Crysis: Maximum Game

For the whole week, I am so busy, busy saving the world from Alien Invasion. My name is Lieutenant Jake Dunn - codename NOMAD, is a US Special Force who was sent to a tropical island at South China Sea, to locate and rescue archeologists who were captive my North Korea Army. Korean army willing to spent so many soldiers to secure that island, they must have found some very important discovery.

NanoSuit
I am wearing a newly developed nanosuit which developed by US Army, with the ability to boost all the human ability on battle field, watch this:

The first few days, my teammates were sacrificed. We don't know who took them, not the Korean, and not while having the nanosuit on.

Paradise Gone
When approaching Korean main base, I was captured, and successfully escaped, but escape into the structure of alien. After I re-escape again to the sunlight, the whole tropical island was changed into a snow world, everything freeze under 200 degree below zero......

Aliens attacking us, human, who was in chaos. I make my way to the USS constitution, but worst thing happen, the warship transformed into a battlefield, and this plot the beginning of human-alien war, on earth.

Roughly say, this is the best game I ever play before!

Superior graphic, super real physic, almost everything in the game is destructible! I just love the Nano Suit!

Something to regret: I should get original version of this game, as this is really a worth play game, sorry to Crytek Developer who developed this game for years, and I been waiting it for years too, since the expose during E3....

Crysis is a first episode of a trilogy, and there will be 2 more episodes coming out, and I will get original version of it!

Technorati Tags: crysis,save the world,alien,maximum game

My 'Wow' started late, but just right in time, I think.

Notice I never online for 1 week? Sad, during my holiday in Penang, my lousy-ultimately-seriously-slow-terrible-3.9-year-old PC was spoiled, due to my improper shut down, and the OS corrupted. Yes, you said: format la! And I will say: combo drive was spoiled almost 1 year ago.

Because of this reason, I came back Cyberjaya earlier, and get my new PC. (The old one will be repair! Just I need a more powerful PC). I went to Lowyat Plaza yesterday, alone of course. And get these rig from ViewNet, my favorite PC retail shop:

1. BENQ FP92W 19" wide screen LCD monitor
2. 1GB x 2 Kingston DDR2 800MHz
3. Gigabyte P35 DS3 Motherboard
4. Intel E6550 processor
5. 250GB Western Digital Hard disk
6. LG 20X DVD burner
7. and, Gigabyte GeForce 8800GTS 320MB

Just the monitor already weighted more than 6kg, and only me, with 2 hands, carry it back from Lowyat Plaza KL, to Cyberjaya. (of course I ride bus and train la)

Actually want to build it today morning, but I started 4am last night, 'thanks' to Nescafe and mosquitoes. 

Here it goes

my hand shake like chicken leg, not because too excited, you will know if you carry 10kg stuff from KL to Cyberjaya.

Then is the stock heatsink. So noisy, consider to change it later.

2 slots of RAM.

Just realize I forgot to fix the back panel, so have to unscrew the motherboard from  casing......

The queen of my rig, 8800GTS~~

Completed!

  So handsome, for now. Can't tell 2 years later.

Full System look, but without speakers yet. Actually want to get Samsung 931BW monitor, then the whole system will look black.

Inject the soul
I used to say: why study IT? Because if there is only hardware, there is no meaning for a PC to exist, so IT professional will design the soul, inject it, and give life to PC... I injected(installed my long long Vista

Technorati Tags: new pc , 8800gts , benq , review

that I bought 6 months ago)

Review? Perhaps.
I am not some reviewer, just write out what I feel about these.

BenQ FP92W
According to the shop seller, BenQ color is "nicer". What I thought is, human eyes can't differentiate a very minor difference in color, unless 2 monitors putting side by side. Another weakness is, when you view from 45 degrees from the top, the screen is in pink color. That time, Samsung 931BW out of stock, so I just get this BenQ, save RM 130.

8800GTS 320MB
Until now, I still didn't really find out the difference yet, only in heavy graphic rendering task like games, then I will notice. With current max 450 Watt output, I worry it may not enough to get peak graphic performance. One more, the nVidia control panel sucks! Just simple adjustment, no fun.

Intel processor - stock fan so noisy!

Kingston RAM - 800MHz 2GB, compare to my previous PC with 133MHz 512MB, really a big difference in reading and writing speed.

