What is law? A rule? Something everyone must follow? Why are they everywhere? What about those who don't abide? Worse yet, what about the fact that the people that make the laws don't wanna follow them themselves... Why must I even bother writing about it? Those who read this will probably have the same idea, while those who need to read it, probably still don't know what the internet is... Complacency is the single most important thing responsible for holding this shambles of a place back from true development. That's my view anyway... Random thoughts occur as I write every word...
How many of you would enjoy the slaughter of another, for committing a wrongdoing only you would understand? If there ever was a situation where the law couldn't see you, or trace you in any friggin way, would you go ahead, and rip the spine outta an unworthy human being just to see if you could actually do it with your bare hands... Would you test your might against all odds..?
Pain is superficial.. Sum people have borne with it since the day they began to exist, while other luckier souls cringe at the it's mere mention. Neither is weaker than the other, unless by choice.. Pain from a severed limb is so very different from that of a broken heart... Yet different is one from a bleeding heart.. One that's not yet broken, but's been cracked all over; oozing out the love that it contained, or rather, still contains; trying ever so hard to hold onto every last drop, in a cache that it can be barely contained in. There's more where that came from, but people who come and go, only get a few drops... The ocean capable is dripping away, drop by goddamn drop... Yet, it's unending, as hope keeps pumping, pumping new life into veins that want to not exist anymore, only driven by one thought and one thought alone. That which isn't had, isn't lost either.. Or so it may seem...
They say time and tide wait for none. Some thoughts so powerful, may make it seem like they have been successful at the seemingly impossible... And then the very next instant, it all fades again, not making you regret trying, but making you wish you never tried so hard... But then hope, that forsaken lovechild of desire, love, need and commitment surfaces again, only to give strength for one more try; even if it's not when you really need it.. The strife continues everyday, waiting, wanting, with such strong desire that it even feels real. When imagination as powerful as this, works upon these factors, illusions take surprisingly strong forms. Where is the real world? Are we living in it? Or we just a part of someone else's nightmare? One ends, while another begins. The worst part is the dreamer may choose the same cast for his ghastly creation yet again...
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Character
No, I'm not talking about people, because as we all know, almost all have lost theirs' a good while ago... I'm talking about cars; not bikes - which seem to only get better, apart from the ones who would have a vintage look suit them better; cars that we drive today. Apart from the really expensive, exclusive ones, it's all a jungle of color out there. Most car companies have identical looking models - the Honda Civic started the single-toothed smile trend that passed on to the Jazz, the Hyundai i10, i20, i30 and so forth, the new Ford Fiesta internationally, and the Ikon in India. Side profile wise, the Indica Vista joins the list with it's petal-shaped headlamps. Sedans, too, are losing their beauty, with restricted curves. Why now?
The new "safety requirements" are to blame, obviously. The whole point being that pedestrians, when hit by a car, shouldn't burn or break their face when they fall on your hood; nevermind the broken limbs then, the safety people surely don't want you losing your good looks!
Car safety is a matter of discretion. It almost wholly depends on the class of driver. Be it a Humvee or an Alto, the risk is (near about) the same in the event of a crash. the Alto will take out a couple of people if it fails to stop on time. The Humvee will, well take out a bit more; but properties have their own insurance.. My point is, a safe driver will, in ANY car, be safe. When will the authorities responsible see the light? Thorough tests should be conducted on the person about to be licensed to drive, rather than extensive, and very expensive, crash and pedestrian safety tests on cars, that in most situations, will keep their occupants safe and sound.
Another issue brought out by a rather well-known automobile enthusiast, on an even better known automobile show, is this - big cars, or more precisely, SUVs.
Picture this - you're a parent of two little children, who by the way, mean the world to you...
Your choice of cars is (A) a Toyota Prius - practical, medium sized, basic creature comforts, very "green", sips fuel like a lazy old man sips his tea, and doesn't cost the earth (or so they say..);
and (B) a BMW X5 3.0 Diesel - large, comfortable, well-built and almost as economical as C-segment car when not driven with a lead foot..
Which would you pick when the safety of your prides and joys is at stake... Forget the X5, I'd pick the Humvee...
That was off-topic, I know, but now back to what I wanted to say... What defines a car? What sets it apart from the rest? Why is the Audi A4 the car of choice when compared to the Honda Accord Inspire V6? They have almost identical features, power, build quality and are equally good looking in their own respects. Is it heritage? Honda and Audi both have that, so do Toyota, Mitsubishi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, other Japanese and German manufacturers, and so too, many, many others... A car need not be as exclusive as a Bugatti Veyron or a Pagani Zonda, it can be one which costs 1/100th of those, like a Mini, a Golf or even an old Mahindra 4x4. They've built a name for themselves, a reputation of icons, and all those for the simple reason of character. The companies that launched them, built them with the sole intention of sale. Even iconic marquees like Jaguar, who make cars for more than just sales, can make absolute rubbish like the S-type. What matters is, when you drive them, you can feel the car speak to you, not actual words mind you, but the way it responds with every little, almost involuntary, input that you give it. That is the precise reason I adore the TVS Apache RTR, a bike oozing with character; but, back to cars..
