Dual-Channel Core i7

The Intel Core i7 quad-core desktop processor will soon also come in a version with integrated dual-channel DDR3 memory controller

Don't do a double-take. You read that right. Intel Core i7 quad-core desktop processor with Dual-Channel integrated memory controller, not Triple-Channel. For those who know the Core i7, you'll know it supports triple memory modules, so to go backwards and support dual memory modules is a shocker! So why is Intel doing this?

Because the Core i5 desktop processors will be coming out, which comes with an integrated dual-channel memory controller, so offering the Core i7 with the same feature allows users to select from the middle-range Core i5 or the high-end Core i7 while keeping their current dual memory modules from the previous Core 2-class of desktop processors. Want to know more?

By the way, this is of course, assuming you were using DDR3 memory and not DDR2, as some previous desktop boards which supported the Core 2-class of desktop processors only supported DDR2 memory. If that's the case then you can also consider going for the triple-channel Core i7 since you'll be upgrading your memory anyway! This new dual-channel Core i7 is designed for users who already are using DDR3 memory, but want more power than the Core i5.

So what happens to the triple-channel Core i7? It will still be there as a top-end quad-core desktop processor, and for those who are willing to buy new triple memory modules, as well as need more memory, specifically if they're using an x64 (64-bit) operating system, which can use beyond 4GB of memory.

How would you know the difference then between a dual- and triple-channel Core i7? The triple-channel still maintains the LGA1366 processor socket while the new dual-channel Core i7 and i5 (as well as entry-level dual-core i3) will use the LGA1156 processor socket instead. That's right, there'll also be a Core i3 dual-core entry-level desktop processor for those who don't even need the power of the Core i5.

The new LGA1156 processors will be supported by desktop boards powered with Intel's P55 board controller (chipset), while the LGA1366 Core i7 processor will continue to be supported by Intel's X58 chipset. That's not the end of the Core i7 triple-channel class processors though. Intel will also release the Core i9, a six-core desktop processor for the Core i7 platform.

Stay tuned for more updates about these new processors if you're confused about them.

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Internet Censorship

Those who have observed Malaysia's 12th General Election on 8th March 2008 will have noticed the Opposition won 5 states from the dominant Government via the Internet, which the Govt had little control over while they were controlling the mass media.

This was even mentioned by Vinton Cerf, Father of the Internet @ WCIT 2008 - which you can read more about him here in our previous post (at the bottom of that post). He mentioned about how the Internet has shown it plays an important role in politics, and it has even resulted in the world's first blogger to be voted into Parliament, which is Malaysia's case, is Jeff Ooi. So what has the Gov tried to do? Read on for more.

As a result, in order to work towards securing the 13th GE in 2012 from being lost, the Govt has begun to blog like the Opposition, and has recently decided to attempt to filter the Internet, just as how China tried with their Green Dam project.

However, as Jack of BrickGamers have said, if even the Middle Kingdom can give up (at least for now), perhaps it's futile for the Govt here to consider pursuing this when it actually contradicts the MSC (Multimedia Super Corridor) Bill of Guarantees, which prohibits Internet censorship to encourage foreign investments in the country.

So far the Govt has said the filter is only to censor pornography, but we all know power can be abused in the wrong hands once laws are laid down, and in anycase, it still violates the MSC's Bill.

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NVIDIA CUDA

What is NVIDIA CUDA? If you've read our previous post here, you'll get a brief understanding of CUDA, which is basically NVIDIA's implementation of GPGPU technology by supporting programs (and games) designed to take advantage of CUDA. GPGPU is explained below.

CUDA is found on GeForce 8 series of 3D gaming and multimedia graphics card and above - as well as Quadro FX professional workstation video cards. This is possible because since GeForce 8, as well as the new Quadro, the design of the graphics processor (the GPU) on the card has changed. In fact, it's more like a CPU (the processor on the mainboard) now. Hence what you have is a GPU that functions like a CPU, and is known as GPGPU. But how did this come about and why? Read on.

In the past, GPUs work in seperate processing methods - one part of the GPU will do the processing of the 3D structure, while the other part will then process the image on the structure - think of it like how when you construct a building you first have to build the framework before you can install the windows and floors.

That worked fine for awhile, until 3D games began to get more demanding and this was a poor allocation of GPU resources - what happens if you had more structures to show but less textures and surfaces? Or the other way around? Hence the birth of the new GPU known as Unified Shader Architecture, which combines the mini processes inside the GPU into a single block which can process anything given to it dynamically. So what you have now is one large processor.

