Recent Upgrade (AMD Dragon Platform)

Finally, can’t resist anymore.

Last 2 years, I spend approximately RM1k for low cost pc upgrade, to upgrade my very old (2003 pc). The upgrade detail as below :

• AMD Athlon 2500+ (always OC to 3200+)  –> Pentium Dual Core 1.8 GHz
• 2×256 MB Corsair TwinX DDR400 –> Kingston Value RAM DDRII 667 2×1GB (max slot occupied)
• Abit NF2 Ultra mobo –> Gigabyte 945 mobo.
• GeCube ATI Radeon 9600XT –>XFX 8600GT
• Acbel 350W PSU –> iCute 450W PSU (have to buy this since new mobo got 4pin atx socket..damn)
• Cost : RM270+150+190+500+90 = RM1200

My ‘new’ audio experience with X-fi AudioCreationMode

Recently I replaced my Vista with Windows Seven build 7077 and pretty happy with it except on how my SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum output. Yeah, I know this is not seven fault but more on creative buggy beta driver.

So, in order to listen my mp3 collection as they was in their prime time, I installed WinXP in my other hard disk and update its driver as usual. I was amazed how good my mp3 sound in xp compare to seven lol but what I am going to share today is not related to xp or normal entertainment mode in x-fi but X-Fi Audio Creation Mode + Clock setting + Bit Match setting + Foobar with Noise Sharpening DSP.

I found out that, my music (mp3) sound much waaaaaaaaaayyyy better in audio creation mode when :

• Clock = 96 kHz
• Bit Match = ON
• and….Foobar + Noise Sharpener

The music sound clearer (voice), warmer and more vivid (instrument). I compared with Entertainment mode (with or without crystalizer) and I notice that some of the instruments that I never heard in Entertainment Mode clearly highlighted in Audio Creation Mode (96 kHz and BitMatch activated).

But, the drawback of BitMatch activated is there are no equalizer and crystalizer. So, I compensate this one with Foobar Noise sharpener plugin and equilizer dsp plugin.

Result : Hours of smile and amazement. (never thought that my mp3 could sound this way).

For those who has X-Fi sound card, you may try to play your music collection from Audion Creation mode and experiment yourself.

Link for Foobar : HERE

Link for Noise Sharpener : HERE

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Instruction on how to use Foobar Noise Sharpener.

1. Extract the zip file
2. Copy foo_dsp_delta.dll and paste it in C:\Program Files\foobar2000\components
3. Open Foobar2000 => File => Preference => Playback => DSP Manager and put “Noise Sharpening” on the Active DSP list. Make sure its at the top.
4. On Noise Sharpening settings, slide the bar to 50-125%. (Whatever sounds reasonable, I personally use 75 percent)
5. Play any audio file and notice the increased clarity. Activate it and deactivate it while its playing over and over to see the difference.

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To enjoy the power of x-fi ASIO, download ASIO (for x-fi) plug-in and copy/paste it into foobar component folder.

After that, from Preference –> Playback –> Output (set to either 24bit or 32 bit) and at ASIO virtual device, click Add (Creative ASIO).

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Additional Reading :

http://www.overclock.net/sound-cards-computer-audio/226541-guide-setting-up-z5500-x-fi.html

How to setup foobar theme : http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t576549.html

Another good setup : http://www.overclock.net/3202137-post9.html

ATI Radeon 4850 Best Performance per Buck

Last year, around November 2007, I decide to do major upgrade for my ancient PC which use Athlon XP 2500+, 512 MB Rams and ATI Radeon 9600XT. I bought Core 2 Duo, 2 GB Rams and GeForce 8600GTS. However, I merely dissapoint when my new PC (at that moment) can’t play latest game at highest setting @ 1440×900 resoultion. Even Need For Speed Prostreet can’t be maxed out. I was about…wtf. RM700 for GeForce 8600 GTS still not enough to run 2007 games at maximum setting..duh.

I stilll remember, when I bought ATI Radeon 9600XT (RM700 too), I can play all games (at that time) at maximum setting. I used to think that middle end 3D card will do fine for current games but they are not future proof, but 8600 GTS make me felt wasted.

ATI Radeon 4850 with Zalan Fan (Copper + Aluminium HS)

 

Last month, I decide to buy ATI Radeon 4850 (Gigabyte with Zalman HSF) @ RM 575.00 only. A solid RM125.00 cheaper than my normal budget for 3D card. However, this card seriously make me smile all day long (even now actually). I can play any games (Crysis, FarCry2, Undercover, Grid etc etc….simply said…all games that I can throw to it) with maximum setting at 1440×900 resoultion. No problem at all. I still amaze how good this sub RM600 card could do and now I really appreciate DX10 and Games for Windows logo.

So, if you have RM500-600 to be spend on graphics card, look no more. ATI Radeon 4850 could be your best bet. I could say, it pawn GeForce 9800 GTX with ease. However, GeForce 9800 GTX+ could beat 4850 at certain games but GTX+ price already above RM750 for most brand.

I notice that, ATI Radeon perform very well in games which heavily utilize pixel shader (water effect for exampel) but GeForce card perform really good in heavy texture games. For example, most benchmark show 4850 could beat 9800 GTX+ in Crysis but 9800 GTX+ beat 4850 in Unreal Tournament 3. 

Even though, with my old C2D processor and rather slow DDR2800 RAMs, I still able to play UT3 at maximum setting and maximum resolution for my 19 inch LCD monitor with ease.

Note : Some forumers complain that their 4850 could become really hot, touching 70 degree celcius. However, my Gigabyte Radeon 4850 with Zalman Fan, idle temperature normally 52 degree and barely touch 60 degree (heavy load). 

I kinda love the supplied Gamers HUD which allow me to turbo boost (it actually 10% frequency overclock) with a touch of button. Under light load, it will automatically trigger 2D mode which will lower GPU running freq, thus consume less energy resulting less heat. Pretty nice for average consumer. (ATI also provide OverDrive function in their driver to manually overclock this card).

Drawback : Zalman fan a little bit noisy for certain people. With my previous 8600GTS, I can’t hear any fan noise when my PC turn on. In fact, I need to check PowerON LED to ensure my PC is switch ON of OFF. But now, with 4850 with Zalman Fan inside my LianLi Alu casing, I could hear its noise and need no more to stare that red powerON LED

Final Word : I am not willing to do and publish a number of benchmark result as you could fine those result in trizillion of pages on Google. However, as my personal experience, I seriously satisfy with my purchase on this card. I have hard time to choose either 4670, 9600GT, 4830, 9800GTX, 4850 or 9800GTX+. I did a lot of homework for this purchase (as I don’t have tonne of cash to spend for a 3d card anually) and I found it worth every single cent. 4670 will cost around RM350 but the performance is somewhere 60% of 4850. Even 9600GT could pawn it. 4830 price is somewhere RM100 cheaper than 4850 but the performance penalty is more than that. 9800GTX+ at certain gain beat 4850 roughly at 10% but, the price different doesn’t justify…so in the end, I bought 4850.

Driver Compaq V3614AU for Windows Vista x64

Name

nvidia nForce chipset.exe

VGA.exe

Quicklaunch button.exe

Touchpad.exe

Fingerprint.exe

card reader.exe

tvtunner.exe

modem.exe

wireless lan.exe

bluetooth.exe

bios winflasher.exe

Online Help.exe

Compaq Vista Update.exe

HP Software Update.exe

HP Quickplay Web Update.exe

HP Quicklaunch security update.exe

Lighscribe Host Software.exe

QuickTouch Software.exe

Update for recovery manager.exe

Software Update.exe

Active Support Library.exe

symantec config wizard update.exe

fingerprint reader demo.exe

Nokia Secret Code

On the main screen type

*#06# for checking the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity).

*#7780# reset to factory settings.

*#67705646# This will clear the LCD display(operator logo).

*#0000# To view software version.

How to Share Izzi (USB) with other PC

I am using Izzi You (the USB one), and I have other PC and notebook in my house. But because this modem use USB interface, I can’t share my broadband directly. So what I need is Windows Internet Sharing and a network card (NIC). Both Windows XP and Vista has ICS and I bet almost all notebook and mobo nowadays has network adapter.

I am going to share my izzi broadband with my other PC using direct connection (cross cable). Let assume :

• PC 1 = PC with internet connection
• PC 2 = PC without internet connection
• Objective : To share PC1 internet connection (izzi broadband) with PC2 using direct Ethernet connection (2 network adapter and 1 cross UTB Cat5e cable).

PC 1 :

Click on Properties

How to Bypass BIOS Password

What happens if you have forgotten your BIOS password ? You can’t boot your laptop computer !

You can send it to the manufacturer to have the BIOS reset (but this can be expensive and not covered in warranty) or use a BIOS backdoor password

Before you begin typing in passwords read your manufacturers documentation for the BIOS setting. Some BIOS configurations will lock the system completely if you type in an incorrect password more than 3 times.

Award BIOS backdoor passwords
589589 589721 595595 598598 1322222 _award ALFAROME ALLy aLLy aLLY ALLY aPAf AWARD PW AWARD SW AWARD?SW AWARD_SW AWKWARD awkward BIOSTAR CONCAT CONDO Condo d8on djonet HLT J256 J262 j322 j332 J64 KDD Lkwpeter LKWPETER PINT pint SER SKY_FOX SYXZ syxz TTPTHA ZAAADA ZBAAACA ZJAAADC

How to Slipstream and Custom Build Vista

Okay, here is the scenario. I have a copy of Windows Vista 32 bit Ultimate Edition, without Service Pack 1. So, whenever I format my PC (assuming I do not use image backup software), I need to install Vista from this DVD and apply SP1 manually which both activity will cost me almost 2 hours. Furthermore, I feel Vista Ultimate a little bit bloated. So, I was thinking, what if I remove some of un-necessary features, which rarely or never use at all. I could save some hard disk space and make my registry more compact, which translate to better performance.

Requirement :

• Vista DVD
• vLite 1.2 RC or later (free software). Get it here : http://www.vlite.net/download.html
• Windows AIK (free from microsoft). Get it here : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C7D4BC6D-15F3-4284-9123-679830D629F2&displaylang=en
• Vista Service Pack 1 : Get it Here : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=B0C7136D-5EBB-413B-89C9-CB3D06D12674&displaylang=en

Step :

• Put Vista DVD in your DVD drive or mount vista iso image using your favourite iso mounter (such as Daemon Tool Lite : HERE)
• Install vLite as usual
• Install Windows AIK
  • Method 1 : Burn Windows AIK image into DVD+R using your favourite software) or
  • Method 2 : Mount Windows AIK image using your favourite ISO or IMG mounter (such as Daemon Tool Lite)
• Run vLite

• Click on browse button, and choose your DVD drive which contain your Vista installation disc. In my case, my vista installation disc located at drive J. Then click OK.

Choose appropriete drive then click OK

Click OK

Create a new folder in any of your hard disk partition (which has more than 4 GB free space). I create mine and name it as vLite Output

vLite is copying my Vista Installation disc.

Choose your Vista version. Since my vista is ultimate edition, I choose this one.

If everything goes fine, your vLite should show something like this.

Click on Task Button

Service Pack Slipstream Checked. I want to integrate Service Pack 1 (which I download before from microsoft website).

Integration Checked. Reason : I seriously lazy to install my video, motherboard, sound, lan, mouse drivers one by one. Even if vista installation disk can’t detect certain hardware while installation process is running, those drivers will be saved in driver cache / pool. So, when I plug that device, windows will recognize it and install it automatically. Pretty handy heh.

Components Checked. Reason : As I said before, I feel Vista Ultimate a little bit bloated. I want to remove certain application or programs which I rarely or never use at all.

Tweaks Checked. Reason : A little bit tweak here and there should be OK. Everybody love super smooth OS ‘aight.

Unattended Setup checked. Reason : I love ‘controlled’ automatic. With this feature activated, you provide all required installation details, so Vista installation process will never bug you. Run it, get some coffee and snack… several minutes later…your vista installation completed. Sweet.

Bootable ISO Checked. This is a must. It allow your freshly bake Vista disc to be bootable when you start your computer from DVD drive.

Enable before apply Checked. Reason : This option allow me to access it without applying any change to this ISO image. Optional.

Click on Slipstream button

This is Slipstream Windows. Click on Select button, to choose your predownload Vista SP1 file.

Here is my Vista SP1. Select it and click Open button.

vLite is doing its job. Give it some time to crunch those datas and integrate ‘em into Vista installation disc. It is advisable to disable your anti-virus to speed up the process. But if you are paranoia enough, you can keep your antivirus on. Go grap a cup of coffee or soda unless you are geek enough to watch installation bar to move at snail speed

Phew, after close to 1 hour, this dude finally finish integrate SP1 into vista installation disc.

Click on Integration. I don’t have any hotfix in my hand currently, so I will skip that one. Click on Drivers instead.

Enable it. Press insert button.

Browse to your driver directory. In this case, I choose Razer Death Adder driver (inf)

Click Components.

Note : Check to REMOVE .

This is the list of components I remove. Please note that my list should not be used as your personal list because I remove something that I don’t want but might usefull to others, and vice versa.

Press Next.

vLite will check componnent dependency. In case of I screw up, and mess up with vista dependecy, vLite will inform me.

Choose Yes instead

Security, Explorer, IE and Services remain default. When finish, press Next

This is for unattended setup. I prefer to skip product key for security concern here. You should put your product key

Choose Specify and change the value if necessary. Press next when you done with it.

