How To Build A 4K Gaming PC For Less Than $2500

How To Build A 4K Gaming PC For Less Than $2500 -- Ultra HD Monitor, SSD, And Windows Included

If you approached me toward the end of 2013 and suggested I could build a 4K gaming PC for about $2500, I would have erupted into laughter. But in this post-CES 2014 world, what once seemed impossibly expensive is now approaching the realm of affordability. Not only does this system clock in at about $2500, it also features a 28″ Ultra HD monitor, SSD, fully modular 1000W power supply, and Windows 8.1.
Before I jump into the suggested components, allow me to provide some context. This is designed as an entry-point 4K gaming PC, with room for expansion. In this case, “entry-level” shouldn’t be mistaken for “cheap.” Components like the CPU, power supply, and motherboard are more expensive than you’ll find in my prior budget builds. That’s because they facilitate the end goal after future upgrades: Maxed out graphical goodness at 3840 x 2160 resolution with a total of three graphics cards. Still, what you’ll get for your $2500 investment is smooth 30fps to 60fps performance with most games set to Medium or Normal settings. A popular argument is that if you’re plunking down cash on 4K hardware, you’ll want to experience these games on High or Ultra levels of eyecandy. Pop in two additional Nvidia 780 Ti cards and you’ll have it, but this represents a gateway for getting there without crushing your bank account.

 

What Does 4K Mean, Anyway? Dave Thier Contributor

Digital Video Resolutions | Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

CPU: AMD FX-8350 4.0GHz 8-Core Processor | Where gaming is concerned, the FX-8350 edges out Intel's INTC +0.73% Core i5 and i7 processors. Introduce streaming into the mix and the performance divide is even larger, and the part costs roughly $100 less. (Nearly 1 million people are streaming games via Twitch these days, so that’s an important consideration). It has tons of headroom for overclocking, and it wins the price/performance argument hands-down.
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO | There are several reasons this part has a solid 5/5 on NewEgg even after 8000+ ratings. As air cooling goes, Cooler Master’s Hyper 212 EVO is legendary. It’s more effective than parts costing twice as much, and its included 120mm fan is exponentially quieter than stock CPU cooler fans. If you want to later upgrade to a dead silent 120mm fan, however, consider the Noctua NF-F12 since the Cooler Master fan snaps off easily.

EVGA’s GeForce GTX 780 Ti is the best choice for our 4K rig

Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 780 Ti | I ran dozens of benchmarks before deciding to include Nvidia's NVDA -0.16% flagship GPU. While my allegiance has been to AMD for budget builds, the 780 Ti simply trounces the Radeon 290x. That seems to defy logic since AMD thoughtfully included 4GB of VRAM on the 290x versus the 3GB onboard the 780 Ti. Yes, it’s true that certain games like Crysis 3 can give the 780 Ti a heart attack and cause it to spit out 1 or 2 frames per second, but that’s only when anti-aliasing is completely maxed out — a scenario not remotely necessary at 4K resolutions (the sweet spot is 4x MSAA). Nvidia’s part has a guaranteed base GPU clock speed which it consistently exceeds, as opposed to AMD’s tendency to throttle down when it reaches its maximum operating temperature (which typically takes only minutes).

Single GPU benchmarks @ 4K Resolution: Radeon 290x vs GTX 780 Ti

Nvidia also brings a superior reference cooler to the party, and temperatures I’m far more comfortable with when pondering the eventual upgrade to a triple-SLI system. Ironically, one of the strongest reasons for not including AMD’s 290x in this build is the company’s runaway success with cryptocurrency mining like LiteCoin or DogeCoin. The supply chain is continuously running dry as miners compete with gamers to procure parts. This has resulted in most of AMD’s newer graphics cards costing up to 30% higher than MSRP. With Nvidia’s 780 Ti now only marginally more expensive, G-Sync support in the pipeline, built-in streaming and recording via GeForce Experience, and consistent driver updates, Nvidia compellingly secures their inclusion here.
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme9 | For awhile this was ASRock’s best kept secret. Now it’s acknowledged as one of the best 990FX boards money can buy. Crucially, it supports 3-way SLI (since our end goal will be installing two more Nvidia GTX 780 Tis). It boasts 8 USB 3.0 ports, 8 SATA 6GB/s slots, and accommodates up to 64GB of RAM. Enthusiasts who want to push the limits of the FX-8350 CPU will find that it’s very overclocking-friendly. The gold and black aesthetic pops, it’s feature-packed, and built to last.

