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Frogboy
Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2420 sdemperor

Introducing Frog 2009!

January 22, 2009 12:40:39 AM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

IMG_0375

This is the first non-Dell I’ve had as my main office machine in years. And by years, I mean as far back as I can remember.  But the new Dell XPS 730X doesn’t come with more than 6GB of RAM and I wanted more than that so I went to iBuyPower to get it.  I’m still a huge fan of Dell and Alienware but I wanted those 12GB.

We’ve installed Windows 7 on it and the machine is just a total monster.  It nearly 3 times faster than the monster Alienware box I got last Summer for home.

The specs:

  • Core i7 965
  • Windows 7 BETA 64-bit
  • 12 GB of memory

I am still in the process of updating the other base components. Gotta check in with AMD for the latest ATI card to put in here. I got a 4800 in it right now. 

I’m waiting until Windows 7 to get an SSD drive.  With 12GB of memory and the fact I never reboot (or very rarely) means that everything I might possibly do on the machine will get cached. I’ve learned that from my ThinkPad T400. 64-bit with lots of RAM trumps SSDs in terms of day to day performance.

Love the case too.

IMG_0376

The case is pretty tacky. But it is quite functional. I wish the Dell XPS line would adopt having more of the goodies accessible like this.  My only gripe is that there’s no SD card reader slot up here.

IMG_0377

The multi-card reader is where the floppy drive used to be in these things years ago.  The CD/DVD/Blu Ray burner/reader is up where it would normally be.

In terms of benchmarks, it scored a 2014 which is almost 3 times faster than the Alienware box from this past Summer which had one of those Intel extreme whatevers in it (it was the fastest thing I could buy at the time).

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Frogboy
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
+497
Reply #1 January 22, 2009 12:45:36 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It'sss....very....red

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Frogboy
Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
+321
Reply #2 January 22, 2009 12:51:03 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

 Froggy, you tricked me into coming into this topic, thinking you had created a Frog Widget to add to my aquatic desktop!!!! I am most annoyed with you!

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Frogboy
Jedmonds24
Join Date 06/2008
+4
Reply #3 January 22, 2009 12:58:02 AM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Put some flame stickers on it, that will complete the look.

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Frogboy
Master U
Join Date 11/2006
+6
Reply #4 January 22, 2009 12:58:31 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Master U drools...

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Frogboy
Zyxpsilon
Join Date 02/2006
+80
Reply #5 January 22, 2009 1:15:34 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

As long as this bomb of a gear can help you put out GC3 ahead of schedule for us all... i'll hang around the neighborhood just to hear you scream when the dreamy but highly probable 128bit infrastructure begins to hit shelves in about -what- a year or less for half as much retail.

When i recall these 16kb memory driven TI-99/4A "computers" of the 80's and put it aside such recent wonders of technology, i can only blemish while thinking i spent 2000$+ (yep, i am exaggerating but the money got spent!) for all peripherals and extra modules for the old junk.

Where will it stop? Once the Human Brain is reproducable in all its bazillions worth of neurologic emotions?

I'm willing to bet we will, eventually.

Cover it.

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Frogboy
Pelorn
Join Date 09/2008
+1
Reply #6 January 22, 2009 1:17:26 AM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

...

 

holy...

 

...snap.

 

Although, I have to disagree on liking Dell. Wicked comp though, moar specific specs please?

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Frogboy
Philly0381
Join Date 11/2004
+844
Reply #7 January 22, 2009 1:17:43 AM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Hmmm, you don't have another one around there, do you?

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Frogboy
Zyxpsilon
Join Date 02/2006
+80
Reply #8 January 22, 2009 1:27:43 AM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

Yeah, don't throw the old one away, and start a new StarCat (as the Dog slot has already been taken) hunt for anyone to grab it right out of an SD office desk!

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Frogboy
dystopic
Join Date 10/2005
+41
Reply #9 January 22, 2009 3:03:19 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

what, no triple SLI?

personally, the i think the Xaser is hideous. Thermaltake's Spedo is much nicer on the eyes.

which mobo did you go with? mind posting a shot of the insides? i'm curious to see how well ibuypower handles cable management. i'm also curious if they used the stock cooler.

PS: 965 = wasted money. 920 + TRUE 120 + overclocking = 3.8 GHz on stock voltage, easily.

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Frogboy
vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #10 January 22, 2009 3:15:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It'sss....very....red

'cept all the black parts.