Hard disk - fast enough la~~ 250GB yet, won't full in these years. (Hey, no porn in my hard disk!)

LG 20x Secure Burner - What is that secure feature? I also don't know, hope it won't get into my way during reading and writing data.

After Word:
I spent about 5 hours to set up this machine. This is a long time, as I doing it slowly, taking photos, finding right tools, and reading manual book. The tools I used to unscrew and screw include scissor and a screwdriver with big body which can't screw narrow parts.

This is consider my first desktop computer. I used to do all my computing on my 3.9 years old laptop, which I got it in early 2004 as my PMR full As reward. Now it has to be retired, thanks for giving me fun, help me do homework, talk and act story to me.

Don't call me rich bastard as I bought 8800GTS. I don't want to waste my money on directX 9 card, and compare 8600GTS, the price is just 200~300 different, but performance is 3 times better than 8600GTS. So invest on 8800GTS would be much better in long term.

Will do a benchmarking for my PC later, current Vista Rating, I got the following score:

1. Processor 5.3
2. Memory 5.9
3. Graphics 5.9
4. Gaming graphic 5.9
5. primary hard disk 5.3

OK OK la, I just hope there won't be any defect, then this PC should stand for 5 years before coming to outdate fate.

Microsoft Windows Vista Ice House in Toronto, Canada

Microsoft just set up a Vista and Office 2007 showroom in Toronto, Canada. Guess how is it? A tip: it's snowing at there. Yes! It's an Ice-House!

The ice house is cool(perhaps, cold?), and it used 270,000 pounds of ice to build it. The digital ice house is awesome, all the furniture in the house was in real size, include ice-book, ice-toilet bowl, ice-microwave oven, beds, ice-study room, ice-kitchen, all in real size. Of course, the toilet bowl and microwave oven can't function, just a model, but very detail. The temperature was stable at 5 degree Celsius to prevent the ice house collapse.

pictures taken from time_one, thanks!

I like the last picture, it make me feel like using Vista! The Aero Interface that look a little bit transparent and blur make me feel exciting!

This won't gonna happen in this hot Malaysia. Lucky the heat that generated by the desktop and laptop didn't melt the house. The cold climax helps a lot.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft - Ice House - Toronto - Vista - Office 2007

Vista Campus Launch, only in MMU.

Microsoft Malaysia will hold a Vista Campus Launch in MMU Melaka, and, I am one of the small committee in the event, yeas!(Just a low rank working committee la....) but really excited to be it!

For your information, this event for me is not just a Vista Launch, I get the chance to get a FREE genuine CD key from Microsoft, but the edition I may get is not yet confirm. Besides, all committees will get a certificate from Microsoft, and also a free T-shirt, plus handsome SAPS point (co-curriculum point in MMU).

Beside us, MMU Cyberjaya Branch will also hold the event, see their blog.

For this event, I will set up a website soon, please subscribe to my blog to get further information. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: vista - campus - launch - mmu

Something wrong on The Star In-Tech.

This morning, I saw my watch, it's 13 Feb! I quickly wore a jacket and took my pass card and keys, ran to U-Center (a retail shop) to buy a copy of The Star. Huh, lucky still has stock... Why I so interested with today's The Star? Heh heh, because today Star In-Tech will review about Windows Vista!!

These days, I almost get addicted to Windows Vista news, chasing it from morning till night, write blogs about it continuously, search for the lowest price. Ok, back to the title, while I read the review, I found something strange:

(a snapshot from The Star In-Tech 13 Feb 2007)

It stated that only Ultimate Edition has the Aero interface, and only Ultimate Edition has the 'Easier business networking connectivity' feature, even Business Edition also don't has this feature, how can it be possible?! It also stated that Business Edition has some multimedia and entertainment features, like 'Easily make DVDs', 'Have more fun on your PC', and 'Create high definition movies', which is not included as Microsoft stated.

It's not true, must be.
I quickly check online, check Microsoft Vista website, and I found that it's not true. It must be The Star's mistake. The truth is, only Home Basic don't has the Aero Interface feature, and both Business and Ultimate Edition have 'Easier business networking connectivity' feature. The multimedia and entertainment feature is not that important for Business Edition. If they want those features, they can get it easily from third party software.