They needn't be the fastest, the quickest around corners or even the biggest engined. When you get behind the wheel, it should make you feel good. It should make you look forward to the drive, even if you have nowhere to go... There are many cars the can do that to you, and yes, it could be said that almost all cars are special to their owners.. That is a special bond that develops. It is what justifies us and our choices. But it's not what defines the car. You may agree or disagree, but was I wrong to talk about character? It isn't about how the car looks, or drives, or even how it makes you feel.. It's all those those things, and a whole lot more...
The new "safety requirements" are to blame, obviously. The whole point being that pedestrians, when hit by a car, shouldn't burn or break their face when they fall on your hood; nevermind the broken limbs then, the safety people surely don't want you losing your good looks!
Car safety is a matter of discretion. It almost wholly depends on the class of driver. Be it a Humvee or an Alto, the risk is (near about) the same in the event of a crash. the Alto will take out a couple of people if it fails to stop on time. The Humvee will, well take out a bit more; but properties have their own insurance.. My point is, a safe driver will, in ANY car, be safe. When will the authorities responsible see the light? Thorough tests should be conducted on the person about to be licensed to drive, rather than extensive, and very expensive, crash and pedestrian safety tests on cars, that in most situations, will keep their occupants safe and sound.
Another issue brought out by a rather well-known automobile enthusiast, on an even better known automobile show, is this - big cars, or more precisely, SUVs.
Picture this - you're a parent of two little children, who by the way, mean the world to you...
Your choice of cars is (A) a Toyota Prius - practical, medium sized, basic creature comforts, very "green", sips fuel like a lazy old man sips his tea, and doesn't cost the earth (or so they say..);
and (B) a BMW X5 3.0 Diesel - large, comfortable, well-built and almost as economical as C-segment car when not driven with a lead foot..
Which would you pick when the safety of your prides and joys is at stake... Forget the X5, I'd pick the Humvee...
That was off-topic, I know, but now back to what I wanted to say... What defines a car? What sets it apart from the rest? Why is the Audi A4 the car of choice when compared to the Honda Accord Inspire V6? They have almost identical features, power, build quality and are equally good looking in their own respects. Is it heritage? Honda and Audi both have that, so do Toyota, Mitsubishi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, other Japanese and German manufacturers, and so too, many, many others... A car need not be as exclusive as a Bugatti Veyron or a Pagani Zonda, it can be one which costs 1/100th of those, like a Mini, a Golf or even an old Mahindra 4x4. They've built a name for themselves, a reputation of icons, and all those for the simple reason of character. The companies that launched them, built them with the sole intention of sale. Even iconic marquees like Jaguar, who make cars for more than just sales, can make absolute rubbish like the S-type. What matters is, when you drive them, you can feel the car speak to you, not actual words mind you, but the way it responds with every little, almost involuntary, input that you give it. That is the precise reason I adore the TVS Apache RTR, a bike oozing with character; but, back to cars..
They needn't be the fastest, the quickest around corners or even the biggest engined. When you get behind the wheel, it should make you feel good. It should make you look forward to the drive, even if you have nowhere to go... There are many cars the can do that to you, and yes, it could be said that almost all cars are special to their owners.. That is a special bond that develops. It is what justifies us and our choices. But it's not what defines the car. You may agree or disagree, but was I wrong to talk about character? It isn't about how the car looks, or drives, or even how it makes you feel.. It's all those those things, and a whole lot more...
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Colors...
Colors are magical,
with the life they bring,
giving character to everyone and everything,
some reflect the bright,
bringing smiles to all faces;
while some portray darkness,
wiping off all happy traces..
Yet, for some, every color is special;
each may represent a moment that
people may want to cherish for years,
but some have no photographs,
but visions that fill them with tears..
To them, it may be a song, an object,
or simply a color..
One color that may represent,
everything they want their world to be..
It's deep, deeper than just a color,
it's something they would wait ages to see..
Something that justifies hope,
gives strength, when needed most..
It gives one the reason to cope,
from every goddamn pillar to post..
In times of pain, when so immense,
it can be cut with a knife..
A spark of imagination
beckons you to see the color,
the color of life..
with the life they bring,
giving character to everyone and everything,
some reflect the bright,
bringing smiles to all faces;
while some portray darkness,
wiping off all happy traces..
Yet, for some, every color is special;
each may represent a moment that
people may want to cherish for years,
but some have no photographs,
but visions that fill them with tears..
To them, it may be a song, an object,
or simply a color..
One color that may represent,
everything they want their world to be..
It's deep, deeper than just a color,
it's something they would wait ages to see..
Something that justifies hope,
gives strength, when needed most..
It gives one the reason to cope,
from every goddamn pillar to post..
In times of pain, when so immense,
it can be cut with a knife..
A spark of imagination
beckons you to see the color,
the color of life..
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sporting Authorities?
The 2008 F1 Belgian Grand Prix was an awesome race, until a few moments after it had ended.
