Microsoft's decision to have a common operating system blueprint that can run from an internet-of-thing device to a (super) computer means that Windows 10 has been built from the ground up to run comfortably on low-performance parts.

The fact that it shares the same minimum hardware requirements as Windows Vista (at least for the Premium experience) is a fantastic achievement but that's only part of the story; Windows 10 actually runs better than its beleaguered ancestor. Much better.

We tried an experiment at TechRadar to see how low Windows 10 could go. I sourced the most ancient (but probably not the slowest) processor that could run it. Microsoft says that it needs to have at least a 1GHz clock rate with IA-32 or x64 architecture as well as support for NX bit, PAE, and SSE2.

A CPUID view of the Mesh PC

The oldest processor that fits the bill is the AMD Athlon 64 3200+, a part first introduced to the market in September 2003, 11 and a half year ago. It's slow (about half the Passmark score of the Baytrail-based Intel Atom Z3735G found in many entry level, sub-100 tablets) but I chose not to underclock it.

The computer that housed it is a Mesh computer, one that comes with an Nvidia-powered Asus motherboard with onboard graphics, four 256MB DDR memory modules, a 40GB hard disk drive, a DVD ROM drive and even a floppy disk drive.

An antiquated Mesh PC computer is the host.

Installing Windows 10 TP proved to be a straight-forward task. Load it on a USB drive containing Windows 10 (you can use this Windows 7 USB drive tool) and voila! The whole process didn't take longer than on any other recent machine we loaded with Windows 10. Well done to Microsoft for maintaining compatibility with hardware that's more than a decade old.

Once in, I wired the computer and downloaded the latest drivers, still no hiccups. Even with less than 1GB of RAM (64MB of it is shared with the video subsystem), Windows 10 is surprisingly nice to use, which bodes well for anyone looking to get it running on an old computer.

The innards of the beast

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In Depth: You don't need a crazy powerful PC to run Windows 10 - here's the proof

Super Earths greatest soldiers take the fight to hostile alien planets in the co-operatively addictive Helldivers (Sony Computer Entertainment and Arrowhead Game Studios, rated Teen, $19.99).

Up to four players control a squad of elite warriors in the year 2084 as they roam the Milky Way Galaxy and carry out hundreds of missions to help protect the Federation.

Through a top-down perspective, the action involves a twin-stick shooting mechanic on the controller to run and gun over terrain as soldiers target and eliminate massive bugs, deadly cyborgs or the mysterious, thought-controlling, Illuminates.

The game plays like an expanded homage to the Paul Verhoevens movie Starship Troopers.

The tongue-in-cheek propaganda of faux newscasts beckoning humans to join the fight or the constant brainwashing messages by a government spreading managed democracy across the galaxy was just the start. Now add the insane, near humorous, carnage unleashed during battles and I was definitely chanting Johnny Ricos mantra, kill em all.

The Helldivers, much like in the more massive game Destiny, kind of look like a mash up of Mandalorian bounty hunters from Star Wars or Clone Troopers wearing upgradeable helmets, armor and flowing capes.

Before diving into battles and to further my emersion into the mythology, I checked out the Helldivers encyclopedia, found on the command ship. From the encyclopedia, you can learn more about the war, Super Earth politics and details about the various species trying to wipe out humanity.

Each mission begins with a choice of planets and requires that soldiers use a Hellpod to drop in (think Halo 3: ODST). Once on the surface, with a definitive thud, they can escape the embedded pod. They then complete detailed objectives such as securing a post, activating and defending a launch pad, destroying bug nests or turning on oil extractors, all while under the barrage of enemy attacks.

Besides using a variety of weapons that can fire bullets, laser beams and lightening arcs, they can call in the full might of the military with equipment called Stratagems to help hold off assaults.

These helpers eventually range from ammo depots to jump packs (a jet boost to fly out of harms way), automatic gun turrets, a shield generator, artillery barrage, airstrikes, an SOS beacon (to call other Helldivers in), a carpet of anti-personnel mines, an armored personnel carrier and even an EXO-44 Walker exosuit.