This news shocked me for a while, as I planned to buy myself a Home Premium Edition. Let me ask you all: if a Vista don't has Aero Interface, will it call Vista? That's why Home Basic is the most lousy Edition, don't buy it. It just RM100 cheaper than Home Premium.

 

Technorati Tags: Vista - The Star - mistake - home premium - business

Use ReadyBoost, to Make your PC faster.

I believe many people out there already start using Windows Vista(pirated and original), and I too believe all the users are attracted by the Aero Interface. Wait, there is another feature that will make you all WoW for Vista.

ReadyBoost
Windows Vista introduces a new way to make use of your USB Flash Drive. By insert a USB Flash Drive, Windows Vista can turn it to become an external memory, and cache data faster.

How it works?
A Flash Drive use the same medium as your primary memory(RAM) does - electronically charged modules, making this method respond faster than hard disk, since it's mechanical. This make ReadyBoost a better alternative than Virtual Memory, which use portion of your hard drive as memory space. If you take out the flash drive, ReadyBoost will be disabled. Your computer will be fine, though, because the files stored on the flash memory are only temporary copies. Data on the flash memory is encrypted to protect privacy using AES-128 encryption.

How to use it?
When you plug in you USB drive, Vista AutoPlay will show this small window, choose 'Speed up my system'(this option will only show if your flashdrive can support ReadyBoost, yes, not all are supportable.)

Another window pop up:

Click 'Use this device', and click 'OK'.

And it's done.

What Flash Drives are supported?
the device must support USB 2.0, be at least 256MB (with 64KB free) and less than 4GB, and have at least a 2.5MB/sec throughput for 4k random reads, and a 1.75MB/sec throughput for 512k random writes. Looks like my mini Pendrive can support it.

This method will not speed up your game
As we all know, flash drive is using 'Flash' to transfer and memorize data, and it is relatively slow if compare to RAM, which not using 'Flash' to memorize data. The performance won't be significant increase on a new powerful PC, like latest Core 2 Duo processor with 7200rpm harddisk and 1GB of RAM. It will show obvious performance upgrade if you run ReadyBoost on an old and slower PC, about 30 percents increase in startup speed on an old 4 years old Dell Latitude D600 with 512MB RAM.

Bring your Flash Drive to death.
Another problem by using Flash Drive to boost up your system is because ALL flash drives have limited life-span, once you write and re-write it, the life of your flash drive will decrease, and while using it as additional memory will accelerate your flash drive to death.

 

Technorati Tags: vista - ReadyBoost - flash drive

To buy OEM or Retail Vista?

This is also an important factor to your budget to buy a new Vista. On my previous post, I went to Low Yat Plaza for the Vista Launch, and I got some answers I want. Now, a new problem arise, maybe it not just concern me, but all of you who read this.

What is OEM?
OEM stand of Original Equipment Manufacturer, or what in your mind is like Dell or HP. OEM product always not coming with fancy package, manual book, or even warranty, of course, much more cheaper. When we talk about OEM Windows, OEM is the cheaper version for "system builders"(Dell or HP). Buying OEM Vista is not advisable, but is still legal, as Microsoft don't like to receive lots of report from low end user to questioning this and that.

So what's the difference?
Both OEM and Retail software work exactly the same in function, but OEM version is bundle to some hardware, like motherboard. When you installed OEM version on a PC with the motherboard A, you had to use that Windows on the motherboard for your lifetime, unless your motherboard A burned out. The first time you installed it, OEM Vista will tied to your motherboard A, and when you change the motherboard to motherboard B, Vista detect it and you can't boot up. This is no good for user who like to upgrade or build their own system from ground.

Another minor different about OEM Vista is the license agreement. In most retail Vista, you had to click "I accept the license and agreement" to continue, but OEM Vista will assume that you accept the license and agreement once you open the package, and you can't make any refund or return. Funny...

Retail Vista come with 2 DVDs and manual book inside the cool box. The 2 DVDs work similar, except 1 is for 64-bit processor, another one is for 32-bit processor. For now where most user using 32-bit processor, buying a retail version is the right choice, as 64-bit processor will dominate the market soon. Retail version also come with 90 days(only?) of free support, while OEM don't have, but still accept paid support, if you need it. Retail Vista also allow you to transfer(not copy!) the Windows from one PC to another PC, regardless the motherboard or other hardware like OEM version.

