Game Graphics

There is a very interesting article written by Tino Kreiss at Tom's Hardware. It shows the evolution of lighting effects, characters, and rendering to make a game more realistic. There are some great examples of how far games have come in just a few short years.


Check out the article here: Reality Check (via Tom's Hardware)

Jukebox360's Ultimate Gaming PC on the cheap (part1)

I've decided to put together a guide with PC hardware that gets you a lot of bang for the buck. Here is what I would do...


The most important part of the computer is the motherboard. The "brains" of the system. For this component I chose the Gigabyte GA-G31M which supports up to the Intel Quadcore. It has a FSB of 1333mhz, as well and plenty of space for future upgrades. To keep it on the less expensive side, it has only a single PCI express slot (so, no SLI), but it won't matter for this rig. It also has onboard audio and plenty of SATA plugins. There is a single set of slots for memory which is perfect for this low cost rig. We will be running memory in dual channel mode on 32-bit Windows Vista.

Cost: $58.49



The next component I have chosen is the processor(CPU). For this I have chosen the Intel Q6600. The prices have come down enough that there isn't a reason not to get a quadcore. This will ensure that this machine will last even though we are trying to keep the upfront cost low.

Cost: $89.99



Now, the major components are out of the way. Let's focus on the next component, memory. Memory is important for overall system performance and gaming. Vista likes memory, so the more the better. The only downside is that we are using Vista 32-bit and with that comes the memory limit of 3.5GB. I've chosen to use Corsair's XMS2 series of memory. I've had a great experience with the speed and stability of this series. Overclocked, this memory can add a significant increase in performance. I currently have 3GB of XMS2 memory set at 5-5-5-12 timings and it gets a Vista score (not that it means much) of 5.9.

I couldn't find any sets of 3GB, so this is a 1GB stick and a 2GB stick.
1GB stick cost: $24.99
2GB stick cost: $40.99



If the motherboard is the "brain" of the system, then the power supply(PSU) is the "heart". It pumps the juice needed to power all of the components and it is important to choose a PSU with enough power, stability, and the right connections for your specific system. For this system, I chose the Corsair 750W PSU. It has enough connections for future upgrades and enough power to be used if the system were changed to a motherboard that supports SLI. I like to keep these things in mind, since I like to upgrade or change things frequently to keep up with changing tech.

Cost: $129.99 (current rebate on Newegg.com brings price to $109.99)



For a gaming pc, the most important component is a graphics processor that can handle today's games well. You want something that will give the high resolution, high fps gameplay that sets pc gaming apart from consoles. For this component I chose the EVGA GTX 260. It has enough power to run even the most demanding games (think Crysis) at high resolutions and smooth frame rates. It is pricey, but again, it will make this system last longer. The upfront cost is worth the longevity. This thing is a powerhouse.

Cost: $269.99 (current rebate on Newegg.com brings price to $229.99)



Next we need to add some drives for storage. For this I have chosen a Western Digital 150GB Velociraptor 10,000rpm drive as the main drive and a Western Digital 500GB SATA for a general backup drive.


WD Velociraptor cost: $179.99
WD 500GB SATA cost: $69.99


I went all out and chose a BluRay drive for the DVD drive. This will allow for viewing BluRay movies and it burns to BluRay discs. I chose the LG drive.

Cost: $234.99


To wrap all of this up and keep it cool, I chose the Raidmax Smilodon Extreme Black case. I am a huge fan of this case. It looks cool and stays cool with the fans it includes. It is easy to work inside, as the motherboard tray is removable and it has a large interior. The hard drive cage swings around and is removable. There are plenty of slots for DVD Drives and it even comes with a tool box hidden under the hard drive cage. The design has changed slightly from the original Smilodon, where the Extreme Black edition has a 120mm fan on both the front and rear. I can't say enough about this case.

Cost: $74.99 (current rebate on Newegg.com brings cost to $49.99)



Now for Extra Peripherals. These are not necessary to the system, but are recommendations for the system. Any components that you already own can be used.

Keyboard: Logitech G15

Cost: $89.99




Mouse: Microsoft Sidewinder

Cost: $41.49




Monitor: Samsung 22in LCD

Cost: $269.99 (current rebate brings cost to $249.99)



Overall cost of this awesome system...

$1094.40!
with the keyboard, mouse and monitor it brings th price to a total of...
$1475.87!

*prices do not include shipping/handling or Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit OS ($169.99) and are based on current prices as of 10/10/2008

Portal Prelude

I am eagerly awaiting this "suped-up" map pack. I don't think it can even be called a map pack. It is a whole new storyline fitting into the Portal canon. Check it out here. The story takes place prior to the Portal game, as the name suggests. Prior to the switch being flipped on Glad0s. The lab is, instead, monitored by humans. As for the rest of the story, game play and how it all ties together will be revealed in 7 days when the game is released.