The Cure – Her Story

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A long time ago, in a far away place, a girl was growing up and found that she loved music when she was very young and that as time went on she particularly liked almost everything, but that some things were extra special, like Duran Duran and The Cure.

When she was very young neither of those two groups existed. But they did exist some time later. Both would be played on the radio and eventually she had her own money and could buy her own records, but not as soon as she would have liked (and compared to kids nowdays, she was rather old when that finally happened for her.)

The first CURE album she got was Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me. It was current. She got Head On The Door too. Yes, LP’s.

The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me 1987

The Cure -The Head on the Door 1985

She loved them already from the radio. They weren’t played much, mostly only on a college station that broadcast only during daylight.

She fell head over heals with The Cure and even though she didn’t buy every album as it came along, she did buy some here and there and eventually almost all of them and re-buying her LP purchases as CD’s or even Re-mastered deluxe sets.

Sometimes she’d buy these things new, sometimes in Used stores. In every case she loved every one. She did and does not hate any CURE album and dislikes reading other peoples grandiose opinions on which is the best or the worst album.

Recently she has decided she has neglected to listen to The Cure much more than she wanted to because they are the top listen for groups on her last.fm profile. She laughs delighted over the thought. Yes. She can overindulge in her longtime passion now.

There are other groups she really likes, some newer, some older, and she is planning on not neglecting them either. She has gone days without listening to anything of her own music (therefore didn’t scrobble) and xm satellite radio doesn’t even get turned on.

She’s been working on changing that. She’s gone bonkers with BEWARE OF DARKNESS and has a ton of new music which she got to pick out at Best Buy for Mother’s Day. (They only had 1 CURE CD, Galore.)

Today she thought about something and looked it up on the computer and ended up on Ebay looking at The Cure RARE listings. She had found a single CD for Never Ehough with 3 songs entirely on it and a different album cover than the US version usually shows. Online the picture isn’t easily found either. She’d never heard Harold and Joe before that, and fell in love with that song immediately. One of her favorites now. So today she found a 10″ record single of something else she doesn’t have listed as Very Good ++++++ so she hit buy it now.

In 2012 she got to see Duran Duran for the 1st time ever. It was awesome! She has a couple of Duran Duran t-shirts now, and a keychain.

She’s never seen The Cure in person. She’s never had a The Cure t-shirt or even a button. Just LP’s and CD’s and DVD’s. She’d like to rectify all that this year. To Wish Impossible Things. (Like to see them in the USA (not at a festival) –and a new The Cure album in 2013/2014 too!)

Orthodox – BEWARE OF DARKNESS CD & Tour

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You know what it’s like when you stumble onto something and then wonder if you ever had life before it?

Yup.

BEWARE OF DARKNESS – Orthodox

Orthodox – BEWARE OF DARKNESS

I’d been hearing Howl on XM Octane. I practically fell on the floor howling in delight the first time I heard it. Only certain songs have gotten me on first sound out of the speakers. That one did it for me SO MUCH MORE THAN ANY SONG EVER on the radio. I have 46 years of radio history I’m speaking of.

In all of those years I had many songs, but some are forgotten, others not. History started up for me in 2005 when I found this and that from newer bands. I haven’t kept “in the know” about the industry, and kind of wait to fall into something when it opens up for me.

I have fallen into a chasm and I don’t think I’ll ever reach the bottom. That is BEWARE OF DARKNESS.

Their first full album came out on May 7th. I got a copy via my husband, no stores around were stocking it. I found one out further that said one could buy it physically, pick it up immediately. Thankfully my hubby was out on business and actually NEAR that area NW of Atlanta. I couldn’t wait for him to get home with it! (Sure I could have bought it digitally the day before from Amazon, for instance, but I want the CD in hand, and they didn’t have Auto Rip for that album, so I dismissed it entirely.)

Meanwhile all points were converging on me. The weekend before had us at Carolina Rebellion, we were there for the two-days of concerts, and on our way there I noticed that the pre-party for campground people had Beware of Darkness as one of the bands playing. I loved the song Howl but hadn’t yet looked the song up online, and I had a nagging feeling about it, but didn’t understand. Well we couldn’t be there anyway, we were driving to the hotel that night, weren’t part of the campground. I didn’t know what I’d missed until the next day when I looked up Beware of Darkness and realized fully that I missed the band that performs a song I love, but didn’t know anything else about them.

I live on the East Coast. What could I know about them? If I knew to know I would of, but I didn’t.