ASRock 990FX Extreme9 motherboard | Image Credit: ASRock

 System Memory: G.Skill Sniper Series 8GB 1866MHz | For our budget builds I still recommend Patriot or Kingston RAM, but now that we’re dipping into enthusiast waters, we need fast and reliable memory. G.Skill is at the top of that short list with their Sniper series, and they’ve managed to keep their pricing competitive even as we still feel the ripple effects of the Hynix factory fire in China. It’s relatively affordable, fast, and runs surprisingly cool. Again, feel free to deviate on brand but don’t compromise on quality. Is it ok to go with lower speed RAM like 1600MHz? Absolutely, but the price differences are marginal.
OS Drive (Optional): Kingston V300 Series 120GB SSD | As the price per gigabyte of SSD storage continues to plummet, including a solid state drive is a no-brainer. For about $69 we get a highly rated SSD with maximum sequential reads and writes of up to 450 MB/s. 120GB of storage gives us an opportunity to install a few of our favorite games for seriously decreased load times, while Windows 8.1 will take advantage of the SSD for boot times less than 7 seconds. Also worthy of consideration is Samsung’s 840 EVO line of solid state drives, about $20 more depending on where you shop.
Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 1TB Hard Drive | 7200RPM, 64MB Cache, and SATA 6GB/s interface. There isn’t much to say beyond that. It’s a reliable drive and represents great bang for the buck. If you have a preference for another brand, just make sure you’re getting at least 1TB of storage for less than $85.

Case: NZXT Phantom 410 | As with previous builds, I recognize that the choice of chassis is highly subjective. I recommend the Phantom because it houses my personal rig. Beyond that, the blue LEDs and black exterior look striking and the curves are sleek. It ships with a total of three fans (one of them 140mm), and includes support for 5 more. In my opinion it’s one of the best cases you can buy for less than $100. Whatever you decide on, ensure that it supports a full-sized ATX motherboard and has plenty of ventilation.
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA 1000W 80+ Gold Fully Modular | The reason for choosing such a beefy PSU is that we’re future-proofing our build. Eventually you’ll want to be running three graphics cards in SLI to maximize your 4K visuals. I’m normally a Corsair fanboy in the PSU department, but it turns out EVGA makes some excellent power supplies. And for $179, you get 1000W of power with 80 PLUS GOLD (90%) efficiency, and a fully modular design. It’s also exceptionally quiet, well built, and comes with a 10 year warranty. This comes with all the cables you’ll ever require, and is ready for triple-SLI.
Operating System: Windows 8.1 | The newest version of DirectX 11 is exclusive to Windows 8.1 which makes its inclusion here a necessity. The latest update to Windows also introduces per-monitor DPI scaling, something you can’t live without if you’re planning on a secondary 1080p or 1440p display. If you miss the true Start menu and the ability to boot to desktop, simply install Start8 or Classic Shell.

Lenovo’s ThinkVision Pro 2840m Ultra HD monitor costs $799, supports 60Hz at 4K resolution

4K Ultra HD Monitor: ThinkVision Pro 2840m ($799, launches April 2014): Last but certainly not least is the final, crucial component. This year’s CES saw a trend toward affordable 4K displays, but they’re not all created equal. Dell teased us with their sub-$1000 P2815Q, but the dealbreaker came in the form of a 30Hz refresh rate at 3840 x 2160. When Lenovo unveiled their ThinkVision Pro 2840m for only $100 more, my heart sank as I assumed it would also not deliver the essential 60Hz at 3840 x 2160 experience.
I asked Lenovo’s ThinkVision product manager to double-check with their engineers, and the 28″ display does indeed offer 60Hz at 4K resolution thanks to its dual-scaler chip. It’s an LCD panel with 10-bit per channel color and 72% color gamut, so don’t expect the same dazzling display quality as we see with more expensive IPS panels. But for $799, this is a sure bet for our entry-level 4K gaming rig. The one drawback? It doesn’t launch until April.
Alternate 4K Ultra HD Monitor (Out Now): If you’re chomping at the bit to get started on this build, though, seek out Dell’s Ultrasharp UP2414Q. It’s a 24-incher with a gorgeous IPS panel and the adherence to quality Dell’s UltraSharp is known for. While it may be more expensive, NewEgg currently has it on offer for $1154 — about $150 below MSRP.
Have questions or feedback? Continue the conversation by following me on Twitter and Facebook. You can also listen to my tech and gaming podcast “Tangled Cables.”

Best Mid-Range Gaming PC Build Under $1,000 [February 2014]

Best Mid-Range Gaming PC Build Under $1,000 [February 2014]

Full HD 1080P Gaming PC Under $1,000!

The original plan for December of 2013 was to update the $1,000 Gaming PC Build that really hasn’t been updated since December of 2012. Unfortunately as I started working on the build article late last year, I wasn’t too happy with a lot of components that I had to make compromises in, in order to fit the budget. At the time, I wanted to close 2013 with a build that had the highest performance for the dollar, which is why I ended up increasing the budget to $1,200.
Now after posting the build, a number of you requested that I post a $1,000 gaming PC build as well – a system that not only would play games at 1080p, but also had lots of upgrade opportunity down the line for when the budget opens up. While I did end up sending recommendations to those who requested it, I feel like there was enough interest to actually do a dedicated article for a $1,000 gaming PC build. While I know I promised a lot of you that the build would come last month, it’s been hectic here at Custom PC Review with CES and all, so better late than never I guess!
Before we continue on, you’ll notice that we no longer post prices for all individual components. The reason for this is because prices tend to fluctuate quite a bit especially on computer components, and prices I list here will likely be significantly different by the time you read this article. If prices are significantly different and you need help adjusting the build to fit you needs, please feel free to ask for some advice in our community forums. We’ve got a very friendly, very knowledgeable community there who’d love to help you out. 
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at what we came up with!

