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Saturday 20 July 2013

AMD FX 9590 vs Intel i7 4770K


Recently at E3 AMD launched its latest and the world's fastest processor the AMD FX 9590 which is a clock beast with a base frequency of 5ghz, the highest score achieved by any processor built so far! Its still based on Vishera Piledriver architecture but has definitely brought its competitors on their heels and giving them a run for their money, as the AMD FX 9590 is the first commercially available 5GHz CPU.
This took the Computer industry by storm leaving the enthusiast Gamers scratching their heads to which one to go for for better performance as the recent advent of games like Crysis3 that sucked out all the cores available by a processor created a demand for drastic improvements in many people's rigs.
The answer to this from Intel has been nothing leaving the only worthy competitor to the 9590, the Intel i7 4770K. Why are we comparing these:
  • The Intel i7 4770K is the only main stream top notch desktop processor from Intel that can be put up against the AMD FX 9590 as the Intel 3960X is not something that you can use on a dialy basis leave alone the Xeon series.
  • Where AMD has not worked on the their typical high power consumption areas and answered with a very high clock speed, Intel with its still the latest 4770K has focused on lower power consumption and improved graphics.
  • Last the Intel i7 4770K is the only processor that AMD could not beat in performance with the Bulldozer or the Piledriver series top level processors, even the FX 8350 could only beat it in some fields and not came out a clear winner with its whooping 8-cores! So the AMD FX 9590 maybe the final answer.
So lets take a closer look to these pentacle of processing technology and see that which one is the best for you. 
These are the latest stats releases by the companies respectively, you can clearly see that the AMD FX 9590 is a heck more powerful processor than the Intel i7 4770K but but but.....hold on did you notice the TDp of the 9590 its a gargantuan 220WTDP!! thats a hell lot of electricity consumed. I'll get back o that later in this article but lets just take a deeper look into the other specifications of these hardwares.

Advantages of AMD FX 9590:

  • More CPU cores on the AMD FX-9590 help to process multiple tasks or heavily multi-threaded programs.
  • Operating frequency of the FX-9590 microprocessor is higher than the frequency of the Core i7-4770K CPU.
  • FMA4 and XOP instructions are enabled on this microprocessor. These extensions are not widely used by applications yet, however their support should improve in future programs.

Advantages of Intel i7 4770K:

  • The Core i7-4770K includes AVX2 instructions, that were introduced in modern CPUs not too far ago. These extensions are not broadly used in applications yet, but this should improve in future apps.
  • The processor features on-chip HD 4600 GPU. This graphics is not powerful enough to run latest games with all settings on, however it can be used for casual gaming and 3D applications.
  • The i7-4770K is 62% more energy efficient.

My Verdict:

I guess there is very less left to say now, the price of the FX9590 is way above then that of i7 4770K, the market experts say that it would come down but as of now it is over-priced plus the magnanimous power demands of the 9590 makes it another sore in the eyes. I mean be honest for a 220W TDP processor you will not only have to have a minimum of 750W PSU but also a very good cooling system if not the expensive liquid coolers, making it another add on expense for those who reply on gaming performance from just a good CPU and  GPU with not a fortune to spend on other stuff like big PSUs and Liquid Coolers.
There are rumors that as the new gen gaming consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One have AMD Jaguar processors along with AMD Radeon GPUs inside it will favor the AMD side of hardwares more but thats a total misconception as console games are differently built and are re-built for PCs again so its just talks and no fact. Although AMD has been quite a lot active in bringing in 'custom supports' from big gaming titles like Battlefield 4 etc but that doesn't mean that you buy a processor that may require you to rob a bank for!
I say that we should wait and for all those who want to buy a AMD processor can go for the AMD FX 8350 which is just 19% slower than the FX 9590 but 76% energy efficient, and obviouly a hell lot cheaper than not only the 9590 but even the i7 4770K, making it the best choice so far, even it can beat the i7 in many places including games courtesy to its superior architecture and octa-core structure. Its future proof as its on the same AM3+ socket type that will be supported by the upcoming Steam-roller series as well as the Excavator series hopefully.
If you are not a hardcore AMD fan and have a good budget then definitely go for the Intel i7 4770K as its not only energy efficient but requires you to spend less on cooling features etc saving you money for other hardwares like a good GPU and Mobo. Not only this but the mere advantage that the 9590 has of a superior processing power over the 4770K is nullified by the fact that most applications don't need that much of a processing power and you only need to be a lunatic to take your processor up there!