So because of this, or course it’s important to note that their first full album was going to come out very, very soon. I had to have the album. I had to find out more about them, and that would be through the album and I’d see then where that took me.

While my husband was out and about with my CD, I started looking, felt compelled to, and saw that they were performing in Augusta, GA that very night, not too far from where I live. Yeah, crazy, drive over a hundred miles. Well I didn’t think my husband would jump on it. Thought he’d turn me down. “Buy the tickets online,” he said. Whoop!

I knew then that they had an EP/Single or something, and that Howl had been out for awhile (if Octane doesn’t play it I just won’t know it.) I was onto it’s trail for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t stop singing “… My, my, my, I’m a hungry man …” and that’s not weird for a girl. No, no it’s not.

Something in the cover photo of Orthodox was pulling me in. I wasn’t quite sure, I grabbed that CD and ripped the plastic off. Flipped it over, ooooooo… another photo. Huh.

Inside, open the cardboard album and there’s a lovely full picture spread from edge to edge of the band. Perfect for getting it signed!

I got the CD into my computer and Google Music pulled it to the cloud. We got packed and hit the road. Listened to Orthodox via my phone connected to the vehicle’s sound the whole way, except for the times when I didn’t play anything at all just to reflect. Wow! I HAVE FOUND THE ALT ROCK BAND OF MY LIFE!

Really cool.

So we get to Augusta and have dinner nearby the Sky City venue. Mosey down to the entrance, go in and find a seat to suffer through Artemia first. Yes, suffer. Something was good about them, but the singer I wanted to rip the microphone from his hands (everyone would have thanked me profusely. I’m not tooting my own horn, really I had a future in singing, just didn’t go for it. I can sing, man.) I had to plug my ears, they were so loud.

Finally that group was done. Tear down, Set Up. OK hubby, we are going to the front. What a freaking good show! Kyle was right in front of me. Cool, cool, cool. Such artistry.

I had my little Sony Cyber-Shot up taking video the whole time. I snapped some photos via the shutter during video. Those aren’t the best photos usually, but I knew how I’d really feel later, which do you want, clear video or just photos. Or Clear Video and almost good, some better some worse photos. For me I WANT the photos, but the video works out better and my mind recalls it all in vivid detail anyhow (while I have sound mind.)

Captured during Be My Exorcist/Sweet Girl

Captured during Ghost Town

Captured during Heart Attack

Captured during Howl

I’d love to be bold about how I feel, but I’m not, so shy. Somehow I ended up talking to Kyle afterwards. My husband says I initiated the first hug. Really? Wow. There were hugs a few times. It was so cool talking to him. The thing that we discussed was the guitar pick in the Best Buy version of Orthodox. I left it at home. When I had opened that CD it dropped out when I pulled out the booklet. How many times do I not take the booklet out first thing? Most of the time I only look at it later, or even never. Depends, but in this case I had done that after looking at the inside of the cover. It was really such a neat thing, I hadn’t expected it. I looked at the BB website and there was nothing about it there. I looked at the sticker on the wrapping, nothing about it. Nothing!

So Kyle said he hadn’t seen it yet, but knew about it, exclusive to BB. No, I didn’t bring it with me (I didn’t want to lose it!) So the next day when I got home I took a photo of it and tweeted it to the band. So sweet, they favorited my tweet. I like bands who like their fans.

I have been re-listening to all this music and FORCING myself to not constantly do that. I’ve racked up my scrobbles and they’ll be my most listened to band this week, and I’ll be their top listener on last.fm

There doesn’t seem to be anyone else on last.fm so hooked-on BEWARE OF DARKENSS’s music. What? Crazy.

I got an Orthodox World Tour T-shirt while we were at Sky City. The Sky City date wasn’t on the back, but it’d fit in second to bottom of printed dates. I bought the t-shirt before the show. The guy that sold it to me said I could have the guys sign it after. Well, I didn’t get that to happen, but I did buy a CD from them (even though I already had my other one in my purse) and each of them signed it.

We (hubby and I) talked to Tony, the drummer, for a bit too. It was hard getting Daniel, the bassist, to sign, he was occupied deep in discussion with someone. We finally just went up to him and got him to sign it. Chuckle. It’s a good memory.

I love going to concerts, even more than that I love seeing great bands in smaller venues. Even more than that, I love being in the front row in front of a younger band. (I’ve always been like this.) I got two of those experiences in less than a week.