Best Mid-Range Gaming PC Build Component Summary – Budget: $1,000

CPU	Intel Core i5-4670K
Motherboard	MSI Z87-G55
Memory	8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz Low Profile
GPU	ASUS GeForce GTX 660 DirectCU II Overclocked
Case	Corsair Carbide Series 200R
Boot Drive	Western Digital Black 500GB Hard Drive
Optical Drive	OEM DVD Drive or OEM Blu Ray Drive
PSU	Antec EA-550 Platinum 550W PSU
OS	Windows 7 64-bit or Windows 8.1 64-bit

Core Component Details

CPU - Intel Core i5-4670K

As you’ve probably noticed by now, I think the Intel Core i5-4670K is by far the best mid-range to high-end gaming CPU you could get today. Based off Intel’s 22nm Haswell architecture, the Intel Core i5-4670K is a quad core CPU clocked at 3.4GHz with a turbo clock of up to 3.8GHz.
While the Core i5-4670K doesn’t have 6, 8 or 12 cores, the Haswell architecture is about as good as it gets when it comes to single threaded IPC performance. Given that most games on the market aren’t optimized for more than 2-4 simultaneous threads, it’s much more important for a CPU to have that fast single threaded performance rather than a whole bunch of cores that sit idle.
But, that’s not all. For an additional performance boost, we also went with a K series processor, which has unlocked multipliers for easy overclocking. By overclocking the CPU, we can see between 15%-25% performance boost depending on luck and cooling. While we didn’t add a CPU cooler to our build today for budgetary reasons, something such as low cost as the Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO can easily be added to the system and would allow the Core i5-4670K to reach mild overclocks of 4-4.2GHz without issue.

Motherboard - MSI Z87-G55

For our motherboard choice this month, we opted to go with the MSI Z87-G55, which is one of the best value motherboards currently on the market. MSI boards in the Intel 6 and 7 series generations were a bit more expensive than similar motherboards in competitor lineups, but with the 8 series chipset, MSI now has a very strong motherboard lineup that offers a lot of features for the price.
Based off the Z87 chipset, the MSI Z87-G55 is a LGA 1150 socket motherboard which supports the latest 4th generation Intel Core processors such as the Intel Core i5-4670K. It features MSI’s new Military Class 4 features which include higher quality components such as super ferrite chokes, dark solid capacitors, Hi-C CAPs, DrMos4 mosfets, MSI’s Gen 4 fabric PCB and more for better durability, more precise power delivery and lower motherboard temperatures.
Additional features include support for SLI/CrossFire multi-GPU configurations, 6x USB 3.0 ports (4x in the rear I/O, 2x internal header), 6x SATA 6Gb/s with mSATA SSD support, 3x PCIe x16 slots, and Gigabit ethernet.

Memory - 8GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz Low Profile

Unfortunately in 2013, we’ve seen memory prices go up a bit since they hit rock bottom in 2012, but it’s still not too bad which means our mid-range gaming system will still have access to a decent 8GB of memory.
For our gaming PC build today, we went with the Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600MHz Low Profile kit, which we’ve had lots of success with over the past couple of years. It’s fast enough for what we’re doing, it looks pretty sweet, it doesn’t cost a whole lot, and it’s very reliable as well. Of course given the nature of computer components things may go wrong, but Corsair offers a lifetime warranty with the Vengeance kits to ensure that these sticks will last you at least until DDR4 or DDR5 becomes mainstream.
Additionally, we also like the fact that the Corsair Vengeance Low Profile sticks use low profile heatspreaders. Low profile heatspreaders may not look as cool as their high profile counterparts, but they do remove the possibility of compatibility issues with monster CPU coolers like the Noctua NH-D14 if you choose to purchase one down the line.

Case - Corsair Carbide Series 200R

In the budget range, it’s always difficult to find decent computer cases. Manufacturers generally tend to skimp on either features or materials in order to keep prices low, which sucks for those on a budget. However, one case that seems to buck this trend is the Corsair Carbide 200R. With the Carbide 200R, Corsair is capable of offering a case that has all the features you need, yet are still capable of maintaining a build quality that’s far from being plain “cheap”.
The Corsair Carbide 200R is pretty much Corsair’s entry level mid-tower case which is capable of supporting ATX and mATX motherboards. Features wise, it contains room for 7 expansion slots, up to 8 fans for tons of cooling capacity, front panel USB 3.0 support, lots of cable management options, and support for GPUs up to 430mm.  There’s also room for a whopping eight disk drives and three 5.25″ drives as well for plenty of upgradeability down the line. Additionally, the Corsair Carbide 200R is extremely easy to build into with its completely tool-less design making it a perfect case for first time builders and veterans alike.

