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AU G U ST 2016

WINDOWS 10

ANNIVERSARYUPDATE
WHAT USERS WANT MOST

PLUS: AMD RADEON RX 480 REVIEW

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AUGUST 2016

DEPARTMENTS

TABLE OF
CONTENTS

FEATURES

7 News
125 What users want in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update

43 Reviews & Ratings

139
Headphones
buyers guide

149 Heres How

COLUMNS
172 Hassle-Free PC
176 Answer Line
33 Consumer Watch

178 Tech Spotlight

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NEWS
8 Yes, Windows 10
subscriptions are
coming, at least for
enterprise

23 Nintendos releasing a
miniature NES console
packed with 30 classic
games

14 Screens that fold and


roll will arrive as early as
next year

26 FAA compromise bill


drops key drone privacy
provisions

17 Conrmed: Only
Microsoft Edge will play
Netflix content at
1080p on your PC

30 Oil and water: Heres


Ubuntu Linuxs Unity
desktop running
natively on Windows 10

20 A smaller version of
Raspberry Pi 3 is
coming soon

Tech and trends that will affect you today and beyond.

NEWS

Yes, Windows 10
subscriptions are
coming, at least
for enterprise

I M AG E : M I C ROS O F T

BY MARK HACHMAN

FOR OVER A year, Windows 10 customers have wondered whether


Microsoft will oer Windows 10 as a service. Recently, Microsoft
conrmed that it wouldthough just for enterprises at the moment.
Beginning this fall, Microsoft will oer Windows 10 Enterprise E3, a
special enterprise tier of Windows 10 that will cost $7 per user per
month. Yusuf Mehdi, the corporate vice president of the Windows and
Devices Group at Microsoft, said cloud providers would now be able to
oer three premier Microsoft services on a subscription basis:
Microsofts Azure, Oce 365, and now Windows 10.
For the price of a cup of coee and a donut per day, you can get
enterprise-class security on a per-user subscription basis, Mehdi said
onstage at Microsofts Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto,

Canada. If youre a cloud provider, this is now phenomenal.


Microsoft also struck a second deal with IBM to oer its Surface
tablets as a service (go.pcworld.com/enterprisetosurface), essentially
leasing them to customers on a per-month basis. Microsoft did not say
which devices would be oered via the service, however, nor how
much they would cost.
Why this matters: For almost as long as Microsoft has oered
Windows 10 as a free upgrade, consumers have wondered two things:
What would Microsoft charge for a full license to Windows 10, and
what does the phrase Windows as a service actually mean? We now
know: subscriptions. But we still dont know how (or if) this model will
apply to consumers.

Windows as a (for now, optional) service


According to a Microsoft spokeswoman, the subscription deal is not in
any way related to Microsofts consumer oering. Its worth
highlighting, though, that a business of one employee can take
advantage of it, however.
Windows 10 Enterprise E3 for CSP is for business customers of any
size (including one person) to get enterprise features and

Windows 10
Enterprise E3
oers what
customers have
been wondering
about for some
time: whether
Microsoft would
make Windows
10 a subscription
service.

functionality on a per
monthly/per seat cost, a
Microsoft spokeswoman
said via email. This new
subscription model is not
associated with our
current upgrade oering
or applicable to the
Windows 10 consumer
edition.
Up to now, Windows 10
has been a free upgrade
for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users. That ended July 29, 2016. After
that, Microsoft charges $119 (go.pcworld.com/win10pricing) for
Windows 10 Home, $199 for Windows 10 Professional, and $99 for a
Windows 10 Pro Pack to jump from a licensed copy of Windows 10
Home to the Professional version. A one person business who
bought the subscription would receive about 28 months of Windows
10 before paying the equivalent price of Windows 10 Professional.
We know that Microsoft wants to encourage consumers and
businesses alike to pay for its services like you pay the electricity bill,
forking over a bit each month to keep the power on. Right now,
Microsofts flagship subscription oering is Oce 365, its collection of
Oce applications that Microsoft patches and adds new features to
each month. Microsoft vice president of corporate marketing
Kirk Koenigsbauer told partners in July that 70 million people pay to
use Oce 365 every month. When Microsoft reported its rst-quarter
earnings in April, Microsoft said about 22.2 million of those subscribers
were consumers, and total Oce commercial users were up 57
percent from a year ago.
Microsoft has also indicated it wishes to extend that same model to
Windows. A year ago, when chief executive Satya Nadella booted
Stephen Elop from the Windows and Devices Group and handed the
reins over to Terry Myerson, Nadella penned a very interesting rationale

The deadline
for Windows
10s free
upgrade is July
29, 2016.

NEWS

Microsofts
subscription
model for Oce
365 has been an
unqualied
success, even
extending to
non-Windows
platforms like
Apples iOS.

for how he saw Windows in relation to the rest of Microsoft hardware:


WDG will drive Windows as a service across devices of all types and
build all of our Microsoft devices including Surface, HoloLens, Lumia,
Surface Hub, Band and Xbox, Nadella said in an email to employees.
This enables us to create new categories while generating
enthusiasm and demand for Windows broadly.
At the time, Microsoft executives made it very clear that buying a
Windows licenseor a device with Windows 10 on itwould ensure
Windows owners had a license to Windows 10 for the life of the
device. But Microsoft has also said that it wants to entice you to pay
for additional services over that lifespan.
In December 2014, Microsoft chief operating ocer Kevin Turner
(who said July 7 that hed leave the company to become chief
executive of Citadel Securities) justied (go.pcworld.com/

creditsuisseconf) the rise of $99 Windows tablets by explaining that


Microsoft would monetize the lifetime of that customer through
services and dierent add-ons.
The real question is whether Microsoft would enforce its services in
some way. The company seemingly put these questions to rest a year
ago, but an enterprise subscription model for Windows unfortunately
reopens them.

Security as a service means little to consumers


If Mehdis comments are to be taken as a model for how Microsoft
plans to sell subscriptions to enterprisesongoing securitythen
you can see why small businesses and especially enterprises might be
interested: They need ongoing patches and security updates, even if
they want control of when to deploy them.
Consumers probably dont care as much. If Windows Defender were
to be turned o or not updated, consumers could turn to a number of
free alternatives from Avast, Panda, and others. A more pressing worry
would be whether Microsoft would withhold patches and security
updates unless consumers paid for them. This seems highly unlikely,
given the potential security risks to the platform.
However, Microsoft has clearly stated it will cease patching and
updating Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 in the next few years, spurring
consumers and enterprises to migrate to its latest platform. Many
consumers remain on Windows 7, an OS that launched seven years
ago. If Windows 10 is the last Windows, will Microsoft continue to
support PCs in 2023?
A year ago, Microsoft opened the door to a great deal of speculation
on how it would monetize Windows. Microsofts new subscription
model for enterprises raises those questions once again.

Welcome to Greenbot,
a website for
Android enthusiasts.

Weve got the droid info youre looking for.


Helpful tips, critical reviews, and expert
analysis for passionate Android users
of every experience level.
www.greenbot.com

Screens that fold and


roll will arrive as early
as next year

I M AG E : LG D I S P L AY

BY AGAM SHAH

DISPLAYS THAT CAN be folded and rolled up have been shown in


prototype smartphones, wearables, and other devicesbut when will
such products be available?
Advances in technology suggest they arent too far o in the future.
Such devices could start showing up as early as next year or 2018, said
Jerry Kang, senior principal analyst for emerging display technologies
and OLED at IHS.
Manufacturers are trying to launch them in devices like tablets that
can fold into a smartphone-size device. Its possible to use these

At CES 2016 in
Las Vegas, LG
showed a
display that
can fold.

NEWS

Manufacturers are
trying to launch
them in devices like
tablets that can fold
into a smartphonesize device.

displays in wearable devices, but reliability,


weight, and battery life need to be considered,
Kang said.
Small folding screens will likely come before
larger ones, mainly due to the economics of
making such displays, Kang said.
The displays will be based on OLED (organic
light-emitting diode), which is considered a
successor to current LED technology. OLEDs
dont have lighting back-panels, making them thinner and more
power ecient.
At CES this year, LG showed a stunningly thin paper-like display (go.
pcworld.com/lgthinscreens) that could roll up. The company projects
it will deliver foldable OLEDs by next year (go.pcworld.com/
lgflexdisplay).
There are advantages to screens that can be folded or rolled up.
They could lead to innovative product designs and increase the
mobility of devices, Kang said.

Samsung
YOUM flexible
display.

For example, it could be easier to t screens around the contours of


a battery and other components. It will also provide a level of
flexibility in how a user can change the shape of a device.
But challenges remain in making such screens practical, Kang said.
A display has multiple functional layers such as cover lenses, touch
panels, and polarizers, all made of
dierent materials. A large number
of layers could limit the ability to
bend and fold. But removing layers
also presents problems. For example,
removing the touch panel could
make such a screen useless for
smartphones and tablets.
The size of batteries and circuits are of lesser concern in designing
bendable screens, Kang said. The screens can be folded around
components.
Displays that can fold and roll are an extension of flexible displays,
which are already in wearables, smartphones, and TVs. For example,
some TVs have flexible screens that are designed so that they can be
slightly curved.
Samsung and LG started using flexible AMOLED displays in
smartphones in 2013 and are adapting those screens for wearables.
Those companies are also leading the charge to bring displays that
can bend and fold to devices.
The sorts of flexible displays that are used in curved products are
still in their infancy, but IHS projects such screens to continue
siphoning market share from non-flexible displays. In 2022, 433.3
million flexible displays will ship, compared to 3.6 billion units of nonflexible displays.

Displays that can fold and


roll are an extension of
exible displays, which
are already in wearables,
smartphones, and TVs.

NEWS

Conrmed: Only Microsoft


Edge will play Netflix content
at 1080p on your PC
BY MARK HACHMAN
IF YOU WANT to watch true 1080p content on Netflix over your PC,
you need to use Microsofts Edge browser.
Recently, Microsoft claimed (go.pcworld.com/edge1080p) that its Edge
browser was the only one of the big four browserswhich also includes
Chrome, Firefox, and Operato oer 1080p resolution while playing
Netflix content. A quick test of all four browsers by PCWorld proved this
claim to be true, with the other three browsers capped at 720p.
Why this matters: Microsofts been busy trying to rehabilitate the
reputation of Edge, which suered after the browser initially oered

slower performance than its competitors,


while also lacking the plug-ins and
extensions that other browsers,
particularly Firefox, have oered for
years. Performance in Edge has since
improved, and the browser now oers a
few plug-ins for public use. These are
important steps for Microsoft if Edge is
to avoid the fate of Internet Explorer,
which became known as the browser
users loved to hate.

Showing off Edge


The idea, then, has been to nd niches
where Edge shines. In June, Microsoft
slammed Google Chromes battery life (go.
pcworld.com/chromebatterylife), arguing
that users on-the-go, and away from a
power outlet, would be better served by
Edges superior power eciency.
Now, Microsoft has publicized a Netflix
support document (go.pcworld.com/
edge1080netflix), showing Netflix
streams at 1080p on Internet Explorer
and Edge, versus 720p on the other
browsers. Using the secret Netflix
menus (go.pcworld.com/secretnetflix
menus) unearthed by Reddit users
(Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D) to display the
resolution and bit rate, we conrmed
that Microsofts claims are indeed true:
You can receive a higher bit rate and
resolution when watching Netflix using
Edge than you can with, say, Chrome.

Netflix on Google Chrome. Note that it streams


in 720p, not 1080.

Currently, Opera runs Netflix at a maximum


resolution of 720p.

NEWS

That doesnt mean that die-hard


Chrome or Firefox fans are out of luck,
however: the Windows 10 Netflix app
also renders Netflix in 1080p. (So
does Apples Safari, though we do not
endorse running a Windows browser
that hasnt been updated since 2012.)
In a blog post, Microsoft claimed Microsoft Edge was built to take
advantage of platform features in Windows 10, including the
PlayReady Content Protection and the media engines Protected
Media Path (go.pcworld.com/protectedmediapath). The company
said it is working with the Open Media Alliance to develop nextgeneration media formats, codecs, and other technologies for
UltraHD video, and with chipset companies to develop Enhanced
Content Protection that moves the protected media path into
peripheral hardware for an even higher level of security, and one that
could be used to protect 4K media.
Thats in the future, though. Currently there are many TVs and
devices that support 4K Netflix streaming (go.pcworld.com/
netflix4k)and the PC isnt one of them. Still, if youre the type of
person who steals 20 minutes to watch part of an episode at lunch, and
you demand the best quality possible, make sure you load up Edge.

A close-up of
the Netflix
menu running
on Microsoft
Edge: note the
higher
1920x1080
resolution.

A smaller version of
Raspberry Pi 3 is
coming soon
BY AGAM SHAH

I M AG E : R A S P B E R RY P I.O RG

A SMALLER VERSION OF the popular Raspberry Pi 3 will go on sale in a

few months.
Raspberry Pi is developing a new version of its Compute Module, a
single-board computer that plugs into specic on-board memory
slots. The new Pi will be more like a mini-computer inside a computer,
and it wont come with a power supply.
The Compute Module will have similar circuitry to that of Raspberry
Pi 3, a wildly successful computer that can be a PC replacement. But it
will be smaller, with the memory, CPU, and storage embedded tightly
on a board.
The dierences between the Compute Module and the Raspberry Pi

I M AG E : R A S P B E R RY P I.O RG

NEWS

3 will be subtle. While the Compute Module will have a 64-bit ARM
processor like the Pi 3, it wont have Wi-Fi, Eben Upton, founder of
Raspberry Pi, said in an interview with IDG News Service.
The Compute Module could ship as soon as this quarter, Upton said.
It will be priced similar to its predecessor, the two-year-old Compute
Module, available (go.pcworld.com/computemodule) from reseller RS
Components for about US$24. The older Compute Module is based on
the original Raspberry Pi.
Like Raspberry Pi 3, the new Compute Module will work with Linux
and Microsofts Windows 10 IoT Core, Upton said.
A Compute Module Development Kit, in which the Compute Module
can be slotted for testing, may also be sold. The Development Kit
could have multiple connectivity and port options, much like the
Raspberry Pi 3.
The Raspberry Pi 3 has sold millions of units and has evolved from a
gadget development tool into a PC. The Compute Module could also
appeal to businesses that want to put computers inside electronics or
industrial equipment.
Small computers are being used to operate factory equipment, and

Raspberry Pis
Compute
Module
released in
2014 is smaller
than a regular
Raspberry Pi
board.

the Compute Module could t in that scenario.


Raspberry Pi is already successful among computing enthusiasts and
tinkerers, but Upton wants to break into that industrial market. People
are buying inexpensive Pi boards and
increasingly putting them in equipment,
either for testing or for real-world use,
Upton said.
The Compute Module falls into a
category of devices called single-board
computers, or SBCs. Like its
predecessor, its likely the new
Compute Module will be compatible
with SODIMM slots, which are cheaper than PCI or SDRAM slots
and can carry high-speed signals reliably.
Companies like Atmel and Freescale also sell SBCs with
microcontrollers that are used to test applications and hardware. The
64-bit ARM CPU in the Compute Module will be faster than
microcontrollers on the other boards.
Wi-Fi is a signature feature of Raspberry Pi 3, adding much-needed
on-board connectivity features. The economics and small size of the
Compute Module make it dicult to embed Wi-Fi circuitry.

Raspberry Pi is already
successful among
computing enthusiasts
and tinkerers, but Upton
wants to break into that
industrial market.

NEWS

Nintendos releasing
a miniature NES
console packed with
30 classic games
BY IAN PAUL

ITS APPARENTLY
RETRO month for

Nintendo. After the


insanely successful
launch of Pokmon
Go (go.pcworld.
com/pokemongo
faq), the video game
company is dipping way back in
the vault for the holiday season.
Starting November 11, Nintendo is bringing
back a miniaturized replica of the original Nintendo
Entertainment System.
The $60 Mini Collectors Edition NES comes with a single controller
replica and 30 classic NES games built in to the systemno cartridge
necessary. You can pick up an extra classic controller for $10.
Dont count on using your old NES controllersif theyre still
kickingwith the new system. The new controllers are designed to
plug in to the mini NES as well as the Wii Remote Control.
When paired with the Wii remote, you can use the replica controller
to play Virtual NES Console games on your Wii or Wii U.
In another nod to the modern world, the mini NES wont force you to

pause your game overnight to keep from losing your progress.


Each game has built-in suspend points that let you shut down for the
night, and come back to the same point in the game the next day.
But enough talk. What you really want to know are the games you
get with the new system. Here they are:
Balloon Fight
Bubble Bobble
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Simons Quest
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong Jr.
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Dr. Mario
Excitebike
Final Fantasy
Galaga
Ghostsn Goblins
Gradius
Ice Climber
Kid Icarus

Kirbys Adventure
Mario Bros.Mega Man 2
Metroid
Ninja Gaiden
Pac-Man
Punch-Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream
StarTropics
Super C
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Tecmo Bowl
The Legend of Zelda
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

NEWS

Thats an all-star lineup, but purists may be disappointed that


Nintendo went with the re-release version of Punch Out!! that drops
Mike Tyson from the game. Theres also a couple of games in this list
that were retro games even on the NES, including the Donkey Kong
games and Pac-Man. Still, its nice to see these retro retro games
included, since Nintendos classic library
wouldnt be complete without them.
The story behind the story: Nintendos plan
may seem a little ridiculous to emulation fans.
Within half an hour, you can go from zero to a
full NES gaming setup on a Raspberry Pi that
plugs into your TVs HDMI port. But those
setups, such as RetroPie (retropie.org.uk), only provide the games in
their original form, and sometimes they wont play at all or are a little
buggy. On top of that, you wont have the controller or the new builtin suspend points to save your progress. Not to mention the fact that
the games you download for RetroPie arent legitimate copies anyway,
and emulations a legal grey area.
The mini NES isnt really for technically capable people who know
how to cobble together a Raspberry Pi, anyway. This console will
appeal to the masses who still harbor fond memories of their NEStinged childhood. When those people see this console on store
shelvesand for just $60there will no doubt be a lot of impulse
buys so parents can replay these games with their kids.

