Tuesday, January 27, 2015

IT News Head Lines (TweakTown) 1/28/2015

TweakTown



The galaxy in Elite: Dangerous can be explored for over 150,000 years
Elite: Dangerous launched in December last year, but it'll be many more years before the entire galaxy has been mapped. The game takes place in a one-to-one recreation of our Milky Way galaxy, something that will take lifetimes to explore.

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There are over 400 billion star systems to explore, but with part of the leveling mechanic in the game incentivising exploration of unknown star systems, Elite: Dangerous is being mapped quickly. At the current rate of exploration, Elite: Dangerous' playerbase is visiting 17,585 new star systems each day. This breaks down into 732 per hour, or 12 per minute.

If this rate continues and there isn't an influx of players in the short term, it would take a gigantic 150,895 years to map the entire galaxy. The developer behind the game is running a content for the first player to reach Elite status in exploration, giving away a $1500 prize. The first player to reach Elite in all three statuses will receive $15,000.


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Facebook is currently down, but the world isn't ending just yet
You've probably just realized, but some of you might not have: Facebook is down. Right now, it's not loading for me here in Australia, some friends in California and San Francisco, and it's not loading on my smartphone either.

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A bit of personal reflection: as a professional, I require Facebook for my everyday life. Professionally, I'm on it virtually every waking minute posting stories up from our main site to our Facebook page, engaging with readers, posting up random images and the like along the way. Personally, I'm addicted to it like most. Constantly checking my News Feed, hanging out on Messenger as long as my eyes are open, posting up images of my day or my travel if I'm away at an event.

In times like this, I know it's sad and I know I'm going to get hate mail over it: but I feel, lost. Without Facebook, it feels like half the Internet is down for me. Do you feel the same? Should we get on Kickstarter and start a Facebook Anonymous? Hi, my name's Anthony and I'm addicted to Facebook...

We will update this with more news, as it happens.


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EA charges real money for gas in Need for Speed: No Limits
Let's start the week off with some big news for Electronic Arts, which is charging real money for in-game gas in Need for Speed: No Limits. Yes, you will need to buy gas through in-app purchases, or you could wait for your tank to fill back up. This isn't something you want to wait for when you feel the need, the need for speed.

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Need for Speed: No Limits is currently an iPhone exclusive, but will be reaching Android in the near future. In the game, each race requires a certain amount of gas, so some gamers will choose to front up real money to pay for gas, so that they can play at their own pace. There are varying levels of currency in the game, with the real-world currency applying to 'gold'.

What do you think of EA charging for gas in a game? What will we be paying for next? Oxygen?


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Analyst claims the Apple Watch will go on sale this March
According analyst Ming Chi Kuo from KGI Securities, Apple's long-awaited smartwatch will go on sale in just over one month, citing possible component shortages as a likely issue alongside commenting that 5 million devices should be sold within the first quarter of 2015.

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Although no official launch date has been announced, the Watch was officially shown to the world in September, with Apple telling us to expect a full release in early 2015. Kuo has also made note that other analyst reports have also claimed a March release - so it's nothing completely ground-breaking or new.

Apple still has to release some information on the watch, including the battery and pre-order details, claims Kuo. Apple have stated that this new device will require charging daily, however no other information has been leaked.

Touching on the component issues, Kuo claims that Apple may encounter supply issues - however he expects them to sell 2.8 million devices in March alone, making up for a 5 million total number within the first quarter of 2015. He also has stated that he expects iPhone shipments for this same period to tip over 61 million units with iPad's following with 10 million.


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Gearbox wants your help to make Borderlands 3
Borderlands is a massive franchise, so most fans would kill to be a part of it, right? Well, Gearbox Software is recruiting people for the next game in the franchise, where you don't need any qualifications to join the team.

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Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox Software said: "We are recruiting for next Borderlands. This is the big one". No qualifications are required, with the studio looking for a wide variety of people, stretching from writers to art designers and engine programmers. Unfortunately there's no information on Borderlands 3 just yet, but we should expect an announcement soon.


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Head to 'Sin City' in our A Dame to Kill For' Blu-ray giveaway
To celebrate this week's release of 'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' on 3D Blu-ray HD and DVD, we have 15 copies of the 3D + 2D Blu-ray combo to give away to readers, thanks to our friends at Icon Home Entertainment.

There is no justice without sin. Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miler's visually stunning Sin City graphic novels back to the screen in 'Sin City: A Dame To Kill For'. In a town where justice doesn't prevail, the desperate want vengeance and ruthless murderers find themselves with vigilantes on their heels, as the most hard-boiled citizens once again cross paths with its vicious inhabitants.

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To go into the running to take a Blu-ray home, simply correctly answer the following question:

Name the creator of the Sin City graphic novel franchise

To enter, simply 'like' this post and share via Facebook or Twitter and send your answers, along with your postal address to ben at TweakTown dot com before the competition closes on January 30th 2015.

'Sin City: A Dame to Kill For' is available to purchase on 3D Blu-ray HD combo pack, Blu-ray HD, DVD and digital from Australian retailers from January 28th.


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Coffee machine or PC Chassis? Meet the Silver Ghost project
It's obvious that Montymole's Modding Emporium doesn't mess around when it comes to PC modifications - they've just released the final 3D design for the 'Silver Ghost' project.

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Looking similar to a coffee machine, you can see that it's going to be a fully-custom chassis design, integrated with a full watercooling loop connected to 2x 250mm radiators - however it's very hard to tell the full scale of the project through just a rendered image.

On the official Facebook, it's explained that they don't want to spoil "the fun on the layout of the tubing and other stuff," so this is all we get for now - along with a full list of specifications.

The full component list will include:

CPU: Intel 4690K

MOBO: ASUS Sabertooth Mk S

GPU: HOF 780 GTX x2 SLI

RAM: Corsair 16Gb Dominator Platinum 2133

PSU: Corsair HX850i

SSD: Corsair Force LS 240GB x2 Raid 0

WC: EK 540mm WE Rad

WC: EK EVO White CPU Block

WC: EK D5 and Top

WC: EK 250mm X3 Res (White)

WC: EK 780 HOF Blocks

WC: EK HDC 12mm OD Nickel Fittings

WC: E22 Ultra Clear

WC: Aquero 6 XT

Don't worry, we'll certainly keep updated on this project as the build hits the real-world. As according to the official release of this image, it's been a long time coming - we can't wait to see what it looks like in the flesh!

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Oops, I meant sunny side up! Scientists can now unboil eggs
Scientists from UC Irvine have figured out a method to 'unboil' egg whites, turning them from a solid back into liquid form. There is a real application to this however, as it is claimed that the process behind this can "help lower the production cost of cancer drugs and other expensive medications" as explained by Gizmodo.

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Cancer drugs don't directly correlate to egg whites, however the process between the two is similar and helps show off how powerful and complex the process really is. The process shows that these scientists can now "use and recycle molecular proteins that have a tendency to "misfold" into tiny shapes and structures when produced that actually make them unusable." This basically means that the proteins produced by these scientists generally end up as a spongey-solid, similar to that of a hard-boiled egg, whereas scientists need it to be a liquid - with no easy solution previously available to make this happen, they put in the effort and produced a new method.

The scientists have laid out the process, explaining that "To re-create a clear protein known as lysozyme once an egg has been boiled, he and his colleagues add a urea substance that chews away at the whites, liquefying the solid material."

Confused yet? But wait, there's more! "That's half the process; at the molecular level, protein bits are still balled up into unusable masses. The scientists then employ a vortex fluid device, a high-powered machine designed by Professor Colin Raston's laboratory at South Australia's Flinders University. Shear stress within thin, microfluidic films is applied to those tiny pieces, forcing them back into untangled, proper form."

This process takes a matter of minutes to untangle the proteins at hand, when compared to a four-day process as seen through old methods. Not only does this simplify the project as a whole, it also reduces costs - time is money!

The only thing left to do is see companies pass this saving on to consumers, here's hoping that is a reality.


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Antec now with new P380 chassis in stock
Described by some as "the company that started it all," Antec has just announced that their P380 chassis is now officially launched - set as an update and refresh of their P180 case.

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Featuring dual-layer noise-dampening side panels, Antec claim that this chassis will ensure you can create "a system that is almost inaudible even when the fans are spinning at a high speed."

Compatible with standard ATX motherboards, this new addition to the Antec line includes nine expansion slots and supports video cards up to 18.3" long.

The system you see built above is packed full of Bitspower goodies - yet again we're seeing their name up in lights.

