The RedHawk (My Computer)

So, my old el cheapo Dell PC kept killing my graphics card, including a GeForce XFX 8600 and a Sapphire ATi Radeon in under 2 years. As I sent my GeForce in for a lengthy RMA... I had an idea...

I figure that to become a true geek, I have to build my own computer, so I went on Newegg and bought some parts and embarked on the ambitious project. I expected some scraps (and I did - got my palm bbq'd by the steel case, bah), but the total build time was under 12 hours, which I was pretty proud of as a first-time builder. Someone had attempted to teach me how to do it as a kiddo, but I was 8 and hardly remember anything besides how difficult it was to wench out the power cables.

The total cost of the components with shipping comes to approximately 600 bucks, which I thought was a great deal for a mid-range computer. Newegg is the only place I bought PC parts from and they've got fantastic service - highly recommended!

My system specifications:

Intel Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz Dual-Core Processor with Arctic Cooling CPU Fan
ASUS P5Q Intel P45 Motherboard
G.Skill 4GB DDR2 800 Memory
Western Digital 500GB SATA Hard Drive
OCZ StealthXStream 600W Power Supply
GeForce XFX 8600GT Graphics Card (RMA in progress, ugh)
Windows Vista Ultimate SP1
All encased in a red NZXT steel chassis.

Oh, and Arctic Silver Thermal Compound is so hax, it keeps my CPU at room temperature and the motherboard at 30C idling.

Anyway, enter the sexy little piece:

/end nerd pride

A huge thank you to the EVE geek squad who helped with picking my system parts!

I just had to stick my painted toes in there for color comparison...

Completing Job...

All pvpers need some way of recouping their losses. This time, y'all get to see the carebear side of me. After all, I need some way other than grinding L4 missions, which are boring (but admittedly relaxing) as hell, to earn some isk...

Enter Celestine, who has a wide array of skills for ship invention and building.

How delightful is it to see so many invention jobs ready and be able to click on that elusive "Deliver" button, just like pressing down the handlebar on a slot machine while the screen spins "Completing Job"? I swear even Aura plings happily when the window pops up for a successful job while the audience goes "awww" for a failed job. Many people even idle in their R&D alts and wait for jobs to complete, not that I'd ever admit to anything like that of course. In fact, the deliver button is so addictive that everyone in Celestine's empire research corporation likes to deliver her jobs every now and then, much to my chagrin.

The results from this one invention run? An impressive 50% success rate with 2 Sabre blueprints and a Kitsune blueprint, which was collected and placed into a container full of other T2 blueprints as Celestine trains up Frigate Construction V for the lovely Sabres:



It will be a full 20 days before she can start building all T2 frigates, HACs, Recons, Heavy Interdictors and Command Ships. A lucrative and satisfying business as the invented blueprints go into production. That would also mean more cerberuses at cost price for me, and everyone knows I "lose nyx-loads of cerberuses in pew pew". I can't wait!

P.S.: If you'd like to buy some Minmatar or Caldari T2 ships, feel free to talk to me.