Labs

Think they will ask you to come in on Saturday?

VR gaming is supposed to be fun. Owlchemy Labs does fun VR better than anyone else out there right now. While most of the companies on this list focus on hardware, this Austin based game developer make games so all that expensive hardware doesn’t collect dust. Owlchemy Labs well known after their physics based racer Snuggle Truck achieved decent success. The developer really hit their stride with original VR concoctions like the goofy Job Simulator and Aaaaaculus!, a flying “simulator”. Currently they are developing a Rick and Morty simulator that looks to fit the style of the famous cartoon very well.

Dat official site.

They don’t call themselves “absurd” for nothing

Virtual Reality, as we know it, is still a new concept for entertainment. VR could end up being a bubble, relegated to gimmick status or it could truly be the future of gaming but any way you look at it, these companies are pushing the boundaries of computer graphics and interfaces in a way we have never seen before and that is a truly exciting event to witness.

Would you like to know more?

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Sometimes you gotta let the kids play too, here’s 10 of the best games just for them.

2017 looks to be a promising year for the shooter genre with this list of the top 10 coming out next year

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Sony is leading the consoles in VR technology

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1.AMD has a lot more experience in the field of computer parts

2.When looking at stock price and company value, Nvidia dominates AMD

3.Nvidia has the GPU with the highest overclock

4. In 2016, Nvidia has made more revenue than AMD

5. Nvidia has more employees than AMD

6.Nvidia was partner with many game developers over the years

7.Nvidia has better high-end graphics cards

8. Nvidia’s CEO has a much larger net worth compared to AMD’s CEO

9. AMD and Nvidia changed the gaming industry with new technology

10. Nvidia is much better in VR (Virtual Reality)

How to choose the best graphics card for gaming?

AMD or Nvidia?

The GPUs have many specifications like:

Why core speed doesn't matter?

What about memory speed?

Then what should I look for in a graphics card?

Are there any huge differences between AMD and Nvidia?

Anything else other than benchmarks?

What's the most important factor out of them all?

Nvidia Showcases Destiny 2 in 4K Ultra HD

Powering New Generation First Person Shooters

You may also be interested in:

AMD Radeon Owners Get Lots of New Goodies in the Latest Software Update

Now You Can Stream and Record Your Gameplay With AMD Radeon Software

Is the Software Any Good

Anything Else

10 Biggest VR Companies in 2017

The Controller is You

1. Google

2. Virtuix

​3. Oculus Rift

4. Sony

5. Nvidia

​6. Microsoft

7. Valve

8. AMD

9. Linden Labs

10. Owlchemy Labs

3. Oculus Rift

6. Microsoft