bit-tech.net

bit-tech is looking for hardware geeks!

Published on 4th November 2006 by Tim Smalley

We're looking for a passionate hardware enthusiast to work with us!

If you are in the Berkshire area, bit-tech is looking for a hardware enthusiast to work part time writing hardware reviews including video cards, motherboards and memory. If you have a passion for PC gaming and hardware, we would love to hear from you.

A good technical knowledge of computer hardware including a basic understanding of technical 3D specifications is required.

The successful applicant will receive full hands-on training for the position and will be paid on a per article basis. Applicants should be capable of writing informative, accurate and entertaining reviews, along with being able to comply with deadlines.

If this sounds like something that would interest you and something that you could commit to, please drop a line to me on tim.smalley@bit-tech.net including a current CV and a covering letter including anything that you think we should know about you.

59 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

r4tch3t 30th October 2006, 17:02

Ahhhhhhhh nooooo, just when I am heading back to New Zealand a job opportunity I would love comes up. (any chance of getting me a work permit to stay here?)

Highland3r 30th October 2006, 17:07

Limited to only those in Berkshire mate? Or are members from around the UK able to apply?

atanum141 30th October 2006, 17:08

Im within traveling distance to Berkshire, would that matter?

Quote:

a basic understanding of technical 3D specifications is required.

What does that intail exactly?

Tim S 30th October 2006, 17:11

I want the testing to be completed in our offices, since there's the full facilities + hardware here - that's why I said Berkshire area. It's a pain having various bits of hardware all over the country and I honestly don't know how we managed in the past. :)

BioSniper 30th October 2006, 17:11

Shame Berkshire is just SLIGHTLY too far for me (about 60 miles) otherwise this is something that I would at least apply for. Dang!

::edit:: Actually. It depends on where in Berkshire it is as some of it (Bracknell) is actually viable at just 53 miles.

atanum141 30th October 2006, 17:17

Where in Berkshire exactly is the placement Tim?
EDIT: Im in Middlesex.

Tim S 30th October 2006, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141
Im within traveling distance to Berkshire, would that matter?

If you're willing to cover your travelling to/from our offices, that's fine. Rich (Bindi) travels down from Oxford to come and help with the motherboard reviews, for example. :)

Quote:

What does that intail exactly?

Do you have an understanding of 3D technology? i.e. do you know the difference between a pixel shader, a vertex shader and a ROP. We're looking for someone that isn't a complete novice when it comes to the tech behind the products - we want you to have a reasonable understanding of how the hardware actually works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141
Where in Berkshire exactly is the placement Tim?

It's in Ascot.

atanum141 30th October 2006, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
If you're willing to cover your travelling to/from our offices, that's fine. Rich (Bindi) travels down from Oxford to come and help with the motherboard reviews, for example. :)

Cool, Well Im sure cost wont be that much of a big issue it's just that I personally don't drive but im sure there are Trains and other mentods of transport.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S

Do you have an understanding of 3D technology? i.e. do you know the difference between a pixel shader, a vertex shader and a ROP. We're looking for someone that isn't a complete novice when it comes to the tech behind the products - we want you to have a reasonable understanding of how the hardware actually works.

I have a basic idea at how most hardware works, tho Im sure some detailed reading into the subjects would be usefull.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S

It's in Ascot.

Ok. Well i'll look into seeing how viable it is to get there by the usual methods of transport.

Tim S 30th October 2006, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by atanum141
Ok. Well i'll look into seeing how viable it is to get there by the usual methods of transport.

Ascot is about 53 minutes from London Waterloo IIRC. :)

atanum141 30th October 2006, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
Ascot is about 53 minutes from London Waterloo IIRC. :)

Cool, well then i'd be more than happy to travel as Im quite used to it.

kosch 30th October 2006, 17:39

teh new Mvidia grafix card > All, go buy now. make happy!

How much would I get per article? =)

Tim S 30th October 2006, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosch
How much would I get per article? =)

If we think you're any good, we'll discuss wages with you. :)

dire_wolf 30th October 2006, 18:02

:'( I'd love to do this for you guys but it's a 6 hour round trip

specofdust 30th October 2006, 18:02

*wishes Berkshire wasn't a 24 hour round trip from his house*

GL with the search guys, hope you find someone spiffy.

RTT 30th October 2006, 18:40

ooh me! me! me! me! oh wait

Bindibadgi 30th October 2006, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper
Shame Berkshire is just SLIGHTLY too far for me (about 60 miles) otherwise this is something that I would at least apply for. Dang!

::edit:: Actually. It depends on where in Berkshire it is as some of it (Bracknell) is actually viable at just 53 miles.

Wil and I drive from Oxford down to BitHQ which is an 80 mile round trip. Takes 45mins to hour.

Da Dego 30th October 2006, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTT
ooh me! me! me! me! oh wait

me too! me too! me tooo! oh...crap. nevermind.

