thedarkeone

Thanks Father! Updated my build above.

The motherboard is my biggest question mark. Honestly, not sure what to look for in a motherboard. And you are dead on with the audio channels (and the SoundBlaster name) and the case was a recommendation from a friend. Personally, I liked the "mid tower gaming case" better than the full size but he recommended it for better ventilation. I do have a set of speakers so that may be a mistake (I meant to select none) but I am definitely not huge for the "noise" of my game (as said by the fiance).

I would like to keep the 8GB of memory but I could swap to the 4GB if it wouldn't drop performance. If I swap out the case (-$50), the sound card (-$30), drop to 4GB (-$159), upgrade to CrossFireX/SLI] GigaByte GA-P55-UD4P Intel P55 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, Dual GbLAN, USB2.0, SATA-II RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI, and change to Intel® Core™ i5-750 2.66 GHz 8M L2 Cache LGA1156, am I on the right track? Also, as for the power supply how about I go with CyberPowerPC XF800S Performance ATX 2.0 Power - Quad SLI Ready?

And forgot. . . I do have a Windows 7 package for upgrading 3 computers - was going to use it for my laptop, work desktop, and this rig.

Thanks for the input guys.

Honestly, putting a system together is so not my cup of tea; I would rather spend a couple extra hundred bucks to have it done. Sorry 65 hour work weeks dont leave much free time with training for a triathlon, planning a wedding, 3 dogs, 2 cats, a very busy fiance, etc. . .

I did go through FatherX's guides but they are all about a year old. Is there anything more current or could someone pm me a build with the why's and what's of the build. I have a basic concept but I am definitely a little lost.

Here's the build (any help dropping it by about $150):
Configuration

# *BASE_PRICE: [+745]
# BUNDLE: None
# BLUETOOTH: None
# CD: 16X DVD ROM [-8] (BLACK COLOR)
# CD2: NONE
# CAS: Apevia X-Dreamer 3 Mid-Tower Gaming Case w/ Side-Panel Window & Temperature Display [-7] (Black Color with Green Ring & Green LED Fan)
# CASUPGRADE: NONE
# CS_FAN: Maximum 120MM Case Cooling Fans for your selected case [+9]
# CPU: Intel® Core™ i5-750 2.66 GHz 8M L2 Cache LGA1156
# FAN: XtremeGear HP-1216X Five Heatpipes Direct Core Contact Copper Heatsink CPU Cooling Fan (Extreme Silent at 20dBA & Overclock Proof) (Extreme Silent at 20dBA & Overclock Proof)(Venom Boost Extreme OC Certified) [+23]
# FREEBIE_RM: None
# FA_HDD: None
# FLASHMEDIA: None [-3]
# FLOPPY: NONE
# FREEBIE_OS: None
# HDD: Single Hard Drive (1TB (1TBx1) SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM HDD [+26])
# HDD2: NONE
# IEEE_CARD: NONE
# KEYBOARD: Xtreme Gear (Black Color) Multimedia/Internet USB Keyboard
# MOUSE: XtremeGear Optical USB 3 Buttons Gaming Mouse
# MODEM: NONE
# MULTIVIEW: Xtreme Performance in SLI/CrossFireX Gaming Mode Supports Single Monitor
# MONITOR: NONE
# MONITOR2: NONE
# MOTHERBOARD: [CrossFireX/SLI] GigaByte GA-P55-UD4P Intel P55 Chipset DDR3 ATX Mainboard w/ 7.1 HD Audio, Dual GbLAN, USB2.0, SATA-II RAID, 2 Gen2 PCIe, 3 PCIe X1 & 2 PCI [+71]
# MEMORY: 4GB (2GBx2) PC1333 DDR3 PC3 10666 Dual Channel Memory (Corsair Dominator [+48])
# NOISEREDUCE1: Anti-Vibration Fan Mounts [+9]
# NETWORK: Onboard Gigabit LAN Network
# OVERCLOCK: No Overclocking
# OS: NONE - FORMAT HARD DRIVE ONLY
# OS_UPGRADE: None
# POWERSUPPLY: 800 Watts Power Supplies [+44] (CyberPowerPC XF800S Performance ATX 2.0 Power - Quad SLI Ready)
# PRINTER: None
# PRINTER_CABLE: None
# RUSH: NO; READY TO SHIP IN 5~10 BUSINESS DAYS
# SERVICE: STANDARD WARRANTY: 3-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY PLUS LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
# SOUND: HIGH DEFINITION ON-BOARD 7.1 AUDIO
# SPEAKERS: 600Watts PMPO Subwoofer Stereo Speakers
# TEMP: NZXT Sentry LX Aluminum High Performance Fan Control, Clock, & Temperature Display [+69]
# TVRC: None
# USB: Add External USB 2.0 Hub (4x USB 2.0 Ports) [+19] (BLACK Color IR-4100-BK)
# USBHD: NONE
# VIDEOCAMERA: NONE
# VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce GTX285 1GB 16X PCIe Video Card [+265] (EVGA Powered by NVIDIA [+5])
# VIDEO2: None
# VIDEO3: None
# VC_PHYSX: NONE
# VC_GAMES: None
# WNC: Zonet ZEW1642 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Draft 2.0 PCI Wireless Adapter Network Card [+29]
# _PRICE: (+1344)