FAA compromise bill


drops key drone
privacy provisions
BY JOHN RIBEIRO

A FEDERAL AVIATION Administration reauthorization bill that was

passed by the Senate in July has excluded key privacy provisions,


including a requirement that commercial and government users of
drones must disclose if they collect personally identiable information
of a person.
The bill, which is a compromise short-term extension to ensure
continued funding at current levels to the FAA, was passed by the
Senate and then went to President Barack Obama to be signed into

DJI Phantom 3
Professional

NEWS

A drone flies
through the air
during a flight
test at
Carnegie
Mellon
Universitys
Silicon Valley
campus on July
27, 2015.

law two days before the existing authorization was set to expire. It was
earlier passed by the House of Representatives.
But Senator Edward J. Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts and a
member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee,
said that the new bill, called the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security
Act of 2016, was a missed opportunity. It does not include drone
privacy provisions that he authored and were included in the Senate
version of the FAA reauthorization bill that
passed in April this year, the senator said in
a statement.
Civil rights groups have demanded drone
privacy regulations, in the wake of moves
to liberalize the use of the unmanned
aircraft for commercial and other
purposes. Recently, the Electronic Privacy
Information Center said that the reauthorization had grounded
privacy safeguards, though its proposal to require remote
identication of drones had been included in the new bill.
The provisions in the bill passed by the Senate in April would require

The new bill, called


the FAA Extension,
Safety, and Security
Act of 2016, was a
missed opportunity.

that government and commercial drone operators should disclose if


they collect personally identiable information about an individual,
including by using facial recognition. Operators would also be required
to disclose how they would use the personal data, its use for
advertising or marketing purposes, and when the sensitive
information would be destroyed, according to Markey.
The April bill would also require that government operators should
disclose their drones location, purpose of flight and technical
capabilities, such as cameras or license plates readers.
In July, leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee announced a bipartisan and bicameral agreement on an
extension of the FAA authorization through September 30, 2017,
while Congress brokers a long-term reauthorization of the FAA.
The FAA released in June its nal rules (go.pcworld.com/faadrone
rules) for the operation of what it describes as small unmanned
aircraft, limiting their weight to 55 pounds (25 kilograms) and to
flying only during day at less than 400 feet within visual line-of-sight
of operators. Some companies have said these rules, which take eect
in August, make large-scale deployment of drones for deliveries

P H OTO : I N T E L CO R P O R AT I O N

An Intel
Corporation
Yuneec
unmanned
aerial vehicle at
2016 Mobile
World
Congress.

NEWS

unfeasible.
The bill passed in July would prohibit drones from interfering with
emergency response activities, such as wildre suppression and law
enforcement, and provides for civil penalties of not more than
US$20,000 for those found in violation. Drones are also to be used for
reghting and restoration of utilities.
The legislation also has provisions for the setting up of a pilot
program for mitigation of airspace hazards at airports and other
critical infrastructure using unmanned
aircraft detection systems.
The FAA in consultation with other
agencies shall also convene industry
stakeholders to arrive at consensus
standards for remotely identifying
operators and owners of unmanned aircraft.
The FAA extension will provide short-term
stability for the commercial drone industry,
said Brian Wynne, president and CEO of drone advocacy group,
Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, in a
statement. Its provisions will help expand commercial operations,
advance research and keep the airspace safe for all usersmanned
and unmanned, Wynne added.
The National Telecommunications & Information Administration
released in May a list of voluntary privacy best practices (go.pcworld.
com/droneprivacypractices) for commercial and non-commercial
drone users, which were arrived at by drone organizations and
companies like Amazon and Googles parent Alphabet. It was
recommended, for example, that drone operators that collect
personal data should explain in a privacy policy what personally
identiable information they will collect, for what purpose, and if it
will be shared with others, including law enforcement agencies.

Some companies have


said these rules, which
take effect in August,
make large-scale
deployment of drones
for deliveries unfeasible.

Oil and water: Heres Ubuntu


Linuxs Unity desktop running
natively on Windows 10
BY IAN PAUL
WHEN MICROSOFT INTRODUCED the Windows Subsystem for Linux

(WSL) (go.pcworld.com/w10bashshell), the common refrain was that


you could use it to run Linuxs beloved Bash tool (go.pcworld.com/
w10hhbashshell) but full Linux desktops were out.
Turns out that wasnt exactly true.
It didnt take long for people to note you could run an X server (go.
pcworld.com/w10linuxtrick) for windowed Linux applications. From

NEWS

there, it was only a short hop to running the Linux desktop on Windows
without using a virtual machine.
GitHub user Guerra24 (go.pcworld.com/guerra2unity) recently
posted a screenshot online showing Ubuntu with the Unity desktop
running natively inside Windows 10, as rst reported by OMG Ubuntu
(go.pcworld.com/unityinstalled). The GitHub user also tested the
Xfce24 desktop on Ubuntu (on Windows 10).
As this is a bit of a hack, its not a perfect
setup. Guerra24 says that dbusa Linux utility
that lets computer programs communicate
with one anotherhad some performance
issues, and sometimes the window server
inside Linux would crash. You also cant exit
Ubuntu the normal way. Instead you have to
close Compiz, the window manager, to get rid
of the desktop.
The actual use of Ubuntu is also limited. The only applications that
will run are the ones sitting in the launcher. The terminal also will not
open without a little extra trickery.
Why this matters: Running Ubuntu natively inside Windows 10 may
seem a little silly when a virtual machine would be far more stable. But
it shows just how close you can get to truly running a Ubuntu Linux
system right inside Windows without a VM. A properly congured
Linux system may also run far better as a native Windows application
compared to a virtual machine, which could help IT pros and others
more easily manage Linux and Windows resources on the same
machine.
Besides, the idea of running a full Linux desktop natively inside
Windows is just plain awesome. If theres enough demand for this, who
knows? In the future, Microsoft and Canonical might x up the current
WSL to make running an Ubuntu desktop on Windows 10 a more
seamless experience.

It shows just how


close you can get to
truly running a
Ubuntu Linux system
right inside Windows
without a VM.

YOUR BIKE
CAN HELP OTHERS

MOVE FORWARD.
YOUR DONATIONS TO GOODWILL HELP
FUND JOB PLACEMENT AND TRAINING
FOR PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

DONATE STUFF.
CREATE JOBS.

TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DONATION CENTER GO TO GOODWILL.ORG

CONSUMER
WATCH

Make smart purchases,


stay safe online.

Vicious new ransomware


takes your money and
still deletes your les
A new form of ransomware, called Ranscam, reminds us
why it doesnt pay to pay.
BY IAN PAUL

HERES A NEW form of ransomwareapparently built by

amateursthat takes your money but deletes your


personal les anyway. Security research rm Talos recently
published a blog post (go.pcworld.com/talosranscam)
about a new form of malware dubbed Ranscam.
This ransomware follows the basic premise of previous variants. It
claims your les have been encrypted, and thus inaccessible to you,
then threatens to delete all your les if you dont pay up. Ransomwares scary premise prompts many people to fork over the dough in
order to save their photos and other content.
Ranscam ignores conventional ransomware
behavior, however, and deletes the victims content
long before they have a chance to pay up. In typical
ransomware scams the user is usually prompted to
pay up in Bitcoin, which is harder to trace than
other forms of payment. After they pay it, and the
transaction is veried, the les are decrypted and
the ransomware deletes itself.
The Ranscam authors, however, dont bother
with all those technical details and just hope for
the easy payout without regard to the users les.
The impact on you at home: The good news is Ranscam is still in its
early days and doesnt appear to be widespread. Nevertheless, its an
important reminder that you shouldnt trust that youll get your stu
back if you end up paying a ransomware scam.

Ranscam ignores
conventional
ransomware
behavior, however,
and deletes the
victims content long
before they have a
chance to pay up.

How to guard against ransomware


Ransomware can nd its way onto your PC just like any other form of
malware, such as through an email attachment or a malicious website.
For that reason, your best line of defense is a solid antivirus and realtime malware protection program. PCWorlds guide to assembling the
ultimate free security suite (go.pcworld.com/ultimatesecuritysuite)
can help on that front.
Beyond that, however, youve got to back up your les regularly. That

CONSUMER
WATCH
way, if you ever do get hit with ransomware you still have your les
safely stashed away in a backup. The key, however, is to make sure you
have a backup utility that uses versioning where les are saved at
dierent points since its creation, so that if your backup les are also
encrypted, you can rollback to versions from a few days previous,
when everything was ne.
Check out Lincoln Spectors earlier discussion on the ins and outs of
backups that protect (go.pcworld.com/ransomwarebackup) against
ransomware.
And dont forget to make sure you have a double back-up plan that
includes a local backup to an external hard drive, as well as a cloudbased backup service such as Backblaze or Carbonite.

Goodbye, rstborn children:


This study shows how wordy
terms of service hurt users
BY IAN PAUL
ITS NO SECRET that few people pay much attention to reading and
understanding all the terms of service and privacy policies you come
across online. Now a new study shows just how ridiculous and anticonsumer the lengthy agreements really are.
The new paper, titled The Biggest Lie on the Internet, (go.pcworld.
com/biggestliepaper) created a fake social networking site with

CONSUMER
WATCH
suggestive and outrageous clauses in its Terms of Service (ToS). But
surprise! Nearly everyone joined anyway, as rst reported by Ars
Technica.
The study takes its title from a common refrain about the phrase I
have read and agree to these terms.

How it worked
The study took 543 undergraduate students from a large communication
class at a university in the eastern United States. The students were told
that their university was working
with NameDropthe fake social
networkand the students would
be participating in a pre-launch
evaluation of the website.
As with any other service you
sign up for online, you are shown the sign-up page and are asked to
read the policies. Though there was a quick-join option that allowed
you to skip the privacy policy without reading it.
Unbeknownst to the students, the terms of service contained two
questionable clauses. The rst said NameDrop may be required to
share your data with the government, including the National Security
Agency (NSA).
That clause is concerning when you really think about it, but its
close enough to what youd see in a real ToS. Twitters terms (go.
pcworld.com/twittertos), for example, says, We also reserve the right
to access, read, preserve, and disclose any information as we
reasonably believe is necessary to (i) satisfy any applicable law,
regulation, legal process or governmental request.
NameDrops second crazy clause shouldve stopped most users in
their tracksor at least clued them in that the service wasnt real. The
second clause said all users agree to give their rst-born child to
NameDrop. If the user didnt have children yet, their rst baby would
still have to go to NameDrop until 2050.
In the end, the study says 74 percent of the participants skipped

Unbeknownst to the students,


the terms of service contained
two questionable clauses.

reading the privacy policy. Those who did read the privacy policy
didnt spend longer than 73 seconds, even though it shouldve taken
around 30 minutes to read the whole thing.
The average reading time of the ToS, meanwhile, was 51 seconds
when it shouldve been closer to 16 minutes.
Perhaps the most surprising nding, however, is that those who
actually did read the crazy
clauses signed up for the
social network anyway.
The impact on you at
home: Even if you were a
conscientious user who
wanted to read all the
various terms and privacy
policies, you probably
couldnt do it. An older
study from 2012 found that it would take you about a month every
year to read all the privacy policies for every website the average
person visits in a year. Its simply impossible.
But that doesnt mean all is lost. A browser add-on for Chrome,
Firefox, Opera, and Safari called Terms of Service; Didnt read (ToS;DR)
aims to at least help you get the gist of what youre agreeing to. You
can download it directly from ToS;DRs site (go.pcworld.com/tosdr).

An older study from 2012 found


that it would take you about a
month every year to read all the
privacy policies for every website
the average person visits in a
year. Its simply impossible.

CONSUMER
WATCH

Chrysler launches bug bounty


for connected vehicles after
Jeep Cherokee hack
BY JOHN RIBEIRO
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES has launched a bug bounty program to

attract white-hat hackers to spot out cybersecurity flaws in its products


and connected services.
The program is focused on FCAs connected vehicles, including systems
within them and external services and applications that link to them.
The move follows the remote hack and control of a Jeep Cherokee, one
of the companys products, by security researchers. That breach led to
the recall (go.pcworld.com/jeephack) of 1.4 million vehicles last year.

Fiat Chrysler is also moving quite aggressively in the area of


autonomous vehicles, announcing earlier this year the joint
development of self-driven minivans (go.pcworld.com/atselfdriving)
with Alphabets Google Self-Driving Car Project.
The bug bounty program oers between US$150 to $1,500 for a
bug, which is small compared to the bounties companies like Google
and Facebook oer, but reflects the concern of car companies to
secure their cars from hacks as they plan to package more automation
and connectivity into the vehicles.
The automakers FCA US unit has teamed up with Bugcrowd, which
oers crowdsourced application security testing, and will also manage
the reward payouts depending on the criticality of the product
security vulnerability. Bugcrowd claims about
28,000 security researchers on its platform.
We want to encourage independent security
researchers to reach out to us and share what
theyve found so that we can x potential
vulnerabilities before theyre an issue for our
consumers, said Titus Melnyk, senior manager for
security architecture at FCA US.
Under the program, no legal action will be taken
nor will law enforcement be asked to investigate
researchers participating in the program provided
they comply with certain guidelines. These
guidelines include providing full details of the
vulnerability, including information needed to reproduce and validate
the issue by producing a proof of concept.
Researchers also have to make a good faith eort to avoid privacy
violations, destruction of data, and interruption or degradation of our
services, and not modify, access, or retain data that does not belong to
them. More details can be found at bugcrowd.com (bugcrowd.com/fca).
Tesla Motors also introduced a bug bounty program on Bugcrowd
(bugcrowd.com/tesla), and is currently oering between $25 and
$10,000 a bug.

The bug bounty


program offers
between US$150
to $1,500 for a bug,
which is small
compared to the
bounties companies
like Google and
Facebook offer.

News, tips, and reviews about smart homes,


home security, and home entertainment.

TechHive helps you find your


tech sweet spot.
We steer you to smart-home tech products youll love
and show you how to get the most out of them.
www.techhive.com | Follow us

I was one of our nations hungry kids growing up. Today, 1 in 5 children in America
struggle with hunger. But when they get breakfast, their days are bigger and brighter.
Learning, attention, memory and mood improve. Together, we have the power to
get breakfast to kids in your neighborhood lets make it happen. Go to hungeris.org
and lend your time or your voice.
Viola Davis, Hunger Is Ambassador

Hunger Is is a joint initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the


Entertainment Industry Foundation, which are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

Photo By: Peggy Sirota

MAKE BREAK FAST


H A P P EN
SO KIDS
CAN BE
H U N GRY
FOR
MO R E

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
44 AMD Radeon RX 480:
Redening whats
possible with a $200
graphics card

99 Best wireless
keyboards: Cut the
cord with Bluetooth
and USB models

80 Lenovo Thinkcentre
X1: All-in-one design
done right

104 Acer Chromebook 14:


You can brag a little

88 3DMark Time Spy


tested: Radeon vs.
GeForce

112 The 10 best PC games


you havent played in
2016 (so far)

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

TESTED IN PCWORLD LABS


In this section, hardware & software
go through rigorous testing.

AMD
Radeon RX
480: Redening
whats possible with
a $200 graphics card
BY BRAD CHACOS

UG YOUR MONITORS and hide the kids games. With


the launch of the Radeon RX 480 ($200 for 4GB version
on Newegg, $240 for 8GB version on Amazon), the
next-generation graphics war is ocially on, with both
AMD and Nvidia now oering graphics cards built around underlying
processor technology that represents a massive two-generation leap
over what weve used for four long years. Welcome to the future.
While Nvidia went for shock and awe with the ferociously powerful
$600 GeForce GTX 1080 and $380 GTX 1070, AMDs employing guerilla
tactics to win the hearts, minds, and dollars of the masses, complete
with an ad campaign rife with revolutionary undertones. The Radeon
RX 480 is the rst graphics card capable of cranking out VR without
breaking the bank. Equally as impressive, its the rst $200 card
capable of delivering uncompromising 1080p gaming and damn ne
performance at 2560x1440 resolution. This thing kicks the butt of the
last generations Radeon 380 and GeForce 960.
Lets dig in.

Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/radeon
rx480vid

Meet Polaris and the Radeon RX 480


Most of the Radeon RX 480s boost stems from its use of AMDs new
Polaris GPU cores, which the companys been teasing for half a year
now. The industrys been stuck using 28nm GPU cores since 2011, with
all graphics cards released since then essentially
iterating around the same underlying technology as
both AMD and Nvidia skipped the 20nm generation.
AMD Radeon
Polaris embraces both 14nm transistors as well as
RX 480 (8GB)
advanced FinFET technology that make those
AMDs first graphics card
shrunk-down transistors even more power-ecient.
built around its cutting(Nvidias new Pascal GPUs utilize 16nm FinFET
edge Polaris GPU delivers
big performance and better
transistors.)
power efficiency for just
Moving to 14nm lets AMD cram more technology
$200 (4GB version).
into its GPUs, too. As you can see in the chart on the
next page, the Radeon RX 480 contains 2,304 stream
processors, which are AMDs equivalent to Nvidias
CUDA coresthough its impossible to compare the
two radically dierent architectures in sheer core
counts alone. AMDs previous $200 graphics card, the
Radeon R9 380, packed 1,792 stream processors by
comparison, and the more powerful Radeon R9 380X
contained 2,048. The number of onboard compute
units expanded from 28 CUs in the R9 380 to 36 CUs
in the RX 480.
AMD was also able to crank the RX 480s clock
speeds. The reference Radeon RX 480 boosts up to
1,266MHz out of the box, with a base clock of
1,120MHz. Its predecessors topped out at 970MHz. A
big jump in stream processor count paired with a big
jump in clock speeds means a big jump in overall
performancewhich well get to in a bit. (Such a
tease!)
Team Red supersized the memory in its $200
oering, too. The older R9 380 and GeForce GTX 960

PROS
t%JUDIFBQQSJDF
t/PDPNQSPNJTFTQ
gaming, good 1440p
gaming
t$BOQPXFSWJUVBMSFBMJUZ
headsets
t#JHMFBQJOQPXFSFJDJFODZ
over past AMD cards
CONS
t4UJMMOPUBTQPXFSFJDJFOU
as GeForce cards
t4UBCJMJUZBOEQFGPSNBODF
issues with slick new
overclocking software
$240

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
both started with 2GB of onboard RAM,
though pricier 4GB versions were also
available. But the Radeon RX 480s $200
version contains 4GB of memory, while
an 8GB versionthe model tested
herewill sell for $240.
Thats traditional GDDR5 memory, by
the way, not the exotic high-bandwidth
memory found in the Radeon Fury series
or the newer GDDR5X memory found in
Nvidias GTX 1070 and 1080. Sticking to
GDDR5 no doubt helps AMD keep costs
downcrucial in a $200 graphics card
and to be honest, it still holds up just
ne for in-game performance. Its
important to note that the two RX 480
variants are clocked at dierent
memory speeds: The 4GB model tops
out at 7Gbps, while the 8GB model hits
8Gbps. AMD says the memory specs in
custom cards by partners such as
VisionTek, Asus, and Sapphire might vary,

Radeon RX 480
GCN Architecture

4th Generation

Compute Units

36

Stream Processors

2304

Clock Speeds (Boost /Base)

1266 MHz / 1120 Mhz

Peak Performance

Up to 5.8 TFLOPS

Memory Size

4/8 GB

Memory Bandwidtch

224 GB/s or higher

Memory Interface

256 bit

Memory Type

GDDR5

Board Power

150W

AMD FreeSync Technology

Yes

DirectX 12 Support

Yes

Vulkan Support

Yes

VR Premium

Yes

DisplayPort Version

1.3 HBR / 1.4 HDR Readu

Below: A breakdown of the RX 480s Polaris GPU,


for you GPU nerds out there. The Polaris GPU also
brings enhanced geometry engines, improved
shader eciency, updated memory and delta
color compression engines, and more.

but will hit a 7Gbps minimum. Custom boards should be available now.
Considering all the shader processors and RAM that AMD stued
into this thing, its remarkable how small the cards circuit board
actually is, as we mentioned in our visual preview of the RX 480. While
this is a full-length card (just under 9.5 inches in order to
accommodate the cooling systems heat sink and single blower-style
fan), the PCB itself is only an inch or so longer than the diminutive
Radeon Nano, and that card benets from high-bandwidth memorys
extreme space savings. The RX 480s memory chips must be laid out
on the board itself. Custom mini-ITX versions of this card could be
exciting.
The Radeon RX 480 also swipes the Radeon Nanos and the Radeon
Fury Xs sense of style, mimicking their sleek black exterior and
prominent Radeon branding, though the RX 480 feels a bit more
lightweight and plasticky in hand. But youll only hold it in your hand
to install it anyway. The Radeon RX 480 looks flat-out stunning
though as with the Nano, theres no backplate on the reference
version.
Youll get stunning visuals out of this thing, too. Polaris supports high
dynamic range video via its singular HDMI 2.0b port and trio of
DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 connections.

