Mostly: Classical

[Sexton O Blake]

My ATI supports dual monitors. But not DVI. ATI 9800 AIW was done BEFORE the ATI 9600 AIW (go figure). So 9600 AIW added FM tuner and other differences.

My system has 2GB RAM - for $400CDN at the time - cost more to think about it than doing it. And I hate having to dick with that stuff a year later. Hanging systems - something not right. Forget it.

Maxtrox - they were up there in 1999 but now - sure they have 4xmonitor cards - but I can barely afford one monitor. The absolute best option was the AIW - I record the shows (business etc) and can play them back at another time. Now my next trick is to buy http://prismiq.com. A media server - so I could record via the ATI then watch it on the TV anywhere in the house (along with a bit of wiring and remote extender). ATI has "almost" perfected the AIWs. This is my second - they just have missed on a few points.

Asus - yes, after a Shuttle motherboard, I bot 2 ASUS MB (P3B-F was last I think). But again when you dream up what you want, then slot yourself into a CPU cost - assuming the speed is what you want - the number of boards you can get narrow quite a bit. Very daunting task to say the least.

But I definitely prefer the route of building my gear then going to a guy who will build it versus the premade stuff.

My last system didn't come with any HDDs because I had them already via Costco. Maxtor was the choice not so much on the drive quality (can't say how good any of them are if they are all 1 year warranty). Maxtor - yeah a few bum ones but at least they will SHIP YOU a REPLACEMENT and give you 30 days to ship back the bad one - and within Canada. Not sure about WDC (though I would probably buy them over Maxtor next) for quality - but they had no depot in Canada. The advanced replacement on the drives is a must. Imagine moving 120GB to "other" drives in your system. Forget it.

I am less interested in "future" with the computer stuff and more into the "now". You go crazy - mentally and financially worrying about "the future". Especially when you get diddly on the warranties.

So when I can make a buck in this "investing stuff", and can buy everything my wife needs today, I can then spend money and buy 4 monitors for my computer then review the offerings out there. Matrox was a good card - Matrox Mill. G400DH MAX with 32MB RAM I believe. Now the ATI has 128MB. Almost "perfect" with Halo.. almost.. But I chose the ATI to watch/record TV and rip from VIDEO tapes etc. Haven't done it yet enough - but it does work. Then run it through a DIVX converter.

BTW: What are the DVD offerings (MEDIA) in your neck of the woods? Mainstream 4X -- cost for 8X etc? (CDN dollars converted of course).. <VBG>

Master Chief..
Blake