Heaven’s Basement is an up and coming British Rock band. I fell in love with them after XM Octane played Fire!Fire! and I bought the one song digitally. Finally I ordered the CD from Amazon, it had Auto-Rip so I played it fully right away and loved it. I was trying to figure out what to do about going to a festival, and the main one that was closest and had the most bands that I wanted to see would be Carolina Rebellion on May 4,5. We got the tickets in early April.

My favorite viewings at Carolina Rebellion were Aranda, Hollywood Undead, Deftones, Red Line Chemistry, and Heaven’s Basement. (All bands I’d never seen live.) Heaven’s Basement tops my list because they were very accessible, I was right in front, and their show was flipping awesome. I love their songs. Aaron is such a dynamic lead singer. I was really jazzed up from expectation and fulfillment. The best show at Carolina Rebellion was there, Heaven’s Basement. THEY are the MAIN reason I wanted to go. I looked forward to them immensely. I had them on my list as the only band I couldn’t miss. Red Line Chemistry and Deftones were next in line, and they were both really good. Hollywood Undead, I wanted to hear Levitate, but they didn’t play it. I so enjoyed them anyhow, and they top my list for that, pure enjoyment. Aranda was fun to watch. They are so casual, but very gifted. Really fun play between the Aranda brothers.

The whole event was cancelled after waiting around for hours and hours for music to start up again Sunday afternoon. Rain, Rain, Go Away! But it didn’t. We missed Volbeat, but we got a CD signed. I didn’t, my husband did. Yes, I was too shy.

So who knew that one of the bands that didn’t play on Sat. or Sun. were at the pre-party, would be the one to spark my interest so highly later. I got more than I bargained for. I got a just released album, saw them live headlining for the album, got the CD signed, got to talk to each of them from just a little to a whole lot more. Got video and photos. But no photo of me with them. No great photo of any of them. But I have their music and signatures and the memories of a really great concert that happened lickity split for me. I didn’t have time to relish the coming event.

Now it’s time to settle down, do something with the video/photos, listen to their music, follow their success, and be a fan. I’m relishing the future.

Howl – BEWARE OF DARKNESS

Oh, at Sky City someone gave us the Howl EP –thank you so much! That’s the version of Howl that Octane is playing! Two versions of Howl. Mmmmmhhh

I love hard rock. I so much do. I just love “alternative” stuff more. BEWARE OF DARKNESS is cutting in on The Cure, Clan of Xymox, my other alternative passions. My hard rock love is taking a back seat too. (It’s still there, just not as encompassing as it has been the last few years.) So what other stuff is out there that Kyle was part of? I’ve seen some names, now I have the time to explore.

Kyle has got style, talent, and a voice that is just pure devilishly heavenly, the ultimate favorite voice of my lifetime (and I thought I loved Robert Plant’s voice, ha!)

Are there any other bands I can listen to? Yes, but I don’t want to right now. I’m so freaking enjoying this album too much!

Stone Sour, In This Moment – Concert Tonight

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We are going to see Stone Sour and In This Moment tonight in Nashville. It’s a short road trip, but an overnight one for an event like this. I’ve only gotten into ITM since Blood (Album) came out. I’ve gotten their back catalog since, and really like them. They aren’t for everybody, I know.

Stone Sour I just wasn’t aware of until early 2012. I got their CD’s in June that year, sometime after I knew I loved them they announced an upcoming 2-CD concept project. It became their House of Gold & Bones. I got a huge package for Part 1 (I got a few extra t-shirts too) and a huge package for Part 2.

I went to Rock Vegas 2012 with my hubby. Stone Sour was supposed to be there, but they couldn’t all be there. Corey Taylor played on his acoustic guitar for us instead of SS. It was really awesome, though I’d have LOVED for SS to have played, this was the next best thing, and maybe even better, depending on which side you looked at it and that continues to be my perspective, both sides.

So tonight I’ll finally be seeing Stone Sour in the flesh. I am hoping it’ll go well (I don’t like crowds and have read some horrid things about crowds at SS concerts.) ITM I’m not sure what their fans are really like. I’m just a normal fan of both of them. I love SS and wear their t-shirts and don’t deck out in freaky anything, it’s just me and my husband in normal clothing for the most part. I really like ITM but don’t have any of their stuff besides CD’s.

When I was younger I went to some concerts, not many, not much anything really important though. I just wore stuff. I haven’t changed much. Jeans and sneakers or boots. [Forget the leggings from the 80's ... I wore jeans too, and will not admit to anything else. ]

A LEGO Story

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I returned The Life of George to the LEGO store on our last visit. Wouldn’t it figure that I found that after I put a new ROM on my Samsung Galaxy Player 5, THAT device was able to download and install the apps for the LEGO set in question.