GPU - ASUS GeForce GTX 660 DirectCU II Overclocked

While we did consider the Radeon R9 270 for our gaming PC build this month, with the Bitcoin/Litecoin/Dogecoin what have you crypto-currency mining craze making it quite difficult to find stable stocks of AMD graphics cards these days, we’ll instead be going with the ASUS GeForce GTX 660 DirectCU II Overclocked edition graphics card. The GeForce GTX 660 is more than capable of playing even the latest games at high to ultra settings at 1080p resolutions and with ASUS’s factory overclock and DirectCU II cooler, you can expect the card to be not only fast, but relatively quiet as well.
While the GTX 660 is a previous generation graphics card and we’re not huge huge fans of recommending previous generation GPUs when new ones are available, the GTX 660 is unique in that Nvidia has continued the GTX 660 alongside the GTX 760 with the GTX 760 serving as more of the “GTX 660 Ti” equivalent type of product. Those looking for a system with more powerful graphics can step up to a GeForce GTX 760 for about a 15%-20% increase in performance, but it’ll run you an extra $40-$50. 

Storage - Western Digital Black 500GB Hard Drive

For any new builds these days, my preference is to start off with either a 240GB+ SSD or a 120GB SSD + 500+GB HDD combo. For those with larger budgets, I generally recommend going with a single 240GB+ SSD while those with smaller budgets can get a 120GB SSD and pair that with a 500+GB HDD which serves as a storage drive.
Since our budget was limited in this case, I opted for a single WD Black 500GB hard drive. The WD Black is that it’s one of the fastest consumer 7,200 RPM hard drives on the market and it also carries a 5-year warranty, so short of a prosumer or enterprise 10,000RPM+ hard drive, the WD Black is about as good as it gets for a traditional spinning disk. That said, if you do have the budget left over, I’d definitely recommend picking up a Samsung 840 EVO SSD. The Samsung 840 EVO is a great SSD that’s not only a strong performer, but it also carries Samsung’s tier 1 reliability and extremely competitive pricing, generally retailing in the $0.60-$0.65/GB range.

Now the reason why I decided to compromise the most on storage in order to fit the budget is because storage is probably the easiest component to upgrade. Simply purchase a new SSD, clone the original hard drive, and you’re good to go. You can even use the hard drive as a storage drive for games, pictures, or movies once the upgrade is complete.

Optional Components

Some readers have expressed interest in monitor, speaker, mice and keyboard suggestions, so we’ve also started including some recommendations for these items as well. I won’t be explaining the choices as these optional components are quite dependent on the purpose of PC (For example, someone serious about audio may end up going with something like an Audioengine 5+ paired with an ASUS Xonar Essence STX), but here are some suggestions that are a good fit for this build based on the system’s budget.

Monitor	Dell E-Series E2414Hr 24-inch Monitor
Sound Card	Creative Sound Blaster Z
Speakers	Logitech Z623
Headset	Razer Kraken Pro
Mouse	Razer DeathAdder 2013
Keyboard	Razer BlackWidow Ultimate

Remember, if you have any questions, need some help, or need to fit the build into your budget feel free to visit the forums! Myself, or the community will be more than happy to help you out with your own custom build or answer any computer questions you may have. If this build doesn’t fit your needs, be sure to drop by our Computer Builds section to find more computer builds. If you spot any issues with our build such as GPU/case incompatibilities, cooler/case incompatibilities, etc. please let us know as well so that we may update the article.
Also, be sure to join us on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or YouTube to be updated on the latest news, reviews, tutorials, custom computer builds, and more!

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Hands on: Samsung Galaxy S5 review

Samsung Galaxy S5 review

For

• Solid design
• Waterproof
• Clever health features

Against

• No big updates
• Complicated UI

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the latest challenger from the South Korean brand to launch into an ever more crowded market, but at least this time the phone has focused on what users might actually want rather than useless gimmicks.
The Galaxy S4 was a strong phone in spite of the insistence that being able to wave your hands over a phone or scroll with your eyes was a good thing.
The Galaxy S5 takes the DNA of that handset and improves on it in most areas. It's a quiet improvement though, which may disappoint a lot of people looking to see the world's highest-res display and an all new metal chassis, but it's one that at least delivers where consumers need it.

If you're looking for a phone that reinvents the smartphone again, in the same way the Samsung Galaxy S2, HTC Desire or iPhone 4 managed, you're going to be rather disappointed with what's on offer from South Korea.However, if you're after a better camera, a brighter screen, a faster processor and a more solid design, then the Galaxy S5 will mostly deliver all you'd be looking for.

The company explained to me what it considered to be the core tenets it stuck to when creating the Galaxy S5, and they show a renewed focus over the predecessor: a better camera, faster connectivity for web browsing, personal fitness tracking, protection, and a 'modern and glam' look (its words, not mine).

Design

It's actually a little redundant to talk about all the technology inside a phone before dealing with the key question: does it look attractive?
Yes and no. You can't call it ugly, because Samsung does know how to put a phone together well. But at the same time it's the same tired story on the design front: taking some elements from the predecessor, adding in some bits from the current Note and calling it all new.

The 'metal' surround is almost identical to the Note 3, to the point I was looking for an S Pen to start poking out. But the back is the main change, and I'd go as far as saying it's lovely. No more shiny plastic or laughable attempts to make it look like a leather notebook – while it is still plastic, it's a lot more grippable and feels a lot, lot nicer in the hand.

