THE RIDDLER

JACKY HIGLEY DROPS THE MIC

NCIX PC
SOC CHAMPION
SERIES
THE OFFICIAL GIGABYTE ESPORTS
GAMING MACHINE P. 12

August | Vol. 15 Iss. 08

Complimentary Copy
 AUGUST 2015 | VOL 15 ISSUE 08

24
CPU System Workshop: Sasquatch
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Mad Reader Mod: The Riddler

FRONTSIDE P. 5 LOADING ZONE P. 65 DID YOU FIND THE HIDDEN

News, product release information, and Software projects, betas, updates, and more. CPU LOGO ON OUR COVER?
stats from the tech industry.
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 Swiftechs KOMODO-NV Cooler
Can Handle Titan X & GTX 980 Ti
Komodo-NV liquid coolers from Swiftech offer water
blocks machined out of high-quality acrylic that completely
cover graphics cards from NVIDIA. The Komodo-NV
Titan X ECO works with both TITAN X and GTX 980
Ti reference boards. The full-cover waterblock ensures all
critical components of the card are in the coolants flow
path and also protects the card from accidental bending.
Photo: IBM
The acrylic block has a chrome-plated copper base (a
IBM Research Alliance Announces trademark of Swiftech), which the company says provides
superior durability over the nickel plating youll find on
Chip Manufacturing Breakthrough most competing coolers. An optional backplate made of
The manufacturing technologies necessary to build ever- brushed black anodized aluminum is available; the plate
smaller transistors appear to be nearing their physical offers additional cooling for memory found on the back
limits, but the viability of Moores Law may have just side of TITAN X cards but is still fully compatible with the
gotten another extension, as a team led by IBM Research latest GTX 980 Ti cards. MSRP is $115.95 for the block; the
has announced it has made chips with working transistors backplate is another $29.95.
using a 7nm (nanometer) manufacturing process. The 7nm
technology should enable semiconductor companies to
produce fingernail-sized chips containing 20 billion or more
transistors. By comparison, Intels latest Broadwell processors
are made using a 14nm process and contain around 2
billion transistors. Scientists from GLOBALFOUNDRIES,
Samsung, and the SUNY Polytechnic Institute participated
with researchers from IBM in producing the 7nm test chips.
You can read more about the new technology and their
breakthrough announcement at ibm.co/1TqFKlT.

WATCHING THE CHIPS FALL

CPU Released Original Price Last Months Price Online Retail Price*
Here is the pricing AMD FX-9590 Eight-Core 6/11/2013 N/A $229.99 $229.99
information for AMD FX-9370 Eight-Core 6/11/2013 $375 $209.99 $229.99
various AMD and AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core 10/23/2012 $195 $169.99 $174.99
AMD FX-8320 Eight-Core 10/23/2012 $169 $139.99 $144.99
Intel CPUs.
AMD FX-6350 Six-Core 4/30/2013 $132 $125.99 $125.99
AMD A10-7850K Quad-Core 1/14/2014 $173 $129.99 $129.99
AMD A10-7800 Quad-Core 7/2/2014 $153 $124.99 $124.99
AMD A10-7700K Quad-Core 1/14/2014 $152 $129.99 $119.99
AMD A10-6800K Quad-Core 6/4/2013 $142** $133.95 $139.99
AMD A10-5800K Quad-Core 10/2/2012 $122** $89.99 $89.99
Intel Core i7- 5960X Eight-Core 8/29/2014 $999** $1,049.99 $1,049.99
Intel Core i7- 4960X Six-Core 9/3/2013 $990** $1,029.99 $1,029.99
Intel Core i7- 5930K Six-Core 8/29/2014 $583** $579.99 $579.99
Intel Core i7- 4930K Six-Core 9/3/2013 $583** $614.98 $618.16
Intel Core i7- 5820K Six-Core 8/29/2014 $389** $389.99 $389.99
Intel Core i7-4790K Quad-Core 6/25/2014 $339** $339.99 $339.99
* As of July 2015 Intel Core i7-4770K Quad-Core 6/2/2013 $339** $396.99 $426.99
** Manufacturers Intel Core i7-4820K Quad-Core 9/3/2013 $323** $322.29 $327.99
estimated price Intel Core i7-4790 Quad-Core 5/11/2014 $303** $309.99 $309.99
per 1,000
Intel Core i5-4690K Quad-Core 6/3/2014 $242** $239.99 $239.99

CPU / August 2015 5

 ADATA Launches XPG 930 Series ASUS Adds R9 Fury To Strix
SSDs For Gamers & Overclockers Gaming Graphics Cards Lineup
ADATA is launching a new series of SSDs that targets gamers ASUS is adding a new member to its Strix line of graphics
and overclockers. The XPG 930 Series uses enterprise-grade cards. The Strix R9 Fury is based on AMDs Fiji graphics
multi-level cell NAND memory and incorporates a DDR3 processor and includes 4GB of HBM (High Bandwidth
DRAM Cache Buffer that ADATA says provides up to twice Memory). The card features the new Direct CU III air cooler
the random read/write speed as drives without the buffer. with specially designed fan blades that ASUS says improve
The 2.5-inch SATA 6Gbps SSDs use JMicron controllers and airflow and static pressure 105% over other fans. ASUS says
reach sequential read/write speeds of up to 560/460MBps. its Direct CU III cooler helps the Strix R9 Fury run 30%
They support a number of safety and reliability features and cooler and up to 3X quieter than reference cards. Other
come with a five-year warranty. The drives should be available features of the Strix R9 Fury include a new Strix LED with
at retail soon in 120GB, 240GB, and 480GB sizes. pulsating light effects. Retail for the card runs around $570.

Samsung Announces Two 2TB SSD EK Releases Single-Slot, Full-Cover

Models: 850 EVO & 850 PRO Waterblock For R9 FURY X Cards
Samsung recently announced two new large-capacity SSDs. EK has released the EK-FC R9 FURY X waterblock for
The 850 PRO and 850 EVO both have a maximum capacity graphics cards based on AMDs new Radeon Fury X GPU.
of 2TB. The drives have the same 2.5-inch aluminum casing The EK cooler is a full-cover waterblock with your choice
(the PRO features a red square on top) and they both use of a bare or nickel-plated electrolytic copper base that pairs
128Gb 3D V-NAND chips and a high-performance MHX with either an acrylic or POM Acetal top. EK says the unique
controller. The main difference between the two is the split-flow design of the block offers superior cooling even in
warranty: Samsung guarantees the 850 PRO for 10 years or systems with weaker water pumps. The single-slot cooler also
300 terabytes written, while it backs the 850 EVO for five has FC Terminal connection ports so you can swap out cards
years or 150 terabytes written. Expect prices of $1,000 for in a multi-card system without changing the cooling loop.
the PRO and $800 for the EVO. Pricing runs $113.99 to $125.49, depending on material.

6 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

Cougar Launches New Flagship BitFenix Adds New Features To
Gaming Mouse, The 550M Alchemy 2.0 LED Lighting Strips
Cougars new 550M gaming mouse is all about custom- BitFenix has updated its Alchemy lighting line to make the
ization. It has six buttons, including a trigger button located LED strips even better. The new Alchemy 2.0 LED strips are
behind the scroll wheel, that can be customized for up to 21 embedded with magnets and can be attached to any steel part
functions. The optical sensor, which offers up to 6,400dpi of a case or component. They attach easily and can be moved
of sensitivity, can also be adjusted by the user, as can the and re-used as you wish. BitFenix has added purple to its existing
1,000Hz polling rate. Preferences can be saved in three color selection and tweaked the wavelength of the green LEDs so
configurations thanks to 512Kb of onboard memory. All they now match the neon green used on NVIDIA graphics cards.
settings and adjustments can be implemented quickly using Alchemy 2.0 Magnetic LED Strips are available in three lengths:
Cougars UIX gaming device management software. The 12cm (6 LEDs), 30cm (15 LEDs), and 60cm (30 LEDs), and
550M will be available this month with an MSRP of $59. they come in white, red, green, blue, and purple. Pricing varies.

EVGA Releases K|NGP|N Edition CableMod Announces Cable Kits

GTX 980 Ti; Pre-Binned For OCers For Cooler Master V Series PSUs
EVGAs fastest GeForce GTX 980 Ti card, the K|NGP|N CableMod has announced it has created new cabling kits
edition, is a special treat for overclockers. Created with the that will work with the V series of PSUs from Cooler
assistance of the world-famous overclocker its named after, Master. The cables come in a range of solid colors and color
the K|NGP|N card has a special twist: EVGA has pre-binned combinations. Just pick the color or color combination that
the ASIC quality of the card at four levels and price points: works best with your system, order the kit, and then when
72%+ ($849.99); 74%+ ($899.99); 76%+ ($999.99); and it arrives, replace the cables on your V series PSU with the
80%+ ($1,049.99). Users can select the level that best fits ones in the kit. Its a big timesaver over resleeving individual
their budget. Additional OC goodies include a 14+3 power cables. Plus, if you end up using the PSU in another system,
phase and full digital VRM, quick-switch triple BIOSes, you can always change out the cables again. To find vendors
onboard thermal sensors, real-time voltmeter, and more. who carry the kits, visit www.cablemod.com.

CPU / August 2015 7

 Stagefright Vulnerability Poses DoD Renews Funding For CMUs
Threat To 950 Million Android Users Software Engineering Institute
Experts at mobile security company Zimperium recently Carnegie Mellon Universitys Software Engineering Institute
uncovered a vulnerability in an Android media library called was founded in 1984 and is currently the only federally
Stagefright that may be present in as many as 950 million funded R&D center focusing on software-related security
Android phones. The Stagefright vulnerability could allow and engineering topics. The Department of Defense recently
crackers to remotely execute code on the devices simply by notified the SEI it was renewing its contract with the center
texting a media file to the phone; all the bad guys need is for five more years, with an option for another five years, for
your phone number. Due to the seriousness and scope of a total commitment of up to $1.73 billion. With ongoing
the potential threat, Zimperium notified Googles Android concerns about cybersecurity and the growing importance of
Security team and also submitted patches that could fix the software in the U.S. economy, dont be surprised if the DoD
problem. Go to http://blog.zimperium.com for more info. opts to exercise that another five years clause.

Razers New LoL Scouter Program Wondering Whats Growing In Your

Provides Voice Chat & Player Info Yard? GardenAnswers Will Tell You.
League Of Legends players have a new tool in their arsenals: GardenAnswers is a new app for iOS and Android that you
Razers LoL Scouter VoIP software. LoL Scouter is an add-in can use to identify plants. Just take a photo of any plant,
for the Razer Comms free suite of communications software. and the app will offer up images of possible matches; you
LoL Scouter lets players communicate using voice chat and then select the one that looks most like the plant in question.
includes a feature that lets users invite teammates to join calls GardenAnswers not only identifies the plant, but it also
by pasting a URL link in the LoL Scouter window. Along provides horticultural information such as suggestions for
with the communications tools, LoL Scouter displays critical care and maintenance. If the app cant identify your plant,
information about other players, such as their experience you can use an option in the app to submit the photo along
level, season rank, Kill/Death/Assist totals, Runes, and with questions to outside experts for identification and advice.
Masteries. Download at www.razerzone.com/comms/. Download for free at Google Play or the App Store.

8 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

eBay Shuts Down eBay Now Pilot Amazon Competitor Jet Launches
Need that latest eBay purchase today? Youre out of luck as Shopping club Jet.com is now open to the public, promising
eBay is ending the eBay Now service in the United States new technology that makes online shopping smarter and
(service in the UK will still continue). In announcing the more efficient. For $49.99 a year, members can save on
end of the service, eBay noted it saw encouraging results virtually everything they buy online; Jet guarantees that
from eBay Now but had always intended it as a pilot. Now, members will save at least the cost of membership, or it will
eBay will focus efforts on exploring delivery and pick-up/ refund the difference. Jet Founder and CEO Marc Lore says
drop-off programs that are relevant to more of its 25 million the site is engineered more like a financial trading system than
sellers and cover a larger variety of products. In other eBay- a traditional e-commerce marketplace, with all cost savings
lover news, youll soon notice the disappearance of several passed back to customers (Lore says Jets model is to only
apps you may have downloaded, including eBay Valet, profit on membership fees). Members can shop at the Jet.com
Fashion, and Motors. Those special-purpose apps and others website or at hundreds of Jet Anywhere stores on the Web,
will be integrated into the core eBay apps. earning JetCash to spend on future purchases at Jet.com.

Google+ To Be Less Confusing Companies Continue To Ramp

Admitting that users sometimes found Google+ product Their Investments In The IoT
experiences confusing, Bradley Horowitz, Googles vice
president of streams, photos, and sharing, says in a blog post The Internet of Thingsthe phrase commonly used to describe
that the company is going to focus Google+ on helping users the growing network of connected devicesis shaping up to be
connect around the interests they love, and retire it as the big business. In fact, a new report from Tata Consultancy Services
mechanism by which people share and engage within other shows that 12% of companies will spend $100 million on the
Google products. Starting soon, youll only need a Google latest gadgets-gone-gaga trend this year and 3% will invest at
account, not a Google+ profile, to use certain Google products least $1 billion. The rewards have been great, with companies
and services, including YouTube and Google Photos. Good reporting an average revenue increase of 15.6% last year as a
news for those of us who have already created a Google+ profile result of IoT investments. IoT technologies are most commonly
but dont plan to use the social media service: the company will used to track customers via mobile apps and track products
offer ways to manage and remove the public profiles. through production and distribution, the report notes.

CPU / August 2015 9

 Job Of The Month
The company that made dont leave home without it a catchphrase is looking for someone who
combines business savvy with technical chops for an important job in their New York offices. American 10
Express, the financial services giant with the credit card empire, is casting its net for a Lead Business
Factor by which the market for OLED
Architect in the Global Corporate Payments division. The company says it is building a team that will
(organic LED) materials is expected to
be responsible for business architecture across our Global Product Development & Operations.
increase by the year 2022. The OLED
Applicants should be knowledgeable in multiple disciplines, including business architectures, business
market is projected to reach $970 million by
analysis, technology strategies, business transformation, and moving teams to Agile development
the end of this year, but will jump more than
processes. You also need to be familiar with architecture frameworks such as TOGAF and Zachman and
tenfold to $9.7 billion by 2022.
be a whiz with application systems design and integration. If you like what youre reading and want a
n-tech Research
job with a financial services leader in the Big Apple, see the companys website for more details.
Source: careers.americanexpress.com
40%
Who Isnt On The Internet? Percentage of thermostats sold in 2015
Percentages Of that will be smart thermostats. Smart
Nearly 15% Of U.S. Adults U.S. Adults Not Online thermostats communicate with other
We may live in a world that offers instant communication By Gender, Age & Income devices and can be controlled remotely
and nearly limitless access to information, but a sizeable using smartphone apps and related
chunk of the adult population in the U.S. isnt taking part. Male 15% technologies.
Approximately 15% of adults (ages 18+) in the country Female 15% Parks Associates

do not use the Internet, according to a survey done by 18 - 29 3%

Pew Research. The survey revealed some people thought
the Internet was still too difficult to use, some thought
30 - 49
50 - 64
6%
19%
91%
it was too expensive, and others just didnt see any 65+ 39% Percentage of health-care organizations
compelling reason to use it. While gender didnt appear that experienced at least one data breach
<$30K 25%
to affect the likelihood of using the Internet, there were $30K - $49,999 14% during the last two years, according to
some general trends that showed up in the results. For $50K - $74,999 5% research by the Ponemon Institute. The
example, the older people are, or the lower their income, $75K+ 3% institute found that 40% of health-care
the more likely it is they do not go online. organizations had five or more breaches
Source: Pew Research during that same period.
Ponemon Institute

Seven Years Of College Down The Drain . . . .

A study on the state of college hiring by recruiting company Looksharp shows that some degrees are
$4.8 billion
much more likely to lead to work in a related area, at least initially. The research compiled feedback Projected size of the commercial market
from more than 50,000 college students and recent graduates on their fields of study, internships, and for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), also
subsequent employment. Good news for left-brained folks who study computer science, math, and known as drones, by the year 2021. This
engineering: The study showed grads with those degrees are more likely to land jobs in their chosen field. compares with a market size of about
$609 million for all of 2014. Companies are
Percentage Of Graduates Landing Full-Time Work In Their Field Of Study starting to use drones to check on remote
sites, sell real estate, examine buildings
Computer Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80.8% Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.7%
under construction, and make deliveries,
STEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71.2% Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46%
among other things.
Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64.4% Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42.9%
Radiant Insights
Nursing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.7% Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.8%
Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.1% Psychology & Counseling . . . . . . . . . . 30.6%
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49.6% Political Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.6%
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48.8% Sociology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.9%

Source: Looksharp

10 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 NCIX PCs SOC
Champion Edition
The Official GIGABYTE eSports Gaming Machine
motherboard thats the top choice plates, system lighting, and other internal
of many overclockers. This system modifications, such as color-themed cable
exists to showcase the performance sleeves. NCIX PC can even create an
that can be extracted from GIGA- orange and black theme that mirrors the
BYTEs top tier components, says one found on GIGABYTEs GA-X99-SOC
Francis Carroll, senior business Champion motherboard. Theres an overall
manager at NCIX PC. We wanted artistic purpose to the modifications, as well.
to offer the gamers a platform that We came up with a design that resembles
would shatter benchmarks and a mix of an oil rig and some sort of mining
frame rates, so that they can have the drone that you might fight in Final Fantasy,
most incredible gaming experience. says Carroll. Youll note that the fans,
Interested? Well dig a little motherboard, and graphics card backplates
deeper into the SOC Champion are showing danger lines, highlighting
Edition rigs. where most of the action happens in that
gaming rig.
Mod My Rig Even if you dont go with the complete
Quality custom-built PCs mod package, youll be able to customize
are more than just a collection of the internal lighting when configuring your
parts, and NCIX PC goes the extra build. NCIX PC uses BitFenixs Alchemy
mile to make your rig extra special.LED Strips (red, blue, green, or white) to
NCIX PCs SOC Champion Edition is GIGABYTEs official This project serves as an R&D illuminate the critical hardware in your
eSports gaming machine. opportunity
to bring our
watercooling
solution to
oure likely familiar with NCIX as a the next level, says
Y retailer of computer parts, as its website
(www.ncix.com) and brick-and-mortar
Carroll. With precise
fitting angles and tube
stores boast an incredibly diverse selection lengths, this solution
of enthusiast hardware. But did you know built of traditional
that NCIX has a PC division that produces tubing offers never-
handcrafted, high-end rigs? NCIX PCs seen-before aesthetics,
Canadian-based specialists have been while being more
designing and building custom computers reliable and easier to
for 19 years and can create monster rigs maintain than solid
with custom liquid cooling loops and high- tubing.
performance overclocks. A complete artisan-
NCIX PC recently announced its SOC crafted mod package is NCIX PC uses EK Water Blocks liquid cooling components to ensure
Champion Edition systems, which are based available that includes high-performance and a stylish interior look.
on GIGABYTEs GA-X99-SOC Champion custom painting, VGA
Advertisement

12 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

build. On the outside, you can choose either
the black and white version of Corsairs
Graphite Series 780T. This attractive
case features rounded corners and a large
window in the side panel that luxuriously
shows off the SOC Champion Edition and
the rest of your hardware.
NCIX PCs technical specialists take great
care to make certain the system you receive
is top-notch. Every system builder at NCIX
PC is passionate about his own work, says
Carroll. Once he has the PC assigned to
him, he will be the only one working on
your PC until he finds that it matches his NCIX PC can perform a variety of modifications to pimp out the SOC Champion.
personal standards of quality. Rigorous
testing protocols are part of the NCIX PC
process, too, so you can rest assured that GPU(s) using EK Water Blocks elegant, top-
youll receive a PC thatll handle everything shelf liquid cooling components for ultimate
you throw at it. overclocking performance.
Get To Know The Champ
The default configurations for the SOC At the heart of every SOC Champion Edition
The Champion Selection Phase Champion feature both an Intel SSD 730 is GIGABYTEs GA-X99-SOC Champion
System customization is available on Series SSD (available in 240GB or 480GB motherboard. Its an overclockers best friend,
most all NCIX PC builds, and on the SOC capacities) and Seagates SSHD Hybrid Drive thanks to GIGABYTEs optimizations to the
Champion, youll have plenty of component (available in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities). processor socket and memory trace paths,
options to adjust the gaming system to your Intels SSD 730 Series delivers some pretty as well as the onboard buttons, switches,
ideal performance and budget. To help give impressive throughput with sequential reads and voltage read points that make it easier to
you an idea of where to start, NCIX PC and writes of 550MBps and 270MBps overclock your rig.
offers the SOC Champion Edition in three (240GB)/470MBps (480GB), respectively.
base system tiers: Tier 1 ($2,999), Tier 2 The SSHD technology in Seagates storage GIGABYTE provides a CPU socket with 2,083
($3,499), and Tier 3 ($4,599). NCIX PC identifies your most frequently-used files and pins, so the motherboard can utilize all of the
also provides technical advisors to assist you. stores them in NAND flash for better overall contacts on Intels Haswell-E processors. With
Just reach us at [email protected], and youll system responsiveness. 72 more contact points, youll enjoy greater
hear from us within 24 hours, Carroll says. For system memory, NCIX PC starts you stability when overclocking. To boost memory
Within each tier, you have the ability off with 16GB of Corsair Vengeance LPX speed, GIGABYTE uses SMT (surface mount
switch the processor, GPU (or GPUs), DDR4-2666 memory, and you can upgrade technology) on the DIMM slots, which shortens
cooling, storage, and other extras, such as the SOC Championship Edition to 32GB trace paths to deliver faster communication
lighting. As the SOC Champion Edition if you feel that 16GB will be insufficient for with the CPU. The GA-X99-SOC Champion
is built on Intels X99 chipset, your CPU your needs. Corsairs HX850i powers the currently supports DDR4 memory rated for up
options include Intels three Haswell-E SOC Champion Edition, and you wont to 3400MHz speeds.
processorsthe Core i7-5820K, the Core be wasting much power, because the PSU
i7-5930K, and the flagship Core i7-5960X. meets 80 PLUS Platinum certifications. The GA-X99-SOC Champions got onboard
That means, at a minimum, any SOC gadgets and gizmos aplenty. Youll find the
Champion Edition will have six cores with Get Ready To Do Battle standard power, reset, and clear CMOS
Hyper-Threading at its disposal. Its no surprise that GIGABYTE named buttons, as well as a BIOS switch where you
When it comes to the GPUs, NCIX PC the SOC Champion Edition its official can move between the main and backup BIOS.
allows you to select among various flavors eSports gaming machine, as even the most This means the SOC Champion Edition has
of GIGABYTEs GeForce 900 Series family. basic configurations are powerful enough you covered for situations where you need to
Your options include the GTX 960, 970, to handle todays toughest games. The recover from a crashed BIOS. If you want to
980, and 980 Ti. If you want SLI on your impressive hardware is complemented by an get real-time component voltages, the GA-
rig, just click the drop-down menu next to elegant design that exudes luxury. Take your X99-SOC Champion offers a host of read points
your card of choice to double down on GPU game to the next level with the NCIX PC where you can connect a multimeter, including
power. NCIX PC can also liquid-cool the SOC Champion Edition. read points for the DIMM slots and PCH.