How about my motherboard died?
Good question, it's Microsoft policy to allow the Vista license to transfer to new motherboard if your motherboard defective, but you need to call Microsoft service center to inform them about the activation on new motherboard. But, this is not guarantee will work, and, liar don't get ice-cream.

If I upgrade my motherboard?
Microsoft said: everything is a fair game, except motherboard. Once you upgraded your motherboard, Microsoft will consider it as a new PC, and OEM version is not usable on the motherboard anymore.

Here is the price list of Retail and OEM:

Windows Vista (Retail)	Prices
Home Basic	RM715
Home Premium	RM848
Business	RM1055
Ultimate	RM1415

 

Windows Vista (OEM)	Prices
Home Basic	RM305
Home Premium	RM395
Business	RM500
Ultimate	RM680

 

Windows Vista (Retail Upgrade)	Prices
Home Basic	RM369
Home Premium	RM571
Business	RM710
Ultimate	RM930

 

For those who not afford to buy Full Retail Vista, Retail Upgrade may be the good choice to have all the retail benefit, but if you want to reformat your PC... you had to install XP first, then upgrade it to Vista... Everything is fair.

 

Which license should you install? I think I had given enough information about it, the rest you had to decide yourself. I know the prices are over our estimation, but if you all want to see the real "wow", please pay for it, Microsoft will support Vista until 2012, so if you buy Home Premium now, it just cost you RM 0.46 per day only, worth it. 

Bill Gates' Sons Show you 'WoW'

Finally, Microsoft Malaysia successfully launch the next generation of Operating system, Microsoft Windows Vista, this start up a revolution to the IT industry. The Vista Launch successfully at Low Yat Plaza, kuala Lumpur. I went to the launch in the early morning, without hesitate, we went to the Vista Stage to look around.

Who is invited?
To boost up the environment, Microsoft Malaysia invited the top DJ from Hitz.fm, JJ! Of course, there are more people later, keep reading.

Game
The agenda of this event is interesting, a lots of games were design to promote Vista, like Fear Factor and Search for Vista Fugitive. The first part of Fear Factor, I took part in it. OK, this is a bit embarrassed, I will show the video at here.

"Forgot the language while down on one knee?!"

"Nowadays, young man can eat chili."

(please wait for 2 days for the video to approve)

After I ate 4 red chilies, I start to feel a force pushing up from my burning stomach. I force myself to eat another 3 more chilies, then I gave up, and vomit behind the stage. haha. The Vista Winner, is my friend, Falix, who finished all the chilies in 2 minutes and 24 seconds and he kept showing off his Ultimate Edition for the whole day... so jealous. He just sold it on LowYat.net with a price of RM1000, as he is a Linux user.

Me with Falix's Ultimate Edition

Core 2 Duo, and these 2 guys is really Duo!!

There is also a game to find Vista Fugitive in the mall,we search until our legs cramp, and after half an hour of searching, there still nothing, and we found many persons with similar face... embarrassing...
One of the Vista Fugitive

Vista Hunt
This is the main reason we travel far from Melaka to KL. Our team name, Bill Gates' Sons, was the most happening team name among 188 teams, and when my team name was announced, people shout and joy for it, haha! 3,2,1 Go! 600 ++ participants ran like ants, heading to their owns sectors. Very regret, I was too concentrate to solve the clue, and I forgot to snap some photo of our searching process. The questions are very very difficult, maybe Microsoft want us to think out of the box to solve the questions, like IT pros solving IT problems. We lose the game, of course, but at least we got a T-shirt with Windows Vista Logo embroidered on it, not bad huh?

This guy just shave his leg, and he won the Ultimate Edition with Bill Gates signature.

The WOW Start
KT Ng, Director of Microsoft Malaysia, were demoting the Aero Interface, and when he let the "dead" water in wallpaper flowing, that's the most obvious "WOW" I heard. To suit the Chinese New Year Atmosphere, Microsoft Malaysia invited a Dragon----yes, a dragon dance team. The dragon is chasing a orb with a Vista Logo onto it, and when the orb were placed on the stage, it's 8pm, Microsoft Windows Vista were officially Launch in Malaysia!! WOW! Everybody shouting 'WOW', which is the slogan of Windows Vista--Show us your WOW. K-Town Clan, the hip hop clan in KL shake the earth with their unstoppable rap technique.

