Box Blogging: The Parts

(Not ready for this page? Back to the Introduction.)

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

MotherBoard: ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Power Supply: FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A, 2.0 version, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 500W - Retail

(Note, I originally went with the Ars Spec Power Supply, not realizing that the graphics card I'd chosen required more power. Still need to RMA that.)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail

Memory: OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2P8002GK - Retail

(Note: I got two. Maybe a questionable choice -- more later.)

Hard Drive: Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

DVD-R: Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Read Black ATAPI Model DVR-111D - OEM

Graphics Card: BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOCE GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 OC HDCP Video Card - Retail

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 70SB073A00000 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail

Keyboard: Microsoft FA6-00010 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard Mouse Included - OEM

Mouse: Logitech G5 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Laser Mouse - Retail

First, the Core:

From New Computer

The case is "Armed with 'Honor'". Haha! Not after I got my hands on it. The Motherboard is an ASUS -- "Rock Solid * Heart Touching." I assume that means "If you don't ground it properly".

I was petrified that the CPU wouldn't work, given the shape the box was in. Looked like someone had scored a field goal with it. Half expected to find Robbie Gould's autograph on the side. Yes, I looked that reference up on Google.

From New Computer

Now, the Extras:

From New Computer

The 8800GTX comes with a t-shirt! To their credit, this was not advertised on the front of the box. And it's a pretty sturdy t-shirt. Shit, should be diamond encrusted for what I paid for this monstrosity. I'm sure the smart buyer's price-point was somewhere else, but I'm taking a gamble on obsolescence insurance.

And the Input Devices:

From New Computer

All the boxes opened, on to Construction.