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Coming to an office near you: multitouch smart coffee table
Ideum has launched its Duet smart coffee table, featuring 42-inch and 46-inch models, running the Microsoft Windows 8 and Google Android operating systems. The table has been designed for use in public spaces, offices, schools, retail stores, and other environments that feature continued use.

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The multi-touch input provides increased responsiveness and has been designed to be the "hub of the connected home," giving owners the chance to control all their smart technologies from one location: controlling music, lights, thermostat, security, and other popular IoT-driven solutions.

The Duet has the following hardware specs: Intel Core i5-4570R (3.20GHz), Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200, 8GB DDR RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

"We are so excited about the Duet," said Jim Spadaccini, founder of Ideum, in a press release. "With dual PC and Android systems, there are literally millions of apps available. The ability to switch between operating systems effortlessly and rapidly makes this product completely unique."


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NASA says SpaceX, Boeing one step closer to launching astronauts
SpaceX and Boeing successfully completed milestones in their effort to launch astronauts into space, according to NASA during a press conference to discuss the Commercial Crew Program.

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"I don't ever want to have to write another check to Roscosmos," said Charles Bolden, NASA administrator, during the press conference. SpaceX hopes to begin launching personnel into space starting in early 2017, and wants to fly 50 Falcon 9 missions before reaching its ambitious goal.

As NASA continues to develop its next-generation space shuttle, the US government has called upon private sector companies to help fill the void. Following political tensions, NASA stopped relying on the Russian government to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA previously relied on SpaceX launches to help resupply the ISS, as additional private sector companies try to jump into the business.


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Microsoft saw increased demand for Surface, but is the tablet doomed?
Surface tablet revenue has increased up to $1.1 billion in Q2 2015, according to Microsoft's latest quarterly earnings announcement. The increased figure was largely due to the Surface Pro 3 and sales of accessories for the device - an impressive year-over-year growth from $893 million.

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Even though this is the first time Surface revenue eclipsed $1 billion, some people are beginning to wonder if Microsoft is going to pull the plug on Surface.

"It is currently out of stock [and] unfortunately we do not have specific dates on when products are back in stock, [so] you would have to check back on the site regularly," a Microsoft Store sales representative told Computerworld.

Considering how close the industry is to Windows 10, which should be available by the end of the year, it seems premature for Microsoft to suddenly try to throw in the towel. However, if Windows 10 does take off among other hardware OEMs - and they will launch their own Windows-powered devices - Microsoft could shift all focus towards promoting the OS for those devices.


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Retailers interested in adopting Apple Pay mobile payment service
The adoption of Apple Pay, while still stirring controversy among retailers preferring a non-Apple-centric payment service, continues to help stimulate the mobile pay revolution.

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For retailers, they have a monetary incentive to adopt Apple Pay: the payment service charges a fraction of what current credit card companies charge per swipe at checkout, which could help win over additional retailers in the future.

"I've never seen a bigger adoption of an alternative-payment system," said Brian Roemmele, a payments consultant, in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.

Even with growing interest in mobile payment services, there is still a varying level of controversy for consumers and retailers trying to go mobile. For example, a Missouri lawmaker wants to force retailers to check ID and document the ID number from a driver's license or other government identification card - to help prevent fraudulent transactions - or the store could be held responsible.


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Report: Microsoft shipped 6.6M Xbox units during 2014 holiday
Microsoft reportedly shipped 6.6 million Xbox game consoles to retailers, including both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One, during its most recent quarter that ended on December 31, 2014, it confirmed today. Even though it saw a "strong holiday season performance" for its Xbox 360 and Xbox One, Microsoft didn't provide a shipment breakdown for each individual console.

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The shipment figures were a noticeable drop from 7.4 million Xbox One and Xbox 360 units shipped to retailers during the same time frame in 2013 - as the aging Xbox 360 is shown the door in favor of its next-generation counterpart.

Despite the Xbox One outselling the PlayStation 4 last November and December, Microsoft will have a lot of work cut out for itself in 2015.


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Analyst: Apple Pay likely didn't contribute to Apple's 2014 success
Apple had a great Q4 2014, but its mobile payment system, Apple Pay, likely didn't have a major impact on that success, analysts believe. Despite drawing tremendous interest from consumers looking to embrace mobile payment, Apple Pay - and rival platforms - simply haven't been able to compete against cash, debit and credit card payments.

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"Apple Pay is not likely to be a material revenue stream on its own anytime soon," predicted Colin Gillis, analyst at BGC Partners, in a statement published by CNN Money.

However, a growing number of retailers are interested in adopting Apple Pay, and that will lead to future iPhone adoption - along with one day hopefully moving the needle. Most credit card companies charge 1.5 percent up to 3 percent per swipe, while Apple charges just 0.15 percent per transaction.


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Addonics Pocket UDD25 USB 3.0 External Dock Review
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Addonics has always been one of those vendors that produce customized solutions to fit the needs of their customers. Over the years, we have seen multiple bay solutions with a number of connectivity options, to single bay solutions with unique features such as write protect mode with devices, such as the recently reviewed Sapphire Write Protect.

The product we are looking at today follows those same guidelines being a custom solution with many options for connectivity. The Pocket UDD25 was announced just before many of us here at TweakTown packed up and hit the skies for CES 2015.

Like I mentioned previously, the UDD25 has immense capabilities as a desktop storage solution with compatibility with all 2.5" storage devices such as SSDs and HDDs, additionally utilizing Addonics adapters that we had the chance to use in our Sapphire Write Protect review mentioned above, this solution can take on SATA m.2, Compact Flash, CFast and even mSATA solutions. Operating system compatibility for this solution includes Windows XP, 7 and 8 in addition to all server variants of Windows; on the Unix side we have compatibility with Mac OS 9+ and Linux Kernel 2.4+.

MSRP of the Addonics Pocket UDD25 is listed at $44.99 with a one-year warranty.

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Scope of delivery for the Addonics Pocket UDD25 includes both USB 3.0 and eSATA cables, allowing you multiple connectivity options out of the box.

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The Pocket UDD25 is a rather sleek looking storage solution. Along with the great aesthetic appeal that the unit carries, the Addonics UDD25 houses a 2.5" bay on the front fit for SSD, HDD and the aforementioned adapters.

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The back of the Pocket houses the connectivity side of things, with USB 3.0 via a standard port and eSATA to it right. While this solution is bus powered when using it via USB 3.0, Addonics has added the option for this to be powered via an adapter as you can see to the far left.

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The bottom of the unit carries identification for the Pocket UDD25, along with slots on either side for internal cooling.

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Testing the Addonics, we installed a Crucial M550 1TB SSD in the unit. In our first benchmark, we used ATTO Disk Benchmark, as it's widely used for marketing performance. Looking down through the results, we found the UDD25 to excel with write operations, while read followed behind - at its peak, the UDD25 produced 224 MB/s read and 373 MB/s write.

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Next up, we loaded up CrystalDiskMark and gave the Pocket a go, again with the same 1TB M550 SSD from Crucial. Sequential read and write were quite similar to our results with ATTO at 218 MB/s read and 364 MB/s write. Further down, we find 512K results just under the sequential results, while 4K at QD1 and QD32 were similar as well at 26.5 MB/s read and 79 MB/s write.

For those in the market for an external solution with multiple connectivity options, the Addonics UDD25 is certainly at the top of its class. Along with having options for both USB 3.0 and eSATA, this solution is bus powered making it extremely portable for those that tend to travel more often than not.

On the front of the unit, we have even more options with the modular 2.5" design, utilizing a standard form factor the UDD25 allows you to insert hard drives and solid state drives up to 9mm thick, and taking things further utilizing the adapters, you can obtain even more options including SATA m.2 and mSATA.

Performance of the Pocket UDD25 over USB 3.0 was quite good. While the write speeds were mostly dominate with this particular solution, we were able to reach 224 MB/s read with ATTO and 218 MB/s with CrystalDiskMark. Going back to the write performance, we were able to reach upwards of 373 MB/s with ATTO disk benchmark, while CDM produced 364 MB/s.

On the downside, the Addonics Pocket UDD25 in its standard form reviewed here today doesn't include the additional adapters for the support of mSATA, m.2 and Compactflash. However, with that being said, Addonics has produced a "Pro" model that does include the adapters, of course for a little bit more of your hard earned money.