Figures. I re-ROM’d my player after that visit. I was going to see if the .apk’s would install on my phone, but I decided I really don’t want to know if it’d work, or not. I’m not about to spend 29.99 again to get that, when I could get any other number of sets, pick-a-brick, or whatever, instead.

Others at the store seemed to indicate to my husband that Life of George isn’t a good set, is blah, etc.

I saw it as something I wanted, a really nice casual game that I could use my phone interactively with, building with real LEGO.

Whatever.

So this past week another LEGO discovery was made. There’s another LEGO Christmas Box, unused. The pick-a-brick boxes you get when buying enough LEGO from the LEGO store around Christmas time, fill-able from after Christmas to March 31. Well, my hubby didn’t give me one for Christmas. He was odd about it, like he thought he had one. I never knew about it. I knew about the ones for the children, but I guess he hid one from me, anyhow, it was unearthed this past week, fully unscathed, still in it’s envelope. Universally decision-ed that it was mine. OK, no argument from me!

LEGO is a passion of mine that started late in life (more recent for me, in other words, not that I’m THAT old!) I was aware of it all along, but mostly never had any, nor came into contact with any to build with, or any sets. No one gave me LEGO as a child. I saw DUPLO blocks in daycare probably when I worked in one after school. Not my cup of tea, but DUPLO is good for younger kids.

There were some nice sets in the 70′s and 80′s that I would have loved if I’d have had a reason to see them. Back then it was K-B Toys or departments stores, or other toy stoys that were around, full of all kinds of things, and LEGO just didn’t find me.

I had horror thoughts about little LEGO pieces under foot, when I grew up and had children. No way. I wasn’t going to do that. We had all kinds of toys for them, eventually we started getting our oldest boy Bionicles. That was OK, less tiny pieces, and usually built. Not lots of it loose all over the place.

Well then, after awhile the Bionicle craze hit our other son and then, Star Wars. So for Birdays and Christmas we got real LEGO sets for them after all. Our oldest boy has been better about keeping good models built for the most part. Our other son has decimated every set into a pile of rubble until just this past year, finally, at 11/12 valuing keeping sets built to play with.

We have plenty of oppurtunity for loose pieces to build with. We get LEGO Cups sometimes, those Christmas boxes to fill, and I find bulk things on eBay sometimes, to add to their stash, and/or mine.

Well then a couple of years ago I was getting the bug. I really like the Aliens in Toy Story, and one day I saw the small Poly Bag for one Toy Story Alien on a little flying thing. The rest is history. That was my first official LEGO build and I’ve gotten sicker and sicker, ever since.

Mini-Figures were still not my thing, but then the Collectible Series started. I wasn’t interested, OK maybe a few, but I didn’t get any. Then I got some of Series 5, I have my two favorite from there, that’s it. Then Series 6 I got alot. Then Series 7 I almost got all of them. Series 8 I have all of them. Series 9 I have a few now.

Buying collectible mini-figures is a side-passion, hubby comes home with a few here and there. I keep the new unique ones and share around the extras. Sometimes they get their own, my children, that is.

I got the whole Alien Conquest line. I’m getting trains now. and Monster Fighters. Marvel Avengers. Holiday sets. Helicopters. Houses. Buildings. Galaxy Squad. Creator. I had to not get LoTR. It’s too much, I have pretty much left LoTR and Star Wars to the others. FWIW

My husband is a LEGO buyer, but not a builder. We have tried to interest him, but it’s just not taking. That’s OK. Someone has to stay not sick to take care of us.

The Lego Store Dilemma

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Today we might go to the LEGO store. The children have their Christmas boxes to fill with LEGO from The Wall. Unknown by my husband I have promised my eldest that if HE isn’t happy with what he finds I’ll let him get a small canister at another visit, when/if it’s a suitable selection.

One might think this a bad thing to do, to allow for someone to manipulate so easily so as to get more. Nope. Not him. He’s like me. Genuine to the core about things like this.

Please note that I only offered this to my eldest boy, not the girl, nor the other two boys.

My real dilemma is whether or not to return Life of George (which I got as a Christmas present.)

I want to use it. I can’t since the APP won’t work with my HTC Evo 4G LTE (JB!) device, but it is supposed to work with the HTC One X. Hello, that’s practically my phone. I mean, if THEY can run it, most assuredly mine can, even better probably. These phones are the same base. Mine has an sd card slot, the HTC One X doesn’t. Both run on 1.5mhz snapdragon … umm I was going to link to both phones on HTC’s site, but my phone isn’t there, not at all. Totally not there. It used to be. Weird. No doubt this is part of the problem.

What I don’t care about is that there are politics regarding this. Just give me the app to sideload and let me show you, prove whether it will run or not. Please!

What if I do return the box of george’s life in lego? Then the app may appear to work again for me. Sans box, that wouldn’t be good.

So then what if I keep it? The app(s) won’t work for me, ever, I pretty much think that’d be the case.

Which option do I choose, just in case the keep it option errs in my favor? Not worth the risk, me thinks.

Sound Problem in Windows fix

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I finally figured out my stupid computer sound problem. Windows thinks there is some kind of communications device asking for control or something and suddenly, for no reason, the sound volume goes down. You can’t quite figure it out. I have my computer with the problem being a Windows 8 Pro new build (by me) and it had several HDMI enabled sound plugins, but that’s nuts, as I only have plugged into one of those HDMI port with my montitor on this install of Win 8.

I uninstalled all of the extra hdmi devices. So I had a few things here and there that were confusing. Mostly I do think it came with the built in sound on the board, a build in HDMI port for the cpu, using 2 video cards with HDMI ports in SLI mode.

I’ve got my monitor plugged into the first video card.

I have a Razor Black Widow keyboard. It has headphone and microphone plugs. Plug into the back of the computer and there on the keyboard you can plug in really easily.

My motherboard has back plugs, but my case also has front controls tied into that sound. For some reason the back just wasn’t working for me. It was something I figured out, to get sound out of the keyboard port. But in my computer it made no sense. No headphone profile.

So I had disabled everything but the one HDMI profile that I was using. Then in Device Manager I scanned for hardware changes. That put back the regular things. Thank God!

So I then made HDMI default.

Then I got my nice headphones, plugged them into the front headphone jack on the computer. In the playback devices window I then made that the default device.

OK!

So when I unplug, Monitor takes over the sound.

But the reduction in volume was still happening. That’s on the Sound window, Communications tab.

Windows can automatically adjust the volume of different sounds when you are using your PC to place or receive telephone calls.

When Windows detects communications activity:

Mute all other sounds

Reduce the volume of other sounds by 80%

Reduce the volume of other sounds by 50%

Do nothing

To fix the sound thing, select the last option. My was on the second, reducing my sound by 80% for seeming no reason on my end. I had no incoming or outgoing anything going on.

So now it’s set to “DO nothing” and if I want to use Skype or something, then I can control the volume myself manually. Mostly though, I’ll just be using my actual phone. FWIW.

So this isn’t really a fix. I just am using that word since it seems to fix it. It’s just setting the control to nothingness. I don’t know what Windows is thinking, it’d be nice to fix it, but that’s a whole different thing that will only happen if I want to figure it out to keep my music on when making or taking a call… uh, not gonna happen. So forget it. Manual only. Since I know when I want it to go down, and Windows doesn’t know at all.

Lovely computer

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My computer is lovely now. It’s running well at stock speeds. I’m leaving it like this for now. It’s capable of more, sure, but I won’t push it unless something shows me that I need it.

I asked for recommendations in games, and one old game recommended was Half-Life2. I remember that one from before I was a full Playstation devotee. I nearly convinced myself to convince my husband to let me get it. But I didn’t. I don’t recall exactly why, but ever since I do think about it here and there, now and then. It was kind of funny, referred to as The Very Best Game of All Time. I concur, kind of, even though I haven’t ever played it or seen much of it, mostly screen shots and some of the story understanding from a “I might want to play this” perspective. It’s the ONE game I never got over NOT playing.

What you need to build an SLI capable computer

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A motherboard that is SLI Ready … and has working PCI-E slots.

2 or more same (some say this may not matter) graphics card that support SLI.

I have a lot of experience in this, in just a few days. I’m no expert, just I know this: if it’s not working, then change out your MB if you KNOW that both/all your graphics cards are able to work in another computer or in another slot.

