AMD RYZEN 5 2400G RETURN OF A LEGEND SECURE YOUR CRYPTO

Budget gaming gets a Cooler Master’s new Use an Electrum wallet

new lease of life PG. 78 Cosmos unboxed PG. 44 to protect your cash PG. 64

builder’s
minimum bs • april 2018 • www.maximumpc.com

bible
30 expert PC-building NO.1
for PC
tips to save you time, hARDwARE

money, and hassle!

table of contents where we put stuff
subscribe
today!
see PG. 42

april 2018 QuIckstart

12 the neWs
New chips, new problems; Mixer;
Venezuelan cryptocurrency; more.

18 the LIst
26
Eight essential VR experiences.

buILder’s
bIbLe Full–tower
Coffee Lake
meets too
much money.

r&d
54 autopsy
This month, we take a look at the
core of the Apple TV 4K.

56 hoW to
Pump up music with Volumio; VCV
Rack; extreme antialiasing; Bitcoin
wallets; pop-out photo effects.

68 buILd It
A masterful build inside Cooler
26 36 46 Master’s Cosmos C700P.
buILder’s bIbLe WIndoWs server games for 2018
Top tips and tricks to make vs. netWork The coming year promises to
every build as easy as can
be. Dodge common pitfalls,
attached offer another bumper harvest
for PC gaming, so allow us to
Letters
fix boot conundrums, and storage sort the wheat from the chaff
enjoy every minute of your DIY Which is best: Windows or an as we gather together the 22 doctor
system-building experience. open-source solution? ones to watch.

94 comments
In the Lab
87 90
74 seagate outcast:
msI gt75vr IronWoLf 12tb second
7rf tItan pro contact

76
nvIdIa
tItan v

6 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

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THE BEST
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 a thing or two about a thing or two
editorial

Tuan
Nguyen
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief: Tuan Nguyen
Executive Editor: Alan Dexter
Deputy Editor: Zak Storey
Senior Editor: Jarred Walton
Technology Editor: Bo Moore
Contributing Editor: Chris Angelini
Contributing Writers: Alex Campbell, Alex Cox,
Nate Drake, Ian Evenden, Phil Iwaniuk, Jeremy Laird,
Chris Lloyd, Neil Mohr, Nick Peers
Copy Editor: Katharine Davies
Editor Emeritus: Andrew Sanchez

ART

The
Art Editor: Fraser McDermott
Image Manipulation: Gary Stuckey
Photography: Future Photo Studio

BUSINESS

Builder’s
Vice President, Sales: Stacy Gaines, [email protected]
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships: Isaac Ugay,
[email protected]
East Coast Account Director: Brandie Rushing,

Curse
[email protected]
East Coast Account Director: Michael Plump,
[email protected]
West Coast Account Director: Austin Park,
[email protected]
West Coast Account Director: Brandon Wong,
[email protected]
West Coast Account Director: Tad Perez, [email protected] I thInk I’m cursed. For the life of me, I you can buy a magnetic extendable wand
Director of Marketing: Robbie Montinola
Director, Client Services: Tracy Lam can never seem to build a PC that works for cheap. You’ll thank me later.
Director, Retail Sales: Bill Shewey
the first time around. You might be I tend to build my PCs on the floor,
PRODUCTION thinking, “How’s that even possible?” But because it gives me more room to work,
Head of Production UK & US: Mark Constance
Production Controller: Vivienne Calvert the truth is, it’s happened every time I’ve but if you build your PC on a table, there
Project Manager: Clare Scott
Production Assistant: Emily Wood
built a machine, whether it’s for myself will come a time when a screw will just
or someone else. Things always go run away from you. To prevent this, get
FUTURE US, INC.
1390 Market St, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA wrong. Even when I’m upgrading, things yourself a magnetic screw mat or bowl. I
Tel: 650-872-1642, www.futureus.com
go wrong. Once I bought a blazingly fast prefer a mat to a bowl because I can lay
Global Chief Revenue Officer: Charlie Speight 52x CD-ROM drive to upgrade my aging out the screws in the same fashion as
Vice President, Marketing & Operations: Rhoda Bueno
Finance Director: Ryan Lamvik unit. It didn’t work. I had to exchange it they are on the device I’m taking apart.
HR Generalist: Carla Marcos
for another. It’s so bad that my uncle Letting a screw fall down into your case
SUBSCRIBER CUSTOMER SERVICE once asked me to help him build a PC, but somewhere is frustrating enough; losing
Maximum PC Customer Care,
Future Publishing, PO Box 2024, Langhorne, PA 19047 instructed me not to touch anything, only it completely is even more aggravating.
Website: http://myfavoritemagazines.com sit there and tell him where to put things. One last pro tip: Read the manual! I
Tel: 844-779-2822
Email: [email protected] Like I said: cursed. can’t stress this enough. Admittedly, I’m
BACK ISSUES
To make sure you won’t have the same one of those people who tend to skip the
Website: http://myfavoritemagazines.com horrific building experiences that I’ve manual and jump right into the action.
Tel: +44 344 848 2852
had, we’re going to walk you through all This is a mistake. My most recent lesson?
REPRINTS
Future US, Inc., 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, the tips and tricks to not only build an Installing an Intel Optane M.2 drive into
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Website: www.futureus.com
amazing rig, but to do so while avoiding one of my mobo’s M.2 slots. I noticed
Tel: 650-872-1642, Fax 650-872-2207 the common mistakes and problems. that when I had the Optane installed, one
Next Issue On Sale May 1, 2018 There are lots of little details that get of my SATA hard drives would fail to be
overlooked, especially as you become detected by the BIOS. Of course, I had
more confident about the whole building already set up everything and closed my
experience. For instance, BIOS updates. case before realizing—by reading the
Motherboards—even a brand new manual afterward—that installing a drive
one you’ve just received—tend to ship into that particular M.2 slot disables one
©2018 Future US, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this with old BIOS revisions. The first thing set of SATA ports, due to PCIe lanes.
magazine may be used or reproduced without the written
permission of Future US, Inc. (owner). All information provided is,
you should do once your PC is booted No matter how experienced one gets,
as far as Future (owner) is aware, based on information correct at is update your motherboard’s BIOS. I one will always make mistakes, but we’re
the time of press. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers
and retailers directly with regard to products/services referred always prepare a little USB stick with the here to help.
to in this magazine. We welcome reader submissions, but
cannot promise that they will be published or returned to you.
most recent revision.
By submitting materials to us, you agree to give Future the Another invaluable tool to have is
royalty-free, perpetual, non-exclusive right to publish and reuse
your submission in any form, in any and all media, and to use your the magnetic screwdriver. I can’t count
name and other information in connection with the submission.
how many times I’ve dropped a case
screw down into the bowels of my nearly
finished PC. But you know what’s the Tuan Nguyen is Maximum PC’s editor-in-
worst part of all? When the damn screw chief, also known as “the pointy end of the
falls down between two PCIe cards. If stick.” He’s been writing, marketing, and
you don’t have a magnetic screwdriver, raising hell in the tech industry for 20 years.

Future plc is a public Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne

Non-executive chairman Peter Allen
↘ submit your questions to: [email protected]
company quoted on the
London Stock Exchange Chief financial officer Penny ladkin-Brand
(symbol: FUTR)
www.futureplc.com Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

maximumpc.com Apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 11

quickstart the beginning of the magazine, where the articles are small

New Chips,
New Problems
Low-power Raven Ridge, more Coffee Lake, lots of lawsuits
EvEn without a major launch, problem with compatibility. Few
it’s never quiet with Intel and AM4 motherboards currently
AMD, both of which are busy support them without a BIOS
consolidating their ranges and update, which can be a problem
trying to shake off the fallout if you don’t have another chip to
from Spectre and Meltdown, boot it in the first place. AMD
which won’t be easy or cheap. can lend you a boot kit to get you
Having launched a full range going, though—essentially an
of new architectures last year, A6-9500 APU and cooler to get
AMD is fleshing out the range your rig running for the update,
and filling in the gaps. Imminent then you send the chip back.
are two low-power versions of It’s available via AMD’s online AMD’s Raven Ridge, now
its rather tasty Raven Ridge warranty claims page. available in 35W spins.
APUs: the Ryzen 3 2200GE Meanwhile, over at Intel,
and Ryzen 5 2400GE. Power we have had yet another one
consumption drops from 65W of those “leaks,” where a quad-core runs at 3.5GHz and Meltdown bugs. Now the legal
TDP to a svelte 35W. They share partner accidentally (or not so comes in at $135. profession has waded in (who
the same basic specifications accidentally in some cases) These new Intel family didn’t see that coming?). Class
as their big brothers; the cost lets slip what’s just around members fill some performance action lawsuits have been filed.
for the parsimonious power the corner. Once again, online gaps and are aimed at more AMD currently has four, and
use is clock cycles. The 2200GE retailers have started listing budget-oriented systems, using Intel has managed to attract 35
drops the base clock to 3.2GHz chips that aren’t officially the new H370 and B360 boards, cases, although by the time you
from the 2200G’s 3.5GHz, while launched yet. In this case, which are also coming soon. read this, it’ll probably be more.
the 2400GE loses 400MHz over we are due three new Coffee The Core i5-8500 looks like They are being brought by
its big brother. It’s not clear Lake chips, the first since the good value, as it’s faster than customers and investors alike,
yet what the boost clock rates initial launch. We get the Core the similarly priced i5-8400. and cite misrepresentation,
are, but expect a drop there, i5-8600, i5-8500, and i3-8300, We’ve been waiting for Intel to non-disclosure, and selling
too. We take a closer look at the all with locked multipliers. The announce something graphics- faulty goods. They will defend
Ryzen 5 2400G on page 78. six-core i5-8600 hums along at related since it hired ex-Radeon themselves, as big companies
Raven Ridge has attracted 3.6GHz with a 4.6GHz boost, all chief architect Raja Koduri. do, but it looks as though there
praise—at last we have on- for $208. The i5-8500 looks to It has, and it’s an unexciting will be large bills at the end of it,
board graphics with some be a slightly slower version of research prototype for proof of either way.
punch. However, there is a small the same at $189. The i3-8300 concept of voltage control and It’s not clear whether we’ve
power management. Still, it’s seen the last of the Spectre
only been three months since and Meltdown patches, either;
Raja joined; the phrase “Intel Intel has just released a new
Graphics” hasn’t caused a stir version, presumably one that
Online retailers have started for years, and it has nothing
to meet Raven Ridge head-on.
won’t cause some systems to
go bananas. It isn’t alone—
listing Intel chips that aren’t Something is brewing, though. Microsoft’s initial patch was

officially launched yet.

Both AMD and Intel are still pretty shaky, too. And that’s a
knee-deep in the Spectre and quiet month…. –CL

12 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

quickstart

Direct purchase
comes to mixer
Watch it, like it, buy it
miCrOsOFT is adding the ability to purchase its games directly
though Mixer. Streamers can elect to promote downloadable
content from the Microsoft Store on their feeds; a link next to the
channel name will activate a pop-up window to the promoted DLC. When you buy anything,
it is added to your Xbox or Windows library—no need to stop watching or redeem codes. In
return, the channel owner gets a 5 percent slice of any sale. Initially, the option will only be

Industry
available to Mixer Partners, but is expected to be available to all in due course.
Twitch added a similar system last year. The ability for streamers to make money is

wAnts to kIll
important to attract and keep the top players, as YouTube Gaming, Twitch, and Mixer fight
for market share. Each competes to hand out the best candies to popular gamers through

old onlIne
free gaming stuff, virtual tips, and real money. See, Mom? Playing games is a job. –Cl

gAmes Venezuela launches

Move to preserve cryptocurrency
classics faces opposition Government-backed
in deCember, the Copyright Office started
and based on oil
considering whether to allow museums— despiTe having the world’s largest oil reserves,
specifically the Museum of Art and Digital Venezuela is in a financial mess. To help earn hard
Entertainment—to run old online games, currency, the government has launched its own
such as EverQuest and City of Heroes, to cryptocurrency, the Petro, backed by those oil and mineral
preserve them. Researchers are already reserves. What’s more, the government has decreed that government
allowed to circumnavigate security on old industries use it, and that citizens can use it to pay taxes and buy other services.
games, but the museum wants to go one It’s a slightly odd development, because a keystone of cryptocurrencies is
further, and run fully playable servers that they are independent of state control, and have no collateral. No longer,
that visitors can use. Sounds reasonable it seems. The initial offering went well, if President Nicolas Maduro is to be
enough—games are part of our history, and believed. He claims it raised $735 million, although it’s not clear who the largest
once the commercial servers are shut down, investors were. He also plans to launch a second currency, Petro Gold, backed
they shouldn’t be allowed to die completely. by the state’s gold reserves. Iran is also said to be considering a similar state-
The Entertainment Software Association backed cryptocurrency. One benefit of a cryptocurrency is that it can evade
has moved to block the proposal, however, sanctions, something currently hurting both countries. –Cl
issuing a 40-page list of arguments against
it. It cites the fact that since the museum

Tech Triumphs and Tragedies

charges for entry, it is making commercial
use of the games, a clear copyright breach.
It also does not relish the prospect of A monthly snapshot of what’s good and bad in tech
having source code delved into, a job that
the museum would outsource to “affiliate
archivists.” It has raised concerns that the
DRM-free versions would escape into the
wild, and tap into the retro game market that
Triumphs Tragedies
it is trying to mine at the moment. It doesn’t Teeny C64 reTurns FOrm Over FunCTiOn
want to compete with its own back catalog. The trend for retro gaming Apple’s new HQ apparently has
The game makers are in something of continues with the half-size and employees walking into the glass
fully-functional Commodore C64 dividing walls, distracted by their
a quandary here. They want people to get
Mini, with 64 games for $70. smartphones. Yes, that’s irony.
attached to games, to invest time and effort
building characters, and identify with the
One TiCk a year COinbase Flaw
world they have created. Then it would also
The installation of Jeff Bezos’s A bug caused payments for small
really like it if you abandon all you’ve worked $42 million, 500ft tall mechanical transactions to be processed
for, and start afresh with its latest offering. clock has started, designed to run multiple times.
In the end, games deserve to be preserved, autonomously for 10,000 years.
and to block them would mean losing a big Tesla ClOud haCked
slice of gaming history. Back in 2003, a ruling Charging by laser Tesla has been a victim of
allowed non-online games to be preserved, Engineers have demonstrated cryptojacking—stealing resources
enabling children to gaze in wonder at the a system that can charge a cell for cryptocurrency mining. No data
blocky world of the original Doom. A ruling phone via a laser across a room. was stolen, just clock cycles.
is expected by October. –Cl

14 MAXIMUMPC Apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 Jarred Walton

Tech Talk
The Pros and Cons of
Integrated Graphics
A yeAr After the lAunch of AMD’s Zen architecture
as a CPU-only solution, AMD returns to the APU
market with its first Ryzen APUs. Packing more
graphics cores than ever, they promise to eliminate
the need for dedicated graphics. And they can do
that. Sort of. If your graphical needs aren’t too high.
The big problem with most integrated graphics hard to beat. But 1080p gaming
solutions is that the CPU and GPU portions of the will struggle at times—you’ll often
processor must share limited system memory end up at minimum quality, and
bandwidth. Even with a dual-channel 64-bit DDR4- sometimes be forced to run at lower
3200 interface, that’s only 64GB/s. If that sounds like resolutions. Mostly thanks to that Ryzen APUs devote a large chunk
it should be more than sufficient, consider that even memory bandwidth bottleneck. of the die to graphics.
Nvidia’s budget GTX 1050 delivers almost twice that Ironically, Intel is pursuing the
much, thanks to a 128-bit GDDR5 interface—and all higher performance integrated about 30W when watching 1080p
112GB/s on a GTX 1050 gets devoted to GPU duties. In graphics solution, with its upcoming video streams. Combine this sort of
the computing playground, GPUs are the big, greedy Eighth-Gen Kaby Lake-G parts. system with a good home NAS that
bullies that don’t like to share with other children. They’ll use AMD’s Radeon Vega holds all your media, and you’re set.
That doesn’t make AMD’s Ryzen APUs bad—on graphics, the major difference Long-term, it will be interesting
the contrary, I like what they bring to the table. But being the inclusion of twice as many to see where AMD and Intel go with
as a gaming solution, they’re scraping the bottom of GPU cores and a dedicated stack of integrated graphics. Intel’s Iris
the barrel. In benchmarks, the faster Ryzen 5 2400G HBM2. They will truly eliminate the Pro Graphics tried to boost GPU
with Vega 11 graphics sometimes wins, sometimes need for a dedicated graphics card performance, but drivers and cost
loses against the ultra-budget GT 1030 and RX 550. for moderate gaming needs, but were never strong points. Intel’s
Those are $80 parts, so you’re paying $170 for a CPU the Kaby Lake-G processors will drivers have improved, however,
and integrated GPU that end up slightly slower than be for laptops and NUCs, not larger and with additional work, we could
a CPU and dedicated graphics card. But that’s only if desktops. And that’s fine, because see Intel go back to its own GPU
you opt for high-performance DDR4-3200 memory; larger desktops will almost always solution for high-end integrated
go with bog-standard DDR4-2400 or DDR4-2133, benefit from the lower pricing that graphics. AMD, on the other hand,
and you lose 15-20 percent of the graphics potential, comes from not having to cram as just needs to reach a point where it’s
thanks to the bandwidth bottleneck. much performance as possible into economically feasible to stuff more
AMD’s 2200G loses some of the graphics and CPU the smallest space possible. GPU cores and some dedicated
cores, but gets the price even lower. At $100 for a If there’s one area where AMD’s memory (HBM2 or even HBM3) into
CPU and graphics solution that’s twice as fast as any APUs really shine, it’s HTPC a package. Eventually, that’s bound
of Intel’s current crop of integrated graphics, that’s use. Thanks to AMD’s graphics to be more cost effective than using
experience, both video decode and a CPU with a dedicated GPU—
encode acceleration are present though the performance conscious
and work well. I tested the chips in will always opt for a discrete
MSI’s B350I Pro AC motherboard, a graphics card.
As a gaming solution, AMD’s compact Mini-ITX form factor, and
it worked great for HTPC duties. Jarred Walton has been a
Ryzen APUs are scraping the Even better is that it idles at around PC and gaming enthusiast
bottom of the barrel. 20W of power, and only consumes for over 30 years.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 15

It’s
not
what
you
play

It’s
what
you
play
it
on.

GODLIKE MICRO -
POWER TOWER

www.FALCON-NW.com
1-888-FALCON-1
 Alex Campbell

OPEN SOURCE
Go Update Your Kernel...
Yesterday
The thing about vulnerabilities is that there’s always many Linux distributions, updating
is left up to the user, which means
a new one to mitigate. While Linux does not suffer that a system could go unpatched

the same virus and worm threats that Windows for a long time. As annoying as
Windows 10’s automatic updates
does, it’s by no means invulnerable. The great thing are, the one advantage is that
Windows systems stay up to date.
about running Linux, though, is that you can update If your distribution doesn’t have
an automatic update application, I
the vast majority of your software in-place. highly suggest running an update
manually on a weekly basis. (Some
By using package managers, users can quickly 17.10). Ubuntu 18.04 will ship with a rolling-release distributions don’t
update their systems with a few keystrokes. The version of kernel 4.5 in April. use automatic updates because
problem with this model is that unlike Windows, Kernel 4.15 doesn’t fix everything they can break a system.) Often, an
Meltdown and Spectre are both hardware that’s wrong with your system, update takes only a couple dozen
vulnerabilities. Until Intel and AMD correct though. At the time of writing, my keystrokes at most, and can be
the vulnerabilities in hardware, users will have to Arch laptop running kernel 4.15 is completed in minutes.
rely on software fixes. Unfortunately, the mitigation still vulnerable to Spectre Variant 1. After updating the OS and kernel,
strategies employed by the kernel developers result For now, there is no mitigation what is a worried Linux user to do?
in the slower execution of code. That means slower for that particular vulnerability. Unfortunately, there’s not much to
desktop applications for the end user. It really sucks, Spectre Variant 2 and Meltdown do. Like I said before, the Spectre
but it’s the cost of security. (Variant 3) are both mitigated, and Meltdown vulnerabilities exist
What this means to the end user is that code however. Of course, it may be worth mainly as hardware flaws. Since the
will run a bit slower on Linux until better fixes or your while to grab kernel 4.15 for its hardware is the root cause of this
architectures have been developed. But for now, features and other bugfixes. evil, updates to hardware will lift all
the big task at hand is to make sure you update The fun doesn’t end with kernels, OS boats. Until CPUs are engineered
your kernel. As of this writing, kernel 4.15 has either. User-space applications that to mitigate these exploits, all we can
been released, which includes patches to address are capable of running untrusted do is keep our systems updated and
Spectre and Meltdown vulnerabilities. code are possible vectors for attack. suck up the performance hits.
You may not have to upgrade to 4.15 to get the Some users may think, “Pshaw, I There is a script on GitHub
relevant security patches. Ubuntu, for example, don’t run code I don’t trust!” The that can let you know if you are
released backported patches for kernels 3.13 fact of the matter is that normal vulnerable, and which variant
(Ubuntu 14.04), 4.4 (Ubuntu 16.04), and 4.13 (Ubuntu people run untrusted code all the you’re vulnerable to: https://github.
time. JavaScript is executable code com/speed47/spectre-meltdown-
that can be run from any website, checker. To run the script, download
without explicitly trusting the site. it with git ( git clone https://github.
While more sketchy websites are com /speed47/spectre-meltdown-
more likely to serve malicious code, checker.git ), change into the
even trusted sites can serve up directory ( cd spectre-meltdown-
malicious code through ads. The checker ), and then run the script
mitigation measure is—you guessed ( ./spectre-meltdown-checker.sh ).
it—an update to your software.
The only problem I see with Alex Campbell is a Linux geek
Linux folks is that unlike Windows who enjoys learning about
This system running kernel 4.15 is still vulnerable. 10, Linux won’t hold your hand. For computer security.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 17

quickstart

8 VR expeRiences you haVe to tRy

8 4
GooGle eArth Go from gigantic towering god to After SolitAry Step into the cell of former
tiny street-level ant with this unique view of the world. inmate Kenny Moore to experience life behind bars.

7 3
Keep tAlKinG And noBody explodeS CoCo Vr Disney-Pixar’s Oculus-exclusive trip into the
You can see the bomb; friends have defusal instructions. afterlife is a cute, touching, fun experience like no other.

6 2
fAntASynth A seven-minute acid trip through the theBlu Hurt your GPU with a stunning trip to the
craziest music visualizer ever—live version coming soon. bottom of the ocean, where the scale of VR comes to life.

5 1
Gorn Comical violence, buckets of syrupy blood, and tilt BruSh Wave your arms to sculpt, paint, and
ridiculous weaponry in a dumb-fun gladiatorial “sim.” create things in 3D—the world is your virtual canvas.

18 MAXIMUMPC a p r 20 18 m a x i m u m p c .c o m
quickstart

BY alex cox

Mesh vs Wi-Fi vs Ethernet

A functioning network isn’t just a luxury—it’s one of life’s essentials. Heat, water, and
delicious broadband piped through the home. But there’s a lot to choose from, both in
terms of standards and individually within those brackets. We’re not here to pick out
specific hardware, but if you’re looking to renovate your network, you’ll need to make the
right choice. Will it be good old Wi-Fi? Perhaps its close cousin, mesh? Or do the reliable
wires of Ethernet make the most sense? Read on, and choose what works for you.

ROUND 1 ROUND 2 ROUND 3

Reliability Speed Convenience

Wi-Fi has come a long way since the Measuring speed in a Wi-Fi context is When you need to get connected, your
days of 802.11b. It used to be the purist’s difficult, as throughput and lag are often network had better be there for you.
favorite sneering target, both for its dependent on which specific devices Wherever you are, whatever you’re
sorely lacking speed and the fact that are at either end of the argument. Get using, you want to be able to get up
anyone operating a microwave within a MU-MIMO router and a wireless card and online as quickly as possible.
three miles would essentially render that supports multiple channels, keep While Ethernet has had a good run,
the 2.4GHz band unusable. Microwaves them free of obstructions, and there’s this hugely subjective case—because if
still throw out interference, but 5GHz no reason you can’t achieve throughput you’re not also running at least a little
means that’s not quite true anymore. way beyond the maximum capacity Wi-Fi alongside your wires, we’re a bit
That said, lower-end Wi-Fi does have of your broadband connection. Mesh confused as to why—is where it falls
its issues, particularly when there’s a might not be quite as easy, because down. A wireless network, configured
lot of competing signal around. Finding there needs to be a backhaul channel properly, is there. It’s waiting. Want
a free channel in a built-up area can managing communication between the to hook up a new device? Just sign in.
be tough, and fighting with metal and nodes. If, like Linksys’s Velop, there’s Want to get your friends on board?
concrete structures is still a problem. no dedicated wireless radio for this Let them into your guest network.
Electromagnetic fields, too, are a big purpose, you may find inter-device Portable devices, no problem. And those
issue for Wi-Fi signals: If you’ve ever communication slightly slower in busy moments when you’re not in range of
noticed a dip in signal quality over the periods. Unless, that is, you choose to a convenient Ethernet outlet or cable
holidays, you can probably blame those do your hauling via Ethernet, at which aren’t an issue at all.
flashing festive lights. point, the argument turns on a dime. Mesh, invariably, makes this even
Mesh, given its multiple points of Ethernet, even if your home is better—extending your Wi-Fi network
contact, does help to alleviate many of strung up with drilled-through last- used to be a massive hassle, with
the problems of Wi-Fi reliability. If one century Cat 5, should be able to support multiple SSIDs and, generally, confused
node is getting hammered, the second Gigabit networking. It’s faster than devices. However, with a mesh setup,
(if it’s in range) should be able to back even wireless. Maximum throughput everything’s on the same page by default.
it up—but if you’re relying on a wireless depends on the quality of cabling as well Ethernet does have some plus points in
backhaul, your problem could simply be as rating, and if you’re installing today, this area (there are no passwords to
made worse. Ethernet? Once it’s wired you’d be a fool not to string up some deal with, for example), but mesh, which
in, it’s working—as long as nobody 10G-compatible Cat 6, which improves often offsets its management facilities
plugs in anything stupid. If stability is Ethernet’s susceptibility to crosstalk, as to an ultra-convenient cell phone app,
your concern, stick to the wires. well as boosting its top speed. has it utterly licked.