So since you have a CPU in a GPU, now you can also use it for processing programs asides from just processing 3D graphics in games (or processing 3D scenes for Quadro cards). In comes CUDA which allows this since the GPU is still not a full CPU so you need an interface medium.

What can CUDA do? Basically anything that a CPU can do - except programs have to be made to take advantage of CUDA for this to happen, so that will take time. Some of the early programs include video conversion tools.

BadaBoom Media Converter using NVIDIA CUDA GPGPU technology

This converting (transcoding) process takes up time and if you were to run it on your CPU, not only will you won't be able to do other tasks on your computer because your CPU is busy with the process, it will also be slower since CUDA is a newer technology which can be done from scratch to be optimised faster. One such CUDA transcoder is BadaBoom.

An image filter plugin in Adobe Photoshop

Then there's also the ability to use CUDA for image processing, like running plugin filters in Adobe's Photoshop. Again, this takes time on the CPU so for large images, it will be faster on CUDA. You can also use CUDA for games. That's where Microsoft's Windows DirectX 11's Compute Shader comes in, found in Windows 7. But we'll leave that for another post.

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Coming Soon - Leadtek Quadro FX 1800 Review

If you're a a workstation user, you might be familiar with the professional video cards from NVIDIA called the Quadro. Unlike the GeForce graphic cards, which are designed for gaming and multimedia, the Quadro cards are designed with 3D and digital animation in mind - though they can also handle 3D games as well - but not so good since they're not designed for it!

But why? Want to know more about the differences? Read on to find out.

By the way, both GeForce and Quadro can also be used for programming via NVIDIA's CUDA technology, which makes use of GPGPU, a concept where the graphic card's GPU is used as a processor - just like the processor on the mainboard. The difference in that the program must be specially designed to take advantage of this. That's where technology like CUDA comes in so programs written for CUDA can do this.

CUDA allows you to use GeForce and Quadro card for more than what they're designed for - like video conversion (transcoding), image editing, and even artificial intelligence (AI)!

More on CUDA later - let's focus on the Quadro first, since most people know about GeForce already. Then we'll get on to how CUDA can be used on both cards.

The Quadro is much more expensive than the GeForce because they perform better for 3D work, especially in response times working with a 3D object, thanks to their data transfer bandwidth, optimised drivers, as well as the firmware on the Quadro, which controls things like sacrificing speed for quality. In games, speed is more important, hence why in GeForce cards this will be reversed. In Quadro cards, quality is much more important.

Worth mentioning is that the Quadro runs at 5GBps for its data transfer, taking advantage of the 5GBps PCI Express 2.0 slot (where a graphic card sits on a mainboard). The highest-end single-GPU GeForce, the 285, runs at 4.6GBps. For reference, the older PCI Express 1.0 slot interface supports up to 2.5GBps only.

Autodesk's 3D software - AutoCAD (left), 3D Studio Max (centre), Maya (right)

ALso, some Quadro cards are specially designed for certain 3D software like Autodesk's classic AutoCAD, or their acquired 3ds (3D Studio Max) and Maya software. While GeForce just needs to be fast for modern 3D games, Quadro needs to be accurate, and this is where it excels in, and that explains the higher cost of the hardware.

To take a better look at Quadro, we'll be testing one from Leadtek, the FX 1800, which replaces the previous FX 1700, both coming from the middle-range line. Stay tuned for it!

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Bill Gates @ Facebook

Sorry Bill Gates, we just had to highlight your plight when you recently decided to try out the social networking phenomenon Facebook in the Web 2.0 age. On the bright side, at least you won't have BrickTech being the 10,001 friend who wants to add to your list :)

To know more about the story that inspired this strip, read on for more details.

Yahoo recently carried a story about Bill Gates, who tried Facebook, but then gave it up after 10,000 people wanted to be his friend. You can read more about it here.

If you're wondering why Bill has dual large monitors on his table, we're referring to the news on C-Net which mentions he has triple LCDs in his office. Find out more here.

Yes, we know how to count.

However, we don't have enough bricks :P

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Google Earth, Sky, Ocean, Moon, Mars

Most people would have heard of Google, primarily for searching for information on the World Wide Web (Web), a part of the Net (Internet), via Google Search. Some may know Google has some other interesting ways to search for other information, like locations via Google Maps (maps.google.com). But did you know there's more to this?

2D Web Google Maps (above) and 3D desktop Google Earth (below)

Google Earth (earth.google.com) is the desktop version of G-Maps, with the main difference being the program is in 3D while the Web version is in 2D.

