White

Step 1: make sure you have win7 pro (or win8.1 pro?) and not home-premium. If you have home-premium, then close your browser and cry yourself in a corner. (Or install Arch Linux instead, your choice.) (EDIT 10-Sep-2015: if you have home-premium (or a "core" version of win8...whatever that means), you might still be able to edit the registry to "suppress" the win10 offer; so if you do, skip all the way down to my post below for more details.)
 
Step 2: make sure you have (mostly) all the security/important windows updates installed, especially the newest "WU client" update (like this one). "Optional" updates can be left alone.
 
Step 3: make sure you're logged into Windows as an administrator and open up the local group policy editor, easiest way to do it is type "gpedit.msc" in the start menu text box like so:

...and hit enter. (Don't ask me how to find it in Win 8.1 without the start menu because I have no idea, just "search" for "group policy" and it should be the first result.)
 
Step 4: now in the local group policy editor, navigate to the following: Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Windows Update
 
Step 5: now in this folder double click "Turn off the upgrade to the latest version of Windows through Windows Update" and then click "enabled" then hit ok. Final result should look like this:

 
Close the editor and now Windows will "never detect, download, or install an upgrade to the latest version of Windows" (aka win10+.)
 
Source KB article.
Have a nice day

proprietary connector, already been in there to replace thermal paste

Could possibly be drivers. I don't think AMD even supports the 3000 series with drivers in Windows 8, let alone Windows 10. 

I agree, my course of action would be;
 
1: Install Windows 7
2: Buy a new laptop.

Very unlikely that the ram is the issue, 6 GB minimum refers to the total system.

You can get Awesome battle realms for free on gog
Go to https://www.gog.com scroll down a bit and and you find it. 

Isn't America built on lies?
Joke...

These things were at their limit at launch.
 
Sorry, 2-4 years before launch.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant
 
CPU: Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz Quad-Core Processor  ($335.99 @ NCIX US) 
CPU Cooler: Swiftech H320 55.0 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler  ($129.99 @ NCIX US) 
Motherboard: EVGA Z97 FTW ATX LGA1150 Motherboard  ($149.99 @ Newegg) 
Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory  ($204.99 @ Amazon) 
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive  ($109.99 @ Micro Center) 
Storage: Seagate  1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Hybrid Internal Hard Drive  ($77.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 
Video Card: Asus GeForce GTX 970 4GB STRIX Video Card (2-Way SLI)  ($349.99 @ Amazon) 
Case: Corsair 760T Black ATX Full Tower Case  ($139.99 @ Newegg) 
Power Supply: Corsair 760W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  ($139.99 @ Amazon) 
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($225.00 @ Newegg) 
Monitor: Acer GN246HL 144Hz 24.0" Monitor  ($225.00 @ Newegg) 
Other: W 8.1 from G2A 
Total: $2438.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-09 11:41 EDT-0400
 
How about this?

Serves you right, don't cheat kids

Goat Simulator

maybe manufactures, not consumers i guess, i can overvolt but i don't know the boundaries you see

just set it at the max it allows
 
Nvidia doesnt allow enough voltage to do damage to your GPU, but be sure to stress test for a a couple of hours to be sure to see how hot it gets

if you're not using a bios editor and using precision as you stated, you can max it no prob, EVGA/nvidia/msi/whoever limited the voltage allowance for overclocking on their software.

With GPU Boost 1.0 you will not "FRY" your card when overvolting. The card is capable of handling at least what Precision X allows (+100MV)? You may need to create a custom fan profile or set a fixed fan speed to compensate for the increase voltage. The power target will likely be an issue before anything else though, this is why custom BIOSes are good (for experienced overclockers). It will remove GPU Boost and the power target limit.
 
Take a looks at Ryan's review to get an idea - http://www.anandtech.com/show/6096/evga-geforce-gtx-680-classified-review/8

This may or may not be relevant 

 

Beginner's Photography Guide. Getting into Photography. 
 
Hey guys this is my first guide so feel free to leave comments and suggestions.
I’ve broken down this guide into two sections. Impulse buying into photography and getting into photography as a hobby.
If you have ADHD and just want the skeleton arguments the bolded parts are all you really need to take home. 
 
  Part 1: 
Impulse Buying In
 
Vacation
You’re going on the trip of a lifetime and you want photos that will last you a lifetime.
My recommendation: DO NOT BUY A DSLR! Get a compact camera with a long zoom ratio or just use your phone.
DSLR’s are bulky, heavy, and lets be honest terrible for selfies. You’re on vacation, enjoy it. Get something small that has a long zoom range. When you’re on vacation it’s the memories and the people that make the shot, not the image quality. A single grainy, underexposed, blurry selfie from your phone of you and your buddies having a great time is way better than a sharp rigidly composed postcard.
 
Do not underestimate how much your camera actually weighs. Remember you’re probably going to have it hanging around your neck for hours at a time. Forget about switching lenses, those precious moments happen quick on vacation, it’s better to have a lens that will go from wide to tight all in one. Again, you’re on vacation, enjoy it.
 
