The Best CPUs For Your Money: December 2011

 

 

The new Sandy Bridge-E based Intel Core i7-3930K and Core i7-3960X in their retails boxes. Note how the boxes are thinner than previous series, this is due to the fact that they don't come with a stock CPU cooler.

New CPUs launches:

From Intel:

Intel launched their Sandy Bridge-E CPUs, with the new X79 chipset platform and the LGA 2011 socket, meaning that they are not compatible with Intel’s LGA1155 or LGA1366 platform.
What do those new CPUs and new chipset bring to the table? A Quad-channel memory controller, 40 PCI-Express 3.0-capable lanes as well as improved performance of course!

The Sandy Bridge-E line-up:

1. The top of the line Core i7-3960X Extreme Edition, a 3.3GHz-3.9Ghz Turbo six-core with Hyper-Threading beast with 15MB of L3 cache and an unlocked multiplier, with a MSRP of $990, but currently selling for $1050.
2. The Core i7-3930K, a 3.2GHz-3.8GHz Turbo six-core with 12MB of L3 cache CPU being the non “Extreme-Edition” more affordable six-core with Hyper-Threading offering, with a MSRP price of $550, but selling for $600-650 due to limited availability and lack of competition.
3. The Core i7-3820, a 3.6-3.9GHz Turbo Quad-Core with Hyper-Threading CPU and 10MB of L3 cache, which will be available early next year at a yet undisclosed MSRP. Intel confirmed that it will have a 45x multiplier ceiling, six bins above its highest Turbo setting, so you should be able to overclock it by a maximum of 600MHz.

Needless to say, they are the best performing CPUs available on the desktop market and both the Core i7-3930K and the Core i7-3960X are recommended in this guide.
However, if your main usage with your PC is gaming, unless you already have high-end video cards, you’re better off with a Core i5-2500 or the Core i7-2600.
How come? Simply put, while the Core i7-3960X does offer superior performance to the Core i5-2500 or i7-2600 in games, it either finishes about on par with the i5-2500/i7-2600 or ahead by 10-15%, hardly enough to justify spending $350/450 or $750/850 more on the CPU alone. The Core i5-2500 or i7-2600 will cost you a good $350/$450 less than the “affordable” Core i7-3630K, leaving you money to buy better video cards, more RAM, a SSD, etc.
Not convinced? See for yourself, at the Gaming performance page of the Core i7-3960X review by AnandTech.
For HTPCs, you’re also better off with a Sandy-Bridge CPUs, due to their power consumption being much lower than Sandy-Bridge E CPUs. Also, SB-E CPUs don’t have an integrated graphic processor (IGP), requiring you to use a dedicated video card.
For Workstations however, those new Core i7-3960X and Core i7-3930K offer phenomenal performance and are highly recommended if you can afford them. You’ll see them recommended in our Mainstream Workstations when they get updated later this month.
For a full review of the Core i7-3960X, I invite you to read AnandTech’s review of the Core i7-3960X.
In other words, I recommend these CPUs only if:

1. You run audio/photo/video or heavy multi-threaded programs that scale well on 6-cores
2. You’re building an high-end Gaming PCs and already have high-end video cards.
3. You’re an enthusiast who’s want only the best that money can buy.

If all you want are performance charts to judge results by yourself, here’s:

1. The Core i7-3960X V.S. the Core i5-2500
2. The Core i7-3960X V.S. the Core i7-2600
3. The Core i7-3960X V.S. the FX-8150

Price cuts:

1. The Intel Pentium G620 saw its price go down from $73 in November, to $57 in December, a $16 price drop.
2. The Intel Core i3-2120 saw its price go down from $140 in November, to $128 in December, a $12 price drop.

From AMD:

Launched last month: AMD Bulldozer:
AMD launched the AMX FX line-up of CPUs, also commonly known as “Bulldozer”, back in October. Unfortunately, its performance is rather lackluster, with the fastest part, the 8-core 3.6GHz FX-8150 struggling to compete with Intel’s Core i5-2500 in most cases, let alone to the new Core i7-3xxx Sandy-Bridge E CPUs.
Performance is particularly bad in video games, where the FX-8150 has trouble outperforming the previous generation Phenom II processors, when it doesn’t fall behind them performance wise. Needless to say, the Core i5 and i7 processors are miles ahead when it comes to gaming performance.
With heavily threaded workloads, the FX-8150 is able to keep up with the Core i5-2500, or the Core i7-2600 and even outperform the Core i7-2600 in some cases. However, the FX line-up is quite simply horrible when it comes to single-threaded performance, falling behind Phenom II processors.
Power consumption wise, the FX-8150 does well at idle, with figures close to the Core i5 and i7. The problem is, at load, it consumes nearly 100W more than the Core i5-2500!
Pricing wise, as of November 29th, on Newegg, we have the 3.6GHz 8-core FX-8150 at $269, the 3.1GHz 8-core FX-8120 at $209, the 3.3GHz 6-core FX-6100 at $159 and the 3.6GHz 4-core FX-4100 for $119. Considering that the $269 FX-8150 falls behind the ~$200 Core i5-2500 in the majority of scenarios, I cannot recommend the FX-8150, FX-8120 nor the FX-6100, as they priced above or slightly under the more powerful Core i5-2400/2500. The FX-4100 is priced too close to the Core i3-2120, which easily outperforms the FX-4100.
As for the FX-4100, Techspot overclocked it to 4.2GHz to simulate the future FX-4170 and even then, its performance just fails to impress, as it couldn’t keep with the Phenom II processors in many cases.
In the end, AMD’s FX processors, at their current prices, simply aren’t competitive, whether you compare them to Intel’s Core i3/i5/i7 line-up or even AMD’s old Phenom II line-up in some cases. For a full detailed review, I recommend AnandTech’s review of AMD’s FX-8150.
If all you want are performance charts to judge results by yourself, here’s:

1. The FX-8150 V.S. the Core i5-2500
2. The FX-8150 V.S. the Core i7-2600
3. The FX-8150 V.S. the Core i7-3960X

The Best CPU For Your Money?

By that, I mean the CPUs that offer the best performance at a given price.
Why would you want that?
Because You Want:

1. The best bang for the buck
2. The best CPU for your money
3. The highest performance possible!

However, I do realize that not everyone has the time to read detailed CPU reviews nor does everyone can make sense of complex CPU specifications.
This is why I write this guide for you: To help you save your time, sanity and money by doing the research for you and letting you know what are the best CPUs for your money.

Keep in mind:

I’ll use this opportunity to remind you that this article is only a guideline for the prices I’ve seen on December 1st. You’re letting yourself down if you’re not looking for deals when you decide to purchase.

• Prices and availability change everyday. I can’t keep up with accurate pricing everyday, but I can suggest to you great CPUs that you won’t regret buying at the price ranges that I list. If you find what you think is a good deal on a CPU, make sure to compare the CPU against other before making your decision. AnandTech offers this great tool to compare various CPUs in various tests.
• This list is based on the best U.S. prices from NewEgg and/or Amazon on new CPUs. No used, open box or refurbished CPUs are included. While you may be able to score a nice discount, those CPUs come with trade offs, such as limited return policy, limited warranty, etc.