I was, and still am, outraged at the FIA stewards' decision to demote Lewis Hamilton. Clearly, and all eyes were watching because they suspected that it would happen, Lewis cut the chicane, then backed off to let Kimi pass. One clear. Moments later, Nico Rosberg appeared out of nowhere, making both Lewis and Kimi, who were almost neck-and-neck at the time, take evasive action. Lewis took to the grass, losing out big time. Kimi got ahead of Nico, but spun after the next turn, allowing Lewis to retake the lead. In none of that had Lewis broken any rules. It was pure racing, and when Kimi slipped and went off the track, colliding with the wall, it was tragic. The last two laps of the Belgian GP had more action packed into them than almost all the GPs of 2008 so far, put together. The decision was a sham. It's taking the essence out of F1 racing, if not the racing itself.
Another point to draw attention to, is that there were three stewards involved in that decision. Not any Ferrari team members, or Kimi for that matter had a problem. Bottom-feeder Massa just happened to be in the right place at the right time, again.
And coming back to the three stewards, one of them was also involved in an incident with WRC driver Sebastien Loeb. Apparently, Loeb's "scruffy" look is not to the steward's liking, as according to him, "Loeb is a role model to so many children everywhere". Clearly, he misunderstands the concept of sport. It's not the player, but his game! How many of us would even bother about Sebastien's bloody hair, if we happened to meet him in a crowd somewhere in the middle of Europe. It's his driving that is to be appreciated, to be emulated. Not his hair or his beard! And that's happening to a lot of sportsstars in various countries. When will these incompetent authorities who don't have a sporting bone in their body realise that they're only needed to arrange venues and sort out things like performance margins and limits. They should stay as far away from the actual sporting event as they can, much less make decisions that directly affect the outcome of a sporting event.
What occurred in Belgium was disgraceful, and it only leads one to think why is it that they're after sportsstars the calibre of a Lewis Hamilton, or a Sebastien Loeb.
I was, and still am, outraged at the FIA stewards' decision to demote Lewis Hamilton. Clearly, and all eyes were watching because they suspected that it would happen, Lewis cut the chicane, then backed off to let Kimi pass. One clear. Moments later, Nico Rosberg appeared out of nowhere, making both Lewis and Kimi, who were almost neck-and-neck at the time, take evasive action. Lewis took to the grass, losing out big time. Kimi got ahead of Nico, but spun after the next turn, allowing Lewis to retake the lead. In none of that had Lewis broken any rules. It was pure racing, and when Kimi slipped and went off the track, colliding with the wall, it was tragic. The last two laps of the Belgian GP had more action packed into them than almost all the GPs of 2008 so far, put together. The decision was a sham. It's taking the essence out of F1 racing, if not the racing itself.
Another point to draw attention to, is that there were three stewards involved in that decision. Not any Ferrari team members, or Kimi for that matter had a problem. Bottom-feeder Massa just happened to be in the right place at the right time, again.
And coming back to the three stewards, one of them was also involved in an incident with WRC driver Sebastien Loeb. Apparently, Loeb's "scruffy" look is not to the steward's liking, as according to him, "Loeb is a role model to so many children everywhere". Clearly, he misunderstands the concept of sport. It's not the player, but his game! How many of us would even bother about Sebastien's bloody hair, if we happened to meet him in a crowd somewhere in the middle of Europe. It's his driving that is to be appreciated, to be emulated. Not his hair or his beard! And that's happening to a lot of sportsstars in various countries. When will these incompetent authorities who don't have a sporting bone in their body realise that they're only needed to arrange venues and sort out things like performance margins and limits. They should stay as far away from the actual sporting event as they can, much less make decisions that directly affect the outcome of a sporting event.
What occurred in Belgium was disgraceful, and it only leads one to think why is it that they're after sportsstars the calibre of a Lewis Hamilton, or a Sebastien Loeb.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Xianne - here to stay...
It's been 8 months. I like her. I adored her before I got her, then after a while, things started to happen. I wouldn't say she's high maintenance, but I have to be very careful when I go out with her. If ever, I go too fast, she puts me in my place.. I have to pick a perfect time, and that hugely depends on where I am. To truly appreciate her, crowded city roads aren't the place, it has to be some place deserted, or the highway!
20bhp! I was thrilled at the thought when I read the first reports. About a year after launch, I had her. The decision was sudden. I had Sylvia. She was always just herself, throwing tantrums at almost regular intervals, till one day the docs got it wrong. A botched inspection left her with a nagging noise, and jitters from the clutch cover. I couldn't stand it. Ten days and complete overhaul later, the problem was still there. I need to ride. I needed a bike bad. Enter 220. One test ride I got, upon convincing the blokes there after dozens of dyno rides, and that made me confirm my choice. I wanted the best out there, and she was it. The Karizma, in my opinion, is crap, more importantly, something I would never want to, or even imagine owning. The RTR160 was awesome, but a tad (ok, a lot) smaller than I would have liked. But the 220, when I looked at the spec sheet, outshone her "rivals" by a huge margin.
Two months later, I had my first ever crash. It destroyed all my notions about me being a good rider. Barely a month and a half later, another one! This one left the bike broken now, and my knee, today, is still healing from the successive assault, which it endured thankfully. I read articles on how riders encounter panic situations at times, and I consoled myself solely on those grounds. But now I realise I can be a much better, more responsible rider.