Note how
much smaller
the Radeon RX
480s PCB is;
the back third
of the card is
just shroud and
fan.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Those fancy new DisplayPorts also support video refresh rates up to


120Hz at 4K resolution or 60Hz at 5K resolution. DVI connections on
reference designs have been phased out as planned, just like on the
Fury cards. But fear not if youre still rocking a DVI monitor: Custom
boards often add DVI connections right back in. DVI really is going the
way of the dodo, however, so
its time to think about
upgrading your display to a
model with superior HDMI/
DisplayPort connections.
Improvements flow out of
the RX 480, too: When it
comes to compute-intensive
video-decode/encode operations, the Polaris GPU is more powerful
than any previous AMD processor.
The card sips down 150 watts of board power via a single 6-pin
power connector on its edge. Nvidias GTX 1070 draws the same
amount of power, but via an 8-pin connector for more overclocking
headroom. Well get more into comparisons when we look at the RX
480s power use.
Overall, the Radeon RX 480 is an awfully attractive card that screams
qualitynot what youd expect to nd in the $200 price range. Its a
big change from AMDs previous R200 series. But hardware is only half
of the equation.

Overall, the Radeon RX 480


is an awfully attractive card
that screams qualitynot
what youd expect to nd in
the $200 price range.

Next page: The Radeon RX 480s software tricks.

Continued: AMD Radeon RX 480

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

AMD Radeon RX 480: Using


WattMan for overclocking
BY BRAD CHACOS

AMD TYPICALLY RESERVES new features for its yearly flagship

software launches, but its rolling out a great new tool alongside the
RX 480: AMD WattMan. WattMans essentially a supercharged version
of the OverDrive overclocking tool AMD has included in its control
panel for a while now, with some cool new capabilities and a highly

The AMD
WattMan
interface in
Radeon
Settings.

unfortunate name that brings old Sony Walkman cassette players and
crappy superheroes to mind. Seriouslywho thought WattMan
sounded better than OverDrive?
If youre the overclocking type, WattMan (found in Gaming > Global
Settings > Global WattMan) delivers everything you need to tweak your
RX 480s power limit, fan-speed minimums and maximums, targettemperature minimum and maximums, GPU and memory clocks, and
individual GPU and memory voltage levels. Its pretty comprehensive,
and AMD took things one step further with the introduction of GPU
frequency-curve controls, which let you customize the overclocks for
various dynamic power management states (DPMs).
The RX 480 ships with a default frequency curve that aects clock
speeds across the various DPMs, and you can apply an overclock by
increasing that curve by a set percentage. Alternatively, you can
manually set the overclock limits for each DPM using AMDs new
dynamic GPU frequency curve controls. That will let you tailor the
overclocking prole to better t your specic GPUs potential, but the
lack of an automated tool to nd your cards limits may restrict its

A histogram
tracking the
Radeon RX 480s
behavior in Far
Cry Primal.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
usefulness in real-world scenarios. (To be fair, there are scanning tools
to nd your GPUs limits for the Nvidias GTX 10-series cards, but
theyre buggy as hell and irritating to use.)
Increasing the power limit is vital to the RX 480 overclocking
process, AMD representatives said. You can boost the RX 480s power
limit by up to 50 percent.
Youll nd another handy tool at the top of the Global WattMan
settings page in the form of a histogram that tracks your cards
current peak and average GPU activity, temperature, fan speed, and
engine/memory clock speeds, and then displays the results as a graph
over time. Studying the histogram can really help you hone in on how
your cards behaving, which is crucial to the overclocking process. Pergame histogram tracking can also be enabled in the new Prole
WattMan tab in your proles.
Dorky name aside, the new WattMan tools, combined with the
existing per-game overclocking options in the Radeon Settings app,
provide GPU tweakers with a seriously robust, easy-to-read set of tools
for boosting game performance across the board or in specic games.
Its wonderful to see what Radeon
Settings, AMDs sleek new control
panel (go.pcworld.com/radeon
hubtour), is evolving into.
Unfortunately, our test system
was alicted by an issue that
prevents us from being able to
include overclocking results in our
performance section. We
managed to push our card to a
ve-percent simple frequency
increase on the GPU clock, or a 1,335MHz max, which AMD engineers
said was higher than their own sample. We also eked out an additional
150MHz in memory clock speeds.
But applying the overclock actually caused performance to
decrease, sometimes drastically. The more we increased the power

Compute Preemption Graphics

Quick Response Queue

Shader Utilization

Asynchronous Compete

Time
Graphics

Compute

*DIAGRAMS FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES ONLY

limit, the worse performance became, no matter how high we cranked


the fans or ddled with temperature settings. The Global WattMan
section also appeared to have some stability issues, infrequently
crashing the entire Radeon Settings app when we opened it.
AMD engineers speculate the performance hiccup could be an issue
with our motherboards power delivery, but there was no way to get a
new mobo set up in time for testing. For what its worth, Ive
overclocked dozens of cards in this system without issue, and I heard
from other reviewers who ran into similar problems with performance
decreases during overclocking. AMD says its engineers and many
other reviewers hadnt run into the issue, however, so your mileage
may vary.
Dont let our bizarre technical hiccups ruin your impression of this
seriously slick, horribly named tool though. I dig it a lotif it works.

Support for VR, DirectX 12 and Vulkan


While WattMan may be the only high-prole new addition to join
existing Radeon features like support for stutter-free FreeSync
displays (go.pcworld.com/gvsfreesync) and the surprisingly potent
Frame Rate Target Control (go.pcworld.com/frtc), AMDs also loaded
the RX 480 with everything needed to support the next generation of
gaming goodies. Namely, virtual reality and cutting-edge close to the
metal graphics APIs like DirectX 12 and Vulkan.
Bringing virtual reality to the masses is the big marketing hook

Heres an AMDsupplied
diagram that
illustrates how
asynchronous
compute,
standard
preemption,
and the new
Quick Response
Queue behave.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
AMDs using to push the RX 480. It feels a bit weird, since the Oculus
Rift and HTC Vive are still new, niche gadgets with $600 to $800 price
tags that are anything but mainstream. AMDs $200 card helps make
the PCs you need to power the headsets much more aordable, at
least. Think of it as laying the groundwork for wider adoption down
the road.
The Radeon RX 480 delivers the raw repower needed to certify as
Capable in Valves SteamVR performance test (go.pcworld.com/
steamvrtest), but the VR readiness doesnt end there. AMD says the
card oers lower latency and smoother overall frame times. That will
pay dividends in traditional gaming and is doubly important to
maintain a feel of immersion in VR. If frame rates start sputtering in
VR, youll start spewing in real life. The 8GB of RAM in the $240 version
helps ensure games that gobble up memory will stay smooth, too.
Another key weapon in the Radeon RX 480s VR arsenal (go.pcworld.
com/vrarsenal) is its dedicated asynchronous compute engine (ACE)
hardware. If your card does have trouble maintaining smooth frame
rates in a VR game, the Oculus Rift uses a technique called
Asynchronous Timewarp. Asynchronous Timewarp checks your
headsets position right before displaying an image, and if your head
position has moved since the last frame was rendered, Timewarp will
adjust the image slightly to match your current orientation. It reduces
judder and keeps you from hurling.
The GCN architecture that Polaris is based on includes ACEs that
basically act as trac cops, directing myriad graphics tasks to take
best advantage of all available Radeon graphics resources

DOTA 2 FPS
4k Ultra
1440p Ultra
0
OpenGL

20

40

60

80

100

Vulkan

120

140

160

simultaneously, rather than using a queue-based preemption


approach that forces the GPU to complete one task before moving on
to another. ACEs let Radeon GPUs do more things at the same time
like performing Asynchronous Timewarp calculations without
disrupting the main graphics pipeline.
AMD recently added a new API for its ACEs.
Dubbed Quick Response Queue, it allows
developers to flag specic taskssuch as the
aforementioned Timewarpas high priority.
The GPUs ACE hardware then assigns highpriority tasks ahead of normal tasks, so timecritical functions get the quick attention they
deserve while standard tasks continue to
process, albeit with fewer resources.
The Radeon RX 480s ACE hardware can also
deliver big benets in the latest games, just
now trickling out, that tap the all-new DirectX 12 and Vulkan APIs.
ACE delivers even more benets with titles that lean heavily on both
your processor and your graphics cardstrategy games, for
instanceand in situations where your graphics card signicantly
outclasses your CPU.
Youll see the benets materialize in our Ashes of the Singularity DX11
vs. DX12 benchmarks later. Meanwhile, this AMD-supplied benchmark
shows how Dota 2 behaves in DX11 vs. its beta Vulkan mode. (Vulkan
rose from the ashes of AMDs aborted Mantle API: go.pcworld.com/
mantleapi.)
Nvidias new GTX 10-series cards include several new features (go.
pcworld.com/geforcegtx1080) designed to improve asynchronous
compute performance, but until more DX12 games start hitting the
market, we wont be able to thoroughly compare the Nvidia and AMD
implementations. AMDs ACE hardware gave AMD a solid boost over
GTX 900-series cards in Ashes of the Singularity.
But enough chit-chat. Lets throw some games at AMDs rst Polarisbased graphics card.

The Radeon RX
480s ACE hardware
can also deliver big
benets in the latest
games, just now
trickling out, that tap
the all-new DirectX
12 and Vulkan APIs.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
Testing the RX 480 in 6 benchmarks
As ever, we tested the RX 480 on PCWorlds dedicated graphics card
benchmark system (go.pcworld.com/diygamingpc), which is loaded
with high-end components to avoid potential bottlenecks in other
parts of the machine and show unfettered graphics performance. Key
highlights of the build:
t Intels Core i7-5960X ($1,016 on Newegg) with a Corsair Hydro
Series H100i closed-loop water cooler ($105 on Newegg).
t An Asus X99 Deluxe motherboard ($380 on Newegg).
t Corsairs Vengeance LPX DDR4 memory ($65 on Newegg), Obsidian
750D full tower case ($140 on Newegg), and 1,200-watt AX1200i
power supply ($308 on Newegg).
t A 480GB Intel 730 series SSD ($250 on Newegg)
t Windows 10 Pro
To see how hard the 8GB Radeon RX 480 punches, we compared it to
some obvious rivals. The current crop of $200-ish graphics cards are
represented in the form of EVGAs GTX 960 SSC, VisionTeks Radeon R9
380, and Sapphires Radeon R9 380X. Youll also nd results for more
potent cards: The Sapphire Nitro R390, EVGA GTX 970 FTW, MSI Radeon

390X Gaming 8GB, and the reference Nvidia GTX 980. Were not including Radeon RX 480 overclocking results for the reasons stated earlier.
I would have liked to pit the reference AMD RX 480 against reference
versions of each of those cards; but well, I simply didnt have any on
hand. Of particular importance for comparison purposes: note that
the EVGA GTX 970 FTW is a highly overclocked version of the GTX 970,
which puts its overall performance midway between that of the stock
GTX 970 and stock GTX 980. Read Anandtechs EVGA GTX 970 FTW
review (go.pcworld.com/atgeoforcegtx970) if you want deeper details
on how the custom card compares against its stock counterparts.
Beyond the hardware, we test each game with the default graphics
settings unless otherwise noted. But we disable all vendor-specic
special featuressuch as Nvidias GameWorks eects, AMDs TressFX,
and FreeSync/G-Syncto keep things on an even playing eld.
Got it? Good. Lets go.
Next: Testing The Division, Hitman, and more

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Continued: AMD Radeon RX 480

AMD Radeon RX 480:


Game testing results
BY BRAD CHACOS
WELL KICK THINGS OFF with Ubisofts The Division, a third-person

shooter/RPG that mixes elements of Destiny and Gears of War. The


game uses Ubisofts new Snowdrop engine and is set in a gritty postapocalyptic New York City.

The Division, ultra preset


36.6

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

26.2
40

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

29.7
43.7

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

33.1
55.4

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

37.5
57.5

AMD Radeon
RX 480

41.4
52.8

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

40.7
57.2

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

45.5
60

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

48
0

10

20

30

40

50

AVERAGE FRAME RATE, HIGHER = BETTER


1080

1440

60

70

The Radeon RX 480 delivers a huge performance boost over the


current generation of $200 graphics cards, outpunching the Sapphire
Nitro R9 390 and the EVGA 970 FTW despite their hefty overclocks.
More importantly, the Radeon RX 480 flirts with a 60-frames-persecond average at 1080p resolution with all the bells and whistles
enabled in one of todays more graphically demanding games. Thats
damned impressive for a $200 card.

Hitman DX11, ultra


62.27

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

44.69
70.99

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

52.21
57.85

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

46.15
60.79

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

47.48
69.95

AMD Radeon
RX 480

57.72

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

57.14

69.27
77.42

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

65.73
65.51

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

51.38
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

AVERAGE FRAME RATE


1080

1440

HIGHER = BETTER. SEE PROGRAMMING NOTE ABOUT GTX 960 AND RADEON 380 ON PAGE 62.

80

90

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Hitman, 1440, ultra


37.39

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

44.69
44.45

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

52.21

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

47.02
46.15

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

46.4
47.48
60.75
57.72

AMD Radeon
RX 480

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

AVERAGE FRAME RATE

Hitman, 1080, ultra


54.79
62.27

EVGA GTX
960 SSC
VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

60.13

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

59.82
57.85

70.99

61.58
60.79

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

76.29
69.95

AMD Radeon
RX 480

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

AVERAGE FRAME RATE


DX12

DX11

HIGHER = BETTER. SEE PROGRAMMING NOTE ABOUT GTX 960 AND RADEON 380 ON PAGE 62.

80

90

Hitman
The Radeon RX 480 walks into Hitman with a default advantage,
because IO Interactives Glacier engine heavily favors AMD hardware.
Programming note: Hitman automatically caps the games Texture
Quality, Shadow Maps, and Shadow Resolution at medium on cards
with 2GB of onboard memory. The EVGA GTX 970 FTW and VisionTek
R9 380 were thus tested with those lower graphical settings. Ive still
included them in the graphs so you can see the comparative DX11 vs.

Rise of the Tomb Raider, 1440


39.41

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

27.52

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

28.19

38.47
44.76

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

37.1
57.3
52.57

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

56.65
51.22

AMD Radeon
RX 480

59.64

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

50.82
61.05
55.21

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

66.03
59.25

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

10

20

30

40

50

AVERAGE FRAME RATE, HIGHER = BETTER


High

Very high

60

70

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Rise of the Tomb Raider, 1440


57.12

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

42.58
51.91

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

38.03
62.32
50.98

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X
EVGA GTX
970 FTW

81.98
74.63

AMD Radeon
RX 480

81.14
73.41
78.59
69.09

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

85.59
75.05

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

101.46
90.43

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

20

40

60

80

100

AVERAGE FRAME RATE, HIGHER = BETTER


High

Very high

DX12 performance on those cards, but note that their results arent a
direct apples-to-apples comparison with the others.
Surprise! The Radeon RX 480 solidly outpunches the overclocked EVGA
970 FTW, and it nishes in a dead heat with the overclocked Sapphire R9
390. That lead increases slightly if you use Hitmans DirectX 12 support,
which results in slightly lower average frame rates for GeForce cards, and
higher average frame rates for AMD cardsbut only if the card has 4GB of
memory or more. Frame rates absolutely tank in DX12 with the 2GB cards.

120

Rise of the Tomb Raider


Rise of the Tomb Raider favors GeForce cardswhich makes it even
more impressive that the Radeon RX 480 trades blows with the
overclocked EVGA 970 FTW across the board. Its also the most dropdead gorgeous game Ive ever laid my eyes on.
AMDs new card falls between the custom, overclocked R9 390 and
R9 390X here, and it utterly demolishes the older $200 graphics cards.

Ashes of the Singularity, 1080, high preset


36.8
34.7

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

42

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

35.1

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

35.6

46
54.5
53.8

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

56.4

AMD Radeon
RX 480

38.8
61.2

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

40
62

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

41.4
58.3
56.6

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

10

20

30

40

50

AVERAGE FRAME RATE, HIGHER = BETTER


DX12

DX11

60

70

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Ashes of the Singularity, 1440, crazy preset


5.4
5.1

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

10.7
9.6

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

23.3
20.9

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

27.9
29.3

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

29.3

AMD Radeon
RX 480

24.8
33.4

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

26.7
36

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

27.9
28.4
29.4

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

10

15

25

20

30

35

AVERAGE FRAME RATE


DX12

DX11

HIGHER = BETTER

Far Cry Primal


Yep, we use two dierent Ubisoft games in our lineupbut Far Cry Primal
runs on a completely dierent engine than The Division. Far Cry Primal
uses the latest version of the long-running and well-respected Dunia
engine. We test the game with the free 4K HD Texture Pack installed.
This game scales well across the board, and the RX 480 beats the
EVGA 970 FTW across the board. At 1080p resolution, however,
everything from the GTX 970 on up bunches together, with AMDs

40

$200 card delivering essentially the same frame rates as the GTX 980
and Radeon 390X. Performance gaps widen a bit at 1440p, though.
And the competing $200 graphics cards never once came close to
hanging with the RX 480.