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Zadzooks: Helldivers review

It's so good that sometimes sick patients are sent home with a clean bill of health.

And screenings don't always help: A 2013 study by Oxford University found "no evidence" that screening programs are responsible for the decline in breast cancer, and a study by the Huntsman Cancer Institute last year found that colon cancer is missed in about 6% of colonoscopies.

A company is looking to change that margin of error by bringing a super-smart computer into the examination room.

"In one panel of scans that we looked at, when you look at the number of times that radiologists sent someone home with a clean bill of health, about 7% of the time that patient was ultimately found to have cancer," said John Zedlewski, a data scientist with Enlitic, a medical technology company.

When Zedlewski used Enlitic's algorithm against the same panel, there weren't any mistakes.

Related: These temporary tattoos measure glucose

How does it work? Enlitic's technology uses machine learning -- which some say is a version of artificial intelligence. It takes medical information from one patient -- whether it's a CT scan, an X-ray or details about, say, a tumor -- and then converts it into a mathematical representation. It's then added to a large pool of data and compared to other patients who have experienced similar issues.

Think of it as crowdsourcing your symptoms. And not just with one or two people, but millions. The more data the computer has, the smarter it gets, and the more accurate the diagnoses.

At least that's the dream. But before this technology makes it to your local doctor's office, there are some barriers.

Accessing all that data isn't easy. Not only do individual hospitals have their own data-keeping practices, but every department within that hospital does too. That means the vast amount of medical records are locked in servers, vaults and so-called "data silos."

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Could this computer save your life?

ant and dec #39;s super computer at the metro centre

By: jessicauk91

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SAN JOSE, Calif., March 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), a global leader in high-performance, high-efficiency server, storage technology and green computing launched a new class of low-power, high density server solutions today, optimized for Embedded and hyperscale workloads in Data Center and Cloud environments. The new solutions are available in a growing line of single processor (UP) motherboards, 1U and Mini-Tower server for Embedded, Network Communication/Security applications and coming high density 6U 56-node MicroBlade microserver for hyperscale environments. Key features include support for 64-bit Intel Xeon Processor D-1500 SoC with 8 cores up to 45W, 128GB memory support and built in 10GbE.

"Supermicro is driving our Green Computing solutions into all market segments, and our new high density server and storage solutions address growing demands for energy efficiency in Data Center and Cloud environments," said Charles Liang, President and CEO of Supermicro. "With low power consumption, integrated 10GbE and a variety of form factors from 1U short-depth servers to mini-tower and MicroBlade, customers have even more options to attain best performance per watt, per dollar across a wide range of Embedded and Hyperscale workloads and environments."

"The Intel Xeon Processor D-1500 product family offers advanced technology in a highly cost-effective package," said Lisa Spelman, General Manager of Intel's Datacenter Products Group. "Utilizing Intel's 14nm process technology, the new Broadwell-DE SoC features a 64-bit architecture with up to 8 cores running under 45W. With experienced partners such as Supermicro developing high density platforms for our new processor family, customers will have a wide range of solutions that deliver performance within budgetary constraints."

Product Specifications

For more information on Supermicro's complete range of high performance, high-efficiency Server, Storage and Networking solutions, visit http://www.supermicro.com.

Follow Supermicro on Facebook and Twitter to receive their latest news and announcements.

About Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Supermicro (NASDAQ: SMCI), the leading innovator in high-performance, high-efficiency server technology is a premier provider of advanced server Building Block Solutions for Data Center, Cloud Computing, Enterprise IT, Hadoop/Big Data, HPC and Embedded Systems worldwide. Supermicro is committed to protecting the environment through its "We Keep IT Green" initiative and provides customers with the most energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly solutions available on the market.

Supermicro, Building Block Solutions and We Keep IT Green are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Super Micro Computer, Inc.

Intel and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.

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Supermicro Launches New Line of Low Power, High Density Server Solutions Supporting Intel Xeon Processor D-1500

"Big Hero 6" has been a critical and commercial hit for Walt Disney Animation Studios, scoring an Oscar nomination and taking in more than $500 million at the box office.

