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New SC2 computer

Blogs > Lysenko
Post a Reply
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-09-04 22:55:18
September 04 2011 22:40 GMT
#1
So I've been running SC2 since release on my 2007 Mac Pro, which runs it pretty well, but since then GPUs have gotten a LOT faster and I wanted something up to date to take advantage of it.

I'd thought about just replacing the Mac Pro with one of the supposedly-upcoming Sandy Bridge replacements, but some recent car repairs got pretty expensive and I realized I wouldn't be able to justify the price for a 6- or 8- core Xeon-based Mac Pro with a decent video card.

Off to Fry's, then, with the credit card, just to see what I could pick up for a reasonable price.

If money were really the major bottom-line issue, I probably should have built my own system, but the truth is that I've done it and I'm over it. The last time I built a computer, it required like four return trips to Fry's to replace parts that for whatever reason didn't quite work for what I was doing, or just didn't work period.

So, I figured I'd buy an off-the-shelf system and upgrade the video card. I wound up settling on a Lenovo K330 model with a 3.4 GHz 4-core Sandy Bridge i7 with 8 GB RAM and a 1.5 TB disk drive, with a 3 GB Nvidia GTX 580 video card to replace the stock one.

Well, if you've owned a high-end video card, I'm sure you know where this is going -- the power supply in the Lenovo wasn't sufficient for the card. Didn't even have PCI-e connectors to power it.

Went back first thing this morning, after doing a little research on power supplies, and picked one up that was pretty good. Also, since I am still going to be using the Mac, I bought a dual-link DVI KVM switch.

Got it all home, and started replacing the power supply. I started to have "building a computer" flashbacks. But, at least the power supply had the right connectors.

I got everything hooked up, flipped the switch on the power supply, and my worst nightmares were confirmed. Nothing happened. Nothing whatsoever happened at all.

Visions of standing in line at Fry's to replace the power supply flashed through my head. For those of you who have never visited the place, they have an amazing selection of computer components, consumer electronics, electronic parts, junk food, and a liberal return policy -- and the most surly employees known to humankind.

But then, somehow, I connected (slowly) the dots in my head, and realized that in addition to the switch on the power supply, the Lenovo has a power button on the top front of the case. On a hunch I hit the button -- and the computer came to life.

I got everything set up and it seemed to be working fine, but for some odd reason when I run the test suite or install certain software (including SC2) it will play this video, full screen, at random times:



Hitting Esc stops it, but it made me a little worried that it was going to continue when I started using the machine normally. That would be awesome, right? Halfway through defending a bunker rush, the Intel Inside "ding ding ding ding" and some Lenovo marketer's idea of what makes a gamer's heart go pitter pat-interrupt my experience. NO.

Fortunately, that problem seems to be specific to calculating the system's "Windows Experience" rating or installing software. OK, I guess. I'll figure it out later.

Finally, got SC2 installed and running. The game recommended maxing out the settings. "Ultra" on everything. OK, I'll give it a shot.

Fired up the campaign and OMG THE CINEMATICS ARE FUCKING AWESOME. As I described in my last blog entry a few months back I work as a digital lighter, and the subtlety of the cinematics was just unbelievable. If I could make pictures this beautiful, I would cry. Literally.


[image loading]

[image loading]

Then, I played a game vs. the computer on Xel'naga Caverns and the frame rate never dipped below 100, despite the graphics settings.

So yeah, I could get used to this new machine. Just in time for my Diablo III beta invite, huh? (Huh, Blizzard??)

*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
thealexw87
Profile Joined February 2011
United States47 Posts
September 04 2011 23:43 GMT
#2
went to Fry's huh, i live in Austin and that store is amazing
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
September 04 2011 23:48 GMT
#3
Isn't it? My favorite thing about the place is that they line the area where you wait for an open register (and there's ALWAYS a long wait because they chronically understaff) with candy and cookies and sugary drinks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
hawliet
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
Mexico112 Posts
September 05 2011 00:56 GMT
#4
how much did it cost you??? i really want a computer in order to play sc2, but i don't know nothing about computers xDDDD just what RAM and Hard drive is... sad i know...
If you think you are good enough, you should presume what you want.- Naniwa
kid4444
Profile Joined September 2011
United States8 Posts
September 05 2011 01:14 GMT
#5
How much for the rig and more pictures plz.
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
September 05 2011 01:28 GMT
#6
The Lenovo system was about $950, the video card was about $450, and the new power supply was about $150, so the total was about $1550 before tax. I'm sure it's possible to do better than those prices, but that's what Fry's had.

I'm using my existing monitor, keyboard, and mouse, though the computer included a keyboard and mouse with it.

More pictures, this time full resolution. Note the depth of field blurring some of the characters in the background. That's a real-time effect, and of course those characters are moving:

[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]

[image loading]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
thealexw87
Profile Joined February 2011
United States47 Posts
September 16 2011 22:11 GMT
#7
haha Fry's... it is so true they really only staff five registers and place out all the snacks. You know you have to buy them because you have been in there for god knows how long and are starving lol
Lysenko
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Iceland2128 Posts
September 30 2011 04:06 GMT
#8
hehe thealexw87:

Yeah that's pretty much it. The snacks are placed along the line to the registers. I used to work in the same building as the Fry's Electronics in Palo Alto, California, and we'd always go over there to their cafe for coffee in the afternoons, and buy computer hardware. It was pretty absurd -- we used to joke that it was too bad that we couldn't just have the cost deducted from our paychecks, but no such luck.

Today I work a few blocks from the nearest Fry's, which is far enough to keep me from hanging out there continually.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lysenkoism
ChefStarCraft
Profile Blog Joined November 2010
Canada350 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-11-12 21:09:29
November 12 2011 21:06 GMT
#9
I have a few Parts in the mail. When they come I'm going to fall in love.

Here would be the set up after I put in the new parts:

CoolerMaster Storm Trooper Full Tower Gaming Case
Intel® Core™ i7-2700K 3.50 GHz 8MB + 30% OC
16GB (4GBx4) DDR3/1600MHz Corsair Vengeance
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 3GB x2
Asus Maximus IV Gene-Z Intel Z68 motherboard

Not to mention a Filco Majestouch 2, and new deathadder.
I'm so excited ! I can't wait to put it together !
Why don't we see who is the wizard and play some one on one, I think you'll find me sympathetic to ya when I've won, It seems you've got the brawn to beat me if this was all it takes, But I've got skills to pay the bills and punish each of your mistakes.
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