Ashes of the Singularity


Between the bolted-on DirectX 12 support in Hitman and Rise of the
Tomb Raider and the inherent diculties in testing Windows Store
appswhich dont support traditional overlays or benchmarking tools

Ashes of the Singularity, 1440, high preset


30.5
29.5

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

34.8
32

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

40.2

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

32.5
45.8
47.2

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

50

AMD Radeon
RX 480

37

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

37.4

54.5
58.3

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

40.2
49.4
47.9

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

10

20

30

40

AVERAGE FRAME RATE


DX12

DX11

HIGHER = BETTER

50

60

70

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
like FRAPStheres only a single game with a stellar DX12
implementation to test: Ashes of the Singularity, running on Oxides
custom Nitrous engine.
Ashes was an early standard-bearer for DirectX 12, and its still the
premier game. (Its fun, too!) The performance gains it oers with DX12
over DX11 are eye-openingat least when running on Radeon cards.
The Radeon RX 480 cant compete with the EVGA 970 FTW in
standard DirectX 11 mode. But as with all the rest of AMDs cards,
flipping over to DirectX 12 causes performance to skyrocketso

Ashes of the Singularity, 1080, crazy preset


8.6

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

21.1
6.4

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

20
28.2

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

24.3
33.8
35.5

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

35

AMD Radeon
RX 480

28.8
39

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

29.9
40.5

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

32
35.7
37.4

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

10

15

20

25

30

AVERAGE FRAME RATE, HIGHER = BETTER


DX12

DX11

35

40

45

much so that the Radeon RX 480 suddenly nudges out even the
mighty GTX 980 in most tests. Why wouldnt you use DX12 if you
owned this card?
Ashess DX12
implementation makes
heavy use of
asynchronous compute
features, which are
supported by dedicated
hardware in Radeon GPUs,
but not in the older GTX
900-series Nvidia cards. In
fact, the software preemption workaround that Maxwell-based Nvidia
cards use to mimic the async compute capabilities tank performance
so hard that Oxides game is coded to ignore async compute when it
detects a GeForce GPU. Those cards actually perform worse when
running Ashes in DX12.
Speaking of poor performance, the $200 2GB graphics cards from
last generation really cant handle playing at 1440p (or even 1080p, in
DX12) on Ashes crazy preset.

Ashess DX12 implementation


makes heavy use of asynchronous
compute features, which are
supported by dedicated hardware
in Radeon GPUs, but not in the
older GTX 900-series Nvidia cards.

Next: SteamVR performance and synthetic benchmarks.

Continued: AMD Radeon RX 480

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

AMD Radeon RX 480: More


Tests and the Bottom Line
BY BRAD CHACOS

VR BENCHMARKS HAVENT been able to keep up with graphics


technology. More granular VR benchmark tools promised from Crytek
and Basemark havent hit the streets yet.
That leaves us with no easy way to quantify the Radeon RX 480s
potential performance increase over the competition except for the
SteamVR benchmark. Having said that, this tool is better as a pass/fail
test for determining whether your rig can handle VR than it is for making
head-to-head GPU comparisons. Here the RX 480 fallsbarelyin the
tests green capable limits, just behind the EVGA 970 FTW.

3DMark Fire Strike and Fire Strike Ultra


We also tested the RX 480 and its rivals using 3DMarks highly
respected Fire Strike synthetic benchmark, which runs at 1080p.

RX 480 power draw


Radeon Fury R200- and R300-series GPUs absolutely thirsted for
power and sucked down massive amounts of energy. Nvidias
supremely ecient Maxwell architecture completely owned AMDs
GCN architecture on this score.
So how does the Radeon RX 480 stack up? Lets take a look.
Power is measured on a whole-system basis by plugging the PC into
a Watts Up meter, then running a stress test with Furmarkwhich
Nvidia calls a power virusfor 15 minutes. Our power and
temperature tests represent a worst-case scenario, pushing a graphics

StreamVR performance test


EVGA GTX
960 SSC

3.3

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

3.7

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

5.2

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

AMD Radeon
RX 480

6.6

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

7.1

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

7.9

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

8.3
0

AVERAGE FIDELITY SCORE, HIGHER = BETTER

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

3DMark 11 Fire Strike


EVGA GTX
960 SSC

7751

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

7696

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

8377

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

10788

AMD Radeon
RX 480

10451

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

10914

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

11784

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

12737
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

OVERALL SCORE, HIGHER = BETTER

card to its limits.


AMDs Polaris architecture improvements and the leap to 14nm
process technology has clearly paid dividends for the Radeon RX 480.
The card oers performance roughly in line with the Radeon R9 390 or
390X, but it draws hundreds of watts less power. Hot damn. Thats great!
When you compare the RX 480s power eciency against Nvidias
GeForce cards, however, these gains look slightly less impressive. The
RX 480s gaming performance falls somewhere between that of the
GTX 970 and GTX 980, and its power draw falls smack dab in the same
place. To put it another way, leaping forward two full generations
essentially helped AMD draw even with Nvidias last-generation
product. Our test system draws the same 244W when equipped with
either the GTX 970 or the GTX 1070, but Nvidias newer Pascalpowered GPU delivers performance slightly exceeding a Titan Xs.

14000

RX 480 heat generation


With that out of the way, lets peek at the thermal results for this
cornucopia of cards.
Remember: Only the Radeon RX 480 and GeForce GTX 980 are
reference designs; all the other cards sport custom coolers of various
eciency. That makes this somewhat of an apples-to-oranges aair,
but there are still things we can learn.
Right o the bat, the Radeon RX 480 runs far cooler than the old

Whole system power use


230

EVGA GTX
960 SSC

77.9
308

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

112.3
28.2

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

84.5

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

82

244
247

AMD Radeon
RX 480

90.9
421

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

108.6
483

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

94.6
256

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

81.5
0

100

200

300
WATTS

LOAD

IDLE

LOWER = BETTER

400

500

600

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

GPU temperature, full load


EVGA GTX
960 SSC

71

VisionTek Radeon
R9 380

73

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 380X

76

EVGA GTX
970 FTW

72

AMD Radeon
RX 480

82

Sapphire Nitro
Radeon 390

69

MSI Radeon 390X


Gaming 8GB

86

Nvidia GTX 980


(Reference)

80
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

DEGREES CELCIUS

R200-series reference cards. The reference Radeon R9 290 hit 92


degrees Celsius, and the R9 290X hit a whopping 95 degrees max
under load. (Those arent listed in this chart, but I have the data saved.)
In fact, the Radeon RX 480 rarely surpasses 78 degrees in actual
gameplay scenarios; as I said, we test a worst-case scenario.
Bottom line: The RX 480 runs relatively cool and quiet, especially for
a reference card, though it can get a little noisy at full tilt. Once AMD
partners like Sapphire and XFX slap beefy custom-cooling solutions on
the card, itll no doubt run deliciously cool and quiet.
Be warned that temperatures ramp up very quickly once you start
inching up the power limit during the overclocking process, however;
youll need to really ramp up the fan speed to compensate, and that
will make the card signicantly louder. Thats true whenever you
overclock, but its amplied with this reference board.

100

Stacking up against Nvidia GPUs


AMDs sure kicked the Polaris GPU family o with a bang. The Radeon
RX 480 is one hell of a graphics cardone that redenes whats
possible at aordable price points.
Never before could you get uncompromising 1080p/60fps
performance anywhere near this cheap. Never before could you get
pretty damned decent 1440p performance anywhere near this cheap.
And you sure as hell couldnt get a VR-ready card for anywhere near $200.
Now you can, and its all because of the Radeon RX 480. Kick ass.
From power eciency to performance, AMDs basically created a
more powerful GTX 970 clone for $200. Considering that the GTX 970
was crowned the peoples champion just last generation when it
launched at a then-startlingly low $330, the Radeon RX 480 is
something AMD should crow aboutespecially since the RX 480 can
go toe-to-toe with the GTX 980 in certain games and situations.
If youre disappointed in the results, well, its probably because AMD
set expectations unrealistically high when it told the Wall Street
Journal that the RX 480 delivers performance equivalent to that of
$500 graphics cards used for VR. It cant. It doesnt go toe-to-toe with
the GTX 980 or R9 390X/Fury overall; its roughly equal to the $330
GTX 970 in Valves SteamVR performance test. AMDs marketing
hyperbole may wind up disappointing some, but the card nevertheless
GTX 970

Radeon RX 480

Fan % setting

RPM

dBA

Fan % Setting

RPM

dBA

40%

1680

31.7

40%

1370

31.7

45% (Fire Strike)

1890

34.8

44% (Fire Strike)

1520

32.5

50%

2100

37.6

50%

1780

36.2

55%

2300

40.3

55%

2030

40.5

60%

2500

42.8

60%

2315

45.1

65%

2730

44.9

65%

2590

47.4

idle

1100

25.2

idle

947

26.2

ambient

23.2

ambient

23.1

We dont have
the equipment
to test noise
levels, but
heres an AMDsupplied chart
that compares
the RX 480
with the
reference GTX
970.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

rocks if you consider it without preexisting expectations.


So which version should you buy? Id counsel waiting for custom
versions from AMDs partners to launch if you can. This fancy little
beast should rock even harder with custom coolers and out-of-the-box
overclocks.
Memory-wise, the $200 4GB model should be just ne for 1080p
gaming. Some games, like Rise of the Tomb Raider, are already
exceeding 4GB at 1440p with everything cranked, though, and VR
headsets rock a higher 2160x1200 resolution. Topping out your
onboard memory limit causes nasty frame-rate slowdowns, which can
make you feel pukey in virtual reality. If youre planning to play at
1440p or to use the RX 480 for VR, Id recommend spending the extra
$40 for an 8GB model.

Radeon RX 480: the bottom line


A word of warning, though. Buy this card because it rocks at standard
gaming today. Dont bite because of promises. A lot of AMDs
marketing spin revolves around future-facing technologies that are up
in the air.
Yes, the Radeon RX 480 is a great entry-level option to get into VR,
but theres still no guarantee VR will explode like the industry hopes it
will, especially with the rst-gen headsets priced so high. The Radeon
RX 480s low price is a key step toward driving wider adoption, and
buying one hedges your bets if VR does blow up. But it hasnt yet, and
it might not.
Likewise, DirectX 12 and AMDs dedicated asynchronous compute
engine hardware is a major wild card. Results in early games like Ashes
of the Singularity and the dedicated Total War: Warhammer DX12
benchmark show great promise on Radeon cards, and Hitman sees a
decent gain, too.
But will that hold true in every game? Only certain genres and PC

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
congurations? Yes, DX12 could very well wind up being a major boon
for Radeon cards. But until DX12 and Vulkan games hit the streets in
larger numbers and were able to observe wider trends, buy the RX
480 because it kicks ass today, not for what it mightor might not
do in the future.
Again: Buy the Radeon RX 480 for what it can do today, and consider
all these future-proong technologies a bonus cherry on top.
And I denitely recommend weighing the risks before you pick up
two of these over a $380 GeForce GTX 1070. I only had a single card on
hand, so I couldnt test CrossFire performance, but Radeon chief Raja
Koduri made waves when he ran a demo that
showed dual RX 480s beating a GTX 1080 in the
Ashes of the Singularity benchmark in DX12. But
multi-GPU support has waned over the past
couple of years, with numerous big-name games
patching in CrossFire/SLI late or not at all. DirectX
12s multi-GPU support is being heralded as the
future for extreme system setups, but that puts
the onus on time- and money-deprived
developers to dedicate money and time to
coding in and supporting multi-GPU
congurations.
Frankly, Im skeptical about the future of multi-GPU systems (and
sad about it). Something to keep in mind.
What Im not skeptical about is whether you should buy the Radeon
RX 480. The answers an absolute, unequivocal yes. This is an
unprecedented amount of performance in the $200 price range, and
unprecedented power eciency for AMDs recent GPUs. Even if Nvidia
slashes the price of remaining GTX 970 stocks to $200 to match the
Radeon RX 480s price, Id still recommend AMDs card.
Really, there are only three graphics cards worth considering right
now. If youve got deep pockets, Nvidias $380 GTX 1070 and $600
GTX 1080 oer mind-blowing performance for high-end gaming rigs.
For anything under that, the Radeon RX 480s the only game in town.

What Im not
skeptical about is
whether you should
buy the Radeon RX
480. The answers
an absolute,
unequivocal yes.

Today, every GTX 900-series, R300-series, and Fury card is essentially


obsolete. The even-cheaper Radeon RX 470 and RX 460 are coming at
some point in the future, and theres no one who doubts that Nvidia
has a GeForce GTX 1060 brewing. But right now, distinct battle lines have
been drawn in the opening days of the next-generation graphics war.
For the overwhelming majority of gamers todaythe people with
less than $300 to spend, and the masses with 1080p or lowerresolution monitorsthe Radeon RX 480 is the only graphics card
worth considering. AMDs fullled its promise on bring high-end
performance to the mainstream.

Lenovo Thinkcentre X1:


All-in-one design done right
BY JON L. JACOBI

ALLINONE PCS IDEALLY save space, minimize clutter, and allow

unrestricted access to the surface they reside on. None that Ive seen
have fully realized such design goalsuntil now. Lenovos ThinkCentre
X1 (go.pcworld.com/thinkcentrex1) hits those targets dead-on.
This all-in-one is also easy to use and fast enough that if I had to use
it for my everyday computing, Id be perfectly happy. And thats
despite the handful of changes that the ThinkCentre X1 could benet
from, like dierent color-coding for the always-on USB 3.0 port and
the power jack, and options for a 4K UHD display or a touchscreen.

Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/think
centrex1vid

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
Design, ports, and style
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Lenovo
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ThinkCentre X1
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though.
AT A GLANCE
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This all-in-one doesnt sport
base is so thin that you can treat it as part of the
bleeding edge technology, but
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it performs well. Its also the
best AIO weve seen when it
instabilityit should withstand being pushed around
comes to saving space,
for repositioning without falling over.
reducing clutter, and
Another two factors are the units wide range of
maximizing desk access.
tilt, and the low amount of pressure needed to adjust
it. The result is hassle-free access to anything youve
stored behind the machine, and less frustration when
connecting cables or dongles to the rear ports.
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charging purposes), a combination headphone/
microphone jack, and a media card slot on the lower
left-hand side.
0OUIFMPXFSSJHIUIBOETJEFPGUIF9BSFUIF
power button, mute button for the microphone, and
computer/display switch. The latter is there because
UIFCJEJSFDUJPOBM%JTQMBZ1PUDPOOFDUPSHJWFTUIF

PROS
t4VQFSTQBDFTBWJOHEFTJHO
t$PNQBUJCMFXJUI7&4"NPVOUT
t(PPEQFGPSNBODFXJUI44%
configuration
t&YDFMMFOUQPUBOEGFBUVSF
arrangement
CONS
t"MXBZTPO64#QPUDBOCF
confused with power jack
t/P64# 5ZQF$ PS1$*F
M.2
 

option to drive another display or output to the ThinkCentre X1s


screen from another computer. Of course, if youre a lefty, you might
prefer the side layouts reversed, but the general clustering was a good
decision.
My one complaint about the ports is the color-coding used by
Lenovo. The X1 uses a power connector thats very close in size and
shape to a USB connector, and its yellow. So is the always-on USB port.
I get itpower equals yellow. Still, I tried to plug the power connector
into the USB port rst time out. Arguably, I could have rst consulted
the users guide, but realistically speaking, my instinct wont be
outside the norm.
One potential drawback is the lack of height adjustment. Taller users
might want to opt for an arm mountthe ThinkCentre X1 weighs
only 8.8 pounds, which even stylish lightweight arm-mounts can
handle. You will need to buy a VESA mount, however. Lenovos lowprole option for the X1 is $18.
One other thing I should mention is that the arm of the stand is so

The ThinkCentre
X1 is thin, and
quite light at
8.8-pounds sans
stand.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
thin, youll likely be able to see the cords, especially as its chrome.
Black might have been a better choice for the wire-haters out there.

Components and performance


Inside the ThinkCentre X1 are an Intel Core i5-6200U processor, 8GB of
DDR4/2133MHz RAM, a 256GB SATA SSD, and an Intel Wireless-AC
3165 card for dual-band 1x1 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.
As expected with this choice of components, the ThinkCentre X1 is
as fast as most people need for everyday tasks, like word processing
and web browsing. In PCMark 8s Home Conventional benchmark,
which runs web browsing, writing, casual gaming, photo editing, and
video chat workloads, this all-in-one machine scored 2,615. While
processors with more cores and more power do outpace it, the X1
should feel plenty quick for basic tasks.
The ThinkCentre X1 also performed as expected
in our Handbrake encoding test, which involves
converting a 30GB MKV le into a smaller MP4
using the programs Android Tablet preset. For
machines using a thermally constrained CPU,
Handbrake is more of a soak test than a measure of
performance: We use it to see how well the
machine holds up under long, intensive tasks.
The ThinkCentre X1 isnt the fastest machine
using a Core i5-6200U, but its still within the
expected range. The Dell XPS 13 still comes out
ahead likely due to fan speeds, whereas the
Samsung Notebook 9 lags incredibly far
behind because its processors clock
speed drops (throttles) under
prolonged heavy load. That said, the
ThinkCentre X1 isnt the machine you
want for regular content creation, as you
can see when compared to our PCWorld
Zero Point machine, which is a standard

The ThinkCentre
X1 tilts to far
greater angles
than the average
AIO, and doing so
doesnt take a lot
of force.

desktop tower with a full socketed part (and three years old, at that.)
Gaming on the ThinkCentre X1 is slightly below what youd expect
for its integrated HD 520 graphics. In 3DMarks Cloud Gate
benchmark, which is a synthetic DX11 test designed for typical
home desktop systems and laptops, the X1 netted an overall score
of 4,946. While thats a little surprising, it again likely has to do with
how Lenovo tweaked the fan proles.
However, even if the X1 had matched other Core i5-6200U systems
scores, that wouldnt change the fact that this all-in-one is only good
enough for lightweight games. As for video playback, 4K UHD les
played quite smoothly, as long as they were H.264 and not HEVC
(H.265) or 60 frames per second
The Thinkcentre X1s SSD, a Samsung MZ7LN256HCHP-000L1, has
a middling write speed of a little less than 300MBps, but it reads at
a reasonable pace of 500MBps. To be fair, while faster SSDs are
available, this kind of throughput speed is still light years better
than a hard-disk drive.
One aspect of the X1 that could be better is its speakers. Theres
Dolby software on board to enhance the sound, but its still a bit
weak. Youll denitely want to use headphones or hook it up to a
sound system.

The ThinkCentre
X1s ports are
perfectly
arranged and
situated, though
we wish the
always-on USB
port (not shown)
werent the same
yellow as the
power jack.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

PCMark 8 Home Conventional


Dell Skylake XPS 13
(Core i5-6200U)

2720

HP Spectre x2
(Core m7-6Y75)

2385

Intel Skull Canyon NUC


(Core i7-6770HQ)

3618

Lenovo ThinkCentre X1
(Core i5-6200U)

2615

PCWorld Zero Point


Desktop (Core i7-4770K)

3893

Samsung Notebook 9
(Core i5-6200U)

2642

Surface Pro 4
(Core i5-6300U)

2353
0

400

800

1200

1600

2000

2400

2800

3200

3600

4000

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

Handbrake Encode 0.9.9 (sec)


Dell Skylake XPS 13
(Core i5-6200U)

6839

HP Spectre x2
(Core m7-6Y75)

9898

Intel Skull Canyon NUC


(Core i7-6770HQ)

2880

Lenovo ThinkCentre X1
(Core i5-6200U)

7707

PCWorld Zero Point


Desktop (Core i7-4770K)

3059

Samsung Notebook 9
(Core i5-6200U)

11818

Surface Pro 4
(Core i5-6300U)

6428
0

2000

4000

6000

SHORTER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

8000

10000

12000

14000

3DMark Cloud Gate Overall


Dell Skylake XPS 13
(Core i5-6200U / HD 520 Graphics)

5609

HP Spectre x2
(Core m7-6Y75 / HD 515 Graphics)

4507

Intel Skull Canyon NUC


(Core i7-6770HQ / Iris Pro 580)

11999

Lenovo ThinkCentre X1
(Core i5-6200U / HD 520 Graphics)

4946

Samsung Notebook 9
(Core i5-6200U / HD 520 Graphics)

5658

Surface Pro 4
(Core i5-6300U / HD 520 Graphics)

5668
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

Input ergonomics
The keyboard and mouse provided by Lenovo are usable. They likely
wont beat out anything you already love, but they have enough heft
that they dont feel cheap. Theyre also wireless, so there are no cables
to litter the clean desktop space generated by the X1s design.

