TechSpot PC Buying Guide, GeForce GT 1030 Review

[TechSpot Weekly Newsletter] Latest in tech July 5 Build a PC [TechSpot PC Buying Guide: Five price points, five killer builds](.wfxQ5ZgXRpGPEWYq-MWh8TJa5tMFzsypqU9nHy9Lc_0) The TechSpot PC Buying Guide offers a comprehensive analysis of today's best desktop PC hardware spanning five well differentiated budgets. Starting at ~$400 for an affordable PC, followed by two well-balanced enthusiast-oriented machines, a premium high-end build, and finally a dream machine packing the baddest hardware available, period. .rgt4MTo4XOmZYKShn1JIOVPMwFaH9E1g76qiShTOxQk .qI0XIBju6qG3t12MG2ANajOFOx363GA2x6mD0DacI_A The TechSpot PC Buying Guide offers a comprehensive analysis of today's best desktop PC hardware spanning five well differentiated budgets. Starting at ~$400 for an affordable PC, followed by two well-balanced enthusiast-oriented machines, a premium high-end build, and finally a dream machine packing the baddest hardware available, period. .gqo9wXLwvEm_qdBqaZ8P3WgqJVRTMLmLANspzDNyw0k WTF?! [GeForce GT 1030: The DDR4 Abomination Benchmarked](.HWbnC2T6SKzlU6igLgE-ldIrvogOVYs2zx_hCgbZYW4) Today we're taking a look at what's one of the [worst graphics cards ever](.Jo8-A44L_3K0nYYnY6bn2ct2qqmKVHnvESbxL4e2ZKw) released. But before we get to that... imagine you're on a seriously tight budget, likely some of you won't have to be too creative, after all PC gaming is something most of us do to unwind after a day of work, relax a bit, and have some fun. .OikQXd2Iz1FPMomEiqvB1kykwQroTBaCBctbtuxZyW8 .kEZilQUsWlvtpZ19az7qtMHUR3sFLpXHB8xSmHhg4RY Today we're taking a look at what's one of the [worst graphics cards ever](.cQsVembL3YWS0uyqdDsd_THrkyFv7GsyATqVmzZak-I) released. But before we get to that... imagine you're on a seriously tight budget, likely some of you won't have to be too creative, after all PC gaming is something most of us do to unwind after a day of work, relax a bit, and have some fun. .fi3L4xVQtE6oki_wNKpP6DO6A0Q4_CVlVzjUkrZZ2a4 Nostalgia [The Best Sports Video Game of All Time](.qbvl4kPb9BCoqtgbqoFBUUhSkzIB4tSrbk08ToGc4A8) The latest sports games are [not always the best](.t2yoWHdAET3ktN44DUXBDo4o-XCOAHqesnsOq5Nrd-A). There's an obsession with incremental changes and bullet-point features, one which challenges fan's ability to take a step back and assess each game as its own title. It's something I try to do and I'm taking to its logical conclusion here in this Quixotic attempt to pluck one game out of hundreds and call it the "best." .gctW_15bWf_Z4lwYXcOLScweYrjBpcvF8VD3KuZZZho .Lr3Rd2-iTEBhR5U7EFrsNU7mrMNsjPy6AUet1cUe4t0 The latest sports games are [not always the best](.NU_Hcsnc6H1XGGs3jY6fKWa_2RNMnNjZMpmBY0KNTZg). There's an obsession with incremental changes and bullet-point features, one which challenges fan's ability to take a step back and assess each game as its own title. It's something I try to do and I'm taking to its logical conclusion here in this Quixotic attempt to pluck one game out of hundreds and call it the "best." .QBAcJTPB8XP3tJK1JhMKdbvffMhlWe-rVitktaAM3as Dhyana Inside [China starts production of AMD-based x86 CPUs](.hzK6GKbLy_d8LPmnDRY1iK3eo0fmxtFWBiCwKnv3xuw) Tom’s Hardware reports that the processors are the result of an x86 IP licensing deal between AMD and its Chinese partners. While the US giant said it does not sell final chip designs to these China-based firms, it allows them… .eKnDoy5kIKxggaGH9nwrgpaBInuWMyP-1aiTXFQJG3U Tom’s Hardware reports that the processors are the result of an x86 IP licensing deal between AMD