Use IFTTT to Find Cheap and Free Video Games Online

Use IFTTT to Find Cheap and Free Video Games Online

http://ift.tt/2Eq0P2d

If This Then That is great for everything from managing your savings to archiving your favorite songs on Spotify, but did you know you can also use it to find free video games? There are dozens of applets (IFTTT’s name for any combination of triggers and actions used through the service) designed to help you track…

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Games

via Kotaku http://kotaku.com

February 13, 2018 at 05:29PM

As GPU Prices Soar, AMD Launches Impressive New Integrated Graphics Chip

As GPU Prices Soar, AMD Launches Impressive New Integrated Graphics Chip

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Integrated graphics processors (IGPs) have never really been suited for PC gaming; instead, IGPs offer a convenient way for computers to do video output without stuffing a discrete GPU into a system. However, AMD has flipped the script with the release of the Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G, which are variants on the previously released Ryzen CPUs but with its Vega graphics technology packed inside. The result is an all-in-one chip (an APU) that is now the most powerful integrated graphics solution thus far.

Both Ryzen APUs launched this week, and in the midst of the price inflation and scarcity of graphics cards due to cryptocurrency mining. The 2400G and 2200G might be a viable solution for those looking to build a new Ryzen-based system but can’t snag a decently priced video card just yet. It’s an option if you want to hold off until prices return to normal (whenever that may be) and still need a working system. Benchmarks across the internet have shown both chips to perform competently at 1080p in some of the less graphically demanding PC games.

The Ryzen 5 2400G is a four-core, eight-thread CPU with a base clock of 3.6GHz and boost clock of 3.9GHz; as far as processing power goes, the 2400G closely aligns itself with the Ryzen 5 1500X. On the graphics side, it features the Radeon Vega 11 graphics processor (with 11 compute units) clocked at 1250MHz. What this translates to is decent performance in games like Civilization VI and Rocket League. According to Anandtech, 2400G was able to average 32.66 FPS and 99th percentile-low (to eliminate anomalous frame dips) of 22.15 FPS in Civ VI at 1080p and Ultra settings. As for Rocket League, the chip maintained an average of 51.84 FPS at 1080p and Ultra settings.

The 2400G tends to struggles in more demanding games, however. Based on the numbers from ExtremeTech, the chip produced a 49 FPS average and 18 FPS minimum at 1080p and Low settings in Hitman. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided asks a lot from PCs, and the 2400G was able to muster a 51 FPS average and 37 FPS minimum using 720p resolution and Low settings. It’s somewhat playable, but less than ideal. One surprise came from PC Gamer‘s benchmarks in which Grand Theft Auto V ran a 60.5 FPS average and 47.6 FPS minimum (97th percentile) at 1080p with Medium settings.

When you look at the history of integrated graphics performance, it’s easy to come away impressed by AMD’s new APUs. The Ryzen 5 2400G carries an MSRP of $170 USD, which is comparable to the Ryzen 5 1500X–except you essentially get a free GPU, though. In many benchmarks, these chips outperform the IGPs on Intel’s 7th-gen and 8th-gen CPUs by wide margins. However, Ryzen APUs are a ways off from displacing low-end discrete desktop GPUs; you’ll see the RX 560 and GTX 1050 video cards ahead in all tests. But when you factor peformance-per-dollar and the fact that it’s all in one processing unit, these chips aren’t a bad choice as we wait for GPU prices to settle down.

We’re going to be putting our own Ryzen 5 2400G APU to the test to see how far we can push it and which kinds of games and settings it can run. In the meantime, catch up on how AMD and Intel are partnering to bring about new graphics solutions for laptops. For more on how AMD’s processors perform, check out our review of the Ryzen 5 1600X and 1500X CPUs.

Games

via GameSpot’s PC Reviews http://ift.tt/2mVXxXH

February 13, 2018 at 03:07PM

SpaceX isn’t the only company going to outer space

SpaceX isn’t the only company going to outer space

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SpaceX isn’t the only company going to outer space. Planetary Resources aims to commercialize deep-space exploration and mining. The company sites sourcing water as the first step to creating a civilization in space. Its mission is to unlock the critical water resources found in near-Earth asteroids that are necessary for human expansion in space. There are over 16,000 near-Earth asteroids. Near-Earth asteroids have an estimated 2 trillion tons of water, and they are more accessible than the moon. In 2020, Planetary Resources says it will deploy multiple spacecraft via a single rocket launch. Each spacecraft will visit a predetermined target asteroid and collect data and test material samples. After its fact-finding missions, Planetary Resources will look to construct and launch the first commercial mine in space. Planetary Resources plans to commercialize deep-space exploration and mining. The company says that its mission is to identify and unlock the critical water resources necessary for human expansion in space. Learn more at

planetaryresources.com

Cars

via Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com

February 12, 2018 at 07:48PM

Grunting of a Smalltime Seller

Erg…

That’s how I feel right now… I sell stuff from time to time.  After I upgraded from my Note 4, I sold it off on eBay.  Other gadgets and stuff that’s sitting around, I try to recoop some cost.  I expect to not make profit.  But it’s been anti-small seller sentiment recently.

I have accounts on both eBay and Amazon to sell.  But I have gripes about both.  And if you are a small seller like me who doesn’t sell more than few items a month, if a year, you will likely understand my frustration.

eBay

I’ve been a long-time member and it was relatively friendly to sellers like me.  Now, that’s not the case.  I get (winning) bids from people who win it only to not pay.  It takes several days to get it resolved and eventually get refunded on the listing fees.  But it doesn’t end there, as a seller, I can’t leave negative feedback to a deadbeat bidder!!  What the hell is this?!  I’m gonna rant on saying that eBay protects its bidders too much.  I already lose fees double time (eBay & PayPal) so it’s already frustrating but seriously…  I’m done.

Amazon

Amazon gets some serious exposure so the headphones that I had to re-list 3 times on eBay sold on Amazon!  But again, Amazon isn’t friendly to small sellers like me.  Why?  For an item that I listed for $45 (Amazon gives $4 credit for shipping), Amazon took more than $10 for the selling fee!  Again… what the hell?!!  That’s almost 25%!!  Not to mention that measly $4 credit for shipping makes me lose another $6 due to actual cost being bit over $10!  So in all, I sold $45 item and only recovered less than $30!  I’m done with Amazon as well (as a seller)!

So then where can I sell?!

So where does that leave me?  I don’t enjoy taking random time out to meet random strangers through Craigslist either.  So I list them locally.  Nextdoor.com anyone?  Or for the tech stuff, I also list (for free) on Anandtech Forums.

eBay and Amazon, please make things bit more REASONABLE!!  Otherwise, we, the small time sellers, are done!  So done!!  Thanks for reading this ranting!