So that was all that I'd to say for now, I'll keep updating this article as and when any new development takes place on the AMD side. If you have any more points to add please leave a comment and feel free to ask anything regarding the same.


Thursday 18 July 2013

Free Download Managers

If you are downloading a large file from internet and not getting enough download speed then by using a download manager you make this task much easier and quicker.  Download managers are used to speed up your download by splitting the file in multiple parts and then downloading them separately. They also have the ability to pause (if the remote server allows it) and schedule your download according to your preference.
There are some free download managers available for windows that are as good as the paid one.  Some of them also support bittorrent downloading so that you do not have to use a separate bittorrent client for downloading torrent files. Here are some the popular free download managers for your usage. All of them have almost similar features like download splitting, scheduler, proxy settings, torrent downloading (in some) and more.
Free Download Managers for Windows
Flashget and Download Accelerator Plus are the two most popular free download manager that have very good reputation. Orbit downloader is also very good and is gaining popularity among the internet users.
So here was the list of the most popular and efficient downloading clients for Windows if you have any more to add to this list do leave a comment.

Wednesday 10 July 2013

Using iPad as a Monitor

If you've got a desktop and an  iPad, getting the best use of both then can be quite difficult. The iPad is a great tool especially when you are travelling but when you are at home, you probably tend to use your desktop more, leaving your iPad gathering dust! Not to worry I've got your back, use it as a second desktop monitor, yeah that's possible. This is a great idea for those of you who have a lot of non-essential apps that you don't want taking up space on your desktop, or as a way of viewing 2 sets of documents or photos for example.
Here is how you can do it:

1- Download your copy of AirDisplay Free from the official website and launch it. You will be prompted to choose whether it is a Mac or Windows PC you are connecting to; click the button of your choice and download it.

2- Once downloaded, install the software and reboot your PC when asked for.

3- Meanwhile, make sure that your iPad is connected to the same internet network as that of your PC, either by WiFi or Ethernet cable. Download AirDisplay from the App Store (link) - it costs $9.99 though there are free ones available as well but this is the best.

4- Back to your Desktop and click on the new menu bar that will have appeared. Make sure that Air Display is switched on and, using the dropdown menu select your iPad.

5- Now that you are connected just clcik on System preferences option in the Air Display app.

6- Switch Off "use Retina Display when available" and check the box next to "Auto Check for Updates".

7- On the display preferences. Place your iPad next to your Desktop monitor, in the position that you will be using it in. Click on Arrangements on the app. You will see a small box that represents your Ipad and a larger one for your PC. The larger one should have a white menu bar on it - this denotes where your OSX menu bar will be.

8- On the screen move the smaller box to position that your physical iPad is in. The screens will probably flash a little bit but this is normal.

That's it you have just installed your iPad as your secondary monitor. For any confusions please feel free to ask.

Tuesday 9 July 2013

How to setup Multi Monitor

Agree or not but this is a multi-tasking world that we live in today, and multiple monitors are uniquely useful for keeping track of numerous programs running simultaneously on your computer.
Studies from numerous and prestigious institutions have preoved that a multi-monitor setup can increase one's productivity at work or at home by 6% to 50% even if productivity for you means blasting opponents in StarCraft II while tweeting to your followers about how you totally dominated the field!
Not only they save money by eliminating the need of a whole separate system by just an additional monitor installation to a single CPU, making them either two different systems or one big system, increasing the multi-tasking ability and decreasing the workload and obviously the space and money required.
Multiple monitors reduce human memory load by keeping more of your work in front of you, so you don't have to stop the work in hand and search for files in different folders. Its just like having a book with large pages, you don't need to turn pages often as more information can fit on a single page.
Two monitors can be configured to either show different images or the same image giveing you a much larger desktop. Follow this guide to get your monitors set up right the first time.