MSRP of the Addonics Pocket UDD25 is listed at $44.99, while the Pro model with the adapters is listed with a MSRP of $114.99. Each solution carries a one-year warranty.
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Far Cry 4 PlayStation 4 Game Review
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When Vaas first uttered the words 'Do you know the definition of insanity' during the unveiling of Far Cry 3, my interest was piqued instantly. Ubisoft was clearly building a psychotic, smart character to challenge the player over and over again in a huge sandbox world. Far Cry 3 has been and gone, winning plaudits the world over for its stunning gameplay, so a follow up was inevitable. Far Cry 4 in many ways is a repurposing of Far Cry 3, however, to dismiss it as only that is to completely ignore some of the improvements made over its predecessor. Far Cry 4 surpasses FC3 in many ways, and takes the psycho protagonist to an even deeper level, with more decisions and impact for the player to make along the way.

In Far Cry 4, you return to Kyrat as an ex-pat who immigrated to the United States with their mother when they were a child. Kyrat is a fictional city in the Himalayas and where the majority of the game takes place. It is also a dictatorship, ruled by one Pagan Min, a dictator on the level of Vaas from the former game, but one that is prepared to go even further. The story in Far Cry 4 is by no means throwaway, and in fact, many times will keep you forging ahead in the campaign, looking to find out what happens next - especially with the decisions you can make along the way to impact the game world.

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Far Cry 4 is again set in a massive open world, free for you to explore from the outset and laden with vehicles to make travelling around the massive expanse of land even easier. It's also a completely open world game that is prone to events just occurring. There are some which are somewhat scripted such as the 'Karma' events and those which just happen. You might be driving along to a mission only to run into a huge enemy presence or just a random event taking place. It is these random events that make the world feel living and breathing. They can also assist you. By completing certain events, you can gain experience and other rewards, so it's worth investigating things that just pop up as you move about.

On the main campaign side, you join a freedom fighter force known as the Golden Path who have been for a period of time attempting to end the reign of Min and restore peace and democracy to the land of the main characters birth. Throughout this campaign, some tough decisions need to be made as to how to advance the story and which main character of the Golden Path you wish to follow. This really mixes up the game, sends the story in different ways, and in many ways every player could have a slightly unique story. It also significantly enhances the replay value of the game, although to be honest, the game is not lacking without it.

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Throughout the course of the 12 hour plus campaign, you will find yourself abseiling down huge cliffs, flying through the air in a little helicopter machine, driving a long way, and just generally having a lot of fun. The missions are quite varied as well. Instead of just go here and shoot things, sometimes stealth sequences are thrown into the mix, and whilst most of the time the aim is to clear out the enemy, you can usually achieve your objectives in many ways. Remaining hidden from the enemy is advantageous because they can call significant amounts of reinforcements if you are spotted on most missions.

When it comes down to it, the actual gameplay, the game shines. Picking up where Far Cry 3 left off, the game is of course primarily a first person shooter. However, it is changes such as being able to ride on the back of an elephant that really make this game a stunning success. You also need to craft items to improve your weaponry and abilities. Instead of just purchasing more inventory space, for example, you need to craft a wallet. To do this, you need to hunt specific animals and skin them. It adds another dimension to the game and a challenging one at that. Most of the animals can be ferocious when attacked and getting their skins is not so easy.

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Aside from the main campaign missions, one of the other tasks is to unlock areas of the map for quick travel. This is done by climbing towers (fast becoming a common Ubisoft trope) to get rid of the propaganda broadcasting systems. There are benefits to this other than fast travel, such as being able to view other items in the area that were previously greyed out. For those who are not fans of doing tasks such as this, they are entirely optional, but it does make the game a bit more difficult to complete.

In terms of the environment the game is set in, it is stunning. This is a game that clearly is using the power of the current generation system. You can stand on the top of a cliff just admiring the mountains in the distance and the draw distance is also significant. One thing we noticed is that the game really never misses a beat. Despite huge explosions on screen, large draw distances and tons of action, the frame rate remained rock solid for us throughout. At least we did not notice any major frame rate issues, despite the epic nature of the game. Voice acting was also impressive, especially of the evil protagonist, and the propaganda style radio came across as authentic.

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Multiplayer comes in the form of complete online co-op and also player versus player battles. In online co-op, you can tackle the campaign and side missions together with one caveat. If the internet connection is dropped, you will be kicked from the game as opposed to switch to a single player mode. This actually stopped us for the most part playing the campaign in co-operative mode more as a precaution, but it does work well. There is also a map editor that ships with the game, allowing you to generate single player/co-op missions, and it's actually quite detailed and easy to use.

Far Cry 4 is a stunning game that builds upon its predecessor well. It may follow the same path of the main character having to slowly build up a force and take out an evil dictator, but despite it being almost the same structure, it works. The additions made including the new animals and location really do mix it up, however, it must be said that if Ubisoft is to return to the Far Cry universe for a fifth time, doing this over again is not going to be enough. That said, Far Cry 4 is one of the must-play games of 2014.

PRICING: You can find Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 for sale below. The prices listed are valid at the time of writing but can change at any time. Click the link to see the very latest pricing for the best deal.

United States: Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 retails for $48.92 at Amazon.

Canada: Far Cry 4 - PlayStation 4 retails for CDN$69.95 at Amazon Canada.

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Windows 10: A New Generation of Windows
Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a new generation of Windows, with a wide range of experiences designed to usher in a new era of more personal computing, as well as two new devices designed to extend the Windows experience from large screens to no screens. Windows 10 will be delivered as a service to offer a safer, innovative and updated experience for the supported lifetime of the device. A free upgrade1 for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, who upgrade in the first year.

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"Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world," said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. "Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Windows 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home."

Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era, where technology disappears and people are at the center. In this era, the mobility of the experience matters, not the mobility of the device, and experiences should work in a seamless, familiar way across devices. People should be able to naturally interact with technology as they interact with other people - with voice, gestures and gaze. Protecting privacy plays a pivotal role in delivering trustworthy experiences that put people in control of their experience.

On Wednesday, Microsoft showcased a variety of new experiences coming to Windows 10, including the following:

Cortana comes to PC and tablet. The Cortana personal digital assistant, which debuted on Windows Phone last year, will now also be available on Windows 10 PCs and tablets to help people get things done.2 Cortana is a personal helper who learns an individual's preferences to provide relevant recommendations, fast access to information and important reminders, bringing what matters most to their attention. Interaction is natural and easy via talking or typing, with advanced features to control Cortana for more trustworthiness and transparency.

New browser "Project Spartan" puts the Web to work, for you. Windows 10 will feature the new Microsoft browser, code-named "Project Spartan," which was built with interoperability in mind. With key features built-in natively to the browser, it will enable greater reliability and better discoverability. Some of the most advanced features in the browser include the ability to annotate whether by keyboard or pen directly on the webpage and easily share with friends; a reading view that is distraction-free, displaying the article in a simplified layout for a great reading experience for Web articles online and offline; and the integration of Cortana for finding and doing things online faster. All of this is offered with a new look and feel built just for Windows 10.

Xbox Live and the new Xbox app bring new gaming experiences to Windows 10. Xbox on Windows 10 lets gamers and developers access the best of the expansive Xbox Live gaming network on both Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One. Players can capture, edit and share their greatest gaming moments with Game DVR, and play new games with friends across devices, connecting millions of gamers around the world. Games developed for the new DirectX 12 application programming interface in Windows 10 will see improvements in speed, efficiency and graphics capability. Players will also be able to play games on their PC, streamed directly from their Xbox One consoles to their Windows 10 tablets or PCs, within their home.

Office for Windows 10. Office universal apps on Windows 10 deliver a touch-first experience across devices. New versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook are designed from the ground up to run on Windows, built for touch, and offer the unmistakable Office experience customers know and love. With the familiar features for Office, people can create and edit Word documents with ease. New inking features in PowerPoint let people annotate slides in real-time, and the new touch-first controls in Excel make it easy to create and update spreadsheets without a keyboard or mouse. The next version of the Office desktop suite is also currently in development and Microsoft will have more to share in the coming months.

Additional Windows 10 features and innovations shared today include the following:

  • Continuum mode. On 2-in-1 devices, Windows 10 will move easily between keyboard and mouse and touch and tablet as it detects the transition and conveniently switches to the new mode.
  • New universal apps. Windows 10 will offer new experience applications, consistent across the device continuum, for Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging and Mail & Calendar. These built-in apps have an updated design that looks and feels the same from app to app and device to device. Content is stored and synced through OneDrive, enabling people to start something on one device and continue it on another.
"Everything about Windows 10 - the experiences, delivering it as a service and the free upgrade - means that Windows 10 isn't just another product, it's an ongoing relationship - one that will give ongoing value to all our customers," said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. "The new generation of Windows is a commitment - a commitment to liberate people from complex technology and enable them to do great things."