Price and warranty


You can get a ThinkCentre X1 for as little as $845 at the time of this
review (thanks to an instant rebate through Lenovos storefront), with
only 4GB of system memory and a 500GB hard drive. I highly
recommend against that conguration because of the slower
performance youll get from the hard drive compared to an SSD. Our
8GB/256GB SSD conguration costs a little over a thousand dollars,
and youll be much, much happier with it (or even the 128GB SSD)
than the HDD version in the long run.
The standard warranty is one-year on-site. Upgrading to as much as
four years of on-site service costs from $79 to $149. Notably, it includes
the option of keeping your storage driveworth noting for people

14000

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
who dislike warranties that make you surrender defective hardware.
One more plus for the ThinkCentre: The users guide shows you how
to repair and upgrade the X1, which is quite easy. Im a little tired of
vendors who say there are no user-serviceable parts when a mere halfdozen screws would allow access. Kudos to Lenovo.

Conclusion
To be perfectly honest, Id like to see Lenovo take the outstanding
basic ThinkCentre X1 design and realize it to the max: a 4K UHD
display, a PCIe-NVMe SSD, Type C USB 3.1, anda red (not yellow)
always-on USB port.
As it stands, however, 1080p is all most users need. The ThinkCentre
X1 is easily fast enough, and forking over one $1,000 bill (instead of
two) for a computer is more in line with the average budget. So lets
forget the wish list and just say that if youre looking for a solidperforming, exceptionally well-designed all-in-one, this machine
should be your starting point. And probably ending point.

Look Ma! No
wires. Actually,
you will see
some such as
the power cord
and ethernet
cable, which
are not shown
here.

3DMark Time Spy tested: We


pit Radeon vs. GeForce in this
major new DX12 benchmark
BY BRAD CHACOS

WHEN IT COMES to benchmarking software, Futuremarks 3DMark


Fire Strike is the gold standard among PC enthusiasts. But there are
limits to what Fire Strike can measure; as a DirectX 11 implementation,
the tool cant quantify how graphics cards perform with Microsofts
cutting-edge DirectX 12 graphics technology. Thats a problem as
more and more DX12 games hit the streets.
Or rather, it was a problem.
In July, Futuremark released its new Time Spy benchmark for the
3DMark suite, which is loaded with DirectX 12 features to put graphics
cards to the next-gen test.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
Time Spy isnt Futuremarks rst DirectX 12 benchmark; that honor
goes to the API Overhead Feature Test (go.pcworld.com/
apioverheadtest) released in March 2015. But the Overhead Feature Test
merely measured draw call performance in DirectX 11 versus DirectX 12
(or the now-defunct Mantle). Time Spy is a full-blown benchmark
composed of several subtests that factor into an overall combined score.
Its the DX12 equivalent of Fire Strike, basically.
And it lets you test with asynchronous compute both enabled and
disabled, which leads to some interesting insights. More on those in a bit.
Better yet: Time Spys coming to all versions of 3DMark, including the
Basic Edition thats free for personal, noncommercial use. (You can
download it on Futuremarks site, go.pcworld.com/3dmarkgamers
benchmk, or by clicking the Download demo button on 3DMarks Steam
page, go.pcworld.com/3dmarksteampg.) Time to start your engines,
folksat least if you have Windows 10.

Vertices
3DMark Fire Strike
Graphics test 1

3,900,000

3DMark Fire Strike


Graphics test 2

2,600,000

3DMark Time Spy


Graphics test 1

30,000,000

3DMark Time Spy


Graphics test 2

40,000,000

Triangles

5,100,000
5,800,000

Tessellation
patches

Computer shader
invocations

500,000
240,000

1,500,000
8,100,000

13,500,000

800,000

70,000,000

14,000,000

2,400,000

70,000,000

The paid-for Advanced Edition of 3DMark (which oers additional


features and benchmarks) is rising in price from $25 to $30 thanks to
Time Spys inclusion, however. If you already own 3DMark Advanced
Edition, you can purchase Time Spy separately for $10. But if you
bought before July 23, youll be able to upgrade for $5 or buy the
complete Advanced Edition for $10.
Futuremark provided PCWorld early access to Time Spy to see how it
handles. Lets take a deeper look at this new DirectX 12 benchmark,
and the performance results for a range of AMD and Nvidia cards.

Meet Time Spy


Futuremark developed Time Spy with input from AMD, Intel, Nvidia,
and Microsoft, with an eye toward testing DirectX 12s unique
advantages. By giving developers lower-level access to hardware, DX12
oers reduced processor overhead, better multi-threading support,
and the ability to get closer to the metal of graphics cards.
To drive home how much more DirectX 12 can process compared to
DirectX 11, Futuremark provided a chart (above) showing the average
amount of processing per frame in Fire Strike versus Time Spy.
Beyond merely being built in DirectX 12, Time Spy also supports
many of DirectX 12s highlight features. That includes asynchronous
compute, which allows compute and graphics rendering tasks to run
simultaneously, rather than one after the other; explicit multi-adapter

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
in the linked-node conguration, which essentially performs similarly
to SLI or CrossFire, but allows the benchmark to pool the resources of
the two graphics cards; explicit synchronization between CPU, GPU,
multiple GPUs, and multiple GPU queues; and several other underthe-hood tricks like resource binding and data heaps, all running in a
custom engine.
Time Spys actually broken up into a trio of tests running at
2560x1440 resolution in the ocial benchmark conguration. It starts
o with two graphics-focused tests that stress your GPU in diering
ways while minimizing the CPU load, to get as much of a pure GPU
result as possible.
The rst graphics test (pictured below) stars the titular time spy
wandering through a museum that features artifacts and weapons
from throughout time and space, complete with easter-egg-style
nods to other 3DMark benchmarks and games like Halo, Far Cry, and
Deus Ex. This rst test focuses more on rendering of transparent
elements, according to Futuremark.
The second graphics test pans and zooms throughout the same
museum, showing dierent areas illuminated by dierent light sources

than the rst test. It focuses more on ray-marched volume


illumination with hundreds of shadowed and unshadowed spot lights.
The two graphics tests each receive separate scores, which are
combined into an overall graphics score.
Then a third test hammers your CPUthe fans on our test systems
(go.pcworld.com/diygamingpc) closed-looped cooler screamed during
this sectionwhile minimizing the GPU load. It features ice-like crystal
clusters spreading throughout the screen using procedural generation,
constantly transforming and growing. The CPU test measures
performance using a demanding combination of physics simulation,
occlusion culling, and procedural generation, Futuremark says.
Once everythings done running, the CPU score and GPU score are
combined to generate an overall score using a weighted harmonic
mean.
So what does weighted harmonic mean, well, mean? Heres how
Futuremark describes it:
For a balanced system, the weights reflect the ratio of the
eects of GPU and CPU performance on the overall score. Balanced
in this sense means the Graphics and CPU test scores are roughly
the same magnitude.
For a system where either the Graphics or CPU score is
substantially higher than the other, the harmonic mean rewards
boosting the lower score. This reflects the reality of the user

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
experience. For
W graphics + W cpu
Time Spy Score =
example, doubling the
W graphics W cpu
CPU speed in a system
+
S graphics S cpu
with an entry-level
Where:
graphics card doesnt
W graphics = The Graphics score weight, equal to 0.85
help much in games
= The CPU score weight, equal to 0.15
W cpu
since the system is
S graphics = Graphics test score
already limited by the
= CPU test score
S cpu
GPU. Likewise for a
system with a highend graphics card paired with an underpowered CPU.
Got it? Good. Lets see how several modern graphics cards compare
in Time Spy.

Time Spy tested


We selected six cards to put Time Spy through its paces.
With AMD pushing DirectX 12 so hard, as it takes superb advantage

of the dedicated async compute engine hardware inside Radeon


graphics cards, testing the Polaris GPU-based (go.pcworld.com/
amdpolaris) $200 Radeon RX 480 (see page 44) was a no-brainer. That
cards competitive with Nvidias older Maxwell GPU-based EVGA GTX
970 FTW. We also wanted to test AMDs older Hawaii GPU, so MSIs R9
390X Gaming was added to the mix, along with its GeForce
counterpart, the reference edition of the GTX 980. Finally, we also
tested the Asus Strix Fury (go.pcworld.com/amdradeonr9furyrev) and
Nvidias GeForce GTX 1070 Founders Edition (go.pcworld.com/geforce
gtx1070rev) to ensure AMDs Fiji GPU and Nvidias Pascal GPU were
each tested.
Why no Fury X (go.pcworld.com/amdfuryx)? Because we were under
time constraints and installing its integrated closed-loop water cooler
into our test systems Corsair Obsidian 750D (go.pcworld.com/
obsidian750d) case is a pain if youre swapping out a bunch of cards.
Lets see how things shook out. Focus mainly on the graphics (GPU)
score.
First impressions: The power of the dedicated async shader

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
hardware inside Radeon graphics cards shines in this test. Excluding
the ridonkulously powerful GTX 1070, Radeon hardware dominates
Nvidias GeForce cards in this DirectX 12-focused test, lending yet
more credence to the idea that AMDs cards have an advantage in
next-generation graphics technologies. Even the $200 RX 480
thoroughly trounces the GTX 980. (Note that Nvidia tends to hold an
advantage in DirectX 11 performance, however, which still accounts
for the vast majority of game releases.)
The CPU scores are largely similar across the board, but were using a
$1,000, eight-core Core i7-5960X. Theres a decent chance wed see
more variance in a system with a weaker processor, as closer to the
metal APIs like DirectX 12 show larger performance increases in
systems that are CPU-bound.
Heres the thing, though: Time Spy leans heavily on asynchronous
compute to overlap rendering passes to maximize GPU utilization,
which naturally favors the dedicated hardware in Radeon graphics
cards. While many DX12 games will feature async compute, its not a

3DMark Time Spy (DX12)


3911
7396

EVGA GTX 970 FTW

3611
3971
7334

Nvidia GeForce GTX 980

3674
4299
7451

AMD Radeon RX 480

4001
4554
7211

MSI R9 390X Gaming 8GB

4276
4837
7342

Asus Radeon Strix Fury

4563
5742
7199

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070

5545
0

GPU

1000

CPU

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

OVERALL

required feature of the API.


You can disable async compute in a custom run, however. We did so
to see how AMD and Nvidias cards compare with that crucial feature
turned o, and to see how the GTX 1070which includes key new
async compute (go.pcworld.com/geforcegtx1080) features
performs in relation to the older GTX 970 and GTX 980. (Note that
there is no overall score assigned in custom runs.)
And we have a graph comparing just the graphics scores of the cards,

8000

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
with async compute both enabled and disabled.
Now isnt that interesting.
Nvidias GTX 970 and GTX 980 see very minor graphics score
decreases running Time Spy with async compute disabled, but remain
static for the most part. Meanwhile, the GTX 1070 sees a larger
decrease (while still dominating overall), indicating that the async
improvements Nvidia built into the Pascal GPU indeed make a
dierence.
But the graphics scores for AMDs cards positively plummet, driving
home just how important the dedicated async shaders are for Radeon
graphics cardsat least in DX12 games that take advantage of asynchronous compute. With async compute disabled, the Radeon cards
tumble back down to relatively equal scores with their Nvidia counter-

3DMark Time Spy (DX12), Async compute disabled


7393

EVGA GTX 970 FTW

3590
7364

Nvidia GeForce GTX 980

3647
7431

AMD Radeon RX 480

3598
7358

MSI R9 390X Gaming 8GB

3692
7355

Asus Radeon Strix Fury

3944
7356

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070

5221
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

OVERALL SCORE, HIGHER = BETTER


GPU

CPU

6000

7000

8000

3DMark Time Spy (DX12), Graphics score only


3590
3611

EVGA GTX 970 FTW

3647
3674

Nvidia GeForce GTX 980

3598
4001

AMD Radeon RX 480

3692

MSI R9 390X Gaming 8GB

4276
3944

Asus Radeon Strix Fury

4563
5221
5545

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

OVERALL SCORE, HIGHER = BETTER


Async enabled

Async disabled

parts, similar to what wed see if testing these cards in DirectX 11.
Also compare the CPU scores between the two runs. Its clearly
dependent on the GPUs async compute scheduling in some way,
resulting in a fairly big dierence when async compute is disabled.

Go forth and benchmark


But dont necessarily take our word for it. Want to see how your
system handles DirectX 12, or simply try to push your rig to the top of
the Time Spy leaderboards? Go download Futuremarks 3DMark suite
(go.pcworld.com/3dmarkgamersbenchmk)and expect to see Time
Spy results show up in PCWorlds graphics card reviews in the future.
Get it? Time Spy? In the future?
Okay, Ill stop now.

6000

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Best wireless keyboards:


Cut the cord with Bluetooth
and USB models oering
extras galore
BY AOIFE M. McEVOY

A WIRELESS KEYBOARD frees you from more than a cable. It frees you

from the crummy slab you got for free with your Windows PCdoes
anyone like that one?and it gives you options. The models weve
reviewed vary in size, weight, key design, and compatibility with other
operating systems and devices.

This is one category where it really pays to head to a store and try
out a model youre interested in. When we had our stack of keyboards
in for review, people couldnt help but touch and play with them. They
all came with dierent needs and biases. Theres truly no one size to
t all, but our reviews aim to give you enough specics to make a
sound decision. See the next page for more on how we tested.
Iogears Quietus RF Desktop (go.pcworld.com/
quietusrf) was quieter than some of the models we
tested, though not all of them, so dont focus on that
BEST WIRELESS KEYBOARD
selling point as much as the overall package: a nicely
Quietus RF Desktop
designed, well-equipped keyboard with the bonus of a
This keyboard is, indeed, fairly
wireless mouse, all for a very reasonable price.
quiet, but we appreciated the
Typing on this chiclet-style model, we enjoyed
terrific travel and satisfying
terric travel and a satisfying (and fairly quiet)
feedback of the keys even
clicking sound. The 12 hotkeys, including instant
more. The bundled wireless
access to track management, volume handling, and
mouse is a nice bonus. Read
sleep mode, are especially handy.
PCWorlds full review (go.
It uses just one AAA battery, which is supposed to
pcworld.com/quietusrev).
last for up to a year.
$40
Despite its higher list price compared to the Iogear
Quietus RF Desktop, Microsofts Wireless 900 Desktop
(go.pcworld.com/mswireless900) costs basically the
same if you shop around. Like the Iogear model, this
RUNNER-UP
one also bundles a wireless mouse.
Wireless 900 Desktop
Its the runner-up primarily because it doesnt have
The Wireless 900 offers an
as many hotkeys as the Iogear model, although it does
impressive amount of
have eight programmable keys. The other downer for
customization via software, and
us is the spacebar, which emits a loud thwack when
its also nice to type on save for
pressed. Considering this buttons constant use, that
one key. Read PCWorlds full
thwack could get annoying fast.
review (go.pcworld.com/ms
Wed criticize the Microsoft keyboards use of two
wireless900rev).
AAA batteries versus the Iogears one, but those
batteries are supposed to last twice as longfor up
$50
to two years.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Key things to know about wireless models


Wireless keyboards connect to a PC in one of two ways: via
Bluetooth or a USB receiver. Some older Windows 7 machines may
not support Bluetooth. On the other hand, if you need a keyboard
to work across dierent platforms on newer devices, a Bluetoothenabled model is what you need. The latest Bluetooth 4.0
specication features low-energy technology to save battery, too.
All the USB receiver-driven models in this roundup were flawless
examples of plug-and-play keyboards. Pairing Bluetooth keyboards
(compared to Bluetooth headsets, lets say) requires a few more steps,
and only one of the models was slightly flaky in maintaining its
connection.
Bluetooth keyboards tend to cost a little more but also oer longer
battery life. As youre shopping (particularly if you have big ngers),
keep in mind that some hardware makers sacrice the keys size and
spacing to give you portability.

How we tested
It was hands-on all the way with our keyboard testing. We spent at
least one full workday typing exclusively on each model we tested,
with follow-up time to allow for a learning curve. We assessed the
primary typing experience: key design, typing feel, and even noisiness.
We also tried the secondary features: hotkeys, switches and dials on
multi-platform models, and even the ability to adjust the angle or
other comfort characteristics.

Iogear Quietus
RF Desktop

We considered the size, weight, and durability of each model against


its purposewhether it was designed to be portable or desk-bound,
and compact or fully featured. For instance, we balanced the rollable,
water-resistant Adesso Antimicrobial Waterproof Keyboards resilient
design against its unusual look and feel.

What to consider when shopping


Youre going to use this keyboard every day, so make sure it ts your
typing habits and your needs. Heres what to keep in mind as you shop.
Size: A model that will always sit on your desktop can be bigger and
heavier, and usually some other advantages come with that. As more
of us carry laptops or tablets, however, well look for models that are
compact or portable. These will sacrice some features but be easier
to take with you.
Keys: Look for keys that are sculpted and spaced for typing comfort.
This is why we encourage trying before buying: Weve had very dierent
experiences with traditional keys versus chiclet-style versus flatter key
designs, and its surprising how little things like the texture or the
amount of dimple will make or break a choice. Most mainstream
keyboards use membrane technology, which is adequate for most users,
but heavy-duty users and gamers will likely prefer keyboards with
mechanical switches (which are not reviewed here). Windows hotkeys, or

Microsofts Wireless 900


Desktop keyboard

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
even programmable keys, are great bonuses, especially for power users.
Adjustability: Some keyboards oer no adjustment for angle or
height. Look for models with adjustable legs or feet. We havent
included ergonomic models in this round of reviews.
Battery needs: All wireless keyboards use batteries. Check closely
for the type and number of batteries you need, and whether a starter
set is included. We note the vendors specied battery life at the top
of each review.
Price: When its so easy to get a keyboard for free, it can be hard to
justify actually buying one. The good news is, you can get a solid
model for as little as $40, including some of the ones weve reviewed.
We show the MSRP for each model, but of course you can often nd it
for less at online or brick-and-mortar stores.

All our wireless keyboard reviews


Keyboards are a very personal choice. Whether you want big or small,
desktop or portable, with more or fewer buttons and adjustments,
you can nd it in one of our other keyboard reviews below.