The overall construction is again more solid, but the device is markedly bigger compared to the Galaxy S3 and S4. There's a lot more Note DNA in the Galaxy S5 than ever before, that's for sure.In fact, the design of the Galaxy S5 is one that evokes the S2 more than anything else, as it's more rectangular in shape. It's certainly a departure from the 'inspired by a blade of grass' creation of the S3.

But the main thing to answer is how it feels in the hand – and the good news is it feels solid, well made and less cheap than ever. Samsung will have disappointed many by not releasing a full metal version, and it's true that this isn't what I was hoping to see, but it's more than adequate.The other big deal is that the Samsung Galaxy S5 is waterproof and dustproof to an IP67 rating, which means it's almost completely resistant to dust and waterproof to a depth of 1m for 30 minutes – more than enough time to fish it out when thrown down a toilet.

Yes, it's not a new trick, but the only port cover on show is the one holding the USB 3.0 socket closed – it's got a nice lip to it as well so it's very easy to open.What's more impressive is that this phone still packs a removable cover and battery – while yes, it is a really fiddly cover to clip back on, to be able to access the power pack and microSD card slot is a really good move.

The only worry I've got, and it's a fairly big one here, is that the cover will show small gaps if you've not got it absolutely flush to the back and totally clipped in. It's very easy to miss a clip, which could make things a trifle wet if you throw it in a pint to impress friends.

Screen

With the screen on the Galaxy S5, once again Samsung was a victim of its own hype. We were all expecting a grand step forward, the first manufacturer to bring a 2K screen to the masses.
But it's just a Full HD Super AMOLED version, one that's actually a little less sharp in theory than before as it's now 5.1- rather than 5-inches, meaning it's down from a 441ppi to 415ppi on the new version.
It's not massive, but it is a drop when we were expecting something higher-res.

Ever since the Galaxy S2, Samsung has been faced with an impossible task: make its smartphones so great that they blow the world's collective mind time and again.Since that phone, one of the handsets that like the HTC Desire and the iPhone 4 changed the expectation levels of the phone buying public, it's hard to say that it's come close to managing the same feat again.

The display shouldn't be sniffed at though. It's sharp, clear, and when placed next to the S4 is clearly a step forward in terms of Super AMOLED technology. Although Samsung wouldn't confirm it to me, I'd guess that there are more full pixels stuck in there – the colour reproduction was a step forward again, and movies looked so much better again.

Interface

Like the 2K display we were expecting big things from the new UI on the Samsung Galaxy S5, and there has at least been a bigger jump forward here.
The notifications bar is the biggest change that I could see, with the whole area looking a lot different to the standard version Samsung has employed with TouchWiz over the years.

There are now quick links to the likes of S Finder and Quick Connect, which allow you to theoretically move through the phone at greater speed.The former is the same thing as Google Search, it seems, with more information drawn in from the web. It's the kind of thing you'd need to spend more time with to see if it fits in with your lifestyle, as it could either be a really quick way of flicking around or a waste of valuable screen space.

Quick Connect seems to make a little more sense, as it takes the best of things like AirDrop and AirPlay from Apple and moves them all into one place. You can also DLNA stream from here, and makes the Galaxy S5 a really connected hub of the home.

The settings button seems to have gone a bit mad though – now there's a massive long list of all the settings options (under the guise of being quick) but there appeared to be a number of repeated items here – definitely one to dig into further with the full review.

Fingerprint scanner

I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting Samsung to bring a fingerprint scanner to the mix for the Galaxy S5, as there were few signs that it had nailed the technology just yet.
In terms of what we've actually been given, it's a middling effort. On the one hand, the scanner is actually pretty accurate and gives an added level of security. On the other, you still have to wake the phone by pressing the home or power button before you can scan, which adds an extra step that Apple doesn't make you go through.

The action can be misinterpreted, as it's a straight scan down from the screen to the bottom of the home key, although I noticed its accuracy was pretty good right from the start.It's a few steps behind Apple's decent integration of TouchID in the iPhone 5S, but miles ahead of the finger-based abomination on the back of the HTC One Max.

Couple that with the work Samsung has done to sign a deal with PayPal to offer payment security, and you can see why I'm pretty excited about this option.The TouchID payment security extends only to iTunes purchases, so being able to shop the web and pay for stuff with your digit is truly forward-thinking.

I just hope it's not a subset of shops that can recognise you're on a Galaxy S5 with the ability to perform this task.

Camera

The camera on the Samsung Galaxy S5 is probably one of the most improved elements of the handset, and that's not because it's leapt forward to a 16MP sensor.
The megapixel count these days is largely irrelevant, but the hardware's ability to process and take pictures should be considered a much larger part, and Samsung has managed that well.

On the Galaxy S5 you've got a super fast autofocus that Samsung reckons can capture a photo in around 0.3second. We didn't have any fast running dogs to test this with, but every photo we took whirling the phone around seemed to come out largely blur free.The other big news is real time HDR, which can give you a visual representation of what your picture will look like when high dynamic range is applied before pressing the shutter button. It works really well, and while there's a relatively high amount of graining present, the end result compared to the setting being turned off is huge.

Oh, and of course there's Selective Focus, which allows you to alter the focus of the shot after it's taken.This looks like it's going to be big news in smartphones this year, but it looks a lot like a gimmick to me if the S5 is anything to go by, which is a shame when it's such a tough task for the phone to process.