I must admit that I, on many occassions, contemplated sale. But, for some reason or another, fought the thought. Till one day, just this week, I was approached with a genuine offer. I get her out of the parking, put in the key. The guy gets on, goes off for a ride. He returns barely a minute later saying "she's not responding". I wondered what had happened? Had he broken her in the first go?? I got on, turned the key off, and on again, watched as the needle went upto 12 and back. Then thumbed the starter. Nothing, a choking sound. There were 4 bars on the fuel gauge, couldn't be... I took her back in. Turned off the kill switch. Turned the key again. Turned on the kill switch. A dry whirr of the fuel pump followed. No fuel. 8 months it never gave a false reading, yet now, it showed 4 bars when the tank was almost bone dry. Surprised, I needed to check. I took Sylvia to the nearest BP joint, filled her up with Speed and headed back. Pipe and bottle later, I turned on the kill switch. The dry whirr turned into the sound of active pumping. I thumbed the starter and she came to life again.
No sale. Period.
She's mine.
20bhp! I was thrilled at the thought when I read the first reports. About a year after launch, I had her. The decision was sudden. I had Sylvia. She was always just herself, throwing tantrums at almost regular intervals, till one day the docs got it wrong. A botched inspection left her with a nagging noise, and jitters from the clutch cover. I couldn't stand it. Ten days and complete overhaul later, the problem was still there. I need to ride. I needed a bike bad. Enter 220. One test ride I got, upon convincing the blokes there after dozens of dyno rides, and that made me confirm my choice. I wanted the best out there, and she was it. The Karizma, in my opinion, is crap, more importantly, something I would never want to, or even imagine owning. The RTR160 was awesome, but a tad (ok, a lot) smaller than I would have liked. But the 220, when I looked at the spec sheet, outshone her "rivals" by a huge margin.
Two months later, I had my first ever crash. It destroyed all my notions about me being a good rider. Barely a month and a half later, another one! This one left the bike broken now, and my knee, today, is still healing from the successive assault, which it endured thankfully. I read articles on how riders encounter panic situations at times, and I consoled myself solely on those grounds. But now I realise I can be a much better, more responsible rider.
I must admit that I, on many occassions, contemplated sale. But, for some reason or another, fought the thought. Till one day, just this week, I was approached with a genuine offer. I get her out of the parking, put in the key. The guy gets on, goes off for a ride. He returns barely a minute later saying "she's not responding". I wondered what had happened? Had he broken her in the first go?? I got on, turned the key off, and on again, watched as the needle went upto 12 and back. Then thumbed the starter. Nothing, a choking sound. There were 4 bars on the fuel gauge, couldn't be... I took her back in. Turned off the kill switch. Turned the key again. Turned on the kill switch. A dry whirr of the fuel pump followed. No fuel. 8 months it never gave a false reading, yet now, it showed 4 bars when the tank was almost bone dry. Surprised, I needed to check. I took Sylvia to the nearest BP joint, filled her up with Speed and headed back. Pipe and bottle later, I turned on the kill switch. The dry whirr turned into the sound of active pumping. I thumbed the starter and she came to life again.
No sale. Period.
She's mine.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Chips N Dip.
Looking to buy a hot new computer, but waiting for that price fall of current hot goodies? Don't wait! Go forth and buy! Those "current hot goodies" will be obsolete by the time their prices fall, just ask nVidia's GTX280, if it could speak..
A good, capable PC today will cost you anything upwards of (just) Rs. 20000. Not including a high-end graphics card (known henceforth in this post as "gfx card"), or any add-on cards for that matter! It really makes sense to opt for those "17???" offers you see in the classifieds, because if you do, you'll end up with a decent system, and, if budget permits, you can also obtain a good gfx card upwards of 6000. Just make sure the processor (CPU) is a dual-core or, if need be, a quad-core. And, for the uninitiated, "CPU" means the Central Processing Unit - a tiny chip beneath the "fan" on the inside, not the entire shebang that weighs about a tonne.
Since I've met quite a few people who want PCs, but don't know what to opt for, or fear being victims of sheer highway robbery, I've thought up a config that would fit most budgets, both new or upgrade. So here goes...
Firstly, the cabinet. The good old "dabba" is a vital pick, and choosing a bad model will leave you wanting for a lot more, but when you realise it, it'll be too late. Always pick a very spacious one, and keep upgrades in mind, especially space for an additional hard drive, gfx card or any other card. Make sure you have easily accessible USB ports up front. For a gaming PC, pick a wide cabinet, that has good cross ventilation ie. space for exhaust fans (yes, 2) at the back and vents up front for installation of an intake cooling fan (more on that later).
The power supply (SMPS) unit is a crucial part too. Make sure it is at least 400W, because almost everyone will eventually have to buy a gfx card and an additional hard drive. If you're gaming, and have SLI/Crossfire and RAIDed hard drives on the list, check the gfx card manufacturer's power requirement for the same. A 600-800W one would do for Crossfire or SLI, but 3-way SLI with newer cards requires more or less, 1100W, and that would cost well over 12000. Also check that it has a pair or three of secondary power connectors, which big gfx cards need.
Motherboard - Any gamer would swear by Asus. Overclocking and expandability options are second to none. Well, there are options out there, but way too expensive. Depending on your config, pick an AMD/nVidia/ATi chipset model for running AMD processors, or an Intel/nVidia chipset for running Intel processors. Then consider -
(1) The number and speed support of RAM slots - 4 slots supporting DDR2 at speeds of 667/800/1066/1200 is ideal.
