benchmarking

Benchmark your PC with NovaBench

How fast is your computer? Where are the performance bottlenecks? And how does it compare to other users' systems? NovaBench can answer those questions and more. This free benchmarking utility tests your CPU, RAM, graphics, disk speed, and other system parameters, creating a detailed report of its findings that you can upload to the NovaBench site with an optional free account. NovaBench is so easy to use that anyone can benchmark their system with it, but the information it gathers is useful even to pros.

NovaBench has an extremely simple interface with a field displaying system info and one button, … Read more

CNET Labscast 12: Best battery life laptops, OnLive iPad gaming demo

This week we run down the best battery life laptops of 2011, and you'll never guess what the No. 1 system is. Ty pops in with some TV buying advice and clears up the whole LCD/LED thing, while Scott offers last-minute holiday gift ideas. Also, check out this demo of the OnLive app playing high-end PC games through an iPad.

CNET Labscast 11: Blue screens in the lab, gaming PC prices; new Xbox dashboard

This week, check out three simultaneous blue screens of death in the lab, followed by a debate on gaming PC prices, a tour of the new Xbox dashboard, and find out what ultrabooks need to do to win next year.

CNET Labscast 10: Rating Cyber Week laptop and TV deals

We ask the crew what they bought on Black Friday, and then browse a selection of Cyber Monday/Cyber Week deals on laptops and TVs, suggesting which ones to avoid, no matter the price.

CNET Labscast 9: Military-grade laptops, 3D TV testing, and Black Friday deals (podcast)

This week, we spot an Apple pop-up store in NYC, check out a nearly bulletproof rugged laptop, find out how Sony's PlayStation 3 3D TV scored, and dish out a few tips for getting great Black Friday deals. … Read more

Galaxy Nexus outdoes iPhone in browsing, but not graphics

With a new Google phone--and the first one to be delivered with Android 4.0 Ice Cream sandwich--on the horizon, the iPhone 4S rivalry is inevitable, and we've got some benchmark data to fan the flames of the feud.

The soon-to-be-released Samsung Galaxy Nexus has been run through the benchmark gauntlet and AnandTech compiled the results to find it bested all comers in the web browsing department.

The Google phone was put through a pair of browsing benchmarks--Sunspider Javascript Benchmark 0.9.1 and Rightware Browsermark--and it came out with the top results in both cases, ahead of the … Read more

CNET Labscast 8: Tech toys; more ultrabooks; Kindle Fire; and the PS3 3DTV

CNET Gotham may be over, but we've got some of the best laptops and tech toys from the week-long event right here. Also, a quick hands-on with the new Kindle Fire tablet, and we run the new PS3-branded 24-inch 3DTV from Sony through some tests.

Startup mania: Dave McClure on rapid-fire funding, opportunities

There's a fierce debate going on in Silicon Valley about the state of startup funding. Some are screaming that valuations are way too high. Others are arguing early stage startups are facing a cash crunch and are unable to raise their first real money, known as the Series A.

Longtime venture capitalist Bill Gurley of Benchmark Capital said recently that every day he gets five to 10 introductions to startups that need Series A money--up from one to five a year ago--but that there just isn't enough capital to invest.

Whatever the reality--and TechCrunch just crunched some numbers … Read more

CNET Labscast 7: Meet the Nook Tablet; Samsung's new laptops; the video game subtitle debate

In the CNET Labscast this week, Scott reports back from the Nook Tablet launch event; we check out Samsung's new Series 7 laptops and slates; and the great debate on video game subtitles gets a little heated.

Note that CNET Gotham, our NYC-based pop-up store, opens this week, and you can catch all of us there at various times. Check gotham.cnet.com for a schedule of events.

The great video game subtitles debate: On or off?

It's the last thing you'd think gamers would nearly come to blows about, but a recent debate in the CNET Labs over video game subtitles became surprisingly heated. We've boiled down the basics of the two competing views, and decided to put it up for an unofficial vote.

Joseph: I personally like to leave subtitles on. Here's why:

Force of habit. Voice acting may suck and you'd rather read than listen. Comprehension of the story is easier for some if they are able to read it. Sometimes the music and sound effects get really loud and overpower what might be some pivotal dialogue. Those rare occasions when a game will glitch and not play the character dialogue. Accents can be hard to understand.

It's easier for the hearing-impaired, or if you need to keep the volume low.