I have about $800 - $1300 to spend and have been looking into Alienware and been looking at the CyberPower website. I have come to the conclusion that I have NO CLUE what to do with a new gaming only rig. Dont need the monitor, keyboard, or mouse.

I currently play CoH and Batman: Arkham Asylum only. Will most likely pick up KOTR when it launches but that's about it. I currently play on a 2 year old XPS system but would like to dedicate that system to work/personal use only and have 1 rig just for gaming. I would like that machine to run CoH on high (or better settings) and tackle Ultra Mode easily (yes I know we dont have specs yet). Also, I run my rig in the bedroom so it needs to be quiet enough to run while the woman sleeps.

Here is the rig I have been looking at on Cyber: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Mega_Special_II/. Anyone be able to recommend a build from that or something else in that range? Or should I just go with a base Alienware desktop?

I appreciate the help!

Afternoon all! I started a thread back in open beta about the serious decline in recipe drops and again once it was released live. Synapse has since "fixed" the issue after recognizing that it was not a "perception issue." Except, I am still having serious issues and was wondering if anyone else has been as well?

Been running a new dark/shield scrapper up and from level 32 - 43 (currently), running at +1/7 I have received a total of 7 set recipes. I have gotten a ton of regular IO recipes (for some reason an excess of range) but only 7 set recipes in 9 levels. And let me mention, I also had a LoTG +Global recharge drop from a boss defeat. And I thought those were only TF drops.

Any help?

Hey all!

Ok, i have to admit I rarely used the O except as a travel port. Although have to say, that with the exempting feature of issue 16 I have used it almost exclusively to level my new toon. Way to much fun running some arcs I havent seen in years!

Level 31 and well over 100 merits so far. I may not have to spend billions to IO this boy out!

One questions: did Oroboros always give double mission complete bonus or is this a bug?

OK, just ran my Save Carnival Victime's mission again this evening. Large map, set at +0 (lvl 50), for 5 people, no bosses. Had a total of 2 recipe drops, 1 accuracy, 1 Thunderstrike (yellow), 50+ salvage, plenty of inspirations. But 2 recipe drops?

Before issue 16 I used to use this map filled with 3 or 4 people and would have to delete recipes, salvage, etc. Sorry Synapse, this has been my experience with issue 16 since Beta and still not having any luck. This is on Freedom.

Havent been able to log-in but someone posted in that other thread about servers. What i Havent seen from most of us commenting is what server we are on. Even though my bad luck was on test during beta I have been running on Freedom. And yes I have been a subject of that awful lag (thought it was just my new wireless but maybe not) and for some reason maybe that has something to do with it.

If I have time this week I will run a couple maps on other servers and see if I have any different results. All I know is, while I do not have hard numbers, having only a handful of drops in 4 -5 missions set for 7 people is definitely "aberrant."

Ok, made a new toon. Ran from 1 - 18 in the last day all streetsweeping, scanners, and a couple arcs. Grand total of 5 recipes in mission; 2 of which were set recipes. Salvage seemed ok as did inspirations. The interesting part; after level 6 I was set at -1 for 3 or 5 people.

