Recent content by zone_86

Every two years or so, selling of the parts of the current. I also keep a backup rig (in parts only) in the closet -- just the mobo/processor and a few HDD. Spare ram. My backup is a 975 Phenom with a 970 board and 8GB DDR3. My physical running backup is a laptop of course. Though ... I'm...

Old speakers. Yeah I had a pair of these back in the day and for a somewhat budget offering in it's time nothing today sounds as good in it's " budget computer speaker" 2.1 class, though the Logitech X-230's got close.

^I have to agree it's over the top now. The better motherboard aren't even gaming-named. I also feel the same about the EEFI bios of some manufacturers like Gigabyte. I recently got a batch of Giga X97 SLI mobos (the budget version) -- 3 of them. I was horrified and puzzled at how the bios was...

My Wife had 2x 560 non TI's in SLI whereas I had an HD7850, We both have 7970's now and it's a massive difference.

Same OC I get but I have a bit less V_ and MSI MB. Nice OC :)

Well, I build all of mine, and use to have a high end PC business locally, but as a consumer if I were to buy the only place I would buy from has been and still is Maingear. Maybe VM back in the day before the BB/CC/Walmart additions.

Use an eyepatch on the lense http://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-31-OSPABLK-Eye-Patch-Black/dp/B0001M6NEO

If AVA were smart they would hire you @ 4-6K over your current (new 3rd gig) over Maingear and implement your type of CS company wide. I'm sure Puget misses you as does VM.

For OP's post and needs - Dell, or HP. Both have good warranties and I would steer completely clear of any of the gaming vendors unless you think they might upgrade soon or do any gaming. This is a classic case where a non gaming vendor and PC fits the bill.

Yes typically MS is very good about mouse/KB replacement. Contact them, and FYI I would not game with any other mouse. I have tried the new G5-Death Adders but went back to the intelli 3.0 because of the superb low sensitivity tracking in certain FPS.

I agree about and across the board decision to raise voltages that seems very strange. Back when I ran a shop and built many, many systems the only time I upped voltages was if there was a known issue with a particular mainboard which was rare or an OC the customer gave the ok for/wanted.It...

What games and what res? By that logic a 9600GT would be as good at minimum frame rates as an HD4850. I do not buy it. Maybe you had specific games that were NV friendly?

Vista is alright - I was in om the on the early beta testing. Drivers are better now and more plentiful and SP2 helped. So yes Vista is ok. I do like XP better though. I dual boot myself. Yes you can run crossfire with the Gateway, though, one of those PCIe slots "might' be electrical 8X, thus...

9600GSO-9600GT, maybe a 9500GT if you want to spend a bit less.

Of course the Gateway will come with a warranty, though probably not a comprehensive or long one. Don't bother with ant geek-squad warranty just deal with Gateway (unless you're a bit technically challenged then go for it). I have built many systems, had my own shop, and that Gateway (the...