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| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=17496 |  Tarx (15) Sep 20, 2007 - 07:22 pm » Edited on Sep 20, 2007 - 07:25 pm
| Don't forget that we have a folding team right here at Firing Squad! (team # 46661)
e.g. Bysmitty folds with a PS3 for the team and it does very well!
And no, there is no need to run it all the time. (e.g. some people just run folding on the weekends).
I'll also add that not just PS3s can fold, regular PCs (Windows or Mac or Linux) all can run it too. PS3 do very well, but a C2D also does quite well too! (helps to have that lightning fast SSE!).
Questions? ask away in our sticky folding thread in the forums
Link: http://forums.firingsquad.com/......essage.id=77199 Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=13571 | Tarx (15) Dec 14, 2006 - 01:45 pm
| I've mentioned this before, but this time I have more sources ;)
6300 and 6400 are Conroe with 1/2 the cache disabled. Allendale core is a new core that will only be available starting at the end of Jan (4300 only at that time) that only has 2MB and doesn't have VT.
From Intel Product Roadmap documentation
"Conroe Family includes Desktop products, based on Intel’s next-generation micro architecture,
with 4MB or 2MB of L2 level cache."
Also the tech doc about the Conroe includes the 6300 and 6400. http://www.intel.com/design/processor/specupdt/313279.htm
Also check Wikipedia about the Conroe.
CPUz seems to misreport it as an Allendale, but Everest doesn't. Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=12552 | Tarx (15) Oct 30, 2006 - 03:54 am
| CPU-Z is not the most accurate ap. Everest shows the 6400 as a Conroe.
Intel doc http://www.intel.com/design/processor/specupdt/313279.htm
lists this CPU and that doc lists them in the same family and model with the same processor signature as the 6600, etc. Also it refers to a Conroe doc for the BIOS.
This doc isn't definitive, so I was hoping there would be something official from Intel... Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=12552 | Tarx (15) Oct 05, 2006 - 11:19 am
| "The general consensus seems to be that the E4300 will be based on Intel’s Allendale core currently used on the E6300 and E6400, with the CPU sporting a 2MB L2 cache."
I thought Intel considers the E6300 and E6400 as Conroe (has VT, 1/2 of 4MB cache disable) and not the Allendate core (2MB cache, no VT)? Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=12326 | Tarx (15) Sep 20, 2006 - 11:42 am
| Vista & DX10 apparently will be out early in 2007, but MS has been known to delay OS releases, so I would guess that if planning to upgrade to Vista, probably next summer would be a good time. The toss-away factor of a DX9 card (DX10 being incompatible with DX9) makes this a more difficult decision than in the past (e.g. DX8 vs DX9). However DX10 will likely not be a significant factor until 2008, and that is a fair amount of time to be stuck with a lousy card.
If worth upgrading to a non-DX 10 card depends on lots of factors.
1st: what currently have. For most a 7800GT or X1800XT or better is strong enough to wait for a DX10 card. Rest of the system should be a C2D/X2 with over 1GB of RAM (otherwise upgrade here first).
2nd: how often normally upgrade - if rarely and do a full upgrade, probably worth waiting.
3rd: availability of $$. If lots of $$ to spend on a system, get what you want, when you want :)
4th: all this assumes you are using your graphic cards heavily (e.g. gaming) otherwise wait until DX10
5th: reason for upgrade - e.g. to match resolution with LCD (e.g. 20" widescreen), quality settings need to be low to get ok frame rate (if possible). This could point to an upgrade asap, rather than wait.
If have a midrange card, (e.g. 6800GS, 7600GT, X800XT or similar) then likely would be ok at medium settings for reasonable resolution until DX10.
Below that, could well want an upgrade. 7600GTS, 7900GS and X1900XT 256MB (in order of performance) are the best value mid-range cards. Going higher is probably not worthwhile unless have some special requirements (e.g. 24" widescreen LCD). Flag this | Edit this post |
| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=12237 | Tarx (15) Sep 19, 2006 - 11:59 am » Edited on Sep 19, 2006 - 12:06 pm
| My year old 6800GS still has a bit of life left sitting in between the 7600GS and 7600GT. The 7900GS is about the same cost as the 6800GS was last year and looks like a great choice for those looking for a card this year (the X1900XT 256MB would be an even better alternative, but is somewhat more expensive)
However, for now it looks like I can wait for the next gen cards after all ;) Flag this | Edit this post |
| Siteseeing Link » /news/siteseeingarticle.asp?searchid=3350 | Tarx (15) Sep 05, 2006 - 09:33 am
| That was a pretty big stingray (over 200lbs). If Steve didn't pull it out, I would expect that the stingray would thrash hard enough to yank it out. And trying to quickly hack it off with a knife would have not been possible. And grapling the sting ray also not a realistic option. And I guess Steve might have not known just how injured he was but very concerned that it might get worse if the stingray ripped it out instead of him where he could try minimize the damage. Had it hit a few inches further away he might have made it, but a hit in the heart area...