CPU / August 2015 13

 AquaChanger 240 such a solid cooler.
The EXllusion 240s cold plate also uses
LEPAs patented CDP (Central Diffusing
Passage), but on this cooler there are
two passages cut into the microfin array,
as opposed to the AquaChanger 240s
single passage. According to LEPA,
CDP increases heat absorption while
mitigating CPU hot spots. The included
fans have the same dual convex blade
design, as well. Despite their similarities,
the EXllusion 240 has slightly greater
cooling capacity (400W TDP) than the
AquaChanger 240 (350W TDP).
To test the EXllusion 240, we used it
to cool an Intel Core i7-5930K and then
punished the pair with two CPU-intensive
benchmarks: POV-Ray and Prime95.
First, though, we let our processor idle for
10 minutes and took note of the CPUs
temperature. During the idle period, the
LEPA EXllusion 240 average temp across all six cores was 27.1
degrees Celsius, and at one point one of the
ont look now, but LEPA is making a The pump/cold plate unit has a fill port cores peaked at 35 C. The EXllusion 240
D hard charge into the world of liquid
cooling. Just last month we examined the
that lets you add coolant as needed (LEPA
provides a 500ml bottle in the box to refill
stayed strong after five consecutive runs of
POV-Ray, holding the average CPU temp
companys AquaChanger 240, a closed- the loopyoure welcome), but it also to 50.7 C and a peak core temp of 55 C.
loop liquid cooler with a lot of muscle. gives you an easy way to add dye to tint the Prime95s Small FFTs test, our nastiest test
This month, LEPA sent us a CPU liquid coolant. And here, two and half paragraphs by far, raised the average CPU temperature
cooler thats even more intriguing, the into our review, we arrive at the EXllusion to 60 C after running for 10 minutes; the
EXllusion 240. 240s value proposition: completely custom peak core temp over this period was 65 C.
The EXllusion 240 is the kind of CPU coolant color. The EXllusion 240s tubing For power users who dont want to
cooler that would make John Venn a is clear, and LEPA includes a set of red, fuss with hand picking liquid-cooling
happy man. Its decidedly not a closed-loop green, and blue dyes to use in the loop. components but nonetheless want their
cooler, but we wouldnt call it a completely Thats almost 16.8 million possibilities! So, setup to stand out from the crowd, LEPAs
custom kit, either. Everything you need is simply add 101 parts red, 156 parts green, EXllusion 240 is tough to beat. Priced
included in the box, and the loop is pre- and 239 parts blue to get that cornflower to be competitive with a number of very
filled, too. In short, if you know how to blue coolant youve always wanted. We good closed-loop liquid coolers that use
open a box and turn a few screws, you can jest, of course, but the prepackaged 240mm radiators, this liquid cooler is a
install the EXllusion 240, so in that regard dyes and the EXllusion 240s fill port very compelling option indeed.
its as easy to set up as any closed-loop further extend the notion that this is one
liquid cooler. The pump and waterblock heck of an approachable cooler. An LED BY VINCE COGLEY
are condensed into one unit, as well, which light built into the pump unit helps you
is another hallmark of closed-loop coolers. show off your handiwork. EXllusion 240
Make no mistake, though, the EXllusion It makes perfect sense that, as a LEPA $119.99
240 just begs to be customized, and LEPA product, the EXllusion 240 borrows a LEPA
provides the materials for you to do so. lot of the same technology that made the www.lepatek.com

Specs: Materials: Copper (waterblock), aluminum (radiator); Socket compatibility: Intel LGA775/1150/1151/1155/1156/1366/2011(3), AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/
FM1/FM2/FM2+; Pump: 3,000rpm; Fans: 2 x 120mm PWM (500 to 1,800rpm); Radiator dimensions: 32 x 274 x 120mm (HxWxD)
Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-5930K; Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH X99; GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 980 AMP! Edition; RAM: Crucial
Ballistix Sport DDR4-2400; Storage: 240GB Intel SSD 730: OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise (64-bit)

14 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 rubber line the top and bottom edges
of the larger series of fins, helping
to minimize fan noise once theyre
clamped to the heatsink.
The fans at work in the Dark Rock
TF are worthy of mention, too. That pair
of SilentWings fans use fluid-dynamic
bearings with a copper core, and their
six-pole motors run smooth to reduce
turbulence. Even running at full speed
(1,400rpm), the fans produce a mere
26.7dBA noise. In other words, we doubt
youll notice theyre there.
So, on paper, the Dark Rock TF has
all the makings of aif youll excuse
the indulgencerock-solid cooler.
We tested it on a pair of rigorous
benchmarks and found that its a great
performer in the real world. First, we
left our Intel Core i7-5930K to idle
for 10 minutes and then came back to
be quiet! Dark Rock TF take our processors temperature; the
average temp of our cores during the idle
n order to stay relevant in the the CPU socketcapacitors and VRM period was 28 degrees Celsius. When
Iincreasingly competitive CPU cooling
market, a company really needs to know
circuitry in particular. Orienting the
fans this way also offers the advantage
we turned on POV-Ray to turn up the
heat, the Dark Rock TF acquitted itself
what its doing. This is doubly true for of not adding extra width to the coolers well, maintaining an average core temp
making air coolers. Simply adding more physical footprint, likely giving you of 50.7 C and a peak of 57 C. Finally,
metal and faster fans only goes so far. Its more clearance for your systems memory we pushed the cooler to its limit by
obvious that German manufacturer be modules. For example, theres 1.94 running Prime95s Small FFTs test for
quiet! got the memo, because its Dark inches of space between the base of the 10 minutes. This punishing benchmark
Rock TF heatsink-and-fan combo beats Dark Rock TF and the bottom of the raised the average core temperature to
the heat by working smarter, not harder. lower fan, well over half an inch more 61.7 C, and one of the 5930Ks cores
The Dark Rock TF is sizable, sure, than the Dark Rock Pro 3s 1.37 inches peaked at 68 C during the run.
but the coolers real genius is the way be of clearance. Available for less than $80, the Dark
quiet! uses the space, so to speak. The Although we put an emphasis on Rock TF is proof that air cooling aint
key is the TF in the Dark Rock TFs how a manufacturer assembles the dead. With an excellent pair of fans and a
moniker, which is short for top-flow. building blocks of an air cooler, the thoughtfully designed heatsink, this is yet
Rather than latching onto either end building blocks still matter. Those in another CPU cooler from be quiet! that
of the heatsink like most coolers fans, the Dark Rock TF are first-rate. The demands your consideration.
the 135mm SilentWings fans packaged h e a t s i n ks c o p p e r b a s e i s C N C -
with the Dark Rock TF lay flat across machined and polished to a mirror BY VINCE COGLEY
two beds of aluminum fins. This confers finish. There are six 6mm copper
a couple of benefits. First, by blowing heatpipes that pass through the base Dark Rock TF
air toward the motherboard, the Dark and the top array of aluminum fins, $79.90
Rock TF provides residual cooling to the while four of the six also pass through be quiet!
motherboard components that surround the heatsinks lower fins. Strips of www.bequiet.com

Specs: Materials: Copper (base, heatpipes), aluminum (fins); Fans: 2 x 135mm PWM (1,400rpm max); Cooler dimensions: 5.1 x 5.5 x 6.4 inches
(HxWxD); Socket compatibility: Intel LGA775/1150/1155/1156/1366/2011(3), AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2/FM2+; Warranty: 3 years
Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-5930K; Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH X99; GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 980 AMP! Edition; RAM: Crucial
Ballistix Sport DDR4-2400; Storage: 240GB Intel SSD 730: OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise (64-bit)

CPU / August 2015 15

 Specs & Scores MSI GTX 980Ti
GAMING 6G

Core/Boost Clocks 1,279MHz/1,178MHz

(OC Mode),
1,228MHz/1,140MHz
(Gaming Mode),
1,076MHz/1,000MHz
(Silent Mode)

Memory Clock 1,752MHz (1,775MHz

OC Mode)

Memory Interface 384-bit

Memory 6GB GDDR5

3DMark Professional (Fire 7638

Strike Extreme)

Graphics Score 7904

Physics Score 16174

Unigine Heaven 4.0 Score 1875

GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G
FPS 74.4
$679.99
MSI Games 1,920 X 1,080
us.msi.com
Aliens VS. Predator (Very 145.2
High, 16XAF, 4XAA, SSOA)

MSI GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G

Metro: LL (DX11, Very High, 112.67
16XAF, Very High Tess.)
Dying Light (High, AO On, AA 150.97
On, Vsync Off)
SI sent us its powerful GTX 980Ti 6GB GDDR5 frame buffer and the
M GAMING 6G, which costs a cool $320
less than the flagship Titan X but performs
384-bit memory bus.
MSI takes this impressive piece of
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Vsync
Off, Unl. FPS, Ultra)
84.31

like its got something to prove. This beast hardware and straps its Twin Frozr V
is going into our PAX Prime Sasquatch, cooler to the top. It features an asymmetrical (1,076MHz/1,000MHz). OC Mode adds
making back-to-back MSI graphics-powered red-and-black shroud. Two 90mm Torx fans another 22.5MHz to the memory clock.
CPU System Workshop builds. perform the cards primary cooling, and The graphics card is 10.5 inches long and
The GeForce GTX 980Ti features the theres an LED backlit dragon logo on the requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors.
GM200 Maxwell GPU with 8 billion top edge. The fans use a unique alternating If you plan on running in OC Mode, avoid
transistors in a die that measures 601 square blade design that mixes smooth straight using a 6- to 8-pin PCIe adapter. Your PSU
millimeters, manufactured using the 28nm blades with bulged blades to increase static should be able to handle at least 600 watts of
process. There are 22 active streaming multi- air pressure and deliver better airflow. MSIs continuous power to run this 250-watt TDP
processor units in the GTX 980Tis GPU, Zero Frozr technology stops the fans from card. On the back bracket, youll find one
two fewer than the Titan X, for a total spinning when the GPU is idle. Dual Link DVI-I port, an HDMI 1.4a/2.0
CUDA core count of 2,816. There are 176 Four nickel-plated SuperSU Pipe port, and three DisplayPort 1.2 ports.
texture units and 96 ROPs and, according heatpipes draw heat from the copper plate We chose the middle-of-the-road Gaming
to NVIDIA, this GPUs architecture to the densely-packed heatsink fins. That Mode for our testing, which delivers great
delivers twice the performance-per-watt cooling capacity comes in handy because framerates in the games without pushing
compared to the companys Kepler-based MSI pushed the core clocks into uncharted the fan above a barely audible hum. If youre
streaming multiprocessors. territory. The bundled Gaming App looking for a winning take on the GeForce
There arent many graphics cards that can lets you choose between three boost/base GTX 980Ti, MSIs factory overclocked
claim to deliver playable framerates at 4K core clock modes, including OC Mode version is the fastest weve tested.
resolutions, but the GTX 980Ti is one of (1,279MHz/1,178MHz), Gaming Mode
them, and it does so with the help of the (1,228MHz/1,140MHz), and Silent Mode BY ANDREW LEIBMAN

Specs: GPU: Maxwell GM200; Core Boost/Base Clocks: 1,279MHz/1,178MHz (OC Mode), 1,228MHz/1,140MHz (Gaming Mode), 1,076MHz/1,000MHz (Silent
Mode); Memory Clock: 1,752MHz; Memory Bus: 384-bit; Frame Buffer: 6GB GDDR5; Factory Overclocked: Yes; Ports: dual-link DVI, HDMI, three DisplayPort
Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X; Motherboard: GIGABYTE X99-Gaming G1; RAM: 16GB Ballistix Elite DDR4-2400; Storage: 240GB OCZ
Vertex 3 MAX IOPS SSD; OS: Windows 8 Enterprise (64-bit)

16 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 Deepcool Gamer Storm TF 120
eepcools Gamer Storm lineup of a couple of ridges that begin just behind Its a PWM-controlled unit with an
D products includes one case (the
extremely cool Tristellar, which we
the leading edge and then rise gradually
until they meet the top layer just before
operating range of 500 to 1,800rpm;
its power connector resides at the
covered in depth starting on page 51 the rear edge of the blade. end of a black, braided-nylon power
of the July issue) but is mostly made The two-layer blade designs purpose cable. Deepcool ships each TF 120
up of CPU coolers and fans. The new is to create greater airflow, and this is with a 4-pin PWM extension cable and
Gamer Storm TF 120 is one of the complemented by the shape and design a second extension that plugs into a
latter thatas its name suggests of the fans frame, which has a series 4-pin Molex connector.
measures 120mm in diameter and of channels around each corner on These are solid, well-made LED
that comes in three colors: red, white, the back side to neutralize the noise fans that provide lots of airflow when
and blue. created by the increased turbulence. you need it without generating a lot
There are lots of varying fan designs The fan runs on a semi-hermetic of noise in the process. They make a
out there, but the TF 120 has one of fluid dynamic bearing with a MTBF of great addition to builds with all sorts
the most unique configurations weve up to 100,000 hours and contributes of internal color schemes, thanks to
seen to date. Deepcool refers to it as to quiet operation by reducing friction. the availability of three colors and
a 2-layer blade design, and its easy Also, the blade is detachable, which interchangeable blades.
to see why. Each of the nine blades on gives you more color options and
a TF 120 has a thin second layer that makes the fan easier to clean. The TF BY CHRIS TRUMBLE
runs all along the rear edge of the blade 120s FDB mechanism is dust-proof
about 1/8 of an inch above the main and waterproof. Its also designed to Gamer Storm TF 120
blade. (Come to think of it, it sort of prevent oil leakage. $16.99
looks like each blade has its own little The TF 120 has LED emitter lenses Deepcool
spoiler.) Each spoiler is supported by inside the frame at all four corners. deepcool.com

Specs: Dimensions: 120 x 120 x 26mm; Speed: 500 to 1,800rpm; Max airflow: 76.52cfm; Noise: 17.6 to 31.3dBA; Connector: 4-pin PWM;
Extras: PWM extension cable, Molex 4-pin adapter

18 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 Shock Console
$39.99
Thermaltake
www.ttesports.com

Thermaltake SHOCK CONSOLE Gaming Headset

amers demand a lot from their stereo headset, even though the decoder with neodymium magnets. The sound
G headsets, but one area where most fall
short is in the category of compatibility.
box relies on USB and optical inputs.
As such, the Thermaltake SHOCK
they deliver has a good amount of bass,
but the mids and highs remain crisp and
As a result, we tend to have one headset CONSOLE gaming headset supports clear regardless of how much sound these
for our gaming consoles and another PS3/4, Xbox 360/One, and PC gaming. puppies are pumping out. Another feature
for our PC. Thermaltakes SHOCK If you plan to use this with the Xbox we like is the inline audio controller, which
CONSOLE gaming headset is the One, however, keep in mind youll need provides discrete volume dials for mic and
companys valiant attempt to desegregate an external stereo headset adapter, which game inputa must-have for multiplayer
your gaming systems and unite them Thermaltake doesnt supply. Microsoft gaming scenarios. The unit also features a
under one set of foam-lined ear cups. recently updated the controllers with mic mute switch and a 2.5mm cable for
The headset features a matte black a native phono port, so these will plugging into the console game controllers.
rubberized finish on the outside of the be compatible with the SHOCK Crucially, theres just enough length to
cans and the headband, with red plastic CONSOLE right out-of-the-box. these wires that you wont be yanking
plates surrounding the ear pads. Theres The foam ear pads are oblong in shape the headset off in the heat of battle, yet
also a red plush headband pad. Each and covered in a breathable black mesh short enough to make sure they dont get
side of the headset glows with red LED fabric. Theyll rest on the outside edges tangled easily. We do wish the inline audio
dragon logos. With lots of ambient light of your ears, but the headset itself is light controller box had a clip on it though.
in the room, the logos have a rather enough that extended gaming sessions When you factor in the price, the
pinkish hue, but in the dark, they appear dont make this uncomfortable. The Thermaltake SHOCK CONSOLE makes
a much richer shade of red. Both the headband is adjustable and we like that a good case for itself as your next all-
flexible mic boom and the cord sprout the headset mic is removable. purpose gaming headset.
from the left can and theres a black L and Under the plastic shell, this headset
R indicator above each ear pad. This is a features a pair of 40mm drivers equipped BY ANDREW LEIBMAN

Specs: Drivers: 40mm, 20Hz to 20KHz; Impedance: 32 ohm; Sensitivity: 98dB; Mic: 50Hz to 15KHz; Controller: chat volume, game volume, mic mute;
Connector: USB; Extras: red LED-lit dragon logos, optical input decoder box

20 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 Suppressor F51
$119.99
Thermaltake
www.thermaltakeusa.com

Thermaltake Suppressor F51

hermaltakes Suppressor F51 is a mid- In addition to the pre-installed 200mm the bay out, fasten in your drive, and clip the
T tower case designed with an emphasis
on silent operation, and it draws on a
intake fan, the Suppressor F51 comes with a
140mm exhaust fan installed at the rear. The
bay to the side using the provided hooks.
Elsewhere, the Suppressor F51 has all of
few proven techniques to accomplish this aforementioned front dust filters are joined the features youd expect from a high-end
goal. For starters, Thermaltake gives the by two more on the bottom of the case (one case; a motherboard tray equipped with a
case a solid front panel that has sound- beneath the PSU mount and one toward the huge cutout for mounting coolers, rubber-
deadening material fastened to its inside; front) and a removable magnetic dust filter grommeted cable management holes in the
the panel opens left to right, revealing on top. The non-windowed version of the appropriate locations, a PSU mount with
a vented inner panel with a pair of case comes with an additional magnetic dust rubber insulation pads at key locations to
removable dust filters in between you filter on the outside of the left-side panel over dampen vibration, and tie-down loops on
and a big 200mm intake fan. External an interior 140mm or 120mm fan mount. the back of the motherboard for neater cable
air enters the case via baffled vents along The Suppressor F51s interior is highly management. The case is nice and wide to
the front edge of both sides, which helps configurable, in that all of its internal drive accommodate all your building needs with
deflect internal system noise that would bays are removable. The two 5.25-inch bays ease, and the front-mounted ports and
otherwise come straight out toward you. at the top come out separately via screws in controls (including a pair of fan control
The case has similar sound-deadening the rails in front, and you can remove the buttons) are arrayed along the front edge of
material inside its right-side panel and (if two three-bay cages for 3.5- and 2.5-inch the top panel for easy access.
you opt for the model with a solid side panel drives by taking out four thumbscrews each. Thermaltake introduced the Suppressor
instead of the windowed panel our review Taking all its bays out leaves a lot of room F51 as a new case line, which suggests that
unit arrived with) the left-side panel, as to work with for elaborate cooling loops or there will be additional Suppressor models
well as along the top panel. The top panels just about whatever else you might want to forthcoming. If the F51 is a good indicator of
insulation takes the form of three separate build into your rig, and you can still mount what to expect, this will be a product family
pieces that you can remove in the event that two 3.5- or 2.5-inch drives on the back of the to keep an eye on.
you decide that having a radiator installed motherboard tray, using one or two of the
beneath the top is a higher priority. tool-less bays from the interior cages. Just pop BY CHRIS TRUMBLE

Specs: Dimensions: 20.6 x 9.1 x 22.7 inches (HxWxD); Materials: SPCC steel; Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, microATX, ATX, EATX; Drive bays: 2 x 5.25-inch external,
6 x 3.5/2.5-inch internal; Fans (included): 1 x 200mm front, 1 x 140mm rear; Fans (optional): 3 x 120mm or 2 x 140mm front, 3 x 120mm or 3 x 140mm or 2 x 200mm
top, 1 x 120mm rear, 1 x 140mm or 1 x 120mm side (non-windowed version only), 2 x 120mm bottom; Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, audio I/O

CPU / August 2015 21

 BattleHawk Black
$79.99
Aerocool
www.aerocool.us

Aerocool BattleHawk Black

t just 18 inches deep, the BattleHawk whatnot) and still have a great spot for fan (no LEDs) preinstalled at the rear,
A from Aerocool is on the small end
of the mid-tower spectrum, but it
an SSD boot drive.
One of the bays in the upper, 5.25-
and there are another two 120mm
fan mounts beneath the top panel.
supports ATX boards (as well as mATX inch drive cage actually supports a 3.5- Not coincidentally, you can opt for a
and Mini-ITX ones), graphics cards up inch external drive. Aerocools site points 240mm double rad under the top panel,
to more than 15 inches long, and full- out that this bay can house an FDD or and of course the rear fan mount will
sized power supplies, so theres no need a card reader, which is a bit odd given accommodate a single rad.
to worry about skimping on components. that floppy drives are extinct and theres Aerocools BattleHawk Black is an
The 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch drive already an SD card reader mounted on apt answer to the question, How much
cages at the top and bottom of the top of the case. (There are also two fan case can you get for $80 these days?
front end are riveted in rather than control buttons and the usual selection Its also proof positive that budget-
fastened with thumbscrews. As a result, of ports at the front of the top.) But the conscious cases dont have to be bland,
this case lacks the interior modularity handsome front panels door closes over square boxes; this case has a striking
that is increasingly popular in gaming this slot, meaning whatever you decide exterior shape and (for the most part)
cases, but removing the cages is a to use it for will be mostly your business. smooth, clean lines that result in a
simple matter of drilling out the rivets Aerocool equips the case with a single sleek, muscular look that contains just
that hold them in place. The good 120mm red LED fan behind the front the right amounts of flash and restraint.
news is that one of the BattleHawks panel (theres room for a second if you Add its windowed left-side panel to the
two 2.5-inch drive mounts resides want to add it), and the dark translucent equation, and the result is an awful lot
on the back of the motherboard tray, bottom section of the front panel of case for a little money.
so you can remove the cages (leaving shows the LEDs glow when the case
more space for cooling gear and is powered up. Theres another 120mm BY CHRIS TRUMBLE

Specs: Dimensions: 19.3 x 8.6 x 18 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Steel, plastic; Motherboard support: Mini-ITX, microATX, ATX; Drive bays:
1 x 5.25-inch external, 3 x 3.5-inch internal, 2 x 2.5-inch internal; Fans (included): 1 x 120mm LED front, 1 x 120mm rear; Fans (optional): 2 x
120mm, 1 x 120mm rear, 2 x 120mm top; Ports: 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, audio I/O

22 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 The cold plate is pure copper (which
should be a given at this point), and
its internally facing side is lined with
a dense cluster of 0.2mm fins, which
greatly increase the cold plates surface
area. The two included 120mm fans are
PWM and rely on a long-life Japanese
fluid dynamic bearing. The outer edges
of the fan blades have a series of grooves
designed to optimize airflow, and you
can detach the impeller from the motor
for easier cleaning.
So, does the CAPTAIN deliver? We
gave it a chance to prove its worth by
letting it cool Intels mighty Core i7-
5930K. As always, we kicked off our
testing procedure by taking temperature
readings over a 10-minute idle period.
Here, the average temp across all cores
was 24.9 degrees Celsius, with a peak

Deepcool CAPTAIN 240 temperature of 37 C on one of the cores.