AT A GLANCE

Azio Vision Keyboard


Wireless Edition
(go.pcworld.com/azio
visionrev)

Logitech K380
Multi-Device Bluetooth
Keyboard

HP K3510 Wireless
Keyboard

(go.pcworld.com/k380rev)

(go.pcworld.com/hp
k3510rev)

$60

$40

$30

Microsoft Designer
Bluetooth Desktop

Kensington KP400
Switchable Keyboard

Adesso Keyboard
Model WKB-2200UB

(go.pcworld.com/
msdesignerrev)

(go.pcworld.com/kp
400rev)

(go.pcworld.com/wkb
2200ubrev)

$100

$60

$30

Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/acer
chromebook
14vid

Acer Chromebook 14: You


can brag a little about this
laptops luxury details
BY MELISSA RIOFRIO

ACERS CHROMEBOOK 14 is the Chromebook you buy when you want


something better than the typical, $200-ish browser laptop, but
youre not quite flush enough to aord the swankier Dell Chromebook
13 or the upcoming HP Chromebook 13. For a midrange price ($299
on Amazon), the Acer Chromebook 14 gives you an all-aluminum
chassis and a very nice display, even if its performance and other
attributes are less remarkable.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
The Chromebook 14s best features
The Chromebook 14 (go.pcworld.com/acerchromebook14) is Acers
rst all-aluminum model, with a brushed nish.
Acer touts the all-aluminum chassis on the
Chromebook 14, and for good reason. Amid a pile of
Acer Chromebook 14
plastic competitors, the brushed-metal shell looks
rened and feels great. Of course, the material is also
CB3-431-C5FM
durable and light, making the Chromebook 14 a
AT A GLANCE
comfortable 3.42 pounds by Acers specication. The
Acers Chromebook 14 has a
AC adapter (the typical black brick) and cables weigh
few things to brag about: Its
an additional 0.55 pounds. The laptops dimensions
brushed-aluminum chassis and
are a trim 13.3 x 9.31 x 0.67 inches.
high-resolution display make it
Encased within the lids slender bezel is an
stand out among other
JNQSFTTJWFJODI Y-&%CBDLMJU*14EJTQMBZ
affordable models, even if
Chromebooks have a reputation for mediocre screens,
other features remain pretty
with limited brightness and viewing angles. Most have
basic.
a resolution of just 1366x768, which suces on an
PROS
11-inch display but starts to look ridiculous when
stretched over a 14-inch display. The Acer
Chromebook 14s screen looks crisp and has a good
maximum brightness (236 nits by our measurement).
The 170-degree viewing angle means its readable
from all sides, and the anti-glare coating is another
big plus.
A higher-resolution display does use more battery.
We logged 8.82 hours of life from the Chromebook
TDFMM N"IQBDL VTJOH$S9135T
benchmark. Thats a good amount of time, though
not as long as Acers promise of up to 12 hours.
I never expect to like a laptops speakers, which is
why those in the Acer Chromebook 14 deserve
mention for being surprisingly good. The dual set,
nestled underneath the left and right sides, provide

t4UVSEZ CFBVUJGVMBMVNJOVN
shell
t)JHISFTPMVUJPOEJTQMBZXJUI
wide viewing angles
t4VSQSJTJOHMZHPPETQFBLFST
CONS
t,FZCPBSEJTIBSEQMBTUJDXJUIB
harsh throw
t-JNJUFEQFGPSNBODFXJUI
graphics-intensive
applications
$299

good bass and stereo eects. You might still plug in external
headphones, but at least your laptop wont sound like a cyberchipmunk if you have to use its speakers for a presentation.
You also cant argue with the Chromebook 14s connectivity. It has
Bluetooth 4.2 for the latest in close-range performance and privacy.
Wi-Fi covers every available flavor with dual-band 2x2 MIMO
802.11ac/a/b/g/n.

The more typical features


I dont mean to seem ungrateful for the Chromebook 14s good
things, but Acer appears to have bet everything on those features,
meaning the rest of the Chromebook is less remarkable. Anyone
whose expectations were raised by the high-end look may be at least
a little disappointed.
I was particularly unhappy with the keyboard, which has the hardplastic keys and harsh, abrupt travel typical of entry-level
Chromebooksnot what the Chromebook 14 is supposed to be. The
large clickpad worked well.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
Direct connectivity is limited to just two USB 3.0 ports (rstgeneration, meaning a 5Gbps transfer rate) and an HDMI port. While
the 32GB of eMMC storage is nice, I think a lot of users will miss an SD
card slottheres none on this machine.

Performance: Stick with mainstream apps


The Chromebook 14s performance reflects its modest SoC: Intels
Celeron N3160 quad-core running at 1.6GHz, with 4GB of LPDDR3
RAM and integrated Intel HD graphics. This setup will make it through
mainstream web apps and a streamed moviewhich is what most
people with Chromebooks dobut this isnt the Chromebook for
bleeding-edge users tinkering with web gaming or other graphicsintensive tasks. Anecdotally, even running multiple media-heavy sites
simultaneously seemed to strain the Chromebook 14, so keep it
simple.

The Chromebook
14 has an IPS
display of
1920x1080 with
170-degree
viewing angles.

Because this is the


rst N3160-equipped
Chromebook weve
tested, we compared
it with some recent
N3060-based models,
which are of the same
Braswell generation,
but with two cores
instead of four. We
also included the Dell
Chromebook 13,
which has a Celeron
The chiclet-style
3205U instead of an
keyboard on the
SoC, so you can see
Acer Chromebook 14 has hard
how a higher-end
plastic and a
(and higher-priced)
harsh travel.
Chromebook
Theres also a
compares.
large clickpad.
The Chromebook 14
started o well with
the Cr-XPRT
performance test,
which measures
Chromebook
performance in basic
productivity tasks as
well as more
demanding activities,
such as watching
movies or playing games. Its in the lead, if by a hair, compared to the
other two low-end Chromebooks. Not surprisingly, though, the Dell
smokes everyone.
Basemark Web 3.0 recently replaced Browsermark 2.1 as Basemarks

The Acer
Chromebook
14 has dual
speakers on
either side of
the bottom
panel. They
provide
surprisingly
good sound.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS
comprehensive browser benchmark. The tests cover web-based
technologies including WebGL 1.0.2 and WebGL 2.0 real-time graphics,
as well as JavaScript. All three Chromebooks posted close scores, but
the Chromebook 14 was a tad slower despite having a faster chip.
(Note: We couldnt add the Dell to the Basemark chart, as it was
tested with Basemarks predecessor, Browsermark.)
Googles Octane 2.0 JavaScript benchmark simulates advanced
browser-based activities, including productivity applications, games,
and interactive content. The Chromebook 14 posted slightly lower
scores than its cohort, basically a certicate of attendance. Look at

The right side of the Acer Chromebook 14


has the headphone/mic jack and power port.

The left side of the Acer Chromebook 14 has two USB


3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and a Kensington lock port.

Basemark Web 3.0 (broad browswer benchmark)


Asus C202S
(Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

97.54

Acer Chromebook R11 CB5-132T


(Model N15Q8) (Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

100.61

Acer Chromebook 14
(Celeron N3160 @ 1.6 GHz)

95.83
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

Octane 2.0 (JavaScript)


Asus C202S
(Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

8,004

Acer Chromebook R11 CB5-132T


(Model N15Q8) (Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

8,701

Dell Chromebook 13
(Celeron 320U @ 1.5GHz)

14,739

Acer Chromebook 14
(Celeron N3160 @ 1.6 GHz)

7,995
0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

that Dell go!


As if to drive home the Chromebook 14s mainstream theme, you
can see how it fared on OortOnline, a WebGL test that focuses on
graphics-intensive applications and games. Even though it has a more
powerful SoC than the two other Chromebooks (excepting the
standout Dell), it posted the lowest score by a small margin.

The price of nice


Acers Chromebook 14 is about look and feel. The aluminum shell and

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Oort Online (WebGL)


Asus C202S
(Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

4,070

Acer Chromebook R11 CB5-132T


(Model N15Q8) (Celeron N3060 @ 1.6 GHz)

4,060

Dell Chromebook 13
(Celeron 320U @ 1.5GHz)

5,130

Acer Chromebook 14
(Celeron N3160 @ 1.6 GHz)

4,010
0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

LONGER BARS INDICATE BETTER PERFORMANCE

high-resolution display do a lot to separate it from its lower-cost


cousins and give you a better experience. Youre already paying a little
more just for those two perks. Itd cost you even more to get better
performance and features, but for mainstream users, the Chromebook
14 represents a fairly sweet spot.

6,000

The 10 best PC games


you havent played in
2016 (so far)
BY HAYDEN DINGMAN

WE RECENTLYPUBLISHED OUR list of the best PC games of 2016 (so


far) (go.pcworld.com/bestpcgames2016), a.k.a. our Game of the Year
list if Game of the Year lists were decided in June. Now, heres its
annual counterpart: The best PC games you might have missed so far
this year.
These are the weird-but-charming indies. The wonderful yet underadvertised B-tier. The games to add to the backlog and then play on a
rainy Saturday. And 2016s been a fairly strong year so far, what with
Layers of Fear, Deadbolt, Hyper Light Drifter, and, well, quite a few more.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Agatha ChristieThe ABC Murders

Back when Agatha ChristieThe ABC Murders (go.pcworld.


com/abcmurdersrev) ($15 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/abc
murderssteam] or GOG [go.pcworld.com/abcmurdersgog]) released, I
thought it made for a decent little warm-up in preparation for
Sherlock Holmes: The Devils Daughter. And then The Devils Daughter
released andwell (go.pcworld.com/sherlockddrev)
Point is: The ABC Murders might be the best detective point-andclick we get all year. Its got wonderful storybook art, charming
characters, and manages to nick some of the best parts of Frogwares
Sherlock Holmes games. Its not very dicult, and some of the puzzles
get a bit tedious, but all in all its a sweet and earnest game to while
away an evening.

The Room 2

The Room series is possibly my favorite bunch of mobile


games. Each is like a self-contained, fantastical puzzle box
that spools out into something much grander as you play, a nesting
doll of impossibilities.
It took two years for The Room (go.pcworld.com/theroomsteam) to
hit Steam, and now its taken two more for The Room 2 (go.pcworld.
com/theroom2steam) to make its way over. But it has! It was made
available on Steam in July. While not quite as elegant as the original, Id
still highly recommend it. Like most sequels, its more of the same,
but bigger.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Layers of Fear

It sometimes veers o into parody and heavy-handed


tropes, but Layers of Fear ($20 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/
layersoearsteam]) is a delightful horror game (go.pcworld.com/
layersoearrev). Drawing on the likes of P.T. and Sightline: The Chair,
Layers of Fear loves to mess with your perceptions. Was that wall
always a wall? Or was there a door there a few seconds ago? And thats
just the beginning.
Its a grim and macabre sort of horror, but also one that tries its
hardest to make an emotional connection with the playerone that
goes beyond mere fear. As I said: Its not always successful, but its still
worth a look. I have a feeling well be seeing more games in the same
vein soon.

Duskers

Duskers ($20 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/duskerssteam]) is, I


think, not for everyone. It commits some pretty grave
design sins, in that it takes a long time to get going (were talking
hours of investment), but not very long at all for everything to go
horribly wrong and necessitate starting from scratch.
For those willing to brave it, though, Duskers is an atypical real-time
strategy game wherein you are scavenging spare parts from space
ships. You do so by way of remote-operating a set of drones, and the
whole game is rendered out in a chunky Apple IIesque interface
complete with command line for certain tasks. I nd Duskers flawed,
but I admire its aesthetic and unique approach enough for it to earn a
spot here.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Hyper Light Drifter

To some extent I like looking at Hyper Light Drifter ($20 on


Steam [go.pcworld.com/hyperlightdriftersteam]) more
than playing it. Pixel arts felt played-out for the past few years, but
Hyper Light Drifters jewel-toned vistas are unbelievable, both in their
complexity and in their beauty.
Aside from that, its an ultra-hard action game thats, at times,
completely impossible to navigate. That goes for the micro level (Oh,
that was actually a door?) and the macro (Where the hell am I? And
how do I get to where I thought I was going?). And so I recommend
Hyper Light Drifter with some caveats. Be prepared to explore the
game, like an heir to the Zeldas of old. Dont be surprised if you get
lost, or if you have no idea what to do next.
Its pretty stellar if you bear with it.

Deadbolt

Deadbolt ($10 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/deadboltsteam])


hasnt really had the same cultural impact as the studios
previous game, Risk of Rain. But its not because the game is bad. Quite
the contraryDeadbolt is probably the best side-scrolling stealth
game since Mark of the Ninja (go.pcworld.com/markoftheninjasteam).
You play as the Grim Reaper, and your job is to clear out apartment
buildings full of the undead. Its a bit similar to the setup of Hotline
Miami or Not a Hero (aside from the whole undead thing) but Deadbolt
plays out slower, more like a large intricate puzzle than Hotline Miamis
frantic flow. Also, you can hide in a toilet and pop out to kill people.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Shardlight

The latest in a long line of Wadjet Eye point-and-clicks,


Shardlight ($15 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/shardlight
steam]) is neither the best nor the most creative game in the studios
history. But this is Wadjet Eye, and even the studios B-tier titles often
have something to oer.
Such is the case with Shardlight, a game set in a post-apocalyptic
world torn between a corporate oligarchy and the undercurrents of
revolution. Adventure Game Studio is a dismal engine and so
Shardlights a bit rough around the edges, but this is still one of the
best-written point-and-clicks of 2016.

Enter the Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon ($15 on Steam [go.pcworld.com/enter


thegungeonsteam]) has one major flaw: Runs take too long.
Its the latest in the modern roguelike-like genre, like Spelunky or FTL
or Binding of Isaac. But it takes too long to get dicult, which makes
the early stages of each run a bit of a chore.
That said: Its excellent, especially once the diculty ramps up.
Dodging around, shooting like a madman in a blend of twin-stick
shooter and bullet hell is great for killing a few afternoonsor playing
in one or two runs before bed spurts.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

Goetia

First, some caveats: Goetia ($15 on Steam [store.steam


powered.com/app/421740]) can be pretty obtuse at times,
and theres some small-developer jank to struggle through. Dont be
afraid to consult a walkthrough. I did. Many times.
It was worth it, though. Goetia is an excellent puzzle-based pointand-click with a surprising amount of depth to its demon-infested
world. This is a game for people who want a slower, more ponderous
adventureone with lots of reading, and lots of puzzling out obscure
clues in notes. I dont know if thats a big niche, but Goetias near the
top nevertheless.

10

Infra

Speaking of weird niches: Infra ($15 on Steam [store.


steampowered.com/app/251110]) is an exploration/
adventure game where you play as a structural analyst on a routine
mission. Thats a direct quote from the Steam page. Your job is to
explore the less-accessible parts of a towns infrastructure and
photograph anything thats decaying or dangerous: Cracked bridge,
rusty support beam, et cetera.
Or, at least, thats the setup. Spoiler: Things are more than they
seem.
Infra is weird and sometimes a bit busted but it can also be
exceedingly clever at times, with an amazing attention to detail that
most games dont possess. Plus, theres something fascinating about
playing a game as an actual person, not Joe/Jane Superhero. My only
qualm is that only the rst part of the game is out now. On the other
hand, Part 2 is supposed to be free to all current owners when it
eventually releases.

REVIEWS
& RATINGS

BONUS!

Stephens Sausage Roll

Okay, one more. A bonus pick! And I shouldnt even put the game on
this list because it already cracked into our best PC games of 2016
(so far) (go.pcworld.com/bestpcgames2016) list.
Damn it, thoughStephens Sausage Roll ($30 on Steam [store.
steampowered.com/app/353540]) is great. And theres also a good
chance you missed it, because it looks like a crappy Shockwave game
from fteen years ago. Yes, Shockwave. Not even Flash. If you want a
puzzler thatll twist your brain into knots and also make you
strangely hungry for sausages though? Pick this game up.

There are thousands of siblings in foster care


who will take you just as you are.
888. 200. 4005

AdoptUSKids.org

THE TOP FEATURES

IN
THE

WANT

USERS

WINDOWS
ANNIVERSARY

UPDATE
B Y

M A R K

H A C H M A N

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

WINDOWS 10:

If youre still running


Windows 7 or Windows
8.1, you probably have a
good idea of whats
wrong with Windows 10some of which may be the reason you
haven't upgraded yet. But times running out on that free upgrade
oer (go.pcworld.com/w10deadline). Microsoft has said its willing to
make changes to the OS based on user feedback, but how do you
know its xing that
one key feature that
bothers you?
The short answer
is you dont. Well, not
without a little
assistance, anyway.
Heres the deal: Up
until last fall, anyone
could submit
requests for new
features or bug xes
for Windows 10, as
well as vote up the
suggestions of others, via Microsofts network of UserVoice sites.
The problem is that Microsoft has done away with the UserVoice
site for Windows 10. Now, the only way users can provide feedback is
via the Feedback Hub appwhich, of course, is only available for
Windows 10.
So what can a Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 user do? Peer over our
shoulder! We cant link directly to the requests themselves, but we
can relay them here. Weve rounded up the top requests Windows
users have for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, plus a few features
that Microsoft has already added (found in the Insider Preview
Build)and that you might not know about.

WHAT USERS WANT

UNIVERSAL

More than 7,000


users have asked for
a dark theme,
superimposing
white text upon a
black background. And the Anniversary Update (go.pcworld.com/
w10anupdatefeatures)sort of.
The current version of Windows 10 doesnt allow you to
congure a universal dark theme, but the Anniversary Update
allows you to specify an app mode, with dark or light theme
options. That works for some UWP apps, like Mail and Calendar,
but not all, it seemssuch as
Maps or the Feedback Hub
itself. Nor does it seem to
apply to Win32 apps.
User Philip K sums up the
request pretty nicely: If you
want dark theme to be a
success in the Anniversary
Update, you should consider
changing the whole windows
UI for people who select dark
theme (Explorer, Edge,
Weather, News, etc...)from
one single click in Settings.
(Italics ours.)

DARK THEME

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

WHY CANT

CORTANA

SHUT DOWN MY PC
About 8,000 people want Cortana to exert more
ne-grained control over their PCs, namely the
ability to shut down a machine via voice
command.
Its not quite clear whether Microsoft plans to
bring such control to Windows 10 with the
Anniversary Update. Several
Cortana improvements have
already appeared as part of the
Insider Build, including voiceactivated assistance from the
lock screen.
But consider this: We all know
the frustration of having
Windows shut down a PC
unexpectedly to apply updates;
this feature could compound
that. True, the action would be
tied to a voice command, but
imagine that capability in the hands of a
pranksteran obnoxious coworker, for instance,
or even a YouTuber who might suddenly order
your PC to shut down at the end of a video. Orally
waking up the PCas Microsoft has done with
the Xbox One and which Intel showed o last
year (go.pcworld.com/w10cortana)is probably
a more desirable trick.