Best CPU for ~$40:

$42- Intel Celeron G530 Dual-Core 2.4GHz

-$4, down from $46 in November 2011 to $42 in December 2011.
Don’t get fooled by the frequencies or the Celeron brand:
The Intel Celeron G530 is based on Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture and despite running at 2.4GHz, it has no problem outperforming the Athlon II X2 260 3.2GHz in about every application.
Lower power consumption:
On top of outperforming the Athlon II X2 260, the Celeron G530 is also more power efficient, consuming about 22W less at load than the similar Athlon II X2 250, according to XbitLabs.
Lower cost:
Finally, the Intel Celeron G530 only costs $42, versus $65 for the AMD Athlon II X2 260, a $23 advantage for the more powerful and more energy efficient Celeron G530.
Ideal for:
Budget builds, if all you want to do is browse the Internet, watch some videos, listen to some music, do some Office work and the like.

Best CPU for ~$60:

$57 – Intel Pentium G620 Dual Core 2.6 GHz

-$16, down from $73 in November 2011 to $57 in December 2011.
Higher performance than the competition:
In the same price range, we have the Athlon II X2 260 that’s available for $65.
However, the Pentium G620 outperforms it easily in gaming and is usually faster in all applications.
Lower power consumption:
According to AnandTech, the Pentium G620 consumes about 40W less power at load than the Athlon II X2 260.
Lower cost:
Finally, the Intel Pentium G620 only costs $57, versus $65 for the AMD Athlon II X2 260, a $8 advantage for the more powerful and more energy efficient Pentium G620.
Ideal for:
Budget Gaming PCs with a really tight budget.

Best CPU for ~$80:

$83 – Intel Pentium G850 Dual-Core 2.9GHz

-$3, down from $86 in November 2011 to $83 in December 2011.
VS the Competition:
AMD’s similarly priced CPU is the Athlon II X3 455 ($80, Triple-Core 3.3GHz, No L3 cache)
I picked the Intel Pentium G850 over the AMD Athlon II X3 455 because:

1. The Pentium G850 easily outperforms it in gaming and pretty much any applications.
2. The Pentium G850 is way more efficient,consuming 51.8W less at load, according to AnandTech.

Ideal for:
A budget Gaming PC, when you can’t afford the much faster Core i3-2120.
However, if you have $45 more to invest and can afford that Core i3-2120, then by all means, go for it. AnandTech’s bench tool clearly shows how much more powerful the 200MHz slower Core i3-2100 is versus the Pentium G850, so add a tad more of a lead to the Core i3-2100 performance and you’ll get an idea of the performance of the 200MHz faster Core i3-2120, which is only $5 more or so than the Core i3-2100.
Alternatives to consider:
1- The $75 – AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Triple-Core 2.8GHz – OEM: Based on the Phenom II core, featuring 6MB of L3 cache and running at 2.8GHz, this processor offers tremendous potential for $75.
How so?

1. This is a Black Edition CPU, meaning that it’s multiplier is unlocked, for easier overclocking. If you enjoy overclocking and/or the extra performance that it brings to you, you should definitely consider this CPU.
2. Many (myself included) report being able to unlock this CPU to a full-fledged quad-core Phenom II CPU.

At its stock settings (2.8GHz Triple-Core), the AMD Phenom II X3 720 is slower than the Intel Pentium G850.
Potential to be unlocked to a quad-core CPU:
However its potential lies in the fact that it can be more often than not unlocked to a quad-core processor and in its unlocked multiplier, which allows you to overclock it to your hearts content. Once unlocked, it offers gaming performance about on par to the Pentium G850, while easily outperforming it in the majority of other tasks.
Overclock it to 3.7GHz and you’ll get this kind of performance vs the Pentium G850. Of course, you can overclock it further more if you want and can.
Do note that it’s an OEM CPU, meaning that it does not include a CPU Cooler. Not exactly an issue, considering that you’ll want an after-market CPU Cooler to overclock it anyway. Of course, make sure to use a motherboard with solid voltage delivery, great case ventilation and a solid power supply to ensure that nothings gets in the way of your overclocking desires. If you have no intention of unlocking this CPU and overclocking it, then you shouldn’t be looking at it.
Also note that the Phenom II X3 720 tends to be in short supply, often going out of stock pretty quickly and sometimes being out of stock for weeks, if not months.
2 – The $90 – AMD Phenom II X2 555 3.2GHz Dual-Core 80W 6MB L3 Black Edition AM3 is a similar alternative to the Phenom II X3 720, with the potential of being unlocked to a quad-core CPU and being easy to overclock with its unlocked multiplier.
3 – The $90 – AMD Phenom II X4 925 2.8GHz 6MB L3 Cache Quad-Core – OEM is a $90 2.8GHz Quad-Core with 6MB of L3 cache. So while you don’t get the unlocked multiplier of the Phenom II X2 555, you are assured to have 4 cores with 6MB of L3 cache to begin with. Besides, you can still overclock this processor by raising its base frequency.
Do note that it’s an OEM CPU, meaning that it does not include a CPU Cooler. Not exactly an issue, considering that you’ll want an after-market CPU Cooler to overclock it anyway.

Best CPU for ~$125:

$128 – Intel Core i3-2120 3.3GHz Dual-Core 65W LGA1155

The Core i3-2120 replaces the previously recommended Core i3-2100. Their specifications are identical, except for the fact that the Core i3-2120 runs 200MHz faster, at 3.3GHz compared to the 3.1GHz for the Core i3-2100. The Core i3-2120 is only $5 more than the Core i3-2100.

Don’t let the dual-core part fool you.
Thanks to Hyper-Threading, its high 3.3GHz frequency and the high IPC performance of the SandyBridge architecture, the $128 Core i3-2120 performance is, on average, 13.7% higher than the $120 AMD Phenom II X4 955, when it comes to gaming, according to this Tom’s Hardware article.
Even better, the Core i3-2120 outperforms the Phenom II X4 955 by 25.4% when it comes to minimum frames per second, according to the same Tom’s Hardware article.
In short, it’s the best CPU for $125-150 when it comes to gaming.
One big con: Cannot be overclocked
However, it’s not a perfect CPU. One big con is that you cannot overclock it, since overclocking via the base clock is not really an option with SandyBridge CPUs (You can only raise the base clock by a few MHz before getting stability issues) and also because you cannot overclock via Turbo bins, because it also does not come with Turbo, unlike the Core i5 and i7 CPUs. Overclocking by raising the multiplier is also not an option, since that option is limited to the “K” variant of Core i5 and i7 CPUs, the i5 2500-K and i7 2600K to be exact.
Then again, if you desire either or both of these features, you can simply upgrade to one of the Core i5 or i7 CPUs recommended below.
Overclocking alternative:
While at its default frequency, the $120 – AMD Phenom II X4 955 Quad-Core 3.2GHz Black Edition 125W AM3 is slower than the Core i3-2100, its potential lies in the fact that it’s an excellent choice for overclocking.
Thanks to its unlocked multiplier, overclocking it is relatively easy and once its overclocked to say 3.8-4.0GHz, it will have no problem being on par or outperforming the Core i3-2100 when it comes to gaming and easily outperform it when it comes to picture or video editing..
However, do keep in mind that its a 125W TDP CPU at its default frequency, so to maximize its overclocking potential, you’ll need a serious CPU Cooler, like the Corsair A70 CPU Cooler or one of the better options recommended in the The Best CPU Coolers For Your Money article.
Potential unlock to a six-core CPU alternative:
The $125 – AMD Phenom II X4 960T Black Edition 3.0Ghz Quad-Core is based on the “Zosma” core, the 4-core version of the 6-core “Thuban” core, featuring 6MB of L3 cache and with 4 cores running at 3.0GHz, this processor offers tremendous potential for $125.
How so?

1. This is a Black Edition CPU, meaning that it’s multiplier is unlocked, for easier overclocking. If you enjoy overclocking and/or the extra performance that it brings to you, you should definitely consider this CPU.
2. Many report being able to unlock this CPU to a full-fledged six-core Phenom II CPU.

At its stock settings (3.0GHz Quad-Core), the AMD Phenom II X4 960T is no match for the Core i3-2120. However its potential lies in the fact that it can be more often than not unlocked to a six-core processor and in its unlocked multiplier, which allows you to overclock it to your hearts content.
Once unlocked, it’s still no match for the Core i3-2100 (and even less so for the Core i3-2120) when it comes to gaming performance, but it takes the lead for audio/photo/video editing and other heavily multithreaded workloads.
Overclock it to 3.3GHz and you’ll get this kind of performance vs the Core i3-2100. Of course, you can overclock it further more if you want and can, to get even better performance.

Best CPU for ~$210:

$209 – Intel Core i5-2500 Quad-Core 3.3-3.7GHz (Turbo) 95W LGA1155

A recap on SandyBridge:

Intel current generation of CPUs, known under the codename SandyBridge (SB from here on) is here. Replacing Intel’s LGA1156 Clarkdale (Known as Core i3/i5/i7 3xx, 5xx and 8xx) CPUs, the LGA1155 based SB CPUs (Known as Core i3/i5/i7 i2xxx) bring in a 10%-50% performance improvement and lower power consumption, compared to the previous-generation of LGA1156 Clarkdale CPUs.
Overclocking: With the previous generations of Intel CPUs, to overclock, all you had to do was to raise the BCLK (baseclock) or FSB frequency, until you reach the limit of your CPU and/or motherboard and/or cooling solution.
With SandyBridge, this is no longer the case: the 6-series chipsets integrate the clock generator. What once was a component on the motherboard, the PLL is now on the 6-series chipset die. The integrated PLL feeds a source clock to many other controllers (e.g. SATA) to the CPU itself. The problem will that is if you if you raise the BCLK frequency, you will also raise the frequency of many other controllers and that will cause your PC to crash. So forget overclocking via the BCLK.
To overclock, you’ll want to raise the CPU multiplier. How much you can raise it depends on your CPU:

• If you have a CPU that offers no Turbo mode (e.g. Core i3-2100), then you can’t raise the multiplier at all and thus can’t overclock. In short: Your CPU is completely locked.
• If you have a CPU with Turbo modes (e.g. Core i5-2500), you can overclock, but just a bit, using a motherboard equipped with a P67 or Z68 chipset. In short, you are limited to an overclock of 4 processor bins above and beyond the highest turbo frequency. See the picture below for details.

In the picture above, we’re looking at a Core i5-2500, which runs at 3.3GHz by default. When a single core is active, the chip can turbo up to 3.7GHz. If you want, you can change that turbo state to go as high as 4.1GHz. Overclocking these chips relies entirely on turbo however. In the case above, the fastest your chip will run is 4.1GHz but with only one core active. If you have four cores active the fastest your chip can run is 3.8GHz. Makes sense?

• Finally, there’s the K-series of CPUs, with the Core i5-2500K and Core i7-2600K currently available. These chips are fully unlocked and will let you overclock them as far as the CPU and/or your cooling can sustain.

The Core i5-2500 vs the competition:

Now that I’ve quickly explained SandyBridge (See AnandTech full review of SandyBridge for more details) to you, let’s compare the Core i5-2500 to the competition and let me explain why I picked it as my recommendation.
Compared to the competition: AMD’s most powerful offering now is the FX-8150. I went with the Core i5-2500 for the following reasons:

1. The Core i5-2500 wins the majority of test and is particularly outstanding in video game tests, according to AnandTech.
2. The Core i5-2500 costs $60 less than the FX-8150.
3. The Core i5-2500 uses close to 100W less at load, according to AnandTech.

V.S. the previous generation: Curious to see how Sandybridge performs compared the previous generations of CPUs from Intel and AMD? Check out those charts from AnandTech:

• Core i5-760 V.S. Core i5-2500
• Core i7-870 V.S. Core i7-2600
• Phenom II X4 980BE V.S. Core i5-2500
• Phenom II X4 980BE V.S. Core i7-2600
• Phenom II X6 1100T BE V.S. Core i5-2500
• Phenom II X6 1100T BE V.S. Core i7-2600

Overclocking alternative:
If you want to overclock the Core i5 2500, the $220 – Intel Core i5-2500K Quad-Core 3.3-3.7GHz (Turbo) 95W LGA1155 Unlocked Multiplier K variant is the way to go, with its unlocked multiplier.
Needless to say, you’ll need a serious CPU Cooler, like the Corsair A70 CPU Cooler or one of the better options recommended in the The Best CPU Coolers For Your Money article to get the most out of it.
HTPC/Low-Power Alternative:
If you want a relatively powerful CPU for your HTPC (say for video encoding), the $193 – Intel Core i5-2400S 2.5-3.3GHz (Turbo) 65W LGA1155 is an excellent choice, with its 65W TDP.
It’s also a good choice if you don’t want a noisy PC, thanks to its low heat dissipation. I also recommended taking a look at The Best CPU Coolers For Your Money article for some low-noise CPU Coolers recommendations.

Best CPU for ~$300:

$293 – Intel Core i7-2600 Quad-Core 3.4-3.8GHz (Turbo) 95W LGA1155

While at first, the i7-2600 only appears as a slightly faster upgrade to the i5-2500, there’s more to it. It comes with Hyper-Threading, enabling it to perform significantly faster in heavily threaded workloads, such as video conversions and 3D rendering.
If all you do is gaming though, you’re better off saving your money by going with an i5-2500 or i5-2500K and putting the money that you saved on say, a better video card.
Compared to the competition:
AMD’s most powerful offering now is the FX-8150. I went with the Core i7-2600 for the following reasons:

1. The Core i7-2600 wins the majority of test and is particularly outstanding in video game tests, according to AnandTech.
2. The Core i7-2600 uses close to 75W less at load, according to AnandTech.

Overclocking Alternative:
If you want to overclock the Core i7 2600, the $315 – Intel Core i7-2600K Quad-Core 3.4-3.8GHz (Turbo) 95W LGA1155 Unlocked Multiplier K variant is the way to go, with its unlocked multiplier.
Needless to say, you’ll need a serious CPU Cooler, like the Corsair A70 CPU Cooler or one of the better options recommended in the The Best CPU Coolers For Your Money article to get the most out of it.
Core i7-2700K: To avoid
Intel recently launched the Core i7-2700K, which is basically a Core i7-2600K with a 100MHz speed bump and oh, a $55 price bump too…I do not recommend it, considering that you could simply bump the multiplier up on the Core i7-2600K and save yourself a cool $55.
Cherry-picked CPU with better overclocking potential? Hard to say.
Some say that it overclock better than the Core i7-2600K, being a “cherry-picked” CPU from Intel and being capable of reaching 5GHz more easily and with less voltage. However, those claims are hard to verify and considering that the Core i7-2700K is based on the same stepping as the Core i7-2600K, I’m at best skeptic about those claims. Even if did overclock better than the Core i7-2600K, is an extra 100-200MHz, when you’re running it at 4.6-5.0GHz, really worth an extra $55 over the Core i7-2600K? I’m inclined to say no.

Best CPU for $650:

$650 – Intel Core i7-3930K Sandy Bridge-E Six-Core 3.2GHz-3.8GHz Turbo LGA 2011 Unlocked Multiplier

The 2nd fastest CPU on the market, selling for $400 less than THE fastest CPU on the market, the $1050 Intel Core i7-3960X, which is only clocked 100Mhz higher and features an additional 3MB of L3 cache.
This CPU is the best bang for your buck if you want a CPU based on the Sandy-Bridge E architecture, with 6-cores, quad-channel memory and an unlocked multiplier for overclocking.
Ideal for a Workstation that needs all the CPU processing power that it can get. Overkill for all but the most high-end gaming PCs that are already equipped with high-end video cards.
I recommend this CPU only if:

1. You run audio/photo/video or heavy multi-threaded programs that can take advantage of 6 cores.
2. You’re building/running a high-end Gaming PCs and already have high-end video cards.
3. You’re an enthusiast who’s want only the best that money can buy.

Does not include a CPU Cooler.

Best CPU for $1050:

$1050 – Intel Core i7-3960X EE Sandy Bridge-E Six-Core 3.3GHz-3.9GHz Turbo LGA2011

Simply put, this is THE fastest desktop CPU available on the market.
If money is not a problem, then the newly launched Intel Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition is the fastest desktop CPU currently available on the market, with 6 cores running at 3.3GHz and the Turbo that allows a single core to reach 3.9GHz.
Of course, like the Core i7-3930K above, this CPU features Hyper-Threading, allowing it to handle up to 12 handles.
Unless you’re an enthusiast who’s want only the best that money can buy, I recommend avoiding this CPU, getting the Core i7-3930K instead and saving $400.
Core i7-3960X vs Core i7-3930K:
The only advantages that the Core i7-3960X offers over the Core i7-3930K is a 100MHz higher frequency, which is meaningless when both CPUs offer unlocked multiplier that easily allows you to overclock the Core i7-3930K to match the frequency of the Core i7-3960X and the additional 3MB of L3 cache, which clearly isn’t worth an additional $400 in my opinion.
Of course, that’s only my opinion. If you want THE fastest desktop CPU, this is it.
Does not include a CPU Cooler.

Conclusion

What’s next?

From AMD:

Three upcoming processors:
AMD is expected to launch three more FX processors to complete it’s line-up:
1. The FX-8100, a 95W 8 cores CPU running at 2.8GHz/3.7GHz Turbo.
2. The FX-4170, a 125W 4 cores CPU running at 4.2GHz/4.3GHz Turbo. This will be the CPU within the FX line-up with the highest frequency so far. However, considering that the similar FX-4100 got overclocked to 4.2GHz by Techspot overclocked it to 4.2GHz and even then, its performance just failed to impress, I wouldn’t expect too much from the FX-4170.
3. The FX-B4150, a 95W 4 cores CPU running at 3.8GHz/4.0GHz Turbo.
Prices for those future CPUs is unknown at the moment.
A much needed price cut:
Speaking of prices, I strongly hope that AMD will drop its prices for all its FX CPUs.
Performance, especially gaming performance, doesn’t match to the prices that AMD is currently asking for its processors. AMD is known for offering the best value/best bang for the buck when it comes to CPU. Right now, it fails to do that and it failed at outperforming Intel’s Core i7-2600K. In other words, it’s hard to find any good reason to buy an AMD FX-xxxx processor right now.
Trinity in 2012:
In 2012, we can expect AMD’s Llano successor, Trinity, which according to rumors, will featured “Piledriver” (AMD’s next generation CPU) CPU Cores and a Radeon HD 7xxx GPU. Hopefully Trinity will be more competitive than Llano, which I rarely recommend, considering that you can usually get a better CPU and/or video for a similar price to Llano.
Piledriver in 2012:
We can also expect AMD’s Piledriver, the successor to Bulldozer, in 2012. Rumors predict a 15% performance improvement at the same frequency as Bulldozer, which would be too little to make much of a dent into Intel’s current lead in performance to make much of a difference in my opinion.
If only AMD launched a 32nm “Phenom III”:
Sometimes, I wonder why AMD just didn’t do a 32nm die-shrink of their Phenom II architecture, tweak it to boost IPC performance, raise up the frequency and call it Phenom III. I doubt that it could have been worse than Bulldozer…

From Intel:

3rd member of the Sandy Bridge E CPUs coming early next year:
Intel is expected to launch the Core i7-3820 CPU, a 3.6-3.9GHz Turbo 130W Quad-Core with Hyper-Threading Sandy-Bridge E CPU, sometime early next year. Its high stock frequency on its four cores might make it interesting, depending on what price it will be selling for.
Sandy Bridge successor, Ivy Bridge, planned for April 2012:
Intel will also be launching a new architecture in 2012, codename IvyBridge, which will be compatible with some LGA1155 motherboards, depending on the motherboard manufacturer willingness to support IvyBridge and issue a BIOS update for the motherboard.
Motherboards that offer support for PCI-Express 3.0 should be compatible, but we won’t be 100% sure until Intel confirms this. The latest rumors point to an April 2012 launch.
So far, from what I’ve been seeing, we shouldn’t expect much of a performance boost, but more a reduction in power usage. In other words, Ivy Bridge seems to designed to improve the performance of CPUs in the notebook arena, where limited cooling limits how much heat the CPUs can emit, limiting frequencies and performance.

HP Laptops Price List

HP Mini 110 -3610TU / 110 -3611TU / 110 -3612TU

Laptop Price Rs 17550

Intel® Atom N550 Dual Core

320GB

2GB DDR3 RAM

10.1" LED Backlit Widescreen

Windows® 7 Starter Edition

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150

HP Mini 110 - 3610TU/3611TU/3612TU

HP Mini laptops are famous for its quality and high speed processors and beautiful look. Hp laptop comes in different and attractive beautiful colors. The HP Mini  110-3610TU comes in beautiful Sonomared color, The HP Mini 110-3611TU comes in pacific blue color and the HP Mini  110-3612TU comes in glossy black color. 

HP Mini 110 -3608TU / 110 -3609TU

Laptop Price Rs 16900

Intel® Atom N570 Dual Core

250GB

1GB DDR3

10.1" LED Backlit Widescreen

Genuine® Windows® 7 Starter Edition

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150

HP Mini 110 -3608TU/110-3609TU

All the Hp laptops are famous for its features and for its excellent and great quality. The hp laptops are famous for its fast processing speed and its good looks. The HP has introduced a vide range of laptops. Among the all are the great featured HP Mini 110-3608TU and 110-3609TU laptops available.The difference between these two laptops is that the HP Mini 110-3608TU comes in beautiful glossy black color and the HP Mini 110-3609TU comes in pacific blue color.  

