Thanks again guys.

I got a 500GB WD HD with 16MB buffer (SATA) for about $115 - I am partial to WD drives, YMMV.

I just has an external WD 500 gig drive die after 4 months of use.

Run like hell...

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Bioshock: "You're soon beset by deranged flappers and dandies, like Jay Gatsby's party guests gone feral."

Blue are you aware that the middle flash ad box is basically the entire COD4 flash website? yeah which means your website is locked and loaded and battle-ready. Hoorah!


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http://www.myspace.com/kxmode
"BioShock RMX" track posted
This comment was edited on Oct 12, 01:54.

I got a 500GB WD HD with 16MB buffer (SATA) for about $115 - I am partial to WD drives, YMMV.


Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

OsinO... www.canadacomputers.com is where I get all my stuff. Their prices are consistently better than TigerDirect, plus they have a store in Mississauga (and others in the surrounding area). I'm not sure where in Miss. you are, but the store is at Mavis Mall.

I believe your the one who gifted me Half Life 2 Episode 1, thank you I did get it, and for the most part enjoyed it

Can anyone tell me if Dogg has a bigger role in Episode 2? And where can I get the schematics to make my own Dogg?

MORE DOGG!

Damn, I just added the same or very similar components on a local Canadian computer parts website (www.tigerdirect.ca) and the total came to $1500.00 not including a HD... Why is our stuff so expensive

Wow that blows. I order a lot from tigerdirect.com
Looks like ordering from the US and paying the extra shipping and maybe tax fees are worth it!


There have been about ~3-4 people here on Blues in the past few months upgrading and all have pretty much done with that same exact system.



Alternating Logo (GreaseMonkey script):
http://www.ualr.edu/szsullivan/scripts_/BluesNewslogo.user.js

Damn, I just added the same or very similar components on a local Canadian computer parts website (www.tigerdirect.ca) and the total came to $1500.00 not including a HD... Why is our stuff so expensive?

Thanks guys - last few questions:

1) I forgot HD! I noticed they come in "8MB" and "16MB" - is it important to get the 16MB versions?
2) Is it worth my trouble ordering online from the US? Or will the Duty charge equal up and possibly cost me more for the differences in price?

What a classic OotB. That one has to go on the all time fave list ...

I gotta agree...


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Bioshock: "You're soon beset by deranged flappers and dandies, like Jay Gatsby's party guests gone feral."

MB - $130
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R (no firewire though)

hey i am using the same MB!

OsinO - no more advice needed.

Go with what he posted.
I have the same mobo, same vid, diff case, diff RAM, a Duo Core that can overclock to beat the pants off of that Quad and also the Duo has a faster BUS - but it all comes out to be about 1k-1.2k for a new rig.

The products listed are some of the best out there.
Can't go wrong.

/WH - how do you like that mobo!

Thanks, I think.

I went with the Quad because of the immenent implementation of multi-core processor use by games like UT3 and others. If it has more than 2 cores, you can use them. Also, the Quads are unlocked, so changing the FSB is easy-peasy and they overclock like mad according to all accounts. Ignore Bat's witty commentary - go Quad, baby!

Tim Sweeney: Unreal Engine 3's threading support is quite scalable. We run a primary thread for gameplay, and a secondary thread for rendering. On machines with more than two cores, we run additional threads to accelerate various computing tasks, including physics and data decompression. There are clear performance benefits to quad-core, and though we haven't looked beyond that yet, I expect further gains beyond quad-core in future games within the lifetime of Unreal Engine 3.

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?article_id=602522

ID Software added multi-CPU support for Quake 4 in patch version 1.2 and above which saw frame rate performance improvements of around 25% and above. Valve intends to add Multi-Core CPU support to their Source engine in Q1 next year before the release of Episode 2. Although besides pure frame rate improvements, Valve are not just thinking about the FPS numbers, they want to improvement the overall game play experience with vastly improved AI and physics.

http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/976/valve_talks_about_multi_core_cpu_processing_in_source/index.html

The MB itself has been great.

A couple comments on it. Make sure you go in and check the voltages - standard BIOS setup was not auto for optimum voltages, I think it was set a bit lower. Changed it to auto and everything went from *WARNING* to "yeah, you're cool". Also, seems like some folks are having a couple memory problems.

1) installing the OS with 4 GB installed. I just put in one chip (2GB) and put the second in after installing the OS.

2) having the memory in banks 0 and 2 instead of 1 and 3. I just used 1 and 3 as a precaution and had no problems at all with memory configuration or recognition.

The MB is also slightly smaller than most P35 MB, which is very nice! Also has 6 phase power design for more stability (most use 3 or 4 phase), among other things. Still wish it had firewire, but I just bought an add-in FW card at Fry's for $20. You can read all the fancy Gigabyte marketing stuff here:

http://www.giga-byte.com/Products/Motherboard/Default.aspx

Edit - man, I MEANT GB for the RAM, how come nobody corrected me???

Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.
This comment was edited on Oct 12, 11:08.

I always check http://www.sharkeyextreme.com/guides/ and look at his high end and value gaming rigs. It's a good starting point to see what to look for when building your own. Of course what the others have listed here would do nicely!

OsinO - no more advice needed.

Go with what he posted.
I have the same mobo, same vid, diff case, diff RAM, a Duo Core that can overclock to beat the pants off of that Quad and also the Duo has a faster BUS - but it all comes out to be about 1k-1.2k for a new rig.

The products listed are some of the best out there.
Can't go wrong.

/WH - how do you like that mobo!

Rev. Norb: I'd just like to say that four for a dollar Tijuana tacos seemed like a good idea at the time. Please pass the toilet paper.
This comment was edited on Oct 11, 16:30.

Ugh..

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071011006083&newsLang=en

Wow thanks very much for that list! I am located in Mississauga which is just outside of Toronto, ON. Funny you mention the quiet case - the one I have now I have to keep the sides off of because the vid card overheats easy and the fan I have on the processor has gotten so loud I have to shut the door when I am not in the room. Please keep the advice coming

And this setup/case is pretty darn quiet!

I have an Antec TX-something full tower case, and it's really quiet too. Compared to my last few Antec cases, this latest one has fewer, but much larger, fans. Apparently this moves as much air but does so WAY more quietly...


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Don't be a stoop, spread your goop

Oh, and by the way - I have all this in an Antec Nine Hundred case. All the fans are on low except the large one on top - have that one on medium.

And this setup/case is pretty darn quiet! I thought with all the fans it would not be (especially with the vent in the side), but it sits on my desk and is very quiet. Loudest thing in it is the DVD drives. Even the video card is near silent in my limited use so far.


Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

Where in Canada are you? There are options!

Well, a quick list:

Memory - $185
Patriot Extreme performance 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820220227

Video card - $355
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130071

MB - $130
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R (no firewire though)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

Processor - $278
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (look for the G0 stepping - SLACR - shop around to guarantee that version - runs cooler and less power draw)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

PS - $55 !!! after rebates
COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro 500 RS-550-ACAA-A1 ATX12V / EPS12V 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171025

That's what I am using now - works out to $1,003 plus tax and shipping. I'm sure you can look around and shave a few $$$ here and there.

Edit - got my SLACR Q6600 at ClubIT - they have it for $265.
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=CA1938460

There - just saved you $13 - now only $990!

Oh, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you.

This comment was edited on Oct 11, 16:03.