and its Chinese partners. While the US giant said it does not sell final chip designs to these China-based firms, it allows them… Industry [Guild Wars 2 studio fires two devs following Twitter exchange with streamer](.U5aLCsr8A2N5TY8Q5k0eTJXohZsf1nX7E_r1F_w2-Mw) The situation began when narrative designer Price posted a 29-tweet thread on the difficulties of writing player characters in MMORPGs. Denmark-based Deroir commented on the issue, suggesting that branching dialogue options could help overcome the genre’s limitations. .PA-3Ru23nyxXNPELeQammgahKtZcUEMJ2SYT7AtsTLk The situation began when narrative designer Price posted a 29-tweet thread on the difficulties of writing player characters in MMORPGs. Denmark-based Deroir commented on the issue, suggesting that branching dialogue options could help overcome the genre’s limitations. Industry [Samsung opens world's largest smartphone manufacturing facility in India](.rJSEI4uj5qN19GvFfYwtZPZ6wQ19DK_a0yYajCsZ6X0) Samsung Electronics has opened what it is calling the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturing facility. Located in Noida, India, on the outskirts of New Delhi, the factory will nearly double Samsung’s Noida unit capacity from around 68 million units a… .LKCltIc4-8Sxx_-pjd6cejA4jGK9ZRCzpCWZcXxdem0 Samsung Electronics has opened what it is calling the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturing facility. Located in Noida, India, on the outskirts of New Delhi, the factory will nearly double Samsung’s Noida unit capacity from around 68 million units a… Mobile [HTC is on a downward spiral with 68 percent decline in sales](.rBDDW8CC6Y4RZvLaFsW6g581uSbhWLdQA3gEcJI0zW4) HTC was one of the original smartphone makers leading the charge into 4G LTE adoption and produced a few phones competing for top ratings. All that happened circa 2011 when the HTC Thunderbolt was running Android 2.2 and the iPhone… .YV6-Sm1SoxymdCttuv_ks4NCdjnCeGzqm1i3lv7Z1aY HTC was one of the original smartphone makers leading the charge into 4G LTE adoption and produced a few phones competing for top ratings. All that happened circa 2011 when the HTC Thunderbolt was running Android 2.2 and the iPhone… [Owning an iPhone is the best indicator of wealth, claims research](.zDQl8j5TqA60BXjugsxtKvVRcFMH59Od_zRUu6fnMbc) .eHIz8vTsVceAngffgTt-3861-iLvaAMJ8KRlpRRFHws There are caveats to the research, but the paper, which is based on data from 2016, explains that owning an iPhone gave researchers a 69 percent chance of correctly identifying someone as “high-income.” The status is defined as “being in… [Slow Galaxy S9 sales end Samsung's record profit run](.uvPpLhZZ6lG6YxiKKzOXQ92hB8ufBTRf-IX1pvzjbEU) .wBMi4Zv0NvNdMeqvjmnZB_s21ERuLyVC5YTKpp1sR7s Q1 2018 was Samsung’s sixth record quarter in a row, but it warned that Q2 would see a slowdown. While the company’s earnings guidance has profit for April to June up by around $700 million YoY, the $13.2 billion it… [Spotify's subscriber numbers now lag behind Apple Music's in US markets](.ft06NKv1bqinExtlIQ95NmuHXVBieBkIiIShQlskSEk) .tIcX6qd0_4E-3uqBa37W4NGhlCcXyc7cMSrzkmP4ozA Apple has been on a roll lately, in more ways than one. Though the iPhone X's sales haven't quite lived up to Apple's expectations, the company's success in other parts of their business is undeniable. [The iPhone 8 was the world's best-selling smartphone in May](.G-llUqTi1kaXpvF91aZfuw3c9UFXzeWGD7b6bqadJGQ) .DgLaB9rwPj8te8qDMI1NuIz1ujTyHTn4Ooaoq-YrxSw Despite sales falling below expectations, Apple’s iPhone X had been the best-shipping