Re: Up yours, Alienware

Unread post by **Abric** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 9:08 pm

So... I've been waiting a month for some recovery cds for my computer. I finally called their technical support to figure out what the hell happened - and it seems that my warranty has finally expired and the tech support guy I spoke to LIED TO ME! They have not had any back-up recovery CDs in stock for the last three years.

So, I am not assed out ... this computer is effectively *dead*, unless I get myself a Windows XP Media Center CD to reinstall windows or I buy Windows 7; which I think would be a bit moot to do with a 4-year old system that, while still works - has had a continued problem with its hardware just *dying*.

Looks like I'm in the market for a new PC. Fucks sake, that makes me angry. ANGRY!

Unread post by **Kazthul** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 2:20 am

Plan B.

Buy windows 7.

Plot building new computer by own damn self.

Profit.

Unread post by **Abric** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:05 pm

Yep, that is wise advice Kazthul. I have bought Windows 7, just to see if I can resolve my computer issues with an upgraded OS. And, hell ... can't go wrong with having a copy of Windows for those "occasions" that pop up. I don't think my system will be able to support 64-bit, so may have to go 32-bit.

At Coyotl's advice, was exploring TigerDirect.com, looking to see what it WOULD cost if I was going to get a new system. This is what I found, looking at price first ... then longevity second. Still hovering around a thousand bucks... which is doable but I really don't want to drop that chunk of cash on a system at this time.

ASUS P6T Motherboard
Intel i7 930 Processor
Patriot DDR3 RAM
Seagate 1.5TB Hard Drive
ATI Radeon HD5670 512MB Video Card

One thing I'm not entirely sure on is the video card. It seems the new hotness is to SLI/Crossfire those fuckers ... but would I want to do that with 2x 512MB or 2x 1GB video cards ... is the 1GB too much; or is that just right? I got to video cards last, so the research on the current stuff is not really there; seven hours of your day exploring computer hardware is daunting for a casual user!

Unread post by **Grolish** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:46 pm

You'll definitely get more bang for your buck if you build your own rig.

Tigerdirect is where I went to buy the components for my computer when I built it, along with a few pieces from Newegg.com. Both places have very good prices and excellent customer service. The few hardware issues I had with them were replaced quickly and they paid for the return shipping.

Frygyd · Unread post by **Frygyd** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:31 pm

I put my computer together online at ibuypower.com. I did dual video cards via SLI but both video cards ended up going the way of the ghost at differing times so when the second one died I just went with a single card again. Really don't need SLI for WoW. Let me know if you need help Abric.

Unread post by **Kazthul** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 2:43 pm

Just make sure you don't buy an OEM copy of the OS. Cause you get one shot install on that bad boy and when you call them up to put it on a different computer cause if you start changing up the hardware too much or just get a new motherboard for example, you end up having to call for activation and you get interrogated like your a terrorist. OEM is intended to be installed on one computer, one time, the end.

Going SLI doesn't really have any true advantages aside from using one card to do your physics and one to do your graphics, most of the higher end cards from what I've read recently can do both. So the only real reason to go nuts with SLI is just cause you have a burning desire to make use of your SLI slots and to take pictures of it and say "OH, LOOK AT ME, I"M AWESOME BITCHES. MUAHAHAHAH!!!! LOOK AT THAT BENCHMARK!!!! I"M A GOD!!!" Then you look like an asshat six weeks later when your omega powerhouse of doom is old hat and nobody cares and you just invested enough funds to feed an small country in africa.

Unread post by **Grainger** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:09 pm

SLI / Crossfire isn't really worth it unless you're into serious performance / dollars. For the price of two cards to put in SLI/X-Fire you can get a single card with almost exactly the same performance. The only time to really consider SLI / X-Fire is for 2560x1600 or multiple monitors. (Also consider too that the Intel boards are crap when it comes to available PCIe lanes, far easier to stick in one 5870 rather than two 5770's for example. )

Talking of which, a 5670 is a pretty crappy card. On a $1000 gaming rig you should be looking at $200 - $300 on the graphics card.

Check out the system builds on Tom's Hardware, the $750 gaming rig is pretty damn nice and a good place to start.

Unread post by **Malstrom** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 3:50 pm

Grainger wrote: SLI / Crossfire isn't really worth it unless you're into serious performance / dollars. For the price of two cards to put in SLI/X-Fire you can get a single card with almost exactly the same performance. The only time to really consider SLI / X-Fire is for 2560x1600 or multiple monitors. (Also consider too that the Intel boards are crap when it comes to available PCIe lanes, far easier to stick in one 5870 rather than two 5770's for example. )

Talking of which, a 5670 is a pretty crappy card. On a $1000 gaming rig you should be looking at $200 - $300 on the graphics card.

Check out the system builds on Tom's Hardware, the $750 gaming rig is pretty damn nice and a good place to start.

QFT. Particularly on the SLI/Crossfire comment.

Ars Technica is another good resource that Greebo turned me on to.

In December I basically built this system and added a $250 video card. Total price including shipping and tax was about $900. So far I run all games at max, performance is great, cooling is great (got a case with 3 fans). I am typically at 45 fps in windowed mode during raid encounters. Very happy with it.

The big advantage is a professional has taken the time to test out each component and that they work well together, so you know it will come together well. And it did. Easiest system build I have ever done.

Also, if you are buying Windows 7, I would suggest getting the 64-bit version. Any new system you build will likely be 64-bit, and if you get a 32-bit version you might find yourself at a loss if you choose to upgrade.

Mal

Unread post by **Abric** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:37 pm

Form what I was reading, buying Windows 7 now gives you both the 32-bit and 64-bit. I guess when it first came out, it was either or. Now? All in one package!

Unread post by **Grainger** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 9:16 pm

Abric wrote: Form what I was reading, buying Windows 7 now gives you both the 32-bit and 64-bit. I guess when it first came out, it was either or. Now? All in one package!

Windows 7 retail gives you both, iirc. OEM its one or the other.

Unread post by **Malstrom** » Thu Apr 29, 2010 10:58 pm

Grainger wrote:
Abric wrote: Form what I was reading, buying Windows 7 now gives you both the 32-bit and 64-bit. I guess when it first came out, it was either or. Now? All in one package!
Windows 7 retail gives you both, iirc. OEM its one or the other.

OIC. I have an MSDN subscription so I just download it.

I am very surprised Microsoft went that way, but it's a good move for the consumer...

Mal

Unread post by **Abric** » Sat May 01, 2010 12:25 am

Went ahead and bought some extra memory for the Mac; just in case the PC decided to completely and utterly shit the bed. 4GB now, bitches ... up yours, Dalaran!

Currently installing Windows 7. Let's see if it works - if it does, great ... can postpone an upgrade. If it doesn't work? Eh ... think I may avoid the price tag for now, or start doing it in chunks - starting with the hard drive.

Unread post by **Abric** » Sat May 01, 2010 4:34 pm

Decided to do an experiment with the PC. This issue originally became a problem because it started to screw up after it went in hibernation mode. So ... let it go into hibernation mode again. Sure enough - computer restarted itself and bios wouldn't boot. DOOM!

Unread post by **Yrzuli** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:38 pm

Ugh, hibernation mode. I refuse to use that because I've never had a PC that didn't fuck up coming out of it. I remove it from the options and everything.

Agrovale · Unread post by **Agrovale** » Sat May 01, 2010 7:46 pm

At my job we deal with this issue cause dumbass users don't listen to us telling them not to use hibernation. It is the Sixth ring of Hell. We have to use super cool tools to force a sign in and shut it down. Idiots.