PC FORMAT 233 OUT NOW!

Remember DirectX 10, of course you do? At least vaguely! The API that Microsoft promised to revolutionise visuals for all PC games to come. And all you had to do was upgrade to Windows Vista for the privilege. Locking it down into an OS that for the first year everybody hated didn't do it any favors, leading to game developers to by-and-large steer clear from fully embracing it.

Fortunately the overlords at MS have learnt a few lessons since their double disaster and the future of graphics really does come in the shapely form of DX11. Jeremy Laird reveals all we need to know about this latest API and what it all means to gamers sporting the latest and last generation graphics technologies.

We’ve kept Mr Laird busy this issue. Our multi-talented technology expert takes us on a journey through the often complicated world of choosing a suitable wireless router in the Supertest. Taking an objective view of six wireless routers from leading vendors, Jeremy compiles all the critical stats that you need to know.

If you are a serious PC user and only want the best of the best then you’ll want to house your components in a suitable PC chassis that provides both the appearance you want and the ability to comfortably house these high-end components. Huge PC cases are the focus of our Wired Roundup. Dave James takes delivery of six monolithic tower boxes ranging from £63 to £395.

Windows 7 is out, and we are liking it quite a bit. Mark Wilson gets on the case and runs through the new exciting features you can expect play with and benefit from should you decide to upgrade. Adding to Mark’s findings, we asked Luis and Jeremy for their personal assessments on the new operating system.

Cheaters never prosper as the old adage goes. But it often doesn't apply to some gamers taking advantage of legal and illicit means to gain the upper hand in online games. Jim Rossingnol investigates this murky subject with some surprising revelations!

In the run up to Christmas there are plenty of big titles beginning to filter through. This issue sees the release of Borderlands, Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising and Champions online. We’ve thoroughly reviewed them all along a slew of other releases from the major publisher giants.

Hardware reviews

9800GT Synergy
AMD Radeon HD 5870
Antec Nine Hundred Two
Athlon II X4 620
AVM Fritz!Box 7270
Belkin G Wireless Modem
CM Storm Scout
Data Traveler 300
D-Link DSL-2740R
Intel Core i7 860
Linksys WRT320N-UK
Netgear DG834G V4
Netgear DGN2000
Novatech Elite Pro
OCZ Agility 120GB
OCZ Blade
Optima SODIMM memory
Samsung XL2370
Scythe Fenriswolf
Vortex 860GTX
Zalman LQ1000

Game previews

Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising
Football Manager 2010
Global Agenda
Ron Giulbert’s Death Spank
Shattered Horizon
STALKER: Call of Pripyat

Game reviews

Borderlands
Champions Online
Championship Manager 2010
Darkest of Days
Gridrunner Revolution
Heros Over Europe
Mini Ninjas
Need for Speed: Shift
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
Runes of Magic: The Elven Prophecy
Section 8