Things to remember for a multi-monitor setup:

1-The Graphic Port: Setting up multiple monitors isn't particularly difficult, but depending on the type of computer you have and how many screens you want, the complexity can ramp up quickly and require all sorts of cards, adapters and dongles. It's best to buy monitors that match the video outputs of your computer but if your ­computer and monitor require different plugs, you'll have to choose from a constellation of adapters that provide a bridge between standards. 
2-The number of Monitors: So how many monitors can you plug into your computer? That largely depends on your graphics card. A more powerful graphics card means the display has more pixels, which makes a dual setup possible. Most graphics cards can support two monitors—for desktops, that typically means two independent screens can plug into the back of the PC. For laptops, the card can drive both the integrated display and one outside monitor. Some desktop computers allow you to add a second graphics card, which means you can connect four monitors. If you are a gaming enthusiast then you can even plug in three separate graphic cards using CrossfireX or SLI to give yourself a total of six monitors! But that would be an expensive venture if you ask me.
Some higher-end graphics cards from AMD's ATI division use a technology the company calls Eyefinity, which allows a single graphics card to support up to six monitors. Likewise, specialty manufacturer Matrox has cards that can support up to eight monitors.
3-The Hardware problem: Some computers, however, can't take a second graphics card—smaller desktop machines don't have extra PCI Express slots available on their motherboards, and laptops are engineered without a millimeter to spare inside, so you're definitely not stuffing a big honkin' accessory like an extra graphics card in there. If you want to move beyond two monitors with these types of computers, you'll need an external adapter from a company such as Matrox or Accell. These devices either act as external graphics processors or trick your machine's internal graphics processor into thinking it's attached to one extraordinarily long monitor, which the adapter's software then chops up into individual screen "segments."
One final way to pull off a multi-­monitor setup is to use equipment compatible with the DisplayLink ­standard. DisplayLink gear sends a second-­monitor video stream over USB or wireless USB. The video is then picked up on the other end by a television or monitor with a built-in graphics processor or any other video screen plugged into a dongle that does the processing itself. It's a nifty trick, but it requires quite a bit of compression and uses low-end processors to ­render the video—which, in my experience, works well with static screens but can murder the quality of a good ­video stream.
4- Space: Obviously you need space to keep all your monitors so either keep a big table or mount one or some of them on the wall. Buy a multi-monitor stand even if you like to keep a single stand for all your displays saving space and even giving your setup that "Wow" factor!

 Set things up:

1- Check your ports:  You will need two video out connections on the back of your computer, one for each monitor. There are 3 main types of connections, listed from oldest to newest: VGA, DVI, and HDMI. For best results, use two of the same connectors for your dual monitor setup.
If you don't have the matching port then use a converter to convert one connection type to another. For example, If you have a monitor with a VGA cable, and your port is DVI, you can purchase an adapter that will attach to your VGA connecter and allow you to hook it up to a DVI port.
2- Connect the Monitor to the open port: In most cases Windows will automatically detect the new monitor. If it doesn’t, restart the computer. The monitor does not need to be the same manufacturer or size. For easiest viewing, use two monitors that are the same size so that your desktop stays uniform.
3- The Monitor setup wizard: In most cases, this will start automatically when a new monitor is plugged in. You will be given options to either mirror or extend your desktop:
  • Mirroring duplicates what is shown on your primary monitor. This is most useful for giving presentations, where your laptop may be connected to a projector or TV.
  • Extending makes the second monitor another screen for your desktop. This will allow you to drag windows and icons onto the second monitor, giving you more room to multitask.
4- Manual Setup: If the monitor wizard does not automatically start, or you want to change the settings yourself, you can use the Display Settings tool. Follow these steps:
  •  Right-click the desktop, and select Properties or Personalize. Select Display Settings from the list of preferences.
  • You should see icons with numbers representing your attached monitors. If one is disabled, it will be grayed out.
  • Select the second monitor and choose to either extend your desktop or mirror your desktop.
  • Your options may be dependent on the graphics card that you have installed. You may need to make these changes from within your nVidia or ATI control panels. If you have these installed, they can be found in your Start menu or as the first option in the right click drop down menu.

Congratulations you have just successfully installed a multi monitor setup with your laptop or desktop PC. If you have any more points to add to this or have any suggestions for improvements please feel free to leave a comment. As always your queries are welcome.