You have to activate the mode specially, and then hope for a scene with movement in the background and a static object to focus on. Only then will you be able to press the shutter button and wait up to ten seconds for the Galaxy S5 to give you the option to move between different levels of focus in the shot.It's something that could be an amazing feature if it was there as standard, but it's too convoluted to be anything other than an interesting feature to show friends down the pub.

Fitness tech

One of the key pillars of the Samsung Galaxy S5 is the fitness technology that's contained within it - and while it's going to be a big part of the phone's marketing, as well as a popular topic for all technology firms in the next year, it's not a standout feature.
S Health was something of damp squib on the Galaxy S4, and while S Health 3.0 on the S5 is a much better app, there's still not enough there to influence the buying decision.
The Galaxy S5 has a heart rate sensor, but that's under the flash of the camera and requires you to hold your finger on it for a few seconds to get a reading of your pulse.

Once that's logged you can see how your health is improving over time as your resting heart rate drops, but because it requires you to place your finger in a certain way each day it's not a passive system, which these things need to be.

The ability to track your calories in and out is also cool and helpful, but only if it's used properly. The only way to make this a successful system is to be completely devoted to it, and in reality things like the Gear Fit are a much better idea as they're always tracking for you.

Will it be a success?

Of course it will. This is Samsung we're talking about, and the unstoppable marketing machine means it could rebadge a carrot with a shiny screen and it would still get modest sales.
But that would do a disservice to this phone. The Galaxy S5 is the result of a company going back to the drawing board, scrapping the pointless gimmicks that so infuriated on the Galaxy S4 and bringing out a smartphone based on the tenets it reckons users really want.

And, to a degree, it's succeeded. The camera is much better, although refocus is something of a gimmick, and the overall construction is improved. There's part of me that's sorely disappointed that it doesn't have a 2K screen, but that would have killed battery life and been a marketing tool only.The battery life looks to be pretty good - the 2800mAh battery is a little on the low side, but if the extra features work to extend the life by turning off unnecessary elements, then that will at least get you through the day comfortably.
What Samsung has produced is a phone that's devoid of any standout feature, an incremental update that's played it safe in order to make the the whole greater than the sum of the parts.

That's not necessarily a bad thing; nearly every part of the phone, from the UI to the camera to the battery life, has been enhanced in some way, making it a much better phone than the S4, but definitely not one you'd break your contract to upgrade to.The problem perhaps isn't Samsung's, more the wider smartphone world: I've heard the word plateau bandied about a few times when discussing how phone power and innovation is increasing, and it's hard to point to where Samsung should have improved dramatically and hasn't.

But when a company with the scale and resources of Samsung makes a new phone, it should make a huge splash, and for the last couple of years it hasn't managed that.

Early verdict

If you read the few paragraphs above, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a boring phone. It very much isn't - it's got lots of elements that users can dig into - but if you were hoping for something that provides a bar for the rest of the competition to aspire to, you'll be left wanting.
The Galaxy S5 has a great camera, strong screen, impressive packaging, a waterproof casing and a blazingly fast engine pumping things along.
But it doesn't have an amazing camera, incredibly battery life, stunning design or genuinely innovative feature, and that cause a few people to wait and see what the competition brings before deciding that this (likely pretty pricey) handset is for them.

Here’s why Facebook bought WhatsApp for $19 billion

 

Facebook today announced it was buying WhatsApp for what looks like an outrageous $16 billion. Make it even more insane $19 billion if you add the $3 billion of restricted stock units that will vest over four years after the deal closes. Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion and Skype had a monetization model in place. On the other hand, WhatsApp looks like a social service, charging users in some countries a subscription fee of just $1 a year and remains largely free in some of its top most countries that have over 20 million users each. So why did Facebook pay so much for it?
There are multiple reasons.
The threat of Google or someone else acquiring WhatsApp: The mobile messaging service has been rumored to be in talks with multiple companies over the last year or so. While Facebook and Google were repeated quite often, BGR India learns that China’s Tencent was also interested in an acquisition or partnership with WhatsApp. Tencent owns WeChat, which is the most popular messaging service in China but has few active users outside the country. However, WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum was willing to wait for the right valuation (a minimum of $10 billion BGR India was told earlier) as the service kept adding more than 50 million monthly active users every quarter. It would have been detrimental for Facebook’s growth had someone else acquired WhatsApp, which now has over 450 million monthly active users with 70 percent of them active daily.
Users were spending more time on WhatsApp than Facebook on mobiles: Users were spending much more time on WhatsApp on their phones than Facebook. According to a survey by mobile marketing firm Jana Mobile, in India 55 percent of respondents said WhatsApp was their most used mobile app versus just 0.85 percent said Facebook. In Brazil, 63 percent said WhatsApp and 5.58 percent said Facebook. In Mexico, 76 percent said WhatsApp, 5 percent said Facebook. In the most recent quarter, Facebook revealed that 945 million of its 1.22 billion users came from mobile. But users in countries where Facebook hopes to get its growth wave are just not spending enough time on Facebook on their phones.
It’s all about connecting people: According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the two companies have the same vision of connecting people and it makes sense for them to work together. “Our mission is to make the world more open and connected. We do this by building services that help people share any type of content with any group of people they want. WhatsApp will help us do this by continuing to develop a service that people around the world love to use every day,” Zuckerberg wrote in a post on his personal Facebook profile.

