PCFormat April 2012 Teaser

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PERFORMANCE & GAMING

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Set up a torrent server Pick a new PC

How to

¤ Core i7 3820¤ 2x Sapphire Pure Black

PLAY the gAme

hOt New hArdwAre

¤ More backup software!

¤ Far Cry 3¤ Max Payne

can Intel replace the macbook?* * yes we know they both run intel

VSR4,000 R36,000

RIG ONE RIG TWO

FREEDVD

double-sidedat the back

can you tASte the dIfference?

SOftwAre reviewS

UltRa bo0kS

P14

SOAP BOXIt’s the month of the fool already and in anticipation of the deluge of gaming bliss, we have put together a massive feature to save you from some rather impractical hardware jokes and make sure you get the right performance for your Rands. Taking a cue from the early survey results, we have beefed up all things hardware. As promised we will let you know what changes your feedback will bring about, so keep those eyes peeled as the last of the surveys trickle in. In the meantime there are stacks of reviews including an ultrabook mash-up, a sexy new Intel CPU, a funky hybrid PCIe HDD, a gaming notebook, a bunch of NAS drives and so much more.

You asked for more useful software and how-tos, so we delved into backup suits and put together a guide to setting up your very own torrent server. It’s only the start and you can expect more subtle changes as we morph the sections into the magazine you asked for. There’s also a giant sneak peek at Far Cry 3 as well as Max Payne 3 and for those folks, you know who you are, there’s also the new M$ Flight.

These are exciting times at the PCF ranch and change, while not as good as a tropical island holiday with guns and crazy locals, is always something exciting. If you have anything to say about the changes that are starting now, please don’t hesitate to mail me – [email protected].

Wishing you happy paging

Nicholas Boerma, Editor

PUBLISHER Urs Honegger

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Gerard PeterEDITOR Nicholas BoermaSTAFF WRITER Brett VenterHARDWARE WRITER Michael Reed MANAGING EDITOR Kate KennedySENIOR SUB EDITOR Vanessa KoekemoerSUB EDITORS Brigitte Billings, Danica PotgieterEDITORIAL COORDINATOR Lida-Marie Saayman

DTP STUDIO MANAGER Paul KotzeLEAD DESIGNER Cronjé du ToitTRAFFIC & PRODUCTION MANAGER Celeste Scholes

ADVERTISING [email protected] GROUP ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Deborah Bishop-WilliamsSALES EXECUTIVE Leandra Pinho 082 5424515 [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] Tel: 011 468 2090 Fax: 011 468 2091

INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS Alan Dexter, Dave James, Henry Winchester, Adam Oxford, Jeremy Laird, Neil Mohr, Luis Villazon, Richard Cobbett, Simon Crisp, Mike Channell, Al Bickham, Rich McCornmick, Stefan Janicki, Rob Taylor, Andy Kelly, Richard Stanton

FINANCE [email protected] Ultra-Litho, JohannesburgDISTRIBUTION Republican News Agency

ISSN 1027-0469

PCFormat is published monthly. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission of Panorama Publications (Pty) Ltd. Copyright © 1997-2010 Panorama Publications (Pty) Ltd. The views expressed in PCFormat are not necessarily those of Panorama Publications and the acceptance and publication of editorial and advertising matter in PCFormat does not imply any endorsement or warranty in respect of goods or services therein described, whether by PCFormat or the publishers. PCFormat will not be held responsible for the safe return of unsolicited editorial contributions. The Editor reserves the right to edit material submitted and in appropriate cases to translate into another language. PCFormat reserves the right to reject any advertising or editorial material, which may not suit the standard of the publication, without reason given.

PUBLISHED BY Panorama Publications (Pty) Ltd.Private Bag X4, Kyalami, 1684, South Africa. 92 Campolino Road, Kyalami.Tel: 011 468 2090 Fax: 011 468 2091

Oct-Dec 201116,271(Total)

PCFormat is printed on partially recycled paper

All New 3-Way Digital Power

Leader in Motherboard Innovation

PCFormat’s AMD Test Bench is kindly provided by the following brands

SpecificationsAMD Phenom II X6 1100T @ 3.3GHzMSI 890FXA-GD704GB Kingston HyperX DDR3-1800 Dual ChannelATI Radeon HD 5970Seagate 160GB SATA-II Hard DriveLian Li PC-P80RLG Flatron E3250V LED LCDKingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB SSD

PCFormat’s Intel Test Benches are kindly provided by the following brands

SpecificationsIntel Core i7 Extreme 975 @ 3.3GHzIntel DX58SO motherboard6GB GSkill Trident DDR3-2000 Triple ChannelGainward GTX580 (Sponsored by Evetech.co.za)WD 320GB SATA-II Hard DriveIntel Core i7 870 Gigabyte P55-UD6LG Flatron E3250V LED LCDKingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB SSD

PERFORMANCE & GAMING

RegulaRs 01 Ed’s Note06 Competition07 PCF LAN Calendar08 Your letters 12 Unintentional Memes62 Ask Luis96 Topics of Discussion

WiRed ReVieWs36 Intel Core i7-382038 Sapphire Pure Black X79N39 Sapphire Pure Black FX99040 Asus HD 7950 DirectCU II TOP41 OCZ RevoDrive Hybrid42 Evetech Core i5 4.6GHz OC 7950

Gamer43 AMD Entertainment 8GB DDR344 Corsair Vengeance M6045 Corsair Vengeance K6046 Corsair Vengeance 130048 Samsung Series 754 Viewsonic VP236555 Blackberry Curve 9380/Nokia

Lumia 800

gRoup tests50 NAS roundupThe best network storage options

56 Online backup toolsCloud storage at its very best

14 Altering your tastebudsContents#181/04.12

88 How do I kill thee, let me count the ways

74 A far cry from an African setting

58 So you want to make a torrent server…

FeatuRes14 Can you taste the difference?30 Ultrabooks58 Set up a torrent server

play pReVieWs68 Max Payne 370 Microsoft Flight

ReVieW72 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

FeatuRes74 Far Cry 3

G3AR ReVieWs 82 Metal Gear Solid: Snake

Eater 3DS88 The Darkness II

Microsoft Touch Series

Touch MouseWindows 7

Arc Touch Mouse

Explorer Touch Mouse

Also available:Limited edition Touch Mouse for Windows 7 Artist Cheuk

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For more information, visit www.mustek.co.za or please contact us to be referred to a dealer in your area:

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