Installing Vista on the new computer – What I needed to know

Windows CeMeNt

Installing Vista on the new computer – What I needed to know

Installing Vista was not so bad. Really. I know, I know. “But, Phokal, Vista sucks #$#@.” or “Vista is ME’s and XP’s bastard grandchild.”

But on this machine, Vista has been as smooth as butter. UAC isn’t annoying when it is up and gone in under a second.

Not to mention, if I want to use more than 2 gigs of ram (3 in special circumstances), then I have to go 64 bit. And we all know how much worse XP 64 bit is in terms of driver support. I currently have 4 gigs, and for 80 bucks more I can bump that up to 8. Seeing as how I’m sitting at 2gigs used as I write this, I think it good to get more.

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computer built

Heatsink = big

computer built

I built my computer. It turns on. I invite you to read the tale of how this came to be. Be warned, however, as these pictures are 2 megs each, and can be full screened by Viewing them.

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computer update

Hal

computer update

The computer is built. I’ve been working on a ‘how I built it’ guide with pictures, but it has been taking more time than I would have liked. It should be up shortly.

For now, it seems the hardware is ok (no fire). I just need to get vista on there and updated (and not shut down improperly, causing the computer to get into a “Configuring Updates” loop on every start up, making me format once more).

Found the parts. When I flick the switch will it live?

Frankenstein

Found the parts.  When I flick the switch will it live?

I’ll think of a name for it over the next few days. My current desktop, ely4sm, is from June ’03, invoiced back in January of 2003. I just dug up the paperwork to double check that. That’s older than I thought. Of course, it was a beast when I bought it, costing over $3000. I worked the whole summer of Senior Year to get the extra $1k to buy my alienware (which lasted one year before they had to cough up a full refund…but that’s another story. With the refund I bought my current desktop). Anyway, this sucker, in its entirety, is still expensive but only a fraction of that: only costing roughly $1300. That’s including a custom heatsink (which I never did get on ely4sm).

Anyway, go check out the final build: https://www.donttellmetheending.com/2008/01/16/building-a-new-pc/

When the parts arrive, I’ll have to put it together. I hope it turns on.

PC Update

PC Update

We’ve narrowed down some parts, and think we’ve got a good config. Anyone want to comment on it?:

https://www.donttellmetheending.com/2008/01/16/building-a-new-pc/

Building a New PC

img_6419.jpg

Building a New PC

Phokal and I, mattlindh, are planning on building new PCs and we would appreciate some assistance as to what parts to get. Below are our current ideas with the asterisked parts already decided. Would you kindly help us out?

**Updated with nearly finalized parts 1/20/07:

**Purchased 1/31/07:

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