 

Top 10 Best Android Phones of 2013 to 2014

Top 10 Best Android Phones of 2013 to 2014

With so many great Android phones being available to UK and global customers you can spend literally hours trying to decide which one to get with your next mobile contract. So we keep an Android Top 10 list up to date to help me your decision easier.
Rankings our list of the best Android phones have been decided upon by adding together and averaging out the scores from Tech Radar, CNET, Phone Arena, Wired and Trusted Reviews for each phone.

10. LG G3

• OS: Android (version to be announced)
• Dimensions: TBA
• Weight: TBA
• Screen Size/Resolution: Size TBA, 1440 x 2560 pixel Quad HD display
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: TBA
• CPU Speed: Octa-Core Processor, Speed TBA
• Memory: TBA
• Built in Storage/Expansion: TBA
• Camera Resolution: 16MP Rear-facing
• Overall Rating: Rating Coming Soon

The LG G3 isn’t on the shelves just yet, but information has recently been leaked about some of the handset’s features, and let’s just say that they look formidable to say the least. An octa-core processor is just the start since this phone will move to 64-bit architecture much like the step that the iPhone 5S has already taken. There’s no word on the size of the screen yet but it is known that a 1440 x 2560 display is on the cards, bringing it to 2K resolution standards. A 16 megapixel camera also sits on the rear of the phone, but for the rest of the specs we’re just going to have to wait and see. What’s certain is that this phone will be a ferocious competitor for all of its rivals, and the sales figures will hopefully do this phone some justice that the LG G2 never experienced. 

9. LG G Flex

• OS: Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
• Dimensions: 160.5 x 81.6 x 8.7 mm
• Weight: 6.24 oz (177 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 6.0 inches /720 x 1280 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: TBA
• CPU Speed: Quad-core 2.26 GHz Krait 400
• Memory: 2GB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB
• Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.2/10

After the Samsung Galaxy Round’s release in Korea, there was no way that rival phone companies weren’t going to come up with a like-for-like response: the LG G Flex is LG’s answer to this wonderfully curved device. The G Flex has a curved screen measuring 6 inches and possesses a quad-core 2.26GHz processor. Its camera is quite impressive at 13mp, but the one thing that may put many off at this stage is the substantial price tag, ringing in at well over the usual high-end phone price at roughly $900 or so. The Flex is no doubt a high-end masterpiece but waiting for the price to drop would be a smart move that will save you money. 
Compare LG G Flex Offers

8. Samsung Galaxy S4: Mini

• Dimensions: 124.6 x 61.3 x 8.94 mm
• Weight: 3.77 oz (107 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 4.3 inches/540 x 960 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 12 hours/12.5 days (300 hours)
• CPU Speed: Dual core, 1700 MHz, Krait 300
• Memory: 1536 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 8 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
• Camera Resolution: 8 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.24/10

Compare deals for the Samsung Galaxy S4: Mini at Three O2 T-Mobile Orange Vodafone Virgin

7. Sony Xperia Z1

• Dimensions: 144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5 mm
• Weight: 6 oz (170 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 5 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 13.83 hours/36.7 days (880 hours)
• CPU Speed: Quad core, 2200 MHz, Krait 400
• Memory: 2048 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
• Camera Resolution: 20.7 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.44/10

Compare deals for the Sony Xperia Z1 at Three O2 T-Mobile Orange Vodafone Virgin

6. HTC One Mini

• Dimensions: 132 x 63.2 x 9.25 mm
• Weight: 4.30 oz (122 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 4.3 inches/720 x 1280 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 20.72 hours/20.8 days (500 hours)
• CPU Speed: Dual core, 1400 MHz, Krait
• Memory: 1024 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/No Expansion Available
• Camera Resolution: 4 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.44/10

Compare deals for the HTC One Mini at O2 T-Mobile Orange Vodafone

5. Samsung Galaxy S4

• Dimensions: 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm
• Weight: 5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 oz (130 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 5 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 17 hours/15.4 days
• CPU Speed: Quad core, 1900 MHz, Krait 300
• Memory: 2048 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
• Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.66/10