(2) PCI-e x16 slots - for your graphics cards, and if they support SLI or Crossfire.
(3) SATA ports - hard drives and optical drives go here. Look for at least 4.
(4) IDE port - you just get 1 nowadays, but that takes 2 devices, so it's cool. And you only need it if you want to transfer your old CD/DVD burner, or have some old stuff lying around.
(5) USB ports - very important, more is better. Look for 6 rear ports + support for the 2 front ones.
(6) LAN - it's usually standard, but just make sure it's there and your not conned.
(7) Audio - onboard audio is usually good enough. 6 channel (5.1) is standard, but good boards offer 8 channel (7.1).
(8) eSATA - it's still pretty new, but if it replaces USB eventually, make sure you have a good number of those ports too..
(9) PCI-e x1 slot - there's one, but your gfx card will hide it anyway.. That's bad if you want an audio card though, cos you're gonna have to make it fit right there.
CPU - Go AMD. They're cheaper and more reliable than comparable Intel counterparts, and they don't overheat. They have an array of very affordable dual-cores, and reasonably priced triples and quads as well.. An Athlon64 X2 6000+ is a great deal. The 6400+ is good too, but it's power hungry (125W)! Quad-wise, an AMD Phenom 9750 goes head on with Intel's Q6600. Higher models like the 9850 or 9950 from AMD and the QX series from Intel will be expensive, but well worth it. Go for a triple core (AMD 8000 series) if you want more than 2 cores, but if your not willing to pay for 4.. :)
RAM - Always buy two identical units, and slot them in matching colors - this is dual channel, where they are both used simultaneously and you effectively get 2x bandwidth, which translates to 2x speed! 512MB is a strict no-no. For a 1GB setup, it's 2x512MB. But ideally, go for 2x1GB DDR2-800 units, or 4x512MB DDR2-800 units for a 2GB setup. Opt for Transcend, or if you want fancier ones, Kingston or Corsair. If you have a 64-bit operating system to match your processor, it can handle 4GB (4x1GB or 2x2GB) and 8GB (4x2GB) as well, though high speed versions (above 800) might not be available, or if yes, will be very expensive.
Hard Drives - Space - more is less! And it's Seagate. Go for a Barracuda 7200rpm 160GB SATA primary disk - for your operating system and programs. A secondary disk can be used to dump your music and games 250GB or more would be nice.. For gamers, the 10000rpm Western Digital VelociRaptor comes in 150 and 300GB capacities - ideal for RAIDing. A 500/750/1000GB Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm with a 32MB buffer would make a good secondary drive. For those on the move, but who need major capacity, opt for the Seagate FreeAgent Desktop, available in the above mentioned capacities. And if you have a money-growing tree, there's the SSD option...
Optical Drive - A 20x Super-Multi DVD burner. No compromise. It's cheap and effective. Buy 2 if you want to copy discs directly.
Additional Storage - A Transcend/Kingston pen drive in 2/4/8/16/32GB capacity. from Rs.500-8000...
Monitor - Pick one you like, an LCD is better cos it eats less power and hurts your eyes lesser too, apart from the crisp picture quality. A 17" screen size is ideal for regular home use. Gamers go for a 19" or larger screen, if your looking for high-resolution gaming. But make sure you go for a good gfx card too...
GFX card - Onboard video is pathetic. It may sound good with designations like GeForce 7 and 8, but the last 3 numbers tell the tale, 100, 200 and 300 are base models and won't remotely give you the performance you're looking for. An XFX nVidia GeForce 8600GT with 512MB of RAM is good for non-Crysis high-resolution gaming. AGEIA PhysX cards are no longer available, you have to opt for a GTX.
Audio card - Creative SoundBlaster series has been and still is the best out there. If you're really into sound editing or engineering, get a good card, it's worth the money spent. For regular users, the onboard system is good enough - provided it's giving it's output to a good set of speakers.
Speakers - 2.1 for basics, or 4.1 or higher for more involving sound. Creative, Logitech, Altec Lansing or Artis are good picks. Bose, only if you have the moolah.
Keyboard - Logitech, Microsoft or the good old TVS Gold "unbreakable". Avoid "multimedia" keyboards that offer a million functions, they'll all stop working within a month. And warranty doesn't cover much anyway.
Mouse - A Logitech or Microsoft 2 button with scroll wheel. Optical is good, but some users may experience cursor resetting. If you're looking for precision, opt for a Logitech PS/2 mouse. Gamers, a Logitech G series or Razor Lachesis with a high dpi count will be ideal.
UPS - APC or Champion 800Va should do fine. Gamers with SLI/Crossfire need to visit an electronics store and ask for a home inverter for 2 tubes + 2 fans + 2 computers + 1 AC and plug their rig into it once it arrives. No wiring necessary.
Oh, and a USB Bluetooth dongle is a handy add-on too..
Cooling (no, I didn't forget) is very essential. Make sure you have an intake fan mounted at the front of the cabinet, and an exhaust fan, mounted in line with the CPU cooling fan. If you have a gfx card, a second exhaust fan should be fixed in line with the gfx card's fan or heatsink. Fatal1ty gfx card owners should religiously follow this.