The Vista Walk Hunt Grand winner

The Vista Walk Hunt winner
This session is the most ridiculous part. You won't believe, even the 8th winner score 82/85! And the Grand prizes winner scored perfect! This is impossible if you saw the questions, unless they got secret information from someone, you know la. The grand winner brought back 2 Bill Gates Own Signatured Vista Ultimate Edition, which only 2 unit available on this planet, 1 business edition, 1 home premium, 2 laptops, and other side prizes... But what made us feel proud was when the DJ announced the grand winner, he said: "Bill Gates' Sons don't want his father's signature." the audience shouted 'wow'. Bill Gates' Sons rocks! If there is a creative team name competition, we sure will win!

These are the Bill Gates' Sons, scare leh...

This time, Vista Success
Microsoft never has fans that support it before, not like MAC OS X or Linux that having their own fans sites. But this time, at the launch, I really feel that Vista already installed a positive patch into our minds. But something I had wrong estimate is the prices. Here is the actual prices:

Windows Vista (FPP)	Prices
Home Basic	RM715
Home Premium	RM848
Business	RM1055
Ultimate	RM1415

I thought Malaysia will have special prices for Windows Vista, but it still same, I wrongly use the retail prices in US to compare with OEM prices in Malaysia, and now I know, it's different.

Really a good experience
This is the first time I join a big product open ceremony, even I got nothing valuable, at least I feel satisfy, I got the answers I want, and use the time wisely, and, I am happy. Forget to tell you one more thing, my friend, Aaron, this morning just won another HP Desktop with Onion Eating competition... haha!! MMU Rocks!

Windows Vista's packaging full view.

Windows Vista and Office 2007 was officially released on 30th January 2007 worldwide(but not in Malaysia), and I believe some blogger already get his or her own copy. So yesterday night, I search on Google Blogsearch to find some info about the packaging, and, ... it's awesome.

The packaging is not like ordinary DVD cover. The box has a clip at the right side, and for the first time you hold it, you need some time to figure out how to open it. A hard cover to protect the DVD and the colorful manual book too. It's really cool!

Take a look at these pictures, you will understand how beautiful is it.

Now you know why I feel so high when write this blog. Believe me, you won't throw it away after you installed your Vista.

Picture from: http://activewin.com/articles/2007/3.shtml, thank you!

Vista will only Available on Feb 3rd... in Malaysia

Malaysia always slower than other country, even launching of Vista. Microsoft just announced that Windows Vista will launch at Low Yat, Feb 3rd, Saturday 8pm (night!?). After seen Tien Soon's Tech Blog, I visit Low Yat website to find some info about it, and I am really impressed by the Windows Vista Ultimate Edition sign by Bill Gates himself.

How to get it?
I won't gonna buy Ultimate Edition, it's too expensive. But I still hope there will be a special price for Malaysia's market. To get the special Ultimate edition with signature of Bill Gates, one has to group up 3 or 4(maximum) members to join the Vista Walk Hunt, and only the winner team can get it. I think I will find some friends to join the hunt and grab some prizes. Visit the site and download the registration form.

Really hope can win the prize, and save up my budget to buy Vista Home Edition, yeah!

Vista is counting down...

5 years of development time, and soon, Microsoft will release her next generation of operating system(OS),Windows Vista. And after several delays, and Windows Vista will be schedule to released on 30th January 2007. Now, when you Froogle for "Microsoft Windows Vista", you will see that many online retailers already start receiving orders for Vista, from Home to Ultimate Edition. But, after I seen the price, it is much more expensive than what I thought... but I still believe there will has a special price for Pirated Heaven like Malaysia.

This is the average prices for all versions:

Version	Average Price
Home Basic	About RM357
Home Premium	About RM770
Business	About RM1067.50
Ultimate	About RM1435.00

 *all the prices is converted from USD with currency 1USD=RM3.5
*this is just for reference. Actual price may lower in Malaysia.

Now, another 6 days, 23 hours, 55 minutes, 5 seconds, Vista is release!!

Please, if you can afford, please buy original.

Technorati Tags: windows vista - price - edition