But the more important number may be the 39,000 hours Disney Animation spent developing the computer program that made the movie possible.

The software, called Hyperion, simulates the physics of light, which can make animated films more lifelike or give them an otherworldly look.

FULL COVERAGE: Oscars 2015

It's the latest salvo in a technological arms race among animation houses. One of Disney's rivals, DreamWorks Animation, had a research and development group of about 120 people as of last year among them nearly a dozen former employees of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.

Disney Animation's sister company, Pixar, has long been a trailblazer, producing the first feature-length computer-animated film, 1995's "Toy Story."

But Hyperion could transform animation.

"It's a major step for them," said Dan Sarto, co-founder and publisher of Animation World Network. "They are only as good as the tools they allow their artists to use."

Computer-animated films are big business: In most years, a handful rank among the top 10 U.S. box-office hits. They can also generate toys, clothes and other products that will produce big profits.

Disney Animation's "Frozen" grossed more than $1 billion and has bolstered profits for several business units of the studio's parent, Burbank-based Walt Disney Co.

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Software behind 'Big Hero 6' pushes envelope on computer animation

A shadowy hacking group has infected computers at companies, universities and governments worldwide with the sneakiest malware ever.

That's according to a report Monday by Internet security company Kaspersky, which described a hacking campaign "that exceeds anything we have ever seen before." The mysterious group, which researchers nicknamed "the Equation group," uses malware that's unusually quiet, complex and powerful.

And in some cases, it planted spyware on computers' firmware, the programming that lives permanently on hardware. It's an unheard-of move that means the malware can avoid detection by antivirus software. Reinstalling a computer's operating system or reformatting the hard disk won't even fix the problem.

If you've got this, you might as well throw your computer away.

What's even more interesting is that Kaspersky's researchers say that the Equation group uses a hacking tool called "GROK." That's a tool used exclusively by the NSA's elite cyber-warfare unit, Tailored Access Operations, according to classified NSA documents released by former contractor Edward Snowden last year.

Kaspersky says the Equation group also appears to have ties to Stuxnet, the computer worm that sabotaged Iran's nuclear enrichment program in 2010 and was later revealed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli project.

The NSA declined to comment specifically on the Kaspersky report. But the agency noted that its efforts are focused on foiling terrorist plots from al-Qaeda and ISIS, stemming the flow of weapons of mass destruction and blocking aggression from foreign rivals.

"The U.S. government calls on our intelligence agencies to protect the United States, its citizens, and its allies," NSA said in a statement to CNN.

The Kaspersky report is the latest to depict a world engaged in constant cyber espionage. In the past, security firms have noted how Chinese hacker spies take business plans from power plants. Russian hackers break into oil and gas companies.

Kaspersky research director Costin Raiu said the Equation group hacked into hospitals in China; banks and aerospace companies in Iran; energy companies and government offices in Pakistan; and universities, military facilities and rocket science research institutions in Russia.

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Super-sneaky malware found worldwide

Super cookies continue tracking users even if they think they have deleted their digital footprints.

Verizon Wireless said today that it will allow users to opt out of being tracked by so-called "super cookies."

A Verizon spokeswoman said the company expects to add an opt-out provision "soon."

At issue are tracking cookies intended to serve up relevant ads. The practice is nothing new for Web users, but as the Electronic Frontier Foundation noted last year, "super cookies" focus on mobile surfing and users cannot easily opt out.

"It allows third-party advertisers and websites to assemble a deep, permanent profile of visitors' web browsing habits without their consent," the EFF said at the time. "In fact, it functions even if you use a private browsing mode or clear your cookies."

In November, AT&T said it would phase out the use of super cookies. Verizon, however, has been under pressure for not doing the same, until now.

"Verizon takes customer privacy seriously and it is a central consideration as we develop new products and services," Verizon said today. "As the mobile advertising ecosystem evolves, and our advertising business grows, delivering solutions with best-in-class privacy protections remains our focus."

