NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M and GTX 570M Announced

NVIDIA has recently announced their flagship mobile video cards - the GTX 580M and GTX 570M. These mobile graphics cards use the latest technologies such as DirectX 11, GDDR5 memory, CUDA support, PhysX support, 3DTV play and SLI support to deliver insane power to gaming laptops. Full specifications have been released.

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EVGA Introduces its New Frostbite Thermal Compound

While the folks over at EVGA have been busy providing some of the best graphics solutions on the market, they appear to be slowly creeping into the cooling world. First with their brand new Superclock CPU Cooler, EVGA now has their own lineup of thermal paste. The EVGA Frostbite Thermal Compound is "certified to be the best on the market by the one of the top overclockers in the industry." 

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Noob tube

Great weapon...

New Parts Arrived...

So my new CPU cooler arrived yesterday, and that was a fine day indeed.  Today I got my new 40mm grenade (Mad Bull 922A1) because my old one blew up in my hands and was destroyed.  I also got a new battery (Intellect 9.6v 2000mah Ni-MH PEQ2 type) and 2,500 Airsoft Elite 0.23g BBs.  I was able to take some pics down my Accushot 6 x 40 scope as well... although I won't get one with the green illumination until dusk.

EVGA Superclock CPU Cooler Preview

So look what just came in today... the EVGA Superclock CPU cooler!  It's a rebranded Swiftech Polaris - the differences are that red LEDs have been added to the fan and it has been applied with black nickel plating (except for the base).  It's a monster - even larger than the Prolimatech Megahalems which it will be tested against.  It has five direct-touch 8mm copper heat pipes as well as what looks like a standard 55-56 aluminum fins (unknown density).  Here is more info on the cooler.

So it arrived today and I took some photos.  You'll find a link on this blog to the full review soon.  It will be done on GND-Tech.com of course.  For the review I'll test it against the Prolimatech Megahalems on an Intel Core i5 760 which will be overclocked up to 4.2 GHz.  The thermal paste used will be OCZ Freeze and I'll use the stock fan on the EVGA Superclock Cooler (120mm x 25mm PWM fan - 750 - 2500 RPM, 26-84 CFM, 13.2 - 41.5 DBA, "hydraumatic" bearing.  This will be used on the i5 760 at the stock 2.8 GHz.  For the 4.2 GHz testing, I'll use a Nidec VA450DC with a shroud (5300 RPM/220 CFM/64 DBA, ball bearing, 21 mmH20 static pressure).  Anyway here are those photos.

Check back for the full review and Megahalems comparison...

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Equipment Wishlist

I'd really like to see most if not all of these in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.

• Fists - That's right. You should be able to run around unarmed with nothing but your bare hands. That brings us to...
• Brass Knuckles
• Random objects you come across should be able to be used as weapons
• Knife
• Throwing Knives - Great for stealth kills
• Bow and Arrow - Again, great for stealth kills
• Crossbow - Another good stealth weapon

Now lets go to pistols separated by caliber.

9x18mm

• Makarov PM
• Makarov PMm
• PB/6P9
• Fort-12
• Fort-15 - The unique prototype we all know and love

9x19mm

• Browning Hi-Power
• Beretta 92FS
• Beretta 93R
• Glock 17 - You should be able to give it a full auto upgrade, like the Glock 18C
• Glock 19 - Full auto upgrade should be available
• Glock 26 - Full auto upgrade should be available
• SIG P226
• Walther P99
• H&K USP 9
• H&K USP 9 Compact

.45ACP

• Colt M1911A1
• Colt M1911A1 Compact
• Hi-Capa 5.1 - A double stack, ambidextrous and highly customizable competition 1911. Hi-Capa is used for airsoft versions of it though, so call it what you will. These should be rare, expensive and top tier pistols.
• Hi-Capa 4.3
• Hi-Capa 3.8
• Glock 21
• SIG P220
• H&K USP 45
• H&K USP 45 Compact

5.7x28mm

• FN Five-Seven

4.6x30mm

• H&K UCP Prototype

.357 Magnum

• MP 412
• Colt Python 8 inch
• Colt Python 6 inch
• Colt Python 4 inch
• IMI Desert Eagle

.44 Magnum

• Colt Anaconda 8 inch
• Colt Anaconda 6 inch
• Colt Anaconda 4 inch
• IMI Desert Eagle

.50AE

• IMI Desert Eagle .50AE

Next are the submachine guns I suppose.