Winner: Winner: Winner:

Ethernet Ethernet Mesh

20 MAXIMUMPC APR 2018 maximumpc.com

ROUND 4 ROUND 5

Expandability
Device limits in networking are, mostly,
Price
It’s not a technical issue, but price is
And the
pretty theoretical. Your router might say
different, but a single Wi-Fi network,
important when putting the networking
techs head to head, particularly because
Winner Is…
in theory, will top out at around 250 it’s mesh networking’s big downside.
connected devices, a limit that even For all the “just grab another node” You know us. Speed and reliability are
the busiest home is unlikely to reach. arguments, that’s rarely a cheap the core of our being. But new tech is
In practice, the more devices a Wi-Fi solution. In fact, it’s often as hard on equally important, so this isn’t a clear
network concurrently manages, the the wallet as picking up a whole new win for Ethernet. Wi-Fi’s drawbacks
slower the experience will be for wireless router, because in a sense, don’t completely disqualify it either—
everyone. Even modern routers, well- that’s what you’re doing. If you’re in a we’ve gotten along with it just fine so
managed in firmware, and toting MU- smaller home, a single standard Wi-Fi far, and it’s due to get better. Wi-Fi
MIMO radios, can end up sluggish if router is probably enough, so you can and esh suffer in terms of latency, but
they’re firing off traffic in many multiple steer clear of more expensive mesh they’re good enough for most; it’s the
directions. Mesh spreads that noise from packages anyway, and if you’re lucky, latter’s leap forward in connectivity
one radio to multiple nodes throughout your broadband connection comes with and expandability that puts it leagues
your home, and its other benefit is rather a router. It might be shoddy, but you’re ahead of its one-node cousin.
obvious: If you want signal where there paying for it anyway. That’s a sunk cost. So, if we were to presume you come
is no signal, you can just add another Ethernet can be cheap, particularly if from some alternate reality where you
node. There’s usually a node limit, but you’re prepared to wire it yourself, but didn’t have a network at home, we’d
not one that would go beyond even the installing it with professional help is have two choices. The awkwardness of
largest mansion. far from inexpensive. That said, a good Ethernet is trumped by mesh’s
Ethernet can go a long way—if you backbone will last you; line up Cat 6 flexibility; mesh’s expense is beaten by
need more ports, add another switch— cable, and you’re prepared for future Ethernet’s upgradeability. We’ll skip
but every new port needs another wire. speed upgrades either end of the wires, over the irony of mesh working best if
If you’re installing Ethernet in your something that isn’t true for either of supported by an Ethernet backhaul,
drywall, it’s a darn sight more difficult the wireless solutions. With 802.11ax because we have to peg it as our
to bring connectivity to a new room on the horizon—expect early hardware networking pick. It’s the easiest way to
than the same process with a wireless this year, and realistically adoptable fill your home with rock-solid wireless
solution, and there’s a 328-feet limit to gear in mid-2019—a big investment networking, it has easy configuration
cables, so you’ll need a repeater if you in mesh right now might soon sting if options, and it’s only going to improve.
want to go further. you’re trying to stay cutting edge. Don’t throw out your Wi-Fi router if
you’re not struggling for signal, but
Winner: Winner: consider mesh your next upgrade.
Mesh Wi-Fi

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 21

quickstart

THIS MONTH THE DOCTOR TACKLES...

> First-Time Builder

> Custom Restore
> PSU Standards
Welcome, First-Timer plenty of mechanical storage
Doc, After years of upgrading should allow you to duck in
my desktops (starting with under $700.
a Tandy 1000 EX), I’m at the
point where I plan to build Have It Your Way
my own system. For the Hello, Doctor. I’ve been an avid
past five years, I have been reader and subscriber to the
using a laptop to convert magazine since 1998. Keep
my DVD collection into files. it going. Now, my question: I
Although this works, I know have a custom-built desktop
a desktop PC would give me running Windows 10 Fall
more storage capacity for Creators Update. How do I go
streaming movies and TV about building my own custom
shows. The program I use can restore/refresh image? Thank
either utilize Intel’s on-board you in advance.
graphics or an Nvidia card –Orlando Adames
(my laptop, unfortunately, has A shot from Dell’s Inspiron
AMD graphics inside). manual shows the PSU’s mobo THE DOCTOR RESPONDS:
I’d prefer not to spend connectors aren’t standard. The January 2018 issue of
more than $700, as this won’t Maximum PC explained how to
be a gaming rig. But I would first tastes of Wolfenstein to turn DVDs into more portable create a customized recovery
like a respectable processor/ 3D and Doom, he was tooling files very quickly. disc with AIOMEI PE Builder
graphics card combination around with modem cards, For anyone not in the know, 2.0, enabling you to roll
that won’t be bottlenecked. mouse boards, and early Quick Sync was introduced portable tools and drivers into
I intend to use 16GB of RAM, versions of Windows, almost a seven years ago as part of a package for recovering or
an SSD for Windows and decade behind them. But back certain Sandy Bridge-based reinstalling Windows.
programs, and hard drives for to your question. If you have CPUs. It initially supported Or, if you’re looking to build
media storage. Of course, I’ll no intention of gaming, the H.264 encode/decode, but install media that includes your
also have an optical drive or expense of a discrete graphics has evolved to incorporate favorite applications by default,
two in there. Do you have any card may not be necessary. You fixed-function acceleration of check out Microsoft’s online
suggestions for something see, the on-die HD Graphics other formats across Windows, manual discussing push-button
that would be relatively engine built into Intel CPUs Linux, and macOS, through a reset under the Windows
speedy in the conversion is plenty suitable for light 3D great many third-party apps. Recovery Environment
process, but not overshoot my lifting. More relevant to your With no graphics card on (https://goo.gl/BS2dXQ). It’s
spending goal? –Richard C stated purpose, though, Quick your shopping list, funds are an OEM-centric process that
Sync Video is beyond competent freed for faster components. A involves several Microsoft
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: The at transcoding media files. six-core Core i5-8600K, low- Windows Assessment and
Doc got his start with a Tandy If the software you use is cost Z370-based motherboard, Deployment Kit components,
1000 EX as well. While all of optimized for Intel’s hardware, 16GB DDR4 memory kit, plus a separate PC that has
his friends were enjoying their it’s probably using Quick Sync modest-capacity SSD, and at least 100GB of free space.

↘ submit your questions to: [email protected]

22 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com
Money for Nothing always enjoy it, and look available across narrowly
Hey Doc, I bought a new forward to each new issue. defined spec sheets. And if the
system last year (in the April Keep up the great work! Doc is being just a little cynical,
timeframe), and some of Now, on to my head- they effectively discourage
my components included scratcher. Due to a failed enthusiasts from getting
rebate offers. I sent these in, boot drive, I had to buy a new in there and upgrading old
following their instructions SSD. I performed a clean components, forcing you into
to the letter. More than eight installation of Windows 10 on Beyond backup, QNAP’s TS-453A an entirely new PC sooner.
months later, I received it, which went fairly smoothly. enables accelerated encryption, So, in short, none of those
notices from MSI and Asus After an afternoon or so, all 4K video playback, and more. power connectors represent
that $20 pre-paid Mastercard of my programs were back up new standards. Consequently,
debit cards were just sent out. and running, with everything that were on the PC before its you won’t be able to call up
Is this a reasonable amount pretty much normal. The boot drive failed. Might one of Corsair or EVGA and order
of time to wait? Are rebates only problem now is that I these have been the Rainmeter a replacement. Talk to Dell
just a scam that component randomly hear a system sound desktop customization tool? or Lenovo instead. Just don’t
vendors use to hold on to seemingly not associated with An optional skin for that expect a replacement with
our money? I also have one any on-screen activity. software is reported to trigger enough headroom for higher-
I sent to Seagate around the This does not seem to be Windows Message Nudge on end graphics. Between the
same time, but have not heard interfering with anything, an hourly basis, according to three models you cited, only
anything back. –Colm G it happens once an hour the Doc’s research. Dell’s Precision Tower 3620 was
on average, and it’s only available with more than 300W
THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: Thirty- a nuisance. But it bothers Dropping Standards of capacity.
two weeks? That’s well beyond me that I can't identify the Recently, I noticed that a lot There are plenty of stories
a reasonable wait, in the Doc’s cause. I listened to all of the of PCs don’t come with power online of hobbyists splicing 24-
opinion. In fact, Reward Center, standard Windows sounds and supplies sporting 24-pin ATX pin ATX PSUs into proprietary
the company responsible for determined this one is called connectors. I have a Dell connectors. But many are
running those Asus and MSI “Windows Message Nudge.” I Precision Tower 3620 with an riddled with caveats, and
rebate programs, says pay- also figured out that there is eight-pin connection, a Dell frankly sound pretty dicey. If
outs should be received 8–10 a “Windows Message Nudge” Inspiron 2668 with a six-pin serviceability means something
weeks after your submission Program Event in the Sounds connection, and a Lenovo to you, simply consider a
is approved. It even offers an tab, and it was set to what I’ve ThinkCentre M710T with a 10- more standards-friendly
expedite service if you’re willing been hearing. So, I set the pin connector. One common configuration next time around.
to forfeit some of your share. Program Event to “None” and attribute between them is
How generous. assumed I solved the problem. that their power cables for File Backup
Although rebates aren’t a Unfortunately, I’m still getting peripheral devices come from Hey Doc! I am looking for a
scam per se, they can be used the random sound, and it’s the motherboard, not the PSU. file backup solution. I save
in shady ways. There’s a good definitely Windows Message Dell has its own stickers on all my files to a separate
chance you bought those Asus Nudge. Nothing happening on- the PSU, but Lenovo is using physical drive designated “S:\
and MSI products because they screen relates to the sound. a Lite-On power supply. I File Saves,” and redirect my
were advertised with rebates, In fact, my monitor might couldn’t find anything on Lite- Documents folders to that
right? But many enthusiasts be blank with no programs On’s website. All it gives you is location. It also contains
never submit the paperwork. running, and I still hear it. a phone number to call. I tried numerous folders with
Some fail to complete the Although I realize there are to get information from EVGA, my pictures and archived
forms properly, disqualifying many processes running in but it didn’t know of any new programs. Right now, I do
themselves. The rest are forced the background that could be PSU standards. a manual periodic backup
to wait as someone else earns causing this, I’m at a loss as to Is this, in fact, a new of all the folders. But what
interest on their money. what I can do. A Google search standard? If so, what is it would be the best solution to
Typically, the Doc excludes turns up nothing, and I’ve called, so that I know what to keep these files backed up
rebates when considering posted on several technical buy from Corsair, EVGA, or automatically, whether using
components to recommend. forums (including Microsoft’s) another manufacturer. I’d like built-in Windows utilities or
They’re often too much of a to no avail. So, I turn to you to have a spare on hand. other programs? I am looking
hassle. If you plan to shop with for assistance. Any help is –Leon Garfield for the best program for the
rebates in mind, though, keep appreciated. –Gerry Exstein job, whether free or paid-for.
copies of everything, follow THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: All –Dean Bouzas
instructions precisely, and be THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: If you three of your examples come
diligent in following up. In your have gone through the entire from tier-one manufacturers THE DOCTOR RESPONDS: The
case, Colm, www.4myrebate. Sounds tab and are certain so large that they do not need Doc is, admittedly, averse
com is where you want to go no other events are set to use to abide by standards in their to cloud-based backup, and
for claiming and tracking your Windows Message Nudge.wav, PCs. In order to facilitate unique prefers to maintain a five-
rebate status. a third-party application must form factors, minimize costs, drive NAS locally in RAID 5
be triggering it. and simplify assembly, those with one hot-spare. All of his
Mystery Sounds Although you mentioned Dell and Lenovo desktops family’s user data lives on that
Hi Doc, First, I just want to say performing a clean Windows incorporate compact PSUs appliance, and is connected
that I’ve been reading your install, it also sounds like you able to deliver just enough using iSCSI. Any time a drive
magazine for many years. I spent some time restoring apps power to drive the components fails, it’s replaced gracefully.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 23

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builder’s bible

builder’s
bible
Top tips and tricks to make
every build as easy as can be.
Dodge common pitfalls, fix
troublesome boot conundrums,
and enjoy every minute of your
DIY system-building experience
SyStem building is one of the central tenets of the PC web developers, you name it—all of them are based
enthusiast community. It’s something we should all around that one basic principle. And for many, it’s what
aspire to. Here at Maximum PC, we’ve built rigs and brought them to this community to begin with.
taught others how to craft their own, both in person Yet in today’s age of easy-to-construct behemoths,
and across these pages, countless times. And with one is there really that much hidden knowledge to be
very good reason: You get a real sense of pride from discovered when it comes to these builds? Well, from
constructing your own machine, and an even greater the budding builder to the artisan crafter, a little
one from teaching others how to do it. And with the knowledge can go a long way, and even today, some of
added benefits of knowing every part that goes into us beaten-up techies here at Maximum PC still learn a
your build, saving some cash, and understanding how thing or two whenever we step foot into each issue’s
to troubleshoot your system if it goes wrong, it’s hard “Build It” feature. So, let us impart our knowledge to
to ignore the advantages that system building brings. you. We’ve broken more cases, sheared off more flesh,
A lot revolves around system building across the and destroyed more hardware than you can possibly
industry. From hardware development, to the custom imagine. Allow us to divulge those secrets, and give
modding scene, to the liquid-cooling community, the you our very best tips and tricks for building your own
gamers, the video-editors, overclockers, Linux users, slice of Dream Machine pie. –Zak Storey

26 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 27
builder’s bible

The perfecT plan

Research, plan, budget. Those are the first things you need to
do when your mind wanders toward building a new rig
Tip 1 research Tip 2 plan Tip 3 BudgeTing

A little knowledge can go a long way next up is the planning phase. This is tAking the plunge and choosing what
when it comes to building your perfect more of an environmental and aesthetic hardware is right for you relies heavily
PC. And the best place to start is reviews. decision-making process than anything on the first two tips. Look at what cash
You can look at all the build guides in the else. Figure out how much space you have you have and allocate it accordingly.
world, but if you don’t know what gear is for your new rig, where it’s going to be Make sure you buy hardware that’s
right for you, you’re going to end up sorely situated, what form factor you want, and either appropriate for what you do today,
out of pocket, and with a system not fit what chassis is right for you—remember, or what you will do tomorrow. Don’t
for purpose. Reviews are a huge source of airflow and ambient temperatures are allocate half your budget to cooling and
information. Whether they’re online, on key. Then you’ve got to think about what aesthetics if you can get 30 percent more
YouTube, or in good old Maximum PC, you hardware will fit where. Do you want performance out of it elsewhere. And
can learn how something works, how a 240mm AIO up front? Will it conflict make sure you don’t waste cash (on faster
to install it, and how it performs when with your GPU? What will internal memory kits for Intel, for instance) where
push comes to shove. Second to reviews temps be like? Can you install it on the you don’t need to. If a sale is coming up,
are manufacturers’ websites. Reading roof? Or perhaps an air cooler is better? wait for it—they’re usually worth it. Hell,
PDFs and install manuals ahead of time All of these things can be answered long you can drip feed hardware, too; buy one
will make the build process far easier, before you even take the first step into or two things per month, instead of going
and help you set everything up after, too. an online purchase. all-out in one go.

diY vs. pre-BuilT

We’re in an odd place with pricing, and cheaper it becomes to produce,
that old adage, “It’s always cheaper to so the market stays ahead of the
build your own rig,” doesn’t hold true system integrators. But given current
right now, at least, not until Samsung circumstances, that’s just not possible.
and co. get their extra memory plants That’s not to say that system
up and running. The memory shortage integrators don’t provide decent
and cryptocurrency mining have systems. Some of the best machines
ruined it for everyone. So how can we’ve seen come from the likes of
system integrators still offer us cheap Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm, and
pre-built machines? It’s down to pre- others. After all, when your livelihood
emptive bulk buying. Most companies revolves around building unique,
that offer pre-built systems buy all bespoke, and powerful machines,
the hardware they need in bulk, well you’re going to learn a thing or two
ahead of time, so for the time being at about putting together a stunning rig.
least, they’re still running off older Couple that with extensive parts and
prices, and can drastically undercut the labor warranties, and they immediately
current market. become very attractive propositions,
Usually, the longer a memory especially if you don’t have the time or
standard has had to mature, the inclination to build your own.

28 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

Tools of The Trade
Nowadays, all you need to build most systems is a good old trusty Phillips
head screwdriver, but here’s a selection of the other frequently used tools
and handy gadgets we turn to in our PC-building escapades

MAgNeTIC BoWl You can pick up ISoProPyl AlCohol

this handy Park Tool magnetic For less than $4, this
bowl for a little under $10 from is one of the few liquids
Amazon. Amazingly useful that won’t kill your
for storing all your bolts and hardware if it gets on
screws, you can attach it to it—99 percent alcohol is
anything metallic, at any fantastic for cleaning off
angle, without the worry cruddy thermal paste,
of losing any of the and is generally a good
stuff inside. Plus, rub cleaning agent to get rid
your screwdriver up of smudges on almost
against the bowl, anything (aluminum
and voila—magnetic included). Just don’t rub
screwdriver. That’s it on soft plastic stickers
science, folks. and the like. Or inhale it.
Or get it on your skin. Or
try to drink it. Seriously.
Just be careful.

TherMAl PASTe We stick with

one brand: Noctua’s NT-H1
Thermal Compound. It’s a non-
conductive thermal paste, with
a satisfying consistency, which
doesn’t spill out all over the
place. You’re not going to see
revolutionary changes in temp
with a higher quality paste, but
you will see some. Just make
sure you don’t use conductive
paste, but if you do, be careful
when applying it to your CPU.

CABle TIeS Amazon will happily sell you 300 of these SCreWDrIver & SoCkeT SeT A decent set of
for about $9, and they are, by far, the most useful PC screwdrivers will make builds far easier. Get a good
building accessory you can own. Whether it’s tying up kit with a variety of different sizes. Whether it’s torque
spare cables, strapping cables to your frame, or jerry- screws, tiny M.2 screws, standoffs, Allen screws,
rigging all sorts of mounting procedures for less-than- or even proprietary hex screws on the back of GPUs
amiable products, the humble cable tie is clean, easy to (here’s looking at you Nvidia), a good set will cost you
use, and one of the most versatile tools on the planet. about $40, but potentially last a lifetime.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 29

builder’s bible

chassis sTripdown
So, you’ve bought all the
hardware, your tools
are prepped—what’s
the next step to ensure
your build is as easy as
it possibly can be?
Tip 1
case sTripdown
the first thing to do (other than lay out
all your hardware, and take a shot for
Instagram, obviously), is strip your case
down to its frame. Carefully unscrew,
pop off, and remove every panel you can
find. You can also remove the dust filters,
and any hard drive cages you don’t need.
Doing this improves airflow, makes your
build infinitely easier to manage in the
early stages, and stops you manhandling
and potentially damaging some of the
more aesthetically pleasing panels
(damn you, brushed aluminum).

Tip 2 Tip 4 replace Tip 5 pre-Thread

panel sTorage The sTock fans Your caBles
it’s sMArt to keep your part boxes, at Most stock fAns are more than when working with more budget-
least for a year or so, until the warranties adequate for providing some sort of oriented cases, with little cable
run out. That said, there’s an immediate cooling, but if you have an eye for detail, management room, pre-installing and
use you can make of the box your you prefer more performance-oriented threading your cables ahead of time is
chassis came in. The larger side panels fans, or you’re just after something that’s a smart way of making a cleaner, tidier
and glass windows can slot carefully a little quieter, replacing those stock build, without necessarily breaking
into your cardboard case box, between polypropylene blades now is definitely the bank. One particularly problematic
the polystyrene packing material, to the best decision. With unfettered access cable tends to be the eight-pin EPS, or
ensure they don’t get damaged or lost. to every area at this point, it’s easy to CPU power. For cases without any cable
You’ll know where they are, and you can route the cables behind your case, and routing room, you can actually lay the
rest assured they’re not going to fall over install them without worrying about CPU cable under the motherboard itself
or get scratched during the build process. the chassis being too heavy when and into the top left-hand corner of the
everything’s inside. One thing we would case. Then, after you install and secure

Tip 3 MediTaTe say is that you should wait until later to

install any AIO liquid coolers, because
your motherboard down (not forgetting
the I/O plate, of course), you can plug in
not reAlly, but you should visualize the waterblock and tubing will only be a and install your CPU cable, keeping it
where your hardware is going to go. nuisance during the installation process out of the way and tidy in the process. In
This is a great time to do a test fit—place otherwise. Also, if the top of the chassis pricier options, and with modular power
your hardware where you think it’ll go, is pretty tight, it might be worth holding supplies, now is the perfect time to
and check there won’t be any problems off on those, at least until you’ve had the decide what cables you’re going to need,
or conflicting parts. Imagine your cable opportunity to plug in the motherboard and pre-install the lot, tying them to the
routes, check there’s enough room for power cables, and any other fan cables back of the chassis where you can, using
your fans; it’ll save time in the long run. you’re going to need. the cable ties we mentioned earlier.

30 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

cooling MasTerY
Making sure your rig can handle the thermals
thrown around inside is imperative, so how can
you alleviate these conundrums ahead of time?

CPU. With most mainstream, locked Intel

processors, you can get away with the
stock heatsink. If you prefer things more
chilled, grab an aftermarket air tower.
But there’s nothing to say you can’t use a
240mm AIO on a Core i3 or Ryzen 3. Any
Intel K series processor at an i5 level,
or Ryzen 5 or higher, should be cooled
by a substantial tower solution
or a minimum of 120mm liquid
cooler ($50 or more). If you intend
to overclock, this is a must. For
Accessorize
Core i7 or Ryzen 7 and higher, with your cooling
overclocking, use a 240mm AIO or $70
ok, we’re talking about rgB. Why, when
air tower. If you’ve not got much space,
Tip 1 righT fan or limited intake, we recommend an air
it’s something we actively try to avoid? And
how is it related to cooling? rgB fans are
for The righT JoB cooler over the all-in-one.
all the craze right now. We’ve seen plenty

if you’re looking at maximizing your Tip 3 air pressure of leD fans in the past, but they typically
only featured one color, and not the crazy
cooling efficiency, selecting the right fan
cornucopia of rainbows that are now the
for the right job is critical. There are two you’ve got the right fans and CPU
norm across the industry.
types of fan design: static pressure fans cooling, next up is internal case air
We get it: Some folks enjoy being able
(with fat, thick blades), designed for high- pressure. There are two trains of thought:
to light up their rig in all sorts of weird and
pressure environments, where they need balanced and positive. Balanced means
wonderful ways. But when you’re trying
to push air through radiators or heatsink you’re drawing (roughly) as much air in
to do it with fans, you have to include an
fins efficiently; and airflow fans (with as you are pumping out, while a positive
additional cable that connects elsewhere
multiple skinny blades), which are setup means you’re drawing more air
(either into a fan controller, an included
designed to move as much air through in than you’re pumping out. Positive,
rgB controller module, or directly on to
a system as quickly as possible, but in theory, stops dust entering through
the motherboard). That’s another cable to
without the same amount of force as their unfiltered areas, while a balanced system
route, and added bulk to work around the
static pressure cousins. At the very high is better for airflow and temperatures.
back of your rig.
end, you’ll find some static pressure fans We’re talking four or five degrees at
It’s something you need to take into
that can shift as much air as an airflow most. Try both: Using benchmarking
consideration if you plan to invest in
fan, but that comes at a cost ($25-plus tools, put your system under strain, read
these things. As far as performance is
per fan). Noise is also a factor. The bigger the resulting temperatures, and decide
concerned, there’s a minimal impact on the
the fan, the slower the RPM usually, and which you prefer.
fans. Admittedly, some blades do have to
the less noise. Typically speaking, if
you’re after a quiet rig, look for fans that Tip 4 fan be constructed from a more transparent
polymer, to allow the leD light shine
operate below the 1,200rpm
mark. You can control faster
orienTaTion through, but that’s all there is to it. Static
pressure, airflow variants—they’re all
fans through the BIOS or fAn orientAtion —we all slip up from
there, albeit not to the standard of some
a fan controller to go slower time to time. So what’s in, and
of the more premium offerings.
than the advertised speed, what’s out? In short, you can
If you’re itching for both performance
but you may encounter coil always identify the back of
and the ability to take part in the rgB
whine because of it. the fan (the area air is being
phenomenon, Phanteks will sell you an
pushed out of, as opposed
Tip 2 cooling to drawn into) as the part
rgB fan frame (which, admittedly, even we
think is cool). known as the halos series,
wiTh sTYle of the fan with the fan
guard attached to it. If
they come in both aluminum and plastic
variants, and light the blades up in a very
so, how do you cool your that doesn’t help, it’s the
smooth pattern, while remaining pretty
processor? Well, it’s down to part that the fan cable
classy in the process—however, they only
personal preference and your typically comes out of.
fit 120mm or 140mm fans right now.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 31

builder’s bible

General Build Tips

Brushing up on the basics is a smart move from time to
time—things change, methods adapt, and standards morph
Tip 1 aMd Cpu Tip 3 TherMal Tip 5
insTallaTion pasTe appliCaTion M.2 insTallaTion
installinG the wOrld’s latest and
greatest M.2 PCIe SSDs varies depending
on which motherboard you’re installing
them on to. Some come with heatsinks,
some don’t. But the basic theory is
pretty simple: Use a small screwdriver
to unscrew the tiny Phillips screw that
holds the M.2 down, line up the M.2
connector with the slot, and push it into
place until it clicks in. Then line the end
Outside Of threadripper, AMD has if yOu’re buildinG a Ryzen or Coffee Lake up with the mounting point at the other
stayed with the PGA (or pin-grid array) system (or any mainstream CPU build), end, and secure back down with the
setup—the interconnect pins between a small pea-sized dot of paste in the tiny screw. You may have to move that
the motherboard and CPU lie on the center of your CPU is all you need. If it’s a mounting point depending on the length
processor, as opposed to the mobo’s larger processor—one of Intel’s Extreme of your PCIe SSD, and there may be an
socket, meaning fewer broken boards. To Editions, for instance—use two pea-sized additional heatsink you need to add
install your AM4 processor, match the dots, and three for Threadripper, down before resecuring it (remember to remove
golden corner on the chip with the corner the center. This should be enough to the thermal pad’s sticker first), but that’s
on the socket. Lift the retention arm on ensure that any CPU heatsink, fan tower, all there is to it.
the socket, carefully slot the processor all-in-one, or water block has sufficient
into place, push it down firmly in the thermal interface material to transfer Tip 6 pCie
middle until it’s secure, then bring down
the retention arm to lock it into place.
heat away from the CPU die, across to the
outer extremities of the heatsinks.
insTallaTion
Tip 2 inTel Cpu Tip 4 MeMory
insTallaTion insTallaTion

when it cOmes to installing graphics

cards and other add-in PCIe cards, first
remove the rear PCIe covers from your
tO install any lGa processor, lift the installinG memOry correctly is fairly case. Then, carefully line your card up
retention arm out and up, then lift up straightforward. Find the notch on the with the PCIe slot on your motherboard,
the bracket, leaving the protective plastic bottom of each stick of memory, line and gently push it into place until it
covering inside. Line up the processor’s that up with the notch in the memory clicks down. Make sure you install your
golden triangle with the etched triangle slot on the motherboard, and carefully GPU into the topmost PCIe slot for the best
on the socket, gently drop it into place, push it into place, making sure the performance. There are different lengths
then give it a tiny wiggle to make sure clips on either edge of the memory slot of slot suitable for different  purposes.
it’s secure. Bring the socket bracket back are sticking up—these click into place PCIe x16 are the longest slots, designed
down, securing it under the Torx screw, once each stick is secure. Be sure to for GPUs. You may find that some slots
then bring the retention arm down, and populate the color-coordinated memory that look like PCIe x16 slots are actually
lock it in place. The plastic cover pops off slots, to ensure dual-channel or quad- x8 instead. You can decipher this by
on any LGA 115X platform, but you need channel support is operating correctly. identifying whether the pins inside the
to give it a bit of a tug on the 2011 sockets. If uncertain, refer to your mobo manual. slot go halfway or all the way to the end.