HP Mini 110 -3606TU / 110 – 3607TU

Laptop Price Rs 16000

Intel® Atom N570 Dual Core

320GB

2GB DDR3 RAM

10.1" LED Backlit Widescreen

Free DOS

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150

HP Mini 110-3606TU/110-3607TU

The HP laptops provide various series of laptops with all having great features and attractive looks. All Hp laptops are having an excellent feature that provides people comfort in using.  All Hp laptops because of its great and fast processor speed, they are famous in the market.The HP Mini 110 -3606TU and 110-3607TU are one of the great featured laptops available in market with both having an attractive look. 

HP Mini 110 -3605TU

Laptop Price Rs 14800

Intel® Atom N570 Dual Core 1.66GHz

250GB HDD

1GB DDR3 RAM

10.1" LED Backlit Widescreen

Free DOS

Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3150

HP Mini 110 3605TU

Many stylish, attractive with beautiful colors, and portable laptops are provided by Hp. All this laptops is having a great technical features and specification that make HP laptops more popular in market. Among all this laptops the one is HP Mini 110 -3605TU. 

Hp premium pavilion 630-Core i5 2430M

Laptop Price Rs 30700

Intel 2nd generation Core i5-2430M

500 GB hard Disk Drive

2 GB DDR3 RAM

15.6" HP HD LED BrightView LED

Free DOS

No Dedicated Graphics

HP Pavilion 630 Core i5

There are various series of HP laptops available in market all having different features but the laptop provided by Hp company is of good quality and all of them having an excellent speed. And most important is that hp 630 has Intel core i5, i3, core 2 duos, Pentium or Celeron processor installed. And in Hp laptops has enough RAM and hard disk available.The Hp premium pavilion 630 is highly featured having a memory of 2 GB and having a DVD spermatic optical drive and has a digital webcam. It is equipped with 6 cell battery.
 

HP Premium Pavilion 630 – Core i5-2410M

Laptop Price Rs 29700

Intel 2nd generation Core i5-2410M

500 GB Hard Disk Drive

2 GB DDR3 RAM

15.6" HP HD LED BrightView LED

Free DOS

No Dedicated Graphics

HP Pavillion 630 Core i5 2410M

There are so many laptops available in market but hp provides the laptop that is having the great quality and speed. In all Hp laptops Because of its great and fast processor speed, they are famous in the market. it has excellent technical features and specification which makes it different and faster There are different types of processors installed in laptops such as i3, i5, i7 all this processor is having some powerful or great features that makes it different. It also provides enough memory storage or RAMS that people face no problem regarding memory storage.
 

HP Pavilion dv7-6010tx

Laptop Price Rs 47800

2nd Generation Core i3-2310M -2.1 GHz/ 3MB Processor

640 GB HDD

4 GB DDR3 RAM

17.3" HD+ LED Backlit Widescreen

Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit)

1 GB GDDR5 Dedicated Graphics Radeon 6490M

HP Pavillion DV7 6010TX

HP laptops are very reliable in market. And it’s also one among the highest selling brand in the market. They recently introduced their new product in the Hp pavilion series named HP Pavilion dv7-6010tx. The package is a surprise with a huge 17.3 inch screen made by brightview technology using LED’S for display. It comes loaded with a Windows 7 Home Basic only. It has a wonderful display screen with superb resolution. Being loaded with one of the fastest processor one can not at all complain about speed problems.
 

HP Pavilion DV6-6119TX

Laptop Price Rs 48000

2nd Generation Core i5-2410M

640 GB HDD

4 GB DDR3 RAM

15.6 Inches HD LED

Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit)

AMD Radeon HD 6490M (1 GB GDDR5)

HP DV6 6119TX

There have been numerous releases of DV61 generation laptops but HP Pavilion  DV6-6119TX is something different. May we talk about speeds or about the looks HP laptops have an enticement of both. With a bright and clear viewing resolution it has a speedy i-5 processor to go hand in hand with your work.
 

HP Pavilion DV6-6165TX

Laptop Price Rs 58415

2nd Generation Core i7-2670QM

750 GB HDD

4 GB DDR3 RAM

15.6 Inch LED Display

Windows 7 Home Premium (64-Bit)

2 GB GDDR5 Dedicated Graphics Radeon 6770M

HP Pavilion DV6 6165TX

All the HP laptops mainly aim at providing better home entertainment and compatible office need support. But the previous releases lacked somewhere and hence couldn’t get the expected response. The new HP laptops Pavilion dv 6- 6165tx comes with a standard 15 inch display and 4 GB RAM and most importantly fastest processor till date core i7.
 

HP Pavilion Laptop DV4-1415TU

Laptop Price Rs 40450

This HP Laptop is one the cheapest priced variety from HP with full set of features.  Weighs only 2.26kg powered by Intel Core2Duo Mobile processor gives quiet and fast processing most will like. The enhanced speed step technology is the added advantage of this HP laptop. The Price of this HP laptop is a good bargain for its features. Intel GM45 Express Chipset and 3GB of DDR2 RAM are its other two very attracting features. HDMI v1.3 and one eSATA port which can transfer files at 3GB/sec are gives us the feature technology proof.
The missing part of this laptop is its DDR2 RAM when we are all looking for the DDR3 RAM.  And it is not Windows7. We hope very soon HP will release more laptops with Windows7 operating system.
Even these are the missing points, we highly recommend this HP Laptop for its cheap price with full bundled features. It is a real gift from HP.
 

HP Pavilion DV4-1404TU Laptop

Laptop Price Rs 39500

In this HP Laptop the processor is a Intel Pentium Dual Core Mobile Processor T4300 (2.1GHz). This HP Laptop is widely available in India at best and cheap prices. The price is cheap compare to some models of this same configuration. We can say the advantages of this HP Laptop are its Processor which is a Mobile Processor which will definitely consume less power compared to other models of laptops. The other major advantage on buying this HP Laptop are it’s powerful Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M HD which is from Intel, the 3GB DDR2 800MHz RAM, 320GB SATA 5400RPM Hard Disk Drive with HDD Protection, the HDMI v1.3 Port and the eSATA/USB Combo Port. Apart from these there are other factures also we need to consider before buying this Laptop. The weight and battery life which are most important for portability. The weight is 2.26KGs which is comfortable for any person on regular travel. This HP Laptop comes with 6 Cell lithium battery, which is quiet good for long battery life. The operating system is Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit version. Read more and visit us regularly to know the latest laptop prices in India.
 

HP Pavilion Laptop – DV6-1211AX

Laptop Price Rs 46000

This HP Pavilion Laptop is AMD Turion X2 Processor Powered with 4GB of DDR2 800MHz RAM. It is a good configuration for a powerful Laptop in this price range. The other important specification of this HP Laptop are, 320GB Hard Disk Drive which is 5400 RPM ( HDD Protection ), The Super Multi DVD Drive, Finger Print Reader, Integrated 802.11a/b/g/draft-n Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1 HDMI Port, 1 eSATA/USB Combo Port and 3 USB 2.0 Ports. The operating system installed on this HP laptop is “Windows Vista Home Premium (32 Bit Version). For complete specification, click the link below.
 