Next, we pitted the CAPTAIN against
POV-Ray, running the benchmark five
or a while, if you had seen one closed- nominally practical, giving you a glimpse times consecutively, and the cooler
F loop liquid-cooler you had seen them
all. Beneath their branding stickers, the
of the coolant as it flows through the
loop, but its mostly just there for looks
responded by holding the average CPU
temperature to 44.4 C. The peak core
vast majority of closed-loop CPU coolers and we like the look. From the top down, temp during our POV-Ray test was 50 C.
had Asetek DNA. Sure, companies would the pump unit looks like the front of Finally, we ran Prime95s strenuous Small
tweak certain aspects, adding their own a jet turbine, and Deepcools Gamer FFTs test for 10 minutes to fully tax the
fans here or custom LED lighting there, Storm logo appears on the sides where CAPTAIN. In this test, the average CPU
but the underlying design was the same. there isnt any connected tubing. All in temp was 54.4 C, and one core peaked
Deepcool wants to give you something all, its a distinctive aesthetic that sets the at 61 C.
new to look at. Feast your eyes on the CAPTAIN apart from other closed-loop The CAPTAIN 240 is a solid, attractive
CAPTAIN 240. liquid-coolers. offering from Deepcool. Dont have
Were not totally surprised to see a However, the CAPTAIN is more enough room for its 240mm radiator?
Deepcool component that distinguishes than a pretty face; Deepcool put a lot The CAPTAIN 120 is designed for tighter
itself visually. After all, these are the of thought into the coolers guts, as spaces. Want a bigger rad? Go with the
same creative people who developed well. The pump uses a closed impeller CAPTAIN 360. No matter what youre
the innovative and unique Tristellar that generates more power without a looking for in a closed-loop CPU cooler,
case (which we covered in last months corresponding increase in noise, and it has Deepcool has it covered.
issue). The CAPTAINs calling card is its a three-phase induction motor for more
pump-cold plate unit. It features a short forceful coolant flow. And thanks to a BY VINCE COGLEY
section of clear hard tubing that shoots zirconia ceramic bearing, the CAPTAINs
out of its top, makes a sharp bend to run pump has an expected life span of CAPTAIN 240
parallel with the unit, and then disappears 120,000 hours. $109.99
into a 90-degree elbow thats fused to The rest of the CAPTAINs cooling Deepcool
the side of the unit. The clear tubing is components are similarly impressive. www.deepcool.com

Specs: Specs: Materials: Copper (waterblock), aluminum (radiator); Socket compatibility: Intel LGA 1150/1155/1156/1366/2011(3), AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/
AM3+; Pump: 3,400rpm; Fans: 2 120mm PWM (600 to 2,200rpm); Radiator dimensions: 27 x 274 x 120mm (HxWxD)
Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-5930K; Motherboard: ASUS SABERTOOTH X99; GPU: ZOTAC GeForce GTX 980 AMP! Edition; RAM: Crucial
Ballistix Sport DDR4-2400; Storage: 240GB Intel SSD 730: OS: Windows 8.1 Enterprise (64-bit)

CPU / August 2015 23

 Bigfoot Sighting
he partys over. As summer winds
T down and vacations wrap up, another
nine months of tedium is imminent.
Pencils, books, teachers dirty looksthe
whole depressing shebang. Those carefree
days of waking up with nothing on the
docket are over until next year, so hunker
down and try to keep those care cups at
least half full.
Its not all gloom and doom, though.
There are a lot of things to look forward
to, including pro football, college football,
Canadian football, and maybe even arena
football. A little gridiron action not your
thing? Dont sweat it. The late days of
summer and early days of fall are prime
time for a handful of highly anticipated
videogame launches, as well as the return of
your Favorite TV Show (that isnt Game of
Thrones, Archer, Better Call Saul, etc.).
There are reasons to go on living. of area. Hes a shy guy, so you might not trouble of having to track down your July
If you live in the Pacific Northwest, Can- have heard much from him in the last few 2015 issue, here are the key facts: The
adian Southwest, or anywhere with easy access years. But trust us, hes around. Watching. Core i7-5930K is a six-core processor with
to an airport, perhaps the best way to kick Waiting. The final CPU System Workshop Hyper-Threading, capable of juggling as
off the 2015-2016 school year is with a late- build of the year pays tribute to an A-lister many as 12 instructions at once. It cruises
season vacation to the Penny Arcade Expo, of American folklore. along at 3.5GHz, although we know from
which is now known among its indigenous Weve named this system Sasquatch, experience that its capable of much, much
peoples as PAX Prime. A haven for gamers and you do not want to mess with it. Follow more. Thanks to the 5930Ks unlocked
of all stripes, not merely the console and along with us as we bring this monster to life. multiplier, going from OMG to
computer crews, PAX Prime has quickly ZOMG is a BIOS tweak or two away.
become the largest event of its kind in the On The Hunt In order to help our 5930K realize its
Western Hemisphere. Its kind of a big deal. We have our last system build, the full potential, we relied on GIGABYTEs
For the last few years, CPU has been Battle Box (see the July 2015 issue), to well-appointed GA-X99-UD3P. This
a part of PAX Prime, and this year is thank for making our processor pick for board is armed to the teeth, with support
no different. And, like previous years, Sasquatch an easy one. That rigs Intel Core for 4-way SLI or CrossFire (when paired
we come bearing just one gift. But hey, i7-5930K performed and overclocked with our 5930K), up to 64GB of DDR4
its a pretty nice gift: a custom gaming so well that we elected to have it back (at speeds up to 3,333MTps), ultra-
PC that is filled up with a whole lot of for an encore. Part of Intels Haswell-E high-speed M.2 and SATA Express
killer hardware. For PAX Prime 2015, we family, the 5930K comes from a long line storage interfaces, and more. Further, the
wanted a way to honor one of the legends of distinguished silicon. To save you the motherboards Ultra Durable construction

24 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

(2 ounces of copper in the PCB, long- still not good enough for you, feel free utility, which lets you monitor memory
life solid caps, PowIRstage ICs and IR to fire up MSIs Afterburner overclocking temps and more, is pure gravy.
digital power controllers) help it meet the utility and aim even higher. With the An Intel SSD 730 serves as our builds
demands of power users. cards highly capable Twin Frozr V cooler storage. We went with the 480GB
The graphics card in Sasquatch is one of keeping the GTX 980TI GAMING 6Gs version, because you really cant have too
MSIs renditions on the NVIDIA GeForce on ice, why not give it a shot? much storage. This solid-state storage is
GTX 980 Ti, arguably the most powerful Sasquatchs DRAM comes to us from plenty fast, too, with reported sequential
GPU that doesnt bear the name TITAN. Crucial Memory. Our Core i7-5930Ks reads and writes of 550MBps and
Specifically, our build uses the GTX 980TI quad-channel memory controller needs 470MBps, respectively. At a queue depth
GAMING 6G, which takes NVIDIAs to be fed, so we served up four 4GB sticks of 32, the 480GB SSD 730 is capable of
already lightning-fast reference design and of Crucials Ballistix Elite DDR4-2666. random 4KB reads up to 89,000 IOPS
makes it even more electric. The base and With a speed of 2,666MTps and 16- and 4KB writes up to 74,000 IOPS. You
boost clockswhich are 1,000MHz and 17-17 timings, this kit gave our system a shouldnt worry about burning out this
1,075MHz, respectively, on a vanilla GTX healthy amount of memory bandwidth, SSD, either; Intel approached the SSD
980 Tiare jacked up to 1,178GHz and and the modules themselves look terrific, 730 series with a data center mentality,
1,279GHz on the GTX 980TI GAMING swathed in black anodized heat spreaders and as such, the 480GB SSD 730 has a
6G; an intermediate OC profile will give that have a nice military aesthetic thats write endurance of 70GB per day for five
you more demure base and boost clocks not in your face. The fact that this years, well beyond the typical daily use
of 1,140MHz and 1,228MHz. If thats memory kit works with Crucials M.O.D. for end users.

CPU / August 2015 25

 Fractal Design supplied us with Sas- of the radiator and fans is 55mm or less), Sasquatchs CPU cooler is one you
quatchs case and power supply. The former while front panel lets you install rads up to need to see to believe, but well do our
is the Define S (our variant included a very 360mm of any thickness. best to do it justice. Of all the all-in-one
nice, very large case window that perfectly The Fractal Design Edison M 750W liquid coolers weve encountered over the
showed off the rest of our hardware), a case is as resourceful as its namesake. An 80 years, the LEPA EXllusion 240 has to be
with modern sensibilities. Fractal realizes PLUS Gold-certified PSU, its stocked one of, if not the most, original. A set
that todays enthusiasts are saying good with Japanese electrolytic capacitors rated of dyes (red, green, and blue) is included
bye to 5.25-inch drives forever, so the to operate at up to 105 degrees Celsius, with the cooler, which you can add to the
company disposed of 5.25-inch bays on plus a mix of Japanese and Taiwanese coolant through the pump/cold plate units
the Define S. Fractal didnt stop there, solid polymer capacitors. The Edison M fill port to make your own custom color.
though. Also 86ed are all the traditional 750Ws 4+4-pin ATX12V power cable And thanks to the EXllusion 240s G1/4
2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drive bays; measures 27.6 inches long, which made it threaded holes, expanding the loop is no
instead, youll find several 2.5/3.5-inch easy to route the cable behind the Define problem. Capable of dissipating 400W of
drive mounts on the reverse side of the S motherboard tray and then plug the heat, this cooler is no slouch, either; rest
motherboard tray. What to do with all cable into the corresponding connector assured well put that capacity to good use
that empty space that the drive bay cages on our GA-X99-UD3P. A single 12V when we overclock this machines CPU.
normally occupy? You could install some rail supplies a beefy 62 amps of current, Finally, well be sending Sasquatch out the
obscenely long graphics cards or perhaps a and the rail itself has an impressively door and to PAX Prime with some furniture.
massive liquid-cooling reservoir. Whatever tight voltage regulation of +/-2%. Other It sounds strange when we put it that way,
you decide, we have every confidence youll niceties include a temperature-controlled but we cant imagine hearing many protests
put the Define S roomy interior to good 120mm fan with fluid-dynamic bear- over the revelation that this particular piece
use. The top panel of the Define S lets ings, all sorts of built-in protections of furniture is none other than a DXRacer
you mount a radiator as large as 420mm (overvoltage, overcurrent, short circuit, King Series gaming chair. This luxurious seat
(just make sure the combined thickness etc.), and a five-year warranty. has a higher back rest than most other chairs,
supporting your back from rump to neck;
call it Lumbar Plus, if you will. King Series
chairs have a five-point metal base with a gas
spring, so its definitely sturdy. Wed call it
the Iron Throne of gaming chairs, but no
King of the Seven Kingdoms has ever sat
this comfortably.

Proof Of Existence
Although weve yet to see conclusive
proof of the real Big Guy, our Sasquatch
is anything but camera-shy. You can check
out all the photographic evidence weve
amassed for this monster, but if thats still
not enough to convince you, feel free to
hire your own camera crew and head to
Seattle this August 28 through 31 to gather
footage of your own. Well even give you a
chance to take the system back with you,
because the only thing cooler than seeing
this Sasquatch in person is winning it.

26 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

GIGABYTE

GA-X99-UD3P
aswell-E has been obliterating every-
H thing in its path for months on end.
When theres real, CPU-intensive work
to be done, we cant think of a chip wed
rather have on our side than one of Intels
three current Core i7-59XX processors. In
order to keep our builds Core i7-5930K
humming along without issue, we had
to have a motherboard from a company
with a track record in reliability thats been
unblemished in recent memory. Some
overclocking chops wouldnt hurt, either.
GIGABYTEs GA-X99-UD3P, with its
ATX form factor to match our Fractal
Design Define S case, is a perfect match. GA-X99-UD3P
Allow us to chronicle a few of the $198
reasons the GA-X99-UD3P is as rugged as GIGABYTE
our system builds namesake. GIGABYTE www.gigabyte.us
populates the PCB from top to bottom with
components engineered to handle heavy
loads. The boards solid capacitors have a This board is an almost surefire way to palm of your hand, via smartphone; share
rated life span of 10,000 hours, well beyond futureproof your storage subsystem. Both and back up files from your mobile device,
standard solid caps. Server-grade chokes are M.2 and SATA Express are present and remotely control and monitor your system,
littered across the GA-X99-UD3P; theyre accounted for (although the two share and even power it down remotely. The
more than capable of handling high currents, PCIe bandwidth, so only one interface can GA-X99-UD3Ps integrated audio is no
and a new design minimizes heat due to be active at a time), giving you access to slouch, and the integrated Intel Gigabit
power loss and efficiently feeds power to the throughput up to 10Gbps. Garden-variety Ethernet controller uses cFos Speed, a
boards VRM. The GA-X99-UD3P is built 6Gbps SATA (10 connectors) is available network traffic management app that gives
on a foundation of 2 ounces of coppertwo as well, naturally. network priority to the programs (like
70m-thick layersfor trace paths that can But wait, theres more! In fact, there games) you choose. Updated heatsinks and
take on greater than normal power loads are so many cool features on the GA- a customizable LED light path give the
and for pulling heat away from the CPU X99-UD3P that a single page barely does GA-X99-UD3P a nice look.
power delivery area, both of which are vital them justice. (But well try.) EasyTune As X99 motherboards go, theres little
for overclocking. makes overclocking a fun, rather than the GA-X99-UD3P cant do. High-end
Despite not being part of GIGABYTEs intimidating, pursuit for beginners. Cloud hardware is welcome here; Sasquatch couldnt
G1 GAMING line, the GA-X99-UD3P Station Server can put your PC in the be the beast it is without this motherboard.
will let you install one hell of a graphics
subsystem. With a Core i7-5960X or i7- SPECS
5930K, 4-way SLI or CrossFire is yours if
you desire, and each of the mobos four PCIe Max memory: 64GB (DDR4-2133, DDR4-3333 max OC); Slots: 4 x PCIe 3.0 x16, 3 PCIe 2.0 x1, 1
3.0 x16 slots will operate at x8/x8/x16/x8. M.2 (for optional Wi-Fi module); Storage: 10 6Gbps SATA, 1 SATA Express, 1 M.2 (supports type
In a two- or three-card setup, the top two 2242/2260/2280); Rear I/O: 2 PS/2, 6 USB 3.0, 4 USB 2.0, 1 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 optical S/PDIF, audio I/O
graphics cards can run at x16.

CPU / August 2015 27

 DXRACER

King Series Console Gaming

Chair (FS/KC57/NB/SUIT)
alk into pretty much any mattress store
W and theres a good chance the salesperson
will hit you with the bit of knowledge about
humans spending a third of their lives sleeping,
thus the need to buy the best mattress possible.
While this is probably good advice in general,
gamers routinely sacrifice sleep in the pursuit
of competition and glory.
Whats arguably more important to
someone who logs hour after intense hour
gaming is maximum comfort and support
in terms of sitting and posture, whether hes
doing so in front of a PC or a console system.
Such comfort and adaptability is exactly why
we made space for DXRacers King Series
Console Gaming Chair FS/KC57/NB/SUIT
in front of our PAX Prime build.
Aesthetically, the chair-and-footstool
combo the King Series FS/KC57/NB/SUIT
bears the same sleekness and stylistic flair that swivel, as well as 150-degree angle adjustments after long gaming sessions. The removable
typify other DXRacer gaming chairstraits for the backrest that are controlled via a handy headrest and lumbar cushions must pass 72
that stem from the companys heritage of lever under the seat. The footstool is also quality tests and carry a two-year warranty;
manufacturing race car seats. The King Series adjustable and sturdy enough to serve as a you can adjust them up and down to provide
FS/KC57/NB/SUIT also typifies the high- separate seat. Its important to note that King further comfort.
quality construction and sturdiness we expect Series Console Gaming Chairs sit lower to the To get a feel for what the chair and
from DXRacer chairs, including its use of floor than the companys PC gaming chairs footstool offer comfort-wise, give the King
top-notch, imported polyurethane material and dont have adjustable height, so if you are Series FS/KC57/NB/SUIT a try for yourself
and cushioning for the chair and footstool looking for a chair to use with a fairly tall desk, at our PAX Prime booth.
and the use of computerized embroidery for one of the companys other models might be
the units lettering. your best bet. King Series Console Gaming Chair
The King Series FS/KC57/NB/SUITs The King Series FS/KC57/NB/SUITs (FS/KC57/NB/SUIT)
full-sized, all-steel frame is built on a new backrest is designed to support the entire $499
five-point base thats crafted from solid silver spinal column and ward off stiffness, muscle DXRacer
aluminum rated to support more than a ton cramps, and other discomfort that can set in www.dxracer.com
of weight. The base connects to a hydraulic
unit DXRacer imports from Germany that
SPECS
meets numerous international build standards.
The chairs adjustable armrests, meanwhile, are Color: Black and blue; Cover: PU; Armrests: Adjustable; Base: Silver aluminum; Weight limit: 300
crafted from polyurethane. Overall, the chairs pounds (chair), 265 (foot stool); Accessories: Headrest cushion and lumbar cushion
adjustable system enables a full 360-degrees

28 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

FRACTAL DESIGN

Define S
ess is more is a dominant theme
L among products that follow the
minimalistic approach to design. Anyone
familiar with the PC cases that Swedish
maker Fractal Design creates can relate. With
the companys mid-tower Define S, however,
less is more takes on expanded meaning.
Specifically, Fractal Design forgoes certain
design aspects generally considered standard
in modern cases with the Define S. By doing
so, the Define S offers considerable space
in which to get creative, especially where
things like liquid cooling are concerned. Beyond simply creating more space, these tray are mounts for another three HDDs or
How Fractal Design frees up more space is design elements enable a straight front-to- SSDs, and some clever cable management
noteworthy and arguably provides a glimpse back airflow path if opting for air cooling makes it easy to hide drive cables behind the
at where PC case design is headed. Combine (two Fractal Design Dynamic GP-14 motherboard tray. All this is easily accessible
all these factors and the Define S impresses us 140mm fans are included). If going the via the removable right-side panel, and rubber
so much we made it the foundation of our liquid cooling route, youll find that you have grommets are integrated to dampen vibration.
PAX Prime build. numerous radiator-mounting possibilities, A major objective with the Define S is
Initially, the Define S doesnt seem to including support for up to 420mm silence, something the S in its name
deviate much from previous Define cases, radiators mounted at top (after removing suggests. The innovative design Fractal
as it portrays the same strong but silent the ModuVent covers), up to 360mm at the Design incorporates concerning drive
type as its predecessors with its durable cases front, and up to 120mm at the bottom placement, generous liquid-cooling
construction, familiar stealthy black exterior, or the rear. In addition to pre-drilled holes on options, and sound-dampening material all
and clean lines. As with other Fractal Design the bottom panel, Fractal Design integrates delivered with a stately appearance are worth
cases, youll also find removable ModuVent adjustable mounting brackets where the drive inspecting up close, which we encourage you
panels on the top, chrome and rubber case cages would otherwise sit. do at our PAX Prime booth.
feet on the bottom, and the use of various So, where do your drives go exactly? In a
sound-absorbing design touches in between. brilliant bit of engineering, Fractal Design Define S
Additionally, the Define S is available in integrates mounts on the back of the $79.99 ($89.99 w/window panel)
either solid or windowed side-panel versions. motherboard tray for two SSDs. In the area Fractal Design
What distinguishes the Define S is what immediately in front of the motherboard www.fractal-design.com
it doesnt include. Namely, 5.25-inch optical
drive bays are nowhere to be found. In this
age of increased streaming and cloud services, SPECS
this trait will likely become more common. Dimensions: 17.8 x 9.2 x 20.5 inches (HxWxD); Materials: Steel, plastic; Motherboard support: Mini-ITX,
An equally notable and impactful omission microATX, ATX; Drive bays: 3 x 2.5/3.5-inch internal, 2 x 2.5-inch internal; Fans (included): 1 x 140mm
here is the absence of the internal top-to- front, 1 x 140mm rear; Fans (optional): 2 x 140mm or 3 x 120mm front, 3 x 120mm/140mm top, 1 x
bottom metal drive cages generally standard 120mm/140mm bottom, 1 x 120mm/140mm side; Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, audio I/O
in modern cases.