Brad, you should give those out as bonuses

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Frogboy
Annatar11
Join Date 11/2006
+527
Reply #11 January 22, 2009 3:24:08 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Out of curiosity, what was the price tag on that baby? My box is getting on 2 years old and I really want to move up to 64bit OS soon.

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Frogboy
angus1949
Join Date 12/2007
+646
Reply #12 January 22, 2009 3:44:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

'cept all the black parts.

 

What, only one cup holder?  One for hot, one for cold, SOP Brad.

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Frogboy
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
+172
Reply #13 January 22, 2009 4:25:50 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

WoW! I expected to see a big ass frog on that case or at least it would be green in color.

In general congrats on your new rig. It is always a good day when an enthusiast can get a new top end box.

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Frogboy
Frogboy
Join Date 03/2001
+2420 sdemperor
Reply #14 January 22, 2009 4:27:48 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

The case is really ugly. Unfortunately, all the cases at iBuyPower are ugly.

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Frogboy
Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
+321
Reply #15 January 22, 2009 4:32:27 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Frogboy,
reply 14
The case is really ugly. Unfortunately, all the cases at iBuyPower are ugly.

Just paint it!!

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Frogboy
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
+172
Reply #16 January 22, 2009 4:33:33 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Frogboy,
reply 14
The case is really ugly. Unfortunately, all the cases at iBuyPower are ugly.

Spray paint, PVC and duck tape are truly godsends for situations like that. 

Hell just repaint the grills limegreen and it would look pretty sweet.

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Frogboy
CarGuy1
Join Date 03/2007
+548
Reply #17 January 22, 2009 4:34:24 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Actually the case is fugly....but it's what's inside that counts and that one sounds like it rocks. 

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Frogboy
dystopic
Join Date 10/2005
+41
Reply #18 January 22, 2009 4:44:14 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

that's why i build my systems myself the major "con" to doing that is that you don't get any bundled software (anti-virus, DVD decoder). however, i personally find most of the bundled OEM software to be second-rate anyway, so i'd prefer to spend a few extra bucks on software that's actually good. plus, no bloatware.

but i don't trust most OEMs. in my experience, Dell uses sub-par power supplies and low-speed RAM. i can be assured that only quality parts go into my system when i build it myself.

oh btw (back to your OP), the 4K series is currently the best available from ATI. the single best card is the 4870X2. the best single-GPU card (from ATI) is the 1GB 4870. but triple SLI with GTX 285s from nVidia is the best graphics solution (for gaming) that money can buy. crossfireX 4870X2's doesn't work so well.

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Frogboy
RaveBomb
Join Date 02/2005
+4
Reply #19 January 22, 2009 4:47:46 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

What the FRACK are you doing with 12 gigs of ram?

Game + Debugger + OS can't be that much is it?

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Frogboy
Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
+321
Reply #20 January 22, 2009 4:48:42 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting CarGuy1,
reply 17
Actually the case is fugly....but it's what's inside that counts and that one sounds like it rocks. 

A nice little pond, some stones and moss? for da Frogs

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Frogboy
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
+172
Reply #21 January 22, 2009 4:51:43 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Quoting RaveBomb,
reply 19
What the FRACK are you doing with 12 gigs of ram?

Game + Debugger + OS can't be that much is it?

He is trying to keep up with me!

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Frogboy
MageMatthew
Join Date 04/2003
+4
Reply #22 January 22, 2009 5:01:00 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

omg, i still remember being jealous my cousin had pong

 

Sweet rig.

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Frogboy
Soccer194
Join Date 11/2008
+8
Reply #23 January 22, 2009 5:01:09 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

    Frogboy if it gets stolen soo dodn't be surprised . not saying i"m gonna steal but just yeah.

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Frogboy
Ke5trel
Join Date 02/2008
+118
Reply #24 January 22, 2009 5:06:56 PM
from Demigod ForumsDemigod Forums

Congratulations on the new rig.

Unfortunately, all the cases at iBuyPower are ugly

I think that's actually one of the nicer cases they have though - they all look a bit like Transformers  

It's nice when boutiques offer Silverstone or CoolerMaster options as well.

interested in specs and cooling/cabling pics if you get time

 

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Frogboy
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
+172
Reply #25 January 22, 2009 5:14:20 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

The COSMOS is the bomb! I highly recommend it. For my next case when I decided to depreciate my godbox. I'm going with the All Black line.

 

@Frogboy - check it out. You wont be let down.

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