A liquid cooling system for CPU and GPU, and also for RAM is good, if you're gonna be gaming for long stints..
For reviews, check out Tom's Hardware or Guru3D.
NewEgg offers good listings and reviews, and helps if you wanna cross check prices.
So there, a normal to extreme config.. Well, hope it's been of some help.. :)
* The opinions expressed are solely that of the author. It's my blog, I'll say wtf I want!
A good, capable PC today will cost you anything upwards of (just) Rs. 20000. Not including a high-end graphics card (known henceforth in this post as "gfx card"), or any add-on cards for that matter! It really makes sense to opt for those "17???" offers you see in the classifieds, because if you do, you'll end up with a decent system, and, if budget permits, you can also obtain a good gfx card upwards of 6000. Just make sure the processor (CPU) is a dual-core or, if need be, a quad-core. And, for the uninitiated, "CPU" means the Central Processing Unit - a tiny chip beneath the "fan" on the inside, not the entire shebang that weighs about a tonne.
Since I've met quite a few people who want PCs, but don't know what to opt for, or fear being victims of sheer highway robbery, I've thought up a config that would fit most budgets, both new or upgrade. So here goes...
Firstly, the cabinet. The good old "dabba" is a vital pick, and choosing a bad model will leave you wanting for a lot more, but when you realise it, it'll be too late. Always pick a very spacious one, and keep upgrades in mind, especially space for an additional hard drive, gfx card or any other card. Make sure you have easily accessible USB ports up front. For a gaming PC, pick a wide cabinet, that has good cross ventilation ie. space for exhaust fans (yes, 2) at the back and vents up front for installation of an intake cooling fan (more on that later).
The power supply (SMPS) unit is a crucial part too. Make sure it is at least 400W, because almost everyone will eventually have to buy a gfx card and an additional hard drive. If you're gaming, and have SLI/Crossfire and RAIDed hard drives on the list, check the gfx card manufacturer's power requirement for the same. A 600-800W one would do for Crossfire or SLI, but 3-way SLI with newer cards requires more or less, 1100W, and that would cost well over 12000. Also check that it has a pair or three of secondary power connectors, which big gfx cards need.
Motherboard - Any gamer would swear by Asus. Overclocking and expandability options are second to none. Well, there are options out there, but way too expensive. Depending on your config, pick an AMD/nVidia/ATi chipset model for running AMD processors, or an Intel/nVidia chipset for running Intel processors. Then consider -
(1) The number and speed support of RAM slots - 4 slots supporting DDR2 at speeds of 667/800/1066/1200 is ideal.
(2) PCI-e x16 slots - for your graphics cards, and if they support SLI or Crossfire.
(3) SATA ports - hard drives and optical drives go here. Look for at least 4.
(4) IDE port - you just get 1 nowadays, but that takes 2 devices, so it's cool. And you only need it if you want to transfer your old CD/DVD burner, or have some old stuff lying around.
(5) USB ports - very important, more is better. Look for 6 rear ports + support for the 2 front ones.
(6) LAN - it's usually standard, but just make sure it's there and your not conned.
(7) Audio - onboard audio is usually good enough. 6 channel (5.1) is standard, but good boards offer 8 channel (7.1).
(8) eSATA - it's still pretty new, but if it replaces USB eventually, make sure you have a good number of those ports too..
(9) PCI-e x1 slot - there's one, but your gfx card will hide it anyway.. That's bad if you want an audio card though, cos you're gonna have to make it fit right there.
CPU - Go AMD. They're cheaper and more reliable than comparable Intel counterparts, and they don't overheat. They have an array of very affordable dual-cores, and reasonably priced triples and quads as well.. An Athlon64 X2 6000+ is a great deal. The 6400+ is good too, but it's power hungry (125W)! Quad-wise, an AMD Phenom 9750 goes head on with Intel's Q6600. Higher models like the 9850 or 9950 from AMD and the QX series from Intel will be expensive, but well worth it. Go for a triple core (AMD 8000 series) if you want more than 2 cores, but if your not willing to pay for 4.. :)
RAM - Always buy two identical units, and slot them in matching colors - this is dual channel, where they are both used simultaneously and you effectively get 2x bandwidth, which translates to 2x speed! 512MB is a strict no-no. For a 1GB setup, it's 2x512MB. But ideally, go for 2x1GB DDR2-800 units, or 4x512MB DDR2-800 units for a 2GB setup. Opt for Transcend, or if you want fancier ones, Kingston or Corsair. If you have a 64-bit operating system to match your processor, it can handle 4GB (4x1GB or 2x2GB) and 8GB (4x2GB) as well, though high speed versions (above 800) might not be available, or if yes, will be very expensive.
Hard Drives - Space - more is less! And it's Seagate. Go for a Barracuda 7200rpm 160GB SATA primary disk - for your operating system and programs. A secondary disk can be used to dump your music and games 250GB or more would be nice.. For gamers, the 10000rpm Western Digital VelociRaptor comes in 150 and 300GB capacities - ideal for RAIDing. A 500/750/1000GB Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm with a 32MB buffer would make a good secondary drive. For those on the move, but who need major capacity, opt for the Seagate FreeAgent Desktop, available in the above mentioned capacities. And if you have a money-growing tree, there's the SSD option...