The Baby is Coming
Okay, the baby is coming and you want some nice pictures of him/her growing up.
My recommendation: Forget the DSLR, get a mirrorless camera or compact camera that has WIFI.
The reason I recommend this is two-fold, your partner (who I’m assuming is not really into photography) will be more willing to use / bring around a smaller camera where they can leave it in Auto and snap away. You may be willing to learn photography and how to use the camera, but with a newborn your partner probably doesn’t.
Mirrorless cameras, especially one’s with the collapsible lens are small enough to slip in a diaper bag and easy enough to use that it doesn’t intimidate the operator. There will be days where the last thing on your mind is “get the camera” when you have a screaming newborn. Keep the camera in the diaper bag and forget it, if you need it it’s there.
 
In addition, lets be honest, as a new parent you’re more likely to use your phone for pictures than any other camera because it’s so convenient. Even if you do use the dedicated camera you’re going to want to share those pictures. Skip the hassle of having to import the SD to a computer. With most mirrorless cameras/compact cameras, just push it to your phone over wifi or NFC and post. Job done.
 
 
Wedding
So someone you know or you yourself is getting wed and they/you want nice pictures.
Hire a real photographer or if you don’t have the budget find a college kid who’s into photography, or if you have no budget, teach uncle Jim the family cameraman how to upload to Facebook.   
 
For a wedding, you want to actually be attending the wedding not worrying about pictures. If you can’t afford a real photographer there are tons of college kids chomping at the bit to become photographers. Just go to the local campus and ask the receptionist for the facebook/email of the photography club. Take your pic. If you’re not willing to do that, just let uncle Jim tape/photograph the wedding. He’s going to do it anyways.
 
 
 
Part 2 :
Getting Into Photography as a hobby: No budget to moneybags
 
Okay so you want to learn photography? My recommendation is even if you have money to burn start with the lowest entry level DSLR body(reasoning is below) or just use your phone. Canon or Nikon or Pentax, it doesn’t matter. 
If you’re considering getting into photography there are fundament questions you need to answer fundamental skills you need to learn first. For these an uber camera that does 10fps at 36mp doesn’t matter. The limitations of an entry level DSLR will force you to learn these skills:
 
Composition: Can you identify what makes an interesting picture?
The image quality can be amazing but a picture of manure is just a picture of manure. If you have to do the old double “l” square rectangle thing with your fingers. Start seeing the world as a snapshot in time and just start thinking, “Hey that looks cool, what if I took a picture from this angle, over here, or over there?”
 
Exposure: Is my Exposure Triangle right?
What is shutter speed, aperture, and ISO? Why is my image so dark, blurry or really grainy? Play around with those settings, take control of your image. There are beginner auto modes on entry level DSLRs, see what they do and mimic it. You’ll eventually learn the correlations. Subject moving too fast, causing a blurry picture, push up ISO and increase shutter speed. Image is really grainy? Try slowing shutter and dropping your ISO.
There are apps for ISO and Android that allow you more control over your camera. Learn the controls.
 
Now answer these questions:  
What type of photography are you into?
This is the real reason why I said get the entry level DSLR. Spend the extra money on lenses and accessories. Play around with them. Experiment with different styles. Are you a natural light portrait shooter, a strobist, a landscape shooter, architectural, wildlife, composite (panorama, time lapse, focus stacking), product, wedding, event/journalistic, or is video your thing? Use the money you would have spent on a higher end body to play around.
 
If you don’t have the money, get those little lenses for your phone or use digital filters to mimic a lens. Again it’s all about experimenting, get a fish eye, a wide angle, a macro, a tele. Try to get a group of friends together to light a portrait with the LED lights on the back of their phones.
Try out different photography styles and when you’re ready go ahead and invest on exactly what you want to do. Find what you love to photograph.
 
Do I even enjoy photography now? Do I want to go further or go back to camera phone filters and selfies?
If you find that photography isn’t your thing, that’s fine. Photography is not for everyone. At least you found out now before you shelled out for equipment you aren’t going to use. If you do have equipment just sell it off second hand. Photography gear retains a surprising amount of its value.
 
Okay so you’ve gotten the fundamental skills down, you enjoy photography, and you know your niche. Now, go wild.
Get what you want/need and keep going, it’s up to you now to find your own way in photography.
 

pass if Zotac's leak of gtx980 being $700+ is true. 

"Mashing X to win is not gameplay, Microsoft"

Found on: http://www.droid-life.com/2014/08/11/duet-is-a-minimal-game-with-touching-story-of-two-dots/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DroidLife+%28Droid+Life%29
Play store link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kumobius.android.duet
Premium version available in current Humble Bundle: https://www.humblebundle.com/
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX_bPYFyNUA
 
Saw this and it looked like a cool game to play while waiting around. It's challenging, fun, and has a neat concept. Why can't more Android games be like this? Either way, it's pretty addicting, so you have been warned.
 
Give it a shot and see how you do.

m8 the next gen isn't even announced yet, and i don't have a spare card
 
(if you are not in a rush keep your eyes peeled on amazon UK)

Any UK/EU codes up for grabs?