NEVER, EVER UPDATE

DRIVERS
WITHOUT
WITHOUT EXPRESS USER PERMISSION
More than 7,000 people believe that Windows 10 should never,
ever update drivers (especially graphics drivers) without a users
permission.
Normally, a driver update happens automatically: Windows scans
your system, and if it detects a new, certied driver, it downloads and
installs it, no questions asked. We generally consider this to be a good
thing, as updated drivers typically provide upgraded performance.
Some gamers, though, feel
dierently. Certain drivers
work best for certain hardware,
device congurations, device
BIOS congurations, and
certain games, accordng to
user Toni F. When playing an
online fast-paced action game,
the user wants the best
experience possible. No
glitches, no lags etc...There is
NO WAY one driver version can
solve all problems for every
conguration there is. The
LATEST is most often NOT THE GREATEST!
Comments on the Feedback Hub suggest that most users
actually wouldnt mind having driver updates turned on by
default; but they at least want a toggle to disable the feature (or
possibly revert to an older driver) if they so choose.
Unfortunately, theres been nothing in the Insider previews to
indicate this is coming.

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

PAGE HISTORY

IN MICROSOFT EDGE
In 1987, IBM unveiled its
next big step in the IBM PC
space, the Personal
System/2 (PS/2) line, which
introduced innovations
such as 3.5-inch floppy
support, VGA graphics,
OS/2, the Micro Channel
bus, 72-pin RAM SIMMs,
integrated mouse support
(through the now-famous
PS/2 mouse/keyboard
ports), and most
importantly, IBMs rst 386based PC. The 386 arrived in
the highest-end PS/2 unit, the Model 80, which
shipped in a hulking tower-based conguration
that could support up to 2MB of RAM and two
115MB hard drives (consumer hard drives were
typically about 20MB at the time, and still very
expensive).
Like all IBM PCs back then, the Model 80 was
built like a tank (out of high-quality components
and materials) and carried with it a tank-like price
to match: $10,995, which could quickly go up to
$20,000 or more depending on the conguration.
To add insult to injury, customers had to buy an
operating system (PC-DOS 3.3) for their Model 80
as an add-on item. Thatll be $120 extra, please.

NO MORE FORCED

Only 3,800 users have


chimed in with this
one, but its a request
thats near and dear to
our hearts: Without
some explicit, in-your-face reminder that Windows is going to update
itself, Windows 10s appeal is signicantly reduced.
While some apps, like Word (especially the Oce Mobile version,
which saves on the fly), automatically back up your content, any apps
that don't (such as web forms, for instance) are at risk of losing data if
they happen to be open and unsaved at the wrong time.
Microsoft lets Insiders know an update is coming via a fly-in
notication that later stores itself in your notications. It can be easy
to miss, however. Id like to see more: perhaps a dedicated icon in the
taskbara red U (for update) next to the Notications icon, for
instance. If we cant defer updates, something that rankles many
users, better communication about updates is essential.

UPDATES!!

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

UNIFIED EMAIL

The mostrequested feature


for Windows 10
has, in fact, been
added: unied
inboxes, or the
ability to merge mail coming to a variety of personal and
work email addresses into a single folder.
How do you enable that? In Mail, click on the Settings gear
at the very bottom, then Manage Accounts. You should see
an option to Link Inboxes, which will then open a window
allowing you to choose which accounts you want to link.
Many people like to keep their inboxes separatethat's my
preferencebut others like to see it all in one place.

INBOX

MAKE CORTANA
PERSONAL, AND CONTEXTUAL

More than 5,000 people have voted up a request to make


Cortana more contextual: In other words, if a user asks a
question, Microsofts digital assistant should then understand
the context if the user asks a followup.
The submitter used this as an example: If a user says Who is
the CEO of Microsoft? Cortana correctly replies, Satya
Nadella. But if the user then asks, How old is he? Cortana
doesnt know who you are talking about.
Ironically, context is already built into
Cortanaeven the version youre using
now. On Windows 10 (as well as the
Insider builds) you can ask Cortana
questions like: How tall is the Empire
State Building? followed by Where is it
located?and receive correct
responses to both questions. Or ask
Cortana, Who is the president of the
United States? followed by How old is
he? and receive correct answers. But
Nadella? Nope, not yet.
Still, conversational context clearly
needs to be more consistent in Cortana,
(and Microsofts Concierge Bot: go.
pcworld.com/msconciergebot). After all, its a central feature of
Googles Google Assistant (go.pcworld.com/googleassistant),
which the company showed o at this years Google I/O.
Microsoft says such improvements are forthcoming in the
Anniversary Update, now that its allowing developers to teach
Cortana to understand what a user is already doing when he or
she asks a question.

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

A BUILTIN PASSWORD

MANAGER APP FOR WINDOWS 10


About 5,000 people think that Microsoft should build its own
password-manager app for Windows 10which it sort of has already.
Microsofts Credential Manager holds passwords for services like
Skype as well as stored passwords for Internet Explorer. But users
apparently want moresomething along the lines of LastPass sans
the subscription fees. (Incidentally, LastPass currently exists as an
extension within the Insider version of Edge, but youll still need to
subscribe to the premium service if you want passwords synced
across your various devices.)
This seems like a bit of a no-win situation for Microsoft, however:
Users will either scream about how they have to pay to securely
manage their passwords with a third-party service, or else moan
about having to give up their passwords as well as their privacy to
Microsoft.

DOWNLOAD LOCATIONS

IN MICROSOFT EDGE
Over 8,500 users requested greater control over where Edge downloads
are stored, and Microsoft has complied.
Its not easy to nd, though: To congure it, youll need to access the
Downloads tab via the three uneven blue lines (see the screenshot
below). Then click the Downloads icon. From there, select the blue
hyperlink, Open Folder. That will open the Downloads folder itself. Rightclick on any white space, select Properties, and youll have the option of
selecting where any downloads are automatically stored. That doesnt
seem to include OneDrive, but could be an external drive. You can also
right-click on a link from within Edge and manually select the location to
which its saved.

FEATURE

WINDOWS ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE:

ONEDRIVE
PLACEHOLDERS

It says something about


the Feedback Hub within
Windows 10 that only
5,664 users have
requested that Microsoft
bring back Windows 8.1s
use of OneDrive
placeholders, while 21,000
(plus many more, if you
include the multiple
petitions) have begged
Microsoft for this via the
OneDrive UserVoice (go.
pcworld.com/oduservoice) site.
The terms varyplaceholders, online only les, or smart
lesbut the idea is the same: Users want to sync les from their
PC to the OneDrive cloud. But they dont really want to sync them
in the sense that their les are stored in both places. They simply
want a folder that lists the les they have stored on OneDrive,
without separate copies being stored on their PC. (If you click on
them, they download.)
At the same time, users would like the option for documents
or other new les to be automatically backed up to OneDrive
just like a picture taken with your phone. Its really not that
complex a concept, but Microsoft just cant (or wont) implement
it. Meanwhile, Dropbox has (go.pcworld.com/dropboxinnite).

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FEATURE

HEADPHONES BUYERS GUIDE:

Which type delivers


the best balance
of great sound,
isolation, and
comfortable
t?
BY THEO NICOLAKIS

FEATURE

HEADPHONES BUYERS GUIDE

n-the-ear, on-the-ear, and over-theear headphones all sound dierent.


They also have their respective
benets and drawbacks. We set out to
explore which kind of cans provides the
best mix of noise isolation, comfort,
price/performance ratio, and sound
quality with a wide range of music.

ROUNDING THINGS UP
For this roundup, I focused on headphone models priced less than
$300. I then solicited some advice from Harman Internationals
Director of Acoustic Research, Dr. Sean Olive (seanolive.blogspot.com),
who is also a former president of the Audio Engineering Society (aes.
org/aes/seanolive). Dr. Olive and his colleagues have been at the
forefront of headphone research, and Harman provided a number of
headphones for this evaluation.
After auditioning them, I settled on the JBL Reflect Mini in-ear
monitors (IEMs), the AKG N60 NC (noise-cancelling) on-ear

AT A GLANCE
JBL Everest
Elite 700
headphones

JBL Reflect
Mini in-ear
headphones

AKG N60
NC on-ear
headphones

MSRP $300

MSRP $60

MSRP $249

Harman provided a
wide variety of
headphones from
its AKG, Harman/
Kardon, and JBL
brand portfolio.

FEATURE

HEADPHONES BUYERS GUIDE

headphones, and the JBL Everest Elite 700 over-the-ear headphones. I


listened to each both at home and on the road to see how the
dierent form factors performed in a variety of environmental
conditions.

P H OTO G R A P H BY T H EO N I CO L A K I S

INEARMONITORS
In-ear-monitors t into your ear with either a silicone or foam tip. As
with most IEMs that I own or have tried, the JBLs were light and
comfortableto the point where Id forget I was even wearing them.
My biggest complaint with IEMs at this price point is that you get a
smaller sound stage and concede some of the dynamics, richness, and
sweetness youll typically get with on-ear or over-the-ear models. Bass
can also be hit or miss.
Getting a tight seal with IEMs is very important because the bass
response youll get is dependent on that seal. If the seal is too loose,
bass will sound anemic. While IEMs are great for orchestral, jazz, and
even certain kinds of pop and rock, they wouldnt be my go-to phones

The Comply replacement memoryfoam tips made a dramatic


dierence in blocking ambient noise
when paired with the JBL Reflect
Mini in-ear monitors.

I M AG E : T H EO N I CO L A K I S

AKGs N60
headphones
fold for easy
travel

for explosive bass or rich dynamic pieces.


Typically, IEMs come with dierent sized tips to provide the best t
with the unique shapes of your ears. The tips help secure the IEM into
your ear as well as block out ambient noisesometimes to the tune of
25db or more.
While the JBL Reflect Mini (go.pcworld.com/jblreflectmini) did a
decent job of blocking out external noise, it wasnt a stellar performer.
I therefore reached out to a third-party company, Comply, which
manufactures replacement tips from memory-foam (complyfoam.com)
for various brands of in-ear monitors. These promise to block out more
external noise than the silicone tips that come with most IEMs. And
they live up to that promise, in my experience. They were a noticeable
upgrade from what came in the package with the JBLsespecially in
high-ambient-noise situations, such as inside airplanes and trains.

ONEAR HEADPHONES
For me, on-ear headphones (also called supra-aural) can be hit or miss.

FEATURE

HEADPHONES BUYERS GUIDE

Some models are too tight and others far too loose. While tight-tting
models can help block out external noise, they can become fatiguing
and painful to wear for extended periods. The AKG N60s (go.pcworld.
com/akgn60nc), however, felt just right. They were super light and
comfortableeven for very long listening sessions.
Another advantage of on-ear headphones is that they give you close
to the sound quality of over-the-ear headphones in a more compact
form factor. In fact, many models,
including the AKG N60, fold for travel.
Whether it was Adeles Hello,
U2s Songs of Innocence, or Holly
Coles Best of, the AKG N60s
eortlessly reproduced just about
any artist or genre I threw at them.

NOISECANCELLING
HEADPHONES
On-ear-headphones tend to be at
a disadvantage in noisy environments. For that reason, some models, including the N60, feature active
noise cancellation: They generate
background noise thats roughly an
inverse sound wave to the noise you
want to eliminate.
Not all noise cancelling
Noise cancellation isnt just for on-ear models. Some
techniques are the same. Aimed at
over the ear models, such as JBLs Everest Elite 700s
air travelers, the AKG N60s noise
feature active noise cancellation, too.
cancelling targets lower frequencies
to cancel out most of the aircrafts engine noise. I can say from rsthand experience that the eect is quite impressive. In contrast, the
JBL Everest Elite are focused on a broader commuting and at-home
audience, so they employ a wider noise-cancellation spectrum.

P H OTO G R A P H BY T H EO N I CO L A K I S

Over-the-ear
headphones,
such as those
of the JBL
Everest Elite
700 pictured
here, typically
feature plush,
large ear cups
that seal out
ambient noise
for a lower
noise floor
when listening
to music.

While the eects might at rst seem magical, there are denite
drawbacks that I noticed immediately. First, enabling active noise
cancelling on any headphonenot just the AKG N60 or JBL Everest
Elite 700created a noticeable pressure on my ears. While this
sensation might not bother some, it certainly bothered me and
reminded me why Ive never liked noise-cancelling headphones.
Second, active noise cancelling eects the soundstage and
(depending on the model) the musical presentation. For example,
activating active noise cancellation immediately recessed the
soundstage, making the overall presentation more relaxed. I found that
it also thinned out the music. The eect was far more noticeable (and
bothersome to me) in quiet environments as opposed to noisy ones.
All in all, while I know many people love active noise-cancelling
headphones, I much prefer a good seal (aka passive noise cancellation).

OVERTHEEAR HEADPHONES
Over the ear headphones (also known as circumaural or full-sized
headphones) are an audiophile gold standard for good reason. This

P H OTO G R A P H BY T H EO N I CO L A K I S

FEATURE

HEADPHONES BUYERS GUIDE

type of headphone fully covers your ear. Open-back designs let you
hear your surroundings. Closed-back models help seal out ambient
noise and prevent sound from leaking into the environment (and
nearby microphones, if youre in a recording studio). Several times
while I was wearing the JBL Everest Elite 700s (go.pcworld.com/
jbleverest700), I was completely unaware that someone was speaking
to me. I just didnt hear them. Circumaural headphones signicantly
lower the noise floor, allowing you to hear more details and get
deeper into the music.
On a nearly 11-hour transatlantic flight I recently took, for example,
I measured 94dB of cabin noise using a SPL (sound-pressure level
meter). The JBL Reflect Minis (with the Comply memory-foam tips)
and the JBL Everest Elite 700 did the best job of isolating my ears from
that cabin noise. I preferred listening to music and movies, however,
through the over-the-ear JBLs because of the superior overall sound
quality.
Music comes from a wide, expansive soundstage with either openor closed-back circumaurals. Instruments take on a larger, more lifelike
feel. This was certainly the case with the JBL Everest Elite 700.
Orchestral works in particular benet, but so does R&B. The larger

Over-the-ear
headphones are
typically far
larger than
on-ear models.

drivers in an over-the-ear headphone deliver a better sensation of


bass, too. Listening to Lordes Royals, for example, was a very
dierent experience on the Everest Elite headphones compared to
what I heard using the Reflect Mini ones. Generally speaking, over-theear headphones are better suited to for all kinds of music.
The biggest drawback of over-the-ear headphones is their size and
bulk. Over long listening sessions with the JBL Everest, my ears became
a bit hot and uncomfortable. For that reason, I preferred wearing the
AKG N60s or Reflect Minis for long sessions.

WE RECOMMEND
While they arent the best for travel or an active lifestyle, over-the-ear
headphones deliver the best balance of sound quality, noise isolation,
and comfort. In-ear monitors deliver the best overall price/
performance ratio, and they can be great for jogging or workout
sessions. A good pair of on-ear headphones, which let your ears
breathe, can be worn comfortably during long listening sessions, and
models with active noise cancellation go a long way to making up for
the reduced isolation those models typically provide.
Each type of headphone comes with its own pros and cons; and in
an ideal world, wed all be able to have all three types at our disposal.
Everything else being equal, if your budget limits you to one type,
wed recommend circumaural cans over anything else.

F]Xcck_\k_`e^jJ_\Xj[f^`jkiX`e\[kf[f#
k_\dfjk`dgfikXek`jfg\e`e^[ffij%
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Take a look in her school yearbook and youll

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A rare muscle disease keeps Shea confined to a

HERES
HOW
150 3 hidden Android
customization
settings you need
to try
155 How to use AMDs
WattMan, the
powerful new
overclocking tool
for Radeon graphics
cards

172 Hassle-Free PC
When browser
cookies go bad: How
to avoid bad header
problems on favorite
websites
176 Answer Line
The hidden
challenges of
booting from a
USB flash drive

164 Excel pro tips:


Importing and
parsing data

HERES
HOW

How to build, maintain,


and x your tech gear.

3 hidden Android
customization settings
you need to try
Unlock the System UI Tuner to hide and reveal status-bar icons,
rearrange the Quick Settings buttons, and more.
BY LINCOLN SPECTOR

IF YOUVE EVER been annoyed by the clutter of icons along the top of
your Android home screen, good news: Theres something you can do
about it.
Turns out theres a trio of secret settings for customizing the

Android user interface, and one of them will let you hide or reveal
icons in the status bar. You can also rearrange the buttons on the
Quick Settings pull-down on Android as well as make a small but
important tweak to the Android battery meter.
You wont nd any of these settings by poking around the standard
Settings screen. Instead, youll need to unlock the hidden System UI
Tuner rst. Heres how to do it.

How to reveal the System UI Tuner


First, flick down from the top of the screen to reveal the full Quick
Settings window shade, then tap and hold the Settings button (the
one that looks like a gear) in the top right corner of the display.
Tap and hold the
Settings button
until you see the
little wrench icon
appear.

Hold the Settings button for long enough, and a little wrench icon
will appear next to the Settings button. Once you see the wrench, tap
the Settings button again, then scroll all the way down to a new
Settings sectionthe one marked System UI Tuner.
When you rst launch the System UI Tuner, youll see a warning that
reads (in part) that these features may change, break, or disappear in
future releases and to proceed with caution. Tap on Got It to
continueand dont worry, you can always disable the System UI Tuner
if youd rather not mess with such experimental Android settings.

After you dismiss the warning, youll have access to the System UI
Tuner settings. Lets take a tour, shall we?

Rearrange the Quick Settings buttons


You probably already know how to reveal Androids Quick Settings
panel by swiping down from the top of the screen with two ngertips.
What you may not know, though, is that you can add, remove, and
rearrange the Quick Settings buttonsor at least, you can with help
from the System UI Tuner.

Tap Quick Settings from the main System UI Tuner screen, and youll
see the standard panel of Quick Settings buttons.
To move a button, tap and hold it, then drag it over another button
to make the two switch places. To hide a button from the Quick
Settings panel, tap and hold it, then drag it to the Delete icon. To put
any deleted buttons back, tap Add Tile, then tap the name of a button.
If you want to revert to the old Quick Settings buttons, tap the
three-dot menu button in the top right corner of the screen, then
tap Reset.

You can
rearrange or
hide any of the
Quick Settings
buttons you
wish, all with a
little help from
the System UI
Tuner.

HERES HOW

Take charge of the status bar


If all the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, alarm, and Do not disturb icons in the
Android status bar are a bit too much, the System UI Tuner will help
you cut down on the clutter.
Tap the Status Bar setting to see a list of 10 status-bar icons, ranging
from Cast and Hotspot to Cellular Data and Airplane Mode, each with
its own switch. By default, each icon is enabled; to hide an icon, just
flick o its switch.
You can disable just about any icon in the status bar, save for the
battery meter and the clock.

Just flick a switch


to hide a specic
icon from the
status bar of your
Android device.

A simple System
UI Tuner setting
will add a
percentage
reading on the
Android battery
icon.

See your remaining battery life as a percentage


If you want a more precise reading of how much of a charge your
Android devices battery has left, you can use the System UI Tuner to
stamp a percentage reading onto the standard Android battery icon.
Go back to the main System UI Tuner screen, then flip on the Show
embedded battery percentage switch. Once you do, youll see a tiny
percentage reading sitting in the battery icon up in the status bar.

