It's nice to be able to go back and bring up old posts that could be useful in the future (or at the present time). As I've now decided on a few crucial parts for my new Home Theater Personal Computer (HTPC), I've got a few other things to hammer out - one of them being what I want to upgrade my current computer to.

Since I'm going to take my current motherboard, processor, heatsink, and RAM out of this case and throw in a new one, I have to figure out what I want to put in there. However, I couldn't remember what RAM I was looking at last time I went to upgrade - and while I thought it was the TWINX2048-3200C2PT, I wanted to check, and lo and behold, it was.

Prices have come down nicely since then and my new computer will most likely look like this:

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Motherboard (or maybe an SLI32 if someone gets it in stock)
AMD Opteron 175 (2.2 GHz dual core, 1 MB cache per core)
Corsair TWINX2048-3200C2PT 2GB RAM

Heatsink to be determined - though most likely the Arctic Cooler Freezer 64 Pro.

ETA: Oh yeah, the video card will make the transfer as well and I'll probably upgrade to a 7800 card of some sort with Dual-DVI outputs for my monitors which I plan on upgrading as well.

URL: BB ~ Blake's Blog

MacGyver: S3 - 20 episodes. Compressed: 14.1 gigs. Uncompressed: 36.0 gigs.

URL: MacGyver TV Show - MacGyver Television Show - TV.com

I've finally settled on a case for my HTPC: The Silverstone LC-14M. It's an absolutely beautiful case and will accomodate all the features I need. Plus, it's got a built in VFD and comes with a far superior remote to the one I'm using now.

On top of that, I've settled on some other options - the Seasonic S12 500W PSU. I'll be looking for a quite 7200RPM hard drive now to add in. I also need to figure out which heatsink I'd like to use with my HTPC - I'm currently using an XP90 and it might be sufficient, however, I'm looking for quiet now.

URL: silverstonetek.com.products lc14M

I absolutely love this A-Tech 4000 case and really hope to use it for my HTPC build, however, configured how I want it, it's going to cost $630. Just for the case! I do realize each is custom built and precision made, however, I can also get a Silverstone LC14M with VFD and remote for just $250.

It's really a hard choice. I probably would have more flexibility with the A-Tech and it would be a higher quality product, but as long as the case works with all my components, it'll just be sitting on my shelf when completed and if it works, that's the main thing - aesthetics are important, but they both look great.

URL: A-Tech 4000 EX Heatsink Case

Seinfeld: Season 4 ripped - 23 episodes, 13.2 gigs compressed, 21.3 uncompressed.

Plans for TV Serv progressing along...

URL: Amazon.com: Seinfeld - Season 4: DVD: Jerry Seinfeld,Julia Louis-Dreyfus,Michael Richards

Meedio absolutely rocks. After setting up my television shows (see linked post below), I've now got my "VIDEO_TS" images set up and they look amazing. I found a slight problem with the DVD playback, but that's because of a setting I have on my video card tv output and not the software's fault (when I build my dedicated HTPC, it won't be an issue).

Speaking of which, I didn't blow all the money I took with me to Vegas, so I can either set it aside for the HTPC or get the monitor I've been drooling over for a few months now. I'll most likely go with the monitor as I desperately need a second one after working with 2 to 4 every day at work, but I also really want to build an HTPC and in the process, upgrade my current computer to an X2 with a dual-DVI graphics card.

URL: BB ~ Blade's Blog

Well, I've got a new domain - TVServ.com. Thought it might be taken already, but glad to have it myself (though not functional yet). Won't have much - probably will be just like my other domain - TheCineplex.com (a listing of my DVDs).

But for my own information:

Scrubs - Season 1: 10.2 GB compressed, 20.2 uncompressed (49.5% compression).
Seinfeld - Season 3: 12.1 GB compressed, 21.7 uncompressed (44.2% compression).

URL: TV Serv.com

Why does blogger.com's spellcheck say "blog" isn't a word?

URL: Blogger: BB ~ Blazer's Blog

The Empire of Developers Research

I've been careful in the past to blog about my new job because there isn't a policy written in stone (other than we can't blog from work) and because I'm one of the new guys there and I don't want to put my foot in my mouth and say something I'll regret.

However, tonight, after having one of the best nights in my life, I realized how blessed I am to have found this company, and even better to have the opportunity to work for them.

Tonight was the annual Christmas Party dinner - this year held at Joe's Stone Crab here in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. All employees were able to bring a guest (which I declined since I am without a significant other at the present time and I didn't want to bring a friend as the new guy (I left that to another new guy)). In total, we had 57 people and a room to ourselves overlooking the strip.

After everyone had a couple drinks in them from the open bar, we sat down, had a few toasts and began eating our appetizers and salad. During that time, a few other people gave short speeches and we continued on to dinner. For some reason, after that, it became a game of pass the buck as person after person gave speeches. Ultimately, it came to me.

Now, I'm not the kind for public speeches, and everyone at work knows that because we've been doing some sales training and I'm an "S" on the DISC scale while most others that work there are D's and I's. But I still got up and, having had a few to drink (though not too much as I had paid the price the night before), gave a short speech. While I don't remember the whole thing, it was pretty much along the lines of everyone else - I even threw in a line about how I hated my old job (which...I absolutely did - and which also got a good reaction). But when I was done and after we had finished eating our desserts, I was sitting at a table with Scot and Barry (the two head honchos along with Laura) and I realized how truly great this company is.

I already knew beforehand how great it was - my three short months have been amazing - I've learned so much and everyone there is absolutely awesome. But as I sat there and just talked to the two guys that run everything, it just hit me again. How often do you have the chance to just sit down and shoot the breeze with two out of the three people in charge of running the whole company? How often can you just talk candidly about whatever you want with your superiors? How often will a boss take the whole company + a guest to Vegas for two nights, a show (Mystere) and dinner?

And to top it off, not only is it a great company to work for, but we truly are the best in the biz. After our "year-end" meeting on Thursday, I was talking to another co-worker about a job we're just starting which he put together. When he was talking to the developer, he told him the three conditions before starting work. #1: Work with a specific architect (can't remember the name now, but work with the best and you'll get the best work). #2: Work with a specific planner. #3: Work with Developers Research. Then, when everything is planned out and you're ready to sell the finished lot to a builder, you will get the highest price. Why? Because you've got the the best architect, the best planner, and the best cost analysis team in the biz. No one can argue with the facts you put before them. We are the best and we'll continue to be the best. And I'm privileged to be a part of that team.

URL: Developers Research