2D Web Google Sky (above) and 3D desktop Google Sky (below)

Did you know G-Earth also progressed from just searching the land to space as well? It was called Google Sky but it's actually a part of G-Earth. You can also use the 2D version via the Web at sky.google.com

Then Google Ocean was added in G-Earth. However, unlike G-Sky, it's not available on the Web.

3D desktop Google Moon (above) and 2D Web Google Moon (below)

In the past, when you maximum zoom in 2D Web Google Moon, you'll see cheese, based after the phrase "The moon is made of cheese".

Now, there's Google Moon in G-Earth. Like G-Sky, G-Moon is also available on the Web in 2D at moon.google.com. There's also another nearby planetary body available from Google - Mars.

2D Web Google Mars (above) and 3D desktop Google Mars (below)

Google Mars is also incorporated into G-Earth, and you can also get it in 2D on the Web via mars.google.com

Venus is the same size as Earth, but it's too hot for life

So, will there be Google Venus at venus.google.com soon? Going by how Mars is heavily being explored as the next possible habitable planet after Earth, there's a chance Venus won't be mapped anytime soon in the near future.

Past (left) and present (right) satellite images in Google Earth

Instead, there's a higher chance G-Earth will incorporate a Future Time Slider in the not so distant future to enable a Temporal Database of what you're looking at - be it G-Maps, G-Sky, G-Ocean, G-Moon, or G-Mars. With this, you'll not only be able to search for past information as you now can in G-Earth, but also future predictions based on historical and present information.

This was what Vinton G. Cerf (the Father of the Internet), the Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist @ Google said during the 2008 WCIT (World Congress on Information Technology), held at KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) Convention Centre (KLCCCC or KLC4?). The WCIT is organised by the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA).

To get G-Earth (which comes with G-Sky, G-Ocean, G-Moon and G-Mars in the latest version 5), visit earth.google.com

images from Wikipedia

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Best Hard Drive

Image from Wikipedia

In technology, many people want to know what's the "best", and this is expected, especially when technology gets obsolete so quickly, you want a sound investment which lasts as long as possible.

While there is no such thing as the "best mobile phone" or "best notebook/laptop", due to a variety of reasons (a phone depends much on what you use it for, and a notebook is made from components so it depends what it uses), there can be certain "best". This includes processor, mainboard, hard drive, and so on. We'll get to the others later. Let's focus on the hard drive first.

A hard drive is a spinning disc/disk inside a casing, and so the faster the drive spins, the better it is. While there's SSD (solid state drive) to replace HDD (hard disc/disk drive) because it's faster and shock-proof, the prices are still high and they do not offer that large a capacity as HDDs can.

HDD (left) and SSD (right), image from Wikipedia

Today's HDD can go up to 2TB like Western Digital's Caviar Green WD20EADS desktop drive and WD's Green RE4-GP WD2002FYPS Enterprise/Server drive, while today's SSD do not even breach the 500GB barrier yet.

2TB is 2,000GB or 2,000,000MB

The spin rate, or RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) determines the HDD's performance (mostly - there are some smaller details like amount of Cache on the drive to help it perform better).

Desktop drives spin at 7,200RPM and older drives spin at 5,400RPM. Some smaller drives, like notebook drives, still spin at 5,400RPM. Server drives can spin up to 15,000RPM. However, the best desktop drive spins at 10,000RPM and only comes from WD, under their Raptor line.

WD Raptor drives spin at 10KRPM

Now, WD makes the VelociRaptor notebook-sized drive which spins at 10KRPM, making it not only the world's fastest notebook-sized drive, but also desktop drive if you opt for the heatsink version which matches the size of a desktop drive.

The WD VelociRaptor is the evolution of the WD Raptor

The notebook-sized VelociRaptor drive (above) and the desktop-sized heatsink version (below)

This evolution continues the legacy of WD's Raptor drives which spin at 10KRPM even in the older desktop-only models. RAID the VelociRaptors together and you'll pretty much have the fastest non-server HDD RAID on the planet. Until SSDs come down in price and increase in capacity, if you're looking for the best notebook-sized or desktop drive, you can't go wrong with the VelociRaptor.

Remember the VR is a notebook-sized drive (if not with the heatsink version), it is NOT a notebook drive. This is because the VR is DOUBLE in HEIGHT of a notebook drive, making it UNLIKELY to fit in ANY notebook. The notebook size refers to the width and length.

If you're looking for the best drive for a notebook, any notebook drive will do as they all spin at 7,200RPM, just like desktop drives. If you want speeds like the VR on a notebook, you'll have to look at SSDs (mentioned earlier above), which may even be faster than the VR, and offers drop-proof protection since it has no moving parts, unlike the VR. The only downside is what was mentioned - which is the smaller capacity and the higher price - for now.