Talk about unlucky.
I recall a time that my gf at that time was trying to take a picture of me with a 10' bull shark that was swimming around our small scuba group at 120 ft down. I wonder what would have happened if the camera flash did off... I wonder if something similar startled the stingray (perhaps the bright lights of the camera and the feeling that it was cornered). Flag this | Edit this post |
| Siteseeing Link » /news/siteseeingarticle.asp?searchid=2992 | Tarx (15) Jun 28, 2006 - 07:56 pm » Edited on Jun 28, 2006 - 08:08 pm
| Planning to get the Fit? Not sure - am hunting for a hatchback without spending too much.
And nope, if I end up getting it, no plans to drop an engine nor put much into tuning.
It was an interesting article in any case. Other things it mentioned - it is now the most popular car in Japan (introduced there a few years ago, but in North America only this year). Also it indicated that it seems like it could be a popular tuner car (along side the civic) especially as "Basically, modifying the Fit and the Civic are the same.". Flag this | Edit this post |
| Siteseeing Link » /news/siteseeingarticle.asp?searchid=2992 | Tarx (15) Jun 28, 2006 - 08:15 am » Edited on Jun 28, 2006 - 09:11 am
| As I'm looking for a small hatchback car, I've been looking into this.
So comparing the Fit and a Mazda 3 hatchback...
Basically the Mazda 3 was way more powerful and the Fit had better drivetrain, cargo and way better gas mileage. Handling was very good on both cars. Early Mazda 3 reliability was not so hot, it should be better by now (but unlikely to be anywhere as good as the Honda). For pricing, if looking at the Fit Sport (quite expensive but same engine as base), with the current discouts Mazda 3s are getting (for 2006 models), you could end up with quite a bit more car. Styling is hard to say - the base Fits doesn't look that nice, Fit Sports looks not too bad (but $$), but I didn't care much for the look of Mazda 3 hatchback either (but it does look more substantial).
Mazda however has ranked near the bottom for customer service (as per consumer reports and my parents ranting) for a few years - hopefully they are getting better.
Depending on what was important, either could be the best choice.
Of course if want to "tune" the car - the Honda is easily the way to go. (e.g. drop in the engine from the Civic Si) plus a few more mods... From an interview with Spoon Sports
"What are the strengths and weaknesses of the factory Fit?"
"The Fit is very stable and extremely easy to control. This makes it simple for us to tune. The weakness would be its lack of power. But a simple engine swap could solve that problem." ... "The only limitation the Fit has is power, so I would like to install a K-type 220-hp engine and see how that goes."
"the Fit is also a candidate for "Cheapest and Most Likely to Kick Ass in a Japanese Enduro" crown." http://www.hondatuningmagazine.com/features/0308ht_honda_fit_spoon/
But if throwing in a fair chunk of change, then need to also look at the Mini Cooper...
edit: Just saw the May 2006 Car & Driver report comparing many lower cost cars. The Fit was far ahead of any competitor (2006 Suzuki Reno, 2007 Dodge Caliber SE, 2006 Hyundai Accent GLS, 2007 Toyota Yaris S, 2006 Kia Rio5 SX, 2007 Nissan Versa 1.8SL)
"Our little red Fit was the quickest to 60 mph (tied with the Reno) and the quickest in the quarter-mile yet offered the least engine NVH and the second-best observed fuel economy. It came equipped with the most supportive seats, the most expensive-looking interior, an Acura-grade gauge cluster, and the ergonomics of an Accord. What truly set the Fit apart was its handling — not a pretense of handling but the real deal, with springs and struts that allowed one gentle rebound and no more, the only car here that felt happy storming the switchbacks. We later confirmed this when the Fit sailed through our lane-change test 6 mph faster than anything else here — faster, in fact, than a Corvette Z06."
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/10983/2007-honda-fit-sport.html Flag this | Edit this post |
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| News Link » /news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=10536 | Tarx (15) Jun 03, 2006 - 09:37 pm
| Just bought it - first thing that will be done after installing (and before playing) will be to install some 3rd party adjustments. The main thing that had me cancel my order when it first came out was the auto-leveling. Now that 3rd party "patches" make a dramatic difference on auto-leveling, making it much more reasonable and realistic (i.e. enemies have minimum levels and also are adjusted only so much and without crazy equipment choices), I've reordered it (for quite a bit cheaper too!).
Between 3rd party "adjustments" and the new official patch, if it goes well, I would likely consider the mini-expansion packs. Flag this | Edit this post |
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