Optical Drive - A 20x Super-Multi DVD burner. No compromise. It's cheap and effective. Buy 2 if you want to copy discs directly.
Additional Storage - A Transcend/Kingston pen drive in 2/4/8/16/32GB capacity. from Rs.500-8000...
Monitor - Pick one you like, an LCD is better cos it eats less power and hurts your eyes lesser too, apart from the crisp picture quality. A 17" screen size is ideal for regular home use. Gamers go for a 19" or larger screen, if your looking for high-resolution gaming. But make sure you go for a good gfx card too...
GFX card - Onboard video is pathetic. It may sound good with designations like GeForce 7 and 8, but the last 3 numbers tell the tale, 100, 200 and 300 are base models and won't remotely give you the performance you're looking for. An XFX nVidia GeForce 8600GT with 512MB of RAM is good for non-Crysis high-resolution gaming. AGEIA PhysX cards are no longer available, you have to opt for a GTX.
Audio card - Creative SoundBlaster series has been and still is the best out there. If you're really into sound editing or engineering, get a good card, it's worth the money spent. For regular users, the onboard system is good enough - provided it's giving it's output to a good set of speakers.
Speakers - 2.1 for basics, or 4.1 or higher for more involving sound. Creative, Logitech, Altec Lansing or Artis are good picks. Bose, only if you have the moolah.
Keyboard - Logitech, Microsoft or the good old TVS Gold "unbreakable". Avoid "multimedia" keyboards that offer a million functions, they'll all stop working within a month. And warranty doesn't cover much anyway.
Mouse - A Logitech or Microsoft 2 button with scroll wheel. Optical is good, but some users may experience cursor resetting. If you're looking for precision, opt for a Logitech PS/2 mouse. Gamers, a Logitech G series or Razor Lachesis with a high dpi count will be ideal.
UPS - APC or Champion 800Va should do fine. Gamers with SLI/Crossfire need to visit an electronics store and ask for a home inverter for 2 tubes + 2 fans + 2 computers + 1 AC and plug their rig into it once it arrives. No wiring necessary.
Oh, and a USB Bluetooth dongle is a handy add-on too..
Cooling (no, I didn't forget) is very essential. Make sure you have an intake fan mounted at the front of the cabinet, and an exhaust fan, mounted in line with the CPU cooling fan. If you have a gfx card, a second exhaust fan should be fixed in line with the gfx card's fan or heatsink. Fatal1ty gfx card owners should religiously follow this.
A liquid cooling system for CPU and GPU, and also for RAM is good, if you're gonna be gaming for long stints..
For reviews, check out Tom's Hardware or Guru3D.
NewEgg offers good listings and reviews, and helps if you wanna cross check prices.
So there, a normal to extreme config.. Well, hope it's been of some help.. :)
* The opinions expressed are solely that of the author. It's my blog, I'll say wtf I want!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
To be or not to be, green...
Hybrids. The new buzzword that's suddenly taken everyone by storm because of the impending fuel price disaster. However, is it the solution? Do Honda, Toyota and GM, among many others have a solution with their mated electric petrols, or are the Germans, with their intensive diesels, leading the way in the actual right direction?
Not many know that diesel is indeed a lot better petrol. Various noted reviewers, and enthusiast auto magazine editors will now swear by them. Everyone hated it. Yes, they all said, "Diesel engines, they should be in trucks and tractors and stay there! Why disease our passenger cars?" But they all ate their words after taking different examples for a drive. Diesel engines, with "common-rail" technology, uses much higher injection pressures than Rudolf's original creation, by far! Some people are unaware of CRDi even today, and refuse to accept it's superiorities over petrol. Yes, petrol had the horsepower advantage, but was left miles behind by the torque ratings...
Enter generation 3 common-rail. These 3rd gen common rails have destroyed petrols entirely - in terms of power, torque, fuel economy, and even acceleration and top speed! Petrol's only saving grace today is their level of refinement and engine clatter, diesel's inherent and only drawback. But, looking at where BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have reached with their diesels, it's truly an eye-opener. A petrol will have about a tenth of it's torque rating (in Nm) of it's displacement (in cc) - a 3.0L petrol will have, on an average, 240bhp and 300Nm of torque. A 3rd gen 3.0L CRDi on the other hand, will have about the same power, but more or less 500Nm of torque! There are also blown versions which have power outputs of 285+ bhp and 580+ Nm, from a "measly 3000cc"! Yes, I know what you're thinking, put two turbos on a 3.0 petrol and it'd make 6 million horsepower too, but then it boils down to economy! The turbo petrol's brimmed fuel tank would last you only till you got the damn thing out of the garage and around the first bend down your neighborhood. The diesel would still deliver about 12 kilometres to the litre.
Another commendable effort, which I'd like to bring to the fore, is Mercedes-Benz' bio-diesel endeavor. Thy've been at it for a few years at their plant on Pune's outskirts, and their "C220 BDI" as I like to call it, is definitely IMO the way forward. Yes, it doesn't quite give the same range as diesel, or the power output, but when it costs half as much, does that minor difference in power and torque matter at all?
