You've been able to see old blog posts but I haven't been able to post new ones.  The blogging component has been down.  I think it happed when I updated the Joomla install to the latest version.  Joomla is the software that this website runs on.  I tried several times to contact the maker of the blogging component and finally received an email from them yesterday informing me that there was a problem with their email system.  They also said I would have to pay them to get the blog back up and running.  

Here is the thing.  I know they are lying about their email being down.  I know this because about 2 week ago I sent them an email with a log in to the site so they could take a look and see what is going on.  Shortly after, I saw them log into the site...  They didn't fix anything and are now claiming they have  just received my emails. After a long search I was able to find a new enough version of the software to get the blog working again. 

I hate to condemn an entire company for what may be the actions or inactions of a few people who work there but beware of Azrul.com

 

On the heals of the ATI 6850 and 6870 released last month, Nvidia's GTX 580 cards are now available online.  These new cards are selling for just over $500 and are the fastest single chip cards on the market.  Nvidia will undoubtedly release 570, 560 and lower denomination cards in coming months with lower prices and less performance.  

Reviews:
HardOCP GTX 580 Review
Bit-Tech GTX 580 Review
Hot Hardware GTX 580 Review 

Hi,

 I was wondering in real world terms if anyone can advise on the benefits of a RAID 1  configuration for the following system (for performance boost and backup) and if the HD not in RAID would be causing a bottle neck to the overall system performance?

 Asus P6X58D-E

i7-950 O/C'ed to 4Ghz w/ Zalman 9900MAX cooler

3x2Gb Kington Hyper-X T1 2000mhz

Sapphire 5850 Vapor-X 1Gb

Windows 7 64bit

HDs would be 2x WD Caviar Black SATA II in RAID 1 config (currently just 1x)

Thanks,

Darren

These videos are intended to teach anyone how to upgrade the memory in their desktop or laptop computer. 

You'll notice a new Upgrading your PC Videos drop down menu at the top of the site.  We've combined the Community and Support drop down menus to make room for it.

Lesson 1 is an introduction to upgrading RAM

Lesson 2 goes into further details of the features and specification of memory

Lesson 3 shows buying RAM online and install DDR3 memory into a desktop computer

Lesson 4 shows installing DDR2 RAM into another desktop and a laptop computer

If you have a subscription to the online videos you can login and watch all of the videos.  If you're not logged in you can watch Lesson 1 in it's entirety.  Lesson 2 through 4 are shortened sample videos.  

To get access to all of our videos go to the Buy Now link, go through the buying process and you'll have access in a few minutes. 

If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me hpcbdvd@gmail.com or call toll free 866-508-1113. 

Usually when ATI or Nvidia release a new series of video cards the performance increase over the previous generation is at least 50%.  This is not the case here.  The ATI 6850 is about 5% to 10% slower than the 5850.  What the hell is the point?

Well ATI is introducing 3D stereoscopic glasses capabilities.  Nvidia has had this for a few years now, so its good of ATI to get on-board.  The problem is they really aren't getting on-board.  The 6800 series video cards are capable of 3D, but ATI isn't selling a 3D kit with glasses, the software, recommendations on monitors to use and there is no official support in any games.  You're basically left on your own to get the 3D to work.  Again.  What the hell ATI?

Oh, there is a new video streaming capability in the chip.  It can decode two 1080p video streams at the same time all without the help of the CPU.  Wow.  That is really useful.

Maybe I'm missing something.  Heres a few links to reviews.

3DGuru.com 

Bit-Tech.net

Update:  Its the pricing.   The 5850s are around $260 and the 6850s are around $180.  So being about 5% to 10% slower is OK at these reduced prices.  I still don't understand the naming though. Going from 5800 series to 6800 series should be reserved for a major performance increase.  They way they did it is just going to confuse buyers. 

We upgraded the CPUs on the $250, $500 and $800 computers and we upgraded the video cards on the $1800 and $2300 computers.   The rest was price changes, mostly downward.

Just wanted to keep you in the loop about what is going on with the videos.  

Lesson 3 covers buying and installing a memory upgrade into a desktop computer.

Lesson 4 shows adding memory to another desktop computer and a laptop computer.  

Lesson 3's audio is recorded and about half the video is done.  Lesson 4's video is about 3/4th done and I'm finalizing the script before recording the audio.

The memory upgrade for the computer in Lesson 3 will be delivered on Monday.  In the mean time we're working on shooting and editing together the remaining video for Lesson 4.  

We are selling the Home PC Builder 2010 DVDs on Amazon.com and need testimonials.  If you have watched the videos and have an opinion about them please go to Amazon.com and write a testimonial.

Home PC Builder 2010 on Amazon.com 

Your help is greatly appreciated. 

Like Lesson 1 we're going to wait to put lesson 2 online until we finish lesson 3.  There will be some things to change, add and update after we finish lesson 3.  

Lesson 2 covers:

• how different types of RAM are identified 
• the differences between speed and bandwidth and how they relate to each other
• singe, dual and triple channel configurations of RAM
• memory timings or CAS
• ECC and Registered memory
• RAM voltage
• using CPU-Z to help identify the RAM in your system 

Lesson 3 is in the works.

Lesson 1 is pretty much done.  I don't want to put it online yet because I'm sure I'll need to go back and make a few changes/additions after Lesson 2 and 3 are finished.

Lesson 1 covers:

• the difference between memory and hardrives
• what memory swapping is
• how much memory your computer needs (dependent on how you use your PC and the operating system
• the types of memory used in new computers since 2000
• differences between desktop and laptop RAM
• using the Crucial.com system scanner 
• memory bandwidths and speeds

 

 I'm working on Lesson 2 now.