RTT 30th October 2006, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BioSniper

::edit:: Actually. It depends on where in Berkshire it is as some of it (Bracknell) is actually viable at just 53 miles.

Apply :) 53 can't be all that bad, especially part time.

Pie_uk 30th October 2006, 20:57

wish this was up earlier, when i lived in oxford....

im off to uni next year so never mind :) gl with finding the right person

speedfreek 30th October 2006, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Dego
me too! me too! me tooo! oh...crap. nevermind.

And you dont live far away at all. Sounds like a cool job but Im farther than Da Dego.

perplekks45 30th October 2006, 21:00

No way you're gonna give a poor student from Hamburg, Germany a chance? ;)

Da Dego 30th October 2006, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreek
And you dont live far away at all. Sounds like a cool job but Im farther than Da Dego.

Actually, I don't do hardware review. But neither does RTT :)

The distance is an utter pain for the few times I HAVE done hardware, to the point of being so difficult it was hardly worth it (hence the distance restriction). The person will really have to be able to go to BitHQ - Tim's labs are not something anyone can reproduce in his or her basement without some SERIOUS funding. :)

Bindibadgi 30th October 2006, 21:44

Hahaha, yea. The doorbell even takes your fingerprint for NDA.

If you ARE interested, you have to consider losing your saturdays and working a 9-11 hour day to get all the testing done, if you're like me and do 8:30-5s Monday to Friday. If you don't, I think you can go down during the week though which would make testing easier, but that's obviously between applicant and Tim to work out.

Ramble 30th October 2006, 21:58

Heh, I live near Oxford, it'd be nice if I could do it.
Full time education + travel + CBA is a bit of a bummer though.

r4tch3t 30th October 2006, 22:09

I would definately be a bit far to commute, being 11,700 miles away, but if its a work permit you can get me I will move there :D

Firehed 30th October 2006, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
Hahaha, yea. The doorbell even takes your fingerprint for NDA.

If you ARE interested, you have to consider losing your saturdays and working a 9-11 hour day to get all the testing done, if you're like me and do 8:30-5s Monday to Friday. If you don't, I think you can go down during the week though which would make testing easier, but that's obviously between applicant and Tim to work out.

Are you serious?

FFS, we need a proper tour of Bit HQ. Even if you have to blur out all the latest and greatest stuff.

I'd apply... but... well, maybe if I ever get out of this country. I've done some reviewing in the past (crap reviewing, mind you, but at the time it was basically me and a friend looking to get some free cold cathodes at the time) so at least I have a vague idea of how to do things.

DarkReaper 30th October 2006, 22:46

Belfast.... arse :(

speedfreek 30th October 2006, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Da Dego
The person will really have to be able to go to BitHQ - Tim's labs are not something anyone can reproduce in his or her basement without some SERIOUS funding. :)

So whats it look like, I would imagine bigz has something like what a James Bond villan would call home. :D

Bindibadgi 30th October 2006, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehed
Are you serious?

FFS, we need a proper tour of Bit HQ. Even if you have to blur out all the latest and greatest stuff.

BitHQ isnt that exciting and the test benches we'd have to blur mostly out I'd recon lol :D

Yea, it takes a long ass day in order to get a mobo or two tested, debugged, bios checked, photo'd, etc. I can only speak for motherboards, but they often tend to have buggy early bios' which inhibits stability and it then takes time to find memory and bios settings that work etc
It's an easy atmosphere and a nice place to work though, you don't really notice the day passing.

Tim S 30th October 2006, 23:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi
Yea, it takes a long ass day in order to get a mobo or two tested, debugged, bios checked, photo'd, etc. I can only speak for motherboards, but they often tend to have buggy early bios' which inhibits stability and it then takes time to find memory and bios settings that work etc
It's an easy atmosphere and a nice place to work though, you don't really notice the day passing.

Of course, that's minus any additional stress testing that we do. ;)

Bindibadgi 30th October 2006, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
Of course, that's minus any additional stress testing that we do. ;)

True. Although for mobos it's ok, for other things it's a tad more laboursome :)

DarkReaper 30th October 2006, 23:47

Are we talking about stressing the hardware or the testers here?

Tim S 31st October 2006, 00:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkReaper
Are we talking about stressing the hardware or the testers here?

yodasarmpit 31st October 2006, 00:20

Hmmm, 730 mile round trip !
I'll maybe pass on this one :)

r4tch3t 31st October 2006, 00:39

So we have to know about Video cards huh, so... We would have to play the latest games on the latest setups oh dear.

Drexial 31st October 2006, 01:02

if you pay for my daily super sonic flight back and forth from New York state id work for free :-p

A: it would get me out of the country regularly

B: I would get to play with the latest video cards at a place that tests them intelligently.