smartphone over the holidays and Q1 2018, but was later surpassed by the iPhone 8. [How does Uncharted's Nathan Drake survive so many bullets? They aren't hitting him.](.4ATv3gsdnyhjvzRo9UNz0Ms5LT_mCLxh0_6VHCkSWBA) .w1vUkJtgeXAVBgEqXTlQFc72l3mITUWc3On0R_I8z4A Those who have played the games will probably imagine that as Drake comes under fire, the red that fills the edges of the screen represent his life draining away. But animator Jonathan Cooper has revealed that this actually shows Drake’s… [AT&T plans to overhaul HBO with a focus on quantity over quality](.RSs5YajYbICJpBrpIIK-FpCpMd2Gi0sgoCOd8hMlCXQ) .YC4uulb0kBtMO3TfW77wU5gqYNTQG5ImWD_xCJJGmPE It seems HBO is in for a rough time following AT&T's purchase of parent company Warner Media. [Elon Musk sends engineers to help rescue Thailand soccer team trapped in flooded cave system](.dTh1oYp5L-lMkSZ_IBi88mb-1YgS1XPCXzAis1y9LME) .CxydQSEIHwn26BN-d7PlIMAzJysm-wD5VydAXQC5q6U If you haven't been keeping an eye on non-tech news lately, you could be forgiven for not being up-to-speed on a recent dilemma in Thailand. [Hackers use remote device to steal 600 gallons of fuel from gas station](.kXhHddODNqjAHWn003e4_jM0ZUXZfYmjcQiV0MXUJ5A) .CekynBBW599IH7Y0qHtTxHfbyDfMlu9_zYRJyowirIM Detroit police are looking for two people they say allegedly hacked a local gas pump to steal hundreds of gallons of fuel in broad daylight. [Seagate launches BarraCuda SSD targeting mainstream users](.F6e-UonzTrAe4Nz6QIe-EiDvc6NLoD4kPdly14eGG6g) .bIS_HNXdxt7IgqJzirbT3w_3Xvyvv05r-uYUARYzssQ Seagate this week launched a new consumer-grade solid state drive that arrives just in time for Amazon’s Prime Day shopping event. [Watch MIT's Cheetah 3 robot navigate complex environments without cameras](.YDfZSR2-601_3WKy-x9vzjFI-RN_itW6gub8v4-4tLg) .pV8KfMsmDZh5xREu62s64Z6e6L9I9Mcl3mqsA1ueyCY Move over Boston Dynamics, there’s a new contender in the race for robotic supremacy. MIT researchers this week revealed that their Cheetah 3 robot is now able to climb a staircase littered with debris, leap and gallop across rough terrain… Trivia [If you were buying a solid state drive, which of these would be the fastest, most durable type of NAND flash memory?](.BiC9-2jBXrFWNnDGZfpg3CBbNVj4m8vtdkrR2SRmQUg) [- SLC - eMLC - MLC - TLC](.vHYqoc3Q797UNRCbppTM08dnswU55u22bpvw-iz_ihw) [Xiaomi becomes the world's third-most valuable public smartphone company following $50 billion IPO](.YbK3tmzSFIN7UMKVPOvct5LeX9Gt5LPxiuqgaDUCjJ4) .fQraReB_H9wtPfQrhF-ZaahGZOiN9CuCxQNEQhX3YMk Apple and Samsung may still be the top dogs in the smartphone market, but it seems an unlikely competitor is quickly catching up. Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi launched its official IPO today in Hong Kong, and it's settled in at… [Cheaper Surface could arrive this week, Microsoft teases](.GDD8lSp7PVGAlbxySnbDWENdNj3eOubziJoJslArkDk) .0unBmCkNtmT9swtNO4sdNsrXMTCb7JlOG13GoRWr4Q0 Microsoft’s rumored 10-inch Surface tablet could make its debut as early as tomorrow if a recent teaser proves to be more than just a coincidence. [Rumors of a GameCube Classic Edition arise from newly filed trademarks](.yWyUwdPVktdjwUZaQFVDuFpNXyBGQIKN50gIFZ2dsg0) ._Ow8PxU1doGAGC0kMdJB6uEZn7XpGij5eW0TihV73aE When Nintendo announced at E3 that Super Smash Bros. Ultimate would come with support for GameCube controllers, it was not a big surprise. We reported last October that Nintendo had quietly added support for the 17-year-old console peripheral in a… Tech News - [UK to require all new homes have electric vehicle charging capabilities](.ugSInJrn9TFRex8TTWfCi72Yjwy7S27gAg4rBfI9EcQ) - [The Audi E-Tron SUV replaces side mirrors with cameras](.yRfqEilvOfmMagDkFXJtl2q-gqUfN8DbnP7nJ7ebiGE) - [Under new management Ford looks to shift focus to electric SUVs](.BRzQ8LvFCXiMZfMgW22VHU6pp_mNKGUVyP1ShG6qKsI) - [iOS 11.4.1's 'USB Restricted Mode' will block law enforcement from using USB devices to crack device passcodes](.BKzrrcS_SE3pGMP9cF7LI5RoyJNs8iMhf0QxjnoahRs) - [Smart speaker adoption to surpass 100 million by year's end](.kSRB3gVa8xetRpVEZ1QSIYKEMB_1EuK_I48hIEqtTZs) - [Polar fitness app exposed location of soldiers and government agents](.-SxUa7FkvG2Q-fTOTfaP3Z-zJpkDOm-ku74qDzV0oks) - [Smart speaker adoption to surpass 100 million by year's end](.5u_r1NvtYiLcdS8deDZ07znzRDO3LWJ8dLMwA8NJNQo) - [Google reportedly in talks to incorporate Duplex into call center industry](.5LemflFVdIJberTf4pI6tE9o5fK4r9RXpSVTqIu_L5w) - [Jawbone fitness trackers still on sale despite app's closure](.jqC9tm06eHcvi6GmK7OO_Gb6WJbV9lN_xRtFg5yueDk) - [SNK 40th anniversary collection announced for Nintendo Switch](.bOo4YIlxXUOTcldGxJkcGgsipJoww-iSlPP6exOK0MQ) - [Netflix is eliminating online user reviews](.NwhF6pC1XSNnP_LuaLnUGdy4CBXD7kAvrOODFKajWuo) - [Google says 'Docs' is secure despite Russian issue](.2AhRjEh2B2n6ohFdjTZ-v4sk33_RXgiNVrcL-sday8g) - [Tesla raises vehicle prices by 20 percent in China due to US trade war tariffs](.TpeCMwPaz_thE0ToxgHZkwz2mVEmzSo56PVYzV7RLUc) Software Downloads - [WhatsApp for Android 2.18.208](.krZQBpcHqjqHW2ZDye8iCzQhopLE9Nj5kYsVcUga5ck) - [Chromium 69.0.3487.0](.z_Ohn6zvU_duxKEphu7738qm-dq4xlpjn7Td3pcbAuE) - [Balabolka 2.12.0.663](.A3_e_FKE_ZURvmfr2rM5Y3TTrNPv4v90QSBfakkSJ9c) Drivers - [Display Driver Uninstaller 17.0.9.0](.xcxq8hnIUZDJ8GcOmfPXFUuKU2fA1euI4PYQntRnIRo) 2018-07-09 08:46:57 - [Amazon Kindle 8th Generation Firmware 5.9.5](.wEOTK6EVcnF_hZmNUzXPNpMyANhH1xvcfcZn130-MLQ) 2018-07-03 11:01:07 Tech Pic of the Day [Found why one of our servers ran extremely hot...](.QB62KYfyj1zzbEVhbdzqaoKQEAvpBI_9gh9ZDW83zqQ) .FP3IzQN5dGrlqdIQrcR14m4eHZY-2G3rwlBcX3Het48 [Credit: Reddit](.5IQWDvJtgj88RW-5Q9aQdVcbg8WhEBgY_Yu0BDsZZR4) Hot discussion [News and Comments](.0IIvwc-N33kfWFuz-TZYCD_9qv_W50jr00KfEhtLU2M) [No, your smartphone is not listening to your conversations](.Pnvaywd4kiEkKdCobz14WIEciCBBAyLKcxBZTRWI_Dk) [News and Comments](.8SMjaKVPWtfw5WS48qvkBxUWNeSreTUXt9xsNWD2Rkw) [Netflix is testing an Ultra tier that could see users paying more](.0GrPAwrgu3M7Ds4CoY6g-gS6ScrySMCXQ-wuey9x6g8) Follow TechSpot TechSpot: [Facebook](.IQDxPloY016qJYhhQVaBpW4WYoIR0W0AHHueavwrX6k) [Twitter](.GZU6r8-7twwOG9xGeP8DUq9ySXL4KvAx-v5_emqlkZI) [RSS](.6eneVw9PfUdOLnOSqL_-4Ny53Nu7uxek5q3H56cLmdw) [Google+](.vFrjdDGuxAJAFZW_DRQtC-4OElBnFTqCxrG_RA-xGz0) [Instagram](.r6Az2dteWNvAYOs32xmE_nmV4v82J2J8Xl-NQ3XFsLg) [Steam](.Oq0xnNbCkHh3BZgv443uLOU2yKpXNnGlaIa5q2P3kaM) [Flipboard](.mAtiTAWMttwrVBx-l4X7XetmEuml3oApmTJvZhx_ObU) [YouTube](.cna4rdpBy8GBnLifpmgAWd66Kz0EFjLfq7xGGUzuBvM) Feeds: [News](.dqLmlOsDErDVeBZ_khVN-SAjg0vnUqC1VcAX_GDZgKs), [Reviews & Features](.Z9MwyPyc27rp1WfYwy3kJ_Y_5bXVUNl-Tifd7NGyH7Y), [Downloads](.Z2sJnEjIYuFQnIv7a3l3EmDCLIK7HdkH2_SGY60l19c), [Drivers](.wBq_IP1mSCi4umBrj17_9TPpX--CaEhWqjX1Dggr9IY) [View this email in your browser](.GrwIW2wyUEHUIoM6zvq2BcE7FQXvVMFynbBCDy_iZyo) This email was sent to {EMAIL} [We only send these emails with your permission after you've registered on TechSpot.com](.54PPoI5tiuMl91tMLcH1ltwrWptdHL-GGVTrvPHdy0g) [Click here to unsubscribe](.iMQopcDGxCn_4c9e1ZjZ940FjfEsBJ9Deq8iq57NCro) © 2018 TechSpot, Inc.