32 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

advanCed Build Tips
So, that’s the basics dealt with, but what about some more advanced tips and
tricks for the would-be liquid-cooler, the OCD-oriented cable tweaker, and
the avid overclocker? Never fear—we have you covered
Tip 1 liquid that we mean decide where to place your Tip 3 pro
planninG radiators, reservoir, and pump (or pumps,
if you’re going for dual loops), then figure
liGhTinG
out how to run your tubing. Visualize GOOd liGhtinG is
your build, understand what direction hidden lighting.
the coolant will flow, then decide on The aim is simple:
your tubing runs. For beginners, we Anything that
recommend keeping it as simple as you produces light
can at first, until you get the hang of should be hidden,
it. If you intend to introduce a bend to so you can only
your tubing, it’s easier to work one into see the light that
a long length than a short one, and it’s is thrown, as opposed to the light source
always advisable to use angled fittings itself. Hiding strips along the edges of
a fully custOm lOOp is something most wherever possible, to reduce the number cases, hidden by the thick black borders
PC builders aspire to at some stage. of bends you’ll have to produce. of tempered glass, or along the bottom of a
Whether you’re keen to try it or not, chassis away from prying eyes, is a smart
knowing how to build one successfully Tip 2 CaBle way of achieving this. On top of that, two
is a key piece of knowledge to have. As
with most builds, it all starts with a good
ManaGeMenT strips are often better than one. Put one
along the bottom and another along the
plan, some acquired knowledge, and a GOOd cable manaGement is all about front side, and you’ll immediately light
touch of research. There are two basic layering. Identify what cables need to up two separate angles, producing a more
principles to remember when liquid- run where, then layer them. Most cases dynamic lighting effect. Additionally,
cooling. Firstly, your pump must almost have more than enough room in the always go for a white light. Single-
always be gravity fed by a reservoir, and back to allow for cable management. Zip- color strips (red, blue, green, and so on)
secondly, each component you wish to tie bunches of them to the back of the typically drown out all definition and
cool must have at least 120mm of radiator motherboard tray, or use the Velcro straps design on components. If a motherboard
to support it—more for overclocking. often included in today’s cases. Tie down has red and black accents, and you throw
Once you’ve got that pinned down, it’s your 24-pin and 8-pin CPU power first, a red LED strip in there, all you’ll see is
on to the planning stage. Similar to our then work on PCIe cables, and anything red everywhere.
first plan we did back on page 28, it’s a else afterward. Modular power supplies
good idea to use a side-on image of your are a must—minimizing the number
case, sketch out roughly where your CPU of cables you have keeps a
and GPU will be, and work from there. By build tidy.

CusToM loop CosTs & MyThs

It’s the big question that’s methods—for a really good-
continually asked: Is liquid- looking loop, you can expect
cooling worth it? At least on to spend anywhere between
a custom scale? Well, that $400 and $600 at a minimum.
depends. You’ll definitely get Compare that to a well-armed
lower temperatures by taking AIO, and it immediately
advantage of that thermal becomes less attractive.
heat dispensing method, but So, is it worth it? You need
your hardware won’t run any to consider your available
faster because of it. The one budget and how much you
big advantage is a reduction covet silence and cooling. If
in overall noise, thanks to the answer is “A lot,” then
the opportunity to run your liquid cooling is for you. If
fans more slowly. However, not, a good old air tower or
the cost is huge in contrast AIO with some quiet fans may
to more traditional cooling be a cheaper solution instead.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 33

builder’s bible

FixinG BooT issues

We’ve all been there: the panic, the tentative push of the “On”
button, the silence of zero boot. Here’s a few quick solutions
Tip 3 Fresh
insTall WindoWs
we’ve alsO seen our fair share of
OS-related issues, especially when
transferring old hard drives to new
systems. It can be anything from
driver conflicts (always uninstall AMD/
Nvidia drivers before swapping to the
competitors cards), to corrupt OS files, to
program conflicts. Ultimately, we always
recommend you do a completely fresh
install of Windows on to your SSD—not
Tip 1 iT’s time to work out whether your memory a refresh, not a reset, but a completely
proBaBly MeMory is DOA. To do this, you’ll want to try each
stick separately. And if you’re still not
fresh install.

the number Of times we’ve fixed a boot having any luck, it’s probably time to Tip 4 CaBles,
issue due to memory is staggering. A
good way to diagnose these conundrums
RMA those suckers.
CaBles, CaBles.
is via the on-board mobo debug code Tip 2 rMa & we’ve all dOne it—forgotten to plug in
display. It typically displays a number,
depending on the running state of your
reTurns the PCIe power, not attached front panel
connectors, had a cheap DisplayPort
motherboard. If nothing appears on your there’s a reasOn we suggest going cable…. You can guarantee all of us here
screen, and everything’s plugged in with named brands: warranty. EVGA’s have probably built a system and missed
correctly, check the BIOS debug code for warranties and customer service are plugging a cable in at least once. Display
your first hint; 90 percent of the time, legendary, same goes for Corsair. If connection cables, in particular, are
it will say it can’t detect the memory. you’ve got an issue, raise a ticket with chronically bad for this—the number
Your best bet? Reseat the memory. If that the customer support team, and given the of crappy DisplayPort and HDMI cables
doesn’t work, reseat the processor. And evidence, it will likely exchange your we’ve handled over the years is horrific.
if that doesn’t work, try moving your part for a fresh one. So, if common sense, In short, make sure everything’s plugged
memory to the additional memory slots. the manual, or Google fails you, RMAing in where it needs to be, and your system
If you’re still not having any luck, it’s might be the way to go. hasn’t gone to sleep in the process.

auTo overCloCks
Nothing says “problematic” spikes of 20 degrees or more
quite like an auto-overclocking compared to the competition.
motherboard. We’ve seen it We’ve seen this with
across multiple generations memory profiles, too. Early on
now, as manufacturers with AMD memory, frequency
try to differentiate their support was haphazard across
motherboards from each a swathe of motherboards,
other. It’s pretty prolific with 2,400, 2,800, and
with Coffee Lake, as Asus 3,000MT/s causing boot loops
pumps up the default VCore and more. Threadripper still
in its motherboards to boost can’t support 128GB of DDR4
processor performance at 3,200MT/s.
in benchmarks (in short, So, what’s the solution? if it is, adjust the VCore in the memory frequencies, try
enabling more stable turbos BIOS tweaking. If you’re overclock settings. Typically, enabling the XMP settings,
at higher frequencies at having thermal issues, check we recommend 1.2V for most and dropping the frequency
stock). This is great, up until that your heatsink is securely Intel Sky Lake, Kaby Lake, by 200MHz or so to alleviate
you start noticing temperature fastened to the motherboard; and Coffee Lake products. For some overclock conundrums.

34 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

insTallaTion proToCol
Whether you’re building a brand new rig or refreshing an old one with a clean
build of Windows, you’ll find our invaluable installation guide will leave your
system running as smooth as silk
Tip 1 your rig. Once you’ve got that, download
any additional drivers or utilities you
updaTe The Bios may need. For a lightweight build, all
you really need is the LAN and audio
biOs updates used to be a daunting
drivers. Install the chipset first, then hit
experience, leading to bricked mobos and
“Restart.” Now you can install the rest.
dead CPUs. Now, it’s really beneficial, and
Next, grab your graphics drivers. By
we recommend you update your BIOS
default, Windows installs an older driver
whenever a new one launches. Go to
variant through Windows Update. Head
your mobo manufacturer’s website, find
to www.geforce.com/drivers or http://
the page for your model, and head to the
support.amd.com/en-us/download, and
support section. Go to driver downloads, you can type “Activation” into the Start
download the latest driver for your card.
and search for the BIOS subsection. menu, and either log in to your Microsoft
Download the latest version. Extract
this file on to a 4GB USB stick that’s been
account to verify your new install, or
insert your Windows code—and you’re
Tip 5 niniTe
formatted to the FAT32 filesystem, then done. If you have access to the Internet, finally, it’s time to install any programs
plug it into the back of your motherboard, now is a good time to install any updates. you need. Ninite (www.ninite.com) is
head into the BIOS, and find the update our go-to tool for the quick installation
BIOS tool in the advanced menus. Select Tip 4 insTallaTion of essential apps. Choose what programs
the USB stick, find the file, and load it—
your motherboard takes care of the rest.
proCedure you want, and install directly to your C
drive. Ninite only installs to C, so if you
what’s next? Chipset. Head back to your want to keep Steam on a separate drive,

Tip 2 Fan Curves motherboard manufacturer’s website,

head to support and driver downloads,
pass on that, and install it separately.
Once done, you’ll be good
while yOu’re in the biOs, take a look and download the latest chipset driver for to go.
at tweaking the fan curves. If you’re
plugging all your fans into PWM headers,
setting a quieter fan curve can reduce
noise, and make your PC experience far
more enjoyable. It varies from board to
board, but we recommend you set a low
curve (35 percent power) all the way up
until you hit about 60 C, at which point,
you can start ramping up those curves.

Tip 3 insTallinG
WindoWs via usB
installinG a fresh cOpy of Windows 10
is fairly simple nowadays, especially
if you’ve kept your digital key, or your
Windows 10 license is linked to your
Microsoft account. Head to http://bit.ly/
Win10MediaKit, download the Media
Creation Tool and Create Installation
Media on to an 8GB USB stick. Plug the
USB stick into the back of your system,
go into the BIOS boot order, and boot
from the USB stick. From there on out,
follow the prompts. You’re asked to sign
into your Microsoft account during the
installation process; you can do this now,
or create a local account and deal with it
later. Once logged in and on the desktop,

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 35

server vs. NAS

36 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 WindoWs
server
vs.
netWork
AttAched
storAge
In the blue corner, Windows
Server; in the red, an open-
source NAS. The only way
to see which is best: a fight!
We’re riding your easily manipulated the cloud is useful, there are limitations
machismo as an excuse to look at the and concerns with third-party services.
pros and cons of using Windows as a There’s nothing better than having
home server. The demise of the real real bare-metal in your locality, running
Windows Home Server line in 2011 left services for high-speed access and
a hole in Microsoft’s range, one that backup, from where it can be pushed
Windows Server Essentials could never over slower connections to the cloud
quite fill with its small business remit, if you want. The question is, is it better
at a time when, annoyingly, a home to run Windows on your home server
server is of more use than ever. box, or is an open-source solution
We all have so much digital “stuff” preferable? We’re here to find out, and
that we want to keep, access, stream, explain how to set up your own box.
share, and keep safe, that it’s hard to You know we already know the
know where to put it. Sure, there are answer, but we’re going to do a fair and
cloud solutions, but who knows where balanced test. By comparing what an
your data is going to end up being open-source network attached server
stored? Plus, access speed is always OS can accomplish against Microsoft’s
limited by your upstream/downstream Windows 10, we can at least play with
speeds. So, while throwing stuff up to something interesting and free.

by Neil Mohr

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 37

server vs. NAS

What is a nas? Network attached storage OpenMediaVault (OMV for short), which to buffer file transfers, though its storage
is, in some ways, an outdated term, because is available from www.openmediavault. really remains small.
a “NAS” these days does a whole lot more org. This is up to version 4.0.14 (codename
than just store files. That’s the motivation Arrakis, for Dune fans) as of the end of software specifications
behind this article: Can a modern NAS, 2017, and only supports 64-bit hardware— Windows 10 wins here, right? It supports
even a free open-source implementation, older 32-bit hardware needs to fall back to everything—what can beat that? It’s a touch
take on the might and flexibility of a full-fat version 3.036, from mid-2016, which isn’t unfair to compare Windows 10 Pro against
Windows box? A huge chunk of that answer ideal. It does support ARM processors, OpenMediaVault. One is a consumer-level
relies on what you want from that box. and it has builds for the popular Raspberry OS designed for single-user systems,
When the term NAS was first coined, Pi 2 and 3, and ODroid SBPCs. Beyond and the other is based on a multi-user,
people were just happy to easily access that, requirements are minimal: 256MB of enterprise-grade, open-source OS.
remotely stored files (and not get nuked by memory and 2GB of drive space. The system Both do many similar basic things out
the Russians), nevermind get any specific is designed to run “headless,” so there is no of the box, such as hardware support,
additional services. Today, people expect a requirement for video hardware, and it can user management, scheduling jobs, multi-
NAS to provide remote management, file run from a USB stick. For those interested, language support, network support with
shares with full permissions, print services, it’s based on the Linux distribution Debian, IPv6, wake on LAN, software RAID, disk
a slew of network protocols, virtual machine which is one of the best supported and quotas, monitoring, and print support. The
support, media transcoding, media longer running distros out there. boring stuff. It’s the extra boring stuff where
streaming to multiple devices, supporting Windows 10 still supports both 32-bit OMV tends to excel. For management, OMV
tens of storage devices with multi- and 64-bit processors, with a minimum delivers a web-based interface. Windows
terabytes of storage, with snapshot and speed of 1GHz. 2GB of memory is the does provide Remote Desktop, but in many
versioning features on top of backups, plus minimum for a 64-bit system, while 1GB is ways, it’s not streamlined for management,
a smorgasbord of flexible plug-in options. required for 32-bit systems. The minimum and only supports single-user access.
But why choose a potentially limiting NAS drive space is 16GB for 32-bit and 20GB for OMV supports network Link aggregation
solution over a Windows install? Let’s start 64-bit systems. Microsoft states a DirectX for network redundancy and bandwidth
by taking time to compare and contrast 9.0 video card is required. improvements, Windows 10 Pro doesn’t.
what both options have to offer. We’d question both of these minimum
requirements in a real-world setting, installation and updates
Hardware specs though. Windows is likely going to need at We’re going to just say it: OMV wins hands
We’re going to look at one of the leading least a 64GB drive, while even OMV is going down here. It installs in 10 minutes or so,
open-source NAS distributions, called to work more efficiently with more memory is up and running, and fully updated in that

How to get
started
witH tHe
open-source
oMV and
1 2 3
GET OPENMEDIAVAULT START THE INSTALL BASIC OPTIONS
network We’re assuming you’re if the target nas PC has Forget your fancy

attacHed
installing this on a blank booted from your OMV graphical installers,
system—we’re not attempting media correctly, you should we’re kicking it old-school

storage to run anything alongside OMV,

dual boot, or so on. so, we can
see an OpenMediaVault boot
menu. ensure “install” is
with text-based interfaces.
Use the cursor keys to select
safely wipe the entire boot selected, and press return. options. there are some
system drive. You could run it “advanced options” has a mundane options: “Language,”
off a UsB stick, but an old sub- hardware detection tool, handy “Location,” and “Keyboard.”
64gB ssd would be ideal. We’ll for checking if your drives “hostname” is the name
add data drives later. head to have been correctly identified. displayed to the network. Use
www.openmediavault.org/ if your boot device/dVd isn’t the default for the “domain.”
download.html and download detected, see the box above- then you need to set a “root”
the latest isO file. Currently, right for options on boot menus administrator password; you’ll
that’s v4.014 amd64 (64-bit). and adjusting the BiOs/UeFi. rarely need to use this, but it
see the box, above-right, on controls system changes, and
how to get this on to a dVd or remote system log-ins (via
UsB drive, and boot from it. ssh), so is recommended to
ensure it’s secure.

38 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 How to install an os
Hi. If you’re reading media—a DVD or USB
this, then you’ve drive, in other words.
never installed an OS At the start of the
before. Don’t worry— walkthrough below, we
there’s nothing to be direct you to download
embarrassed or nervous an ISO file of OMV. An
about, we were all OS ISO file is a standard
install virgins once. file format maintained
Installing an OS seems as ISO9660; shout out
like something of a to our epic friends
dying art; millennials at the International drives, our general go-to a key while powering they say
and their damn Organization for software is UNetbootin, up: F9 (HP), F12 (Dell, installing an
embedded “smart” Standardization! from https://unetbootin. Lenovo), F8 (Amibios), operating
devices—tsk. An OS is To use that image, github.io, cross-platform, or F11 (Award BIOS). system is
software like anything you need to do two open-source ISO-writing Alternatively, use the hard to do….
else, it just happens things: burn it or write it goodness. Download, BIOS/UEFI to adjust
that part of its job is to a suitable media, and install, fire it up, ignore the drive boot order.
to load the OS kernel then boot your target PC the “Distribution” option, Again, tap a key during
and generally boot the from that media. If you jump to “Diskimage,” and powerup—usually Del,
system to a usable state, have DVD drives (USB select the ISO file. but sometimes F1, or F2.
the clever scamp, which DVD drives for the win), Now to boot from that Some UEFI PCs require
means that installing you’re set, as Windows media. Many PCs offer access via Windows:
it requires you to boot will just write that ISO to an early “Boot” menu, holding Shift, select its
the system off an install any blank disc. For USB accessed by tapping “Restart” option.

4 5 6 7
ENHANCED OPTIONS INSTALL A IT’S LINUX! WEB INTERFACE
the installer attempts BOOTLOADER a blank terminal—what OMV is controlled via
to set the time zone do not enter the boot now? it’s like a choose a web interface—you
via a network connection. device manually. Choose the your own adventure. OMV log into this via a standard
it’s likely this will fail, so generated option below this, it is designed to be controlled browser, running on any
select a time zone from the should read something along via a web dashboard, and for device, connected to your local
presented selection—don’t the lines of: /dev/sda (complex the “box” to be run headless. network. in the browser’s
worry, you can adjust this later. name of your drive). if you hit so, you need to discover the address bar, enter the iP spat
installation initially begins, “enter Manually” by mistake, iP address of the OMV PC. out in step 6. For example:
and you’re prompted to select a press escape, and reselect the to do this, you could use a 192.168.1.10. to log in, the
suitable mirror location. do so, “install the grUB boot loader” smartphone network scanner, username is “admin” and the
ignore any option for a “Proxy,” option. there’s a few more such as Fing, use a Windows- password is “openmediavault.”
and wait for the installer. this update dialogs, and it prompts based scanner, such as Congratulations, you’re up
takes a few minutes; time for a you that the installation is advanced iP scanner, log into and running. You start viewing
cup of coffee. done, and it can reboot. your router and discover the the dashboard section, under
device’s iP, or log in to the OMV “diagnostics.” all controls
terminal using the username are down the left-hand menu,
“root” and your root password, reboot and power controls are
then type “ip addr show.” it in the top-right menu.
spits out a bunch of networking
nonsense, but the iP address is
the second-to-last line, ending
with a /24—something like
192.168.1.10/24.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 39

server vs. NAS

time. It’s licensed under the GPL v3 (copyleft

open source), and based on one of the
biggest Linux distros, Debian. So, as long
as the project has developer support, you’ll
get all the updates and support you need,
windows sHares
for free, forever. We think you know where If you’ve followed the pull-down menu. You’ll
you stand with Windows 10 on these points. walkthrough, you’re at likely need to click
An associated issue with installation a point where the NAS “System Apply” once
is driver support; in the past, you could can be let loose on your you’ve saved the new
have claimed Linux suffered from poorer network for people to share’s settings. If you
support, but that’s rarely the case now. access. The final step is jump on a Windows
Intel generally puts open-source driver providing shared folders machine and peruse the
development first; AMD is pushing its for Windows users to network, you’ll now see restrict access on single
display driver stack to being entirely open access. This uses the a new OpenMediaVault user or group basis.
source and part of the kernel. The main SMB/CIFS, aka Samba, machine, and inside
areas of contention are odd Wi-Fi dongles, system. Find this under there is the Public folder. access: Click “+Add,”
but a touch of Google research typically “Services > SMB/CIFS.” Creating folders with give it a name, choose
unearths a Linux driver. But, then, printers You largely just need to access control is more the “Device,” and under
and scanners can be a pain on Linux, too. hit “Enable,” click “Save,” involved, and Windows “Permissions” choose
then click the “Shares” can be a bit odd with “Admin r/w, Users r/w,
services and admin tab, and add any folders credentials on occasion. and Others None.” Click
A key differential is how OMV and Win 10 you’ve created. Click In OMV, select “Access “Privileges,” and choose
handle services and admin. With Windows, “+Add,” click “Enable,” Rights Management > the user and read/write
you can support all manner of services select the “Shared” User,” click “+Add,” and access. Switch to “SMB/
through clients, but it’s all done with folder (we create a public create a user with a CIFS,” click “Shares
separate interfaces and Remote Desktop, one in step 14), and if it password. If you’ve not > +Add,” select your
which is hardly ideal. With OMV, all admin should be available to already, under “Shared new folder from the
and services are installed and controlled everyone, enable the Folders” create a suitable “Shared folder” list, click
through the same web interface from any “Public > Guest allowed” folder to have restricted “Save,” then “Apply.”
network-connected device. It’s the headless
functionality that enables you to tuck your

8 9 10 11
PLUGINS INSTALL THE EXTRAS INSTALL AN ATTACH YOUR
Before we configure any Back in the OMV EXTERNAL DRIVES
storage, we’re going interface, select “Upload” PLUGIN Power down and
to look at the plugin system. in “general > Plugins,” click if you’re running OMV connect the drives that you
You add additional official “Browse,” locate the .deb file from a flash device, you’re want to store files on. We’re
and third-party extensions you downloaded, click “OK,” recommended to install the going to create a raid with four
via the plugin system, which and let it upload. scroll to flash-media plugin. this drives attached. these all need
is basically a wrapper for the bottom of the “Plugin” reduces direct drive writes to be wiped before OMV will
the Linux software install list, click the checkbox next to extend the flash life allow you to do anything. select
(package management) to the “openmediavault- via a memory cache. With “storage > disks.” ignore
system. Under the “general omvexrtasorg 4.x.x” entry, the extras installed and a “/dev/sda”—that’ll be your
> Plugin” section, you’ll find and click the “+install” button. “Check” run, there’s now an boot drive. select the others in
a number of default bundled after a few seconds, the openmediavault-flashmemory turn, and click “Wipe.”
official plugins. We need to browser reloads, and a new plugin under the “Filesystems”
add the flash-media plugin, section called “OMV-extras” section. this reduces the write
which isn’t included. head to is available. this has added a load on flash media by caching
http://omv-extras.org—this bunch of extra features, and to memory. Click the checkbox
is the official repository for enables you to easily add new and click “+install.” With
OMV plugins. Click “guides,” plugins, as we’ll see.... everything set, let’s add some
scroll to “installation,” then data drives and user folders.
click and download the “For
OMV 4.x openmediavault-
omvextrasorg_latest_all4.
deb” package to your PC.

40 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 off tHe sHelf
Well, that was all a lot of options. You’ll be able
effort, wasn’t it? Surely to manage your NAS
capitalism can provide from any web browser
an easier solution? or your smartphone.
Damn right. Off-the- At the low end,
shelf NAS options are drives are typically
available in droves, offered in single-, dual-,
and provide a level of and quad-bay designs,
ease, functionality, with various processor,
and slickness that’d be network, video-out,
akin to the low levels and expansion options.
of friction you’d find Moving up the levels,
between dihydrogen you hit eight-bay models,
monoxide and a with Core i7 processors, save a lot of time and buy NAS away at the end of an Ethernet cable
mallard’s back. We’d up to 64GB of system an off-the-shelf solution. that makes everyone’s life easier.
certainly point you in memory, dual 10GB While we’d say OMV has a slightly higher
the direction of QNAP networking, and beyond. you can effectively build entry level of required knowledge over
and Synology—both Of course, part of your own NAS box. Low- Windows, if you’re capable of installing an
offer a range of solid the reason for running power Core i3 processors OS from scratch, you’re going to get on with
NAS systems, with this article is the do-it- provide an excellent either option. You’ll find help in abundance
very flexible web- yourself option. Take option and all the Quick for both, while you’ll balance the unbridled
controlled software, an old processor and Sync transcoding grunt flexibility of Windows versus the slick
and other simple motherboard, link up you could need for stability and security of OMV. The truth is,
remote management a bunch of drives, and most situations. we’re all winners here; no one is forcing
you to use OMV, it’s just another tool in the
computing armory to wield as you will.

12 13 14 15
RAID TIME FILESYSTEM FOLDERS MEDIA SERVER
switch to “storage Once the raid is in a You’ll want to add Before we leave you,
> raid,” and click clean state, you can shared folders to keep let’s kick a Plex Media
“+Create.” give your raid a add a filesystem to it. Under different files for different server into action. We’ll
name, select the drives you’re “storage > Filesystems,” click reasons, groups, users, and pretend everything is stored in
going to add to the raid, and “+Create.” select your raid so on. have a think about the “public” folder (you could
if you’re not happy with the from the “device” pull-down who and how files will be create “video” and “music”
default raid mode, choose menu, give it a name—we’re shared and accessed. We’ll folders). enable access to the
another. Once done, click case-sensitive around here— create a generic “Public” to Plex repositories, so we can
“Create.” the raid requires and leave the “Filesystem” begin with. You create shared install it. select “OMV-extras,”
synchronizing—even though it as eXt4. OMV does support folders under “access right double-click the “Plexmedia”
is blank—and this takes a few advanced filesystems, such as Management > shared entry, click “enable, save and
hours, depending on the size Btrfs, that support anti-bitrot Folder.” Click “+add,” choose Update.” switch to “system
and speed of the drives. You’ll checksums, among other a name (“public”), your raid > Plugins,” search for Plex,
also note the final capacity is things, but that’s way beyond device, ignore the “Path,” select the checkbox, and
somewhat less than the total, the scope of this article. Once and choose “everyone” for click “+install”—this actually
which is due to an entire drive created, select the new drive, “Permissions.” For more on installs Plex. Once done, the
being used as redundancy, so if click “Mount,” then “apply.” network shares and Windows web interface refreshes.
one fails, data is not lost. access, see the box above-left. select the new Plex control
under “services > Plex Media
server.” Click “enable,” select
your main device, and “save.”
Click the Plex Web Client to
configure Plex. happy nasing!