Deactivate the System UI Tuner panel


Google isnt making any promises about the features squirreled away
in its hidden System UI Tuner. As youll recall, that initial Tuner pop-up
message warns that any and all of its customization options may
change or disappear at any time.
If youd rather not worry about when your favorite new settings will
disappear, you can simply pull the plug early. From the main System UI
Tuner screen, tap the three-dot button in the top corner of the
screen, then tap Remove from Settings.
You can always change your mind, of course; simply head back to
the Quick Settings panel and tap and hold the Settings button
again.

HERES HOW

How to use AMDs WattMan,


the new overclocking tool
for Radeon graphics cards
BY THOMAS RYAN

I M AG ES : T H OM A S RYA N

FORGET ABOUT FANCY third-party overclocking tools. For the rst

time ever, AMDs new Radeon Software Crimson driver packs


everything enthusiasts need to tweak, ne-tune, and crank up their
graphics cardsthough only if you buy a new card sporting AMDs
next-gen Polaris GPU (go.pcworld.com/amdpolaris).
One of the $200 Radeon RX 480s (see page 44) biggest headlining
features is actually a new Radeon Crimson overclocking tool dubbed
Radeon WattMan. The ability to overclock your Radeon card with

AMD-supplied software isnt completely new: Prior to WattMan, AMD


oered its less robust OverDrive tool since about 2007. (Older Radeon
graphics cards still default to OverDrive, even if you install the latest
Radeon Crimson software.)
But while OverDrive oered control over clock speeds, the
PowerTune limit, target temperatures, and fan speeds, it used a rather
limited slider-based interface. Additionally, OverDrives controls
werent very granular and lacked important features like core and
memory voltage control, individual clock state control, and real-time
graphing of all of these performance variables. These issues forced
most overclockers to turn to robust third-party software like MSIs
Afterburner and EVGAs Precision X instead.
But AMDs Radeon WattMan remedies all of these shortcomings.
Heres how to use it.

Getting around WattMan


Working with WattMan is dead simple. Open up AMDs Radeon
Settings app and click the Gaming tab, then click Global Settings, and
nally click the Global WattMan tab. Youll be greeted by the interface
shown below.

HERES HOW

WattMans most striking feature revolves around its real-time


graphing, dubbed Histogram, which maps out your RX 480s activity
level, current core clock speed, memory frequency, temperature, and
fan speed. In other words, every crucial measurement you need to
monitor while overclocking your graphics card.

Best of all, if you see something weird on the graphlike a big clock
speed drophovering your mouse over the issue will bring up the
stats for that specic point in time. If youre trying to troubleshoot a
cooling or performance problem, WattMans graphing feature is a
godsend.
A thoughtful twist on this performance-tracking feature is the ability
to use it globally or with only specic applications. AMDs per-app
Prole settings allow you to use WattMan to prole performance while
a specic game is running for up to 20 minutes at a time. Select the
game you want to prole, enable the Histogram option for it, and
A histogram
tracking the
Radeon RX 480s
behavior in Far
Cry Primals
specic Prole
WattMan
settings.

WattMan will begin recording when you launch the game.


This application-specic proling ties in nicely with the rest of
WattMans overclocking capabilities, which can also be applied on a
per-game basis. With the Prole WattMan tools located inside each
games specic settings in Radeon Crimson, you can overclock your RX
480 in the games that need more horsepower and bump the target
temperature down in less strenuous titles.

Playing with power


WattMans powerful granularity is the applications biggest strength, and
that strength is most apparent in its clock speed and voltage controls.
Like the power management technology found on modern CPUs,
AMDs PowerTune management engine switches between seven
performance states, which are dened by unique clock speeds and
voltages. Using the WattMan tool you can congure each of these
seven states to your own personal preference.

For most people, that means overclocking the top clock state into
the highest possible stable speed, up from the RX 480s normal
1,266MHz boost state. But before you do that, youll want to increase
the cards power limit as much as possible.
The power limit slider dictates the amount of power that your
graphics card will allow itself to draw. If you increase it, you can reduce
power consumptionrelated throttlingwhich can lead to higher
stable overclocksand if you decrease it you can reduce overall power
consumption. During our testing, we found that the RX 480

HERES HOW

performed slightly better if you set the PowerTune limit to +10


percent.
Theoretically the RX 480s PowerTune limit can be raised all the way
up to +50 percent (or lowered to 50 percent). But AMD engineers say
that +20 to +25 percent will probably be more achievable for most
cards. Ah, the silicon lottery (go.pcworld.com/siliconlottery).

Graphically rich benchmarks like Unigine Heaven,


which loops GPU intensive workloads and reports clocks
and temperatures, can be useful for testing the stability
and performance of an overclocked graphics card.

With that done, overclocking a graphics card (go.pcworld.com/


overclockgc) involves ring up a looping benchmark like Unigine
Heaven and then increasing the core clock speed of your graphics card
until the benchmark crashes. Then you reduce clock speed a bit and run
it for a few hours to verify stability, continuing to reduce clock speeds if
necessary. (Adjust the cards power limit using the same technique.) We
were able to push our RX 480s clock speeds up to 1,330MHz, or about a
5 percent increase, before we ran into stability issues.

When it comes to the per-state voltage controls, its best to focus


your eorts on the highest three clock states, where the RX 480
spends most of its time during intense gaming sessions. State 7 is the
boost state of the RX 480, where the clock speed in WattMan is set to
1,265 and the voltage is set to 1,131. The maximum voltage that
WattMan can set for any given state is 1,150. If you want to overclock
the RX 480, setting State 7s voltage to 1,150 will improve stability
while you raise clock speeds.

Chill out
So now you know how to overclock the Radeon RX 480, and what to
expect when using the tools. But WattMan tinkering with the goal of
improving power eciency shouldnt be overlooked, especially given
the unorthodox power consumption (go.pcworld.com/rx480x) of RX
480 reference cards.
Merely setting the PowerTune limit to 20 percent transforms the
RX 480 into a signicantly more ecient graphics card, with only a tiny
hit to performance, as I detailed in an examination of the RX 480s

HERES HOW

power usage at SemiAccurate (go.pcworld.com/semiaccuraterx480).


If you want to go further, under-volting is performed using a very
similar process to overclocking, but instead of playing with clock
speeds to increase performance, you decrease the voltages required
to maintain stability at stock clock speeds. AMDs WattMan makes this
easy. But before we dig in, make sure that you have the Voltage
Control toggle for both the GPU and the Memory in the Manual
control position. If these arent both in Manual mode, your voltage
adjustments wont have any eect, in a bizarre WattMan quirk.
The process for under-volting once again involves opening up a
looping benchmark and letting it run while you incrementally reduce
voltages. Eventually youll lower voltages too far and the benchmark
will crash. Increase your RX 480s voltages slightly from that point and
then run the benchmark a few hours to verify stability. In our testing
we were able to lower voltages for the top 3 states down to 1050
millivolts (mV) while maintaining stock clock speeds, which is an 81
mV savings over the default settings.
Radeon Crimsons Frame Rate Target Control (FRTC) (go.pcworld.
com/frtc) feature can also help you save even more power by
capping the maximum frame rate of your GPU, so your graphics
card wont pump out more frames than your monitor can display.
Why let your GPU render frames youll never see? Take the power
savings instead.

Memory boost
With a power-sipping under-volt or perhaps even a bit of an overclock

applied, we can now turn to tuning the RX 480s memory. Cranking up


memory clocks can help increase performance.
AMDs WattMan again provides granular control over the RX 480s
onboard RAM, with the ability to over-volt the RX 480s GDDR5 by up
to 150 mVs and raise clock speeds from 2,000MHz up to 2,250MHz.
We were able to hit a stable memory overclock of 2,200MHz, or a 10
percent overclock, after manually raising the voltage to 1,150 mV.

Fine-tuning
Finally, AMDs WattMan lets you dene the RX 480s most noticeable
characteristics. You can manually set minimum and maximum fan
speeds, a minimum acoustic limit, and maximum and target
temperatures.

AMDs stock settings for all of these are actually pretty good, but
you can tweak them to your hearts content. If youre overclocking,
youll probably want to increase the RX 480s target temperature by
three to ve degrees to reduce potential thermal throttling while the
card cranks away at higher clocks.
Likewise, youll want to raise the target fan speed from the default
2,200 revolutions per minute (rpm) maximum to ensure your RX 480
stays cool under the increased heat. But dont take this too far, because
the RX 480s blower-style cooler sounds like a ferocious hair dryer when
its spinning at 100 percent fan speed. Our recommendation: Set the

HERES HOW

target fan speed to 4,000rpmitll be loudand work down to an


acceptable-to-you noise level from there. We found 3,000rpm to
provide the best blend of acoustics and cooling.

Bottom line
AMDs WattMan is a major step forward for Radeon overclocking, and
a stellar in-driver tool for gamers looking to get the most out of their
new RX 480 graphics cards. If youve picked up AMDs new mainstream
champion and havent played around with WattMan yet, the only
thing I have to say to you is, U Watt Man?
Because I just had to make a joke about that horrendous name.

Excel pro tips: Importing


and parsing data
BY JD SARTAIN
DATA IMPORTED FROM other spreadsheets or databases is already

separated into elds, using something called a eld delimitera


comma, tab, space, or custom characterto separate one eld from
another. These databases import easily into Excel and place all the
elds in separate columns. If your company pays bills and/or banks

online, these sites usually oer copies of the companys records in


electronic form. CSV (comma separated values) is the most common
data exchange format
and, if oered, the best
one to use. But what
happens when all the data
imports into one cell?

Importing &
parsing data
If you copy a block of data
from a webpage, a word
processing le, or other
text le, then paste into
Excel using the Paste >
Special > Text command,
all the data is dumped
into a column of single
cells. This means the
records are copied into
separate rows, but all of
the elds are in one cell.
What a mess! Now what?
1. Copy paste data from
external source into Excel.
Note: It looks like the
data spills over into the
adjacent columns, but
only the rst column
contains the pasted
information.
2. Select Data > Text To
Columns. In the Convert
Text To Columns Wizard

dialog window, choose the


Delimited button, then click
Next.
3. In the next dialog window
(Step 2 of 3, on the next
page) select the delimiter
that is, the character that
separates the elds. In CSV
les, its a comma. Some
databases use a tab, some use
a semicolon. The only
character that separates the
data in this database is a
space, so check the Space
box.
4. Check the box that says:
Treat Consecutive Delimiters
As One, in case multiple
spaces occur in one string of
text. This setting also applies
if your data has a delimiter of
more than one character
between data elds, or if the
data contains multiple
custom delimiters.

HERES HOW

5. From the Text Qualier dropdown list, select None, because


the records are not enclosed with
single or double quotes.
6. And last, click Next.
7. In the next dialog window
(Step 3 of 3, on this page), Excel
gives you the option to change
the format of each column. The
rst column is selected by default.
Notice the header says General.
General works for all numeric
elds. Because this is a text eld,
click the Text button to change
this format.
8. Click anywhere in the second
column, and the highlight moves
to that column. If the selected
format of General is incorrect,
click the correct format for that
column from the options above. In
this case, Text is correct format.

9. Repeat this process


through all the imported
elds. Then click the Finish
button.
10. Now the boss wants
the months separated. First,
insert a column beside the
Modern Months column so
the parsed data doesnt
overwrite the information in
column G.
11. Move your cursor to
column G. Now select Insert >
Insert Sheet Column.
12. Highlight the second
eld, Modern Months, in
column F, and follow the
instructions above to
separate this one eld into
two elds. Note that the
custom delimiter is the slash
key.
13. Change the columns
from General to Text and
click Finish. Now the months
are in two columns instead
of one.

HERES HOW

Use Text functions


to polish the data
1. First, lets replace the
word time with the word
month. Press Ctrl+H. Click
the Replace tab. Type time
in the Find What search box
and month in the Replace
With search box, then click
the Replace All button.
2. Now, lets join columns
H and I into one eld. Move
your cursor to column J and
enter the following text
formula: =CONCATENATE(H3,
" ", I 3). Note theres a
space between the
quotation marks, so Excel places a space
between the two words. Copy this formula from
cells J3 down through J14.
3. For the next step, you need to delete the
two columns H and I so the spreadsheet only
shows the concatenated column J. But if you
delete columns H and I, then column J disappears,
because its expressing a formula based on the
prior two columns. You have to convert J from a
formula to a text value.
4. Select J3:J14. Press Ctrl+C (for Copy), move
to column K3, right-click, and select Paste
Special. In the Paste Special dialog box, choose
Values and click OK.
5. Now you can delete columns H, I, and J,
because column K has the completed text string.

Note: In Excel 2016, theres a new text function called CONCAT.


According to Excel, its like CONCATENATE, but better, because its
shorter, easier to type, and supports range references as opposed to
just cell references. This means you can join the contents of several
ranges: For example A3:C3, " ", D3:F3 would combine the contents
of cells A3, B3, and C3, to cells D3, E3, and F3 with a space between the
two ranges.
6. In 2016, CONCATENATE is
not shown on the drop-down
list of Text Functions (under
Formulas > Text). If you prefer
this function over the CONCAT
function, look for it under
Formulas > More Functions >
Compatibility. Selecting
functions from the menus
provides access to the Wizard
dialogs that coach you through
the syntax of each formula.
Well leave you with one last,
great tip: The fastest and
easiest method for joining the
data in two or more cells is to
use the ampersand. Yes, this
little symbol works just as
eciently as the CONCAT and
CONCATENATE functions. Just
enter the formula like this:
=A3& " " &B3. This simple
formula joins the contents of cell
A3 with the contents of cell B3,
with a space between the two.

HASSLE-FREE PC

HERES
HOW

BY IAN PAUL

When browser cookies go bad:


How to avoid bad header
problems on favorite websites
SERVER ERRORS FOR websites you frequently visit are a pain. Most of
the time these are temporary problems that the sites in question x
on their end after a few minutes. But there is one problem that does
need your attention
The dreaded
Bad Request
error.

Have you ever been refused service at a website you frequent with
an error message that says, 400 Bad Request. Request Header or
Cookie Too Large?

Its an annoying problem typically caused by the Nginx web server,


and it typically happens for one of two reasons. Sometimes the website
using that software doesnt allow browser cookies over a certain size, or
cookies stored in your browser might be corrupted. The easiest way to
solve this problem is by deleting the cookies for that site.
The quick and dirty way is to delete all the cookies in your cache, but
that would mean losing saved data for other sitesincluding logins.
Thats a big hassle if you ask me.
Instead were going on a targeted delete mission to get rid of the
oending cookies. Heres how to do that in Google Chrome, Mozilla
Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Edge.
Deleting
cookies in
Chrome.

Chrome
Open a new tab and then type the following into your address bar:
chrome://settings/cookies and hit Enter.
A small window will appear called Cookies And Site Data. Type the
name of the website you need to target into the search bar in that
window. In my case its blogs.microsoft.com.
Once the oending site appears in the main part of the window,
highlight it, and then press the red X on the far right. Now try going to
the problematic site again.
If that still doesnt work, go back to the cookies tab and delete any
entries for the parent site (in this case its Microsoft.com). Now go
back to the oending site one last time and everything should be
working ne.

Firefox
To delete specic cookies on Firefox, type about:preferences#privacy
into the address bar and hit Enter. Now from the privacy tab that

opens click the


Show Cookies
button.
Similar to
Chrome, search
for the website
cookies you want
to delete in the
text entry bar at
the top of the
small window
entitled Cookies.
Select the ones
you want to
delete and click
Remove Selected.
Go back and test your site, and everything should be running ne. If
not, follow the nal steps mentioned above in the Chrome section.

Internet Explorer
Click the Settings cog in the upper right corner of the browser
window and select Internet Options from the drop-down menu. In
the small window that opens go to General > Browsing History >
Settings > View Files.
This little trick will open a File Explorer window at the location where
IE saves its cookies. Now search the folder you just opened in File
Explorer for the site in question. Then delete the cookies you need to
get rid of just like you would any other le: Click and drag the les into
the Recycle Bin, or right-click the les and select Delete.

Microsoft Edge
Microsofts newest browser doesnt have the same granular options that
the other browser doat least that I could nd. In this case, youll have to
delete all your cookies and saved website data to get rid of the problem.

Firefoxs
cookies
window.

HERES HOW

To do this, click on the three


horizontal dots in the upper righthand corner. Next click Choose
What To Clear under the Clear
Browsing Data heading. Uncheck
everything but the option for
Cookies And Saved Website Data.
Now click Clear, and youre done. If
that still doesnt help, go back and
clear the Cached Data And Files
option as well.

Deleting
cookies in Edge
is currently all or
nothing.

ANSWER LINE

HERES
HOW

BY LINCOLN SPECTOR

The hidden challenges of


booting from a USB flash drive
Windows and even your motherboard could be obstacles.

John OBriens PC cant boot from a USB drive.


Every PC needs a way to boot into something other than the installed
operating system. Removable boot media allows you to repair your
Windows installation when Windows itself has become unbootable. It
provides a clean environment for malware scanning and removal. It
also allows you to try out various flavors of Linux without having to
install any of them.
Not that long ago, almost every PC had an optical drive, and booting
from a CD or DVD was simple. But optical drives are becoming rare,

and the only alternative boot media we have uses USBusually a flash
drive. And that can cause trouble.
Todays PCs come with a lot of protectionwhich is goodbut it
can get in the way. Somewhere in your BIOS setup screen, youll almost
certainly nd a Secure Boot option. If you cant boot from a flash drive,
turn it o. (The method varies from PC to PC, but Chris Homan oers
some general guidance (go.pcworld.com/linuxsecureboot) in his
article on installing Linux on a PC with Secure Boot.)
Another issue: Most of todays motherboards use UEFI instead of the
old-fashioned BIOS, and an operating system that doesnt support
UEFI may not boot. Most motherboards support a legacy boot, but
some PCs lack that option.
Finally, most of todays PCs boot immediately from the internal hard
drive or SSD, without looking for bootable external media rst. You
have to do something special to make them look, and what you have
to do depends on your PC.
For instance, on my Lenovo X220 laptop, I press the power button,
then repeatedly press and release F12 until the boot menu comes up
and I can pick the appropriate option. But before I could make that
work, I had to enter the BIOS Setup (F1), make sure that the UEFI/
Legacy Boot was set to Both, and that the UEFI/Legacy Boot Priority
was set to Legacy First.
I have two other Windows PCs, and each has its own unique way of
doing essentially the same thing. One of them, a ASUS Transformer
Book T100, lacks legacy boot capabilities. I can boot a Windows 10
recovery drive, but not most Linux distros.
So what should you do? Go to your favorite search engine and look
up the name and model of your PC (such as Lenovo X220) and either
"usb boot" or DVKGULYHERRW including the quotation marks.
Youll likely nd useful instructions. I strongly recommend that you
do this search, and test the instructions, when your PC is healthy. Then
save the instructions where they can be easily accessed even when
your PC wont boot.

Tech Spotlight
A video showcase of
the latest trends

Watch the
video at
go.pcworld.
com/fenix
rc40vid

Fenixs RC40
is the ultimate
ashlight

When it comes to a

really good flashlight, its


hard to beat the Fenix
RC40. Upgraded this year,
itll put out a scorching 6,000 lumens from its six-LED cluster.
Thats enough output to reach almost half a mile away.

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