CLICK HERE TO SEE UPDATE (June 11, 2005)
Although there are not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything we want, we always find some free time to do a few things here and there. When I'm not banging on the four-strings I am fiddling with my home computers. For the last seven or eight years I have built my gaming rigs; did I mention I am a PC gaming geek? (Check out my all-time favorite games) The last system I purchased was a Dell Pentium 3 many years ago. Once I delved into gaming I realized the need to build my rig to my specifications. Yes, Dell and Gateway had good computers back then, but their systems were not cutting edge. Today you can find boutique PCs from Alienware, Voodoo PC, Hypersonic, and others that provide the latest and greatest in hardware. But these systems not only rock the games, but also your pocket. In my opinion, it's better for me to build and upgrade as necessary. Besides, I can always sell the old hardware on Ebay.
My current main rig has been on my desk for approximately a year and a half. I've been contemplating some upgrades, which I will describe later on. Right now my case is a Cooler Master ATC with an acrylic side window. The motherboard is an Intel D875PBZ powered by a Pentium 4 2.8. For CPU cooling I chose the Koolance Exos liquid cooling system, well worth the time spent installing it. The system memory is 1GB of Kingston HyperX DDR333 PC2700. To really appreciate the games I play my video card is an ATI Radeon 9700 Pro and the sound card is a Creative Labs Audigy Gamer. System specs are a bit old, but this systems holds its own while pumping out awesome graphics and environmental sound.
The plans for the next rig are laid out, I'm just waiting to hit the lotto. For a change I'm going to skip the Intel CPU (this is a first for me) to go with an AMD FX-55 Socket 939. Liquid cooling is my preferred method so I will retain the EXOS. On the MoBo front the selection was quite easy, the Asus A8V-E Deluxe is the choice mated with 2GB of Kingston HyperX DDRPC3200 memory. The video card will be, once again, an ATI Radeon but this time around it will be the Radeon X850 XT Platinum Edition. Let's face it, by the time I hit the lotto all this will be outdated and I'll have to device another plan.
In addition to being a computer geek I am, and I must admit, a couch potato. Almost every night of the week I take a couple of hours to view a movie. I was not always this way. I blame my "couch potatoness" to Netflix. I have been a subscriber for over two and half years and I wouldn't want to have it any other way. After trying them I will never go back to Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. Click here to see my top ten movies. Aside from watching movies I read, and am subscribed to, various magazines. I do not like reading novels and books; other than academic textbooks. Currently I am subscribed to the following magazines: Bass Player, Guitar World's Bass Guitar, Car & Driver, Maximum PC, PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, and Consumer Reports.
UPDATE (June 11, 2005)
I'm done with the latest upgrades to my gaming rig . . . . And it is smoking!!! I did no upgrades for the last twelve months because I was focused on my bass gear. So, I decided it was time for a very needed change of key components. This is what I added to the rig:
a) AMD Athlon FX-55 CPU
b) 2GB Kingston HyperX DDR400 RAM
c) ASUS Extreme 800XT Radeon Platinum Edition PCI-E Video Card
d) ASUS A8V-E Deluxe MoBo
This is a speed demon. I am running MS Flight Simulator at 1280x1024x32 with AA and T&L on, and every slider maxed out to the right. I am also running Half Life 2 at 1280x1024, with AAx4, Anisotropic 8x, and every effect on high!!! Kids, please do not try this at home. I run a (Koolance Exos) liquid cooler to keep CPU temps down. Now this is gaming at its finest.
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