HP Pavilion Laptop DV6-1111AU

Laptop Price Rs 39900

This HP Pavilion Laptop comes with AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 processor (2.1GHz). 3GB RAM and 320GB of hard disk drive are it’s added advantages. DVD Writer drive with Lightscribe technology, eSATA/USb Combo port are the special features. Dedicated graphics by ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3200 and HDMI ports are making this laptop eligible for a complete entertainment machine.
 

HP Pavilion Laptop – DV2-1003AX

Laptop Price Rs 34000

This HP laptop is an AMD processor powered with 12.1″ display. comes with 2GB DDR2 and 320GB Hard disk drive, which is more than enough for a laptop of this size and most of your computing need. Weighing only 1.75Kg for  better comfortableness.  The dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon Graphics and, HDMI out port are its advantages over other laptops of this same price and size.
 

HP Pavilion Laptop – DV2-1002AU

Laptop Price Rs 34900

This HP Pavilion Laptop (12.1 inch Display) is an AMD Athlon Neo Processor powered with 2GB of DDR2 RAM which is 533MHz. The hard drive is 250GB with RPM of 5400. Operating system is Widows Vista Home Basic with Service Pack 1. Comes with Carry Case and it weighs only 1.64 Kilo grams.  

This list shows the largest IT companies in the world, ranked by IT revenues. IT revenues include Software, Hardware and IT Services revenues in the year 2009. Most of the world's top 10 IT companies offer a full range of hardware, software and services. On average, hardware generates the highest revenues in the IT industry, followed by services and software.

Top 10 IT companies 2010   # Company Revenues 2009   1 HP 116.245   2 Samsung   75.531   3 IBM 74.933 4 Microsoft 61.159 5 Nokia 59.042 6 Dell 53.585 7 Fujitsu 50.662 8 Foxconn 44.573 9 Toshiba 40.057 10 Cisco 36.633

Leaders
HP is the world's largest IT company with 2009 revenues of $116 billion. Since its acquisition of Compaq, HP became the top hardware vendor, and has retained the top spot ever since. HP has also been one of the 10 largest software companies since many years; currently HP ranks 7th in the Software Top 100. In 2008 the acquisition EDS, a 22 billion dollar company, turned HP into one of the largest IT services companies in the world, ranked 2nd after IBM in the Services Top 100.
Samsung is the only company in the top 10 which managed to increase revenues compared to last year. In total revenues, Samsung Electronics is larger than HP, but in terms of IT revenues Samsung clearly ranks 2nd at $76 billion.
IBM is 3rd on the IT companies list, very close behind Samsung. IBM generates most of its $75 billion revenues through rendering of services. Besides being the largest IT services company in the world, IBM is also the second largest software company and a top twenty hardware company.
 
Regions
IT has become a truly global industry. Five companies in this list are from the US, four from Asia and one from Europe. Many products are made in Asia, even if a companies' headquarters is in the US.
Foxconn, headquartered in Taiwan, manufacters hardware products for other IT companies, like HP, Nokia, Dell, Cisco, Intel, Motorola and Apple. After years of spectacular growth, recently the company has had much bad publicity about its tough labour conditions.
Sectors
Microsoft is the only company in the top 10 with revenues coming largely from software. Microsoft is also the most profitable company in the list. Despite increasing competition, the company manages to retain the leading position in the software industry.
Two mobile phone- and network companies are in the top 10, Nokia and Fujitsu both generate over $50 billion yearly with sales of communications products. Competitors Ericsson and Motorola are also in the top 25, and Chinese network supplier Huawei will soon be in it as well, as it is one of the fastest growing technology companies in the world.
Outlook
After a difficult year, recent signals indicate improved conditions for the IT industry. Intel posted record quarterly revenues in Q2 2010. Other technology funds, like Microsoft and SanDisk also showed relatively strong results. As the economy rebounds further, the IT industry is likely to profit more than proportionally.
Sustainability
2009 saw increased public attention for environmental issues and corporate sustainability, and It companies moved in accordance, taking 'green' servers and datacenters to market, and taking measures to reduce the large quantities of hazardous substances traditionally used in IT production facilities. Network supplier Cisco received credits from Greenpeace for its sustainability efforts: Greenpeace says Cisco is the leading IT company in the fight to stop climate change.
More IT companies and rankings can be found in the Software Top 100, Hardware Top 100 and Services Top 100.

Practical Ayurveda: the daily routine

Ayurveda's wisdom is based on the idea that everything existing in the cosmos appears in the body. To stay healthy, we must keep our bodies in harmony and self-correcting, just as the universe does.

Dinacharaya (dina is day and charya, routine in Sanskrit) advises on how to keep Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas balanced.

Much of this comes across as old fashioned sense. Inventions such as the electric light bulb and supermarkets selling non-seasonal food mean we are all a little out if touch with our biorhythms.

Try some of the following to feel more balanced and to get a daily detox:

• Wake up at 6am (or as near as you can!) when Vata dosha is dominant to feel more energetic. Waking up from 6-10am (Kapha times) is likely to make you feel more groggy.

• Evacuating the bowels: do this first thing to feel fresh and because faeces are toxic and may block channels if they stay too long in the colon. Most Europeans go after breakfast when eating has helped stimulate peristaltic movements. Drinking a glass or two of warm water on waking can help. Ayurvedic herbs, such as Triphala, also regularise the bowel.

• Cleaning the mouth: ayurveda recommends using bitter twigs such as neem for a healthy mouth. Today, we have effective toothbrushes but do use a natural toothpaste. Toxins on the tongue in the form of mucus should be gently cleaned with a metal or plastic tongue scraper. Once you've tried it, you'll never look back! Try chewing a clove or cardamom pod to keep the mouth fresh and improve taste. Finish with gargling with warm water.

• Exercise: 15-20 minutes of yoga or a brisk walking is ideal for coordination and stretching the muscles. Pranayama will make your day more productive by enhancing physical and mental stamina. Put your yoga mat at the end of your bed and do a few rounds of sun salutes if you feel you don't have more time. Finish with a few minutes meditation or quietly watching the breath.

• Daily self massage: this nourishes skin, loosens toxins and aids their removal. It also calms Vata dosha, often aggravated by our modern lifestyles. Use warm sesame or olive oil. Massage all over, starting from your feet or the head for 5-10 minutes. Put a couple of drops in each ear and each nostril. Leave on for at least 10 minutes then follow with a warm shower or bath to remove excess oil and improve circulation.

• Breakfast is ideally taken by 8am, with lunch between 12 and 2pm and dinner by sunset (or at least 2 hours before bed). The saying of ‘breakfast like a prince, lunch like a King and dine like a pauper' also holds true with Ayurveda. Digestion is at its peak at lunchtime, so this should be your biggest meal.

• Bedtime should be around 10pm. This is to benefit from the period between 10pm and 2am when Pitta dosha is active in cleaning the body so if you are sleeping you support a daily purification.

Last, but absolutely not least, try to be content with a calm mind; the concept of dinacharya also extends to management of the emotions in daily life.