Edit: Firefox spell checker doesn't fix incorrect words

customh 31st October 2006, 03:12

drat, i think its to far but ill go ask donald trump if i can use his jet... drat, he says no noobs in my jet... ill go ask jimbob down the street... drat, he says his ultralight is great, but it wouldn't make it across the atlantic with its 2 gallon tank....

hydro_electric_655 31st October 2006, 04:57

Maybe if I vecome a US test pilot I could fly a fighet er super sonic to the UK daily for work at Bittech. I would be a better trouble shooter. Like if you guys blow someting up. I rock at making stuff and fixing random stuff.

LoveJoy 31st October 2006, 08:26

Damn why I live in Finland... :'( . Oh well luck to whoever gets it ;) .

MR BUNGLE 31st October 2006, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bindibadgi

If you ARE interested, you have to consider losing your saturdays and working a 9-11 hour day to get all the testing done, if you're like me and do 8:30-5s Monday to Friday. If you don't, I think you can go down during the week though which would make testing easier, but that's obviously between applicant and Tim to work out.

Reeeally.......
Hmmm.. I was feeling quite hacked off that I couldn't go for this, because I'm at college Monday to Wednesday..
- Sounds blummin' fantastic!

/ Gets emailing

Slink 31st October 2006, 11:03

I'd be interested in a writing posistion, But hardware isint my strong point, although I do have good looks and outstanding humour. I did forward me details to Haz a few months ago and not heard anything back... Maybe it's a sign. If you're scared i'll take all the women off the other staff you just need to say, I could walk into a few doors or something.

Tim S 31st October 2006, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slink
I'd be interested in a writing posistion, But hardware isint my strong point, although I do have good looks and outstanding humour. I did forward me details to Haz a few months ago and not heard anything back... Maybe it's a sign. If you're scared i'll take all the women off the other staff you just need to say, I could walk into a few doors or something.

Dave, that's my fault - I forgot to reply to you when I got back from my travels that have taken up most of this month. I'll try and drop you a mail later today.

r4tch3t 31st October 2006, 11:55

Well whoever gets it congrats, I envy you.

kenco_uk 31st October 2006, 13:23

250 mile roundtrip :(

Blademrk 31st October 2006, 15:59

I'd love to work at BitHQ, however being stuck in Wales and knowing little about hardware (I can build a PC, but other than that ) leaves me... well, stuck in Wales for a start ( )

Lazlow 31st October 2006, 17:01

Ah poo, I moved from Windsor to Lincoln permanently after finishing Uni - I could've walked to the HQ.

Slink 31st October 2006, 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S
Dave, that's my fault - I forgot to reply to you when I got back from my travels that have taken up most of this month. I'll try and drop you a mail later today.

Forward me those nekked pics i sent you of myself the other week i've lost them in a reformat :D

Evenge 31st October 2006, 19:37

Aww damn. I share the same problem with LoveJoy!

mikeuk2004 1st November 2006, 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by r4tch3t
I would definately be a bit far to commute, being 11,700 miles away, but if its a work permit you can get me I will move there :D

Wont happen. You need to have a guaranteed annual salary which is enough to sub stain yourself and your dependants so that you will not need to help your self with public funds. As paid per article is not a guaranteed salary and the job has to of been advertised across the EU and UK and if there is not a suitable resident worker found in all of Europe. Then you can apply, which mean you got as much hope as a Chimp.

r4tch3t 1st November 2006, 17:13

Yea I know that, I could however marry my girlfriend, who is English, but that is a fair bit off yet. I would love to work for bit though.

mikeuk2004 1st November 2006, 18:33

Id like to do it but cant :( Have too much going on and not enough free time.

demonevs 2nd November 2006, 11:31

Live in Berkshire (Bracknell) = Check
Years of hw experience = Check
Asking the missus to let me bugger off and play with pc harware every saturday when i do it in my real job Mon to Fri = Not a chance.

Unless its 5 grand an article of course, that'd shut her up with a regular supply of shoes / clothes / magazines :P

Mighty Yoshimi 7th November 2006, 15:06

If only i lived in that area, Guess ill just have to play with the computer science computers up here at the uni!

What 3D stuff was it that was needed?

Ultimate Gamer 8th November 2006, 00:53

uhh to bad i cant do this it would proably be like a 15 hour round trip i live in the U.S. so, and i dont think i am going to be moving to the U.K. anytime soon, No offence.

section8 8th November 2006, 09:15

Hey Tim hope you got my mail... Dropped it to you around lunch time I think yesterday... If you need anything else don't hesitate to call me on my mobile or drop me an Email. PS I can give you my work number too if you do need to get hold of me and have a chat.

Thanks
Scott B

Bindibadgi 8th November 2006, 09:42

I imagine Tim has it but he's uber busy with G80 and 680i atm. :)

section8 8th November 2006, 09:48

Yeah I thought he might be! I expect everyone at BitHQ is uber busy at them moment! Chhers for the heads up though mate.

Thanks
Scott B

unrealhippie 8th November 2006, 20:12

Quote: