Okay I think I have FINALLY settled on a Mobo. However it will be fairly untested as it hasn’t been released yet. Asus is comming with the P5E3 which is one of the new Intel X38 boards. With support of DDR3 @ 1333. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for this bad boy. I think I have decided that just 1 really great video card will suffice for now. Also I was told by a good source that SLI will work on any board. As long as the manufacturer built in a bridge between the two PCIe x16 slots. Then all you have to do is enable the bridge in the Bios. Which according to this person that told me. Most of the good manufacturers will put that in as they dont want to alienate a large client base such as the Nvidia users out there. Just because Intel and NVidia have a bit of a snippit going on. However they cant advertise that they are SLI ready at that point. Which I hope this turns out to be true. As when/if I figure out SLI is something I need, I can just purchase another Vid card.
So begins the wait for the board as it should be out sometime in the next few weeks. So until then I will begin the collection of other parts I will need. I have already picked up a case. I decided to go with a Antec P160w. As it had almost everything I required and liked and will fit in the space I need it to fit in. Next I will find a Power supply. I keep going back and fourth between the Thermal Take tough power and the Silverstone 850. I like them both as they are Modular and both have some really good reviews. However Silverstone seems to be the one that is a tad better in quality and dependability. So I am leaning towards it.
Okay so I thought I had my HTPC figured out. And I dont….I have been researching Motherboards day in and day out for the last two weeks. Every time I think I have settles on one. I find something that discourages me. Well I guess I am just to used to my Macs, spoiled in being able to have power and stability with a rockin OS.
The Mobo I first listed (gigabit GA-P35T-DQ6)I really like and still like. And I believe it is my number one contender if I decide there is no reason to run a SLI configuration. In which case I will just have to double the ante on a REALLY nice graphics card. My second choice I believe is the ASUS Striker Extreme basically a really kick ass board really built for overclockers but it has the Nvidia Chipset so I could run SLI if I decide. My aversion to this board is one price, it is VERY expensive in the way of Mobo’s run. From what I am reading is with the current Bios version is still fairly finicky and unstable. And even in stable configurations the intel boards with the P35 chipsets are pretty much kicking its ass in all the current benchmarks. Not a very good way to start life as the supposed king of Mobo’s, OCers dream, and Gamers Delight. However in a couple of revisions of Bios and hopefully some new coding by Nvidia it is supposed to be like the end all be all. So I am not that prepared to spend almost $350 on a Mobo that is SUPPOSED to do something but doesn’t yet. In the hopes that it will be fixed soon. But my options in running SLI are pretty slim.
Why run SLI and not Crossfire? You ask. Well I will tell you. Because I have already been asked this by several good sales people in a couple of different Higher End Comp Shops. One simple reason really. I don’t play games, I watch movies. And when you have a 61″ DLP TV that you are hopefully going to be playing Blu Ray and/or HD DVD from you need something that is going to have the lines of resolution and refresh rates to handle a TV that size. Currently Crossfire by ATI can only handle a refresh rate up to 60Hz with a lines of resolution not really passing anything past 1280×1024. For gamers this is great on the smaller computer screens anything past that is overkill. The ATI is really geared for Gamers. Hence since HTPC is still a fairly new market most of the Mobo manufacturers are building their products for the OC’er and Gamer in mind. Which makes the decision for a Mobo pretty difficult. As I have been told. That with one really great Video card will do what I want. While others have said that I will want SLI.
Now to get this straight I hadn’t planned on buying just 2 soso cards. I was planning on using minimum 8600 GTS Nvidia cards for the SLI configuration. And I want video quality. As this computer will be moved downstairs at some point to support the Home Theater when it is built. And that screen is planned to be around 100″ or so.
Okay so I am a HUGE Highlander fan. Have been since the original movie came out waaaay back in the eighties. So needless to say I was pretty stoked to hear and see that Sci-Fi did another Highlander film only this time with Adrien Paul as Duncan McCleod. You would know Duncan from the TV series. But anyways. This new movie was HORRIBLE. I hated it. It was actually worse than the original cut of the Highlander 2. And that was a pretty disgusting film by itself. So POO on sci-fi and the writers for Highlander:The Source. It was terrible and I am sure Highlander fans all over are pretty disgusted by this last movie.
Okay so last night Mary asks me to come into the bedroom to look at Camira. Apparently she is pregnant. So we are going to have a baby glider sometime soon. We are not sure how far she is or what to even to expect only that we have a baby glider coming soon. How exciting I had never even seen a glider until Camira and Coorain came. Now we get to see a baby. How cool is that.
Okay so do you remember a week or so ago I wrote about my wife wanting gliders. So about a hundred pleases and poo poo faces later I introduce Camira and Coorain. Our new additions to our ever growing in house zoo. Camira is the female. Her name is the Aboriginal female word for “Wind”, while Coorain is the same only the male version. The above picture is Coorain. Camira looks identical only with out the bald spot in the middle of head.
I have recently become addicted to this show. Let me tell you I am not a construction trades person at all, but I do have a bit of handyman in me. I like to build things with my hands and have that sense of accomplishment. One of my projects that I would like to start this winter is the finishing of my basement. Anyway…back to Mike Holmes.
This man is FANTASTIC!! Finally a contractor who wants to do something right the first time. I have learned so much just watching him. I knew my issues with my house were because of the builder and contractors doing the job to quickly and cheaply. But after watching Mike I am down right scared. For instance for a three year old house I have settling cracks. Which basically tells me they didn’t compact the dirt before laying the foundation. There is evidence of this all around the house. Esspecially in the front by the front door. Where the dirt under the walkway has settled up to a six to eight inches under the pad. So there is nothing holding my pad in front of my door up! Also while putting some Christmas decorations in the attic over the summer I happened to look at the structure while I was up there. And I noticed that the purlin line (The support structure that basically holds up your long sides of the roof so it doesn’t cave in) where not even nailed in!!! Its not even a proper purlin line! They basically took 2×4’s and wedged them in!! But Mike is not like this. He builds it to last. He builds it right! I want him to build my next house.