Windows 10: Powering innovation, inspiring new computing platforms

Windows 10 adapts to the devices customers are using - from Xbox to PCs and phones to tablets and tiny gadgets - and what they're doing with a consistent, familiar and compatible experience. Windows 10 will run across an incredibly broad set of devices - from the tiniest of sensors as part of the Internet of Things, to servers in enterprise datacenters worldwide. Some devices have 4-inch screens, some have 80-inch screens and some don't have screens at all. On Wednesday, Microsoft unveiled two devices that will empower customers to experience Windows in incredible new ways.

Windows 10 unlocks holographic future with Microsoft HoloLens

Microsoft shared a revolutionary example of how Windows 10 enables a shift from the traditional machine-centric view of computing to an interaction that is much more personal and humanistic. As the world's first holographic computing platform, Windows 10 includes a set of APIs that enable developers to create holographic experiences in the real-world. With Windows 10, holograms are Windows universal apps, and all Windows universal apps can also work as holograms - making it possible to place three-dimensional holograms in the physical world and enabling new ways to communicate, create and explore that are more personal and human.

To showcase the possibilities of holograms in Windows 10, Microsoft unveiled the most advanced holographic computer in the world. Microsoft HoloLens is the first untethered holographic computer - no wires, phones or connection to a PC needed. Microsoft HoloLens features see-through holographic high-definition lenses and spatial sound so you can view and hear holograms in the world around you. Complete with advanced sensors, a next-generation system on a chip and the addition of a completely new Holographic Processing Unit (HPU) that understands what you are doing and the world around you, Microsoft HoloLens is able to run without any wires while processing terabytes of data from the sensors in real-time.

By placing three-dimensional holograms in the world around you, Microsoft HoloLens provides a new view into your reality that can tell what you are looking at and understand what you are saying with your hands and voice. By putting you at the center of the computing experience, Microsoft HoloLens allows you to create, access information, enjoy entertainment and communicate in new and exciting ways.

New Microsoft Surface Hub optimizes Windows 10 experience for groups

Windows 10 is powering a new large-screen device to help teams in the workplace share, ideate and create together. Hardware innovations in multi-touch and digital inking, along with built-in cameras, sensors and microphones, allow the Surface Hub to take advantage of Windows 10, Skype for Business and Office 365 to deliver a new experience designed to make every person - whether remote or onsite - feel as if they're in the same collaborative space. Specifically, the Surface Hub features state-of-the-art digital white boarding; instant remote conferencing; the ability for multiple people to share and edit content on the screen from a laptop, tablet or phone; and a trusted platform for large-screen apps. Available in two sizes - 55-inch and 84-inch - the Surface Hub removes the current limitations of traditional conference room scenarios to empower teams to create their best work together.

The next Technical Preview for Windows 10 on the PC will be available for free to Windows Insiders in the next week and for the first time on phones later in February.


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NVIDIA Releases the GeForce 347.25 WHQL Game Ready Driver
Alongside the GeForce GTX 960 launch, NVIDIA rolled out its latest Game Ready drivers, the GeForce 347.25 WHQL. The driver adds support for the GTX 960, and is "game ready" for Dying Light, a new zombie apocalypse first-person game, from the people who are good at it - Techland (Dead Island). It adds SLI profiles for Black Desert, Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, and Nosgoth. Grab the driver from the links below.

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DOWNLOAD: GeForce 347.25 WHQL Game Ready Driver


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ZOTAC Freezes the GeForce GTX 960 Series Graphics Card
ZOTAC International, a leading innovator and manufacturer of video cards and mini-PCs, today renders the virtual world with the new ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 and ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition. The quietly efficient next generation video card is based on NVIDIA's Maxwell architecture, and made more powerful and more efficient using ZOTAC technology.

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"We have listened and made remarkable improvements on the reference card to tailor it to users who are looking for a quieter experience without compromising gaming performance. The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 series does exactly this," says Tong Wong, CEO, ZOTAC International.

The Card for Enthusiasts

ZOTAC GTX 960 series is perfect for enthusiasts who are looking for a surreal gaming experience with groundbreaking features that will provide the edge. The Maxwell architecture delivers a smoother gaming experience and software features support greater graphical fidelity even on rich textures all while using less power. The card combined with a dual fan IceStorm technology (available on ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition), and coupled with the newest FREEZE tech, ZOTAC's newest fan feature, the powerful card is the epitome of the strong and silent personality.

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Introducing FREEZE Tech

FREEZE is an inspired breakthrough that will enable powerful video cards to become silent and reduce the wear on the fan system. When the user is not in action, the fans idle so they can enjoy the silence of the fans.

FREEZE integrates performance, silence and efficiency by making full use of well-engineered aerodynamics and fully using all passive heat dissipating components. This enables silent yet unrestrained performance from the GPU while conserving energy. The fan will engage automatically when GPU temperature rises, and stays silent for the rest of the time.

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Function with Style

ZOTAC gives as much attention to design as it does for engineering. The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition boast a sleek gunmetal ExoArmor with a durable wraparound metal back plate and front metal frame with a dual 90mm IceStorm cooling solution. Together they stabilize heat dissipation, produce extraordinary cooling capabilities and minimize vibrations.

Firestorm Provides Precision Control

The card may be fine-tuned to suit user needs, and it can be done from the comfort of FIRESTORM, an in-house developed tweaking utility from ZOTAC. Unleash the card's potential with a few clicks, and push the performance even further. The utility software is constantly updated to give users the best easy to use experience.

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The newest enthusiast card is the perfect upgrade for those who are looking for an intense visual experience.


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Introducing the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 SuperSC ACX 2.0+
The EVGA GeForce GTX 960 delivers incredible performance, power efficiency, and gaming technologies that only NVIDIA Maxwell technology can offer. This is the perfect upgrade, offering 60% faster performance and twice the power efficiency of previous-generation cards*. Plus, it features VXGI for realistic lighting, support for smooth, tear-free NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, and Dynamic Super Resolution for 4K-quality gaming on 1080P displays.

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The new EVGA ACX 2.0+ cooler brings new features to the award winning EVGA ACX 2.0 cooling technology. A Memory MOSFET Cooling Plate (MMCP) reduces MOSFET temperatures up to 11°C, and optimized Straight Heat Pipes (SHP) reduce GPU temperature by an additional 5°C. ACX 2.0+ coolers also feature optimized Swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extreme low power motor, delivering more air flow with less power, unlocking additional power for the GPU.

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New Features:

  • dBi (dB Noise Inverter) - EVGA's ACX 2.0+ fan turns off below 60C, generating 0dB of noise.
  • MMCP (Memory MOSFET Cooling Plate) - Full size cooling plate makes direct contact with memory and MOSFETS, reducing memory up to 9°C and MOSFET up to 11°C.
  • QSD (Quick Switch Dual BIOS) - Multiple integrated BIOSes allow you to switch to the secondary with the flick of a switch.
  • OPT (Optimized Power Target) - The power target is precisely tuned for the perfect balance of thermal, power and performance, offering 33% more power over reference.
  • SHP (Straight Heat Pipes) - Triple 8mm straight heat pipes offer 6% better heat dissipation than bent heat pipes with reduced thermal resistance.
For more information, visit this page.


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Point of View Announces the GeForce GTX 960 TROOPER
Trooper Gaming - an initiative of NVIDIA graphics partner Point of View - launches today a new Trooper card: the GTX 960. The latest addition to the Maxwell family, the GeForce GTX 960 is the perfect upgrade for anyone who wants to experience next-generation Maxwell gaming.

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Enjoy advanced gaming that's 60% faster and twice as power efficient as a previous-generation card. Unleash the massive overclocking potential of this GPU and push your performance even further. Plus, the GTX 960 features MFAA anti-aliasing for the smoothest, clearest images.

Trooper GTX 960 and Trooper GTX 960 Ammo

Point of View will be launching the GTX960 in 2 editions. We will have the standard Trooper GTX960 edition. This version will be running on the standard clock speeds which are already pretty amazing for incredible realistic gaming. The core speed will run on 1128 MHz and the Memory will run on 7010 MHz.

The second version will be the Trooper GTX 960 Ammo edition. As you would expect from cards from the Trooper line up, "Ammo" Edition cards come overclocked out of the box. We increased the core speed to 1165 MHz which will give you even more gaming power straight out of the box.