Thanks Bill. You also responded to my comments about this in Beta.

What I really need to do is to "fill" a mission the old fashioned way and see what the comparison is. I tried to do this on test but ran out of time. If filling a mission the old way works then we may have at least a start on this answer.

If drop rates have been adjusted then. . . Wow. . . I can see the markets going over a billion per purple!

OK, while I dont run Herostats or have any "officially" recognized method of discerning it still "seems" to me that drop rates are way borked on recipes and salvage. I have run several (6) missions set at +0 and +1 set for 7 people. Not one of these missions (same mission all 6 times) yielded more than a handful (5) of recipe drops.

I used to fill these mission with 4 people and would have a full inventory of salvage and recipes when completed. Often I would have to delete "worthless" stuff. No one seems to acknowledge this on the global channels and I often get the comment, "it's fine." But I just dont see it.

Been running several of my lowbies and have gone 10 levels without a single recipe drop. Something seems "off" to me.

Your experiences?

Put me in the group that is really pleased with this announcement. I love the sidekick update and the email filter is just pure WIN!

I have characters that I log in daily and others that log in once a month or less. Some of those once a month characters can have as many as 150 emails!! That's about 5 minutes of deleting each time (yes call me strange cannot stand seeing the red "email" tab).

The only thing I can say is put me in the group wanting email on per global friends. I am so stoked for issue 16 and it has me playing a lot of my 50s again thinking about how I want them tweaked!

After 4 years I just took a second account with the 6 +1 offer, and my main account now has the 12+1 offer. Not expecting to get in with the "60 months paid time" since I assume that means 60 months of previously paid time but I must say I will be looking forward to a second wave invite.

Been in on a closed before in the first wave and must say it isnt quite my thing. I am not a true bug hunter but did find numerous text errors that I reported (ahhhh the English major). I would be more interested in reading about it and found numerous helpful hints on the closed boards.

I like that true vets are getting in in the first wave since i think their time ingame will help quash nuisance bugs. Looking forward to this greatly even if I am in the second, third or open beta only!

Ummm. . . No.

I havent even gotten much game time in the last couple months since work for me has been busy (thank god that I am still employed). I maybe get a couple hours a week tops. Those same 2 hours at a movie. . . hmmm, around here evening movies are going at $11 per person, throw in some popcorn and a soda and that's a whopping $25!

$15 if you pay by the month. . .
$10-$12 if you pay yearly plus promos. . .

Good game, great price, cheap entertainment.

/unsigned

Objective Feedback:
I have numerous characters I play (many more then in my sig). I have a few favorites but I have found myself playing them less and less in order to accumulate enough merits on one character to buy a recipe to give to another character. I made 3 new characters this week, got each one to lvl 5 then quit playing them because I could play one of my mains for the same amount of time and get anywhere from 5-50 merits.

Subjectively
I feel the merit system discourages altism. Something this game has prided itself on. I have a fully IO'd out, 55+ set bonuses, 1.4 billion influence toon (current market value of his sets). And while I love playing him I find myself shying away from anything other then him. He is, sadly, getting a little boring since I have run so many arcs, tf's, monsters, etc on him.
As for Redside. . . I love my brutes but getting anything on them from the market is an exercise in pain. I hate farming redside and playing the characters up to 50 I hardly acquire any of the IO's I want (and yes I know it is a want not a need).

Finally, one more side note, on that lvl 50 scrapper, I used to play him about an hour a day before issue 13. I would average a purple recipe about every 3 hours. Played him over 50 hours since issue 13 went live (in my off season at work) and have yet to have a single purple drop (in the ITF's, 3rd Respecs, missions, scanners, everything I have done).

Yay! Winter event. I love present gathering. Still have my main that needs like 2 presents this year for badge (grumble grumble . . . stopped way to soon last year). . .

As for the slopes. . . I must be the worst since no matter what last year I couldnt get the gold. . . I think I played it for like 3 hours and gave up in frustration. . .

Hmmm, time to bust out those 300 candy canes and see if i can buy a gold medal. . . (insert evil laugh here)

ummm. . . Wow!!

