Alive and well :)

by Anand Lal Shimpi on July 14, 2006 9:32 AM EST
Hey guys (and according to our stats: the 2% of you that are gals), I've neglected this blog for far too long and I know it's bad when I'm getting emails asking if I'm still alive.

I'm pretty beat from the Conroe article, but I'll at least give you a brief update on what's been going on over the past couple of months:

1) We're out of Connecticut and back home (at the new place!) in NC. There's not as much traffic, roads are better, weather is better, I'm overall a happier camper these days.

2) Vinney is hard at work studying for the bar, giving me a constant reminder that under no circumstances could I ever be a lawyer.

3) Core 2 is off of my shoulders finally, I hope you guys enjoy the article. I could've done better but Intel wanted to launch now instead of at the end of this month, which really cut into my benchmarking time.

4) Right before I went to bed, at around 3AM, one of our servers died and my heart stopped. Later I found out that it was apparently just Windows update rebooting the system, I laughed and went to sleep.

5) I'm working on a review of Sony's UMPC (terrible) as well as the first generation set top Blu-ray (eh) and HD-DVD players (not as terrible as Sony's UMPC, but still pretty disappointing).

6) I haven't asked this in a while, so let me do it here: what articles would you all like me to be working on?

7) There are a wealth of follow up articles I am contemplating doing based on some of the data in our Core 2 piece. I will at least be looking at AMD's new EE/EE SFF processors, and at best I may be able to do some more investigative work with Core 2.

I think that's the brain dump for today, I will get back onto a regular schedule with this thing. I know I say it a lot, but this time I mean it...maybe ;)

Take care and have a great weekend :)
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  • Houdani - Friday, July 21, 2006 - link

    Wish List:
    . How to build a silent PC
    . How to build a media server
    . How to build an DVR with HD & CableCard

    I know there are other sites dedicated to such things, but I'd like to see AnandTech take a stab at these.
  • JB1592 - Friday, July 28, 2006 - link

    These suggestions are good.

    Also high on my list is hard drive and RAID performance. Reviewing individual drives is well and good, but I'd like to see the performance advantages/disadvantages of more elaborate setups. RAID 0/1/5 on current Intel and nVidia platforms, if possible compared not only to each other but also higher end cards like the Areca PCIe cards.
  • Illissius - Friday, July 21, 2006 - link

    I'd really like to see how various processors perform at compiling software, as that is what I spend the vast majority of my notable CPU time on. (C++ using gcc, for what it's worth -- don't know how much this would vary by language and compiler).
  • eemo - Friday, July 21, 2006 - link

    Hi,

    I dont know if its too late to post a comment here, but i was wondering if it would be at all possible for some performance reviews and benchmarks etc on the new virtualization features of both the Intel and AMD processors.

    And in fact, if the in-built VT features do actually make a difference?
    And perhaps we could see if there is an improvement in performance, in say, VMWARE Workstation or Server?

    Would really appreciate it, Thank you
  • Konq - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link

    I would be very interested ina Mac Pro review after they announce it during the Developers Conference. I want to know how it works with Windows in both modes -Boot Camp and vitual machine. Other motherboards show the new intel processors can be overclocked quite a bit. I doubt that Apple will coninue the liquid cooling, but the new chips with that cooling might overclock hugely!

    I intend to get this machine as a dual-use workstation for my CAD work. I am sick of building my own and the hassles that come with it compared to the great user support at a local genius bar attached with an extended warrantee. If they ever port Pro/Engineer to OS X I will be in heaven. =)
  • soydios - Thursday, July 20, 2006 - link

    Article ideas:
    - mainstream custom watercooling (reasonable price/performance using off-the-shelf components)
    - Power Supply Roundup (sorely needed, IMHO, especially with a look at what capacitors are in what PSUs)
  • cepher2101 - Wednesday, July 19, 2006 - link

    This is in no way related to your blog, although I do find these pricing cuts very interesting to rival performance. Also: another scenario could be that graphics cards, like in your Conroe buying guide, don't perform as well on the Intel chipset as they do on and AMD platform, as it is apparent with the ATI X19000XTX's in some cases. Not probable, but possible.

    But to my main point:
    When "you" talk about value memory in the Conroe Buying guide, there is a mistake. You list the Mushkin as the only memory with the Infineon chips in the chart, but you say its the Kingsinton later in the article. Nothing big, just noticable.
  • livelouddiefast - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - link

    While i imagine it's due to merom not yet being out, I'd like to get a turion x2 vs. merom or even core duo comparision.

    also, second that on intel em64t vs. amd 64.

    both would be helpful as i ponder laptop choices for grad school next year.
  • Jeff7181 - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - link

    QUALITY moderation on the forums would help too. It might not draw traffic and thus ad revenue, but at least it'll reduce the number of quality members who are driven away.

    Quality > Quantity
  • puffpio - Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - link

    When you review the EE AMD CPU's, see how they overclock..particularly if you bump the voltage to non EE levels..

    also benchmarks for overclocked core 2 duo's....

    review of shuttle's upcoming SFF for core 2 duo's..

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