Coming up next, we'll be testing the VelociRaptor and we'll be using this drive in tests of other hardware designed for high-end purposes, like 3D digital animation modelling and graphics rendering, via NVIDIA LeadTek Quadro professional workstation video cards, Intel's Core i7 (Nehalem) quad-core processor, and enthusiast desktop boards from ASUS.

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P1 (Packet One) WiMAX

If you're a Malaysian, chances are you've heard of P1 by now, that local WiMAX (a form of wireless broadband) company. They're under the parent company Green Packet, which makes solutions to sell to other countries under their CPE line of products. The P1 service is their "guinea pig" to be used here as an example to showcase CPE to places like the Middle-East.

P1 is known for pushing their WiMAX service as the better Internet connection compared to other services, be it landed wired options like Telekom Malaysia's Streamyx broadband, or wireless solutions from DiGi's wireless broadband service to Maxis' wireless service. But is it really?


What exactly is WiMAX and what's the difference? For a start, WiMAX is NOT Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity). While WiFi covers a small area (Hot Spot), WiMAX covers a very big area.


Wi-Fi support is found in Intel Centrino 1 notebooks (generation 1 - Carmel in 2003, gen 2 - Sonoma in 2005, gen 3 - Napa in 2006, and gen 4 - Santa Rosa in 2007). Centrino 2 notebooks (gen 5 - Montevina in 2008) onwards come with BOTH WiFi AND WiMAX for convenience. But did you know Centrino 2 notebook's WiMAX CAN'T WORK with P1's WiMAX?


That's because WiMAX comes in a few different frequencies, from 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, and 5GHz (WiFi uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz). P1 is using 2.3GHz while Centrino 2 uses 2.5GHz. This is simply because 2.3GHz hardware is cheaper so places like Asia will use more of 2.3GHz while 2.5GHz is used in places like the United States. Hence why if you want mobile WiMAX you have to buy P1's WIGGY USB mobile WiMAX modem, which runs at 2.3GHz to match P1's WiMAX. So much for making connectivity simple by Intel. Thanks to Green Packet, you have to invest more.

However, does this make WiMAX a better service compared to other options in the country?


First of all, WiMAX is not meant to replace the main broadband service in the country, which is TM's Streamyx landed line. It's only meant to cover places where Streamyx isn't offered, but considering P1 mostly covers the Klang Valley, which is already well connected, the point is moot. So it's more if you don't have a need for a phone line because you rely on a mobile phone.


To add salt to injury, the CEO of P1 is Michael Lai, who was the ex-CEO of TM. He created a 'scene' at the Carcosa Seri Negara during a TM Press Conference back when he was the CEO, when he was questioned by the media as to why TM was introducing a new RM77 per month unlimited wired broadband Streamyx package when existing customers were paying RM88. His excuse was "Well, it's like going to a Hypermarket like Carrefour. Today the chicken costs this much. Tomorrow you go and the chicken costs less. That's the way things are."

It doesn't take a genius to notice that there's a very stark difference between the price of produce at a supermarket and a monthly service charge from a provider. TM was effectively punishing its loyal customers while rewarding new users. The answer by the CEO was an insult.

This pattern of punishment was repeated in P1 when the service was launched, P1 promised an unlimited package, but has recently changed this service to a limit with a quota. In addition, there have been complaints in the newspapers of customers getting slower speeds than claimed.


WiMAX cannot and will not triumph Streamyx because in tropical countries like Malaysia with heavy thunderstorms and rain, wireless services don't work well - just see your satellite TV service ASTRO (which scrambles transmission during heavy rain). Speaking of ASTRO, are you aware there once was a plan to offer Internet access via ASTRO? Just like how in the US there's Cable access. Look at the back of your ASTRO STB (Set-Top Box). See that network/modem port?

Of course, if we had Cable Internet, that would mean a rival for TM hence why this project never took off. Also, look at past wireless services from Time's Webbit (now defunct) to learn something about history. In summary, TM monopolises the telecommunication system in the country so they won't let anyone take over.


Last but not least, TM is a GLC (Government-Linked Company), with over 42% share and Khazanah Nasional Berhad holding 41% (RM1.4billion). As Khazanah is owned by the Finance Minister, who coincidentaly is also the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mohd. Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, anyone who knows about Malaysian Politics will understand this monopoly won't be toppled anytime soon. Moral of the story? Change 2013.

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