So this brings up an interesting question. Is this where society has gone? To a place where your paid to do a job and you do it as cheaply and quickly as possible with no care as to whether it is correct or what possible danger you could be putting the customer in. So long as you get your paycheck, and while your at it charge double and call it custom. You don’t just see this in building trades either. You see this in everything. Right down to going through the drive through at your local McDonalds. Anymore your lucky to even get a grunt equal to a thanks by those Jackasses. You’re made to feel more like your a pain in the ass to even have the nerve to do business with them. And yet we keep going!! You find this attitude almost every where you go to shop for anything.
Watch Mike Holmes. Holmes on Homes. I think if your are thinking about purchasing, building, or rehabing anything you will actually do yourself a disservice by not watching him.
Okay so I am coming to the end of the third week on chantix. And I really need to pick a date to stop smoking. Where I am at now is basically forcing myself to smoke. I went to just about 2:30 today without smoking. Which is fantastic. And on top that I was only able to smoke about 2-3 drags of it before giving up. If I want to smoke more than that I pretty much have to muscle through it. I am extremely happy with the results. So I my quite date is going to be monday. Monday morning I will wake up and be a complete non-smoker. I think I can pretty much do it today but in the instructions they say you need to set a date. And that it is really important to actually have a date. So you have a goal. And a promise to yourself. So Monday September 17 is my official stop day.
For those of you that aren’t of the tech savvy HTPC means Home Theater Personal Computer. I am working on building a Home Theater computer. The goals of this computer are as such.
1. Main function is to store the GOBS and GOBS of CD’s we have. I know I know you all are saying MP3 player. Welll that isn’t going to work. For clarification on this read a couple of posts down. So I wont go into my issue’s with MP3 and the playback of them. So I need LOTS of storage for CD’s. 160GB drive should store around 200-250 so I am thinking of 2 250gb drives. One for music storage only and the other for other fun stuff.
2. I want to be able to sit in my chair in my living surf the net, play WOW, and maybe eventually Starcraft II all on my 61″ HDTV. HOW KICK ASS WOULD THAT BE?!
3. As I work on automating my house it needs to act as the controller for that. So I can turn the PIP on my TV and control any of the house functions. Such as turning on the Sprinkler System, Turning lights on or off, setting mood lighting, AC functions, being able to Drop in from anywhere in the world over the net and control those functions, etc and etc. Home automation is really quite exciting and cool.
Other functions that would be cool and neat and something I need to research more on video quality. On stand alone players would be Blue Ray and HD DVD. Which I am pretty confident that is would be okay.
So here is my list of what I have so far as components not a whole lot yet. As I tend to research like crazy on what will work.
Home Theater PC Build Components
Case- Thermaltake Soprano DX VE7000BWS
Mobo- GA-P35T-DQ6
CPU Fan- Thermaltake CL-P0257 Blue orb II CPU Cooler for LGA775 & K8
Audio Card- M-Audio revolution 7.1
Video Card- EVGA 256-P2-N765-AR GeForce 8600GTS x2 for SLI
PSU- Thermaltake toughpower W0104RU
Will use a Intel Quad core, as I will get the most for the least amount on that when time comes. I have researched my HDD’s yet or CD-DVD player/burners yet either.
I would appreciate any of you techies giving comments or suggestions. As I haven’t built or researched anything Intel related for at least five years. I have been a MAC fan and faithful for a while now. So it actually sorta hurts moving over a Windows machine again. But I am not sure the MAC has the support for what I want to do yet. And I really don’t want to spend the money I would need to for a MAC.
So I have been trying to stop smoking for a long time. But this time is the first time I have actually tried a prescription drug. I tried to stay away from it, but I just couldn’t ignore the fact that I am not going to quite smoking any other way than with some really strong drugs to help. So here is an update on it.
Chantix is sorta a two step system. First seven days you take a white pill then the rest of the time you take a blue. This is what I have noticed. First seven days no real change in smoking habits. I have been doing the second step now for a few days, and I am actually noticing a few changes. First I can tell when my body is craving because I chain smoke. BUT the anger or the monster isn’t there. So that is very good. Also I have noticed times when I would normally have lit one up I simply FORGOT!. How wonderful is that to actually forget to smoke! Smokers out there will understand that statement. You dont forget to smoke. There are always signs that your body puts off that reminds you to smoke. Many smokers will tell you. Take my food, and take my water, but DONT DONT take my smokes. That is how severe your body craves it. Also I have noticed that sometimes I notice other people smoking and instead of thinking “Boy I would like a smoke” i think “Wow that IS a depraving habit”. So something is happening. I can feel it. The morning smoke is still a must as well as the after dinner but in between smokes are all but nonexistant mostly because I forget! I am hopefull on this method. Anyways I will keep you all updated on what happens.
Anybody that know my wife and I know that we have LOTS of pets. Mainly due to my wife just “happening upon” them and bringing them home. Which is how we have acquired 7 out of our 10 pets. Yes I said 10 four dogs, two birds, one cat, two hamsters and one Short tailed opossum. We have a full house. And NOW she wants TWO MORE!!!! Get this she wants a pair of Sugar Gliders. Which if you don’t know what I am talking about, they are basically little more than small flying squirrels. Sheesh!!