9x19mm

• Ingram MAC-10
• IMI Uzi
• IMI Mini Uzi
• B&T MP9
• PP-2000
• H&K MP5A4
• H&K MP5A5
• H&K MP5SD5
• H&K MP5SD6
• H&K UMP 9

.45ACP

• Ingram MAC-10
• H&K UMP 45

5.7x28mm

• FN P90

4.6x30mm

• H&K MP7A1

Now for the shotguns...

• Sawn-Off TOZ-66
• TOZ-34
• TOZ-194
• Fort 500
• Mossberg Maverick 88
• Remington M870 - Highly customizable, various lengths as well
• Benelli M3
• Benelli M1014
• Franchi SPAS-12
• Armsel Protecta
• Saiga-12
• USAS-12

Assault rifles.

5.45 x 39mm

• AKS-74UN
• AK-74MN
• AKS-74N
• AN-94 Abakan

5.56 x 45mm

• Enfield L85A2
• IMI Galil AR
• IMI Galil SAR
• IMI Galil MAR
• FN FNC
• FN FNC Para - Shorter barrel, unique?
• HK33A2
• HK33A3
• HK33KA3 - Should probably be unique
• HK33SG-1 - Should probably be unique
• HK53
• M16A3
• M4A1 Carbine
• M4A1 Commando - Can be unique, but configured from the M4A1 carbine
• M4A1 CQB "Pistol"
• ZM LR-300ML
• SIG SG-550
• SIG SG-551 LB SWAT - Should probably be unique
• SIG SG-551
• SIG SG-553
• Steyr AUG-A1
• Steyr AUG-A2
• Steyr AUG-A3
• H&K G36
• H&K G36K
• H&K G36C
• H&K HK416 D10RS
• H&K HK416 D14.5RS
• H&K HK416 D16.5RS - Should probably be unique
• H&K HK416 D20RS
• FN SCAR-L CQC
• FN SCAR-L
• FN SCAR-L LB
• Remington ACR
• Remington ACR CQB
• FN F2000

7.62 x 51mm

• M14
• M14 Scout - Should probably be unique
• M14 SOCOM
• M14 EBR
• FN FAL
• FN FAL Para - Shorter barrel
• IMI Galil
• IMI Galil Sniper
• H&K G3A3
• H&K G3A4
• H&K G3KA4 - Should probably be unique
• H&K G3SG-1 - Should probably be unique
• H&K MC-51 - Retractable stock makes most sense
• H&K HK417 Assaulter
• H&K HK417 Recon
• H&K HK417 Sniper
• FN SCAR-H CQC
• FN SCAR-H
• FN SCAR-H LB
• FN SCAR-H SSR

9 x 39mm

• AS Val
• OTs-14 Groza

Machine guns.

5.45 x 39mm

• RPK-74

7.62 x 54mm

• PKM

5.56 x 45mm

• H&K MG36
• Enfield L86
• H&K HK23E
• FN M249 SAW
• FN M249 Para

7.62 x 51mm

• H&K HK21E
• M60E3
• M60E4
• M134 Minigun - YESSSSSSSSSS! For use with Exoskeleton only.

Sniper rifles.

9 x 39mm

• VSS Vintorez

7.62 x 54mm

• SV-98
• Dragunov SVD
• Dragunov SVU
• Dragunov SVU-AS - Should probably be unique, if so then the SVU should be able to be upgraded to fully automatic

7.62 x 51mm

• Steyr Scout Tactical
• Remington M24
• AI Arctic Warfare L96
• H&K MSG90A1

Other

• Gauss Rifle

Handheld launchers.

• M79 Grenade Launcher
• M79 Compact Grenade Launcher
• M203 Grenade Launcher
• RG-6 Grenade Launcher
• RPG-7

Explosives/Incendiary

• Molotov Cocktail/Petrol bomb
• RGD-5 grenade
• F1 grenade
• AN-M14 TH3 Incendiary Grenade
• M18 Smoke Grenade
• M84 Flashbang Grenade
• C4
• Claymore

The weapons should be highly customizable, ranging from various pistol grips to rail systems, vertical foregrips, color options, furniture options, sight options, railed frames and threaded barrels for pistols and much more. As for add-ons, I'd like to see the following (excluding gun-specific add-ons, such as pistol railed frames or R.I.S. systems - those should be upgrades).

• Silencer - Universal silencer with adapters like in the current games
• Reflex Sight - 1.5x Reflex sight with red/green reticle illumination, perhaps multiple reticle options. I like the look of Trijicon's.
• Pistol LAM Unit - Combination of a powerful Xenon flashlight, a red laser sight and a green laser sight
• LAM Unit - Full size LAM unit, same as above but bigger and brighter flashlight
• Holographic Sight - Eotech 556?
• CompML2 Aimpoint - 1x30, 2x magnification add-on
• PSO-1 Scope - 4x24
• SUSAT Scope - 4x20
• Trijicon NSN ACOG - 4x32
• Compact Rifle Scope - One piece titanium scope with a 25mm or 30mm tube, red/green reticle illumination, 1-6 x 32, should mount to M16 type carring handle as well
• Rifle Scope - Same as above but longer and 1-12 x 44
• Enhanced Rifle Scope - Same as above but 1-12 x 56
• Night Vision Monocular - For using night vision with your optic
• Enhanced Night Vision Monocular - For using ENVG (thermal-sensing night vision) with your optic

Below are the armors.

• Leather Jacket - Should be available in various colors or even camouflage
• Bandit Jacket - Black leather jacket, slightly thicker with some more protective padding like the previous games
• Trench Coat - Can be worn over all other suits for warmth, weather should play a key role in survival and the game should cycle through all weather seasons
• CS-3a Body Armor - Should compare to Stalker Suit
• CS-2 Body Armor - Moderate protective properties
• CS-1 Body Armor - High anomaly protection, decent radiation protection and decent ballistic protection
• Flak Jacket - Cheap military outfit, not fit for the Zone so poor anomaly and radiation protection
• Berill-5M Armored Suit - Good all around suit designed for the Zone by the government
• Merc suit - Also used by Bandits, so-so ballistic protection but poor radiation/anomaly protection
• Stalker Suit - Entry level suit
• SEVA Suit - Closed cycle breathing module not necessarily included since helmets should be separate
• Wind of Freedom Suit - Excellent anomaly protection, decent radiation protection and ballistic protection, should look like the SoC Guardian of Freedom Suit, same as the SEVA Suit but colored
• PSZ-9d Duty Suit - Same as Wind of Freedom suit above, same as the SEVA Suit but colored, so this plus a Curtain Helmet makes the PSZ-9Md Universal Protection suit
• Guardian of Freedom suit - Should look like the Wind of Freedom suit but perhaps slightly thicker like the Monolith version, similar to CS-1 body armor
• Monolith Suit - Same as Guardian of Freedom suit but different color
• PSZ-10d Duty Suit - Same as Monolith suit and Guardian of Freedom but different color
• Freedom Berill Freedom version of the Berill-5M, better anomaly and radiation protection
• PSZ-12d Duty Armor - Colored SKAT-9M
• SKAT-9M Military Armored Suit - One of the very best suits in the Zone, black version should be worn byBandits and Loners
• Protective Outfit - For the lack of a better name. Same armor as the Exoskeleton but no strength-boosting properties or automatic healing systems. Should be worn by every faction
• Exoskeleton - Top dog, comes in various colors of course

As for head gear...

• Gas mask - Lacking in ballistic protection but stops some radiation, no night vision by default
• Steel helmet - Get a new render for this, it should just be a basic steel helmet designed for combat but not for the Zone, no night vision by default
• Sphere-08 Helmet - Original helmet designed for the Zone. Good all around helmet, includes night vision
• Sphere-12M Helmet - Best all around helmet in the game, good ballistic and radiation/anomaly protection, includes night vision (but not ENVG)
• Curtain Helmet - Best for anomaly/radiation protection, ballistic protection is obviously not so good, includes night vision but not ENVG