Appreciate the good things in your life on a daily basis, and try not to react to the difficulties. Know when to make an effort and when to surrender to life's circumstances with grace and a smile.

 [ NOKIA mobile ]

To check the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) Type-

            *#06#

Information you get from the IMEI-

XXXXXX  XX  XXXXXX  X

    TAC      FAC     SNR      SP

• TAC = Type approval code
• FAC = Final assembly code
• SNR = Serial number
• SP    = Spare

To check the phones Software revision type-

        *#0000#

Information you get from the Software revision-

V 05.31

18-02-99

NSE-3

• 1ST Line  = Software revision
• 2ND Line = The date of the software release
• 3RD Line = Phone type

To enter the service menu type-

*#92702689# (*#WAR0ANTY#)

• Serial number (IMEI)
• Production date (MM/YY)
• Purchase date (MM/YY) You can only enter the date once.
• Date of last repair (0000=No repair)
• Transfer user data to another Nokia phone via Infra-Red

Clock Stopping

To check weather your SIM Card supports clock stopping type-

*#746025625# (*#SIM0CLOCK#)

Revealing the Headphone and Car-Kit menus

Please note that if you do these next tricks, the new menus can't be erased without retoring the factory default settings. To do these tricks you need to short-circuit the pins on the bottom of the phone next to where you plug in you charger.

1. To activate the "Headset" menu, you need to short-circuit pins "3" and "4". After a short time the word "Headset" will be shown in the display. Menu 3-6 is now enabled.

2. To activate the "Car" menu, you need to short-circuit pins "4" and "5". After a short time the word "Car" will be shown in the display. Menu 3-7 is now enabled.

THE REBOOT TRICK

This should work on all software versions of the 6110.

1. Go to the Calendar (Menu-8)

2. Make a note or reminder.

3. Enter some text into the edit box.

4. Hold "Clear" until the whole text is cleared, then press "Back".

5. Press "0". The main screen will now be showing but a space appears on the screen. (you can't see it)

6. Enter 4 digits (e.g. 1234).

7. Use the down arrow to move the cursor to the left side of the numbers and the space (Down arrow twice).

8. Now enter 6 digits and press the call button.

Wait for a few seconds, the screen should start to flash and reboots. It should alsowork on other menus like the "Profiles" menu.

EFR CALL QUALITY

To activate EFR (Enhanced Full Rate) Enter the code-

*3370#

This improves call quality but decreases batterylife by about 5%

To deactivate it, Enter the code-

#3370#

THE JAMES BOND TRICK

If you short-circuit theleft middle and right pins on the bottom of the phone with all connections touching each other, the Nokia software hangs! The profile "Headset" will be activated. Before you do this just activate the "Automatic Answer" in the headset profile and set the ringing volume to "Mute". Now you can use your phone for checking out what people are talking about in a room. Just place it under a table in a room and call it. The phone receives the call without ringing and you can listen to what people are saying.

NETWORK MONITOR

There is a hidden menu inside your Nokia phone. If you want to activate it, you'll have to re-program some chips inside of your phone.

1. Check your software version. You can only continue if you have v4.33, v4.73 or v5.24.
2. Take apart the phone.
3. De-solder the EEPROM (ATMEL AT 24C64).
4. Read out the data with an EEPROM programmer and save it to a file (Backup).
5. If you have v.33 or v4.73, change the address "03B8" from "00" to "FF".
6. If you have v5.24 then change the address "0378" from "00" to "FF".
7. Write the new data to the EEPROM and solder it back to the phone,
8. Power on your phone and you should have "Netmonitor" enabled.

The Network Monitor gives you the following information.

• Carrier number
• MS RX Level in DBM
• Received signal quality
• MS TX power level
• C1 (Path loss criterion, used for cell selection and reselection). The range is -99 to 99.
• RTL (Radio link timeout).
• Timeslot
• Indication of the transmitter status
• Information on the Network parameters.
• TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity).
• Cell identification (Cell ID, Number of cells being used).
• MCC (Mobile country code)
• MCN (Mobile network code)
• LAC (Location area code)
• Ciphering (On/Off)
• Hopping (On/Off)
• DTX (On/Off)
• Discard cell barred information

CHECK SIM-LOCK

Note - If you bought your Nokia on UK Vodafone or UK Cellnet you do not need to check this because they both transmit on GSM900, and they don't lock the phones. However if you bought your phone on UK Orange or UK One2one your phone may be blocked. The reason is that they both transmitt on GSM1800. To make a call on GSM1800 you need what is known as a "Dual band" phone. A dual band phone is able to transmit on both GSM900 and GSM1800, so they lock the phones so you can't use it with any other network simcard. If you find that your phone is locked you can try different software to unlock it. (we havn't found one that works yet), or you can ask your service provider who will gladly exchange the 10 digit code for about £35.

This is how to check the status of the 4 different locks. Aslo don't try entering the wrong number, because after 3 times it will block the phone for good.

There are 4 different locks on your Nokia phone.

• COUNTRY-LOCK
• NETWORK-LOCK
• PROVIDER-LOCK
• SIMCARD-LOCK

The code to read out the sim-lock status of your phone is

#PW+(MASTERCODE)+(Y)#

• # = DOUBLE-CROSS
• W = PRESS "*" THREE TIMES
• P = PRESS "*" FOUR TIMES
• + = PRESS "*" TWO TIMES
• MASTERCODE = 1234567890
• Y = NUMBER 1 TO 4

The master code is a secret code. The code has 10 digits, To read out the sim-lock status you can enter every combination you want!

"Y" Shows the status of the network-lock. Here you can enter a number from "1" to "4". The "4" is for the sim-card lock.

SIM-LOCK CHECKS

• #PW+1234567890+1# = GIVES PROVIDER-LOCK STATUS
• #PW+1234567890+2# = GIVES NETWORK-LOCK STATUS
• #PW+1234567890+3# = GIVES COUNTRY-LOCK STATUS
• #PW+1234567890+4# = GIVES SIM-CARD-LOCK STATUS.