Sunday 7 July 2013

Use any old Contoller with latest PC games

Today's latest games require a lot of controlling and precision due to the complex functions cropping up every day. This makes it really difficult for everyone to play games with a keyboard especially a stock keyboard.
So you need a gaming pad or a gaming controller but getting a good and branded gaming controller like the Xbox controller can be a bit too heavy on your pockets and the old ones or rather the cheap Chinese made are not recognized with modern games that mainly require a Xbox controller only!
Not to worry there is a cheap and easy way out by using the x360ce emulator. It's a google project code and free to download and use. You can get that from here.
So what you can do is get a gamepad of you budget/liking and emulate as an xbox360 controller. This is not a rocket science and it's not complicated. All you have to do is do some research on your gamepad before buying and make sure it's bug free.

Setting up your Gamepad:

1-Now that you have downloaded the software all you have to do is extract the downloaded file( .exe file, .ini file and .dll file)  and paste it in the game installation directory where the .exe file of the game is available.
2- If your gamepad came with a driver CD then install it and skip to step 4.
3- Now you need to caliberate your gamepad to make sure that all the keys are working correctly just like the traditional Xbox Controller. Go to Control  Panel / Devices and printers. Right click on your gamepad and click "Game controller settings" then click Properties.


Test the keys for buttons and their numbers and left/right analog sticks. For anlogue stick make sure that you have switched on the "analogue" button on your gamepad otherwise they will not be recognized.
4- Now click on the x360ce.exe from the game installation directory, the image of the Xbox contoller would be gree if it has recognized your controller and would be black and white otherwise.
5- Choose the preset that you want and wait till the settings are loaded, during this process the image would turn black nad white but would turn back to green indicating that the settings ahve been successfully loaded.
6- Once you get the green icon at the top, try pressing all the keys in your gamepad and see if the xbox360 controller keys highlighted accordingly. If keys are altered, you can remap here and test if the mapping is alright.
7- As said before, enable analog and check your analog left/right sticks. Save this preset and close the window of x360ce.exe
 
Congratulations you have just successfully configured your controller and can play any game that supports the Gaming controller function.

Advantages:

1- Saves money that can be used on other more important hardware improvements like graphic cards etc
2- Configure it once and forget about it, just plug your controller in the USB and start playing the game
3- One time setup for a single game, just copy and paste the x360ce.exe file along with the two files that it creates into any other game directory to use it with that game.
4- Very small size almost insignificant!

That was all that I had to share guys, if you have any other software or ways to suggest feel free to share. And if you have any problems do comment and share it. I'll solve them ASAP.

Friday 5 July 2013

Top 5 Cooling Pads for your Laptop

Last article had some tips to keep your laptop cool. But if the weather is too hot, those tips may not work and you may need some external cooler to keep the temperature down. So, here are my favourite picks which may help you to keep it kool...!!!

1. Cooler Master Notepal X Lite Cooling Pad

It comes with a one year warranty and has an affordable price. Also it is light weight, stylish and has a nice grip so the laptop doesnt slip. All in all a value for money product. Buy it Here 

2. Cooler Master R9-NBC-I1HG-GP Notepal I100

I specially recommend this one for the Macbook Pro users. since Macbook doesnt have conventional design like other laptops, the fan in the centre of this pad cools the entire laptop efficiently. Also its available in two colors so makes it look more appealing..!! Buy it Here

3. Cooler Master NotePal U Stand Mini

It has got nice and sturdy look and amazing cooling power with almost nil noise. Also its light weight, controllable fan speed and 4 extra USB ports. Good product in its price range. Buy it Here 

4. Deepcool Multi Core X6

Its a MUst buy for gamers.!! It has got 4 fans with the 2 largers fans located at the rear of the product, it provides efficient cooling for gaming laptops as gaming laptops tend to get heated only at the back. So, the Multi Core X6 keeps the rear vents at the right temperature. Also it comes with an extra USB port. Buy it Here 

5. Deepcool N2000 ECO

If you want your laptop cooler to look different from everybody else, you should opt for this one. It has a bamboo casing to make it look different and eco friendly. Also the anti slip design can accomodate almost all sizes of laptops available in the market.!! Price is a little high but surely worth for its awesome looks. Buy it Here 

Hope that this post was helpful. Any queries, questions and suggestions are always welcome. Happy computing.!!


Shivani Mishra
About the Guest Author:
An Engineer by profession and a writer by passion. Trying to solve others problems and learning in the due course.