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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:54 pm Post subject: My new HTPC/regular computer |
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I thought I would give my new computer a thread like Zebs. 
I bought a nice combo deal from Frys for my mobo and CPU.
Biostar A770E3 and Athlon II X3 435 for $69.
PNY Geforce GT240 512mb GDDR5 for $80.
Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5tb hard drive for $99 w/FS
DDR3-1333 2gb for $35 w/FS off of the bay
Total cost is around $295 before rebates.
I get $10 off the combo deal and $15 off of the video card.
One great thing was the combo wasn't sold out. Everytime I have tried to get one they are sold out. I think I got lucky, because Fry's had it mislabeled in the ad. They had it listed as an X2 435. When I got there, I confirmed that it was an X3 and I was racing to checkout. If it was an X2, then they had a Phenom II X4 combo deal for $129 after rebate.
The mobo has ACC, so I hope to unlock the fourth core. If I am really lucky, then I will get the L3 cache. Even if I don't, I am more than happy with my purchase. I will have the HD tested this weekend and when I receive the memory I should be ready to go.
I am reusing my case, PS, and DVD drive. I noticed that Fry's ad today has the Lite On Bluray player for $59. It looks like the same price from Newegg. Should I pull the trigger on this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106325
http://www.frys.com/product/5980594?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
I am going to install TinyXP on this until I can get Ubuntu working properly with my TV Wonder box. Supposedly, Linux is now able to play Bluray. If that is the case, then I may be back to full time Ubuntu.
One final thing, this is for Dave the HTPC hater. Tell me where I can get a Blu ray player and time shifting OTA/cable box for this price that can plug directly into my pj and do any resolution that I want. 
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:57 pm Post subject: |
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Oh, I wanted to add that Newegg, Tiger Direct and Microcenter have been having some combo deals as well. Microcenter may be B&M, but the other two aren't.
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AnalogRocks
Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Mar 2006
Posts: 26706
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
TV/Projector: Sony 1252Q, AMPRO 4000G
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:31 am Post subject: |
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| Spanky Ham wrote: | | Oh, I wanted to add that Newegg, Tiger Direct and Microcenter have been having some combo deals as well. Microcenter may be B&M, but the other two aren't. |
There's a few Tiger Direct stores around. I have one 15 minutes away.
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Tech support for nothing
CRT.
HD done right!
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:08 am Post subject: |
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| AnalogRocks wrote: | | Spanky Ham wrote: | | Oh, I wanted to add that Newegg, Tiger Direct and Microcenter have been having some combo deals as well. Microcenter may be B&M, but the other two aren't. |
There's a few Tiger Direct stores around. I have one 15 minutes away. |
Yeah, but you're in la la land, skippy.
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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Strike the memory. The seller refunded my money and stated that she accidentally sold the last one. Now, I need some good cheap memory. Newegg has a 2gig Kingston for $48. There is a seller on ebay that sells a lot of memory and has some for $44. StarMicro has some cheap 1 gig sticks for $18.
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LOTREE
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 401
Location: Paradise, Newfoundland
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:18 am Post subject: |
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I was going to get that same drive then thought for the price I could spend a little extra and get the 8x or wait a wee bit longer for something faster and cheaper, that's if I wanted to copy the Blu-Ray to the computer... otherwise 4x is going to take a while but it's slower spinning and quit from reviews so kinda perfect for a HTPC. My Benq 1655 DVD writeable drive is not silent, spins at nearly full speed all the time and pauses when switching layers on the disk... pretty bad for only being 2 years old. As for now no BR for me until I decide to upgrade.
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Zenith Pro 1200x | Electrohome ECP 4500 | Yamaha HTR-5740 | HTPC & Speaker build to follow
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320
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| Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:53 am Post subject: |
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| WanMan wrote: | | AnalogRocks wrote: | | Spanky Ham wrote: | | Oh, I wanted to add that Newegg, Tiger Direct and Microcenter have been having some combo deals as well. Microcenter may be B&M, but the other two aren't. |
There's a few Tiger Direct stores around. I have one 15 minutes away. |
Yeah, but you're in la la land, skippy. |
There are TigerDirect stores in Illinois...I end up not ever buying online there because then I have to pay tax [  ].
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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greg_mitch
Joined: 03 May 2006
Posts: 5320
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| Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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What is the sound system? I have been using the onboard sound in my living room for the last four generations of my HTPC and have never felt let down. Optical connection will work wonders if you have a receiver.
I tried HDMI from my vid card and the damn thing was like a USB connection in that the computer wanted drivers...would freak out for my receiver and Vizio TV so I just went back to the tried and true VGA and optical.
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:20 am Post subject: |
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I don't have a new receiver or pre-amp. I still have my old Marantz pre-amp, so on that end I am open. I have my ADA amp and when I get set I will probably DIY Zaph's speakers.
Are you saying you are going directly out from your HTPC to your amp or are you going to a receiver?
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Well, my computer just got $15 more expensive. PNY says that my receipt wasn't received. I know I put it in my envelope. I guess that means that I won't be buying PNY anymore.
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Sparky015
Joined: 12 May 2009
Posts: 1185
Location: Cleveland / Akron, OH
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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did you make a photocopy of it? That happened to me once.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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For all we know PNY could be simply lying. There is no way for you to prove otherwise. They will not accept registered/insured mail. They can easily blame it on the post office. It is the one reason why I will not entertain rebate offerings unless it is through Costco, which is handled at the register/instantly. Of course, my wife hasn't had any bad luck with Fry's Electronics rebates, but my past experience with manufacturer rebates has been about 50% effective. World's biggest scam and the FTC needs to do something about it.
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 3:24 am Post subject: |
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Sparky,
Frys gives you a separate receipt just for the rebate. The check out person even says mail this one in with your rebate form.
Wan,
I think you got it. There is no way I didn't include the receipt. I made sure it went in the envelope.
It is funny you say your wife does them. My best friend said his wife does them and I guess she has had good success. He said he is batting about the same average as you.
Oh, if you want to have some fun then head over to the Gwinnett store. There is a very attractive blond girl working the computer section. The store was closing when I was there last week, so I didn't have a chance to talk to her. Anyway, ask her a bunch of technical questions and see how she does. I mentioned to my best friend that she could be doing a disservice to Frys. I think most of the computer guys would be scared to talk to her.
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WanMan
Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 10270
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Spanky Ham wrote: | | Oh, if you want to have some fun then head over to the Gwinnett store. There is a very attractive blond girl working the computer section. The store was closing when I was there last week, so I didn't have a chance to talk to her. Anyway, ask her a bunch of technical questions and see how she does. I mentioned to my best friend that she could be doing a disservice to Frys. I think most of the computer guys would be scared to talk to her. |
She's tiny. Definitely a spinner. 
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Spanky Ham
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
Posts: 5643
Location: Comedy Central
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| Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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I am now done with Fry's rebates. Got an email yesterday for the video card I bought my dad and it was denied. That video card now becomes $30 more expensive. F$#k Frys and the rebates they rode in on!  I have now received no rebates for any of the stuff I have bought from Frys. Again, screw Fry's rebates.
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