Waggle Mixed Codes

Code Description of Nokia codes :
These Nokia codes will work on most Nokia Mobile Phones
(1) #3370# Deactivate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) OR *3370#
(2) *3370# Activate Enhanced Full Rate Codec (EFR) – Your phone uses the best sound quality but talk time is reduced my approx. 5%
(3) *#4720# Activate Half Rate Codec – Your phone uses a lower quality sound but you should gain approx 30% more Talk Time.
(4) *#4720# Deactivate Half Rate Codec.
(5) *#0000# Displays your phones software version, 1st Line : Software Version, 2nd Line : Software Release Date, 3rd Line : Compression Type.
(6) *#9999# Phones software version if *#0000# does not work.
(7) *#06# For checking the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI Number). (
(8) #pw+1234567890+1# Provider Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(9) #pw+1234567890+2# Network Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(10) #pw+1234567890+3# Country Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(11) #pw+1234567890+4# SIM Card Lock Status. (use the “*” button to obtain the “p,w”
and “+” symbols).
(12) *#147# (vodafone) this lets you know who called you last.
(13) *#1471# Last call (Only vodofone).
(14) *#21# Allows you to check the number that “All Calls” are diverted to
(15) *#2640# Displays security code in use.
(16) *#30# Lets you see the private number.
(17) *#43# Allows you to check the “Call Waiting” status of your phone.
(18) *#61# Allows you to check the number that “On No Reply” calls are diverted to.
(19) *#62# Allows you to check the number that “Divert If Unreachable (no service)” calls are diverted to.
(20) *#67# Allows you to check the number that “On Busy Calls” are diverted to.
(21) *#67705646# Removes operator logo on 3310 & 3330.
(22) *#73# Reset phone timers and game scores.
(23) *#746025625# Displays the SIM Clock status, if your phone supports this power saving feature “SIM Clock Stop Allowed”, it means you will get the best standby time possible.
(24) *#7760# Manufactures code.
(25) *#7780# Restore factory settings.
(26) *#8110# Software version for the nokia 8110.
(27) *#92702689# Displays – 1.Serial Number, 2.Date Made, 3.Purchase Date, 4.Date of last repair (0000 for no repairs), 5.Transfer User Data. To exit this mode you need to switch your phone off then on again.
(28) *#94870345123456789# Deactivate the PWM-Mem.
(29) **21*number# Turn on “All Calls” diverting to the phone number entered.
(30) **61*number# Turn on “No Reply” diverting to the phone number entered.
(31) **67*number# Turn on “On Busy” diverting to the phone number entered.
(32) 12345 This is the default security code.
lot;’s of more hidden codes here>>
press and hold # Lets you switch between lines NOKIA 5110/5120/5130/5190 IMEI number: * # 0 6 #
Software version: * # 0 0 0 0 #
Simlock info: * # 9 2 7 0 2 6 8 9 #
Enhanced Full Rate: * 3 3 7 0 # [ # 3 3 7 0 # off]
Half Rate: * 4 7 2 0 #
Provider lock status: #pw+1234567890+1
Network lock status #pw+1234567890+2
Provider lock status: #pw+1234567890+3
SimCard lock status: #pw+1234567890+4 NOKIA 6110/6120/6130/6150/6190 IMEI number: * # 0 6 #
Software version: * # 0 0 0 0 #
Simlock info: * # 9 2 7 0 2 6 8 9 #
Enhanced Full Rate: * 3 3 7 0 # [ # 3 3 7 0 # off]
Half Rate: * 4 7 2 0 # NOKIA 3110 IMEI number: * # 0 6 #
Software version: * # 0 0 0 0 # or * # 9 9 9 9 # or * # 3 1 1 0 #
Simlock info: * # 9 2 7 0 2 6 8 9 # NOKIA 3330 *#06#
This will show your warranty details *#92702689#
*3370#
Basically increases the quality of calling sound, but decreases battery length.
#3370#
Deactivates the above
*#0000#
Shows your software version
*#746025625#This shows if your phone will allow sim clock stoppage
*4370#
Half Rate Codec activation. It will automatically restart
#4370#
Half Rate Codec deactivation. It will automatically restart
Restore Factory Settings
To do this simply use this code *#7780#
Manufacturer Info
Date of Manufacturing *#3283#
*3001#12345# (TDMA phones only) This will put your phone into programming mode, and you’ll be presented with the programming menu.
2) Select “NAM1″
3) Select “PSID/RSID”
4) Select “P/RSID 1″
Note: Any of the P/RSIDs will work
5) Select “System Type” and set it to Private
6) Select “PSID/RSID” and set it to 1
7) Select “Connected System ID”
Note: Enter your System ID for Cantel, which is 16401 or 16423. If you don’t know yours,
ask your local dealer for it. Select “Alpha Tag”
9) Enter a new tag, then press OK
10) Select “Operator Code (SOC)” and set it to 2050
11) Select “Country Code” and set it to 302 for Canada, and 310 for the US.
12) Power down the phone and power it back on again
ISDN Code
To check the ISDN number on your Nokia use this code *#92772689#

[IMportant for karbonn mobile ]

 factory reset code   is 1122

[ LG mobile ]

LG Dare – Hidden Service Menu:
a. From the phone dial pad dial
b. ##LGSERVICEMENU (##5473784236368)
c. Service code  000000
LG Dare – Hidden Debug Menu:
a. From the phone dial pad dial
b. ##Debug (##33284)
c. Service code  000000

LG Dare – Hidden Activation Menu (Reset)
a. From the phone dial pad dial
b. *act (*228)
(p.s. reset anything saved in your note pad)
LG Dare - Hidden Program Menu (Services)
a. From the phone dial pad dial (don’t forget to press send after you type it in)
b. ##PROGRAM9700 (##77647269700) (Then Press Send)
c. Service code  000000
LG Dare - Hidden LG Information Menu
a. From the phone dial pad dial
b. #help*help (#4357*4357)

2945#*#                                                To access the test mode of the set

2945*#01*#                                          Use to display the secret menu of LG mobile set

*8375#                                                   Use to display the mobile software version

*#06#                                                     To display the IMEI Number of the mobile

2945#*70001#                                     Use to manage Simlock menu for LG (LG 7010, 7020)

277634#*#                                            To set the defaut settings of mobile

1945#*5101#                                       Use to manage Simlock menu for LG (LG B1200)

2945#*5101#                                       Use to manage Simlock menu for (LG 5200, 510W )

2947#*                                                   Use to manage Simlock menu for (LG 500, 600)

47328545454#                                    To set the defaut settings of mobile

*#07#                                                     To display the SW and IMEI Number

277634#*#                                            To remove the security codes of LG sets

or 47328545454#

* 6861 #                                                 To recount checksum

##2342                                                  Apply to resets the set advanced settings 

##786                                                    Used to reset the mobile memory and life timer

##889                                                    To Enable the TTY

#PWR 668                                            To perform the Factory test

  On the main screen type *#06#

Information you get from the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity)
    XXXXXX     XX     XXXXXX    X
        TAC      FAC       SNR     SP

TAC = Type approval code of your LG Mobile
FAC = Final assembly code of your cellphone
SNR = Serial number of your LG Phone
SP = Spare O

  LG all models test mode:
  Type 2945#*# on the main screen.
  2945*#01*# Secret menu for LG
  IMEI and SW (LG 510): *#07#
  Software version (LG B1200): *8375#
  Recount cheksum (LG B1200): *6861#
  Factory test (B1200): #PWR 668
  Simlock menu (LG B1200): 1945#*5101#
  Simlock menu (LG 510W, 5200): 2945#*5101#
  Simlock menu (LG 7020, 7010): 2945#*70001#
  Simlock menu (LG 500, 600): 2947#*

  LG-U81XX SPECIAL CODES
  Code to read phone version :
  - Phone without SIM
  - Enter 277634#*# or 47328545454#
  - Select 'SW Ver.info'
  Code to reset phone :
  - Phone without SIM

  - Enter 277634#*# or 47328545454#
  - Select 'Factory Reset'

  Code to enter UNLOCK MENU :
  - Phone wit SIM inside
  - Enter 2945#*88110#
  Test Menu 8330 : 637664#*#
  Test Menu 8180 V10a: 49857465454#
  Test Menu 8180 V11a: 492662464663#
  Test Menu 8130-8138: 47328545454#
  Test Menu 8110-8120: 277634#*