At position 7 the SG4 was 2013's first real phone hard-hitter –. The Galaxy S4 had a lot to live up to when it was released back in April – the Galaxy S3 was a game-changing smartphone, and one that few thought Samsung would ever top. It's questionable whether Samsung managed to pull it off - some may think they have, we think not. This phone is more of a tweaked version of the SG3 rather than a phone worth upgrading to if you already own the SG3. In terms of value for money we'd recommend getting the SG3 (further down the list) on contract instead and if your a loyal SG3 owner, wait for the SG5!
The Galaxy S4 is a slightly more serious looking phone than its predecessor, and gives the superficial appearance that it really means business. Samsung has opted to stick with the much-maligned plastic back panel, but it doesn’t really take too much away from the device. The S4 is still better spec’d, more innovative, and has a bigger screen than the S3. Speaking of the screen, the 5.0-inch Full HD resolution display at 441ppi is impressive, with vivid colours and deep darks. A 1.6 GHz Cortex A-15 processor and 2 GB of RAM are used to power the phone providing an ample improvement on performance to the S3.
Smartphone photographers will enjoy the 13-MP camera, which produces quality images and excellent features, including Dual Shot, whereby both cameras (front and rear) shoot footage at the same time.
As ever, Samsung is generous with storage, offering 16, 32, and 64 GB versions of the S4 and a micro-SD card slot for a further 64 GB of space which some other big names such as the HTC One range and iPhone ranges fail to do.
If your in the market for a 'flashy' brand new phone, the SG4 might be for you. However if your looking for value for money on a contract phone, opt for the SG3 further down.
Compare deals for the Samsung Galaxy S4 at Three O2 T-Mobile Orange Vodafone Virgin

4. Samsung Galaxy Note 3

• Dimensions: 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm
• Weight: 5.93 oz (168 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 5.7 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 25 hours/22 days (528 hours)
• CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon, Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
• Memory: 3072 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/Expanded up to 64 GB with Micro SD
• Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.74/10

Samsung build's on the success of their second edition note with an additional 1GB of Memory, twice as much in built storage to fit all those useful apps on and over 40% more processing power with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad core 2300 MHz processing power. This is a serious monster of a phone with a great deal of improvements at it's core beyond power - just check out the full range of note features at the official micro site.
Compare contract offers for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Best Overall Lowest Price Best for Internet Best for Call Time

3. HTC One

• Dimensions: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3 mm
• Weight: 5.04 oz (143 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 4.7 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Quad core, 1700 MHz
• Memory: 2048 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/None Expandable
• Camera Resolution: 4 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.78/10

Despite producing stellar handsets in recent years, HTC has never really captured public attention in the same way as Samsung but the HTC One changes all that.
This smartphone really is as good as it gets. A machined precession aluminium body gives the phone a build that only the iPhone can compare to. Like the Xperia Z, the weight (143 grams) and thickness (9.3 mm) only serve to add to the premium feel and make the One a dream to handle.
By opting for a 4.7 –inches instead of 5.0-inches in the display department, HTC has produced the best quality display ever seen on a smartphone, with Full HD resolution producing 469ppi. Colours are wonderfully vivid and text is pin sharp every time, no matter if you’re watching Netflix or browsing the web.
The HTC One is also a powerhouse of a smartphone, boasting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.7 GHz quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. The Taiwanese manufacturer comes up trumps in the camera department too, with a 4-MP ultrapixel snapper delivering staggering quality. Both the rear and front facing cameras get 1080p video recording and the secondary camera, at 2.1-MP, is great for video callers.
Beats Audio will have your music sounding better than ever and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage should ensure plenty of space for tunes.
Compare deals for the HTC One at Three O2 T-Mobile Orange and Vodafone

2. LG G2

• Dimensions: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm
• Weight: 5.04 oz (143 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 5.2 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: Info hours/Info days (Info hours)
• CPU Speed: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, Quad core, 2260 MHz
• Memory: 2048 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 32 GB/None expandable
• Camera Resolution: 13 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.82/10

The first phone to contain the Snapdragon 800, Quad core, 2260 MHz processor this is a seriously fast phone and big Android contender from LG. The 13 Mega pixel camera takes super sharp photos and with a generous 2GB of memory we would have put this phone at the number one slot had it not been for the fact that in the UK neither Three or O2 offer the phone in the 32 GB internal storage version.
With the 16 GB version being the only model available some users may find this capacity just a little limiting. If LG would have kept to the expandable memory option (micro SD slot) that was present in their previous phones this may not be have been too much of a hurdle for users who like more space. If however you are not a heavy gamer or app user and can manage your inventory more efficiently this won't cause you a problem.
On the whole the LG G2 deserves second spot due to it's many powerful features compared to previous models. It scores an impressive 8.82/10 across the big phone review sites.
Compare deals for the LG G2 at Three and O2 (Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone and Virgin are currently not stocking the phone).

1. Google Nexus 5

• OS: Android (4.4)
• Dimensions: 131.9 x 68.2 x 8.6 mm
• Weight: 4.59 oz (130 g)
• Screen Size/Resolution: 5.0 inches/1080 x 1920 pixels
• Battery Talk Time/Standby: 17.00 hours/12.5 days (300 hours)
• CPU Speed: Quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400
• Memory: 2048 MB RAM
• Built in Storage/Expansion: 16 GB/Not expandable
• Camera Resolution: 8 megapixels
• Overall Rating: 8.85/10

The Nexus 5 is finally here and with some serious power behind it (Quad Core processor and 2GB of Ram) this phone comes with some very good contract offers it's only two uk network suppliers at current - O2 and Three.
It's a monster of a phone considering it's performance specs highlighted above and easily competes with the LG G2. With a recommended retail price of £299.99 it hands down beats all other phones for value for money. In terms of contracts it means you can get the very best minutes and internet data deals for a much lower price than other handsets of equivalent performance specs.