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 41

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Centerfold

44 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

Cooler Master
Cosmos C700P
FEW products in thE pc industry it for the modern era. Whether it’s
have such enduring legacies as the the intricately smooth RGB lighting,
original Cosmos. The PC ecosystem curved tempered glass, ridiculously
evolves at a rate unlike any other—six in-depth fan controllers, inverted
months down the line, and that brand layouts, or cornucopia of smart
new graphics card, motherboard, or features designed to make your
processor is supplanted by something building experience as seamless as
even better. The Cosmos, on the other possible, it’s a chassis that really does
hand? It’s a legend, a perfect full have something for everyone.
tower chiseled from a block of pure It’s costly, sure, but for such an
aluminum, with design features well exceedingly versatile case of this
ahead of their time. caliber, it may well be worth the
The Cosmos C700P takes that plunge when looking for a full-tower
legacy and suitably reinvigorates chassis for your build. –ZAK storEY

Form & Function

1 Almost everything in the Cosmos C700P is secured with standard
Phillips head screws. There are no pop rivets here, which means you can
strip it down to the very barest of skeletons, making it exceedingly easy
to reorient the internals, and mod it to your heart’s content. Hopefully
this is a move that the industry as a whole will adopt.

rGB mastery
2 For once, we’re not railing against RGB. No, seriously, we don’t
have it lit up here, but the bars lining the roof and floor diffuse the light
in such a manner that it actually looks quite classy. It’s integrated into a
massive fan controller, which is baked into the back of the case, and
controllable through your motherboard, or via a button on the front I/O.

maximumpc.com Apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 45

games preview

Games
for 2018
Ones to watch from the forthcoming
bumper PC gaming crop By phil iwaniuk

You can accuse the games industrY of many things—and the left field, and even some brave and ambitious titles from the
people do, just look on the internet—but never of staying the same. big triple-a studios. the otherworldly weirdness of hideo Kojima’s
it’s an entertainment medium in constant flux, at once refining death stranding, ea’s indie-on-a-blockbuster-budget a Way out,
popular ideas and embracing bleeding-edge technology an actual monster hunter game on Pc, and a loving renovation of
that might facilitate new ones. You wouldn’t always age of empires all await us over the next 12 months. But will they
know it by the ultra-safe parade of triple-a games be the ones we remember? any one of the following upcoming titles
that flaunt their stuff at the big shows every year, might be the one that changes the industry, eats our free time, and
focus-grouped to within an inch of their becomes an all-time classic. Just wait and see.
lives, but it’s true nonetheless.
Last year’s biggest game was a mod
based on a mod, which turned into
an early access phenomenon.
PuBg was as non-traditional a
path to stardom as it gets, and
2018 promises more surprise hits,
more genre-changers coming in from

GTr 3 tBc 2018

Back in the olden days, you could tell how
serious someone was about racing games
just by watching how excited they became
when you uttered three letters: G-T-R.
Simbin’s sims were best-in-class stuff in
the noughties, and the developer is back Vermintide 2
with more stern endurance series racing to tBc 2018
show the young upstarts a thing or two. It’s More brutal co-op adventures in the old Warhammer universe from Fatshark in 2018, who this
the Unreal Engine this time, with dynamic time swaps out the Skaven for Chaos. New maps, heroes, abilities, and enemy types are on the
time of day and weather to look forward to. way, and also a particular focus on a fairer loot system. Less grinding and waiting for the RNG
» Publisher: Simbin UK gods to cast their favor upon you, more cleaving skulls and laughing.
» developer: Simbin UK » Publisher: Fatshark » developer: Fatshark

46 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

a Total War saga: Crackdown 3 Q1 2018
Thrones of Britannia tBc 2018 Has it been in development for too long? Once, it seemed like a sure-
Total War has spanned history, and even fiction, but the formula’s fire hit, but as years have passed, Crackdown 3’s destructible tech
remained largely the same. Here’s where it changes: Set after King and open-world crime fighting are starting to look tired. Still, with
Alfred beat the Vikings, it’s a zoomed-in look at Britain, with a new Microsoft funding it, it’s an outside bet to guzzle up your free hours.
tech system and mid-campaign dilemmas that may turn the tide. » Publisher: Microsoft Studios » developer: Reagent Games,
» Publisher: Sega » developer: Creative Assembly Sumo Digital, Cloudgine, Ruffian Games

age of empires:
Definitive
edition
February 20, 2018
That old muscle memory
will be called upon again.
Remember all the shortcuts?
The ironically named Forgotten
Empires is in charge of
remastering a genuine classic
of strategy gaming in 2018.
1997’s AoE still holds up
mechanically, but a new lick
of paint is always welcome.
» Publisher: Microsoft Studios
» developer: Forgotten
Empires

Death stranding tBc 2018 metal Gear survive anno 1800 Q4 2018
Is there such a thing as a quadruple-A Q1 2018 It feels as though the Anno series has
game? If so, Death Stranding is the first of It doesn’t look great. Without Kojima’s been going since the dawn of the industrial
this new breed. Guillermo Del Toro, Mads visionary direction, there seems little left revolution, so how fitting that this new
Mikkelsen, Norman Reedus, and Hideo of Metal Gear Solid’s esoteric greatness in title is set at exactly that point in time. City
Kojima are all involved—makes Call of Survive, a sci-fi survival action-adventure. building with a strong economy focus and
Duty look like a straight-to-DVD Danny But it is a Metal Gear game on PC. You don’t surprisingly gorgeous urban vistas, Anno
Dyer movie. At this point, no one knows get those every day, and it’ll be hard to 1800 brings a story-driven campaign and
what it’s about, except (hopefully) Hideo. ignore that brand power when it arrives. longform multiplayer.
» Publisher: Sony » Publisher: Konami » Publisher: Ubisoft
» developer: Kojima Productions » developer: Konami » developer: Blue Byte

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 47

games preview
Project
Hospital
tBc 2018
Frankly, it’s incredible that
no one thought to set a
management game in a hospital
before, depict it in isometric
format, and add a gentle
humor to the day-to-day grind
of mopping up vomit. Peter
Molyneux must be kicking
himself, but Oxymoron Games
is pursuing this bold new
vision in 2018. (OK, it’s a Theme
Hospital remake in all but
name—we’re fine with this.)
» Publisher: Oxymoron Games
» developer: Oxymoron Games

shenmue 3 Q4 2018 metro exodus sunless skies

Ha, ha, yeah, good one. Oh, you were being Q3 2018 may 2018
serious? Well, yes, if it ever materialized, a Metro games are always deep, dark shooters Sunless Sea was an eerie and strikingly
third Shenmue game would be interesting. with bleeding-edge visuals and gas masks, imaginative steampunk strategy about
Everything about this game, though, from and Exodus continues that fine tradition. navigating the oceans of an imaginary
the strange “is it really a Kickstarter?” This time, you’re on a train ride through Victorian world, forging a deeply personal
beginning to the three years of silence ever post-nuked Russia, popping hairy mutant story along the way. Not much is known
since—bar some screenshots and a boring horrors and amoral scavengers in a series about its sequel, Sunless Skies, except
environment trailer—has us worried. of open-world hubs. It’ll be worth it for the that it’s about aviation instead of maritime
» Publisher: Ys Net, Shibuya Productions, eye-porn alone. exploration, and it’ll probably be ace again.
Deep Silver » Publisher: Deep Silver » Publisher: Failbetter Games
» developer: Ys Net, Neilo » developer: 4A Games » developer: Failbetter Games

Ni No Kuni II:
revenant
Kingdom
march 23, 2018
Look, just because he’s
called Evan Pettiwhisker
Tildrum doesn’t mean Ni
No Kuni II’s protagonist
shouldn’t be taken seriously.
He’s a king, you know. More
Ghibli loveliness awaits here
in JRPG form, with a new
Total War-lite large-scale
battle system, and wee
chums called “Higgledies”
who help out in combat.
» Publisher: Bandai Namco
» developer: Level-5

48 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

Dark souls remastered
may 25, 2018
Book a vacation to Alaska and wait for the Dark
Souls pseudo-intellectuals to wear themselves
out with their seminars about From Software’s Biomutant tBc 2018
adaptation of Roman mythology: It’s back. One of The hipster’s choice for “game of E3 2017” accolades, Biomutant came out of nowhere last
the great action games, but in a form that runs on year. It’s an open-world RPG, which doesn’t sound very attention-grabbing, but one with
PC, and doesn’t look like kids drew the textures. martial arts-driven combat, and a gene-splicing upgrade tree. It’s the colorful, whimsical
» Publisher: Bandai Namco world that has people in a praise frenzy, though. Will it rival Monster Hunter World?
» developer: From Software » Publisher: THQ Nordic » developer: Experiment 101

far Cry 5
march 27, 2018
OK, so this one could
go wrong. Tried-
and-tested Far Cry
formula meets plot
about religious
zealots in backwoods
America equals…
well, who knows, at
this point? Hopefully,
it won’t just be a
toothless rehash of
previous successes—
potentially, it’s a bold
and enjoyable cult-
killing journey through
rural Montana.
» Publisher:
Ubisoft
» developer:
Ubisoft Montreal

a Way out march 23, 2018 state of Decay 2 tBc 2018 We Happy few Q2 2018
Filmmaker Josef Fares demonstrated his It’s Dead Rising meets The Sims, in the best Imagining a chilling dystopia in which the
ability as a game director with Brothers: A way possible. Many games imagine zombie population’s drugged into a stupor and
Tale of Two Sons, and now he’s back with a apocalypses, but none has gone into such blinded to the awful reality around them,
grander idea about two prisoners looking detail as to how you’d rebuild society. Recruit We Happy Few places an unusually heavy
to make a break. Co-op and super-slick, A folks and watch the effects of their decisions emphasis on narrative for a survival game.
Way Out will be one of 2018’s early stars. while you get on with the undead massacre. » Publisher: Compulsion Games,
» Publisher: EA » Publisher: Microsoft Studios Gearbox Software
» developer: Hazelight Studios » developer: Undead Labs » developer: Compulsion Games

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 49

games preview

system shock 3 Q2 2018 The Crew 2 Q1 2018 The Last Night tBc 2018
One of the great immersive sim series is Cars? Pff. It’s all about planes and boats The Last Night wants to be Blade Runner
about to get a threequel, and legendary these days, didn’t you hear? Ivory Tower did, with pixel graphics—that’s fine by us. Odd
game maker Warren Spector is involved. and it’s adapting 2014’s partially successful Tales’ debut combines 3D environments
Can it match the impossibly high standard open-world racer over not just roads, but with 2D sprites in a way we haven’t seen
of its predecessors? Of course not. But it’ll skies and seas, too. Plus, there’s a weird before, and drenches them in an eighties
be great to see Otherside at least try. Inception-style world-folding mechanic. Ridley Scott movie color palette.
» Publisher: Starbreeze Studios » Publisher: Ubisoft » Publisher: Raw Fury
» developer: Otherside Entertainment » developer: Ivory Tower » developer: Odd Tales

monster
Hunter
World
Q3 2018
You’re already hearing
all about how great it
is from your console-
loving brethren, so we
don’t need to underline
Monster Hunter World’s
finer qualities as a jungle
full of beauty and peril.
Or as a hunting sim with
incredible RPG depth. Or,
indeed, as a survival game
in harsh but seductive
alien climes. So we won’t.
» Publisher:
Capcom
» developer:
Capcom

Kingdom Come: Vampyr Q1 2018 mount & Blade II:

Deliverance February 13, 2018 Ah, the duality of man. Poets, philosophers, Bannerlord tBc 2018
Fanatically detailed in its depiction of and artists have been trying to capture it for Finally, a game about frat boys slapping
medieval Bohemia, this is an RPG without centuries, but Life is Strange dev Dontnod each other when they pass out. Wait—it’s
dragons and elves. Warhorse has curated has hit the nail on the head with Vampyr: “Bannerlord,” not “Banterlord.” That’ll
a huge chunk of bucolic olde worlde for you You’re a doctor, who’s also a vampire. be the one about recruiting an army and
to run amok in with authentic weaponry. Atmospheric and bravely narrative-driven. fighting huge battles in first-person, then.
» Publisher: Warhorse studios » Publisher: Focus Home Interactive » Publisher: Taleworlds Entertainment
» developer: Warhorse studios » developer: Dontnod Entertainment » developer: Taleworlds Entertainment

50 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

Griftlands
Q1 2018
Klei has a bit of a golden
touch with 2D indies: Mark
of the Ninja and Don’t
Starve both hail from the
Canadian studio. Hopes are
high for RPG Griftlands,
then, which seduces with
a sketchbook world of
procedurally generated
NPCs, turn-based fights,
and an emphasis on
subduing, not killing.
So that’s nice.
» Publisher:
Klei Entertainment
» developer:
Klei Entertainment

Neverwinter Nights: Pillars of eternity II: Deadfire

enhanced edition tBc 2018 april 3, 2018
Neverwinter Nights is generally regarded, by people with the dice Josh Sawyer’s Obsidian team rekindled everything that we missed
bags and books to make these calls, as the best D&D ever on PC. about the isometric RPGs circa 2000 in Pillars 1, and did such a good
It’s also nearly 20 years old, and looked a bit rough even on release. job that it’s making a sequel. Dark, challenging and strictly old-
Beamdog, perpetual life-giver to treasured old RPGs, is dusting it off, school, it’s one to play with copious presses of the pause button, while
and sprucing it up for a new generation to enjoy in 2018, and we think you issue orders, and drink in the top-notch writing.
that’s just lovely. » Publisher: Versus Evil
» Publisher: Beamdog » developer: Beamdog » developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Insurgency
sandstorm
tBc 2018
Here to prove that modern
military shooters don’t all have
to come from million-strong
triple-A studios, Insurgency
Sandstorm trains its laser
sights on recent Middle-Eastern
conflicts, and brings an indie
spirit to down and dirty gunfights.
Vehicular combat, spectacular
fire effects, and exclusively
multiplayer action await.
» Publisher: Focus
Home Interactive
» developer: New
World Interactive

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 51

Let the AmAzon echo chAnge
your Life todAy
Discover everything you need to know to get the most from Amazon’s
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 examining technology and putting it to use
R&D

Step-by-Step GuideS to improvinG your pC

Tip of The MonTh

ZAK STOREY
deputy editor

PeriPheral
Perusal
Work on my custom desk is under way.
The bespoke steel legs finally turned
up, the integrated wireless Qi charging
pad has been ordered, and the overall
design has been finalized. All that’s
left is to build the thing. But that got
WindoWs Verification me thinking. I’m trying to go with a
super-clean aesthetic. Ergotron’s
We’re often asked, “What version of Windows am I running?” kindly provided a dual-screen monitor
Apart from the obvious, the version number is vital if you need arm for my two ViewSonic VP3268-4K
panels, to keep the huge displays off
to know which updates you have installed, especially in today’s my desk. And I have some smart ideas
climate of Spectre and Meltdown. There’s an easy way to find to keep the rear I/O cables from my
new rig hidden out the way as well. The
out, and get more info than the “This PC” system properties biggy is peripherals—without drilling
panel reveals. Open the “Start” menu, and type “Winver.” This holes in the middle of my desk, it will
be damn near impossible to hide those
opens a window that gives you all the up-to-date info you need. pesky USB cables from view.
There’s an obvious answer: to
go fully wireless. But that has its
own problems. At heart, I’m still

MAKE – USE – CREATE a gamer. As much as I try to deny

it, I still enjoy playing pixel-driven
fantasies—it’s what got me into PC
building. Problem is, with that comes
certain expectancies. I can’t just get an
office Bluetooth membrane keyboard
and a Logitech MX Master mouse. I
need mechanical switches, and an
ergonomic mouse with lots of buttons.
Right now, pickings are slim. Razer
and Logitech’s wireless charging
56 62 68 mice pads are certainly tempting,
Pump up your Go extreme with A masterful build but neither manufacturer meets my
music with antialiasing for inside Cooler Master’s requirements on the keyboard side
Volumio on the Pi smoother gaming new Cosmos C700P of things. And I’m still superstitious
about those wireless charging pads….

↘ submit your How To project idea to: [email protected]

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 53
R&D examining technology and putting it to use

presents:

THIS MONTH WE DISSECT...

54 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

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Today on our teardown table, we have a shiny new Apple TV 4K
plucked straight from the technology orchards of Cupertino.
So, what are we to do with Apple’s first 4K HDR streaming
device? Binge-watch Stranger Things? We definitely thought
about it… but, nah, we’re tearing this sucker apart!

MAJOR TECH SPECS

Apple TV 4K
• 64-bit Apple A10X Fusion chip
• Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, IR receiver,
and HDMI 2.0a
• In the remote: glass touch surface, dual microphones,
accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth 4.0, IR transmitter,
Lightning connector

KEY FINDINGS
• The newest Apple TV doesn’t tower over its predecessor this
time around, but we did notice a couple of key differences in
the design. The bottom panel has been redesigned for what
looks like some serious thermal venting. Bye-bye, USB-C
port. We take a familiar access route through the underside
of the Apple TV 4K. Just like with its single-K sibling, the
Apple TV 4K features repair-friendly plastic clips that secure
its bottom panel. No moat of glue or uncommon screws? This
upgraded unit gets a 1 Up as a reward.
• Peeling back the rear panel reveals a beefy fan secured by
some T7 Torx screws. After pulling them out, we meet Apple
TV’s biggest fan! It looks as though Apple merged the new
fan with the heatsink/EMI shield assembly from the Apple TV
4th Generation, combining them to form one whopper of a
cooling solution. This Voltron of a thermal assembly
suggests that 4K HDR capability comes with a significant
increase in thermal output. With a twist of a few more
Torx screws, the assembly is disassembled, revealing a
replaceable fan driven by a Nidec brushless motor.
• We’re pleased to see that Apple keeps with the tradition of
easily removable logic boards for the Apple TV 4K. We don’t
run into any surprises here; the heatsink remains much the
same as its predecessor from 2015. We take a moment to
4K HDR takes some real grunt to cool.
pluck a familiar pair of presumed power posts from the
body of the heatsink. During our Apple TV 4th Generation
teardown, we suspected that power was transmitted to the
logic board via the heatsink screw posts. It looks as though
this is still the case with the Apple TV 4K. With the heatsink
and posts out of the way, the only thing left to do is remove
the power supply board.
• The new power supply is rated for 12V at 1.083A. This is just
a modest bump up from the 0.917A power supply we saw in
the Apple TV 4th Generation. Again taking a design lead
from its older sibling, the Apple TV 4K eschews internal
wiring between the power supply and logic board. The use
of conductive posts in lieu of wiring probably saves internal

About iFixit
real estate, and it eliminates the possibility of pinched or
bent wires during assembly.
iFixit is a global community of tinkerers • Repairability Score: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair).
dedicated to helping people fix things Plastic clips hold the case together for easy opening.
through free online repair manuals and Modular components make for easy disassembly and repair.
teardowns. iFixit believes that ever yone The power supply is modular, and features a removable
has the right to maintain and repair their AC-in jack. Standard Torx screws hold everything together.
own products. All major components are soldered to the logic board,
To learn more, visit www.ifixit.com. meaning fixing any port problems will require board-level
soldering or a full board replacement.

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Pump Up Your Music

With Volumio
You’ll Need this We’re going to transform your raspberry pi into a music player with Volumio, a distro that
has just one job: playing and streaming music. It’s relatively easy to set up, is designed for headless
raspberry pi or pi Zero use, and provides a user-friendly interface through your web browser for managing your music.
Plus a 4GB or larger microSD card. This UI is replicated on the official Volumio apps for iOS and Android, so you can run everything from
your cell phone, too. You can also access Volumio through your mobile browser, or try an MPD-
cable capable app, such as MPDroid for Android, instead. Note, however, that MPD apps can be tricky to
Capable of connecting your Pi to an set up (connecting using IP address rather than hostname is more reliable).
amplifier or your home stereo. Volumio also doubles up as a UPNP/DLNA and AirPlay receiver, and can be used to stream
music over the Internet, with built-in support for web radio, and plugins for streaming from Spotify
and YouTube, too. Volumio supports the most popular audio file formats out of the box—including
FLAC for those of us who have an aversion to lossy compression—and has native support for a wide
range of I2S DACs for those who want to take their listening pleasure to the next level. –Nick Peers

1 The cable guy

Check the connections on the back of your amp—typically this
is in the form of two phono sockets, in which case you can
connect your Pi’s headphone jack to here using a suitable cable:
3.5mm plug at one end, and twin phono plugs at the other. If you
setup is complete, your browser should redirect you to the
main Volumio playback screen. You’ll see that it’s split
into three tabs: Browse, Playback, and Queue [image a].
They’re all self-explanatory, so start by clicking “Browse,”
where you’ll see you can navigate your collection. Look
only have an HDMI port, search eBay for “HDMI audio converter.” out for the spinning wheel at first. This indicates that your
>> If you want to take your music to the next level, invest in a DAC folders are still being scanned for content.

3
(digital to analog converter) HAT for your Pi or Pi Zero. There are
plenty of options out there. The cost can be reduced dramatically if configuraTion opTions
you’re able to repurpose components, such as the Pi Zero W, power While you wait for the initial scan, click the
adapter, or microSD card. “Settings” button in the top-right corner to find a

2
range of configurable options. Start with “My Music,” where
geT Volumio working you can add new drives to your library. You can also tweak
Download the Raspberry Pi build of Volumio from https:// other preferences here, such as whether to download
volumio.org/get-started. It’s around 300MB compressed. album art from the web, for music folders without art
Once done, follow the main step-by-step guide (pg. 58) to copy this in them. Consider switching this off if your album art is
to a blank microSD card (4GB or larger), then complete the initial embedded directly into each music track (you also need
setup process. At no point do you need to connect your Pi to a to flick the “Show Embedded Album Art” switch on, then
monitor or keyboard, because Volumio is configured and accessed click the “Reset Album Art Cache” button). If you find that
through any web browser connected to your local network. certain artwork comes up missing or corrupt, chances
>> You’re prompted to select the folder where your music is are there are hidden folder.jpg files in the album folder
stored. Volumio can handle multiple folders stored across a variety downloaded from the web. Browse to the album folder in
of different locations, including on the microSD card itself (you’ll be File Manager, and select “View > Show Hidden Files” to
looking to invest in a 64GB or even 128GB card if you go down this reveal the hidden .jpg album art files. Delete these, then
route, particularly if you’re a fan of the audiophile-friendly FLAC repeat for any other afflicted folders. Once complete, go to
format, as we are). Because the SD format is prone to corruption, “Settings > My Music,” and click “Reset Album Art Cache
however, we recommend storing your music separately to Volumio. > Rescan” to update the album art.
Suitable alternatives include USB storage plugged directly into >> Select “Playback Options” to change your output
your Pi—typically either a USB flash drive or a USB hard drive, if device and adjust related settings. Explore “Playback
your music collection is on the large side. If you’re connecting to the Options” if you experience frequent buffering when
Pi Zero, you need a USB adapter or shim, and the USB drive needs listening to music over the network. Increase the “Audio
to provide its own power. Buffer Size” to 12MB, and consider upping the “Buffer
>> A more convenient option is to connect to network storage, Before Play” figure. You can tweak Volumio’s volume
which is a good way to access music stored on your main PC or options from here, too, such as setting a default volume on
a NAS drive. Volumio automatically looks for network drives startup, or limiting the maximum volume level.
alongside any locally detected storage. Don’t panic if your drive >> The “Appearance” settings affect the web (and
doesn’t show up: Simply enter its IP address or network name, Volumio app) interface, enabling you to change language,
along with the path to your shared music library. Use Ubuntu’s File select a background image (or upload your own), or choose
Manager to determine its name and path if necessary. a plain background color [image b]. Access “Network
>> The initial scan takes some time, particularly on the Pi Zero, Settings” to configure the wired and wireless interfaces—
and where libraries are both large and stored externally. Once initial typically to establish a static IP address. You can disable

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the built-in Volumio Wi-Fi hotspot from here for security reasons. tags, such as artist, track name, album name, and so
Furthermore, there’s an option to choose different DNS settings if on, together with artwork. None of these changes are
you’re struggling to get Internet access, such as those offered by automatically recognized by Volumio; instead, you need to
OpenDNS (208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220). manually rescan or update your library. The difference is
>> Select “System” to re-run the first configuration wizard, straightforward: An update searches for new, changed, or
change your player name (this is handy if you have more than one removed content, while a rescan scans all the files in your
Volumio-based music player), perform a factory reset, delete your library for changes.
user data, and check for any updates. A word of warning about this >> If you’ve updated a specific artist or album, then you’ll
final option: It may corrupt your SD card, so always back up any also find a handy “Update Folder” option on the – –– menu
user data on the card before you begin. We’ll tackle this at the end next to its entry. This enables you to perform a focused
of this project. scan on that part of your library.

4
>> Once backed up, open Volumio and switch to the “Browse” tab.
You’ll see several options for browsing your library: You can navigate browsing and managemenT
by artist, album, or genre (if your files have been correctly tagged), You will also notice options for browsing by
or choose “Music Library” to browse by location. This is handy if Favorites and Playlists. “Favorites” contains a list
you’ve set up multiple folders, and are only interested in browsing a of your best-loved tracks—these can be added manually
specific one (for example, your classical music collection). via other views (or the “Queue” tab) by clicking the – ––
>> Over time, your music folders will change, of course. You’ll button next to a track, and choosing “Add to Favorites.”
add new tracks, and perhaps remove others. You may also wish Once added, just click the –
–– button once again and choose
to manage the metadata associated with your tracks—both “Remove from Favorites” when you finally become sick of

Working With playlists

Like any good music player, Volumio it. You can access your playlists from the switch to the “Queue” tab. Not only
supports playlists, but unfortunately it’s “Browse” tab. From here, you can open can you remove individual items from
not the most intuitive of tools. Switch the playlist to remove individual items here, but you can click and drag them
to the “Browse” tab, then browse your via the ––– button, but one crucial missing to rearrange them, too. Then click the
music library by either artist or album. feature is the fact that you’re unable to floppy disk icon to create a new playlist or
You’ll see the ––– “hamburger” menu rearrange the running order. select an existing one.
button next to artists, albums, and No problem: A more elegant—and, Note that your queued items aren’t
individual tracks—click this, and you’ll indeed, quicker—method to both create appended to an existing playlist—they
see an option to add the selected item and edit playlists comes courtesy of the overwrite it. So if updating a playlist, you
to a playlist. Either type the name of “Queue” tab. Instead of adding items should first select it from the “Browse”
a new playlist and hit “New,” or click to a playlist, choose “Add to Queue” (so tab (under “Playlists”), and choose “Add
an existing playlist to add the items to one click instead of two). Once complete, to Queue” before making your changes.

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set up and install Volumio

1. PrePare your microSD carD 2. inStall Volumio

Double-click the .img.zip file you downloaded from the Volumio Click the “None” button to browse for and select your image file.
website to open it in Archive Manager. Click “Extract” and save the You’ll receive a warning about the disk image being smaller than the
image file to the same directory as the downloaded file. Now insert target device—don’t worry, Volumio expands the partition during
an unused microSD (4GB or larger) card into your PC. Open the Disks setup. Click “Start Restoring” followed by “Restore.” Enter your
utility, select your card, and click the hamburger-like icon. Choose user password, then sit back and wait for the image to be written
“Restore Disk Image.” to the card. Once complete, safely eject the card.

3. Set uP Volumio 4. Set uP connection

Once complete, verify the volumes are set up correctly: a small 64MB If your Pi is going to connect wirelessly to your network, you’ll need
FAT32 bootable partition, plus a 2.4GB volumio Ext4 volume, followed to first connect to its own internal Wi-Fi network via another
by a 300MB volumio_data Ext4 volume, with the rest of the drive wireless device or computer. Open the device’s network properties—
given over (for now) to free space. Safely eject the card again, then “Settings > Network > Wireless in Ubuntu”—and connect to the
insert it into your Raspberry Pi, and switch the power on. Wait for Volumio Wi-Fi network. Use the password “volumio2.” Now open
around 6–10 minutes while it’s set up, and the free space allocated. your browser and go to http://volumio.local to set things up.

5. naVigate firSt-run wizarD 6. comPlete SetuP

A six-step wizard helps you get things up and running. First, select Now connect Volumio to your Wi-Fi network. Select your network from
your language and click “Next.” Give your device a unique name (in the list and click “Connect.” Enter its password (ignore the warning
most cases, “Volumio” is sufficient—unless you have multiple devices about insecure connections—we can fix this later). Click “Next.”
set up), and click “Next” again. Now choose your output device. Flick You’re prompted to set the path to your music collection—click “Add
the “I2S DAC” switch to “Yes,” then select it from the list, and click New Drive” to do so (see main text for advice). Finish by clicking
“Next” again. “Next > Done.” Reconnect your PC or device to the main network.

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listening to the song. Playlists offer more flexibility, because you 20 available for download at http://bit.ly/volumio-plugins.
can generate these from entire albums and even artists, as well Drag and drop the zip file to the “Upload Plugin” tab.
as individual tracks—see the box (pg. 57) for more information on They’re not officially supported, and can be glitchy, so use
managing playlists. them at your own risk.
>> Two final options include “Last 100,” which basically lists >> The “Miscellaneous” and “System” sections
the most recently played tracks. This is a convenient way include five plugins that extend support to various
to quickly collate these into one place for the purposes of another hardware add-ons. Of most interest will be the Touch
creating a playlist or favoriting specific tracks. Then there’s Pi tutorial Display Plugin, for those who’ve hooked up their Pi to
“Web Radio,” which gives you access to hundreds of online next any touchscreen display (it’s optimized for the seven-
streaming radio stations. Month inch Raspberry Pi display), plus GPIO Buttons, which

5
enables you to control basic playback options through
online sTreaming physical buttons.
Web Radio uses Shoutcast and Dirble services for tracking >> Finally, the “Accessories” section contains an IR
down and listening to radio stations worldwide. Shoutcast Remote Controller plugin for controlling Volumio playback
offers a choice of the top 500 stations or the ability to browse by via remote control. It’s configured for JustBoom IR
genre; Dirble offers a browse by country function. Click a radio remotes, but also offers profiles for Odroid Remote and
station to start listening, add it to the queue, or make it one of your Apple remote, too. Don’t forget that you’ll need an IR
Radio Favorites. receiver for your Pi.
>> You can also manually add radio streams yourself by clicking >> The final plugin should be considered essential:
––– next to “My Web Radios,” and choosing “Add Webradio.” Give your Backup & Restore Data. Once installed, switch to the
stream a name, then enter its URL stream or link to a M3U or PLS “Installed Plugins” tab to activate it, then click “Settings,”
remote file. where you choose what to back up. Your available options
>> Two additional streaming services—Spotify (Premium account are “Queue,” “Playlists,” “Favorites,” “Configuration
required) and YouTube—can also be added via “Settings > Plugins Data,” and “Album Art.” Click “Backup” and a file called
> Search Plugins.” Once installed, switch to the “Installed Plugins” volumio_data.tgz will be saved to Volumio’s shared folder.
tab to switch them on. You can then access them from the home >> Once saved, go into “File Manager > Network >
screen under “Browse,” and access the content as though it were VOLUMIO > Internal Storage,” log on anonymously
your local library, adding it to queues, playlists, and favorites (a when prompted, then save volumio_data.tgz to a secure
handy search tool helps you to quickly locate content). The major location. After restoring Volumio and reinstalling the
difference between local music and streaming is the noticeable plugin, be sure to copy this file back to the root directory of
delay between clicking on a stream and it actually starting. “Internet Storage,” then click the “Restore” button to put

6
things back in place.
beyond The basics >> You can use the Backup and Restore plugin to do
Plugins enable you to extend what Volumio can do. There more than simply provide a fail-safe in case of SD card
are currently around 10 available from Volumio’s “Plugins,” corruption; you can also use it as a crude snapshot tool.
split into four categories. Spotify and YouTube are currently the only About to make a major change to your database? Take a
additional “Music Services” on offer from here, but you’ll find over backup, then simply restore it if things don’t go to plan.

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Make Original Music

With VCV Rack
You’ll need this For Fans oF beautiFul electronic music and brain-melting honking noises alike, there’s
nothing quite like a modular analog synth. The concept behind them is reasonably simple. Start
VCV RaCk with a signal voltage, generated by an oscillator. Send that voltage through a bunch of modules,
Download it from each of which subtracts or alters the original waveform, changing its sound. By the time your
www.vcvrack.com. adulterated voltage reaches the speaker output, you’ll (theoretically) have made it into something
unique, and the possibilities afforded by modular synthesis—the inputs, outputs, and expandable
structure—mean there’s an endless variation of possible results.
VCV Rack faithfully emulates proper analog synth equipment, to the extent that some
manufacturers of real-world modules have created their own virtual equivalents, so close to the
originals that patches—configurations of knobs and switches, which create a particular sound—can
be faithfully recreated in Rack from the physical hardware. That said, nothing’s ever 100 percent
accurate with analog synthesis, and nothing’s ever set in stone. You may never find the same sound
twice, but the journey to get there is great fun. Just be careful of your speakers, because you never
know what noise you’re going to make.... –Alex Cox

A C

down your system volume, and click and drag from the
VCO’s “SQR” port to one of the numbered outputs [image a]
on the audio interface. You’ll hear a tone from one of your
speakers, indicating success; jiggle the “Freq” knob, and
the pitch should change.

1 Make soMe noise

With Rack installed and running (you can do it, scout, it’s just
a couple of clicks), you’ll see a slightly worrying empty rack.
Let’s start filling it up: Right-click in some empty space, and select
2 adjust leVels
Pull the wire out to stop the noise, then add some
more modules. Begin with some basic quality of life
stuff: Add VC Mixer (a simple mixer) and VCA (a voltage-
controlled amplifier), both in the “Fundamentals” section.
“Core > Audio Interface” to add an output module. Use the drop- Wire a couple of your VCO outputs into separate channels
down below “Audio Device” to select your soundcard, then right- on the mixer, plug its main, upper output channel to the
click in empty space again to add “Fundamental > VCO-1.” This is input on the uppermost section of the VCA, then wire
a voltage-controlled oscillator, essentially a sound generator. Turn channels one and two of your audio interface to the output

B D

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midi instruments
If you have a MIDI keyboard, adding the MIDI to CV module
is a must—it enables you to use the notes of keyboard keys
(1V/Oct), their velocity, and (if your keyboard supports it)
[image B] of the VCA. Tweaking the knobs on the mixer now enables aftertouch, as well as the modulation and pitch wheels to
you to balance the two channels and control the overall volume of control anything with an input. This could be as simple as
the signal. wiring the keyboard’s 1V/Oct output to the V/Oct input of a

3
VCO, or far more complex—modular synths are all about
see the sound exploration and experimentation, so it’s up to you to find a
A scope (“Fundamentals > Scope”) is a useful way to get sound you love.
some visual feedback on the signal you’re generating. Just If you don’t have a MIDI keyboard, you can still get a little
add one in, then patch its “X in” socket to the VCA output, tweaking more interactive with your instruments. Download and install
the X scale until the waveform has some decent height. If you’re Virtual MIDI Piano Keyboard from http://vmpk.sourceforge.
scoping out a square wave, or some combination including one, you’ll net, and MIDI OX and MIDI Yoke from http://midiox.com, and
probably notice some rough edges; a filter, such as “Fundamentals set VMKB’s output to MIDI Yoke. Add a MIDI to CV module to
> VCF,” can help smooth these. Add one in, place another VC Mixer your synth, set its interface to the appropriate input, wire its
next to it, patch the output of your original mixer into the VCF input, 1V/Oct port to something interesting, and use the keys on
then patch the HPF and LPF outputs of the filter into the individual your computer keyboard to play. Bear in mind that the other
channels of the new mixer. These are the high and low pass filters— MIDI outputs are useless if playing this way, because your
essentially smoothing the top and bottom ends of the sound. Wire virtual keyboard is limited to straight on/off voltages.
your new mixer’s output to the input of your original VCA [image C],

5
and tweak the knobs to try out your new sound.

4
Pulses on Pulses
add dynaMiCs The LFO is giving character to your sound, but a
So far, we’ve been dealing with a flat tone, but there’s no sequencer turns your synth from a drone into a
reason to stick with a single tone generator. Let’s add rhythmic machine. Add “Fundamentals > SEQ-3” to your
another, and make it an LFO-1, or low frequency oscillator. An LFO rack, and try not to be too intimidated—it’s a fairly simple
is rarely used as an instrument in itself, because the majority of contraption. Each row output sends a signal, determined
its range generates pulses too spaced out to register as sound. by each row of knobs, when the clock (represented by the
Instead, an LFO is used as a trigger for other things. In this case, flashing green light along the bottom) passes them. Wire
wire its sine wave output [image d] to the drive input of the VCF. As the “Row 1” output to the “Exp” input of the VCA, then patch
the LFO pulses (and you can control its speed with its “Freq” knob), the square wave output of your LFO to the external clock
it adds a little periodic crunch to your tone. Try the same output in input of the sequencer. Now, turn knobs 1, 3, 5, and 7 to
all the inputs of the VCF to see how it affects the sound, raising the full—you’ll hear your note pulsing on and off with every
level on the VCA if required. beat. Add another sequencer, patch the gate output of the
original into the external clock input of the new one to sync
F them up, then fire its row 1 into the V/Oct input [image e] of
the first VCO-1 instrument we added. You can now use the
knobs to control the note played on each beat.

6 Making ChoiCes
Having multiple rows means we can use sequences
longer than just eight beats. Add a Sequential
Switch 2, and patch each of the row outputs from your
second sequencer to a separate one of its inputs. Wire
the final gate output of the sequencer to the switch’s clock
input, and set the multi position “2:3:4” switch to 3—you
should see the green light on it step between each of your
three inputs. Now wire the output of the sequential switch
to your VCO’s V/Oct input [image F], and enjoy three rows
of note selection.

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Go Extreme With
Antialiasing
YoU’LL Need tHIs Forget Fair microtransaction models and the magic formula for a successful esports game—
these are but flash-in-the-pan challenges the games industry faces currently. For a much longer
GedoSato time, 3D designers were stumped by a far more prosaic problem: how to draw curved and diagonal
The Rolls-Royce of downsampling lines without them appearing like a blocky staircase of pixels.
tools. Available from http://blog. Aliased polygonal edges—or jaggies, as you say in today’s parlance, with your low-slung jeans
metaclassofnil.com. and dangerous new ideas—were a simple fact of 3D graphics for over a decade. It was only in the
mid-2000s that antialiasing (AA) became sophisticated enough to smooth out those lines until they
nvidia inSpeCtor appeared realistic, and it still takes a lot of computational power to do so.
If you side with Team Green in your In this smoother-edged age, though, new problems have emerged. What if the antialiasing
PCIe slot, this unofficial app is options baked into your game aren’t sufficient? And what about playing old games, which offer only
bristling with tweaks: www.guru3d. perfunctory antialiasing—is that the end of the line for your crusade against the jaggies?
com/files-details/nvidia-inspector- Well, no. There are lots of other options. Here’s how to go beyond the graphics menu’s limitations,
download.html. and antialias those edges so much that even Tom Jones would deem them smooth. –PHIL IWANIUK

A four times, is the best approach. If all works as planned,

your game will suddenly recognize these new resolutions,
and offer them in the display options menu. We recommend
those sizes in particular because rendering images at
enormous resolutions, then squishing them back down to
size, takes a lot of your GPU’s resources, and you’ll want
a few settings to switch between later on when you’re
tweaking for optimal performance. The laws of diminishing
returns definitely apply here, too, so you may find that 2x
downsampling produces a sufficiently smooth image.

3 turn off aa in-Game

Now, with GeDoSaTo still running in the
background, select one of the higher resolutions
that have just magically appeared in your game’s graphics
options menu or launcher. Next, remove any AA effects in

1
the game [image B], and observe whether downsampling
Get hold of GedoSata alone has smoothed out the jaggies. There’s no point
You know what they say—if in doubt, downsample. Don’t worry sending two fire trucks out to the same fire, after all. Unless
about who “they” are, just trust us: They’re always saying it. it’s a big fire. (We’re not totally clear on how the fire brigade
Downsampling is essentially supersampling AA (SSAA) by another works.) If you’re getting great antialiasing but a low frame
name: You render a version of the original image that’s much, rate, try a smaller resolution. If you’re getting the opposite,
much bigger—usually x2, x4 or x8 times the size of your native enlarge the resolution that GeDoSaTo creates.

4
resolution—then you downsample that enormous image so it fits
back within the dimensions of your monitor. And you do this by layer aa with nvidia inSpeCtor
downloading Generic Downsampling Tool, aka GeDoSaTo. Here’s another approach to your extreme
>> The advantage of using this program over the AA options in your AA solution: layer different techniques. Like
game’s menus is that you get a double-whammy of fidelity: higher downsampling, it’s a resource-heavy pursuit, but what
image resolution, and smoother edges by virtue of the former. After
all, the more pixels there are creating an image, the harder it is to B
see that step effect when pixels on diagonal lines display an edge.
Plus, there’s support for really big resolutions, so if you want to go
extreme with your AA, this is the program.

2 Create a CuStom SuperSized reSolution

Once GeDoSaTo is up and running, simply hit “Edit Settings”
to navigate to the pictured text file [image a]. Here you’ll
see two sets of resolutions: the larger supersampled resolutions
above, and your monitor’s native resolution below. Edit these
figures to taste—usually going for 1.5 times your native resolution,
then two times, then 2.5, then something more ambitious, such as

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about the word “extreme” implies low power consumption? Pro

tip: This is especially handy for older games with weaksauce AA
options. Download and install Nvidia Inspector to begin this layering
process. Hit that tiny green icon next to the “Driver Version” readout
and you’ll see a voluminous options menu pop up. First, head down
5 final tweakS
We’re going even deeper here, so first check you’re
still getting a playable frame rate with the AA
setting we just enabled. Good? Good. Now we’re tackling
alpha textures—things such as chain link fences, grass,
to the “Antialiasing—Mode” drop-down menu, and select “Override and foliage—that traditional AA techniques can struggle
any application setting.” We’ll be using two AA techniques in to smooth. Or, if they’re too aggressive, they can blur
tandem within Nvidia Inspector, so we don’t need to triple-dip them out so much that they become invisible. Back in
by using the game’s AA, too. Next, navigate to “Antialiasing— Nvidia Inspector, you’ll find a setting just below the AA
Setting,” and choose “32xS [2x2 SS + 8x MS]” [image C]. That’ll setting from step 4 called “Antialiasing—Transparency
apply two different antialiasing techniques—supersampling and Supersampling.” Select “8x Sparse Grid Supersampling”
multisampling—taking a total of 32 samples of each frame. While from the drop-down menu. Now you’ll have an AA solution
the former creates an artificially higher resolution render of each that applies two techniques to every frame, and another
frame, multisampling AA takes color samples from different points one looking out for alpha textures. And best of all, it’s all
within each pixel, so it can get a better idea of the bigger picture, and happening independently of your game’s graphics options
smooth lines out accordingly. That is extreme antialiasing, friend. menu, so you can apply it to whatever you play [image d].

C
going too Far
It runs contrary to the spirit of this guide to say so, but there
is such a thing as too much antialiasing. And it’s not just
defined by the point when your frame rate renders the game
unplayable. Over-aggressive AA can blur out images, make
entire textures disappear, and give an uncanny valley effect
to old games. Doom was never intended for smooth edges
and high-res textures, so when modern AA techniques are
applied, the result is only a passing resemblance to the
game you remember. Similarly, in 2D games that feature line
drawings heavily in their art style, the once-crisp lines get
extra pixels, intended to smooth them out, but which make
it look as though someone’s spilled a bottle of water all over
your game. So, use AA sparingly in 2D and early 3D titles.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 63

R&D

Set Up an Electrum
Bitcoin Wallet
You’ll NeeD this Bitcoin has gone from Being the province of a few bored programers to a major investment tool.
While a single Bitcoin was worth around $1,000 in January last year, today it’s worth well over 10
ElEctrum times that amount. The prevalence of online exchanges such as CoinBase and Bitstamp have also
You can get hold of the free made it easy for even non IT-literate people to cash in on the crypto-craze.
software from https:// As a virtual currency, Bitcoin is vulnerable to hackers, which is why anyone interested in investing
electrum.org/#download. must have a secure software “wallet” to keep their funds safe. Electrum, which has been around
since 2011, is a remarkably powerful and free client for Bitcoin. Not only is the software extremely
easy to set up, but it uses powerful encryption to keep your wallet files safe. Electrum also supports
creation of a special “seed” of 12 random dictionary words, which you can use to restore your
Bitcoins if anything happens to your computer. The simple interface, which is written in Python, can
be mastered in a few minutes. If you need to check your balance on another machine, Electrum can
also load “watching” wallets, which can display your balance but not make payments –Nate Drake

A C

1 DownloaD anD install ElEctrum

Open your web browser and navigate to https://electrum.
org/#download. Click “Windows Installer,” then choose to
“Run” the file if you’re using Microsoft Edge. The Electrum installer
now launches. Click “Next” to choose the default install location in
3 GEnEratE sEED anD Encrypt wallEt
Once you’ve written down your wallet seed, click
“Next” to continue. Electrum asks you to retype
the seed in the following window to be sure you’ve noted it
down correctly [image c]. Click “Next” to continue. You can
C:\Program Files. Once installation is complete, double-click the now set up a password to encrypt the wallet file you created
Electrum icon on your desktop. Electrum now asks where you wish earlier. This is optional, but strongly recommended,
to store your wallet file. Either click “Next” to save the wallet to because without it, anyone with access to your computer
the default location (C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\ can spend your Bitcoins. Enter the password twice, then
Electrum\wallets), or click “Choose” to select a different location. click “Next” to continue. Electrum now starts generating
Click “Next” when you’re done [image a]. your payment addresses.

B D

2 choosE wallEt anD sEED typE

Electrum supports various types of Bitcoin wallets. If this
is your first time using wallet software, leave the “Standard
Wallet” option checked here, and click “Next” [image B]. You can
create other types of wallets later if you wish. Click “Next” once
4 rEcEivE Bitcoins
Once Electrum starts, you’ll see your transaction
history, which is blank, as you’re using a new
wallet. Click the “Receive” tab to view your payment
address. If you plan to receive funds from more than one
again to create a new wallet “seed.” Click “Next” again to choose a source, considering adding a “Description,” and click
“standard” seed type. Electrum now displays your wallet generation “Save” [image D]. Click “New” to create as many payment
seed. These 12 words can be used to restore your wallet if anything addresses as you like. You can use these to receive funds.
happens to your computer. Make sure you write these down and If you don’t have any Bitcoins, use an online exchange such
keep them in a safe place. as Bitstamp (www.bitstamp.net) to buy some.

64 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 E H

you to confirm the payment amount and mining fee before

payment is sent. Click “Yes” to continue.

5 a fEw twEaks
While you’re waiting for your funds to arrive, you can be
productive and tweak the Electrum interface. By default,
balances are displayed in mBTC (millibitcoin). This can be confusing
8 in casE of EmErGEncy
If anything happens to your machine, you can
still access your coins on another machine using
Electrum. Visit https://electrum.org/#download and
install Electrum as described in step 1. On the “Create
when requesting amounts in BTC. Select the “Tools” menu, then Wallet” screen, click “Next” to choose a standard wallet, as
“Preferences.” Click the “Appearance” tab, and choose the “Base before. When you come to the “Keystore” screen, choose “I
Unit” drop-down menu to switch to BTC. While you’re here, select already have a seed.” Click “Next,” then enter the seed you
the “Fiat” tab, too [image E]. Select your “Fiat Currency” to see your wrote down earlier [image h]. Click “Next” to restore your
balance in BTC and Fiat at the bottom-left of the Electrum window. wallet. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to display your balance in
your chosen currency and restore your contacts.
F

6 aDD contacts
It’s virtually impossible to memorize Bitcoin payment
addresses. Fortunately, Electrum enables you to store
the addresses of those to whom you send funds regularly. To get
started, click the “View” menu, and choose “Show Contacts.” Click
the new “Contacts” tab [image f], then right-click anywhere to
create a “New Contact.” Fill in the “Address” and “Name,” then click
“OK” to save. If you want to send funds to these addresses, just type
the first few letters of the recipient’s name in the “Pay to” field.
Watching Wallet
G If you’re concerned about the safety of your Bitcoins, consider
setting up a watching wallet. When run in this mode, Electrum
displays your current balance and allows you to receive
payments, but you can’t spend your coins. This is perfect for
installing Electrum on a machine you don’t own, such as one
in your college or workplace. Begin by clicking on the “Wallet”
menu option, then “Information.” Follow the instructions

7
in step 1 to install Electrum on a new machine. When you
sEnD Btc come to the “Keystore” screen, choose “Use public or private
Click the “History” tab to check the status of your received keys.” Paste the master public key you copied earlier into
funds. If they’ve been successfully confirmed, you’ll see a the box, and click “Next.” Electrum alerts you that this is a
green check mark next to the payment date. If you’re ready to spend watching only wallet, which cannot send payments by itself.
your Bitcoins, select the “Send” tab [imageG]. The fields here are Electrum also supports “cold storage” mode. This involves
fairly self-explanatory. Enter the recipient payment address in the setting up two wallets—a watching wallet and an offline
“Pay To” field. You can also add a payment “Description” if you wish, wallet on a separate machine. If you need to spend BTC, you
for your own records. Enter the payment amount either in BTC or can generate and save a transaction file, which can be signed
your chosen Fiat currency—for example, $1,500. The fee slider digitally by the offline wallet. Needless to say, this is only for
determines the transaction fee you’re willing to pay. Generally the most paranoid users. You can find further help with this at
speaking, the higher this is, the faster your payment is received. http://docs.electrum.org/en/latest/coldstorage.html.
Click “Send” when you’re sure you want to proceed. Electrum asks

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 65

R&D

Create a Pop-Out
Photo Effect
You’ll nEEd thIs What if your images could rise up from their flat prints into three-dimensional solidity? Well,
they can’t. Sorry. Not without some sort of holographic photo frame that will launch at a ridiculous
adobe photoshop, price, and prove to be as popular as 3D TV.
Subscribe to various packages What you can do, however, is create the illusion of a pop-up image. Doing this involves a couple of
at www.adobe.com. layers and a mask in Photoshop, but to make it more interesting, we’re going to use a vector mask.
Vectors are lines and shapes made of math, rather than pixels, and are usually more at home in
Adobe Illustrator or Affinity Designer. Photoshop has a couple of vector tools, including the Pen
and polygonal shape tools. They’re not used often in photo-retouching, being more for the graphic
design crowd, whipping up logos and the like, but have some specific uses that can come in handy.
You’re going to need a photo with a strong subject for this project, and it would be helpful if the
background isn’t too busy, so this is the perfect opportunity to hone your large-aperture background
destruction skills. –Ian EvEndEn

A but draw rectangles, but it draws them as vector shapes.

For our purposes, we want a rectangular path on the layer
we’re working on, rather than a free-floating shape, so
choose “Path” from the “Options” menu at the top of the
interface, rather than “Shape.”

3 in the frame
Draw a rectangle on the bottom half of your image,
using the guides you placed earlier to help you.
This rectangle will become the frame your cut-out image
pops out of, so make sure the top is in the right place—
the shoulders if you just want a head popping out, or lower
if you want more of the body exposed. Open the “Paths”

1
palette, and you’ll see your new path in there as “Work
GuidinG liGht Path”—double-click it to rename it. To make your path into
Once you’ve chosen your photo, decide how much of it you want the frame, we need to warp it a bit to apply a pseudo-3D
to have popping out of the frame. Drag a horizontal guide down effect. With your path selected, choose “Edit > Transform
from the top ruler (“View > Rulers” if they’re hidden), and leave it Path > Perspective,” and drag the top-left corner of your
across your image at the point you want the top of your frame to be. rectangle to the right. The right-hand corner moves in by
Guides are purely for your reference, and don’t print. Drag another, the same amount automatically [image a]. When it’s 3D
vertical, guide across, and place it where you want the horizontal enough for you, click “OK,” and dismiss the warning about
center of your frame to be, creating a cross. converting your shape to a path—a path is what we want.

2 Choose your path

Double-click your Background layer to rename it, then
duplicate it. Make sure you rename the layers, so you can
recognize them later. Select the one at the top of the stack, and
select the Rectangle tool from the toolbar. This tool does nothing
4 different strokes
Next, we need to “Stroke” it—that is, paint some
color along the path’s otherwise invisible vectors.
Select your path in the Paths palette, and choose the
Paintbrush tool from the toolbar. Choose a brush that’s

B C

66 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 D

the right size for the thickness of frame you have in mind, and pick outside your frame disappears. Now is a good time to add
a color that suits, too. We’ve gone for black. On the Paths palette, some effects [image b], such as a drop shadow below your
click the “Stroke” button at the bottom, with the path selected, and frame, using the Layer Styles palette you can get to by
the correct layer in the Layers palette chosen, too—the paintbrush right-clicking the layer, and choosing “Blending Options.”
stroke you’re applying will appear on this layer. Remember, you can Experiment with various glows and shadows until you get
always hit Ctrl-Z if you don’t like the effect, and then change your something that looks right. You’ll have to increase the
brush or color. “Distance” slider on your shadow, because by default it’s

5
tucked right under the original layer, and hard to see.

6
in the shadows
That frame is now permanently painted on the layer. Head hairy situation
up to the “Layer” menu, and choose “Vector Mask > Reveal The next job is to select the bit you want to pop
All.” This should change... nothing. This is because the duplicate up out of your frame. Hide all layers except the
layer you made earlier is showing through from underneath, but untouched duplicate you made back at the beginning,
hide that by clicking its eye icon, and you’ll see that everything and make your selection on this. We made life difficult
for ourselves by choosing a photo of an extremely hairy
creature—a full head of hair is a rarity in the Maximum PC
shapes and layers office, so it’s always good to see what you’re missing. We
began with the Pen tool, dragging a rough path around
When you draw a vector shape in Photoshop, what you’re the edges of the baboon, before loading the path we’d
creating is a fill layer linked to a vector mask—this is why drawn as a selection using the button at the bottom of the
a shape seems to float freely from other layers, because Paths palette, and opening “Select and Mask” [image C]
it’s a layer in its own right. When you’ve created a shape, it from the “Select” menu to add some finesse. We ended
remains editable as long as you don’t choose to rasterize it. up with a very soft selection that still includes a little bit
You can use the Direct Selection tool to modify it, clicking and of background, and will need to be worked on further. It’s
dragging on the square points that mark its corners and the enough, however, to create the effect we’re looking for.