Which brings me to electrics. A lot of top journos have spoken about this issue. The Honda Civic Hybrid, the GM Volt et all. The batteries that are used to power these things are made of extremely complex materials, which have to be sourced from various locations worldwide. The mines, for some materials, are major pollution causers in the first place, so in actual fact, the pollution caused in making the batteries, is far more than the emission savings from the actual car, years after it has been used! Yet, somehow, petrol-electric hybrids seem to be the path chosen by most manufacturers pursuing hybrids. My question is, why not a 1.0L twin-turbo 3 cylinder diesel, coupled to a smaller, less complicated electric system that would still output about 80bhp and bucketloads of torque, and still deliver in the region of 50 or more kilometres to the litre, genuinely!
It's not that diesels are unclean or noisy or polluting anymore. They're not. Period. We need to get rid of the old carbon-belching IDi and Di engined models and make way for common-rail ones, to truly see the difference. A very good example is Audi's R8 V12 TDi supercar. It is directly derived from their LeMans dominating R10 TDi that has destroyed, mutilated and humiliated it's petrol competitors, from the very first time it showed up. Many years and consecutive victories later, it's still hammering on. Well, back to the R8. This road car has a 5934cc, twin-turbo charged V12. It makes 500bhp (507PS) and 1000Nm (102kgm). It propels the car from 0-60mph (0-96.5kph) in under 5 seconds, and goes on to post a top whack of over 200mph (321.86kph), all while still delivering 9 kilometres per litre!
That, the R8 V12 TDi, the world's first diesel-powered supercar, is my way of saying, "I REST MY CASE!"
Hail diesel! \m/
Not many know that diesel is indeed a lot better petrol. Various noted reviewers, and enthusiast auto magazine editors will now swear by them. Everyone hated it. Yes, they all said, "Diesel engines, they should be in trucks and tractors and stay there! Why disease our passenger cars?" But they all ate their words after taking different examples for a drive. Diesel engines, with "common-rail" technology, uses much higher injection pressures than Rudolf's original creation, by far! Some people are unaware of CRDi even today, and refuse to accept it's superiorities over petrol. Yes, petrol had the horsepower advantage, but was left miles behind by the torque ratings...
Enter generation 3 common-rail. These 3rd gen common rails have destroyed petrols entirely - in terms of power, torque, fuel economy, and even acceleration and top speed! Petrol's only saving grace today is their level of refinement and engine clatter, diesel's inherent and only drawback. But, looking at where BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have reached with their diesels, it's truly an eye-opener. A petrol will have about a tenth of it's torque rating (in Nm) of it's displacement (in cc) - a 3.0L petrol will have, on an average, 240bhp and 300Nm of torque. A 3rd gen 3.0L CRDi on the other hand, will have about the same power, but more or less 500Nm of torque! There are also blown versions which have power outputs of 285+ bhp and 580+ Nm, from a "measly 3000cc"! Yes, I know what you're thinking, put two turbos on a 3.0 petrol and it'd make 6 million horsepower too, but then it boils down to economy! The turbo petrol's brimmed fuel tank would last you only till you got the damn thing out of the garage and around the first bend down your neighborhood. The diesel would still deliver about 12 kilometres to the litre.
Another commendable effort, which I'd like to bring to the fore, is Mercedes-Benz' bio-diesel endeavor. Thy've been at it for a few years at their plant on Pune's outskirts, and their "C220 BDI" as I like to call it, is definitely IMO the way forward. Yes, it doesn't quite give the same range as diesel, or the power output, but when it costs half as much, does that minor difference in power and torque matter at all?
Which brings me to electrics. A lot of top journos have spoken about this issue. The Honda Civic Hybrid, the GM Volt et all. The batteries that are used to power these things are made of extremely complex materials, which have to be sourced from various locations worldwide. The mines, for some materials, are major pollution causers in the first place, so in actual fact, the pollution caused in making the batteries, is far more than the emission savings from the actual car, years after it has been used! Yet, somehow, petrol-electric hybrids seem to be the path chosen by most manufacturers pursuing hybrids. My question is, why not a 1.0L twin-turbo 3 cylinder diesel, coupled to a smaller, less complicated electric system that would still output about 80bhp and bucketloads of torque, and still deliver in the region of 50 or more kilometres to the litre, genuinely!
It's not that diesels are unclean or noisy or polluting anymore. They're not. Period. We need to get rid of the old carbon-belching IDi and Di engined models and make way for common-rail ones, to truly see the difference. A very good example is Audi's R8 V12 TDi supercar. It is directly derived from their LeMans dominating R10 TDi that has destroyed, mutilated and humiliated it's petrol competitors, from the very first time it showed up. Many years and consecutive victories later, it's still hammering on. Well, back to the R8. This road car has a 5934cc, twin-turbo charged V12. It makes 500bhp (507PS) and 1000Nm (102kgm). It propels the car from 0-60mph (0-96.5kph) in under 5 seconds, and goes on to post a top whack of over 200mph (321.86kph), all while still delivering 9 kilometres per litre!
That, the R8 V12 TDi, the world's first diesel-powered supercar, is my way of saying, "I REST MY CASE!"
Hail diesel! \m/
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