CPU / August 2015 29

 LEPA

EXllusion 240
s a busy builder, sometimes you dont
A always have the time to go all out with
a custom liquid cooling loop. A closed-loop
liquid cooler is a great option in this scenario,
but what if you also want your CPU cooler
to have a little personality? After all, if you
go with a Warbucks Industries SuperCooler,
its going to look the same as every other
SuperCoolernot exactly the best way to
stand out at a LAN party.
LEPA has the perfect solution: the
EXllusion 240, a liquid-cooler thats easy to
install and arguably even easier to customize.
You see, the EXllusion 240 comes out of
the box just like a typical closed-loop liquid
cooler. The tubing is already connected to the
pump/cold plate unit and the waterblock, so
all you need to do to install everything is set
up the CPU socket mounting bracket, attach
the fans to radiator, and screw in the rad and
pump/cold plate unit. If youre handy with a (So in truth, even though the EXllusion absorb heat, and the fans dual convex blade
Phillips screwdriver, we reckon you can blaze 240 looks like a closed-loop liquid cooler, design increases airflow and static pressure
through the installation from start to finish in its anything but.) If you decide down the according to LEPA.
under five minutes. road that youd like to add your graphics As tempting as it was to break into the
Notice that fill port at the top of the card to your loop, you dont need to chuck dyes and create a CPU-exclusive coolant for
pump-cold plate unit? Welcome to the EXllusion and start from scratch. Maybe Sasquatch, were leaving it unadulterated.
Customization Point No. 1. Oh, its you see a larger radiator in your future; Why? We picked the parts; let the winner
a regular fill port, alright, making it easy nothings stopping you from swapping this pick the color.
to top up your coolant if you notice its rad out when the time is right.
running low, but its also where you can add Theres also some impressive tech on EXllusion 240
any combination of the red, green, and blue display. The EXllusion 240s cold plate $119.99
dyes that LEPA includes with the cooler. In features LEPAs patented CDP (Central LEPA
no time at all, you can create a truly unique Diffusing Passage) to help the coolant www.lepatek.com
tinted coolant, and the EXllusion 240s clear
tubing shows it off to the world. SPECS
Customization Point No. 2 is slightly
more subtle, but wed argue that its just as Materials: Copper (waterblock), aluminum (radiator); Socket compatibility: Intel LGA775/1150/
important. LEPA uses G1/4 threaded holes 1151/1155/1156/1366/2011(3), AMD AM2/AM2+/AM3/AM3+/FM1/FM2/FM2+; Pump: 3,000rpm;
for the EXllusions fittings, which means Fans: 2 120mm PWM (500 to 1,800rpm); Radiator dimensions: 32 x 274 x 120mm (HxWxD)
that this liquid cooler is also expandable.

30 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

FRACTAL DESIGN

Edison M 750W
heres a long-standing debate in some
T quarters as to whether Edison or Tesla
was the greater scientist, but theres very little
question that Fractal Design knows how to
make a great PC power supply. Thats why
once we decided on a Fractal Design case for
our PAX Prime system build, asking them
to throw in a PSU made perfect sense, and
Fractal happily agreed.
The companys Edison line of power
supplies consists of four models ranging
in rated output from 450 watts to 750
watts, and each of them is 80 PLUS Gold-
certified, meaning that they are up to 90%
efficient at 50% load. Our 750W unit is
also semi-modular like all Edisons, having
just its main 24-pin ATX cable, two 6+2- speed when the time is right, and even We installed our Edison with the
pin PCIe cables, and an 4+4-pin 12V cable then will run fairly quietly.) intake fan facing the bottom panel, where
permanently attached. Speaking of the 4+4- The Edison M 750W is outfitted with the Define S has very capable ventilation
pin cable, Fractal is looking out for builders, Japanese electrolytic capacitors rated at and is equipped with an easily removable
and makes this extra-long so that you can 105 degrees Celsius, and comes with the dust filter. This helped keep the PSUs
comfortably reach your boards CPU power standard complement of protection tech ambient interior temps low, and as
socket from behind the motherboard tray, for your precious components (overpower, advertised, the Edison M made barely a
even in cases with bottom PSU mounts. overvoltage, short circuit, undervoltage, peep, even under substantial loads and
In the Edison Ms box, youll find an overcurrent, and overtemperature). Naturally, while powering one of the most powerful
EPS12V 8-pin modular cable, as well as two its fully compliant with Intel Haswell C6 CPUs and the most powerful non-
more 6+2-pin PCIe cables, two peripheral and C7 operation states. TITAN GPU on the market.
cables, and three SATA cables, each with In short, our builds Fractal Design Edison
multiple connectors. M 750 PSU is stylish, quiet, and dependable.
Like all Fractal PSUs, the Edison Fairly un-Sasquatch like, really, but the Edison M 750W
750W has a great-looking black-and- opportunity to pair a quality unit like this $119.99
white exterior. Its white 120mm fan on with a case from the same company was not Fractal Design
one side and distinctive stamped snowflake one we intended to miss. www.fractal-design.com
insignia on the other make it clear where
the Edison 750W came from, and its flat, SPECS
all-black cables ensure that it will blend
into the interior of your case nicely, where Rated continuous: 750W (at 40 C); +12V rails: 1 (62A); +5V max: 20A; +3.3V max: 20A; SLI/
it will be seen and not often heard. (The CrossFire-ready: Yes; Efficiency rating (advertised): 80 PLUS Gold; Connectors: 1 24-pin, 2 EPS
fluid dynamic bearing fan is temperature 4+4-pin, 6 PCI-E 6+2-pin, 10 SATA, 5 Molex; Length: 6.3 inches; Warranty: 5 years
controlled, so it only ramps up to full

CPU / August 2015 31

 CRUCIAL

Ballistix Elite DDR4-2666 16GB

ith an imposing name like Ballis-
W tix Elite, you know that this
16GB DDR4 memory kit is ready
for some hardcore gaming at PAX
Prime. Crucial, of course, backs up the
bullish name with speedy 2,666MTps
(megatransfers per second) modules
that operate at DDR4s recommended
1.2V. And because our build is based
on Intels X99 chipset, we opted for
a quad-channel kit that let us take
full advantage of X99s extra memory
bandwidth. The Ballistix Elite DDR4-
2666 16GB surely checks all the
performance boxes, but theres more to
kit than meets the eye. banks and ranks, as well as the memory black backplate on MSIs GTX 980TI
Crucial embeds a thermal sensor bus width. GAMING 6G.
into each module, and when paired The Ballistix Elite DDR4 2666 Enthusiast memory, which is certainly
with the Ballistix M.O.D (Memory 16GB kit operates at timings of 16- where Crucials Ballistix Elite DDR4
Overview Module) utility, you can 17-17-36, and we used the embedded 2666 16GB fits, is a competitive arena.
monitor temperatures in real time. The In t e l X M P t o q u i c k l y l o a d t h e And yet, Crucials Ballistix Elite stands
thermal readings are ideal for extreme optimized speed and timings. The out as the clear choice for our build.
overclockers that require precision fairly tight timings help to reduce The ability to monitor temps in real
information about each modules memory latency, when compared to time, as well as log temperatures during
temperature, because you wont have similar speed DDR4 kits that use benchmark testing, is a something you
to use taped-on temp sensors to see slower timings, which help to provide wont see on many memory kits. And
temperature readings. an overall more responsive PC. because the performance is solid, as well,
The M.O.D. utility can also log The basic black look is another thing the only thing we had to really consider
memory temps, so you can monitor we liked about the Ballistix Elite DDR4 is what capacity we wanted to use.
how readings fluctuate over time. This 2666 16GB modules, because the
way, you can find temperature spikes neutral color will match most any build. Ballistix Elite DDR4-2666 16GB
and correlate which applications pushed In our Sasquatch build, the dark DIMMs $255.99
your system memory the most. If certainly partner up well with black PCB Crucial
temperatures go above thermal limits, on GIGABYTEs GA-X99-UD3P and the www.crucial.com
M.O.D. can also send an alert to
your Desktop. Youll just need to set
SPECS
the temperature limits in the utility.
M.O.D. can also inform you about Capacity: 16GB (4 x 4GB); Timings: 16-17-17-36; Frequency: DDR4-2666; Voltage: 1.2V;
whats inside each module. Just open up Unbuffered; Non-ECC; Warranty: limited lifetime
the SPD Data tab to see the number of

32 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

MSI

GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G

lthough film of Sasquatch is notoriously smooth straight blades
A fuzzy and blurry, the video delivered
by the Sasquatch were giving away at PAX
to improve airflow
without raising drag
Prime will have no such problems. With and increasing noise.
MSIs GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G in tow, Within the shroud,
the rig should have no trouble with true 4K MSI uses its Airflow
gaming, thanks to the cards 6GB GDDR5 Control design to
frame buffer and massive 2,816 CUDA deflect airflow toward
cores. We also like that MSI employs a the heatpipes to more
healthy factory overclock (up to 1,178MHz effectively siphon
core and 1,279MHz boost), which elevates heat from the GPU.
performance by 19%. The lucky winner Best of all, the Twin
of the Sasquatch build can expect some Frozr V fans only start
seriously great gaming with NVIDIAs latest spinning once the
Maxwell-based GPU. temperatures reach
MSI offers three levels of performance on above 60C, so the GPU should be quiet at 24Hz (it can handle 60Hz at 3,840 x
the GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G, and you during idle. 2,160). The DVI-I output supports a display
can quickly switch among the performance MSIs Gaming App is more than just a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 at 60Hz. With
modes using MSIs Gaming App. We found way to tune the GPUs performance to your such a wide variety of outputs, you should
the Gaming App to be a handy way to needs. Theres also an Eye Rest capability that have no problem connecting the GTX 980Ti
increase gaming prowess when necessary, lets you set up dedicated color profiles for GAMING 6G to your displays.
while reducing power and noise for gaming, movies, and Eye Rest modes. The MSIs GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G
everyday work. In Silent mode, the GTX latter reduces the blue light balance, which is far and away from a reference GTX
980Ti GAMING 6G runs at a 1,000MHz should help lessen fatigue when gaming in 980 Ti card. And MSI has the cooling
core clock and 1,076 boost clock. The the dark. The Gaming App also lets you technology to make sure that Sasquatch
Gaming mode bumps the core and boost control the cards ambient LED effects, such wont be overheating anytime soon.
clocks to 1,140MHz and 1,228MHz, as breathing, flashing, and random. Thats important, because we dont think
respectively, and theres an OC mode that For video outputs, MSI includes three PAX Prime attendees will appreciate us
pushes clock speeds to 1,178MHz and DisplayPorts, one DVI-I port, and one bringing in a hot, smelly Sasquatch
1,279MHz, respectively. The OC mode HDMI port. The DisplayPort outputs either the PC or Bigfoot variety.
also raises the memory clock speed from support a maximum resolution of 4,096
1,752MHz to 1,775MHz. x 2,160 at 60Hz, while the HDMI port GTX 980Ti GAMING 6G
The GTX 980Ti GAMING 6Gs maxes out at a resolution of 4,096 x 2,160 $679.99 | MSI | us.msi.com
aggressive factory overclock is possible,
in part, due to MSIs Twin Frozr V SPECS
cooler. This red-and-black plastic shroud
features two Torx fans with a unique GPU: 28nm GM200 Maxwell; Clocks: 1,000MHz/1,140MHz/1,178MHz core,
airflow-increasing design. The Torx fan 1,076MHz/1,228MHz/1,279MHz boost; Memory clock: 1,752MHz/1,775MHz; Memory bus: 384-
mixes dispersion blades (a raised ridge bit; Frame buffer: 6GB GDDR5; Factory overclocked: Yes; Ports: 3 DisplayPort, Dual-link DVI-I, HDMI
that scoops more air) with conventional

CPU / August 2015 33

 INTEL

SSD 730 Series 480GB

here is a long and formidable list of
T reasons why we choose to use the 480GB
SSD from Intels SSD 730 Series to meet our
storage purposes with our PAX Prime build.
(A 240GB model is also available.) Right
at the top of the list is arguably the most
important factor and one that Intel itself uses
to describe this remarkable solid-state drive.
Specifically, the drives belonging to the SSD
730 Series bring together enthusiast-grade
SDD performance with the endurance and
dependability one would have previously had
to likely make a trip to a data center to find.
The appreciated marriage of speed and
reliability that Intel pulls off translates into The company also tapped its own firmware, Put another way, thats more than three times
an SSD that provides exceedingly fast SSD which is optimized for performance. Both the 20GB of writes per day thats common
performance enthusiasts crave and the data the SSD controller and NAND memory for other SDDs over the same five-year
center-level endurance and reliability that are overclocked within Intels factory stretch. Either way, this type of endurance
enterprise business rely on and that any before shipping. Those overclocks push the amounts to outstanding reliability and
smart consumer should desire if obtainable. controllers speed up an added 50% and the performance, whether youre dealing with
Making such endurance and reliability NAND bus speed an additional 20%. compressible or incompressible data.
obtainable in a consumer 2.5-inch SSD is These performance bumps result in 50s The SSD 730 drives comes with a five-
exactly what Intel has accomplished with the read latency, as well as up to 550MBps year warranty, which itself is impressive.
SSD 730 Series. While it might clich to say, sequential reads and 470MBps writes. Combine this will stellar performance,
the SSD 730 Series really does provide the Random reads and writes, meanwhile, come endurance, and reliability and our PAX
best of both storage worlds. in at an impressive 89,000 IOPS (read) and Prime build is benefiting from SSD
Broadly, the SSD 730 Series presents 74,000 IOPS (write). Further, Intel claims storage that wont require its winner to
storage thats equally capable of fulfilling performance will scale up nicely when compromise in any way.
a wide range of demanding storage tasks, connecting two SSD 730 drives in a RAID 0
including those associated with high-end configuration thanks to the companys Intels
gaming systems and workstations built for Rapid Storage Technology. SSD 730 480GB
video editing and other digital content In terms of endurance, the drive is stated $299.99
creation applications. Though it almost as being able to take on more than 70GB of Intel
goes without saying, the SSD 730 Series writes per day over the course of five years. www.intel.com
is seemingly more than up to any storage
tasks thats likely to surface in a home or
office environment. SPECS
To create the SSD 730 Series drives, Sequential read/write (advertised): 550MBps/470MBps; Max 4K random read/write (advertised):
Intel relied on its own third-generation SSD 89,000 IOPS/74,000 IOPS; Interface: 6Gbps SATA; Warranty: 5 years
controller and 20nm NAND flash memory.

34 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

INTEL

Core i7-5930K
f you believe one report, Intels next
I generation of Extreme Edition pro-
cessors, code-named Broadwell-E, wont
arrive until early next year. If you believe
a different report, Broadwell-E might be
skipped altogether, while Intel focuses on
prepping Skylake-E for release sometime
in the latter half of 2016.
That leaves Haswell-E to continue
wearing the crown as the preeminent
desktop processor architecture for the
foreseeable future, and you know what?
Were OK with that. Why? Because Intels
current HEDT (high-end desktop) chips
were awesome when they launched last year,
theyre awesome now, and theyll continue
to be awesome for quite some time. Waiting
for the next meal is a nonissue when the
current meal is still so delicious.
The entre before you is the Core i7-
5930K, which plays second fiddle to Intels bandwidth, too. By default, the controller chip for avid gamers, and it has nothing
Core i7-5960X; in any other orchestra, this supports up to 64GB of DDR4- to do with processing power. You see,
processor would be the concertmaster. Built 1333/1600/2133, but its the controllers with 40 PCIe 3.0 lanes at its disposal, the
on Intels 22nm process, the Core i7-5930K ability to address four channels at the same 5930K lets you run 4-way CrossFire/SLI
has six physical cores and Hyper-Threading, time that really makes it shine. Combined setups and feeds each ample amounts of
giving it the ability to plow through with a kit of four Crucial Ballistix Elite PCIe bandwidth.
workloads, 12 simultaneous instructions at DDR4-2666 modules, our system turned You could play the waiting game
a time. The processor has a standard clock in results of 44.7GBps and 45.92GBps in and hold out for Intels next-generation
speed of 3.5GHz, and by default it can SiSoft Sandra 2015s Integer and Floating high-end CPU. Or you could get a Core
dynamically increase its speed to 3.7GHz Memory Bandwidth tests, respectively. i7-5930K and start dominating right now.
when a little more oomph is needed. Although we rarely classify CPUs as Its not a difficult decision, people.
With the right CPU cooler, though, the gaming processors, its nonetheless fair
Core i7-5930K is capable of much more. to say that the Core i7-5930K is a choice Core i7-5930K | $594 | Intel | www.intel.com
For this build and the last, we were able
to overclock the 5930K to 4.5GHz after SPECS
increasing its voltage to 1.3V. This had a
significant impact on any benchmark that Clock speed: 3.5GHz (base), 3.7GHz (turbo); 6 cores; Unlocked multiplier; Socket
emphasizes CPU performance. LGA2011-v3; Quad-channel memory; 15MB Intel Smart Cache; Hyper-Threading; Turbo
The Core i7-5930Ks on-die memory Boost; 22nm; 140W Max TDP
controller does wonders for memory

CPU / August 2015 35

 Benchin With Sasquatch
etting up shop at an event that has
S hosted over 70,000 attendees in the
past, we know that there are bound to
be quite a few very discerning power
users stopping by to scope out our PC
building skills. Needless to say, we always
try to bring our A game when creating
our system for PAX Prime. Sasquatch is
no exception.
Bigfoot is well-known for his . . . lets
say, passionate disregard for personal
grooming. Our Sasquatch, on the other
hand, is all clean, kempt, and ready to
party. Fractal Designs Define S plays a big
role in this, of course, as Fractal cases so
often do. Thanks to the cases jumbo side
panel window, our builds tidy interior is
easy to see. Further, working with such a
wide-open, builder-friendly case helped us
install all of our hardware without running
into any snags, hangups, or gotchas.
You can clearly see all that empty space
toward the front of the Define S. The lack
of drive bays is a bit of a shock at first, but
once you consider all the possibilities you
now have with that open space, we highly processor and boosting the Vcore to 1.3V couldve pushed the processor a little further,
doubt youll miss them. When the winner in order to handle the 28.6% higher clock but we like to take a conservative approach
of Sasquatch is ready to upgrade to an all- speed. The EXllusion 240 handled it like a with these builds.
encompassing liquid cooling setup, theres pro. Yes, CPU temperature did cross the 80 This angrier, faster, and more powerful
have plenty of room to do it. degrees Celsius threshold a few times, but Sasquatch rampaged through our bench-
Not that this rigs cooling needs an our system remained stable. Its possible we marks one more time, posting massive
upgrade, necessarily. We gave the LEPA
EXllusion 240 all-in-one liquid CPU
cooler and chance to shine, and it didnt SPECS
disappoint. After performing all of our
stock benchmarking, we jumped into the Processor: Intel Core i7-5930K; Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3P; Graphics card: MSI
GIGABYTE GA-X99-UD3Ps BIOS and GTX 980TI GAMING 6G; RAM: 16GB Crucial Ballistix Elite DDR4-2666; Storage: 480GB Intel
gave our Intel Core i7-5930K a healthy SSD 730; PSU: Fractal Design Edison M 750W; CPU cooler: LEPA EXllusion 240; Case: Fractal
overclock. Like last month, we dialed Design Define S - Window; OS: Windows 8.1 Pro
in a 4.5GHz operating frequency for the

36 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

gains in any test that focused on CPU
performance. Notice the 21% improvement
in Cinebench and the 23% boost to
POV-Ray, for example.
The factory-overclocked GeForce GTX
980 Ti will flirt with 4K performance in
even the most demanding games. Our
average frame rate only dipped below 70fps
once in all of the games we tested (at 2,560
x 1,600, with settings turned way up), so
were confident that 4K gaming isnt an
unreasonable demand.
Well be sad to see Sasquatch go, but
we know that hell be headed to a good
home. Plus, the chance to work with so
many killer components is its own reward.
Come back next year when the CPU
System Workshop opens again, and see
what monsters were able to create.

CPU / August 2015 37

 Benchmark Results Sasquatch (stock) Sasquatch (4.5GHz)

3DMark Fire Strike 8244 8388

Graphics Score 8698 8691

Physics Score 14365 17767

PCMark 8

Creative Score 4974 5488

Cinebench 15 1073 1297

POV-Ray 3.7 Beta (pixels per second) 2228.95 2749.47

SiSoftware Sandra 2015 Lite SP2

Dhrystone AVX2 (GIPS) 235.69 293.45

Whetstone AVX (GFLOPS) 148.24 185.25

Multi-Media Integer x32 AVX2 (Mpixels per second) 365 447

Multi-Media Long-int x16 AVX2 (Mpixels per second) 175.7 218.88

Multi-Media Quad-int x1 ALU (Mpixels per second) 2.76 3.44

Multi-Media Single-float x16 FMA 354.15 417.49

Integer Memory Bandwidth B/F AVX/128 (GBps) 44.7 45.15

Floating Memory Bandwidth B/F AVX/128 (GBps) 45.92 46

CrystalDiskMark 5 (MBps)

Sequential Q32T1 Read 559.2 562.6

Sequential Q32T1 Write 509 510.6

4K Q32T1 Read 356.8 357.6

4K Q32T1 Write 315.4 315.2

Sequential Read 462.8 461.8

Sequential Write 486.6 472.5

4K Read 30.78 30.23

4K Write 76.72 79.21

Games (2,560 x 1,600)

Aliens vs. Predator (Very High, High Shadows, 86fps 88fps

SSAO, 4XAA, 16XAF)
Metro: Last Light (DX11, Very High, 16XAF, Very 80.33fps 83.2fps
High Tesselation)
Dying Light (Med, AO On, AA On, Vsync Off) 89.72fps 96.29fps

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Vsync Off, Unl. fps, Ultra) 70.61fps 68.72fps

38 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 Intel LANFest 2015
April Showers Bring May, June &
July LAN Parties
Intel LANFest DESERTBASH mini-BASH 4
Youll find Intels Fab 32 on the southeast corner of the Phoenix, Ariz., metro in a town called Chandler. Thats also where you would have found
DESERTBASH mini-BASH 4 if youd showed up on Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. This is the second mini-BASH event this year, and the tiny
but rockin 52-seat BYOC event had a waiting list nearly as large as its total capacity by the time the doors opened. This is hardly surprising, given
that the 10-plus-hour event cost just $10 (all proceeds were donated to Childs Play) and included a few tournaments, a bunch of network freeplay,
some console gaming, and some great contests.