7
halfway points of its vertices. You can apply a Layer Style to
a shape, just as we did with the frame for our pop-up photo, finishinG touChes
and you can fill it with a pattern or gradient using “Gradient From the “Layers” menu, select “New > Via
Overlay” in the “Layer Styles” window. The Custom Shape Copy.” This creates a new layer containing only the
tool, which folds out from the Rectangle tool, means you contents of your selection. Move this to the top of the layers
don’t need to be constrained by the Ellipse, Rectangle, Line, stack, and hide the original. Un-hide the layer containing
or Polygon tools—you can go completely freeform. Lines your frame, and your final composition is revealed
with arrowheads on them are also created as Shapes— [image d]. Add a white background layer if you want, as this
draw a line, and you’ll find an “Arrowheads” drop-down on often looks better than the checkerboard of a transparent
the “Options” bar at the top of the interface. Useful if you’re background, and save as a PSD to preserve layers. If you
drawing diagrams for use in a presentation. export directly as a JPEG, a white background appears
automatically as your layers are discarded.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 67

R&D

zak storey, deputy editor

Mastering
the Master
full–tower Coffee Lake machine meets
way too much money

Length of time: 1-2 Hours LeVeL of DiffiCULtY: MediuM

The ConCepT
Long before this journalist started working for
Maximum PC, he was but a meager enthusiast, a
humble bumbling varsity student, fawning over
expensive hardware, and meticulously planning
hypothetical builds at all sorts of budgets and
specifications. Outside of the aesthetically
pleasing BitFenix Prodigy and Corsair’s Obsidian
lineup of cases, the chassis that attracted the
most attention originated from the legendary
manufacturer Cooler Master, with its Cosmos II
being first and foremost in the list of “awesome
stuff I’d like to build in.” Tech journalists around
the globe waxed lyrical about its brilliance, with
its sturdy frame and intuitive design helping
retain its glory since conception.
When we first witnessed the beauty of the
Cosmos II’s new sibling, the C700P, the desire
to build in it was overwhelming. The plan was to
create something a little less restrained than we
typically do, in part because, hell, it’s a Cosmos,
and secondly because the market is, well, what
it is. The cost of GPUs and memory right now
has catapulted standard builds into the heady
heights of Dream Machine prices—but without the
performance. It saddens us to have to say this but,
unfortunately, for the time being, that’s just the
way it is, at least until Samsung and co. get their
proverbial crap together. That said, try to imagine
it’s a reasonable build, that parts are priced fairly,
that there isn’t a hardware shortage, and that
everything is right in the world.
So, we’ve built a rig that showcases the height
of Coffee Lake’s prowess, with no expense spared
on motherboard, memory, processor, or case.

68 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

when Life giveS you LemonS… INGREDIENTS
Spend way Too muCh money on a motherboard and call it a day?
That’s our philosophy for this build. Damn, that mobo is pricey, but STreeT
parT
not without good reason. We wanted to go with Coffee Lake for this priCe
rig on a number of grounds. Six cores and 12 threads is enough to
Case Cooler Master Cosmos C700P $291
take care of any application we can throw at it. Whether it’s rendering,
streaming, gaming, or two of those at once, this machine is more
motherboard Msi Z370 Godlike Gaming e-ATX $600
than capable of outputting a significant amount of content, quickly
and efficiently. On top of that, Coffee Lake has proved that Intel still
Cpu intel Core i7-8700K $340
dominates the field when it comes to single-core performance, and
because games typically rely more on clock speed than on multiple
32GB (4x 8GB) Corsair dominator Platinum
cores, Intel is also still the chip of choice for most AAA titles. memory
3,200MT/s
$500
Couple that with a motherboard that goes above and beyond when
it comes to connectivity and quality audio, and we’re on to a winning gpu PNY GeForce GTX 1080 Ti XLr8 Gaming oC $940
combo. The Godlike supports up to five M.2 PCIe SSDs, a sixth via
U.2, plus six SATA drives for storage alone. On top of that, it packs pSu Cooler Master V650 80+ Gold $95
in four separate PCIe x16 slots, triple Gigabit Ethernet, and wireless
A/C. MSI has crammed practically everything on to this lumpy chunk Storage 1 512GB intel 760p M.2 PCie ssd $199
of PCB, and, to be frank, it looks baller to boot.
We decided to go with some serious storage for this build, Storage 2
12TB seagate BarraCuda Pro 12TB
$450
with less emphasis on solid state for once—sorta. We’re talking a 7,200rpm

512GB Intel 760p PCIe SSD for the boot drive, with a stellar 12TB of
Cooling Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML240L rGB $70
spinning platters from Seagate’s BarraCuda Pro HDD. For our GPU
powerhouse, we’ve gone with our ever faithful PNY GeForce GTX 1080
oS Windows 10 Home $100
Ti—a no-frills card, and that’s all there is to it. Job done.

Total $3,585

1 moTherboard inSTaLLaTion 2 CooLing ChoiCeS

The godLike gaming is a monstrous mobo of Coffee Lake we had a Long ChaT with Cooler Master about what kind
destruction. And it fits in the Cosmos C700P like a dream. of cooling we should use for this build, and it was a toss-up
It’s big, seriously big—E-ATX to be precise, which is fairly between these two little beauties: On the left is the ML240L
impressive for a mainstream platform, but the audio RGB all-in-one; the one on the right is the Master Air
componentry, combined with the extensive overclocking MA610P with RGB controller (think of it as a slightly more
hardware and ridiculously over-the-top I/O, makes it more premium variant of the Hyper 212 Evo). Both are swanky,
than worthwhile. Word of note: The Cosmos C700P doesn’t but with concerns over the Core i7-8700K being perhaps a
have all the stand-offs installed for ATX by default, so you little too hot-headed when clocked any higher than stock,
do have to pop those in yourself, using Cooler Master’s we opted for the AIO. That said, another air-cooled build
included stand-off mounting tool. is definitely on the cards soon, because they look so good
when done right.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 69

R&D

3 baCkpLaTe performanCe 4 fan dominaTion

amazingLy, CooLer maSTer hasn’t fallen into Asetek’s one of The biggeST SurpriSeS in the Cosmos C700P
patent trap, and has its own bespoke mounting solution. It’s was this little beauty, carefully hidden away under the SSD
fairly intuitive, although you do need to use the instruction mount at the back. It’s a beastly chunk of PCB, capable
manual to get a fix on which bolt goes where. It’s also worth of powering up to 10 PWM fans and three RGB strips. It’s
noting that you’ll need a third hand, to hold everything controlled by a switch on top of the chassis, or via a link
down while you try to secure it in place on the other side up to your motherboard. Two things to note: If you want
of the board. to install an SSD here as well, don’t panic, because there
are pre-threaded holes going through to the other side, so
you can still secure it down, no problem. Secondly, don’t
forget to plug in the SATA power that’s sneakily hidden in
the bottom of this monstrous thing.

5 aLL The STorage 6 pSu requiremenTS

for ThiS buiLd, we’ve opTed to go with a single 12TB yep, for The Sharp-eyed among you, you can possibly
BarraCuda Pro drive from Seagate. It may not have the make out the 650W power supply handling all that heat-
same prestigious performance as its Ironwolf twin we’ve inducing hardware. Amazingly, even under full load, we
reviewed this issue (pg. 87), but it’s still no slouch, and don’t expect to see this machine hit anything more than
more than enough storage for any form of media we want 520W, giving us well over 130W of headroom to play with.
to throw its way. Ideally, we’d have preferred to perhaps It’s likely we won’t be tweaking this build much, so this
have four 3TB drives instead in RAID 1, and do away with small saving is more than adequate. Incredibly, even with 4x
the additional 6TB for the sake of redundancy, but Seagate 8GB sticks of DDR4, a GTX 1080 Ti, and Intel’s most power-
was cruel, and sent us this instead. hungry consumer processor yet, on a 650W PSU, we’re still
stuck merrily at 80 percent of overall capacity, which is the
exact sweet spot needed for maximum efficiency.

70 MAXIMUMPC APR 2018 maximumpc.com

 32gb of dominator platinum @
1 3,200mT/s is probably a touch
overkill for this build, but there’s no
denying it looks awesome.

1 2
pny’s geforce gTX 1080 Ti has
only very subtle red lighting in
the actual fan blades, meaning a very
clean-looking silver geforce logo to
complement the build.
2
These two panels can be easily
3 removed with just a couple of
phillips head screws, to allow for
4 easy installation of 3.5-inch hard
drives and the pSu.

if pricing was less of an issue, a

4
3 second gTX 1080 Ti and a sleek
SLi bridge would have made this
machine killer—although a bigger
pSu would then have been a must.

CoSmiC enTiTy
now ThaT’S aLL over, how was building in comprised of two images: one that’s well lit, system can’t do, especially in game. There
the Cosmos’s successor? Pretty sweet. It’s and an LED shot taken in pitch black. The two are a few things we’d like to tweak, though,
one of the few cases that you can strip down shots are then skillfully stitched together so to make that price point more bearable. For
almost completely to its bare bones. There everything is lit to the degree that our eyes instance, a bigger PSU and a braided cable
was very little left of it on our usual skeleton typically see. In complete darkness, those kit would be stellar. Couple that with some
run, and it made building in the colossus far light bars really do shine, and it’s beautiful. additional off-the-shelf cooling and internal
easier than we first thought. The ATX stand- Light bars aside, performance was a given. lighting, and it would really round out the build.
offs requiring pre-installation did catch us a But it would be—the Core i7-8700K pumping Also, some method of reducing that GPU sag
little off-guard—after all, who in their right away at this rig’s heart is a masterfully crafted would be good. All in all, our Cosmos was a joy
mind would plop an ITX motherboard in a single-core killing machine. Multiply that to build in, and stood up to its predecessor’s
full tower? But that aside, we had very little by 12, and you’re looking at some very tasty legacy. Whether it will also stand the test of
trouble with it. rendering performance. There’s little that this time, though, we’ll have to wait and see.
One thing we would add is that it’s quite
tricky to tinker with after you’ve built it. bENchmaRkS
Removing those front side PSU and hard
zero-
drive bay covers makes system installation poinT
easy, but trying to sort things out after they
Cinebench R15 Multi (Index) 2,178 1,390 (-36%)
were reinstalled was a bit of a nightmare. In
short, we couldn’t quite identify how that RGB CrystalDisk QD32
3,136 3,065 (-2%)
Sequential Read (MB/s)
fan controller was powered at first, deducing
it to be some sort of sorcery and internal CrystalDisk QD32
2,126 1,580 (-26%)
Sequential Write (MB/s)
headered USB magic. It was only under
further inspection, once the system was Rise of the Tomb Raider
68 64 (-6%)
(Avg fps)
complete, that we noticed the not-so-obvious
SATA power located at the bottom of the fan Total War: Warhammer II
42 42 (0%)
(Avg fps)
controller. At which point, we immediately
threw an additional SATA power cable into the Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon
38 38 (0%)
Wildlands (Avg fps)
PSU, which was frustrating to say the least.
Still, we finally got it plugged in, with those 3DMark: Fire Strike (Index) 6,988 6,939 (-1%)
LED strips firing away in a stunning shade of 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
purple. It’s a shame that you guys don’t get to
see the fun we have at the photo studio. Most Our zero-point consists of an Intel Core i9-7900X, 32GB G.Skill Ripjaws V Series DDR4 @ 3,000, MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Gaming X, and a 512GB Samsung 960 Pro PCIe SSD. All tests performed at 4K at the highest graphical profile.
of the final shots (especially with LEDs) are

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 71

Craft, build, fight and explore in this
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Packed full of build guides, gameplay advice and tips from your favourite YouTubers,
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 reviews of the latest hardware and software
in the lab

TESTED. REVIEWED. VERDICTIzED.

inside inside
70 Maingear Shift Super Stock PC 74 MSI GT75VR 7RF
Titan Pro
71 Samsung Series 9 Notebook
72 3TB Hard Drives: Hitachi 76 Nvidia Titan V
Deskstar 7K3000 3TB and 78 AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
Seagate Barracuda XT 3TB
74 Sony Vaio F21 Notebook
intel core 79 Intel Core i3-8100
i3-8100
75 Blackberry Playbookpage
Tablet
79
80 Dell UP3218K
76 Videocard Roundup: Sapphire
Radeon HD 6790 and Zotac 83 Intel 760P SSD 512GB
GeForce GTX 550 Ti AMP Edition
84 Sennheiser GSP 600
78 Sentey Arvina GS-6400 Case
80 Intel 320 Series 300GB SSD 87 Seagate IronWolf 12TB
82 All-in-One Roundup: Sony 88 Corsair Hydro H150i Pro
VAIO L Series VPCL214FX/W, RGB 360mm
MSI Wind Top AE2420 3D, and
HP TouchSmart 610 90 Outcast:
84 Logitech Z906 5.1 Speakers Second Contact
86 Zalman CNPS11X CPU Cooler 91 Spellforce 3
87 Harman AKG GHS 1 Headset
92 Lab Notes
88 Razer Onza Tournament Edition
Gamepad
89 Portal 2
90 DCS A-10C and Thrustmaster
HOTAS Warthog
92 Lab Notes

xxx xx
xxx xxxxx
xxxxxx
page xx

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 73

in the lab

The Titan Pro’s size

matches its name, but so
does the noise it makes.

74 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

MSI GT75VR 7RF Titan Pro
Big, loud, and very pricey
What happens when you put the equivalent of a desktop replacement than an actually tests, returned scores of 53fps in the
of a complete desktop into a notebook portable laptop. Mountain Pass, 44fps in Syria, and 43fps
chassis? How about if you include a bit of The GT75VR is available in several in the Geothermal Valley, for an average
the desk? MSI’s GT75VR 7RF Titan Pro SKUs, dependent on how you like to game. of 47fps—not great. Meanwhile, the more
answers that question with an everything- For the display, you can choose between a demanding TW: Warhammer II and Ghost
including-the-kitchen-sink attitude. 4K IPS panel or a higher refresh rate 120Hz Recon: Wildlands proved even more
For starters, it’s gigantic, even by 1080p screen that’s unfortunately a TN difficult, with 30 and 29fps, respectively.
desktop-replacement standards. We’ve panel—though both offer G-Sync. The unit In other words, the single GTX 1080
tested some large laptops over the years, we tested featured the former, and while couldn’t maintain 60fps at 4K in any of the
but at more than 2.2 inches thick, the Titan colors looked great, it left us wanting more. games we tested, and while you can drop
Pro is absolutely massive. A good portion We generally try to avoid 4K screens on to 1080p, you’re then saddled with the 4K
of that is due to the cooling solution, with gaming laptops, as the GPU power required screen’s more limited 60Hz refresh rate.
more than 10 heat pipes, dual exhausts, to maintain 60fps in the latest games is And if you opt for the 1080p 120Hz panel
and twin super-large, 29-blade fans difficult even for top-end desktops. The option that’s available, you’re stuck with a
(more on those later). Adding to the heft GT75VR we tested was outfitted with a TN screen. For a machine with these sort of
is the SteelSeries mechanical keyboard, single GeForce GTX 1080, which is more internals, we would have much preferred
and while its removable keycaps are still than capable at 1080p but can struggle at a high refresh rate 1440p IPS screen—
chiclet in style, they have a satisfying click 4K. (There are also single and double GTX especially at this price point.
that feels great to type and game on. 1070 SKUs available.) One other thing to note is the fans. The
The Titan’s insides are quite impressive GT75VR boasts a robust cooling system,
as well. Computing duties are handled by Number cruNch time featuring MSI’s “cooler boost” technology.
an Intel Core i7-7820HK processor paired Let’s look at some numbers. The Titan It certainly succeeded at keeping things
with a whopping 64GB of DDR4-2400 Pro’s GTX 1080 performed well in our cool, but it was incredibly loud doing so.
RAM. Storage is capacious, too: 1TB of 1080p gaming tests, scoring 76fps in Total Even after tweaking some settings, the fans
fast storage, courtesy of two 512GB M.2 War: Warhammer II’s battle benchmark, made a ton of noise whenever they spun up
PCIe SSDs in RAID 0, paired with additional and 61fps in the super-demanding Ghost even a little bit. For all the hubbub over
storage via a 1TB 7,200rpm HDD. The Recon: Wildlands. It was able to handle the impressive cooling tech—not to mention
former is definitely impressive, offering slightly older Rise of the Tomb Raider even the massive chassis—we hoped that things
read/write speeds of 3,391/2,947MB/s more easily, scoring an average of 110fps would stay quiet during regular gameplay,
in CrystalDisk QD32 sequential. It also across the game’s three-part benchmark. cranking up the volume only when pushed
scored excellently in PCMark 10 However, our machine had a 4K screen, to the absolute limit. –Bo Moore
Express, with 4,395, one of the so it made sense to test at that resolution,
highest scores we’ve seen in too. At that more demanding resolution, the

7
verdict
MSI GT75VR 7RF Titan Pro
a laptop form factor. Though, single GTX 1080 struggled. Rise of the
again, this is really much more Tomb Raider, the easiest of the gaming TiTanic Mechanical keyboard;
great cooling; superb speakers.
bENChMARkS iceberg Expensive; gigantic; loud.
Zero-
Point $4,200, www.msi.com
cinebench r15 Multi (index) 743 771 (4%)

cinebench r15 Single (index) 155 164 (6%) SPECIFICATIONS

crystalDisk QD32 Processor Intel Core i7-7820HK @ 2.9GHz
Sequential read (Mb/s) 563 3,391 (502%)
graphics Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080
crystalDisk QD32
Sequential Write (Mb/s) 133 2,947 (2,116%) raM 64GB DDR4-2400
PcMark 10 express (index) 3,852 4,395 (14%) Screen 17.3-inch 4K IPS G-Sync
rise of the Tomb raider (fps) 13,202 15,360 (16%) Primary 1TB (2x 512GB)
Storage M.2 PCIe SSD RAID 0
Total War: Warhammer ii (fps) 99 110 (11%)
Keyboard SteelSeries mechanical keyboard
ghost recon: Wildlands (fps) 62 76 (23%)
with per-key RGB lighting
3DMark Fire Strike (index) 48 61 (27%)
battery 75WHr eight-cell Li-Ion
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
PSU 330W
Our laptop zero-point is the Asus GL502VS-DS71, with an Intel Core i7-7700HQ, a 8GB GTX 1070,
and 16GB of DDR4-2400. All game tests are performed at 1080p at the highest graphical profile. Total Weight 9.92lb

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 75

in the lab

Nvidia
its performance, has a lot of extra design HBM2 by 125MHz. Combined with maxing
elements that simply aren’t ideal for out the power limit—and the fan speed—
graphics workloads. performance improves by a substantial

Titan V
Take the 64 CUDA cores per SM 25–30 percent, but the GPU starts hitting
(streaming multiprocessor), with 32 thermal and power limits, meaning there’s
FP64 (floating point) cores, and the potentially even more headroom available.
ability to do twice as many packed math Even redlining a GTX 1080 Ti or Titan Xp,
(FP16) operations as FP32 ops. FP64 isn’t you’re not coming anywhere near the
How to build something games use or even need, though
there may be some algorithms where the
overclocked Titan V. However, it is worth
noting that the Titan V doesn’t include SLI
your own packed math support proves beneficial.
Even more than this, the presence of the
connectors, so while running multiple
cards for machine learning purposes is
Skynet new Tensor cores—eight per SM—takes
a lot of space, and these cores are special
possible, you’re not going to be able to
improve gaming performance beyond what
Looking at the caLendar on the wall, we purpose constructs designed to accelerate you get with a single card.
realize that Nvidia’s Pascal debuted about FP16 machine learning operations. Toss Regardless of whether Volta GPUs show
two years ago now. It used to be that we in HBM2, and you have a very large, very up in GeForce cards in the coming months,
could expect some massive changes in that expensive core that’s not a great fit for some variation on the gaming aspects of
time, but today’s Titan Xp is built off that consumer workloads. the Titan V will almost certainly appear.
same original GP100 that first appeared That’s why Nvidia is marketing the Give us 12GB GDDR6 and the same 5,120
way back in the Tesla P100. That was an Titan V not at extreme gaming, but at FP32 CUDA cores (or more) but in a smaller,
insane part, built for machine learning, and machine learning researchers. Without more affordable package, and you can call it
the GP100 never showed up in a consumer such a product, the only way to get access Volta, Ampere, Turing, or Marie. Whatever
product (unless you count the $7,499 to Nvidia’s Tensor cores would be through the name, it will be awesome, and Dream
Quattro GP100). Nvidia has decided to try a DGX-1 servers, or a few cloud computing Machine 2018 is already on the drawing
new approach with its GV100 core—which options. But the DGX-1 is back-ordered, board. As for the Titan V, unless you are
sits at the heart of the Tesla V100 and goes and even if it wasn’t, it runs at $149,000 after a machine learning tool, save your
after a similar market as the P100—and per server, including eight Tesla V100 money and wait for the next generation
has released the prosumer and machine cards. Three grand for a Titan V that non-Titan cards to arrive. –Jarred WaLton
learning focused Titan V. includes all the core features is a bargain

7
verdict
Nvidia’s Titan series of graphics cards by comparison, and opens the door for Nvidia Titan V
has always been more about status than university researchers to come to grips
AlessAndro’s bAttery
practicality, and waiting a few months with the technology before moving to
Fastest GPU around;
could usually net you nearly the same larger supercomputing installations.
overclockable; machine learning.
level of performance for about half the In our review of the Falcon Northwest
price. This time, rumors are swirling about Tiki last issue, we noted that the Titan V is FlAt bAttery Exorbitant pricing; power/
Volta, suggesting we might not even see a potent solution for both machine learning thermal limits; wait for next-gen GeForce.
GeForce variations, and instead will get and graphics work, easily claiming top $2,999, www.nvidia.com
Ampere GPUs later this year. That’s not honors in our gaming test suite. But how
really a problem, assuming Ampere is does the Titan V perform if we throw caution
SPECIFICATIONS
to the GV100 what the GP104 was to the to the wind and overclock it? We managed to
GP100. The problem is that GV100, for all push the core clocks up by 150MHz and the GPU Volta

lithography 12nm FinFET

BENChmArkS
transistor Count 21.1 billion
nvidia titan V nvidia GeForce GtX 1080 ti
CUdA Cores 5,120
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (Avg fps) 87/48 80/43
texture Units 320
Far Cry Primal (Avg fps) 110/64 97/57
roPs 96
Ghost Recon Wildlands (Avg fps) 58/37 58/36
Core/boost Clock 1,200/1,455MHz
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (Avg fps) 94/56 93/53
Memory Capacity & type 12GB HBM2
Total War: Warhammer 2 (Avg fps) 66/35 57/32
Memory speed 652.8GB/s
The Witcher 3 (Avg fps) 116/73 94/57
Memory bus 3,052-bit
22-Game Average fps 109/70 101/62
tdP 250W
Best scores are in bold. Bespoke tests specifically for the Titan V, tests performed at 1440p and 4K. Our test Connectors 3x DisplayPort,
bed consists of an Intel Core i7-8700K, 16GB of Corsair DDR4 @ 2400, an Asus Maximus IX Hero, and a 500GB
1x HDMI
Samsung 850 Evo. All games tested at their highest graphical profile.

76 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 The Titan V sports a
familiar design and is
fittingly clad in gold.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 77

in the lab

AMD Ryzen 5 2400G

Integrated graphics get an upgrade
Ryzen’s impact on the CPU market has graphics core operates at 1,250MHz, which
been profound, but all the chips so far isn’t exactly hanging around. It’s not going
have been straight CPU affairs and lack to replace graphics cards for high-end
integrated graphics. The Ryzen 5 2400G gaming, but it’s more than we’re used to.
changes that—significantly. Until now, How does the Ryzen 5 2400G perform?
integrated graphics haven’t been anything It’s good. Nothing too far outside our
to get excited about—Intel’s HD graphics expectations, but not disastrous. The
have been improving, but they’re nowhere eight threads mean it outperforms
near discrete offerings. The Vega 11 GPU Intel’s similarly priced Core i3-8350K in
beating inside this chip closes that gap—it Cinebench’s multiprocessor test, and it’s
actually delivers decent 3D performance. faster in Fry Render, too. Intel’s single-core but at least it’s possible where it often isn’t
The CPU side of the equation is ostensibly performance evens things out, though, and with the last-gen solutions. Overwatch,
comparable to the Ryzen 5 1400 that it’s set X265 has the chips neck and neck. that budding newbie on the esport scene,
to replace, with a quad-core, eight-thread highlights what’s possible when you’re
architecture, albeit with a faster base Novel graphics dealing with a well-optimized engine—it
clock of 3.6GHz and a turbo of 3.9GHz (up One thing to note with our benchmarks managed a consistently smooth 60fps at
from 3.2GHz and 3.6GHz respectively). This is that our main processor tests use a medium settings at 1080p. Not bad at all.
increase is possible thanks to the fact that GeForce GTX 1080. So the benchmarks Overall, we’re impressed with the
the new “Raven Ridge” APUs use a single aren’t any indication of the main selling Ryzen 5 2400G. You’ll still want a discrete
core complex containing all four cores, as point of this chip—the integrated graphics. card if you’re at all interested in tinkering
opposed to a pair of dual-core complexes, The inclusion of integrated graphics does with high settings and anything above HD
as in the Ryzen 5 1400. This means there is impact the capabilities of the chip when it resolutions, but for a lot of mainstream
less cache on offer—the Ryzen 5 1400 has comes to discrete graphics—the PCIe bus gaming, it handles itself well. If you’re
8MB of L3 cache, while there’s only 4MB operates at x8 as opposed to the x16 you’ll looking to build an entry-level gaming rig
here. Latencies are improved for the single find on non-APU Ryzen chips. This results on a tight budget, this should be at the top
core complex design, though, which means in a lower score in Far Cry Primal (71fps of your list. –alan DexteR
you shouldn’t spot the drop in cache. as opposed to the 77fps norm), and as
As hinted at by its name, the Radeon Vega you push your graphics card harder, we’d

9
verdict
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
11 graphics subsystem boasts 11 compute expect to see a bigger disparity.
units, equating to 704 stream processors, With integrated we got most games to AlphA lyrAe Surprisingly
44 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs hit smooth frame rates at 1080p with some powerful GPU; fast core clocks;
(render outputs). This is tiny compared tweaking. By doing so we managed to get great value for money.
to high-end graphics cards (the Vega 56 30fps in Rise of the Tomb Raider, 24fps in
BetA Scorpii Limited max PCIe lanes;
has 56 compute units, for instance, which Shadows of War, and roughly the same
needs speedy RAM.
equates to 3,854 stream processors), but in Total War: Attila. This sometimes took
impressive for an integrated offering. This some harsh pummeling of the settings, $169, www.amd.com

BENChMARkS SPECIFICATIONS

AMD ryzen 5 2400G intel core i3-8350K Base clock 3.6GHz

X265 Benchmark (fps) 15.92 15.92

turbo clock 3.9GHz
Cinebench R15 Single (Index) 133 169
cores/threads 4/8
Cinebench R15 Multi (Index) 837 666
lithography 14nm
Fry Render (Seconds) 311 352
cache 4MB L3 (2MB L2)
AIDA64 Memory Latency (ns) 67 58

Total War: Atilla (fps) 36 40 Memory Support DDR4-2933

Far Cry Primal (fps) 71 77 Memory channels 2

3DMark: Fire Strike (Index) 14,483 15,725 Max pcie lanes 8+4

Power Draw Idle (Watts) 39 50

Graphics Radeon Vega 11
Power Draw Load (Watts) 109 117
Graphics clock 1,250MHz
Best scores are in bold. Our test bed consists of a MSI B350I Pro AC (AMD) or an Asus Maximus X Hero (Intel),
16GB (2x 8GB) of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, and a Samsung 850 Evo 500GB tDp 65W
SSD. All games were tested at 1440p on the highest graphical profile.

78 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

Intel Core i3-8100
Proof that processors are still
advancing at an impressive rate
There were loTs of reasons to get components of CPU, motherboard, and
excited about Intel’s eighth-generation RAM start at around $300. You do get
(Coffee Lake) Core processors, but Intel’s UHD 630 integrated graphics in the
for this reviewer, it was the promise of Core i3-8100, though, which may not be
this particular chip that produced the relevant for modern gaming, but it’s a solid
excitement. The reason is straightforward enough solution for normal desktop use,
enough—it potentially offers the best bang and—thanks to QuickSync—can handle
for your buck of any of the new chips. The video encoding while it’s at it.
good news (if slightly premature in terms
of this review), is that it delivers on that Budget Beauty thrashing, with the exception of power
potential and, in fact, for many system So why all the love for this $120 budget draw under load.
builders, now becomes the go-to chip for chip? Because this chip is essentially If we have reservations, it’s that $120
most budgets, and even mainstream plans. what sold as a mainstream offering two is still a hefty chunk of cash for those on
We’ll get to the reason for this generations ago—in fact, its performance an extremely tight budget. There is a lot of
glowing preamble shortly, but before is as close to the stock performance of power on offer here, though, and all those
we do, it’s worth going over what your the Core i5-6600K as you can get. That’s cores should keep this chip relevant for
$120 gets you. The Core i3-8100 lacks a chip that will still set you back $240. Of years to come. We do wish that the budget
HyperThreading and a Turbo boost, but course, that chip that can be overclocked motherboard chipsets would launch, so
it does pack four cores into its LGA 1151 and turbos up to 3.9GHz, but for the most we can see how low we can get that core
package, thrumming along at a perfectly part, there really isn’t much to separate component price tag, but that doesn’t
serviceable 3.6GHz. Unlike the Core i3- the two, apart from halving the price tag detract from the fact that this is a great buy
8350K we looked at a couple of issues ago, on the new processor. right now. It’s arguably the most important
this is a simple chip that isn’t designed with When it comes to the benchmarks, Coffee Lake chip so far. –alan DexTer
overclocking in mind, which has an upside you’ll find two comparisons for this chip—
in that it operates with a TDP of 65W, so the aforementioned $240 Core i5-6600K

9
verdict
Intel Core i3-8100
the standard Intel cooler that it ships with and the closest new chip from AMD, the
handles your needs well enough. $125 Ryzen 3 1300X. It’s worth noting that EConoMICAL Impressive
If you’re looking to build a budget the AMD offering doesn’t have integrated value; strong performance;
system around this chip, you’re still limited graphics, which may be a factor if you’re functional integrated graphics.
to a single chipset at this point, which not interested in games (this is where
EXCESSIvE Lacks turbo; no overclocking
starts at around $115 for a reasonable AMD’s recently released APUs come in,
potential; compatible motherboards
Z370 motherboard. It’s the current cost see review opposite). The results from
are pricey.
of memory that is the most frustrating, benchmarking are clear, with Intel’s
though, which means that the core budget offering giving AMD’s chip a sound $120, www.intel.com

BENChmArkS SPECIFICATIONS

Intel Core i3-8100 AMD Ryzen 3 1300X Intel Core i5-6600K Base Clock 3.6GHz

X265 Benchmark (fps) 14.32 12.64 14.37

Turbo Clock N/A
Cinebench R15 Single (Index) 154 139 166
Cores/Threads 4/4
Cinebench R15 Multi (Index) 601 550 598
Lithography 14nm+
Fry Render (Seconds) 388 462 376
Cache 6MB
AIDA64 Memory Latency (ns) 63 78 59

Total War: Atilla (fps) 40 36 40 Memory Support 64GB DDR4-2400

Far Cry Primal (fps) 77 73 76 Memory Channels 2

3DMark: Fire Strike (Index) 15,237 14,152 14,981 Max PCIe Lanes 16

Power Draw Idle (Watts) 43 56 49 Intel UHD

Graphics
Graphics 630
Power Draw Load (Watts) 112 95 114
Graphics Clock 1.1GHz
Best scores are in bold. Our test bed consists of an Asus Maximus X Hero (Intel) or MSI X370 Gaming Pro Carbon
(AMD), 16GB (2x 8GB) of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080, and a Samsung 850 Evo
TDP 65W
500GB SSD. All games were tested at 1440p on the highest graphical profile.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 79

in the lab

Dell UP3218K
High DPI comes to the desktop
We live in a World where tablet computers 1080p to 4K, even if that’s a fairly academic
with high-DPI displays are given away in observation, given that virtually no 8K
boxes of breakfast cereal. Well, almost. content exists. It’s also worth noting that
Such pixel-dense panels are certainly smooth native-resolution gaming is largely
standard on everything from $99 tablets an impossibility at 8K, even with the most
to low-end smartphones. But cutting-edge powerful current graphics solutions. In
desktop PCs? They usually make do with mitigation, interpolated 4K games do look
big, fat pixels on their relatively low-res nearly as good as native 4K on a similar
monitors. For a platform that prides itself sized screen. Elsewhere, the panel itself is
on early tech adoption, that’s disappointing. a fabulous IPS affair, with fantastic viewing
It’s true that 4K desktop monitors are angles, super-smooth gradient rendering,
now relatively affordable. But consider plenty of detail in both white and black
the pixel pitch of your typical 28-inch 4K scales, and vivid, punchy colors. Generally,
monitor. It clocks in at just 157 pixels per it’s very nicely calibrated out of the box at
inch. By comparison, the 326 ppi sported by default settings, bar a slight warmth to the
numerous iPhones over recent years is now color temperature.
seen as substandard. The Samsung Galaxy Final details to note involve some setup
S8 notches up 568 ppi, and Sony’s Xperia Z5 and running issues. You need a video card
Premium rocks no fewer than 801. with dual DisplayPort 1.2 connections to
The upshot is that most of us have enjoy the full 8K experience at 60Hz. Even
become accustomed to the crisp precision then, the display has known problems
of high-DPI displays. But not thanks to our coming out of a Windows-induced sleep.
PCs. Enter Dell’s new 8K monitor. With More of a long-term concern are the high
7,680x4,320 pixels, it packs four times the temperatures at which the panel runs. It’s
resolution of a 4K screen. Factor in the 32- painfully hot across the top bezel. In truth, the
inch diagonal, and you’re looking at 275 ppi. UP3218K feels like an early adopter product,
That’s isn’t quite smartphone territory, an initial point release, not a refined second-
but it is well beyond any other display we’ve generation device. It’s expensive, too. But if
reviewed. The result is an intriguing mix you can afford it, and can live with the niggles,
of stellar upside and occasional niggles. those upsides are staggering. –Jeremy laird
Running Windows at default 100 percent

8
verdict
scaling isn’t an option with this kind of pixel Dell UP3218K
density, for instance. Everything is far too
HigH DPi Crazy image
tiny. On the other hand, cranking up the
crispness; high-quality IPS
scaling comes with its own problems.
panel; so much image detail.
Windows itself is a little patchy when
it comes to setting the scaling beyond 100 WHy, oH WHy? Very expensive; clunky
percent for high-DPI displays. Dig into the interface setup; little compatible content.
interface, and you’ll find proper scaling $3,899, www.dell.com
support is replaced by the blurring of
blown-up bitmaps. But that problem is
SPECIFICATIONS
even more evident on the Internet. Few
websites are properly coded for high-DPI Panel Size 31.5-inch
displays. That’s not always apparent on a
Native Resolution 7,680x4,320
small smartphone or tablet screen—it’s all
too obvious on a large desktop display. Pixel Density 275 ppi
Those caveats aside, there’s lots to enjoy. Panel Type IPS
Crispness and precision are on another
Maximum Refresh 60Hz
level. Fonts free from almost all aliasing,
for instance, are a particular pleasure. Response 6ms
Viewing really high resolution images in Contrast 1,300:1
all their glory is another obvious upside.
That said, graphics pros should note that Display inputs 2x DisplayPort

the UP3218K can only run in full 10-bit per Connectivity USB 3.0 hub
channel color mode at 30Hz; 60Hz requires
VESA Mount 100mm
a drop down to 8 bits per channel.
For motion video, the step up from 8K Warranty Three years

isn’t as subjectively dramatic as that from

80 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 A beautiful
screen at a truly
horrific price.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 81

 make your own projects with
the raspberry pi
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Intel 760P
drive. But it’s not trying to be the very
quickest. However, the 760P is also not a
budget NVMe drive. There are a few even

SSD 512GB
cheaper NVMe options that achieve their
aggressive pricing by virtue of corner-
cutting, such as dropping the PCIe lane
count down from four to two, or ditching

NVMe performance for

the DRAM cache memory. But not here.
Like we said, this is a full feature drive. But

mainstream money
is it actually any good?
In terms of peak performance, we’ve
seen quicker. It’s no slouch, with reads of
Living on the bleeding edge of around 3GB/s and writes of 1.6GB/s. But by
performance is undoubtedly a blast. But way of example, Samsung’s awesome 960
what, in reality, do most of us really want? Pro cranks out 3.4GB/s reads. Similarly,
Good performance, solid reliability, and if it’s random access performance you
no obvious holes in the feature set. That’s crave, the 760P doesn’t get anywhere near
what. Handily, that’s exactly what Intel’s Intel’s own 900P. Of course, the 900P is a
latest SSD offers. In theory, at least. far more expensive drive, and leverages
As a PCI Express drive in the M.2 Intel’s exotic 3D XPoint technology. It’s not
form factor, with NVMe control protocol terribly comparable.
support, it checks all the boxes we like to More relevant, you could argue, is the
see from a contemporary SSD. It’s also comparison with the likes of Samsung’s
competitively priced for a drive with such 960 Evo, a more affordable alternative to
a complete feature set. Thus, the Intel 760P the 960 Pro, and one which also uses 3D
SSD represents one of a new generation TLC NAND memory. Our review sample for
of what you might call mainstream NVMe the 960 Evo was the 250GB model, and thus
drives. It’s taken a little while for NVMe to in turn, the antediluvian AHCI control not a direct competitor for this 512GB 760P
attain that mainstream status, admittedly, protocol associated with it. PCI Express model, but the overall picture is of a pair of
but drives such as the 760P, Intel’s best and NVMe really are a killer combo. well matched drives.
value NVMe offering yet, confirm that it’s At launch, Intel is offering the 760P It’s also worth noting that the 760P has
finally happened. in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB Samsung’s previous flagship, the 950 Pro,
Enabling it all is Intel’s latest 64-layer flavors. In other words, there’s a drive well beaten. Factor it all in and you have a
3D TLC NAND flash memory and a new to suit most storage needs and budgets. drive that very much delivers on its remit.
Silicon Motion controller chipset. Like the In terms of comparative performance Aggressively priced and well specified,
600P before it, the 760P has a customized across the range, the 128GB model is the 760P is all about delivering bang for
version of Silicon Motion’s firmware. But conspicuous for offering significantly your buck. There are clearly faster drives,
this time Intel has used Silicon Motion’s lower drive performance. But as tested but they are also unambiguously more
latest hardware in the SM2262 controller, here in 512GB format, you’re looking at expensive. As a real-world buy, the 760P
albeit the mid-range flavor of Silicon something approaching the 760P’s optimal looks awfully tough to beat. –Jeremy Laird
Motion’s latest NVMe controller family. configuration for performance.

9
verdict
As for that flash memory, it’s actually For the record, Intel claims 3230MB/s Intel 760P SSD 512GB
the same stuff you’ll also find in Intel’s 545 for sequential read performance, and
Speedy GonzaleS Excellent
SATA drives. That the 760P totally blows 1625MB/s for sequential writes; 4K
feature set; great all-around
the 545 away for claimed performance random reads, meanwhile, are rated
PCIe-powered performance.
tells you all you need to know about the at 340,000 IOPS, and writes at 275,000
limitations of the SATA interface and, IOPS. In other words, this is a quick droopy doG Not the fastest NVMe drive
on the market; SATA drives still give more
BENChmArkS storage for less cash.
$199, www.intel.com
Intel 760p 512GB Samsung 960 evo 250GB

30GB Internal Copy (Seconds) 66 89 SPECIFICATIONS

Atto Sequential Read (MB/s) 3,048 3,019 Capacity 512GB

Atto Sequential Write (MB/s) 1,619 1,494 Interface PCI Express

CrystalDiskMark Sequential Read (MB/s) 2,811 1,682 Control protocol NVMe

Controller Silicon Motion SM2262

CrystalDiskMark Sequential Write (MB/s) 1,593 1,475
nand Type 64-layer 3D TLC
CrystalDiskMark 4K Read (MB/s) 75 64
Sequential
read/Write (MB/s) 3,230/1,625
CrystalDiskMark 4K Write (MB/s) 218 191
read/Write IopS 340K/275K
Best scores are in bold. Our test bench consists of an Intel Core i7-8700K, an Asus Maximus X Hero, an Nvidia
GeForce GTX 1080, 16GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4, and a Samsung 850 Evo 250GB OS SSD. Warranty Five years

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 83

in the lab

Sennheiser GSP 600

Introducing the Skullcrusher, lord of loudness
Having your Head squisHed like a grape the GSP 600 is a remarkable experience, fallen on the positive side of the fence in
by a piece of audio hardware has never with a unique soundstage that’s all balls, this case doesn’t mean you’ll do the same.
been quite so satisfying as it is with the action, and life. We’d normally quibble There’s a good possibility that, even if
Sennheiser GSP 600. It is, by some margin, with mixes that give you more than the you’ve adjusted the pressure, you won’t
the stiffest headset we’ve clamped to our original sound engineer intended—and, find the ever-cranking fit of the GSP 600
collective skulls in some time. Not that let’s be clear, the GSP 600 is far from flat or comfortable for long-term use. Even if it
we found it uncomfortable, just firm. The reference quality—but there’s a wow factor does sit right, you’ll 100 percent end up
earcups—foam-clad and large enough to here that can’t be denied. with hot ears. Plus, as good as the whole
swamp giant ears—are soft even under The trebles have bite, skipping over package is, it’s a wedge more expensive
compression, with a suede-ish inner everything else, and never struggling to than many of its rivals, including the
that caresses the head without getting make their presence felt. The middle is faithful HyperX Cloud II—a set that can be
sweaty. The band, a pliable semi-split pushy, pumping, and clear. Remember had for less than half the price. We’d empty
plastic number, has its own padding, that, because the low end inside these our wallets for the GSP 600, but we won’t
widely spread and generous, rather than closed backs is absolutely enormous, force you to do the same. –alex Cox
the targeted small pads of some other easily reaching so far into sub bass that
headsets. Each cup floats on its own metal we’re almost positive that our brains

9
verdict
Sennheiser GSP 600
arm, offering a small amount of X and Y vibrated along with them. We don’t know
rotation to fit any face, and two movable quite how Sennheiser has engineered a mix Six hundred Massive mix;
bars on the band enable you to tweak the with, simultaneously, so much clarity and crystal clear mic; excellent
point of contact pressure. so much ludicrous bounce, but we suspect engineering.
Design on point, then, but it’s not all ideas: it requires at least a master’s degree in the
SickS hindered Love-it-or-
The build quality is also pretty damn good. dark audio arts.
hate-it sound; tight fit; high price.
This is a primarily plastic headset, with a Even with the chaos inside, the closed
few metal components thrown in for good back completely blocked out even the twig- $219, www.sennheiser.com
measure, but it’s heavy and substantial. snap barrage of the Razer Green switches
It’ll take a knock. There are weak points— we typed this review on, and—we’re told— SPECIFICATIONS
don’t tell Sennheiser, but we managed to blocked leakage the other way, too. The
slightly dislodge the glued-on headband noise canceling microphone is similarly driver Type Dynamic

padding during a rigorous inspection—yet, brilliant. It’s clear, it’s warm, far less impedance 28 ohms
if cared for, this is a headset that’ll last a scooped-out and hollow than many headset
Frequency
long time. The cable, your braided choice of mics, with automatic muting if you swing up response 10Hz–30KHz
a four-pole 3.5mm jack or dual three-pole the adjustable arm. Perfectly adequate for
design Style Closed back
jacks, is replaceable, as are the earpads, online conversation and, at a push, it might
and—oddly—the cover plates above each even be good enough for an acceptable Microphone Type Bi-directional ECM
ear too. recording, though a proper active mic will, connectivity 3-pole/2x 2-pole mini jack
This would normally be the point at of course, offer more flexible results.
which we switch it up and start spouting So, you should definitely buy this, right? Weight 13.9oz

off about the bad stuff, but Sennheiser has Well, no. Not definitely. The audio mix is cord Length 4.9ft (3-pole); 8.2ft (2-pole)
denied us that small pleasure. Listening to going to be polarizing; the fact that we’ve

84 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 The GSP 600 is not
the most subtle wear.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 85

 Seagate warranty. In reality, there’s probably little
in it in terms of the hardware. The Pro is

IronWolf
mainly buying more peace of mind in terms
of the longer warranty. Whatever, what
we’re looking at is pretty much the state
of the art when it comes to mainstream

12TB
conventional hard drives, and one hell of a
lot of storage for a pretty reasonable price.
Granted, a 3TB or 4TB drive may offer
marginally more storage per dollar, but

Who’s afraid
the 12TB IronWolf is pretty competitive in
that regard, and offers unbeatable data

of the big, bad

density. You could, for instance, swap out
all the 3TB drives from a quad-drive NAS

IronWolf?
enclosure for just one of these puppies,
and then add further drives when budget
or requirements dictated.
These days, sTorage is all about solid state. Anyway, the 12TB IronWolf looks good
SSDs provide not only by far the fastest on paper and offers a pleasing capacity-to-
performance, they also offer the largest dollar ratio. But how does it perform? By
capacities—for a price. Samsung will do the standards of a conventional magnetic
you a 30TB 2.5-inch SSD, for instance. Just drive, it’s seriously swift. You’re looking
don’t ask how much it costs. You might are packed with features and technology. at sequential reads and writes in the 260–
prefer to spend the money on a new car. That includes Seagate’s AgileArray tech, 270MB/s region. The 4K random access
Despite that, there is one application which involves dual-plane balancing, performance is where magnetic tech really
that remains dominated by old-school RAID optimization, and advanced power shows its age, compared to solid-state
magnetic hard drives: storage bang for management. Then there’s Rotational storage. 4K reads of around 1MB/s and
buck. If you want maximum storage density Vibration (RV) mitigation, including several writes just under 3MB/s would be utterly
for the minimum possible price, you’ll need RV sensors that help maintain performance catastrophic for an SSD; for this type of
some spinning magnetic platters. in multi-drive NAS enclosures that can drive, they’re very much competitive.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise to find transmit significant vibrations. The bottom line is that you’re not going to
that conventional hard drive technology In 12TB trim, the IronWolf sports a total get anywhere like the performance of even
marches on despite its relegation to a of eight platters, thus 1.5TB per platter. a budget SSD. But that was a given. If you
relatively small niche. A little over a year As a consequence, its 3.5-inch chassis want major storage density at a reasonable
ago, the biggest mainstream hard drives is crammed. The usual recesses on the price, however, the IronWolf achieves that,
weighed in at 10TB. Now we’re reviewing bottom of the drive are nowhere to be and throws in excellent performance for
our first 12TB drive, the Seagate IronWolf. seen. Rounding the main feature set out is this type of drive. –Jeremy Laird
It’s closely related to the Seagate the 7,200rpm spindle speed and a chunky
Barracuda Pro, but further optimized for 256MB of cache, all running through a

9
verdict
Seagate IronWolf 12TB
NAS applications. In other words, if you’ve standard SATA 6Gb/s interface. Overall,
got a NAS box that’s set for a drive upgrade, this 12TB model is rated at 180TB per year Goldilocks Epic storage
the IronWolf would like to offer its services. of data traffic, has an MTBF (mean time capacity; awesome feature set;
Indeed, Seagate offers two versions of the between failures) of 1 million hours, and a great in-class performance.
IronWolf: vanilla and Pro. This vanilla drive three-year limited warranty.
BiG, Bad wolf Not the best for TB/$;
is aimed at connected homes, SOHO, and For context, the IronWolf Pro is
blown away by any SSD for performance.
SMB apps, while the Pro version is for full- optimized for 300TB per year, has an
on commercial and enterprise users. Both MTBF of 1.2 million hours, and a five-year $429 www.seagate.com

BENChmArkS SPECIFICATIONS

seagate ironwolf 12TB HGsT Ultrastar He10 10TB capacity 12TB

interface SATA 6Gb/s

30GB Internal Copy (Seconds) 267 264
spindle speed 7,200rpm
Atto Sequential Read (MB/s) 271 251
Max sustained
Atto Sequential Write (MB/s) 267 253 Transfer Rate 210MB/s

CrystalDiskMark Sequential Read (MB/s) 266 246 cache Memory 256MB

control Protocol AHCI

CrystalDiskMark Sequential Write (MB/s) 263 248
Platters 8x 1.5TB
CrystalDiskMark 4K Read (MB/s) 1.16 0.71
Number of Bays 1-8
CrystalDiskMark 4K Write (MB/s) 2.95 5.97
MTBf 1 million hours
Best scores are in bold. Our test bench consists of an Intel Core i7-8700K, an Asus Maximus X Hero, an Nvidia warranty Three years
GeForce GTX 1080, 16GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4, and a Samsung 850 Evo 250GB OS SSD.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 87

in the lab

Corsair Hydro
When it comes to thermal dissipation,
nothing truly compares to a good liquid-
cooled setup. Say what you like, but for

H150i Pro
clean builds, ridiculous efficiency, and
noise reduction, AIOs are the way forward.
Those early teething days are now long
gone, and with most AIOs packing an

RGB 360mm
impressive five-year warranty to boot, you
can rest assured that if your cooler decides
to self-destruct and spray its conductive
juices all across your precious hardware,
the manufacturer will go out of its way to

The sound of silence ensure you get either hard replacements

or cash up front as soon as possible. That’s

88 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

more than enough for us to recommend based around Asetek’s rather aggressive reduced to an absolute minimum with ease,
them. Admittedly, if you do need absolutely patenting at that. with the fans only kicking in when the CPU
concrete cooling, with zero downtime, the Aesthetically, the Hydro H150i Pro RGB reaches a temperature of your choosing.
more premium air towers still fill that niche is a whole different beast from the now- Corsair’s Hydro H150i Pro RGB is
far better—but for the average enthusiast, legendary “old-school” H100i we used to a fantastic addition to this mammoth
consumer, or tinkerer, the AIO is the perfect know and love. The design, bezel, fans, company’s arsenal. It’s just that the CPU
partner for any thermal predicament. lighting have all been redeveloped from the block is going to be so divisive, especially
That said, maximum core counts have ground up around Corsair’s (and the whole among people who prefer the sleeker,
almost doubled in the last year alone, industry’s) new obsession with RGB. Not more professional designs associated
so the need for more powerful cooling that it’s entirely a bad thing. The Hydro’s with Corsair’s Graphite series of cases
solutions has grown, and although this isn’t appeal lies within the small details Corsair and more. What we’d love to see in the
the first time we’ve seen a triple-rad AIO has integrated into the unit. Whether it’s future is a way of replacing that bezel
(Swiftech was first to market), it’s the first the aluminum-flecked logo embedded with potentially different colored frames,
we’ve seen from Corsair, and one that isn’t into the side of the rad, the braiding or perhaps a sleeker block entirely,
covering the tubing between the block and integrating Corsair’s love and talent for
the radiator, or the RGB-lit block itself, it all RGB, while retaining the Graphite’s serious
combines to make an exceptionally clean- sensibility. All that said, if you’ve got the
looking piece of hardware. Almost. space for it, and are after the quietest AIO
It’s that octagonal block that is arguably on the market, the Hydro H150i Pro RGB is
the most divisive part of this mixture, the perfect fit for any silence-loving, cool-
with the stark silver of the thick bezel craving PC tinkerer. –Zak storey
standing out perhaps a bit too much for

9
verdict
our liking. If it were a simple black brushed Corsair Hydro H150i Pro
finish instead, or even absent, it’s not RGB 360mm
something we’d particularly miss. But
0dB Fan Tech Awesome fan
let’s face it, designing a cooler that doesn’t
curves; solid fans; good performance;
encroach on the competition’s style, yet
intuitive mounting mechanism.
is still decisively a Corsair product, is a
challenge, and there are limited things JusT Broken Divisive CPU block; pricey.
you can do with a waterblock. NZXT has $170, www.corsair.com
the Kraken’s mirrored finish, Cooler
Master has the subtle sand-blasted
SPECIFICATIONS
styling, and Thermaltake has, well, all the
RGB and cables—cables for days—so we socket compatibility AM2, AM3, AM4, FM1,
understand that those designer decisions FM2, LGA 115X, LGA
are pretty slim pickings right now. 2011-3, LGA 2066

The real beauty of the Hydro H150i Pro radiator size 360mm
RGB, however, lies in the cooling—or rather, radiator dimensions 15.6 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
the very obvious lack of noise associated
cold Plate Material Copper
with said cooling. It’s the fans. Corsair has
upgraded the stock fans usually included Fan static Pressure 1.78mmH2O
with AIOs, using a set of three ML120 Fan airflow 47.3CFM
maglev variants (some of our favorites)
instead. Combine that with the addition Fan noise 25dB(A)

of a zero-RPM fan mode in the Corsair Warranty Five years

Link software suite, and fan noise can be

BENCHmARkS

corsair hydro h150i Pro nZXT kraken X62 +

rGB 360mm + stock Fans 2x noctua aF14 Fans
Idle Temperature (°C) 23 25
Prime95 @ Stock (°C) 52 55
Cinebench @ Stock (°C) 48 48
Far Cry Primal @ Stock (°C) 43 44
Prime95 @ 4.7GHz (°C) 79 75
Cinebench @ 4.7GHz (°C) 73 62
Far Cry Primal @ 4.7GHz (°C) 56 51

Even at full Best scores are in bold. Our test bed consists of an Intel Core i7-6700K, a GTX 1080, 16GB of Crucial Ballistix
whack, this Elite, and a 500GB Samsung 850 Evo SSD. All tests were performed for five minutes each, with a 10-minute
cool-down period.
thing is quiet.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 89

in the lab
The twin moons make it clear
we’re not in Kansas anymore.

Outcast: Second Contact

Dimensional rift opens to world of right angles
SequelS and remakeS are the backbone suddenly out of the surface, nestling plants idiot with his gun drawn, as if he’s holding it
of the modern game industry, the boughs and crystals at their base, as though trying in the very tips of his fingers, which possibly
from which the fruits of original creative to hide the joins. It’s all very 1999. explains why the auto-aim is a bit wobbly,
endeavors can hang. And they have another Not that it should matter, as there’s and his reluctance to turn around means
important function—making great games a solid game beneath the shiny new running backward is an effective method
from the past accessible to those who don’t polygons. Outcast is a third-person free- of withdrawal from suboptimal situations.
have Windows 98 installed, or even a CD roaming adventure game, although the Modern touches include autosaving, and
drive in their PC anymore. amount of free roaming you can actually switching rechargeable health on or off.
Seventeen or so years ago, Outcast was do is curtailed by monsters, enemies, and Outcast’s John Carter meets Jack O’Neill
cutting-edge. You needed 128MB of RAM to quicksand. Humanity has wrenched open nature is spread thinly over its structure, the
run it, and a beefy CPU (Pentium IIIs were a portal to another dimension, and sent workings of the world are on display, and as
available), thanks to its eschewal of GPU through a probe, but it’s all gone wrong, you mess with them—disrupting enemy
tech (the first GeForce card would come and a dimensional vortex now threatens to supply lines, for example—you can see
along in October 1999) to run an engine that destroy our world if you, Commander Manly its influence on games such as Assassin’s
flitted between raycasting for the ground (sorry, Cutter Slade), don’t go through the Creed. Second Contact is interesting as a
and textured polygons for objects. breach and reclaim Earth’s litter. Of course, historical document, sure, but it’s still a
An enhanced version, Outcast 1.1, was you get separated from your team, and great game in its own right. Especially now
released in 2014, but it stuck with the CPU wake up in a square house, surrounded by anyone can play it. –ian evenden
rendering of the original, and was on the beings whose baldness and two-fingered
verdict

7
blurry side, which is an accusation you can’t hands must cut down on rendering time Outcast: Second Contact
make of Second Contact. It looks superb, nicely. They speak perfect English.
Outcast Huge adventure;
every texture beautifully displayed, every It’s full of charmingly clunky touches,
top-notch remake; fine score.
face animating in time to its spoken lines, such as the Gaamsaav device you carry in
and the swirling snowflakes of the opening your backpack and use to saav your gaam. OuthOuse Clunky ’90s plot and lead
sequence looking soft and featherlike. We’re not sure if the fact the Gaamsaav character; showing its age elsewhere, too.
However, from this fidelity comes the sense makes a noise that enemies can hear and
recOmmended specs Intel i7/AMD Ryzen 5;
that you’re playing an old game—everything will investigate is a stroke of genius or
8GB RAM; GeForce GTX 780/AMD Radeon 290.
is very square, the ground very flat, even sadism, but it’s certainly effective at racking
where it’s built up in layers. Mountains jut up the tension. Your character looks like an $35, http://outcastthegame.com, ESRB: T

90 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 Godstones enable Spells and enchanted armor You definitely don’t want
fast travel around can summon help in a fight. to fight the Golem.
the world.

The overworld is one

of pastoral villages and
generic fantasy tropes.

You’ll discover more

varied architecture
underground.

Spellforce 3
A genre-blending hybrid that puts the RTS in RPG
Spellforce’S claSh of initialisms flings one character he might like to pop out of the to restore us and protect us from magic.
RTS together with RPG, and contains the dungeon for art supplies when he mentions Their backpacks must be enormous, but this
resulting fusion in a series of narrative arcs sketching the ancient ruins you found. It can constant turnover of weapons and the huge
within a generic fantasy world. As a result, raise a smile, even as you raise your sword number of “uncommon” healing potions are
what looks like a standard isometric RPG to beat down more goblins. another step toward accessibility and the
in the Baldur’s Gate mold sees you building There are issues. The text contains a great game’s continued holding of your attention.
bases, raising an army, and taking the fight many typos, which is just about bearable, as In the tussle at the heart of Spellforce 3,
to the bad guys as a mass of troops, rather every line is voiced, and probably irks us the forces of RPG have the upper hand over
than a small party of heroes. Although as magazine journalists more than others. scrappy RTS soldiers. But the RTS sections
there is a small party of heroes, too, who Another issue is that areas highlighted make the game feel fresh, adding interest to
have all the special powers and upgradable as being of interest repeatedly fail to be a world that might otherwise be dismissed
skill trees you could want. interesting—your character walks up to as just more elves. It’s a balance that’s been
The RTS interludes help avoid the RPG them, says something like, “What do we struck deliberately, and the mix works well.
sections feeling hackneyed. There are have here?” then does nothing. At one point, There’s hours of play, and the fast pace
dwarfs, orcs, and elves, magic users both some helpful text advised us to use an item means it’s unlikely to get boring soon. If this
good and bad, a religion that persecutes we hadn’t obtained yet. We even had a loot is how genres can be hybridized, we say,
those magic users, a dungeon escape, drop that was impossible to pick up, and “More crossbreeding!” –Ian evenden
whirling rumors of a chosen one, a long- a cutscene that didn’t want to end, leaving

8
verdict
dead civilization you can raid for awesome us waiting without control until, as if from Spellforce 3
loot.... If you’ve played Tides of Numenera nowhere, normality re-established itself.
SpellS Hybrid structure holds
or Divinity: Original Sin, you might wonder This kind of thing is rare nowadays,
interest; good script; epic story.
how far back in time you’ve traveled. and the developers continue to patch and
Spellforce gets away with it, though. improve the game post-release. We didn’t SmellS Buggy and typo-ridden; can feel
Your companions are amiable enough, even encounter anything game-breaking, even if like every other RPG you’ve played.
if the dwarf is Scottish, and change at we did miss out on some loot—but there’s
recommended SpecS Intel Core i7-4790/
swift enough intervals to not get boring. plenty of that. Our characters were weighed
AMD FX-8350; 8GB RAM; Nvidia GTX 970
They’ve always got something to say, and down with weapons and armor they couldn’t
4GB/AMD Radeon R9 290 4GB.
there’s a rich vein of sarcasm to be mined use, with books and scrolls, meat from
in your responses, such as suggesting to slaughtered enemies and animals, potions $50, http://spellforce.com, ESRB: M

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 91

in the lab

AlAn dexter, execuTive ediTor

Memory is
Holding Us Back
Infinity Fabric is awesome, if you have lots of cheap, fast RAM
If you’ve read our review of AMD’s new communications—forming
Ryzen 5 2400G (pg. 78), you’ll know that we the link between the APU’s
think it’s a quality budget chip. In fact, we’re six main components—runs
stoked about the kinds of machines we at the speed of your memory.
can build around it, and what kind of price Faster memory equates
points we can hit with it as a base. The fact to better CPU performance,
that it boasts integrated graphics that don’t better GPU performance, and
completely suck, at a time when graphics just better performance
card prices have lost all grasp of reality (a across the board. You
comparable GeForce GT 1030 will set you need quality, fast memory.
back $100) makes for a compelling story Yeah, the expensive stuff.
on its own. To go alongside a budget
The problem is, and it’s a problem powerhouse. You’ll want the fastest memory you can afford.
that affects pretty much any build at the What sort of performance
moment, is memory pricing. Basic RAM difference are we talking? Well, in games make a game unplayable. We’ll look at this
is too expensive, and the speedy stuff you’re looking at dropping from 30fps with in more detail next issue, along with a look at
even more so. This affects AMD’s Raven DDR4-2933 down to 24fps with DDR4-2400, the Ryzen 3 2200G, but for now, realize that
Ridge APUs more than anything else or from 60fps down to 50fps. Enough of a memory performance is not only important
currently out there, because the Infinity difference to force you to turn off even more again, but it can make a real difference to
Fabric that forms the heart of the chip’s settings, drop the resolution, or simply the viability of a platform.

Tuan nguyen Bo Moore

Editor-in-chief Technology editor

I think everything has pros once again, you’ll be called on I helped a friend build her first about which GPU to buy, and
and cons. One of the cons of to fix it. Don’t get me wrong, PC during Black Friday last I wasn’t seeing any deep
being knowledgeable in tech I like solving problems. I do year—at least, that’s when we discounts anywhere on the
is you will inevitably become genuinely enjoy helping people bought all the components. GTX 1070 we had priced out,
someone’s go-to tech support solve their problems. It’s just I was reporting on hardware so I told her to just hold off and
person. Whether that be your that sometimes, problems component sales, and I simply wait for a better sale. Oh, what
parents, friends, or other keep happening to the same sent her the best deal in every a mistake that was. Months
relatives, it’ll just happen. The person that you keep helping. category that I could find. We later, the GPU shortage
worst part of this arrangement Not because they’re actual ended up assembling a mighty continues, and we haven’t
is that if something goes wrong problems, but because now fine computer for less than a seen prices anywhere close to
again after you’ve fixed the they’ve got loads of questions. grand, but we made one fatal the near-MSRP price I scouted
issue, they’ll blame you. And I should start charging. error. She was a bit bullish that day.

92 MAXIMUMPC Apr 2018 maximumpc.com

 Geek
tested &
Approved

editors’ Picks:
digital discoveries
Jarred Walton, senior editor, and Zak Storey, deputy
editor, share their recent technology loves Corsair
Gaming PBT
Double-Shot
DataVac ED-500 EarthWinDMap
ElEctric DustEr

Keycaps
I have a thing for
If you haven’t cleaned weather—no, seriously.
out your PC’s internals I come from a family
lately—in the past six of builders and farm I remember the emaIl: “Zak, you can
months at least—stop laborers on my father’s review keycaps, right?” Apprehensively,
reading. It’s time for some spring cleaning, side, and some of my most cherished I said yes, but I’ve held on to them for a
so grab your screwdriver, crack open your childhood memories are of waking up every long while before even testing them,
case, and take it outside for a good internal morning at 6 a.m., sitting downstairs with much to Corsair’s disdain.
dusting—and don’t forget your keyboard. my pops, and watching the weather forecast, So what’s the point of these, and why
But wait, are you using canned air? Not only trying to figure out whether he’d be going should you invest 50 bucks in them?
can that stuff be bad for the environment, to work that day or not. During my teenage That’s a lot of beer (64.93 bottles—I did
but it’s completely unnecessary. There are years, I’d often spend my summers working the math*). If you’ve already invested in
far better alternatives. as a laborer for all manner of construction a mechanical keyboard, the likelihood
I’ve used a small Shop-Vac in the past, professions, and post varsity, it was that is you’ve put a good $120 into it, so why
but it’s big, noisy, lacks small nozzle same work that tided me over until I found drop more cash? Well, most keycaps are
attachments, and isn’t nearly as convenient my first “proper” job here at Maximum PC. molded out of a single piece of plastic,
as the DataVac ED-500. Don’t let the So, weather’s really important for me. and the character is laser-etched into
diminutive size fool you, as it really blows— And when meteorology and technology it. The Double-Shots, on the other hand,
it has a 500W motor for just that purpose. come together, I get perhaps a little over are formed from two separately molded
Whether it’s blasting dust from your case or excited. Whether it’s live lightning strike pieces of plastic: one translucent to allow
removing crumbs and other tasty morsels maps, or fancy smartphone apps, it’s all your RGB light of choice to pass through,
out of your keyboard, it has six attachments, awesome. The EarthWindMap site is by far and another more solid outer coating
from the tiny air-pin pointer to the larger air- the best thing I’ve found lately. It’s a live and to go on top. That means heavier caps,
flare nozzle, to get the job done. interactive weather map, powered by a ton and a more durable finish. Theoretically,
The retail price is a bit steep, but you can of organizations, depicting all sorts of neat these shouldn’t wear out as easily.
pick this up from Amazon for around $70. visual representations of our planet’s habits, While I can’t comment on durability,
That’s about the same price as a dozen or from wind speed to temperatures, pollution, what I can say is that both variants look
so cans of compressed air, but without the wave size, and even a “Misery Index,” which stunning. The lighting, in particular, is
extra landfill and chemicals. It’s especially tells you just how miserable the weather is far superior to the original caps on my
good in offices where there are lots of on a neat little scale. You can even look into K70, and the feel is as comfortable as
computers to clean. the future, and best of all, it’s free. a keycap can be. The font is still a bit
$118, www.metrovacworld.com Free, https://earth.nullschool.net garish to me (personal preference), but
that aside, they’re solid. Is it worth the
50 dollars, though? Well, it depends how
trashed your current caps are. I’d love
to see these make it into Corsair’s next-
gen keyboards as standard, that would
certainly make a lot more sense. –ZS
$50, www.corsair.com
* Beer calculation based on an 18-pack of Miller
Lite, price correct at time of writing. Maximum PC
reminds you to always drink responsibly.

maximumpc.com Apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 93

comments you write, we respond

WE TACKLE TOUGH READER QUESTIONS ON...

> Color Confusion

> Exhausting Issues
> System Specifics
Living Color think you’ll agree. The spine half the price of the other for. Any suggestions you
I’ve kept all of my Maximum color is designed to use the stand-out screen in that can offer would be greatly
PC magazines since you main accent from the cover, test, the impressive Asus appreciated. –Wes Bell
started publication. When so while the cover images ROG Swift PG279Q. We’ve
I received my March 2018 for the issues in question just had a quick look around, ExEcutivE Editor AlAn
edition, however, I noticed are very different, they use and the BenQ can now be dExtEr rEsponds: What
something peculiar. Because a similar accent, thus the had for about $300, which you’re asking for seems
I stack all my magazines similar (though really very is a nice sweetener for an completely reasonable,
with the spine facing different) spines. already great value panel. especially as you’ll find
outward, I saw that the There have been a lot of the likes of Facebook and
March 2018 issue had the Screen Scene developments in the screen YouTube peddling the sort
same color scheme as the Approximately two market, but they tend to of experiences you’re
February 2018 one, with years ago, in a monitor have focused on 4K displays, trying to recreate, but it
just the subtle change of comparison, Maximum PC so while it is now getting a would appear that it isn’t
the front cover. Is this the gave very positive reviews little long in the tooth, it’s as straightforward as you’d
Illuminati confirmed, or did of the BenQ GW2765HT still a great buy. You can expect. In fact, looking
the color picker person lose 27-inch 1440p IPS monitor. pick up a 4K screen for only around, we couldn’t really
their creativity? This monitor has dropped in a little more, but we still find anything that quite hits
–Kolby Aggramar price now. I understand that see 1440p as the sweet spot your brief.
it has been some time, and for gaming, so this still gets The one thing we did find
Art Editor (And chiEf technology has progressed, our nod. was the GoPro VR Player,
color pickEr) frAsEr but for gaming and general which you can get for free
McdErMott rEsponds: desktop use, does this Being There from www.kolor.com/gopro-
Just like everyone else in monitor still make the cut, I’ve been a Maximum PC vr-player. Although it does
the office, I have my issues or is there a better choice? subscriber for many years, enable you to play back
lined up with their spines Possibly another monitor and always find something your 360 videos and look
showing as well—it’s a comparison would be good. interesting and useful in around them, I’m not sure it
timeless system that’s been –Jimmy Croskey every issue. I’m hoping you does exactly what you want.
used for storing magazines can help me with a question. Hopefully another reader
and books since… well, ExEcutivE Editor AlAn I would like to find a “player” can suggest something a
forever. A keen eye would dExtEr rEsponds: When for Android and/or Windows little more immersive.
have spotted that the spine we looked at the BenQ 10 that will respond to the
on the February issue was GW2765HT screen back in movements of the tablet to Hole in One
a mix of 85 percent cyan, the February 2016 issue, it get the VR effect. I’m using Why do most all computer
5 percent yellow, and 5 walked away with the Kick a Gear 360 camera to create cases come with back fan
percent magenta, though, Ass award and won the the video, but haven’t been exhausts with these ugly
while clearly the March screen roundup it appeared able to find anything that perforated holes that block
issue is just 75 percent in. At the time, it had a list will give me the playback over 70 percent of airflow
cyan. Quite a difference, I price of $350, which was experience I’m looking from the fan, and make all

↘ submit your questions to: [email protected]

94 MAXIMUMPC apr 2018 maximumpc.com
the noise? A simple hole will it says “TP-Link TL-WN72N”
do much better. I cut holes [NOW ONLINE] in the text—I guess you are
for fans in all my cases so referring to the TP-Link
fans can work. Same for PSU Hackers infiltrated TL-WN727N adapter that is
bottom mounts that have
screens. –Don Hoffman
tesla’s amazon cloud pictured in Image B within
the article.
account to mine One more thing that is
ExEcutivE Editor AlAn
dExtEr rEsponds: It’s a
cryptocurrency crucial to know is what
version of the TL-WN727N
blatant exaggeration to Tesla is the latest victim adapter you were using. The
say that grills can restrict of what’s known as risk is that readers want to
more than 70 percent of cryptojacking, which is follow your example setup
the airflow (we’d suggest when a company is hacked (since it is the easiest way
less than 10 percent for and its resources used to to get started) and just buy
most designs), but you mine cryptocurrency. a TL-WN727N. However,
have a point when it comes In this case, hackers were the chipset is not the same
to adding to fan noise and able to break into Tesla’s in many models of Wi-Fi
stopping them working Amazon cloud account. adapters, even though the
optimally. We’ve just had Cybersecurity startup RedLock Cloud Security Intelligence model name remains the
a quick look around the (yes, that would be CSI) discovered the intrusion last month. same over versions. The
office, and there are a lot Or, more accurately, it stumbled upon the intrusion while TL-WN727N, for example,
of “normal” machines that investigating Kubernetes administration consoles being has at least three different
have designs that do indeed accessible over the Internet due to a lack of password chipsets, depending on the
appear to hinder airflow, protection. These consoles are designed to help IT admins version at hand. The v1 has
rather than promote it. manage virtual machines. a Ralink RT3070 chipset,
Your solution of cutting “A couple of the instances belonged to Aviva, a British v3 has a Ralink RT5370
holes where your fans go multinational insurance company, and Gemalto, the world’s chipset, and the v4 has the
has some merit, especially largest manufacturer of SIM cards. Within these consoles, MediaTek MT7601U chipset
from the perspective of access credentials to these organizations’ Amazon Web (some v4s have the Realtek
keeping your noise levels Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure environments were RTL8188EUS chipset). I’m
down and improving airflow. exposed. Upon further investigation, the team determined not all sure that all those
There is one obvious that hackers had secretly infiltrated these organizations’ chipsets a) work out of the
problem with drilling/ public cloud environments and were using the compute box with Raspbian Lite or
cutting out all of your instances to mine cryptocurrencies,” RedLock said. b) can offer monitor mode.
grills to improve airflow Read the full article at http://bit.ly/2EJ2PPd It could be good to know so
in that little fingers now that readers don’t rush and
have nothing to stop them buy adapters that they think
prodding into our beloved cards running Minesweeper the magazine, and that should work, but won’t.
machines (causing damage at one billion FPS. we’ve become a trusty I am very aware of the fact
either to said fingers, or the What I want to ask is: companion to your builds. that you are just suggesting
fan blades). If you are going Would it be possible to As for expanding our remit, examples of equipment to
to remove all the grills, but get a greater quantity and we’ve actually covered some get started, but for this kind
do have little ones to bear diversity of reviews? I love of these items already (in of “war driving” scenario, it
in mind, wire grills can help that the magazine already fact, you’ll find a review of would also be good to use
protect your system and has an awesome diversity the Titan V this issue, on a Wi-Fi adapter that has an
have the least effect on both of budgets considered—if a page 76), although others external antenna, for range
fan noise and performance. Pentium or i3 is the cream we steer clear of simply reasons. –Jonas
of the crop, you aren’t afraid because a generalized
More of a Difference to say so. But I’d like to see review isn’t particularly ExEcutivE Editor AlAn
Just found this magazine a bit more diversity—gamer useful. How one person uses dExtEr rEsponds: We’ve
a year ago, and I love it so components suit most of my a professional graphics card seen wildly different
much. I end up building purposes just fine, but I’d is often completely different hardware branded with the
PCs on a semi-regular love to see reviews of things to how another does, and same name before, so while
basis, since my parents like NASes, Nvidia Quadros, a more general review we’re not surprised that
are engineers and my the Titan V, pre-built HP and wouldn’t necessarily be there are so many versions
brother and I are college Dell workstations, tablets, useful to our readers. of the TL-WN727N, it’s still
students, and I’m the only high-quality soundcards, annoying. You actually want
PC enthusiast in the house. and musician-quality (not Be Specific to make sure that you get
Anyway, my default source “gamer”) headphones. Just I read the article about the original v1 spin of the
for product reviews when being nit-picky, though. This setting up the Raspberry Pi TL-WN727N, which uses the
speccing a new system is magazine is awesome! with Kismet in the March Ralink RT3070 chipset. The
your magazine, because –Kieran Al 2018 issue of Maximum main point remains, though,
unlike reading online PC. In the beginning of the that you’ve got to make sure
customer reviews, I can ExEcutivE Editor AlAn article, you talk about the it supports monitor mode
expect a lot more content dExtEr rEsponds: It’s good need for a monitor mode when buying it, whichever
than just jokes about graphic to hear you are enjoying enabled Wi-Fi adapter, but dongle you get.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 95

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blueprint

Budget mid-range

INGREDIENTS INGREDIENTS

PART PRice PART PRice

case Phanteks Enthoo Evolv ITX $70 case NZXT S340 Elite $90

PSU 550W Corsair RM550X $100

PSU EVGA 450 BT Bronze $45
Mobo MSI Z370 Tomahawk $150
Mobo ASRock AB350 Gaming-ITX/ac $95
cPU Intel Core i5-8400 $182
cPU AMD Ryzen 5 2400G NeW $169
cooler Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3 $75
GPU N/A $0
GPU Asus GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Dual NeW $340

RAM 8GB (2x 4GB) G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 3200 NeW $104 RAM 16GB (2x 8GB) ADATA XPG
Gammix D10 2400 NeW $169
SSD 120GB HP M700 2.5-inch SSD $50
SSD 256GB Intel 760p Series M.2 PCIe SSD NeW $99

HDD 1TB WD Blue 1TB 5,400rpm $46 HDD Western Digital Blue Series 1TB 7,200rpm $49

OS Ubuntu Desktop Linux 16.04 LTS 64-bit $16 OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit OEM $100

Approximate Price: $595 Approximate Price: $1,354

Yeah, Screw You, graphicS cardS, we don’t need you anymore, you’re SavingS hath cometh to the people, and boy does it feel good to say
crappy. Well, not really, but honestly, we’re really fed up with having that. Unfortunately, this is due to a few smart saving tactics we’ve
to deal with the perpetual price increases. Seriously, 2017 saw three employed since last issue—but, fortunately, now you can get a semi-
million GPUs bought up by those pesky cryptocurrency miners, and decent GPU for less than $600. We’ve swapped out the 6GB GTX 1060
as much as we like to get behind new and intuitive ways of making in favor of Asus’s 3GB variant instead, saving a not-so-subtle $260,
money with technology, GPU scalping simply seems too far below the and we’ve also opted to go for both a lower specced kit of memory
belt for us to vouch for. All hail our new AMD overlords, then, and in (because this is an Intel build) and a more read-oriented PCIe SSD, in
particular the Ryzen 5 2400G. Those Vega cores beating away at the the form of Intel’s 760p series, the latter of which saves us $46 over
heart of this APU are plenty powerful enough to enjoy a mid-range last issue’s SM961. There’s one other saving here, although it’s not
gaming experience at 1080p. And it’s for that exact reason that we’ve one we can report on in our table above: Our choices of motherboard
chosen the 2400G as our budget chip of choice. Flexing that card and CPU can be bought together in a bundle, potentially saving you an
cash has also given us the opportunity to drop some higher specced additional $35 on top of what we’ve listed. Generally, if you can find
memory in here, too, ensuring you get the most out of our APU bro combos like that, we recommend you snap them up. Just make sure
and its Infinity Fabric. the CPU comes with a cooler.

maximumpc.com apr 2018 MAXIMUMPC 97

blueprint

it’S finallY happening: Prices are coming down, and it’s such a
beautiful thing to behold. GPU prices are finally tumbling—well, for
now at least. You can get a GTX 1080 for $630 now, and a 1080 Ti for
$300 less than it cost last issue. That’s something we can absolutely
get behind. Memory prices are still pretty frantic, but hopefully as
companies in China have begun to produce DRAM at a fairly steady
rate, we should see those prices drop as well, meaning happy days
once more for us consumers. Let’s hope the prices continue to fall
for the foreseeable future. Speaking of which, we’re going to point
out another bundle. You can currently pick up the motherboard and
CPU listed here for a little over $1,003 bundled—compared to $1,100 if
bought separately—dropping the overall price of this rig down closer
to $3,150, which is almost stomachable.
So, now the panic and furore are out the way, let’s talk specs.

turBo We’ve gone for a smaller cooler for our 1920X, to ensure there’s no
compatibility issues with the case. We did manage to make last issue’s
cooler fit, although it was snug, for sure, and less than ideal. But apart
from that, we’ve kept most of this build the same, bar the GPU, opting
for MSI’s triple-cooled black (and very stylish) DUKE. It’s arguably
one of the nicest out there right now, if only because the thing isn’t
littered with RGB. Storage remains the same, and we’ve stuck with
the same 32GB kit of 3,200MT/s memory as well, because it’s still the
perfect match for that 12-core Threadripper.

For more of our component recommendations,

visit www.maximumpc.com/best-of-the-best

UpGRaDE of
ThE MoNTh
INGREDIENTS

PART PRice

case Phanteks Eclipse P400S Tempered Glass

Silent Edition $90

PSU Corsair RM750X Modular Gold $110

AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
Mobo Asus Prime X399-A $350 There’s just something admirable about the fact that you can
now get a processor with integrated graphics that’s powerful
cPU AMD Ryzen Threadripper 1920X $750
enough to run Overwatch at 1080p and get 60fps without much
cooler Noctua NH-U12S TR4-SP3 120mm NeW $70 of a struggle. It’s simply so satisfying. AMD’s Ryzen 5 2400G
is an incredibly versatile chip, and one that overclocks like a
GPU MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti DUKE 11G OC NeW $900
tank, too, if you put some decent cooling behind it. We’ve heard
RAM 32GB (4x 8GB) G.Skill Ripjaws V Series rumors of it hitting 4.4GHz in some samples, and showing off
DDR4 3200 $364 single-core performance well above anything we’ve seen from
SSD 512GB Samsung 960 Pro M.2 NVMe $330 the architecture to date, even trumping the Ryzen 7 1800X. All
in all, it’s a very tantalizing offer for anyone looking to build
HDD 4TB WD Black 7,200rpm $186 a budget rig, and if it’s any indicator as to how Zen+ is going
OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit OEM $100
to perform come April, it’s going to be a fun time to be a tech
enthusiast, that’s for sure.
$169, www.amd.com
Approximate Price: $3,250

Maximum PC (ISSN 1522-4279) is published 13 times a year, foreign orders must be prepaid. Canadian price includes postage The Official Xbox Magazine, and PC Gamer. Entire contents copyright
monthly plus Holiday issue following December issue, by and GST (GST #R128220688). PMA #40612608. Subscriptions do 2018, Future US, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
Future US, Inc., 1390 Market St, Suite 200, San Francisco, not include newsstand specials. POSTMASTER: Send changes part is prohibited. Future US, Inc. is not affiliated with the companies
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by Curtis Circulation Company. Basic subscription rates: one year Returns: IMEX Global Solutions, PO Box 25542, London, ON of Maximum PC are trademarks of their respective companies.
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