Incredible graphics

The GeForce GTX 960 comes loaded with the exclusive graphics technologies that all gamers should demand. Voxel Global Illumination (VXGI) accelerates dynamic lighting for brilliant, immersive graphics and Dynamic Super Resolution technology gives you up to 4K-quality resolution-even on 1080p displays.

GTX Gaming

Stream PC games from your GeForce GTX-powered rig to NVIDIA SHIELD portable devices with NVIDIA GameStream technology. Get full support for NVIDIA G-SYNC monitors with super smooth, tear-free, gameplay. Tap into GeForce Experience to automatically get the latest drivers and optimize game settings with a single click. You can even record your greatest gaming moments with NVIDIA ShadowPlay to share with friends.

GeForce GTX 960:

  • Graphics Engine : GTX 960
  • Interface : PCI-Express 3.0
  • Video memory : 2048 MB DDR5
  • Base clock : 1127 MHz
  • Memory clock : 7010 MHz
  • Memory bus : 128 bit
  • Display port : 3x
  • DVI-D : 1x dual link
  • HDMI : 1x mini HDMI
GeForce GTX 960 AMMO:

  • Graphics Engine : GTX 960
  • Interface : PCI-Express 3.0
  • Video memory : 2048 MB DDR5
  • Base clock : 1165 MHz
  • Memory clock : 7010 MHz
  • Memory bus : 128 bit
  • Display port : 3x
  • DVI-D : 1x dual link
  • HDMI : 1x mini HDMI


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Palit Announces its GeForce GTX 960 Series
Palit Microsystems Ltd, the leading video card manufacturer, is pleased to announce its next generation JetStream, the GeForce GTX 960 Series, a new video card in GTX 900 line-up. The revolutionary Palit JetStream風 series of video cards features advanced innovative cooling and an optimized product design to deliver gamers the ultimate gaming experience. As the latest and the next generation NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, the Palit GeForce GTX 960 JetStream series guarantees gamers the perfect upgrade to the advanced performance, power efficiency and realistic gameplay gaming experience.

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Continue the Glory of Palit JetStream series, Palit GeForce GTX 960 JetStream provide the extremely overclocking performance, Quiet and Cool thermal systems and plus the next generation NVIDIA Maxwell architecture, Palit GTX 960 JetStream is able to let gamers to enjoy gaming experience at 60ftps with 1080p monitors. Today, Palit releases GeForce GTX 960 Super JetStream, GTX 960 JetStream and GTX 960 OC edition to the market to fulfill all gamers' need. Palit GTX 960 Super JetStream is with 1024 cores, 2048MB GDDR5 7Gbps fast speed memory and boost clocked at 1342MHz, making it 164MHz higher than the stock 1178MHz of NVIDIA's reference design. With the new 0-dB Tech features, there is zero noise while you are at general workload, such as internet or multi-media application. Stay Quiet, Stay Cool and Enjoy the High gaming performance with Palit JetStream.

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  • 0-dB Tech: Keep Silent while you are experiencing the multimedia application and general workload. The operating fans only occurs while working on heavier loading such as gaming that the GPU temperature surpasses 60w or total board power over 60W.
  • 4K²: With its HDMI and DisplayPort ports, the Palit JetStream provides a flawless, jaw dropping experience at Dual 4K monitors.
  • Dual Fan: A Dual Fan design offers double the cooling performance, and combined with the 9CM-9CM Smart Fans, heat is effectively drawn away from hot spots.
  • LED Lighting: Fancy LED lighting on the Palit JetStream's thermal solution provides ambient lighting to further immerse gamers into the gaming world.
  • TurboFan Blade: Inspired by the power of jet engines, the TurboFan Blade is designed to improve cooling performance by generating a powerful air stream and air pressure.
  • Optimized Air Flow: The 9CM-9CM Smart Fan system consists of three fans with alternating blade rotations. Each adjacent fan rotates in a different direction to reduce airflow conflicts and effectively improve overall cooling performance.
The Palit GeForce GTX 960 series delivers incredible performance, power efficiency, and cutting-edge gaming technologies. This is the perfect upgrade to advanced gaming, letting you dominate the competition with 60% faster performance and twice the power efficiency than previous-generation GTX 660. Unleash its massive overclocking potential and push your performance even further. Plus, it features VXGI for realistic lighting, support for smooth, tear-free NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, and Dynamic Super Resolution that enables 4K-quality gaming on 1080p displays.

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Gainward Announces its GeForce GTX 960 Series
As the leading brand in enthusiastic graphics market, Gainward proudly presents the brand-new GeForce GTX graphics, base on the next generation MAXWELL architecture, GeForce GTX 960 series. With the great successful MAXWELL powered GPU, the new Gainward GeForce GTX 960 series hit the sweet spot of the most cost effective way to get a high-end gaming experience, such as 1080P gaming at 60 FPS.

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Gainward GeForce GTX 960 series comes with 2048MB 7Gbps high speed GDDR5 memory. The memory architecture of MAXWELL provides 33% more efficient than previous generation. Along with the superior core architecture, the GeForce GTX 960 series give you twice the performance of previous-generation cards. The fastest edition of Gainward GeForce GTX 960 series is GTX 960 Phantom "Golden Sample - Goes Like Hell", which is factory over-clocked at 1279MHz base clock (1342MHz boost clock) and 3600MHz memory clock speed, performs up to 12% more than NV's GTX 960 reference clock speed under games and benchmark score.

The Gainward GTX 960 Phantom, factory over-clocked at 1203MHz base clock (1266MHz boost clock) and 3600MHz memory clock speed, also outperform reference-clocked by 8%. And, the Gainward GTX 960 "OC" edition, fabricated with two-slot blower cooler, also is factory over-clocked at 1165MHz base clock. To compete with previous-generation GTX 660, all get much faster performance enhancement and up to 35% less power consumption.

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The Gainward GeForce GTX 960 series come with Gainward superior hardware design:

  • High quality components - solid capacitors, high quality Ferrite core chokes and super low RdsON MOSFET for longer lifespan, great reliability, lower power loss and generating less heat
  • Four display ports - provides flexible configuration for multiple-monitor application
  • The Phantom version are fabricated new Phantom with removable fan design, each fan body can be removed to clean if necessary. The new EXPERTool utility adds support for new fan control feature, allows users to change fan curve by their requirement.
  • With Gainward superior design for the GeForce GTX gaming GPUs and NVIDIA technology, users will experience a whole new class of the performance enhanced and quieter game play.
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MSI Introduces GeForce GTX 960 Graphics Cards
MSI is pleased to announce the latest additions to its next generation GAMING video cards lineup. The new MSI GTX 960 video cards are powered by NVIDIA's latest GTX 960 Maxwell GPU. The MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G builds on MSI's #1 position in gaming video cards. Featuring the well known Twin Frozr V with Zero Frozr technology and Torx Fan design, the new MSI GTX 960 GAMING 2G card boasts innovative award-winning cooling technology for silent and cool gaming graphics.

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Besides the revered GAMING series, MSI also provides factory overclocked Classic models featuring an all new Black & White cooler design to fit the design of MSI's Krait series motherboards. As well as System Integrator OC Edition models with higher clock speeds and reference exhaust fans, catering to the needs of a wide audience.

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Twin Frozr V Thermal Design

The new MSI twin Frozr V Thermal Design is the pinnacle of video card air cooling. With a smaller than 2-slot design the new Twin Frozr V is able to surpass previous generation's by a large margin. The new 10cm Torx fans ensure huge amounts of silent airflow and visually complete the bold new look of the Twin Frozr V. The heat sink itself is re-organized through the SuperSU design which increases heat pipe efficiency, especially when combined with Airflow Control Technology. Hybrid Frozr is a throwback to 2008 when MSI was the first to market high-end, zero noise video cards thanks to fans that stop spinning in low-temperature situations.

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MSI GAMING APP

With the addition of the GTX 960 GAMING 2G to the next generation of MSI GAMING video cards, MSI is levelling-up the PC gaming experience. The MSI GAMING App allows gamers to quickly switch between OC, Gaming and Silent modes, depending on their needs. Now featuring the EyeRest tab, which offers quick access to specific monitor color profiles for games, movies and a special EyeRest mode which reduces blue light for less strain during nightly gaming sessions. Also featuring the LED control tab, allowing gamers to choose from 5 unique lighting modes to set the right ambiance for their gaming moments with just one click.