Speaking of contests, CPU sponsored the events

case mod contest, as we are often wont to do. Hats
off to the mini-BASH attendees, who stepped up
with the highest number of contest entries that
weve had yet at a mini-BASH event! Our winner
was Jarrod Tindall, whose MSI-themed mod sports
MSI badging, a dragon window etching on the left
side panel, and a tiny red dragon attached to his
Toughpower XT power supply so that it looks as
though its swimming through the PSU.

40 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

Intel LANFest Atlanta Summer 2015
May 22 found us in the ATL for the summer installment of LANFest Atlanta. The 160-seat LAN took place at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, starting at 1 p.m. and
running through 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 24. The main tournaments were for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which started at 7 p.m. Friday night, and League
of Legends, which kicked off Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Proceeds went to the Gamers Outreach Foundation, which provides game kiosks (called GO Karts)
to hospitals to brighten the day of kids and other long-term patients.

Our Intel LANFest-CPU Case Mod Contest

was won by George Atchison, whose Corsair
Graphite Series 760T is mostly stock on the
outside, but has a super-clean interior with
individually sleeved cables, just the right
amount of lights, and a little carbon fiber
DI-NOC here and there.

CPU / August 2015 41

 Intel LANFest Northwest Summer 2015
LANFest Northwest is a popular event in Hillsboro, Ore., in the Portland metro. Its a 144-seat BYOC event that we
attended on June 19 (starting at 6 p.m.) through June 21 at 3 p.m. Intel hosted the LAN at its Ronler Acres (RA3)
campus and held tournaments and contests for Team Fortress 2, Minecraft, League of Legends, PlanetSide 2, Primal
Carnage, Left 4 Dead 2, and more.

As you might expect from a LAN party in the

Portland area, LANFest Northwests mod contest
brought some very impressive PCs to bear,
including systems from previous Mad Reader
Mod winner Heath Coop, Matt PDXLAN
Conwell, and several others. The coolest rig
at the event, though, was Jessica Conwells
CaseLabs-based system with a GeForce GTX
TITAN X peeking out of one side and a very chill
panda gazing out from the other.

42 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

Intel LANFest MLP015 Summer
On Friday, July 10 (starting at 9 a.m. and running through 4 p.m. Sunday, July 12), CPU attended LANFest MLP015, aka MassiveLAN, in Hamburg, N.Y. The
MassiveLAN crew holds their events at the Erie County Fairgrounds and puts on a great event every time. LANFest MLP is one of those great LANs where
the tournaments and network gaming are just the beginning of the fun; this years summer event also included some console gaming contest, Magic: the
Gathering (the old-school analog variety), a chair race, a blindfolded keyboard assembly contest, and more.

The victor in MLP015 Summer events case

mod contest was Jeff Zygaj, whose Cooler
Master HAF-based rigs bright blue interior
(complete with SLI, custom cooling loop, and
custom power cables) was pretty tough to beat.

CPU / August 2015 43

44 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com
The Riddler
atman is obviously a very cool superhero; even if you personally dedicated work space in her office, where she says she does all of

B dont care for Bats, you cant argue with his status as a comic-
book icon. He is objectively and demonstrably awesome. Like
all good fictional heroes, however, the Dark Knight owes a lot of his
her modding and building.
I used all purple anodized screws, nuts, and washers to give more
color to the build, Higley says. I bought most of them from Pro-
greatness to his nemesesthe villains he pits his will and strength and Bolt, but there was a catch: Pro-Bolt didnt have all of the screws I
wits against in the never-ending struggle between good and evil. One needed, so I spoke with a friend who said he would anodize any screws
of those villains, a character named Edward Nygma, aka the Riddler, I needed to finish the build. For decals, I used green and purple vinyl
was the inspiration for this months Mad Reader Mod. and cut them out using Silhouettes CAMEO electronic cutter.
Riddler is a criminal mastermind with a genius-level intellect, Higley took her NZXT case to a local airbrush artist (Sonny Naylor
and Ive always loved puzzles and riddles, says Jacky _TechPuppet_ of Naylor Finishes) to have the mural of Riddler and Gotham applied
Mallet Higley. I feel like he doesnt get the attention he deserves to it, but aside from that she performed all the mods on her own.
(especially compared to the Joker), as hes Batmans most intelligent She sleeved her 750-watt Seasonic power supplys cables in green and
adversary. Another reason I chose to go with the Riddler is that he is purple PET sleeving but ended up re-sleeving some of them a couple
shown to be exceptionally skilled with engineering and technology, times to get the mix of purple and green just right. She mounted her
both of which interest me. I will be using this as my main computer, cooling loops EK reservoir horizontally between the PSU shroud and
mostly for Photoshop, browsing, and some gaming. her graphics card and put the pump inside the cases internal drive cage
Higley says her husband Shane ericlee30 Higley helped out with with an EK bracket and some spot-on drilling.
the build and inspired her to get started in the first place. Last but not least, Higley decided she wanted to go with rigid
He has been modding and building computers for around 16 tubing, so she bought some PETG tubing and a heat gun and taught
years now and has taught me everything I know about computers. herself how to bend tubes.
When he showed me what I could really do with modding, and that Once I got the hang of it, I started doing different kinds of bends,
I could create pretty much anything I wanted, the artist in me took bending them all freehand, Higley says. I wanted the bends to be
over and I fell in love with computers and modding them, she says. complex with crazy angles to mimic the Riddlers personality. I will
admit that it was no easy feat, and took a lot of my timeand more of
Riddle Me This my patience. But in the end, it was well worth all the energy I put into
Higley says she began work on The Riddler on May 8, 2014, it, and I was pleased with the final result. To me, every detail counts
and that it was complete on April 20, 2015. She worked in a and can really transform a build.

CPU / August 2015 45

 Riddle Me That and is based on the MSI dragon. My husband Shanes build,
The Riddler consists of an Intel Core i7-3770K (overclocked Midas, is a sleek black and gold build, for which we will be
to 4.7GHz), an MSI Z77 MPOWER board, 16B of Corsair gold-plating some of the components, as well.
Vengeance LP DDR3-1600 memory, an XFX Double
Dissipation 7950 Black Edition graphics card (overclocked to
1,200MHz clock, 1,700MHz memory), a Seasonic X-Series
750W PSU, a 256GB Samsung 850 PRO boot SSD, a 750GB
WD Black data drive, and an NZXT H440.
We Want Your Mod
Theres also Higleys custom cooling loop, which consists eight Have a computer mod that will bring tears to our eyes? Email photos and
Alpenfhn Wing Boost 2 Plus fans, an EK Supremacy EVO a description to [email protected]. If we choose your system
Nickel Clean CSQ CPU block, an EK-7950 Acetal+Nickel as our Mad Reader Mod, well send you a cash prize and a one-year
GPU block, an EK-X3 250 reservoir, an EK-DDC 3.2 PWM subscription to CPU. (U.S. residents only, please.)
pump, two EK CoolStream PE rads, PrimoChill PETG tubing,
Bitspower matte black and PrimoChill purple fittings, and
Mayhems coolant and dyes.
Higley says that although shes build a few systems in the past,
The Riddler is her first liquid-cooled rig.
When I got the case back after the mural was done, I leak-
tested the system with distilled water, using an external PSU, she
says. Once everything was fine and dry, I added the coolant to
the system, and the build was complete.

You Won Mad Reader Mod, But Why Stop At That?

Higley is already planning her next build, which she says will
be specifically for high-end gaming.
At this point, I have multiple ideas and themes I would like
to go with, and I am trying to decide which one I would like to
do next, she says. While brainstorming and seeing which parts
I want for my next build, I am also working on completing on
two other builds. My six-year-old daughters build, Red Kaida, Drop Us A Line Today!
is a fully black H440 build that will have red and chrome accents
throughout the system, including red anodized screws and vinyl,

46 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

CPU / August 2015 47
 Six Men Enter,
One Man Leaves
The 2015 Modders-Inc Staff vs. Staff Mod-Off

Vic McGuires Captain America mod won first Al Shuryan came in second last year with this Modders-Inc bossman Dewayne Carel came
place in last years Staff vs. Staff Mod-Off, ominous and delightfully spiky Punisher mod. in third in 2014 with his Thor-themed mod,
and its easy to see why. complete with LED lightning effects for Mjolnir.

uly means its time for QuakeCon. look cool, but to have to figure it out to
J For the last several years, this has also
meant that its time for staff members
get the same outcome is the exciting and
challenging part of this contest.
from Modders-Inc.com to wage all-out This year the contest includes a couple
modding war against one another, then veterans (Carel and Craig Tate) along with
box up their work and take it to the some new faces. Joe Mercado and Nick
event in Dallas. This year will be no Blackwell are new to the Modders-Inc staff
exception, and as usual, the guys agreed but are seasoned modders, while staffers
on a spending limit of $250 for their Ron Perillo and Alex Lusakhpuryan will be
projects. (See the 2015 Staff vs. Staff attempting their very first mods.
Mod-Off Official Rules sidebar for the Last year the guys all built mods with
rest of the contests requirements.) a superhero theme, resulting in excellent
I know some people spend that much mods based on Thor, The Punisher, Ghost
on paint alone, but you see, thats the Rider, and Captain America (the contest
whole idea, says Modders-Inc. head winner). This year, the contests themes are
honcho and expert modder Dewayne the universes of Quake and/or DOOM. As
Carel. Putting limits on the contest the guys set out on their modding journey,
means that you have to be more creative Craig Tates Ghost Rider mod came in fourth last they each took a minute or two to share a
and less dollar-centered. Anyone can year, despite having a built-in fog machine. few words with us about their approach to
throw money at something to make it the contest.

48 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

Alex Lusakhpuryan
For me, it was hard to choose the right
theme as I loved both series growing up.
I really wanted to tackle both themes at
the same time, but I felt that Quake mods
are often all over the BYOC and we really
dont see enough DOOM mods. So Ive
decided to go with a full DOOM theme
for the project.
Everything starts with an idea, and that
is usually the hardest part. To come up
with a unique idea, you need creativity
and imagination, and for this particular
challenge I was ready to give my best. One
of the features of DOOM that haunts
die-hard gamers is Skin Face. Skin Face
is a texture that was created by Adrian
Carmack (one of the four founders of
id Software). This particular texture has
swirling skulls that are coming out from
the surface. I wanted to capture and
interpret that in my mod. My vision was
to create an illusion of skulls that would
appear to be coming out from the case.
The scope of the project was not only
to create a DOOM mod but also to
educate beginner modders on techniques
and methods for modding a case and to
demonstrate how to overcome challenges
created by having a set budget. I had to plan
my materials carefully, and although most
of us have a variety of tools at our disposal,
I wanted to use only tools that can be found
around the house or be picked up relatively
cheaply at your local hardware store.

Joe Mercado Heres a look at some of Nick Blackwells past work. Although he wasnt a competitor in last
I remember my first QuakeCon in years Mod-Off, but his Thanos theme would have made some sense among a field of Marvel
2012 like it was yesterday. I had been comic characters.
following Modders-Inc for years, ever
since I was 16, and laid my eyes on
Craig Tates Boss FX-57 mod. I knew aisle of custom rigs; I knew then that lighting. Yes, my goal with this mod is to
that QuakeCon hosted a modding QuakeCon would be a yearly ritual for compete with my modding brethren, but I
contest, but when I found out it would me. Fast-forward three years, and I now also want to expand my skill sets.
be Modders-Inc hosting it, I was ecstatic! have the privilege of working side-by-side This year the theme is Quake and/
It was the opportunity to meet the with my mentorsand showing them the or DOOM, and after last years hush-
modders I had been following for years youngster can take the crown. hush preview of the new DOOM, you
and who inspired me to begin modding. This will be my first year in the Staff vs. better believe that my mods theme shot
It was then I began work on Silhouette, Staff contest, but this is far from my first over to the DOOM universe. Taking
my first-ever scratch build for Modders- plunge into modding. My claim to fame is inspiration from some past projects of
Incs QuakeCon modding competition. sleeving, however this time around I want to Blue Horse Studios Ron Lee Christianson
I remember walking into the BYOC focus on two areas that have been somewhat (specifically his Half Life Black Mesa
and seeing all the mods and aisle after lacking in my past projects: painting and and Aliens mods), I have decided to

CPU / August 2015 49

 dive into the world of polystyrene to hours at a timesometimes for days during Materials will include a bit of acrylic,
build a UAC structure in the X1 chassis. the summers. So when I found out that the some hosing, and a bottle of hydrogen
The great thing about the X1 is that it Modders-Inc Staff vs. Staff competition this peroxide (?!). The whole point of
already has that industrial cold-metal look year was going to be based on DOOM and the mod is to make it look as good
to it that is prevalent in the Quake and Quake, I got super excited. as possible while spending as little as
DOOM universes. I also have some tricks The name of my theme is Ultra possible using mainly household items.
up my sleeve that I want to save for the Violence. It is fourth of the DOOM That way people can see you can still
final debut of the mod. games five difficulty settingsand its get awesome results and have a killer-
the furthest I ever went and still was looking PC without spending a whole
Nick Blackwell able to complete the game. (Nightmare lot of cash on fancy paint and laser
I have always loved the DOOM and was exactly that: a nightmare.) I am cutting or CNC milling.
Quake series of games by id Software. I used going to be combining several effects
to play them a lot at my buddies place on to make the mod look very old and Ron Perillo
the LAN they had set up in their second battle-worn, as if it had been left there I cannot stress enough how impor-
living room. We used to be in there for by some poor, unsuspecting fool. tant the first Quake game was in
m y l i f e . Un l i k e t h e o t h e r g u y s
a t Mo d d e r s - In c , w h o h a ve b e e n
around computers their entire
lives, I did not own a PC until
the fall of 1996. During that year,
id released Quake, and it was the
single-most mind-blowing thing I have
ever seen after a friend installed the
shareware version on my system. It
was also the first PC game I have ever
purchased after saving up my allowance
for a few weeks, and ever since then I
am a PC gamer for life. Outside of a
Sega Dreamcast in 1999, I have neither
sought out nor even been remotely
interested in any console systems.
Also unlike the rest of the staff, I
have not modded anything in my
entire life except maybe installing a
fan or two. Even the other guys who
are not experienced case modders have
experience in painting and are handy
with their tools. Add the two new staff
members (who are not just veteran
modders but are actual QuakeCon case-
modding champions) and the two elders
(who have been modding since before I
owned a PC), and you have an idea why
I am not taking this mod-off lightly.
This nightmarish scenario is remi-
niscent of what I felt going through the
levels of the original Quake game. I am
outgunned and outnumbered in a place I
cannot even begin to make sense of, and
there are creatures both old and new after
Another of Dewayne Carels past projects, this military monster was built to showcase ASUS TUF me that are armed to the teeth. There
Series motherboards. (Mission accomplished.) is also the $250 limit, made worse by
the fact that as a Canadian, I have to

50 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

contend with higher prices up here and but I will guarantee that you will all working on other mods, hardware
a 13% sales tax on top of that. Oh, and have never seen anything quite like reviews, and stuff for the site. This is the
I only have a month and a half left while what I have in mind! A broken, but one time of the year that we can compete
having to maintain my regular content surprisingly intact UAC relic that against each other, and that of course
output for Modders-Inc.com and holding was hastily constructed to combat the means that we trash-talk even more than
down a full-time day job. Needless to demon incursion, it will appear as if we usually do.
say, I am more stressed out than a 2GHz it has barely survived a horrific, close- What is surprising is that we work
dual-core system running DOOM 3. But quarters battle. I am creating a look closely all year long until mod-off time
my dedication to Quake is a religious and feel of Doomflesh, which is the and then it is all quiet about our staff vs.
one, so I pray that Shub-Niggurath guides fleshy, undulating, growing surface staff modding projects.
my way and hopefully provides a creative that is seen throughout the game. I DOOM and Quake are our available
shortcut to get this project done. am hoping to create this look by using themes for this years contest, which
a wood base with cotton balls on seemed appropriate since it is the 20th
Craig Tate top, overlaid with fiberglass to give anniversary of QuakeCon. I will be
The D.E.A.D. (Doomified Engineered it a continuously lumpy appearance. creating a DOOM case because I think
Attenuation Device) was used by a long- Hopefully, I can get the case to tell this franchise has the most recognizable
lost scientist at the murderous beginning a stor ya stor y of heroism and features that I can pull from it and put
of what we all thought would be the end. tragic failure. into a case mod. My two main features
The device was designed to measure the that I will be incorporating into the
horrible powers flowing through inter- Dewayne Carel DOOM mod are the Icon of Sin final
dimensional rifts; it was thought that As one of the veterans of the Mod-Off, boss and a ghost monitor in one of the
close analysis of these spectral energies I know what its like to win and to side panels. This ghost monitor will be
would reveal countermeasures that the lose, and as they say, losing sucks! But playing a loop of the DOOM game, but
scientific community could use to assist seriously, it is all about the fun of the youll be able to see through it and into
our Marines and save so many lives. But contest for me, as during the year we are the inside of the case.
just as the lives of the maniacal scientists
who brought this curse upon us were cut
short, so too was the life of one noble
scientist who tried to stop it.
So new was the device and untested its
2015 Staff vs. Staff Mod-Off Official Rules
tools that after its owners death, it was
found and removed from its protective 1. Each contestant starts with the same case: the Thermaltake Core X1.
stasis field in the most delicate fashion
possible so as not to inadvertently activate 2. Each contestant can spend only $250 in creating his mod.
it. One of the few UAC relics to survive
the destruction of the Hell Breach, it 3. A theme was chosen to level the playing field: All mods must have a DOOM or Quake theme,
had somehow survived the encroaching or a combination of both.
infection that we called Doomflesh.
Its power sources exposed and damaged 4. All work on the mod must be done by the contestant, except as outlined in Rule No.5.
by what appear to have been attacks by
the entities known as Imps, the box is 5. If you need to have something created that you cannot make yourself (graphics, 3D printing,
in remarkable condition, even though media blasting, cutting metal, etc.), you must deduct these costs from your allotted $250. No
it appears to have been hit by several friend or barter pricing allowed! We want to represent the actual cost of creating the mods.
fireballs. Flesh-merged rocket fragments
point to a possible Revenant attack that 6. You can use whatever materials or hardware you have on hand, but you need to deduct such
may have contributed to the devices items current value from your $250. (Just because you have $1,000 worth of custom billet
damaged state. Small-arms fire damage aluminum or a $300 motherboard lying around doesnt mean you can use them for free.)
bears witness to what was most likely
the final, frenzied minutes of heroism as 7. You must keep a work log containing photos and/or videos in the Modders-Inc forums for your
the scientist and his military escort made project to be eligible for the contest.
their final, tragic stand.
Not sure what my fellow staff will 8. The case must be on display at QuakeCon 2015 to be part of the contest.
be doing to represent their builds,

CPU / August 2015 51

Clock Work Like
Clockwork
How To Overclock Your Hardware
ecoming a full-fledged power user is a and increase its performance
B lot like riding a bike. Nobody wakes
up and starts doing double backflips at
to be on par with that familys
flagship unit, potentially giving
their local BMX track. You start small and you hundreds of dollars worth
you start slow. Training wheels come first, of extra performance for free.
and sometimes you still lean on one for Interested? You should be.
a while before ditching them altogether. Speaking of the X Games,
Even after you think youve mastered your just like there are only a handful
first big kids bike, youre a long way of Dave Mirra or Jamie Bestwick
from the X Games, punk. types in professional BMX,
Likewise, the vast majority of us didnt there are a select few hardcore
become power users overnight. The overclockers who regularly
process happens in stages. Our training compete against each other for
wheels were upgrading our first systems world records, prizes, and glory.
RAM, adding a second hard drive, or Now, you can join this group
installing a DVD burner. Nothing with enough determination,
exploded, so, confident in our abilities, but first you have to master the
we upped the difficulty and built our first fundamentals. Well be covering
custom PC from scratch. At this point, those fundamentals here, giving
we started to feel legit, almost like we you the information you need
knew what we were doing. to begin some overclocking
Once youve built a PC, and built some adventures of your own. To be Technically, you can overclock any processor, but youll have
confidence in the process, you should clear, overclocking is an extensive the most success by far selecting one with an unlocked
be ready to take on more challenging subject worthy of multiple articles. multiplier, such as Intels Core i7-5960X Extreme Edition.
projects. That project could be a more Further, although its obvious that
advanced build (one that involves a different components overclock
custom liquid cooling loop, perhaps), a differently and that different
basic case mod (such as a wild new paint models of the same type of component CPUs, for example, Intel and AMD now
job for your case), or overclocking your overclock differently, individual units of the produce processors with unlocked multipliers
systems components. This last task is same model often overclock differently, too, designed expressly for overclocking. As weve
what well focus on this month, and it so its vital to learn the basic principles first. explained previously, an unlocked multiplier
doesnt have to be scary. For this piece, well cover the basics lets you isolate and increase the frequency
Overclocking, or the process of of overclocking the following three of only the processor. Intel designates its
increasing your hardwares operating components: CPU, GPU, and RAM. unlocked processors with a K or X suffix,
frequencies beyond their stock values, Follow along as we boost the frequencies while AMD regularly uses Black Edition,
is a relatively easy method to squeeze a of our hardware and reap the rewards. FX, and K labels to identify the unlocked
little extra performance out of your processors in its lineup.
system without buying newer, better The Overclockers Toolkit The primary side effect of over-
components. In some situations, over- Technically, you can overclock any clocking your processor is increased
clocking lets you take a second-best processor, graphics card, or memory module, heat, so if you really want to be serious
component in a particular product family but that doesnt mean you should. With about overclocking your CPU, your