"We listen to our customers and provide them the ability to opt out of our advertising programs," Verizon continued. "We have begun working to expand the opt-out to include the identifier referred to as the UIDH, and expect that to be available soon."

The tracking tech is included in an HTTP header called X-UIDH, EFF said, but unlike traditional Web cookies, the X-UIDH "is tied to a data plan, so anyone who browses the Web through a hotspot, or shares a computer that uses cellular data, gets the same X-UIDH header as everyone else using that hotspot or computer."

"That means advertisers may build a profile that reveals private browsing activity to coworkers, friends, or family through targeted advertising," the organization said.

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Verizon Wireless to Make 'Super Cookie' Tracking Opt Out

Previously, my Windows Vista desktop computer, connected to Virgins 30 MB broadband service, took around 40 seconds to boot up. I recently upgraded to Virgin's Super Hub 2 and a new modem was supplied. The boot up time increased to 1 minute and 40 seconds and has been so ever since. Otherwise the computer works fine. Why is my computer now taking longer to boot-up?

Glynne Harrison, by email

The new modem is the prime suspect but the slow down could also be due to a recently installed program. This is easy to check, though and if the computer boots in less than a minute, with the modem disconnected then the problem may lie with the new modems DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server, which is taking longer than normal to assign the computer its IP (Internet Protocol) address. If so it may be a fault and this model has had its fair share of issues, but if you know your way around Windows you can try a simple workaround, before contacting Virgin. The idea is to give your computer an unchanging or static IP address. The procedure is basically the same for all version of Windows and in Vista the simplest method is right-click Network on the Start menu and click Properties. In Network and Sharing Centre, select Manage Network Connections, right-click on your network adaptor and select Properties. Highlight Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/Ipv4) and click Properties. Select Use the following IP Address. Enter an IP address that is well outside the range of any other devices you may have on your network; 192.168.0 20 is a fairly safe bet. The Subnet Mast should be 255.255.255.0 and the Default Gateway for Virgin hubs is normally 192.168.0.1 but check the label on the modem just in case. Click OK and reboot the computer and see if that makes a difference.

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Why does my computer take so long to boot?

AB de Villiers in action against West Indies. He scored 162* off 66 - his highest ODI score.

Auckland: Seeing AB de Villiers bat is just like watching the character of Neo in The Matrix movie, according to South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn. (Full World Cup Coverage)

In The Matrix, Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, is transformed from an unassuming computer technician into someone who is revealed to have super-human powers, be they fighting skills or an ability to dodge bullets.

Last week, in a World Cup match against the West Indies in Sydney, de Villiers smashed the fastest 150 in one-day international cricket during a 66-ball 162. (Steyn Thanks Firefighters for Saving Cape Town Home)

"Oh, man, it's like watching The Matrix movie, really. There is Neo for you right there. Like he just doesn't understand how good he is," Steyn said Friday of the Proteas captain.

"I think he's actually figured out now that he is like -- there is no roof or cap on how good he can possibly be. He's limitless in what he can do. He's one of those players that's proven in this year especially just how good he is. I think he's starting to realise that now.

"Players around the world, bowlers are struggling to find a way to get this guy out. The only way to get him out is when he gets himself out. He's that good at the moment. Hopefully, we can see more players like him because it does make the game more entertaining to watch."

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World Cup 2015: AB de Villiers Just Like Matrix's Neo, Says Dale Steyn

I tell people I had my wife and my ex-wife fooled. All my closest friends are like, Damn, how did you keep that a secret? Carl Jantz, on keeping secret his win in the History Channel show, Alaska Off-Road Warriors. History did not want the winners disclosed until after the series completed airing.

POULSBO Carl Jantz has tackled the demands of owning a small business and has forged a career out of Jantz Engineering. He has challenged cancer against all odds and beat it.

And now, Jantz has defeated the Alaska wilderness and the best off-road racers the state could throw at him.

I think we had a lot more experience in off-road, Jantz said of his edge in the History Channels TV show Off-Road Warriors.

Jantz and Super Jeep a 1942 Jeep that Jantz keeps under constant modification beat four other teams in a race across Alaska for the competition TV show.

Jantz, of Poulsbo, didnt do it alone. In the passenger seat the whole way was Rich Rudman of Kingston. They were the only team from outside Alaska. The show filmed over summer 2014, with all five teams racing across the Alaskan terrain for a $100,000 prize.

Jantz split the prize money with Rudman first, then he split his own share with Super Jeep to pay for some upgrades. He built a new office for his business, then he went on vacation.

While the race was over long before the show premiered on Nov. 30, Jantzs neighbors and friends had to wait until its conclusion in January to find out he won.

The fact is, they shot two different endings, Jantz said. We were pretty sure we had it. I told everybody that they shot a few endings so we didnt know, but we had a pretty good idea.

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Super win for Super Jeep

...even a super computer. "

By: Steven Herbert

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...even a super computer. " - Video

Ant and Decs Super Computer!

By: ITZJUSTJAK FTW

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Ant and Decs Super Computer! - Video

Garrys mod: PcMod: how to make a good super computer
At first i just try to make a normal computer but then I get more into building a super computer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outro by: m...

By: rycraft9

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Garrys mod: PcMod: how to make a good super computer - Video

Ant Dec Super Computer Auditions Edinburgh

By: Royan F

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Ant & Dec Super Computer Auditions Edinburgh - Video

ITV super computer
Poetry for ITV Ant and Dec.

By: Brian Loughborough

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ITV super computer - Video

Ant and Dec #39;s Saturday Night TakeAway Super computer Southampton.
Hi guys and in this video I show you secret footage of Ant and Dec #39;s Saturday night Takeaway supercomputer this week is the second week of their 2015 show it is in Southampton I hope you like...

By: The Unknown TEA

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Ant and Dec's Saturday Night TakeAway Super computer Southampton. - Video

Super Computer (Theme)
TV Theme 2013 - Present.

By: mark1dart

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Super Computer (Theme) - Video

Super Computer II Neenyare II Suraj, Sambhrama (HP), Ramya Barna
Presenting To You Super Compute Video Song From Movie Neenyare Starring Suraj, Sambhrama (HP), Ramya Barna Song: Super Compute Album/Movie: Neenyare Artist N...

By: Lahari Music | T-Series

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Durham, NC - Sarah Walker, a freshman from Fullerton, California, had no interest in computer science when she came to Duke last fall. But when another class didnt fit into her schedule, she signed up for Dukes introductory computer science course, Compsci 101.

I thought I would be surrounded by tech geeks who sat alone at their computers all day, Walker said. But I came to realize that computer science lets you do things that are applicable to all sorts of fields.

Now shes using her new computational savvy to expand a nonprofit she founded in high school to raise money for an elephant sanctuary in Thailand.

You wouldnt think that running a nonprofit requires a lot of technical skills, but it does, she said. You get a problem and you think, I could solve this on paper and it would take me 25 hours, or I can write one line of code and all of a sudden theres my answer. The efficiency of it is super cool.

Long viewed as the entry point for a field dominated by male coders and computer whizzes, Compsci 101 is undergoing a transformation at Duke. Women undergraduates now comprise 45 percent of the students. (Nationally, women make up only 14 percent of those who go on to major in computer science.) The numbers of Hispanic and African American students have also risen.

Overall enrollment in the class this academic year swelled to 318 students in the fall and 297 this spring, the most ever.

Since 2010, computer science professors have been revamping the course to place more emphasis on real-world applications and solving problems in small groups with peer tutors. Many lectures include discussions about Duke alumni who took the course, or professionals doing creative work in the field.

Most important, class lessons are now more fun and appeal to a broader range of students.

Breanna Polascik, a freshman from Chapel Hill, enrolled in the course because she thought it would be a helpful skill set to have if she pursued a graduate degree in business. What I like about computer science is its a really good blend of creativity and logic, she said.

One of Polasciks first assignments was to write a program that moves and turns a virtual pen across the screen to draw a picture. The lesson challenged her and others to learn about loops, a programming concept that instructs a computer to do something over and over again.

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Computer Science Looks Beyond Nerds