And here I thought I had a few base building skills. . . Guess not.

Way to cool, great job!

I dont post often on here but I have posted a couple times when we have lost a Redname. . . I am saddened to do it again.

I was fortunate enough to have you on my team during a couple betas including a mothership raid shortly after the RWZ revamp went to open beta. You were funny, insightful, and a great team player both in game and on the forums.

You will be missed and it goes without saying. . . But best of luck to you Lighthouse!

Wow. . . No wonder why I rarely post on these forums. . .

The absurdity of people complaining about a completely "optional" feature that in no way impacts them or their gaming experience is beyond me. Some of you remind me of the parent who calls me to complain because their child came home from camp "hot." Well, it is an outdoor camp, it is the end of July, we do live in the south, and it has been 90+ degrees all week. . I give you a big DUH!

Great work devs. Keep adding to the game I love and sorry for my snarkiness. . . I am just annoyed with people this week who complain about silly things. . .

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I'm new to MMOs and games. Do most of them not provide free new content like CoX does with its issues? I note that many DEVS state we're getting FREE new issues etc etc. However, without these free issues I am willing to bet big $ that this game would perish. Also, why is each issue thought of as free? Does our $15/month not help pay for this? It seems CoX has approx 180 000 subscibers and you multiply that by $15...seems like NC Soft is getting a good chunk of change from us and needs to do a bit more than they have this year. Lots of competition on the horizon. I do enjoy this game and will likely stay unless I am overwhelmed with the new games

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One, we don't have 180,000 subscribers. I don't know the exact number right now, but it's not that high.

Two, monthly subscription fees go toward many things. Running the servers. Hardware, IT support, bandwidth, etc. Technical Suport and CSR ( Hopefully you never have to deal with them, but they still account for a portion of the costs associated with running this game). Community support for the forums here. Lighthouse, Ex Libris, moderators, forum software, domain name hosting, more bandwidth for the forums, etc. All these people that don't actually create content for the game have ridiculous demands as well...such as a place to work, electricity, computers, software, insurance, etc. Guvment wants their cut of everything. There are also costs that I can't discuss and costs that I'm sure I'm not aware of right now. Bottom line is, it ain't cheap to make and run an MMO. It ain't cheap to just run one.

As for the actual developer studio side of things, I have no idea what percentage of subscription fees get funneled back into developing the 'free' issues, but I can assure you there aren't any high dollar sports cars sitting in our parking lot. Our new studio is nice, but nothing in it is gold plated. Hower, this is a business, and the point of business is to make a profit. So in all honesty, every penny of your subscription fee isn't actually going directly back into the game. That said, if you think for one second that any MMO with a subscription fee is any different, you are sadly mistaken. Sadly. Here's a sad face for you.

To put this in a a different perspective, we have less subscribers than we did a year ago, and we have a lot more people working on 'free' content for you. I personally think that's a pretty good deal, and it should speak volumes about the commitment to this game and this franchise.

Let's be honest here...when the new games come out, you're gonna check them out. You may in fact, even like them more and stop playing our beloved game to go play that game. Threatening us with something that's most likely inevitable anyway isn't really going to accomplish anything. We're going to continue doing what we think is best for this game, to the best of our abilities, and in whatever time it takes to accomplish all of that.

Would you really want developers who get all panicky and spastic because there's impending competition? Competion is good. We look forward to having other MMOs in the same genre. It'll most likely be good for us and this game in the long run.

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I just couldnt read anymore after seeing this post from BaB. So if someone else states what I about to state I apologize for reiterating their wonderful opinion. . .

BaB this, right here, is part of why i stay and play this game. You help to make this virtual world a better place and I for one appreciate it. Especially as a business owner myself (past and future) and a head of an entire division now, I can applaud your PC interpretation of consumerism at its worst. Yes, customers will complain, they will threaten, they "may" even leave and try out the competition. But when they realize the level of service they get from their current company. . . Well, all I can say is most of my clients have come back. . . And I gladly welcomed them back because that is what we do.

Bravo, my man. . . Bravo. You have a wonderful way of putting such dynamics into a very positive, unoffensive couple of paragraphs. I hope I can only do so well each time I hear this from one of my clients!