CPU / August 2015 53

 that come with increased frequencies, you
have to have a way to actually increase
those frequencies. For the CPU and
memory, your best bet is to dive into your
motherboards system BIOS. There are
plenty of Windows-based overclocking
utilities for the CPU, but we prefer to
stick with the BIOS. Once youre ready
to move beyond basic overclocking,
youll want to be well acquainted with
your motherboards BIOS, since this
is where youll have access to the most
advanced settings.
Overclocking your graphics card, on
the other hand, requires a Windows-
based software utility. Here again, there
are no shortage of utilities that will help
you dial in higher frequencies for your
graphics cards GPU and memory. You
can use AMDs Catalyst Control Center
to overclock cards based on AMD silicon,
Overclocking means higher frequencies, and higher frequencies mean higher temperatures. Higher while NVIDIA-based cards typically rely
temperatures mean youd better have a capable cooler attached to any component you plan to on utilities that the companys partners
overclock. Pictured here is LEPAs burly EXllusion 240. develop. For example, we used MSIs
AfterBurner software to overclock our
MSI card. Similar offerings are avail-
first order of business is to acquire a graphics card with an aftermarket cooler able from GIGABYTE, ASUS, etc.
good third-party cooler. Stock coolers is compatibility. NVIDIAs and AMDs Youll need more software to make
included with CPUs may be able to board partners frequently make changes sure your system will remain stable for
handle the extra heat of an overclocked to reference-design GeForce and Radeon regular, long-term use. There are obvious
processor to a limited degree, but offerings, and that can include changes red flags that a particular overclock is
theyre not really built for that purpose. to the PCB. Double-check to make sure unstableyour system refuses to POST,
Plus, over the last few years, both Intel that the air cooler or waterblock you Windows blue-screens during boot or
and AMD have begun releasing their want to use is compatible with your simply wont boot at all, and so forth
unlocked processors without stock graphics card. Also determine if an but many times an overclocked system
cooling and simply letting individual aftermarket air cooler will increase the will boot Windows and nothing else. Its
users choose their own cooler. Its not cards physical footprint. For example, these deceptive overclocks that you need
a cost-cutting measure so much as an if you have two dual-slot graphics cards to root out.
informal acknowledgement that those installed in SLI/CrossFire, removing the For quick stability checks, a utility like
stock donut and brick heatsinks are stock air cooling and adding a third- Intels XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility) can
destined for the dumpster the second party option could turn that dual-slot test an overclocked Intel processor for
an overclocker pulls one out of the card into a tri-slot card and encroach stability in a few minutes, which is great
box. Well leave choosing a cooler for onto the second cards territory. for determining if your CPU can run at
your processor up to you, but product Theres a general consensus among its higher frequency, but most power users
reviews online or right here in CPU can enthusiasts that fiddling with your like to stress-test their CPUs for several
help you make an informed decision. memory modules cooling doesnt have a hours to ensure long-term viability. For
We wont be installing an aftermarket substantial impact on their overclocking. this, Intel XTU can be set to run for a
cooler on our graphics card for this The quality of the ICs used in your user-defined period of time, or you can
tutorial, but we can offer a few very modules, which is out of your hands, enlist the services of an application such
general guidelines if you wish to replace affects performance perhaps more than as Prime95, which hammers the CPU and
your graphics cards stock cooler with any other factor. can be set up to run indefinitely.
something more substantial. The key Once youve established how youre Likewise, the GPU overclocking apps
consideration when outfitting your going to handle the increased temperatures should be able to perform basic stress-

54 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

testing in order to give you a general overclock without any further tweaking. When you reach the upper boundary of
idea of whether the higher frequencies For example, when we overclocked our the frequency at which your CPU remains
will turn out to be stable, but you still Intel Core i7-5930K for this months stable under load, youll need to feed it
need to give your overclocked graphics CPU system build, we started at more volts in order to go faster. Although
card a heavy, sustained workload to 3.8GHz, which is 300MHz (or 8.5%) modern chips have built-in safeguards that
determine if the overclock will work. faster than the 5930Ks stock speed. should prevent any damage from frequency
Having a program that you can loop
is great because you wont have to
babysit your system while it stress-tests
the graphics card. One such program is
Futuremarks 3DMark.

Full Speed Ahead

With the proper hardware and software
in hand, youre ready to start turning the
dials, so to speak. Our first stop will be
the CPU, and as weve mentioned, youll
venture into your motherboards BIOS to
take care of business.
Every motherboard manufacturer
structures its motherboard BIOSes
differently, and some offer you more
extensive control over your CPUs
settings (particularly, its various
voltages). Every enthusiast motherboard
should give you basic control over your
processors multiplier and core voltage,
which are the two settings were after.
Also, although BIOS menus and sub-
menus are labeled differently from
manufacturer to manufacturer, you can
usually navigate your way by keeping an
eye out for phrases such as Advanced
Frequency Settings, CPU OC, etc.
Sometimes youll find the multiplier and
voltage settings under the same submenu;
other times youll have to bounce from
submenu to submenu.
Start by increasing the multiplier,
and thus, the frequency. Your goal
should be to overclock your CPU
as far as it will go without requiring
additional voltage to maintain stability.
The process is relatively simple, but it
can also be tedious; the safest way to
overclock is to go 100MHz at a time
and then test for stability, repeating
these two steps until the CPU fails
a stress test, cant boot Windows, or
doesnt POST. As a general rule of Get used to seeing screens like these. Your motherboards system BIOS is where youll be tinkering with
thumb, though, todays processors that your CPUs clock speed and voltage settings. The introduction of preconfigured memory profiles, such
are designed to be overclocked should as Intels XMP (Extreme Memory Profile) has made overclocking DRAM a trivial affair.
be good enough to handle a 10%

CPU / August 2015 55

 arrive at both the maximum frequency
and voltage at which your CPU can safely
operate. To be sure the overclock is legit, run
your stress tests for several hours, and if your
system crashes, youll have to dial down the
frequency until your system can run under
load for extended periods without issue.
In theory, this is how CPU overclocking
should work, but the process is far from an
exact science. Often, a processor will hit
a maximum frequency and wont budge
any further, even if you increase the core
voltage. You also have to accept that your
version of Processor X may not overclock
as well as your friends Processor X. These
are the realities of overclocking.

Most graphics card manufacturers have downloadable utilities that not only let you overclock your Minimize Memory Meddling
graphics card(s) but also stress-test them for stability. There was a time when overclocking
memory modules was even more exhausting
than overclocking the CPU. Memory
adjustments alone, increasing a processors increase the voltage again, and run more modules have a clock speed, just like CPUs,
core voltage beyond its stock specifications stress tests. but they also have several timings, which made
is more dangerous. A cavalier approach After just one or two 0.1V increases, overclocking DRAM a precarious juggling act.
here could result in permanent damage we will frequently take an even more Today, we have preconfigured memory
and send your silicon to the scrap heap in conservative approach to supplying any modules, such as Intels XMP (Extreme
short order. Proceed carefully. additional voltage. Well typically halve Memory Profile) to do that work for us.
You may want to research your the increment to 0.05V. Eventually, youll Understanding that many enthusiasts still
processor online before attempting to
overvolt it. The overclocking community
regularly shares its experiences and results
online, so check a few forums to get a
general idea of what core voltage will put
your particular processor in the danger
zone. However, because one batch of a
particular CPU will overclock better than
a different batch of the same CPU, you
should view any consensus voltage setting
as a point where youll need to be extra
cautious about proceeding, rather than a
starting point for your own overvolting.
As a general rule of thumb, we will
start by increasing our processors Vcore
by 0.1V. Next, youll want to stress-test
to determine both the stability of the
overclocked frequency and the CPUs
core temperature under load at a higher
voltage. As long as your processor
s t a y s w i t h i n t h e m a n u f a c t u re rs
specified thermal parameters, continue Intels XTU (Extreme Tuning Utility) is a handy little program that lets you work with your Intel
increasing the processors frequency processors overclock in a Windows environment. In addition to being able to stress-test the CPU,
until it becomes unstable again. When Intels XTU displays a wealth of information about your processors vitals.
that happens, return to your BIOS,

56 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 for GPU overclocking is to buy a card
thats a step down from a manufacturers
flagship model, overclock it to approach a
performance level on par with or better than
the flagship, and then pocket the savings.
Finding the right balance between a
GPUs core clock and the right amount
of voltage is still a delicate process, but
you do have the benefit of being able to
do all the work within Windows. Plus,
as we mentioned, GPU overclocking
utilities should be able to both pump up
a cards clocks and then test those clocks
for stability. Hit up your graphics card
manufacturers website to download the
relevant utility.
A responsible overclocker is quick to develop good overclocking habits, one of which is letting your stress If your cards manufacturer doesnt
tests run for several hours (a full 24 hours should be thorough enough). Having a program you can loop, such publish an overclocking tool, dont panic.
as Futuremarks 3DMark, can untether you from your desk while it works out your overclocked hardware. You may be able to use a rival companys
overclocking tool. MSIs Afterburner is one
such example that should be compatible
want to mess with a good thing, we spoke headroom. Says Mortenson, The 1.2V with a variety of graphics cards.
with Crucial Memorys Jeremy Mortenson specification doesnt necessarily imply that it Launch your graphics cards over-
to understand the finer points of modern will overclock better. DRAM is built on an clocking utility and proceed in a similar
DRAM optimization. industry standard where voltages are defined fashion as you would with the CPU,
Ultimately, the memory is designed to for the memory, processor, and subsystems. increasing the core clock gradually and
run at the rated specification, or XMP Profile Some parts perform better with more testing for stability. If your graphics card
1, in supported systems, he says, and users voltage applied, but there are cases where tuning app has a fan speed setting, it
will get the easiest setup with guaranteed the benefit of additional voltage doesnt might not be a bad idea to force the
results. XMP takes the guesswork out of pay back in terms of higher frequencies. cards fans to run at 100% to ensure
memory tuning and saves you from having It will likely create a reliability risk, or maximum cooling. When you hit an
to dig in and learn about the all the various worse, potentially damage your parts. Its unstable frequency carefully raise the
adjustments and terminology associated best to stay within your manufacturers voltage and test again. When the card
with memory. recommended voltage range. passes the utilitys built-in stability test,
A common debate among power users is Although preset memory profiles youre ready to stress-test it further with
the relationship between memory speed and take the adventure out of overclocking, an intense 3D rendering benchmark,
latency. Usually, to increase your modules theyre there for good reason. Some such as 3DMark, or simply fire up your
speed, you loosen their timings, which motherboards automatically set your favorite game and take it for a spin.
increases latency and can potentially erase modules to run at their optimal profile, An unstable graphics card can identify
any performance gains from increasing the but you can set it yourself in your itself by crashing whatever program
speed. If you have to decide between one or motherboards BIOS. These settings happens to be taxing it, but it can also
the other, Mortenson believesbased on should be somewhere under your BIOS show up in more subtle ways. If you notice
Crucials extensive testing (see bit.ly/1JylzzH) performance or overclocking menu. Look on-screen artifacts, its a sure sign your
increasing memory frequencies usually yields for an option that refers to advanced GPUs clocks need to be dialed back.
better performance than lowering timings. memory settings; you should be able to
Overvolting memory wont give you lock in your kits memory profile here. Life In The Fast Lane
the same results you might expect from Some power users overclock to get
overvolting the CPU. New JEDEC DDR GPU Unleashed extra performance for free. Some do it
specifications call for lower operating The last stop on our journey is the for bragging rights. Others do it simply
voltage (DDR2s was 1.8V, DDR3s was graphics card, another component that often because they can, and because tinkering is
1.5V, and DDR4s is a mere 1.2V), but has quite a bit of overclocking potential if fun. Whatever the reason, we encourage
dont think that means new modules youre willing to put in the time to extract you to give it a shot. It might be the last
suddenly have a tremendous amount of it. Usually the best return on investment time you settle for stock.

CPU / August 2015 57

SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC
The Revolution Starts Now
t has been a while since there was a truly

I new graphics cards technology for us to

put under the microscope. Sure, AMD
and NVIDIA have been updating their
respective lineups for the last several years,
but when faced with a fourth straight year
of manufacturing graphics processors at the
28nm node (and with the 14nm process
not expected until 2016 at the earliest),
the best and most reliable way to improve
performance has been simply to cram more
transistors onto the die and increase the
stream processor/CUDA core count.
As graphics card TDPs climb higher,
however, cards are beginning to reach the
limits of the PCIe bus standard, which is
300 watts for PCIe 3.0. More powerful cards
exist, but they dont have the PCI-SIGs (PCI
Special Interest Group) seal of approval. But
now that 4K displays have finally begun to
take hold with users, the memory subsystems
on even the fastest cards that money can buy SAPPHIREs Tri-X R9 Fury OC features the firms most efficient cooler ever.
have begun to show their limitations.
There is a solution to the problem.
With the launch of AMDs Fiji chip, the of benefits to the Fiji GPU. On a traditional used in current graphics cards. It supports
memory subsystem is getting a much- high-performance graphics card, usually a high densities by stacking the DRAM
needed overhaul, and we finally get to talk dozen or more GDDR5 chips are arrayed cores on top of one another. In the Fiji
about a few things weve never seen before around the GPU. Each of these features GPU, AMD layered four DRAM chips in
(and will be seeing a lot more of from dozens of contacts (170-ball BGA package four stacks. An electrical interface passes
here on in). Last month, AMD took the is common for current GDDR5 chips) that through holes in each of the DRAM chips
wraps off the R9 Fury X, the firms latest require traces leading back to the GPU. The and connects them all to a base layer. As
flagship graphics card with a built-in closed- more memory a card needs, the more chips you can imagine, this TSV (through-
loop liquid cooler. This month, the more are required, which leads to longer traces silicon via) micro-bump design can enable
affordable Fiji Pro is getting its moment in and ultimately more voltage and beefier component manufacturers to implement
the spotlight, and our first look at the chip voltage regulating components to power large caches of memory in very small
comes in the form of SAPPHIREs Tri-X R9 it all. As the GPU arms races continues, spaces on a PCB, but AMD took it a step
Fury OC. Before we delve into what makes cramming everything necessary onto a PCB further and added the HBM onto the
the SAPPHIRE card such a winner, lets thatll fit in your average midtower becomes GPUs substrate. Because the 3D stacking
take a closer look at how AMD was able to increasingly difficult. To use an example technique AMD uses doesnt pile the
make such a big splash while relying on an from AMDs previous generation, the memory over to GPU die itself, the firm
effectively ancient manufacturing node. flagship Radeon R9 290X had a memory refers to its design as 2.5D, rather than
and GPU footprint of 90mm x 110mm, 3D, despite the fact that the chip features
HBM FTW not counting the VRM. layers along the X, Y, and Z axes.
Its called High Bandwidth Memory, or HBM is a memory standard that There are numerous advantages
HBM for short, and it presents a number replaces the traditional GDDR5 memory to keeping your DRAM close to your

CPU / August 2015 59

 A single GDDR5 chip has a 32-bit bus
and can run at speeds up to 1,750MHz,
good for a maximum memory bandwidth
of 28GBps. In Fijis HBM, each stack
supports a clock speed of only 500MHz,
but with an extremely wide 1,024-bit bus,
a single stack can produce a whopping
128GBps of bandwidth. For the Tri-X R9
Fury OC, its four stacks of HBM result
in a 4,096-bit bus and 512GBps of total
memory bandwidth.

The Next GCN

Before AMD launched its recent R9
300 series, the flagship spot was held
by the Radeon R9 290X, a card whose
GPU architecture was technically not the
companys most recent. The Radeon R9
285, a midrange graphics card that came
out in September 2014 and currently
sells for around $230, actually used the
most recent version of AMDs GCN
architecture (version 1.2). It brought
with it a handful of new things, such
as improved geometry processors that
are better tuned to handle tessellation,
delta color compression for lossless color
rendering without consuming too much
memory bandwidth during reads and
writes, an updated ISA instruction set,
a high quality scaler, and a new multi-
media engine.
By stacking memory chips, High Bandwidth Memory shortens traces, reduces voltages, and significantly Fiji includes all of the improvements
widens the memory bus, dramatically reducing the graphics cards PCB real estate requirements. that went into the R9 285, as well as
a few new ones, including new 16-bit
floating-point and integer instructions,
GPU, but AMD had to design a unique Another advantage that AMD enjoys improved parallel processing instructions
interposer that resides between the thanks to its HBM design is a reduced that let SIMD lanes share data, better
package substrate (the part of the chip cooling footprint. The coolers on the liquid- compute task scheduling, a larger 2MB
that features the interface, such as a ball cooled Fury X and the air-cooled Tri-X R9 L2 cache, an even better scaler, and a new
grid array) and the GPU die to support Fury OC can efficiently cool both the GPU video decode engine that now supports
its HBM design in Fiji. The logic die that and memory at once using a small copper HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding),
serves as the foundation for each stack of plate and another smaller copper plate with which is a video compression standard
HBM connects directly to this interposer thermal pads for the VRM. Traditional designed to succeed the H.264/MPEG-4
and is effectively on the same plane as graphics cards require almost twice as much AVC standard.
the GPU die. The result is a very small copper to cover the DRAM, which adds
package that measures 55mm x 55mm considerable cost. The required voltage for Fury Xs Big Little Brother
that can support incredibly wide buses. Fijis HBM is 1.3V, compared to GDDR5s The SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC
Bandwidth per watt improves by a factor 1.5V, further slashing the new cards cooling features the same GPU as that of the
of four, communication and clocking are requirements. Fury X, albeit with eight of the flagship
streamlined, and compared to the R9 When you break down the per-package GPUs CUs (compute units) disabled,
290X, Fiji-based graphics cards have 60% performance of GDDR5 and HBM, giving it a stream processor count
higher memory bandwidth. youll realize theres really no contest. of 3,584 and a texture unit count of

60 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

224. There are 64 ROPs, which is the always lit, and it indicates that AMD
same number as the full Fury X. The ZeroPower Mode is active; this disables
core clock of the SAPPHIRE card we the fans under idle and light loads to
tested is set at 1,040MHz, which is a Like It? Win It keep the card as quiet as possible. The
factory overclock. If you like what weve shown you with other obvious thing to note about the
Because the HBM is integrated the SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC, you can PCB is its size, it measures a mere 7.5
with the GPU now, you wont see actually enter for a chance to win one inches long.
any variants of the Fury with less (or of these impressive cards. Just visit Theres also an inconspicuous dual
more) than 4GB of VRAM. Although http://sapphirenation.net/theclock for BIOS switch on the top edge of the
that doesnt sound like a 4K-capable rules, information, and limitations. card. In the default position, the ASIC
frame buffer, the speed of the memory power is limited to 300 watts and the
and the memory bus make it much GPU temperature is maintained at a
more akin to CPU cache than a AMDs PCB & SAPPHIREs Tri-X Cooler peak of 75 degrees Celsius. We pushed
traditional GDDR5 frame buffer. As SAPPHIRE tells us that the matte the Tri-X R9 Fury OC to its limits by
we mentioned, the memory interface is black PCB used in its Tri-X R9 Fury running Dying Light and an instance
4,096 bits wide, and the card features a OC is a reference design, so theres not of Unigine Heaven 4.0 simultaneously,
512GBps of total memory bandwidth. much here thatll be unique compared and the temp hovered between 74C
Compare that to the R9 290X s to other reference design Fury cards and 75C, with the fans never spinning
320GBps of total memory bandwidth that you can buy. But thats not to say above 29%. Needless to say, it was very
and you can begin to see how big there isnt anything interesting. We quiet. If youre looking to overclock
an impact HBM can make on your particularly like the strip of nine LEDs the Tri-X R9 Fury, you may have more
gaming experience. above the pair of 8-pin PCIe power luck with the secondary BIOS settings,
Another feature that this card connectors. You can tweak the colors which give the ASIC 350-watts to
supports, although its one that AMD (red, blue, or both) using the DIP work with and relax the temperature
has supported for a while, is CrossFire switches on the card, and they light limit to 80C.
connections without the use of a up in greater number as the graphics Despite the reference PCB, the
bridge connector. workload increases. The first LED is cooler is all SAPPHIREs. It features

Despite the revolutionary technology underneath the cooler, SAPPHIREs Tri-X R9 Fury looks similar to previous Tri-X cards.

CPU / August 2015 61

 a trio of 90mm aerofoil-finned fans FURIOUS PERFORMANCE STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX
that have long-lasting dual-ball bearing
Benchmark Results SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC AMD R9 Fury
hubs. There are some truly mammoth
copper heatpipes in this coolerone Price $569 $549
measuring 10mm in diameter, two Core clock 1,040MHz 1,000MHz
more at 8mm, and the rest are 6mm.
They run through a dense stack of Memory clock 500MHz 500MHz

cooler fins and meet over two copper Memory interface 4,096-bit 4,096-bit
plates, one for the GPU and HBM, the
Memory 4GB HBM 4GB HBM
other for the VRM. Its 12 inches long
and, according to the firm, designed 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra 3729 3615
t o d e l i ve r s u b - 7 5 C p e r f o r m a n c e
Graphics Score 3680 3563
even under the stress of demanding
3D applications and games. As we Physics Score 15899 15985
showed above, this is indeed the case. Graphics Test 1 18.33 17.73
Put simply, this is SAPPHIREs most
efficient Tri-X cooler ever. Graphics Test 2 14.2 13.76

Adding to the rigidity of this card Combined Test 8.48 8.21

are the die-cast mounting frame for
the PCB and cooler assembly, as 3DMark Fire Strike Extreme 6874 6631
well as a brushed black aluminum
Graphics Score 7228 6922
backplate adorned with yellow and
grey stripes. SAPPHIREs Intelligent Physics Score 15415 15908
Fan Control (IFC-II) technology is Graphics Test 1 35.43 33.96
here, too, though it provides the same
function as AMDs ZeroPower Mode, Graphics Test 2 28.24 27.03

stopping the fans from spinning while Combined Test 14.55 14.08
idle or under light loads. Fan control
Unigine Heaven 4.0
is performed thanks to a network of
built-in sensors. Score 1441 1373
SAPPHIRE has a relatively new
FPS 57.2 54.5
grading system for indicating its graphics
cards performance, called the SAPPHIRE Games 1,920 x 1,080
Performance Index. The Tri-X R9 Fury Aliens VS. Predator (Very High, 127.4 123.9
OC is an SPI 5 class card, or ultra 16XAF, 4XAA, SSAO)
enthusiast level for 4K gaming.
Metro: Last Light (DX11, Very 94.33 91
On the back bracket, youll find High, 16XAF, Very High Tess.)
three DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and
Dying Light (Medium, AO On, 118.42 111.57
one HDMI 1.4a output, but no DVI. AA On, Vsync Off)
Theres an active DP-to-DVI adapter
included in the package, as well as an Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Vsync 67.35 59.52
Off, Unl. FPS, Ultra)
HDMI cable. The Tri-X R9 Fury OC
supports four monitors natively, or up Games 2,560 x 1,440
to six via MST hub or daisy chain. As Aliens VS. Predator (Very High, 82.5 80.3
we mentioned, this card features a pair 16XAF, 4XAA, SSAO)
of 8-pin PCIe power connectors, and
Metro: Last Light (DX11, Very 64 62.33
SAPPHIRE recommends a 750W PSU High, 16XAF, Very High Tess.)
or better. Of course, the card is DX12-
ready, supports AMD FreeSync, AMD Dying Light (Medium, AO On, 85.25 78.49
AA On, Vsync Off)
VSR (Virtual Super Resolution), and
AMD LiquidVR. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (Vsync 54.41 53.97
Off, Unl. FPS, Ultra)

Benchmark Breakdown
SAPPHIREs Tri-X R9 Fury OC is Test system specs: Processor: Intel Core i7-5960X; Motherboard: GIGABYTE X99-Gaming G1; RAM: 16GB
aimed at 4K gaming scenarios, which Ballistix Elite DDR4-2400; Storage: 240GB OCZ Vertex 3 MAX IOPS SSD; OS: Windows 8 Enterprise (64-bit)

62 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

The SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OCs PCB is much smaller than its cooler lets on.

is why we ran 3DMarks Fire Strike 50fps in Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with
Ultra test, which renders the test at Ultra settings.
3,840 x 2,160. We got a 3729 overall As we went to press, we learned that
score, and 18.22fps and 14.2fps marks the initial launch of SAPPHIRE Tri-X
in the two graphics tests, respectively. R9 Fury OC cards will be limited, while
We ran the card through the Fire the standard version will be more readily
Strike Extreme test, which tests at available. When you go shopping for
1440p, and the Tri-X R9 Fury OC the R9 Fury, if the SAPPHIRE version
scored almost 1,800 points higher than we tested is sold out, youll probably
the SAPPHIRE NITRO R9 390 we be looking at a card with a 1,000MHz
tested last month. core clock. As such, we jumped into the
In the games, this card scored Catalyst Control Center, loaded AMD
consistently about 20 frames per Overdrive, lowered the core clock to
second more than the NITRO, across 1,000MHz, and ran the tests again so you
the board. At 1080p, this card didnt can see the performance difference between
even break a sweat, scoring 118.42fps SAPPHIREs Tri-X R9 Fury OC and a
in Dying Light and 67.35fps in reference card with an MSRP of $549.
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. When we If youre in the market for a graphics
jacked the resolution to 1440p, the card that has a buff enough frame
SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC scored buffer to handle high-resolution
better than 80fps in Aliens vs. Predator gaming with the settings turned all the
and Dying Light, better than 60fps way up, youd be mad to pass on the The LEDs near the PCIe power connectors
in Metro: Last Light, and better than SAPPHIRE Tri-X R9 Fury OC. indicate graphics load.

CPU / August 2015 63

 Everything You Need To Know About Windows 10

indows 10 is finally here. In an

W unprecedented move for the
company, Microsoft is offering free
upgrades for anyone running Windows 7,
Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. To make
the upgrade process even easier, you could
reserve your copy of the new OS months
in advance by clicking an icon in your
System Tray.
Because the OS has such a dramatic
bearing on virtually every aspect of our
computing experience, most enthusiasts
prefer to take a wait-and-see approach.
Making it free and easy to upgrade is a
good start, but theres simply too much at
stake for most users to jump in with both
feet on day one. In this months Software
Windows 10 will be available for a variety of computers as well as touch-first devices such as
Tips & Projects, well take a critical look
smartphones and tablets.
at Windows 10 to show you what youll
get, mention the features that wont make
the transition, and give you an idea of
how it performs. 12 to give game developers better access Win8.1 Pro and Win8.1 Pro For Students
to the raw horsepower of your system, users get Win10 Pro. Win7/8.1 Enterprise
The Real Thing and deeper Xbox gaming integration. Just users, as well as WinRT/8.1 RT users are
As we went to press, Windows 10 was like previous iterations of Microsofts OS, not eligible for the free upgrade.
not available, but weve been tinkering there will be multiple versions of Win10,
with the Windows 10 Technical Preview including Home, Pro, and Enterprise Win10 Home
for the past six months. We tested with versions, as you might expect, but other Were pleased to see that Microsoft has
Build 10240, which was the RTM versions include Windows 10 Education, distilled its consumer-focused OSes to just
(release to manufacturing) build that Mobile, Mobile Enterprise, and three two. If youre only entitled to the Home
would go on to become the final version variations of Windows 10 IoT (Internet version of Win10, what are you missing
Microsoft released July 29. Microsoft of Things). out on and should you pay to upgrade?
has gradually moved from adding new We suspect that many of those According to Microsoft, Win10
features to squashing bugs and improving who upgrade to Win10 in the coming Home features a new streamlined UI
performance, but well take a look at months will be taking advantage of the meant to work well on PCs, tablets,
performance numbers a bit later. free upgrade offer for current Win7 and 2-in-1s; the voice-recognizing
and Win8/8.1 users. The version personal assistant Cortana; the sleek
Whats In The Box? youre entitled to, however, depends on new Microsoft Edge (formerly Spartan)
Weve covered the new features you the version of the OS youre currently web browser; Continuum tablet mode,
can expect to find packed into the running. Intuitively, if youre running which replaces the Start menu, Taskbar,
codebase of the new OS, such as virtual Win7 Starter, Home Basic, or Home and windowed applications with a
desktops that let you press ALT-TAB to Premium, youll get a key for Win10 more Win8.1 experience for touch-first
switch between multiple simultaneous Home. Win7 Professional and Ultimate devices; Windows Hello face recognition;
computing sessions, a new and improved users will get keys for Win10 Pro. Win8.1 support for logging in using your iris
command prompt, support for DirectX users can upgrade to Win10 Home, and and fingerprint; a handful of universal

CPU / August 2015 65

 Windows apps such as Photos, Maps,
Mail, Calendar, Music, and Video; and
gameplay capture and sharing for Xbox
One owners. Another Win10 Home
feature that Microsoft isnt exactly
advertising loudly is the fact that users
will have mandatory Automatic Updates
enabled. As we went to press, there was
no way for users to disable this feature.

Win10 Pro
Ever ything included in Win10
Home is also included in Win10 Pro.
The extras that Home users will miss out
on fall under the category of business
experiences. They include domain join
capabilities, BitLocker drive encryption,
remote access services, a group policy
editor, and Windows Update for Business.
Enabling Automatic Updates is not
mandatory in Win10 Pro. Other extras Windows Insiders were able to download the RTM (release to manufacturing) version of Windows 10 early.
include the ability to join Azure Active
Directory, access to the Win10 Business
disappointed to learn that these handy Solitaire Collection and Microsoft
Store, and enterprise data protection.
Desktop-based doodads are getting the Minesweeper. If youre among the
Microsoft is also making it easier for
axe, resource hogs though they are. Win7 handful of people who use a USB floppy
Win10 Pro users to upgrade to Enterprise
users fond of the preinstalled Solitaire, drive, youll need to install the latest
edition, and for Win10 Home users to
Minesweeper, and Hearts games will driver either from Windows Update
upgrade to the Education version.
have to go out of their way to suffer their or from the manufacturers website.
daily drop in productivity; Win10 doesnt Windows Live Essentials will mostly
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
come with these games, but you can still make the transition just fine; however,
Now that you know if your current
download them as universal apps from the the OneDrive application will be replaced
version of Windows will be free to
Windows Store. Just search for Microsoft with the inbox version of OneDrive.
upgrade, the question remains, what
features are being dropped from Win7/8.1?
The industry somewhat ominously refers
to the loss of certain features as you move
from an older to a newer version of the
software as deprecation, and Win10 has a
number of deprecated features.
If you enjoyed a previous version of
Windows that supported Windows Media
Center, prepare to kiss that functionality
goodbye. Upgrading to Win10 will
unceremoniously remove Windows
Media Center, and to date, Microsoft
has announced no feature that will stand
in for the HTPC-friendly time-shifting,
scheduling, and DVR utility. Another
ding against Win10 in the eyes of home
theater enthusiasts will be the lack of
built-in support for DVD playback,
though there are plenty of alternatives. Microsofts Solitaire is no longer preinstalled, but you can find it in the Windows Store.
Vista and Win7 gadget fans will be

66 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 WINDOWS TIP OF THE MONTH:

How To Get The Get Windows 10 App

Microsoft makes upgrading to Win10 easier than ever with the Get Windows 10 app. But for those of us who dont have the Windows logo
in the System Tray, things become slightly more difficult. There are several reasons this might be a problem for you, and each reason has a
different fix associated with it.

If your current OS isnt eligible for the free upgrade, your system wont display the icon. The Get Windows 10 app is designed for Win7/8.1
users. If youre running Vista or, heaven forbid, WinXP, then you wont see the icon. Win7 Enterprise, Win8/8.1 Enterprise, and WinRT/RT 8.1
are also excluded from the free upgrade, and the Get Windows 10 app wont show up.

If you have an OS thats eligible for the upgrade but still dont see the icon, it may be because your OS is simply not up to date. Win7 users must
have installed SP1 and Win8 users must have the 8.1 update. If either of these is the case, go to Windows Updates via the Control Panel, System
And Security, then click Check For Updates and install them. Make sure Automatic Updating is turned on. There are some specific updates you need
to have installed. If youre running Win7 SP1, you need KB3035583 and KB2952664. Win8.1 users need KB3035583 and KB2976978. To determine
if you have these updates, youll need to launch and run the Command Prompt as an administrator by typing command prompt into the search box
in the Start menu or on the Start screen, then right-clicking Command Prompt and clicking Run As Administrator. Type dism /online /get-packages
| findstr 3035583. Make sure to replace the string of seven digits at the end with the KB number associated with each query. If the update is on
your system, youll see a Package Identity response. If it is missing, youll get no response, just a new prompt ready to input a command. If any
come up missing, restoring them is the only way youll be able to reserve Win10 using the app.

You may be running into problems if youre running a version of Windows that is not genuine. Activate your installation or purchase a valid license
key. If your Windows PC, laptop, or tablet is a managed device, such as by a business IT department or as a device managed by an educational
institution, you wont be able to access the Get Windows 10 app without your IT administrators permission. Microsoft also has a few other
qualifying criteria that it doesnt get specific about, and for these devices, the Get Windows 10 app wont show up until after July 29th.

If nothing listed above is preventing you from reserving your copy of Win10, theres a way to check your PCs compatibility and enable the
icon. Start by opening Notepad and copying the following string of text to it:

REG QUERY HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\UpgradeExperienceIndicators /v UpgEx | findstr UpgEx

if %errorlevel% == 0 GOTO RunGWX
reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Appraiser /v UtcOnetimeSend /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
schtasks /run /TN \Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser
:CompatCheckRunning
schtasks /query /TN \Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser
schtasks /query /TN \Microsoft\Windows\Application Experience\Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser | findstr Ready
if NOT %errorlevel% == 0 ping localhost >nul &goto :CompatCheckRunning
:RunGWX
schtasks /run /TN \Microsoft\Windows\Setup\gwx\refreshgwxconfig

If youre not reading this article on our website, you can go there to access it and copy this wall of text. Click File, Save As, give the file a
name such as GetWin10.cmd, then click the Save As Type drop-down menu and click All files (*.*). Choose an easy-to-find location for the
file, such as C:\Temp, then click Save. Launch and run the Command Prompt as an administrator again. Type C:\Temp\GetWin10.cmd and
then press ENTER. The Command Prompt will run the Microsoft Compatibility Appraiser. If you are eligible and have all the prerequisites
installed, then the process should be completed in about 20 minutes and the Get Windows 10 app icon should appear in the System Tray.

CPU / August 2015 67

 If you choose to migrate files and
settings when you upgrade instead of
performing a clean install, you need
to be aware of a few things. First, the
process uninstalls your antivirus and anti-
malware utilities but saves the settings. If
your subscription is still valid, Win10s
installation process will automatically
reinstall the software and reapply your
settings. If the subscription is no longer
active, the installation will replace it with
Windows Defender. If you enjoyed using
the OEM applications that shipped with
your PC or laptop, you may want to find
the install disk for them as Win10 may
uninstall them.
According to Microsoft, the Get Groove Music is the built-in music-playing utility.
Windows 10 appthat Windows icon in
the System Tray that lets you reserve your
copy of Win10can determine whether wait for the initial bugs to get fixed. The former refers to when Microsoft
third-party applications on your system This is usually a good idea, but there are stops shipping the particular version
will be compatible with Win10. The utility a few reasons you may not want to wait of Windows to OEMs and retailers.
will generate a list of the applications it too long. Often, the retail End of Sales date
plans to remove because of incompatibility, Weve already covered the first occurs before the OEM one. According
so save this list before proceeding to reason you should pull the trigger in t o Mi c r o s o f t , y o u s h o u l d b e g i n
look into alternatives or workarounds. this next 12 months: the OS will cease thinking about upgrading if your OS
By the way, if you happen to be missing to be free, becoming a paid upgrade has reached its End of Sales date, but
the Get Windows 10 app, we have a few come July 2016. as long as your operating system has
troubleshooting tips in a sidebar. The second reason has to do with the latest Service Pack, youll still get
your OS simply getting too old. updates and security fixes.
Whats The Rush? Microsofts operating systems all Window Vista reached its OEM
When it comes to upgrades, for have two different expiration dates: and retail End of Sales dates back in
safetys sake, many enthusiasts tend to End of Sales and End of Support. October 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Windows 7 Pro reached its retail End
of Sales date in October 2013, but its
OEM date has not been established,
which means that it wont occur for
at least another year. Win7 Home
Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate
all reached the OEM End of Sales in
October 2014. The Windows 8.1 End
of Sales dates have not been established
for either retail or OEM.
There are actually two End Of
Support dates; the first traditionally
occurs about five years after the
operating systems launch. This period
is called the mainstream support phase,
and during it you can still request
changes in product design and features,
download free security updates and
The Edge browser is a snappy yet feature-rich browser that comes with Windows 10. hotfixes, and get complimentary and
paid support. When the mainstream

68 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

support phase ends, the OS goes into Windows 10 Build
Benchmark Results Windows 8.1
its extended support phase, which 10240 (RTM)
eliminates complimentary support 3DMark Fire Strike 7627 7540
and most hotfixes; however, security
updates and paid support will continue Graphics Score 7948 7930

until this phase ends. If your OS is Physics Score 16149 16141

in the extended support phase, then
Graphics Test 1 42.48 42.65
you should consider upgrading as soon
as possible. Graphics Test 2 29.13 28.33
For Windows Vista SP2, extended
Physics Test 51.27 51.24
support ends on April 11, 2017. For
Windows 7, you have until Jan. 14, Combined Test 16.95 16.89
2020, and Windows 8 users have until PCMark 8 Creative Score 4628 4827
Jan. 10, 2023. Mainstream support
for Win10 is accessible until Oct. 13, SiSoftware Sandra Lite 2015.SP1

2020, and extended support goes all Dhrystone Integer Native AVX2 (GIPS) 284 284.7
the way until Oct. 14, 2025, but by
Whetstone Single-Float NativeAVX (GFLOPS) 181.91 178.85
then well all be driving flying cars and
communicating telepathically. Multi-Media Integer x32 AVX2 (Mpixels per second) 433.26 429.8

Multi-Media Single-Float x16 FMA (Mpixels per second) 435.89 428

Performance Parity
We tried to anticipate and answer Multi-Media Double-Float x8 FMA (Mpixels per second) 290.35 290.39
many of the most common questions Multi-MediaQuad-Float x2 FMA (Mpixels per second) 13.48 13.48
that crop up surrounding the upgrade
to a new OS. But we know the biggest Integer Memory Bandwidth B/F AVX2/256 (GBps) 46.67 45.23
question enthusiasts have about Win10
Floating Memory Bandwidth B/F FMA/256 (GBps) 48.21 48.68
is, How does it perform? Our test
system consists of an Intel Core i7- Cinebench 15 CPU Score 1326 1317
5960X, GIGABYTE X99-Gaming G1
CrystalDiskMark 3.0.1 (MBps)
motherboard, PNY GeForce GTX 980
Ti graphics card, 16GB Ballistix Elite Sequential Read 529.4 535.3
DDR4-2400 system memory, and Sequential Write 307.9 310.4
240GB PNY XLR8 CS2111 SSD for the
storage drive. 4KB Random Q32 T1 Read 292.6 293.3

We installed Win8.1 on it, ran our 4KB Random Q32 T1 Write 288.4 287.2
suite of benchmarks, then installed the
Sequential Read 365.3 381.9
RTM version of Win10 (Build 10240)
and reran the tests. As you can see, Sequential Write 310.4 309.3
the scores didnt move much between
4KB Random Read 26.87 28.29
the versions. In the coming weeks and
months, we expect the performance 4KB Random Write 86.32 90.37
difference between Win10 and previous POV-Ray 3.7 Beta (pixels per second) 2656.4 2640.96
operating systems will become even less
noticeable. As DX12 games begin to Unigine Heaven 4.0

come out, the real performance benefit of FPS 74.6 74

the new OS will become evident.
Score 1878 1880
With Win10s launch imminent,
Microsoft has done an excellent job of Games (1,920 x 1,080)
giving us a handful of compelling reasons
Metro: Last Light (Very High, 16xAF; SSAA off) 108.33 110.67
to upgrade. Perhaps more importantly,
the firm has made it clear that theres little Dying Light (High, AO On, AA On, Vsync Off) 149.83 135.2
benefit to holding on to Win7 or Win8.1 Alien Vs. Predator (4XAA, 16xAF) 141.2 141.8
in the coming year.

CPU / August 2015 69

 Inside The World Of Betas
THE DOCUMENT FOUNDATION LIBREOFFICE 5.0.0 RC4 BETA
elieve or not, LibreOffice can
B trace its roots farther back than
Microsoft Office. Now under the care
LibreOffice 5.0.0 RC4 Beta
Publisher and URL: The
and maintenance of The Document Document Foundation;
Foundation, LibreOffice started its life as https://www.libreoffice.org
fork of OpenOffice.org, which evolved from ETA: August 2015
StarOffice. StarOffice used to be StarWriter, Why You Should Care: Its
which was originally released way back in a free office suite that also
1985 (as in, even before Microsoft Office) happens to be a great office
by StarDivision. The key takeaway of this suite.
brief history lesson in office suite software
is that LibreOffice isnt some brand-new
suite a couple of coders developed in their
spare time as a side project (not that theres can serve as either a WYSIWYG word work with mathematical formulas and
anything wrong with that). LibreOffice is processor or as a text editor. LibreOffices then insert those formulas in other
a full-fledged, highly polished collection of Calc serves as an answer to Microsoft LibreOffice programs.
productivity apps. Excel, and Impress does the same work Version 5 of LibreOffice was scheduled
LibreOffices bundle of office software as PowerPoint. Draws closest Microsoft to go live a mere days after the time of
is close enough to Microsofts well-known counterpart would be Visio, and Base, if this writing, so expectedly, the beta is this
offering that even the most superficial you cant already guess, is most similar close to the real thing. Its loaded with
comparisons can be instructive. Writer to Microsoft Access. LibreOffice also new features and functionality, plus its
is the obvious analog to Word, and it includes Math, a program that lets you still as free as its always been.

GP SOFTWARE DIRECTORY OPUS 11.15.1 BUILD 5688 BETA

ommander-style file managers date
C back to the days of DOS, so GP
Softwares Directory Opus is another
Directory Opus 11.15.1
Build 5688 Beta
program that benefits from decades of Publisher and URL:
development. Applications like this are GP Software; https://www
what old guard power users cut their teeth .gpsoft.com.au
on, and youll still find plenty of folks ETA: August 2015
who prefer Directory Opus, and/or others Why You Should Care:
like it, to Windows Explorer. Directory Opus gives you total
By default, Directory Opus opens control over your files.
to present you with a three-pane layout.
The far left pane is a file tree of your entire
system, while the other two panes present
the contents of any drive/folder/etc. you to another. It can view and edit metadata. The latest beta build makes small
select. Naturally, firing files and folders Directory Opus is also compatible with changes intended to help Directory Opus
across your PC is easier than ever with popular archive formats such as 7Zip, be even better at its job. New coding lets
this format, but anyone whos ever used a ZIP, and RAR. In addition to being able Directory Opus display the current file
Commander-style file manager will tell you to quickly and effectively dive into your system type in the status bar, and the
this is only scratching the surface. Directory PCs files and folders, Directory Opus can utility panel now remembers its size when
Opus is also a veritable Swiss Army Knife also access content on smartphones, tablets, you collapse it, for example. Developer GP
when it comes to working with files. It cameras, etc. Toolbars, hotkeys, scripting Software states that the upcoming update
can convert image files from one format you name it, Directory Opus can do it. also fixes a handful of pesky problems.

