Anyone here into HTPC Gaming?

[Vinny Patrollie]

I've been doing tons of research since my CPU fried last week, but getting more confused by the minute. I'd characterize myself as fairly computer literate but don't possess the skills, or the knowledge, to built my own system. I also own a PS3 so although gaming is not my first priority, it would be nice to have decent capablities. I need reliable mainstream support, and have typically been satisfied with Dell, but their off-shore service reps now leave much to be desired. That said, they are selling a pretty cool bundle now with NVidia's 3D galsses and a 22" Samsung 3D capable monitor for $1399. ($1556 all in with tax and a HDTV tuner.)

The major specs are:
i7-920 at 266 GHz
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz
1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM
NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB
Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control
Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Loads and loads of bloatware
3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value")

Both PC Mag and CNet are heralding a system by Velocity...The EDGE Z30
The All-in price is $1419. (Plus I have to add a monitor)

i7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz
8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz
1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300
NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB
ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner
Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Absolutely no bloatware
No Monitor and No Glasses

I'm leaning toward the boutique brand...Made by hand in the USA, all USA tech and service reps, higher end components. I admit I'm intrigued by what I read ablout the 3D NVidia system, but I am concerned it will go by the way of the do-do and I will lose interest in the feature after a short time.

Any thoughts from the techies out there?

[FF2®]

I've been doing tons of research since my CPU fried last week, but getting more confused by the minute. I'd characterize myself as fairly computer literate but don't possess the skills, or the knowledge, to built my own system. I also own a PS3 so although gaming is not my first priority, it would be nice to have decent capablities. I need reliable mainstream support, and have typically been satisfied with Dell, but their off-shore service reps now leave much to be desired. That said, they are selling a pretty cool bundle now with NVidia's 3D galsses and a 22" Samsung 3D capable monitor for $1399. ($1556 all in with tax and a HDTV tuner.)

The major specs are:
i7-920 at 266 GHz
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz
1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM
NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB
Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control
Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Loads and loads of bloatware
3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value")

Both PC Mag and CNet are heralding a system by Velocity...The EDGE Z30
The All-in price is $1419. (Plus I have to add a monitor)

i7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz
8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz
1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300
NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB
ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner
Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit
Absolutely no bloatware
No Monitor and No Glasses

I'm leaning toward the boutique brand...Made by hand in the USA, all USA tech and service reps, higher end components. I admit I'm intrigued by what I read ablout the 3D NVidia system, but I am concerned it will go by the way of the do-do and I will lose interest in the feature after a short time.

Any thoughts from the techies out there?

Go play outside.

[jetswin]

Go play outside.

I think he's building a bomb, I'll report it to the authorities.

[Vinny Patrollie]

Go play outside.

THAT was funny!

[Vinny Patrollie]

I think he's building a bomb, I'll report it to the authorities.

THAT was too!

[32green]

Personally..... I'd go with the i7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz
8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300
NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware
No Monitor and No Glasses....not the i7-920 at 266 GHz8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB
Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") but iffin you choose thei7-920 at 266 GHz
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM
NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware 3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") instead of thei7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz 8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz 1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300 NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware No Monitor and No Glasses...then I would get the extended warranty.




_

[JetsFan2012]

Personally..... I'd go with the i7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz
8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300
NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware
No Monitor and No Glasses....not the i7-920 at 266 GHz8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB
Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") but iffin you choose thei7-920 at 266 GHz
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM
NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware 3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") instead of thei7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz 8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz 1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300 NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware No Monitor and No Glasses...then I would get the extended warranty.




_

[Dirtstar]

Personally..... I'd go with the i7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz
8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300
NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware
No Monitor and No Glasses....not the i7-920 at 266 GHz8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB
Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") but iffin you choose thei7-920 at 266 GHz
8 GB DDR3 SDRAM at 1066 MHz 1 TB Serial ATA HD 7200 RPM
NVidia GTS-240 GPU with 1024 MB Hauppauge HVR1250 hybrid TV Tuner with Remote Control Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Loads and loads of bloatware 3D Monitor and Glasses ($500 "value") instead of thei7-860 2.8 GHz, Hyperclocked to 3.2 GHz 8 GB DDR3 RAM at 1333 MHz 1 TB Hitachi 7200 rpm SATA 300 NVidia GTX 260 GPU with 896 MB ATI TV Wonder 650 Pro HDTV/SD/FM Combo Tuner Window Home Vista Home Premium 64-bit Absolutely no bloatware No Monitor and No Glasses...then I would get the extended warranty.




_

no bloatware?


please

[32green]

no bloatware?


please

And no glazzes.


I did a techie nose snort when I saw that.

[Dirtstar]

And no glazzes.


I did a techie nose snort when I saw that.

now THIS i can understand

[32green]

now THIS i can understand

Lol, I've never seen her with a shirt on. Oh, she has a face.

ANyone ever get more exposure out of their yabbos than that chick?

Btw, did you see what PaulieC had to say about my computer advice?

Feeling his 25 year oats.

[Vinny Patrollie]

Ya Know!? You would think I'd know better!

[32green]

Ya Know!? You would think I'd know better!

If your stratergy was to post 321 Jets Mocking posts for every one politely asking for tech help when it suited you...I'd say it was teh suckenstien.

[Vinny Patrollie]

If your stratergy was to post 321 Jets Mocking posts for every one politely asking for tech help when it suited you...I'd say it was teh suckenstien.

C'mon. Lighten up 32. You have to admit that this board would be a bit duller without a few of us good natured trolls. For the most part, my posts qualify as good natured ribbing. Sure, I've crossed the line a few times, but mostly in response to being told to "Go fuk my dead mother", or being called a "scumbag, ghey, immoral Cheatriot fan." I even let most of those slide. I've even tried to post imformative replied to others seeking tech help of some sort. But most of all, and I guess you missed it, I posted an awesome vid of two hotties pissing into brownie mix in the Girlfriend Advice Needed thread. Instant classic.

[mrorange43]

http://www.hardforum.com for anything computer related

Building it yourself is not that difficult and it's fun so you should look into it. Plus it's a lot cheaper.

[Vinny Patrollie]

http://www.hardforum.com for anything computer related

Building it yourself is not that difficult and it's fun so you should look into it. Plus it's a lot cheaper.

Thanks for the link. I know, that for many, a self build is the way to go. I'm not confident that I can do it. Besides, I want to be able to point "one finger" should something go wrong.

[quantum]

I've been hardcore into FPS gaming since 1996, a member of a few clans from 1998-2007, and I've never built my own rig (maybe because I need it for real life stuff besides gaming).

Overclocking is overrated, IMNSHO, because eventually it wears out the hardware earlier than if you don't. Plus, you either have teh mad skillz or you don't - your rig won't put you over the top. Wanna spend money? Buy the best up/down speeds your ISP has, and make sure you stay current with video cards and drivers.