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ASUS Announces Strix GeForce GTX 960
ASUS today announced Strix GTX 960, an all-new gaming video card packed with exclusive ASUS technologies, including DirectCU II for cooler, quieter and faster performance for incredible action gaming, and 0dB fan technology for totally-silent light gameplay. The new card features feature exclusive ASUS Super Alloy Power components for enhanced durability and cooling, and GPU Tweak with XSplit Gamecaster for overclocking and online streaming that's as simple as it is flexible. Strix GTX 960 comes equipped with a DisplayPort interface to support connections up to 4K/UHD (ultra-high definition) resolution.

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Strix GTX 960 is factory-overclocked at 1291 MHz and has a 1317 MHz boost clock speed in OC Mode that delivers stunning gaming performance. Strix GTX 960 provides 12% faster gameplay in Assassin's Creed Unity and Battlefield 4, and runs the 3DMark 11 (Extreme) benchmark at 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution 6.5% faster than reference designs. It is fitted with 2 GB of high-speed GDDR5 video memory that races along at boosted speeds of up to 7200 MHz.

Enjoy performance 30% cooler and 3X quieter than reference

Strix GTX 960 comes with the ASUS-exclusive DirectCU II cooling technology that provides 220% more heat dissipation, resulting in performance that is 30% cooler and 3X quieter than reference for incredible stability and very low noise during intense gaming sessions.

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Strix ups the ante even more with 0dB fan technology that lets players enjoy light gaming in complete silence, due to a thermal design that is able to keep GPU temperatures below a set level, when the fan stops completely.

Enhancing cooling even further, Strix GTX 960 has a strong, rigid backplate that helps dissipate heat quickly and provides an extra measure of protection against card damage.

Power up for the win with 5-phase Super Alloy Power

Strix GTX 960 has a 5-phase power design that enhances energy efficiency by 15%, widens voltage modulation tolerance, and improves overall stability and longevity by 2.5X compared to reference designs. Strix GTX 960 uses a single 6-pin power connecter for clean, hassle-free cable management and has a convenient connection indicator LED to ensure successful plug-in.

Real-time monitoring and control with GPU Tweak

Strix GTX 960 comes with GPU Tweak, an exclusive ASUS tool that enables users to squeeze the very best performance from their video card. GPU Tweak provides the ability to finely control GPU speeds, voltages and video memory clock speeds in real-time, so overclocking is easy and can be carried out with high confidence.

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GPU Tweak also includes a customized version of the XSplit Gamecaster streaming tool and a free one-year free XSplit Premium license. XSplit Gamecaster lets users record and share on-screen action over the internet in real-time, meaning others can watch live as games are played. Gamers can also easily monitor system stats, such as frame rate, CPU load, temperature, and more, while they play, as well as modify performance settings with a simple click of the GPU Tweak button.

  • Model: STRIX-GTX960-DC2OC-2GD5
  • Graphics Engine: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
  • Bus Standard: PCI Express 3.0
  • OpenGL: OpenGL 4.4
  • Video Memory: 2GB GDDR5
  • GPU boost Clock:
o OC Mode: 1317MHz

o Gaming Mode: 1291MHz

  • GPU base Clock:
o OC Mode: 1253MHz

o Gaming Mode: 1228MHz

  • CUDA cores: 1024
  • Memory Clock: 7200MHz
  • Memory Interface: 128-bit
  • DVI Output: 1 x Native Dual-link DVI-I
  • HDMI Output: 1 x Native HDMI 2.0
  • HDCP compliant: Yes
  • DisplayPort: 3 x Native DisplayPort 1.2
  • Adapter/Cable Bundled: 1x DVI to VGA Adapter
  • Software Bundled: ASUS GPU Tweak & Driver
  • Dimension: 215.2 x 121.2 x 40.9mm


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QNAP Announces New Energy-efficient TS-x31+ Turbo NAS
QNAP Systems, Inc. today announced the TS-x31+ series Turbo NAS for small and home offices. Embedded with a dual-core 1.4 GHz ARM Cortex-A15 CPU, the TS-x31+ series provides a powerful yet energy-efficient solution for file storage, sharing and data backup with hardware-accelerated encryption, coupled with the easy-to-use cloud-based Notes Station 2.0, various multimedia applications and more.

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"For home & small businesses, a powerful, secure yet affordable cloud storage solution is becoming a key investment for improving everyday business workflow," said Jason Hsu, product manager of QNAP. "With the TS-x31+ series, users can build a cost-efficient private cloud with ensured security and comprehensive business applications, " added Hsu.

Powered by an energy-efficient ARM Cortex-A15 dual-core 1.4GHz processor, new VFPv4 floating point unit, and 1GB DDR3 RAM with native support for SATA 6Gb/s drives, the TS-x31+ series delivers outstanding transfer and multitasking performance of up to 200MB/s throughput. The enhanced hardware encryption engine provides transfer speeds of over 150 MB/s with AES-256 bit Full NAS Volume Encryption, boosting system performance & security while ensuring the safety of sensitive data. Equipped with dual Gigabit LAN ports, the TS-x31+ series supports dual IP settings, port-trunking modes and enables users to set up fault tolerance or link aggregation for increased data throughput.

With the new Notes Station 2.0, the TS-x31+ series allows users to create digital notes on their private cloud and collaborate & share with friends and colleagues. Users can edit their notes with an intuitive web-based editor, take screenshots with a Google Chrome extension or desktop Qsnap application, enrich their notes with media files stored on the TS-x31+, and enjoy convenient access to their notes by using the Qnotes mobile app. Notes Station 2.0 also supports PDF file import/export, RSS live feeds, snapshots for version control, online preview for attached multimedia files, AES 256-bit encryption for notes, and the ability to back up & modify Evernote notes.

The TS-x31+ series is perfect for serving as a home multimedia hub with a wide range of multimedia applications. With DLNA, AirPlay & Chromecast support, the TS-x31+ series allows users to view photos, listen to music, and watch HD-quality videos stored on the TS-x31+ throughout their home on compatible Smart TVs, game consoles and media players.

By using the Photo Station, Music Station, and Video Station apps, users can centralize their media collection for easy sharing with coworkers & friends. Remotely accessing & managing files stored on the TS-x31+ is extremely easy with the Qphoto, Qmusic, Qvideo, Qfile, and Qmanager mobile apps. The Qsync utility further helps sync files across various devices with the most updated copy stored on the NAS.

Users can also increase the functionalities of the TS-x31+ series with the QTS App Center that provides various install-on-demand apps developed by QNAP and third-party developers, including apps for backup/sync, productivity tools, content management, communications, downloading, entertainment and more. QNAP's development platform also allows developers to create various applications, adding even more value to the TS-x31+ series and providing near-unlimited functionality for users.

The TS-x31+ series

  • TS-231+: 2-bay tower model
  • TS-431+: 4-bay tower model
  • ARM Cortex-A15 dual-core 1.4GHz processor, 1GB DDR3 RAM; 3.5"/2.5" SATA 6Gb/s, 3Gb/s HDD/SSD, hard drives hot-swappable; 3 x USB 3.0; 2 x Gigabit LAN port.
Availability

The new TS-x31+ series Turbo NAS is scheduled to be available from February 2015.


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GALAXY Announces its GeForce GTX 960 Lineup
GALAXY, a leading manufacturer of premium graphics hardware, today announced the launch of an entire new lineup of custom performance tuned and overclocked GTX 960 Series video cards. Three new models will be available, each with unique advantages to satisfy the precise needs of discerning enthusiasts. The GTX 960 SOC leads the pack in pure performance, featuring the highest overclock and an extended PCB with powerful triple fan cooler and anodized aluminum backplate.

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The GTX 960 OC focuses on maximizing speed in minimal space with a super compact design ideal for Mini-ITX and HTPCs. Finally, the GTX 960 EXOC combines the best of both world's for an impressive balance of power, efficiency and cooling capacity. The 960 OC and 960 EXOC are also the first to feature GALAX exclusive Silence Extreme Plus technology, which disengages both fans at idle for true zero decibel operation.

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All three models feature the full range of graphics technologies recently introduced with GALAX GTX 970 and 980 series cards, including NVIDIA GameWorks, GameStream, Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR), and Global Illumination (VXGI). Each card individually supports up to four simultaneous displays and users can connect multiple GTX 960s in SLI for massive performance scaling.

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The GALAX GeForce GTX 960 SOC, EXOC, and OC versions are all available now at leading retailers and etailers worldwide.


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Inno3D Announces its GeForce GTX 960 Lineup
Inno3D is thrilled to finally announce the highly anticipated iChill and Inno3D GeForce GTX 960, that delivers incredible performance, power efficiency, and cutting-edge gaming technologies that only NVIDIA Maxwell technology can offer.

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This is the perfect upgrade to advanced gaming, letting you dominate the competition with 60% faster performance and twice the power efficiency than previous generation cards. Unleash its massive overclocking potential and push your performance even further. Plus, it features VXGI for realistic lighting, support for smooth, tear-free NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, and Dynamic Super Resolution that enables 4K gaming on 1080p displays.

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The iChill and Inno3D GTX 960 even gives you great gaming to go with NVIDIA GameStream technology that lets you stream PC games to NVIDIA SHIELD devices.


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Synology Introduces DiskStation DS115
Synology Inc. today launched the new DiskStation DS115. Featuring a dual-core processor and compact design, this 1-bay NAS server allows homes and small businesses to take advantage of centralized data storage, borderless file sharing, easy cloud synchronization, multimedia streaming, home surveillance, and much more.

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"DS115 makes it easy to work, play, and share files from anywhere. With its speedy performance, intuitive interface, and diverse ecosystem of add-on packages, DS115 is a great NAS server for homes or small businesses - especially for people who still rely on external hard drives, flash drives, or cloud services to swap and share files," said Jonathan Wang, product manager at Synology Inc.

Upgraded to a dual-core processor, DS115 delivers enhanced computing power and file transfer speeds exceeding 111 MB/s reading and 104 MB/s writing - giving users a 36% increase in writing speeds when compared with its predecessor. The built-in floating-point unit allows for speedier photo thumbnail generation. Equipped with a USB 3.0 port, DS115 connects to external hard drives and a variety of other devices. DS115 is also designed with energy efficiency in mind, consuming only 5.44W during hibernation and 10.21W when accessed.

DS115 runs DiskStation Manager (DSM) 5.1, an intuitive operating system that offers a host of add-on packages to increase efficiency at work and offer a new level of entertainment at home. DSM 5.1 makes it easy to synchronize files across multiple devices and cloud storage services, stream multimedia to televisions with DLNA, AirPlay, and Chromecast, set up a home surveillance system, or create digital scrapbooks with the Note Station package.

Synology was named "PC Mag Business Choice Award 2014 winner" for the second consecutive year and received the highest rating in every element of the survey, including reliability, value, and likelihood to recommend.

For more information, visit the product page.


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NZXT Unveils DOKO PC Streaming Service
DOKO is a PC streaming device that connects to your network and allows you to easily use your PC in the comfort of your living room. Run office software, stream limitless media content and play PC exclusive titles - do anything and everything your PC can do, anywhere in your home.

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The current problem with modern PC streaming technologies and set-top boxes is that they all come with their own pre-defined limitations. TV boxes are restricted to their own set of media channels, file formats and limited applications. PC game streaming and screen mirroring devices are all restricted by their own platforms, proprietary technologies or latency issues.

Utilizing a gigabit connection to your network, DOKO offers low latency (50-80ms) high definition (1080p, 30fps) streaming with unparalleled compatibility. And unlike current streaming devices and set-top boxes, DOKO offers four USB ports with USBoverIP technology. With this technology, plugging a USB device into DOKO is just like plugging that USB device into the PC that is being streamed, no matter how far away. This gives you the freedom to use the input devices you already own and are used to.

Freeing you from the restrictions of current PC game streaming technologies, DOKO lets you play any game your PC can, all in the comfort of your living room. No proprietary software or hardware necessary. Whether you want to play a browser game, emulated ROM, Origin title, Steam title, Ubisoft title - the options are unrestricted. It's a great way to experience local multiplayer PC titles in the living room with your friends!

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DOKO brings you the same exact browsing and desktop experience as your PC so you'll never have to deal with a lackluster internet browsing experience in the livingroom again. With DOKO, you can have the perfect multimedia experience with absolutely no need for another "HTPC" system or media device. View web-exclusive content, stream peer-to-peer files, view high definition media files and more without any channel, application or compatibility restrictions. If your PC can do it, so can DOKO.

DOKO is available now for just $99.99 at the NZXT Armory Store.


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PC Leaders Continue Growth And Share Gains As Market Remains Slow: IDC
Worldwide PC shipments totaled 80.8 million units in the fourth quarter of 2014 (4Q14), a year-on-year decline of -2.4%, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly PC Tracker. Total shipments were slightly above expectations of -4.8% growth, but the market still contracted both year on year and in comparison to the third quarter. Although the holiday quarter saw shipment volume inch above 80 million for the first time in 2014, the final quarter nonetheless marked the end of yet another difficult year - the third consecutive year with overall volumes declining. On an annual basis, 2014 shipments totaled 308.6 million units, down -2.1% from the prior year.

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Although the U.S. and Europe remained stronger than other markets, growth in these mature regions slowed from earlier in the year. Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan)(APeJ) continued to strengthen, seeing only a very slight increase in volume as a number of public projects and improving consumer demand helped stabilize the market. Similarly, commercial demand, which boosted growth earlier in the year, has slowed while consumer demand is gradually coming back. Nevertheless, the market progress has been fueled by low-priced systems, including growth of Chromebooks and promotion of Windows 8 + Bing. Constraints on Bing promotions, such as limits on larger-sized devices, could remove a key market driver while some fourth quarter production was attributed to getting ahead of holiday-related production constraints in Asia in the first quarter, effectively shifting volume from early 2015 into the end of 2014.

"The strength from market leaders, as well as improvement in Asia/Pacific and the consumer market more generally, are positive signs for the PC market," said Loren Loverde, IDC Vice President, Worldwide PC Tracker. "Growth of Chrome, Bing, all-in-ones, ultraslim, convertibles, and touch systems similarly make PCs more compelling and competitive. Nevertheless, some of the gains are relatively small, and weakening drivers like Bing promotions and end of XP support transitions, cast a shadow of doubt on the strength of the market going into 2015."

"The U.S. PC market continued to grow in the fourth quarter, outperforming the global market for the tenth consecutive quarter. The past year was supported by Windows XP to 7 migrations in the commercial segment while consumer volume continued to decline," said Rajani Singh, Senior Research Analyst, Personal Computing. "Moving forward, the U.S. PC market should see flat to slightly positive growth. The U.S. consumer PC market will finally move to positive growth in 2015, strengthened by the slowdown in the tablet market, vendor and OEM efforts to rejuvenate the PC market, the launch of Window 10, and replacement of older PCs."

Regional Highlights

United States - Market leader HP had a remarkable quarter with year on year growth jumping to more than 26%. Other key vendors also had strong performances. As a result, the U.S. PC market concentration has increased to 83% of shipments coming from the top 5 vendors. Portable PC growth remains strong with double-digit growth from a year ago, while desktop shipments declined by more than -10%.

Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) - PC shipments in EMEA posted a slight increase in the fourth quarter, fuelled mainly by strong consumer demand during the holiday season. Vendors continued to stock up ahead of Christmas and January promotional sales, and before the February change to Bing promotions, which will exclude 15 inch notebooks. This translated into stronger than expected shipments of portable PCs, while desktop PC sell-in remained softer, particularly in the commercial space. Political and economic factors, especially unfavourable exchange rates, also negatively impacted numerous countries across the region.

Japan - The market continued to slump following a surge of XP replacements a year ago. Vendors took the time to clear excess inventory in the channel, leading to a lean quarter. Volume fell below 3 million units in the quarter, a drop of -35% year on year and its lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2006.

Asia/Pacific (excluding Japan) - APeJ continued to stabilize with growth rising to positive territory following several years of significant declines. HP had a strong recovery from recent quarters, while Dell continued to gain share. Slowing growth in tablets and smartphones as well as promotions of lower-priced Windows 8 + Bing systems helped relieve some pressure on the PC market.

Vendor Highlights

Lenovo continued to push hard in EMEA, expanding channels and capturing consumer holiday demand. The company also outpaced the market in the U.S. - though by a smaller margin - and was closer to market growth in other regions. Shipments reached a record 16 million units in 4Q14 with year-on-year growth of 4.9%, and annual shipments up over 10% from last year.

HP also saw a tremendous quarter with 15.9 million units and year on year growth surpassing 15%. A particularly strong quarter in the U.S. was a key driver, along with some volume for public projects in Asia/Pacific and Africa.

Dell shipped over 10.8 million units growing 8.5% on the year, much of it based on a strong performance in notebooks in the U.S. and APeJ. Rising growth in APeJ also helped offset slowing growth in the U.S. and Europe.

Acer grew over 3%, in part due to low volume a year ago but also from the success of its Chromebooks and entry-level notebooks. Acer's recovery in the U.S. and Europe slowed, in part due to higher year ago numbers.

Apple kept the number 5 position on a worldwide basis, maintaining its lead over ASUS. The company's steady growth, along with recent price cuts and improved demand in mature markets, has helped it to consistently outgrow the market.


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G.SKILL Breaks Fastest DDR4 Memory Frequency Overclock at 4255MHz
G.SKILL International Co. Ltd., the world's leading manufacturer of extreme performance memory and solid state storage, is extremely excited to announce a new memory record for fastest DDR4 memory frequency, set at 4255MHz CL18-18-18! This amazing achievement was attained on the ASUS Rampage V Extreme motherboard (X99 chipset) and with the Intel i7-5960X processor, all under sub-zero liquid nitrogen cooling. Below is a screenshot of the record validation by CPU-Z (validation).

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TweakTown image skill-breaks-fastest-ddr4-memory-frequency-overclock-4255mhz


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Shuttle Presents New Fanless All-in-One PC Barebone X50V4 with a Touchscreen
Shuttle today rolls out its new All-in-One PC Barebone X50V4. Passive cooling promises whisper-quiet operation with lower maintenance requirements, a frugal Intel Celeron processor ensures even better performance. Now entering the fourth generation since its original launch in 2009, Shuttle's X50 All-in-One PC series features the proven 15.6 inch (39.6 cm) format, which is especially requested by the B2B sector of the market. As well as offering maximum expandability, it is also particularly quiet and durable thanks to the machine's fanless design.

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In contrast to its Atom-based predecessor models, the X50V4 now comes fitted with an Intel Celeron 2957U dual-core processor clocked at 1.4 GHz per core. The processor cores are extremely frugal with a thermal design power of just 15 W. With a depth of 42 mm, the case provides space for a 2.5" hard disk or SSD and an mSATA module, and is for the first time able to accommodate up to 8 GB of DDR3L SO-DIMM memory. With a suitable SSD installed, the X50V4 is approved for continuous operation.

All standard connectors are provided on the underside of the case, e.g. 2x USB 3.0, 2x USB 2.0, 1x Gigabit Ethernet, VGA, HDMI as well as headphone and microphone jacks. A practical 2 Megapixel webcam, integrated stereo speakers, WLAN, card reader and a stand, which can be turned into a carrying handle, are also present. The standard VESA mounting interface allows the machine to be fitted to monitor arms and wall mounts for freely suspended use.

If required, up to four serial interfaces as well as 1x LPT and 1x DIO/RJ11 ports can be added to the rear side of the X50V4, which make it particularly attractive for vertical applications. But it's not just internally that a lot has happened - the IP54-compliant front panel of the touchscreen provides protection from dust and splashing of water making the X50V4 additionally resistant to external factors.

"With the X50V4 we are again underscoring our ambition to attract new customers in vertical application markets. With our latest All-in-One PC Barebone we have created the ideal basis for compact, energy-saving solutions in the POI area, as a service terminal or as a till system at the POS," says Tom Seiffert, Head of Marketing & PR at Shuttle Computer Handels GmbH. "Use as a flexible second home PC is also a possibility."

The new Shuttle All-in-One PC Barebone X50V4 is available in black or white and is on sale at specialist retailers Europe-wide as of now. Shuttle's recommended retail price for either model is EUR 292.00 (ex VAT). Turnkey complete systems based on the X50V4 with Windows, Linux or without operating system will be available shortly.

Optional accessories include the POS01 and PCL71 (COM/LPT adapters) and the PF55 (carrying bag).


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CRYORIG Releases the Compact H7 CPU Cooler
CRYORIG, innovator of PC thermal peripherals has released the H7. The next step in CRYORIG's H series heat sink, the H7 holds an even smaller footprint while keeping an extremely high performance efficiency. Keeping almost all award winning features from the larger H5 Universal, the H7 packs great value in it's small size. Featuring series moniker HiveFin technology for better air management and also CRYORIG's much renowned Zero RAM Interference design among many others, the H7 will also feature CRYORIG's brand new QF120 Balanced 120 mm 330~1.600 RPM PWM fan with Quad Air Inlet technology.

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The CRYORIG H7 is the next piece in CRYORIG's quest for PC thermal solution dominance. Targeted at entry and mainstream systems, the H7 brings affordability and CRYORIG innovation to the masses. With a total height of only 145 mm, the H7 is almost certain to fit 99% of all mainstream mid-tower cases. While Zero RAM Interference allow users to use any RAM of choice, with no compatibility issues period.

With the H7, CRYORIG went back to the drawing board for an even simpler mounting system. The brand new X-Bar System needs even less individual pieces and even less steps to install. Literally install your H7 within minutes of opening up the box. Multi-platform support for both Intel and AMD is already included, and does not require separate parts. A dedicated backplate made from fiberglass augmented PBT, for higher tensile strength, resistance to heat and is more easily recyclable than other plastics. The backplate protects the mainboard from excessive stress that may come from the mounted heat sink, and also provides a solid base for your fast and secure installation.

TweakTown image cryorig-releases-compact-h7-cpu-cooler
The H7 is an accumulation of years of design and testing all condensed into a total miniature package. CRYORIG's new H7 is scheduled to be released January 12th in the USA, Japan and Taiwan for 34,50 USD, 5,000 JPY and 990 NTD respectably. Other regions in Europe and Asia will soon follow in February 2015.

For more information, visit the product page.


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CRYORIG Announces New QF120 Fan Line
CRYORIG, innovator of PC thermal solutions is releasing it's new QF120 line of 120 mm PWM system fans. The new QF120 line features CRYORIG's proprietary Quad Air Inlet system. Four strategically placed air intakes line up the corners of the QF120 fan frame, allowing the static pressure optimized fan blades take in extra air from the sides of the fan frame increasing overall air output. HPLN High Precision Low Noise bearing from the XF140 line makes a return in the QF120 Series for low noise performance. The fans will cover a wide RPM spectrum with PWM control, allowing users to fine tune it to their liking individually. Integrated rubber Vibration Absorbers also come preinstalled to absorb excess vibration.

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The QF120 will initially be released in three different models, QF120 Silent, QF120 Balanced and QF120 Performance. The QF120 Balanced features a moderate fan speed range from 330 to 1,600 RPM in order to offer good balance between performance, RPM and noise. The range is low enough for low noise use, and powerful enough for high load computing. The QF120 Silent features ultra low RPM speeds of 200 to 1.000 RPM with the minimum noise level of 5 dBA, virtually inaudible inside a PC chassis, while still pushing good airflow. The perfect solution for those who need near silence but still want their system cool and stable.

The QF120 Performance at 600 to 2.200 RPM is extremely fast and extremely cool. The RPM range is wide enough for the fan to be a multi-use fan, either as a CPU or a system fan. Once unleashed, the max 2.200 RPM creates nearly double the airflow of regular 120 mm sized fans and enough cooling force for even the most extreme overclocks. The QF120 will be release alongside the H7, scheduled for January 12th in the USA, Japan and Taiwan for 13 USD, 1.700 JPY and 390 NTD respectively. Other regions in Europe and Asia will soon follow in February 2015.

For more information, visit the product page.


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Cooler Master Announces Case Mod World Series 2015
Cooler Master announces once again the biggest modding event of the year with the Case Mod World Series by inviting all modders to show-off their creativity and push the limits of PC case design. This year's panel of judges includes an impressive line-up of modders from around the world making it one of the most prestigious modding competition ever. And thanks to the support of Dremel, Intel, ASUS, OCZ and GeIL, we have over US$20,000 in cash and hardware prizes up for grabs. Contest begins January 7th, full details available here.

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There will be two categories 'Tower Mod' and 'Scratch Build'. The judging will be limited to only the the judge panel, which includes: Richard 'Darthbeavis' Surroz, Peter 'L3P' Brands, Brian 'BOD MODS' Carter, Ronnie Hara, Mathieu 'Sassanou' Heredia, Richard Kiers, Antony Leather and the sponsors. A newly created award 'Rising Star' will be also determined by this panel to identify the future star to watch for in the modding scene. Also, a 'People's Choice' will be chosen based solely on public voting.

Last year's entries produced some of the world's top builds and gained massive fan followings from around the world. These designs also helped push the development and design of PC cases. A quick look at these entries:

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TweakTown image cooler-master-announces-case-mod-world-series-2015


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