CPU / August 2015 71

 Upgrades Thatll Keep You Humming Along
This month, were calling attention to the Driver Bay, since both of those updates will prepare your graphics
cards for the launch of Windows 10. For our other updates, we have a lot of old favorites here for you, including
NoScript, Process Lasso, and Calibre.

SOFTWARE UPDATES collection. It can convert ebooks from one fixes broken inline script blocking, and
format to another, sync with an assortment makes other minor corrections.
Anfibia Deskman Classic 16.0 of ebook readers, and even harvest online https://noscript.net
If your 9-to-5 involves something in the news and automatically convert it to ebook
IT field, maybe you should give Deskman a format. The most recent version of Calibre
shot. Deskman, which is deployed globally in adds driver support for the SONY DPT-S1. Nanosystems Supremo 3.0.0.363
schools, businesses, and other organizations, When youre editing a book, Calibre will Certainly not the first screen-sharing
lets an admin take control over how client now offer suggestions to correct misspelled and remote desktop control program,
systems Windows OS appears, as well as words, and that can include suggestions from Supremo aims to succeed by being easy
what clients are able to do. Win10 support user-generated lists. The update also improves to use. The latest version introduces an
is the headliner among the list of changes news gathering from MSNBC.com and the overhauled UI, and developer Nanosystems
introduced in version 16.0. Deskmans Houston Chronicle. claims that version 3.0 offers both increased
application-blocking feature now works calibre-ebook.com performance and more stability. Command
on folders, too. Youll also be able to place line support is also included in this new
restrictions on browser settings, disable release, along with a lot of small bug fixes.
Windows Explorer bars and menus, and Convertilla 0.5 www.supremocontrol.com
disable systems built-in cameras. This handy little app is able to take video
https://anbia.in and music files and crunch them down into
versions that are friendly to your smartphone, DRIVER BAY
tablet, gaming console, etc. Version 0.5 is the
Bitsum Process Lasso 8.6.1.6 first update to Convertilla in a year and half, AMD Catalyst Display Driver
Bitsums Process Lasso is indispensable for so it adds quite a few improvements. WEBM, 15.20.1062.1002
whipping the litany of processes that run in OPUS, AAC, FLAC, APE, and WAV are now This is the driver you want to get when
the background into shape. The lightweight supported. Other additions include a progress you make the move to Win10. In addition
application is constantly tweaking process indicator while Convertilla grinds away on to support for Microsofts new OS, the
prioritization behind the scenes, with the goal your selected file, a Keep Aspect Ratio latest driver for AMDs Radeon cards also
of keeping your system at the top of its game. option, and more output profiles. Several bugs includes a few extra technologies, such as
The latest update is a minor maintenance have been stomped, as well. Virtual Super Resolution, Frame Rate Target
release, according to developer Bitsum, convertilla.com Control, and AMD FreeSync.
introducing a pair of GUI changes and www.amd.com
updating several foreign language versions
of the program. Process Lasso 8.6, released InformAction NoScript 2.6.9.32
in mid-July, improves the programs startup If you ask the Firefox faithful why they NVIDIA GeForce Windows 10 Driver
time, plugs a small memory leak, refines the stick with Mozillas web browser, wed 353.62
error cleanup process, and more. bet that a number of them would cite Rest assured that NVIDIA isnt going
https://bitsum.com this add-on as the reason. NoScript is to miss the Win10 party. Released in late
that good. When youre using Firefox, July to coincide with the Win10 launch,
NoScript checks JavaScript, Java, Flash, this driver provides support for the OS to
Calibre 2.33 and others at the door, keeping you safe the following GeForce lineups: 900 Series,
For ebook aficionados, Calibre is a even if vulnerabilities crop up in these 700 Series, 600 Series, 500 Series, and
household name. The open-source software plugins. This update whitelists certain 500 Series.
does much more than manage your ebook domains required for Netflix playback, www.nvidia.com

72 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

AT Y O U R L E I S U R E
Yeah, we know you have blogs to post, video to encode, reports to write, and code to compile. We do,
too, but you have to take a break once in a while (and maybe blow some stuff up). Thats why each month
Game Of The Month we give you the lowdown on what to expect from the latest interesting PC and console games.

Be The Best Batman You Can

Be (Just Not On PC)
BY CHRIS TRUMBLE

$59.99 (XOne, PS4; not currently available for PC) ESRB: (M)ature
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment www.batmanarkhamknight.com

Like many Batman fans, we waited more than 20 years for someone to get a Combat in the game strikes a comfortable balance between making your
Batman videogame right. Then in 2009, Rocksteady Studios and Warner Bros. character feel immensely powerful and presenting a challenge. There are lots
Interactive Entertainment dropped the amazing Batman: Arkham Asylum on of moves to learn, and although in many little street-side donnybrooks you can
an unsuspecting world. Now, a sequel and a prequel later (the latter of which just button-mash your way to victory, there are plenty more situations where
was not a Rocksteady game wasnt quite up to their standard), Rocksteady you need to use the right moves in order to survive. The game gives you lots of
and Warner Bros. have launched Batman: Arkham Knight, and its not opportunities to hone your skills as you acquire them (you level up in a similar
hyperbole to say that its the best Batman game ever made. way to past installments of the series, gaining abilities and gadgets as you go),
and youll thoroughly enjoy the results if you take the time.
Theres only one problemthe PC version was so broken at launch that Warner
Bros. stopped selling it, and in nearly a month since the launch still hasnt As in the previous Arkham games, the voice work is great. Kevin Conroy is
managed to fix the game. Its hard to say when the PC port will be viable, but if so good as Batman that they should have dubbed his voice over Christian
youre holding out until then, we hope on your behalf that it turns out as good as Bales in the Nolan trilogy. One new addition to the cast this time around is
the console versions. (We couldnt wait, so we played it on Xbox One.) Jonathan Banks (Mike from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul) as Police
Commissioner Gordon. Nobody does cranky like Banks, and the Commish
Arkham Knight is Rocksteadys winning formula perfected: It combines has plenty to be cranky about.
excellent combat and engrossing snippets of detective work in just the right
amounts, and sets it all against the backdrop of the series biggest game At the end of the day, though, what makes this game truly entertaining
world yet. Also, you get to drive the Batmobile, and it was worth the wait. is that, simply put, it lets you be Batman. You must stand (mostly) alone
against a city full of violent criminals, but through the use of your mind
The games story seems at first to be pretty standard fare, with Batman and the vast array of amazing gadgets available to you, you can level the
facing off against a number of old, familiar foes and one (sort of) new one playing field. Driving the Batmobile through the city is a ridiculous amount
in a battle for control of Gotham City. But before long, you begin to get of fun, and traveling rooftop to rooftop and gliding through the night sky are
glimpses into a second story thread that develops into one of the most perhaps even better. Best of all, you dont have to be a tortured billionaire
interesting Batman tales yet. vigilante to don the cowl.

CPU / August 2015 75

 AT Y O U R L E I S U R E

Were Going To Need A Bigger Hut

BY ANDREW LEIBMAN

$29.99 (Steam Early Access; PC/Linux/OS X/XOne/PS4 in June 2016

ESRB: (R)ating Pending Studio Wildcard www.playark.com

ARK: Survival Evolved is a survival game with a prehistoric twist. (including your own). You can grow berries for food and taming, as well
Like DayZ, Rust, 7 Days To Die, and Minecraft, your initial few as fruits and vegetables, opening up more complex recipes such as
hours in ARK will be spent foraging for food and supplies, building soups, medicine, and buffs.
a makeshift shelter, and crafting various tools, weapons, and
articles of clothing. Other players in this persistent online world can If all this werent enough, ARK also pits you against a rather
represent a threat, leave you to your own devices, or welcome you unforgiving environment, filled with lush sprawling jungles, sun-
into their tribe to help you level up more quickly. But the heart and scorched beaches, hidden inland caves, and shimmering lakes and
soul of this game are the dinosaurs. rivers populated with man-eating creatures. There are also hints of
underwater caves and dead volcanoes to explore. Your character,
Early on, your goal is to avoid the aggressive carnivores like playable in either first or third-person, can suffer from excessive
the Carnotaurus and the shrill Dilophosaurus at all costs -they heat, cold, hunger, thirst, exhaustion, and a handful of other ill
will hunt you down and viciously attack without warning. effects. As you earn levels, youll unlock engram points that can be
Skittish, docile, and patient dinosaurs, such as the gentle giant spent on recipes for tools, clothes, weapons, armor, saddles, and
Brontosaurus and the winged Pteranodon will generally leave building materials.
you alone as long as you dont provoke them. As youre able to
craft more deadly weapons and stronger armor, youll shift from When you die, and early on we died often, you can respawn in a
hunted to hunter. The crafting system is fairly deep, but like many random location in the region you were in or simply start a new
of these types of games, not everything is intuitive. Youll get the character. By choosing to respawn in a random location, we could
best results with a wiki handy. make our way back to our original camp and loot our body to recover
dropped items. More often than not, however, we never found our body.
One of the most popular high-level activities in ARK is the Thankfully, you retain your unlocked engrams, which makes rebuilding
domestication of many of the dinos you encounter. Although the your basic tools of survival a fairly short if tedious process.
process is rather involved and varies between species, once
accomplished, you can mount them, and use them as transportation ARK: Survival Evolved is a Steam Early Access game, with a final
or as allies in battle against even more powerful creatures and whole release set for June 2016. Despite the long lead time, the game is
tribes. You can also use your tamed beasts to defend your base, act as surprisingly fleshed out. Were more fans of single-player experiences,
watch dogs, or simply as pets that accompany you on your travels. and ARK has an accommodating mode that lets you uncover the
mysteries of ARK at your own pace. Theres lots to love for PvP fans
Farming is another way to eliminate the constant search for food from as well, including forming tribes and defeating raid-like bosses. ARK is
your daily routine, just remember to gather as much feces as possible definitely worth keeping an eye on in the coming months.

76 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

AT Y O U R L E I S U R E

A New Breed Of
Turn-Based Strategy
BY VINCE COGLEY

$19.99 (PC, XOne) ESRB: (T)een Double Fine Productions

www.massivechalice.com

Your first Kickstarter campaign raises more money than any other crowd- magic), your heroes are decidedly mortal. Its by design that their children
funded videogame. Thats the story of Double Fine Productions Adventure, pick up their swords and continue the fight. Because your heroes pass on
which raised $3.3 million on its way to becoming the most successful their traits, both positive and negative, its vital that their offspring dont wind
Kickstarter videogame campaign at the time. (Between then and now, other up at the shallow end of the gene pool. Winning at Massive Chalice requires
crowdfunded games have gone on to raise more capital.) Double Fines you to be both a savvy field commander and a shrewd matchmaker.
second Kickstarter campaign, Massive Chalice, raised only $1.2 million, but
that still adds up to a whole lot of people excited to see the developers take Marrying Hero A to Heroine B also creates additional classes. Massive Chalice
on turn-based strategy. starts with just three classesCaberjack (melee), Hunter (ranged), and
Alchemist (AoE)pairing different heroes produces new hybrid classes. Putting
Briefly, Massive Chalice begins by introducing you, Immortal Ruler of the a Caberjack together with a Hunter can produce a Shadowjack, for example.
Nation, who must hold a kingdom together over the course of a 300-year
war with the Cadence, the games opposing force. The Cadence keeps Aside from inherited traits, heroes also develop personalities. These too can
encroaching on your turf, but if you can keep them at bay long enough, the be advantageous, such as Stalwart, or debilitating, such as Nihilistic. You can
eponymous Chaliceand it is massive indeedbecomes powerful enough influence a heros personality, but only to an extent. The RNG can be a cruel
to come to your aid. mistress, handing you a Nervous and Nearsighted, yet Bountiful (read: fertile)
hunter. At higher difficulty settings, drawing a bad hand from the lineal deck
Boiled down to its core, Massive Chalice is both a dynastic strategy game can be the games most difficult challenge to overcome.
and a turn-based tactical game. The latter might tempt you to call Massive
Chalice XCOM with bows, and its not an entirely unfair assessment. In The sense of realism is almost palpable. It helps your heroes to feel more like
combat, youll guide your party of heroes against the Cadences beasties, real people and less like an army of medieval redshirts. At the same time,
wrecking fools and gaining XP in the process. Theres also a roguelike when Massive Chalice hits one your families with a genetic whammy, it feels
element to combat, since heroes who die are dead-dead, but Massive less like an escape from reality and more like a taunting reminder that your
Chalices tactical side should be familar to anyone whos experienced with kids cowlick is your fault.
the games ancestors.
Still, we really enjoyed Massive Chalices tactical combat, and the combination
As youll soon find out, Massive Chalices obession with ancestry goes way of just enough depth and higher difficulty settings helps the game stay fresh
beyond being an homage to its forerunners. The core component of the game even after several playthroughs. However much Massive Chalice succeeds at
is its Bloodlines mechanic, which lets you breed, literally, the next generation these elements, though, your enjoyment will come down to whether you think
of heroes. Although you, the ruler, live out the entire 300 years (because the Bloodlines feature is pure eugenic bliss or a crooked pinky finger too far.

CPU / August 2015 77

 AT Y O U R L E I S U R E

Its Good To Be Blazkowicz

BY CHRIS TRUMBLE

$19.99 (PC, XOne, PS4) ESRB: (M)ature Bethesda Softworks

www.wolfenstein.com

The 2014 game Wolfenstein: The New Order certainly wasnt in an attempt to stem the tide of technology the man is developing
the first videogame to send players back into the world of for the Reich. In order to get this intel, B.J. must take it from
B.J. Blazkowicz and his never-ending struggle to rid the world the commandant of Wolfenstein, a Nazi archaeologist named
of Nazi oppression, but it was easily the best. In the game, Helga Von Schabbs. For her part, Von Schabbs is currently and
Blazkowicz falls into a coma after being injured in combat and obsessively trying to dig up artifacts of the occult that may have
wakes many years later in the 1960s to find that Hitlers Nazi been left behind by King Otto I, who we learn in the game was the
empire won World War II. The alternate-universe setting allowed builder of Castle Wolfenstein.
the developers to pit players against (and, at times, give them
access to) all manner of fantastic mechanized terrors that in total Because you are B.J. Blazkowicz, you are captured almost
represent one idea of what the world might have looked like. immediately and forced to free yourself and scrounge for weapons
in an effort to salvage your mission. Along the way, youll have
The game looked great, had tight controls and a number of access to numerous weapons and asked to undertake all manner
inventive set piece levels, and even subjected Blazkowicz to of chores, and (naturally) youll leave a trail of Nazi dead in
a moral quandary or two, which the developers cleverly used your wake.
to surprise us: Blazkowicz wasnt just a muscle-headed killing
machine after all. He was a guy with a job to do, for sure, but one The Old Bloods gameplay elements and control scheme are
who also had dreams of a better life and even a compassionate largely unchanged with the exception of a few minor techniques
side. In any event, the game was a blast, so when we found out here and there, although the precise nature of the games combat
that MachineGames and publisher Bethesda Softworks were (or, at least, the nature of B.J.s foes) shifts fairly dramatically. The
working up a standalone expansion of the game, we reported Old Blood tips its hand early if you are industrious enough to read
for duty. many of the notes you find lying around in the game; something
dark and hungry does in fact rest beneath the earth in the region,
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a prequel to The New Order, which and B.J. finds himself fighting this evil scourge before The Old
means that the tech you see Nazi soldiers toting around is a bit Blood is over. Also, there are zombies.
scaled back comparatively, but MachineGames still managed
to populate Castle Wolfenstein with some pretty impressive The game is fairly short, but the good news is that it is also quite
mechanical monstrosities. a bit of fun and costs just under 20 bucks. Although it doesnt
break much new ground, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood provides
The story picks up with B.J. heading toward the castle to seek out several hours of fun, cathartic action and more of the wit and
the clandestine location of the evil General Deathshead Strasse wisdom of one B.J. Blazkowicz.

78 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

 Look For CPU At These LAN Parties

07.04-05.15 07.17.15
LANified! 21: WUCC KNFE LAN 9
Summoners Stand Whitewater, WI
Calgary, AB www.knfegaming.us
www.lanified.com 07.23-26.15
07.09-12.15 QuakeCon 2015*
MillionManLan 14 Dallas, TX
Louisville, KY www.quakecon.org
www.lanwar.com 07.25-26.15
07.10-12.15 Naois Gaming
LANFest MLP015 Summer* York, PA
Hamburg, NY www.naoisgaming.com
lanfest.intel.com 07.25-26.15
07.14-19.15 LAN-A-THON Under The Sun
Mage Makers Gamecon 2015 San Diego, CA
Austin, TX www.sandiegolan.net
www.magemakers.com 07.25.15
07.16-19.15 The Promised LAN
LAN in the Highlands Prattville, AL
Seven Springs, PA www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com
www.clubconflict.com/events/LAN2015 08.08-09.15
07.17-20.15 LANFest Presents:
PDXLAN 26* Lacledes LAN 15*
Portland, OR St. Louis, MO
pdxlan.net lanfest.intel.com
07.17-19.15 08.28-31.15
Ancient City Con 9 PAX Prime*
Jacksonville, FL Seattle, WA
www.ancientcitycon.com www.paxsite.com

82 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

Across The Nation& Beyond! * Event scheduled to include a CPU case mod contest

08.28-30.15 10.17-18.15
MidWestLAN15 FortLAN 7
Pewaukee, WI Fort Wayne, IN
www.midwestlan.com www.fortlan.org
08.28-30.15 10.24.15
LANFest Colorado* The Promised LAN
Loveland, CO Prattville, AL
lanfest.intel.com www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com
08.29.15 10.30-11.01.15
The Promised LAN ASUS Presents Baselan 29
Prattville, AL Winnipeg, MB
www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com www.aybonline.com
09.04-06.15 10.31-11.01.15
Wardogz LAN Party Naois Gaming
Orange Park, FL York, PA
www.wardogz.org www.naoisgaming.com
09.18-20.15 11.06-08-15
Wu-Tang LAN PDXLAN Charity Event
Millersburg, PA Portland, OR
www.lanreg.org/wtl/1 pdxlan.net
09.26.15 11.28.15
The Promised LAN The Promised LAN
Prattville, AL Prattville, AL
www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com
10.03-04.15 12.19.15
NeXus LAN 16 The Promised LAN
Miamisburg, OH Prattville, AL
www.nexuslan.org www.thepromisedlan.weebly.com

Would you like us to help promote your next LAN?

Give us a call at 1.800.733.3809
Well be glad to consider your event

CPU / August 2015 83

Save10% with code:
CPUAUG2015
 Q&A With Richard Surroz & Lee Harrington
Modding Veterans Discuss Cooler
Masters New MasterCase 5
What do Richard Surroz and Lee Harrington have in common? For starters, they are both accomplished case modders
and PC builders. They are makers, and they embody the spirit of tinkering that is growing in popularity by leaps
and bounds. Additionally, they have both spent time with Cooler Masters new MasterCase 5. MasterCase 5 is a new
modular case system that grew out of Cooler Masters MasterConcept project, in which industry experts and modders
from all corners of the globe came together in Taiwan to bring something brand-new to the PC case market.
We recently got a chance to discuss the case with them and find out what they think.

MasterCase 5

or fortress. The sleek and clean look is offerings. The case is refined, spacious, and
Q : Hi guys, and thanks for taking
time out of your busy schedules to
talk with us. Youve each had a chance
the perfect canvas for anyone to Make
It Yours!
offers a great value for the price.

to spend some hands-on time with the

MasterCase 5, correct? Can you share
some of your initial impressions of RS : Cooler Master really included
some of the free-form modu-
Q : What did you think the first time
someone described MasterCase 5 to
you, and did the case live up to its billing
the case? larity concepts into their first case released and/or did it surprise you in any way?
from the MasterConcept project. I think the
: When I first saw the MasterCase flexibility this will provide to builders from : I was part of a team of modders
LH 5, it reminded me of a battlestation novice to advanced will revolutionize their RS Cooler Master brought to Taiwan

86 August 2015 / www.computerpoweruser.com

to participate in the work- is that some of the work is
shops to help design the already done for us modders,
new cases. The prototypes like having more screws
we worked on had extremely to take case components
rough features, which were o u t i n s t e a d o f r i ve t s .
improved and refined in Also, having the option
the final product. I was to install watercooling
pleasantly surprised to without much hassle
see that Cooler Master or cutting.
listened to our feed-
back, and it shows in the : The modularity
retail product. RS and flexibility means
we can focus on modding
: My first thoughts other parts of the case for
LH were skeptical because
I didnt want to get too excited.
aesthetics vs. function. It
also means we can get more
MasterCase 5 far exceeded miles out of the new cases
what was described to me. as their external aesthetic
features are also modular.

Q : What about MasterCase

5 do you think is its
best feature for DIY system Q : What else can you tell
us about the MasterCase
builders, and why? 5 in particular, or Cooler
Masters MasterConcept
: The best feature
RS is not one specific
feature, its the hyper-
MasterCase Pro 5
in general?

: The MasterCon-
modularitynot only in this
case, but in others you will see
RS cept program really
is unique. Cooler Master is
in the near future. It will be a exploding out of the box.
new paradigm in case design. Involving a global group
of case modders not only
: Agreed, the best brings in fresh ideas, but it
LH feature of the MC5 is
its modularity. Being able to
also allows them to verify
and validate their strategy,
change it the way you want is tactics, and product designs
awesome. For a user to be able before the designs hit the
to start where they want and critical eye of the public
add the options they want, especially enthusiasts,
when they want, is perfect. who can be very hard on
companies (especially on
social media).
Q : Youre both experienced
case modders; what does
: Ma s t e r C o n c e p t
the MasterCase 5 mean for
case modding? Does it make
getting the results you want
LH is a great idea; it
shows that Cooler Master
easier, and if so, how? is trying to reconnect with
the users and is listening
: Every artist has to them, as well. The
LH their own style. This
case is the perfect blank
MasterCase 5, and being
able to make something
canvas for any modder to yours, is the perfect thing
work from. The best part for the DIY era.

CPU / August 2015 87