I choose to create image (in iso mode) instead of burn it directly into DVD+R. Reason : to save my DVD+R, in case of I screw up my Vista Lite . I can always test this vista lite using VMWare or Virtual PC first. If you want to directly burn into DVD+R, change Create Image to Direct Burn and specify your burner as below.

Then presss ‘Make ISO’ if you choose to Create Image or ‘Burn’ button if you decide to burn it directly.

Since i choose to burn image, vLite will ask me, where should it create this image file. I choose to create it here. Press Save.

Image creation in progress…..

Complete. You may press Exit button here.

So, at this stage, we already have our custom vista installation disc, waiting to be evaluate or burn into any DVDR. According to vLite, I already save almost 4 GB of hdd space.

credit : expertester

Everything you wanna know about laptop battery

I found a very interesting website related to battery…not limited to laptop aka notebook battery only. Most of the articles there grab my attention, so instead of summurize them, it is better for me to direct linking their articles.

Table of Content :

How to prolong your notebook battery life

Battery research is focusing heavily on lithium chemistries, so much so that one could presume that all portable devices will be powered with lithium-ion batteries in the future. In many ways, lithium-ion is superior to nickel and lead-based chemistries and the applications for lithium-ion batteries are growing as a result.

Lithium-ion has not yet fully matured and is being improved continuously. New metal and chemical combinations are being tried every six months to increase energy density and prolong service life. The improvements in longevity after each change will not be known for a few years.

X-Fi + Vista Start Kickin’

Recently, Creative release latest driver for their SoundBlaster X-Fi for Vista and Windows XP.

http://support.creative.com/Products/Products.aspx?catid=1&catName=Sound+Blaster

Surprisingly, these new drivers really kicking. I mean it.

Previously, I curse Windows Vista because it make my SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum seem overprice. Lack of punch and treble. However, after update my x-fi soundcard with this latest driver, immediately I could tell the different.

How to remove Ubuntu Boot Loader : XP and Vista

In case of you screw up your linux and wanna get rid Ubuntu Linux boot loader…. here is the remedy

Windows XP:

• Set your BIOS to boot from CD or DVD drive
• Put your Windows XP installation disc into your CD or DVD drive
• Boot up your computer and start from CD
• With your Windows CD. When asked, choose “repair” and launch fixmbr. This command replaces GRUB with Windows bootloader.
• Reboot again and you have done.

Windows Vista :

• Set your BIOS to boot from CD or DVD drive
• Put your Windows Vista installation disc into your CD or DVD drive

AHCI vs IDE – Benchmark & Advantage

Recently, more and more user start to notice (note : not enthausiast) their main board or notebook has AHCI, instead of IDE (or legacy IDE). Most of us already aware what is IDE but what the heck is AHCI? What advantage could be gain from AHCI? Is AHCI is future thing of good old IDE interface. Will it slow down my system? Will it conflict my system?

What is AHCI ?

AHCI stand for Advance Host Controller Interface. AHCI is a hardware mechanism that allows software to communicate with Serial ATA (SATA) devices (such as host bus adapters) that are designed to offer features not offered by Parallel ATA (PATA) controllers, such as hot-plugging and native command queuing (NCQ). The specification details a system memory structure for computer hardware vendors in order to transfer data between system memory and the device.

Acer Empowering Technology for Aspire 4530

Happy to report here, Aspire 4530 user who can’t wait any longer to install e-Power Technology for their Aspire 4530, you can install Aspire 4520 E-Power Technology without any problem.

URL for e-Power : http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/notebook/as_4520.html

You need to download “AcerEFM Acer Empowering Framework” and install it first to enable e-Powering to work.

Note : My big green e button (top left of my keyboard) seem not working yet…but overall, everything work fine.

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What is Empowering Technology?

Empowering Technology is designed to make operating your computer easier than ever. It provides a simple-to-use interface and versatile configurations to help you efficiently complete everyday computing tasks.

Want to know more?

Link : http://support.acer-euro.com/empowering_technology/nbutility.html

Acer Aspire 4530 (update : 8 Aug 08)

Acer Aspire 4530 is my third notebook, which I review / commented in this blog. The first one is Acer 4520 (AMD Turion x2) which you can read here and the second one is Lenovo Y410 (Core 2 Duo) which you can read here.

For the record, all three notebooks, I bought and setup it using Windows Vista Ultimate with latest driver available, properly restart and defrag all of them before benchmark it using Windows Vista Experience Index. So, roughly, what I am going to write here is my short experience with my new laptop, and how good or bad it is compare to the other two.