There are so many articles/posts online about “no sli option in Nvidia Control Panel,” “how do I get SLI to work … ” “My computer isn’t detecting my 2nd graphics card…”

I had all my computer stuff to build a nice SLI machine. I put things together, tested it all piece by piece, ok, great. So I installed Win 8, got things really setup. I had all my Memory in, and one graphics card. Installed Nvidia graphic software from MSI disc. Shutdown, restarted. Shutdown, put 2nd graphics card in. OK. Started up again, and in Win 8, hmmm, Device Manager, not good. Showed two devices, but the 2nd card had an exclamation on it and it said it had trouble, blah, blah, blah, so it shut it down. End of story. It wouldn’t let me install a driver for it, it was not available. Restarted the machine. The 2nd card never showed up again.

I read and read and read up on it, tested everything in different slots, updated BIOS for the board, graphics cards didn’t have an update. Had manufacturers latest drivers and also tried Nvidia’s latest drivers. I was installing and uninstalling and taking this out, replacing it, flip flop twist as to determine for certain that both graphics cards worked in the first slot, but not in the 2nd. So I finally got the guts up to say to my hubby yesterday early afternoon … “I have to bring the MB back to the store”

So I took everything off of it, except for the nano transceiver for my new Cobalt Blue LE Microsoft Wireless Mouse 3500. Now, I didn’t do that on purpose. It’s so small, and masks itself so well, especially when you have a MB that has two other nodules sticking out (wifi & bluetooth built in) … so I am not able to use that wonderful brand new mouse any more. I HATE Microsoft for this!

Hubby ran to Target and got me a dark purple same kind of mouse, but I don’t like it, it’s not as nice looking and my hand can tell the difference. Anyhow, I do have a mouse. So while I was waiting for the mouse I got my new MB out and setup everything, half the memory & one graphics card.

Using Win 8 with no touchscreen and no mouse isn’t very fun. Not when you are not planning on using a computer that way. I suppose it’s doable for someone, I don’t know, but the lack of that desktop start button is big with no mouse. Metro doesn’t play nice to no mouse if you also don’t have touch. Modern webpages are ho rrific to use tab to move around on. Just a sidenote about how not planning but having to do it can be very painful.

Once I had another mouse I was back on track, felt fluid, fun, fast, everything was ok, so I shutdown and put the rest of the Memory in, restarted, all fine. Shutdown, put 2nd graphics card in. Restarted.

When Win 8 comes up, I log in, it takes one right to the Metro interface. I nearly always, actually probably always, hit Desktop immediately. So that is what I did, and on the desktop there was a bright flash kind of feeling, not really light, but something. I said, “AHA!” With all fingers and toes crossed I opened Device Manager and looked under Displays … yes, 2 graphics cards showing, one with an exclamation point on it, but it was noticeable that it was NOT the same message as the first MB build showed me. In fact it wasn’t. It said I had to restart to use the changes I’d made. All I did was put in a new piece of hardware. So I got out of Device Manager, then decided to go back in and on that device I looked at properties and then drivers, and I updated the driver by pointing it to the Nvidia folder on my C: drive, where the installation files are kept.

The system quickly accepted that and said I had to restart … duh. I just wanted to be sure about the driver.

So I restarted. When I was back into Win 8 on the desktop I got a message from the notification area that SLI was availble. Yes! I opened Nvidia Control Panel and sure enough it was right there, I just couldn’t do anything with it since I didn’t have the SLI bridge on yet.

I could have had the SLI bridge connected, but I didn’t, because of my previous problem with the first motherboard. So with the computer off, installed the SLI bridge. Restart. Hello SLI! Uh, no. I’d seen pictures of the same SLI bridge installed on other computers on sites here and there. I just put it on that way. Didn’t work. So off with the computer again, turned the bridge around, started up and voila!

Hello SLI! Yes, you are real, really easy, if one gets a good MB that has fully working Pci-e slots.

Now, this is not to mean that is everyone’s problem (of those that can’t get SLI to work) –for me it sure was.

What’s in my Cooler Master HAF 932?

MSI Z77 MPOWER Big Bang (SLI/Crossfire Ready)
Corsair AX1200 Professional Series GOLD
Corsair Vengence @1600 8mb x4 (32mb)
Intel i7 3770k (3.5ghz)
Cooler Master TPC 812
LG Bluray Writer
Samsung SSD 840 Pr0 (256GB) (OS)
Seagate (7200 RPM) 3TB (Storage)
MSI GeForce GTX-670 Power Edition (2mb) x2 (SLI capable)
Windows 8 pro with Media Center

I have to decide what else I need, like in front. The LG Bluray drive is such a nice interface and looks FANTASTIC on the HAF 932. I need to get a card reader, and I can see I’m running out of space to put things already. The head of the HAF 932 has an e-sata port. The connector is plugged into one of my sata ports on the MB. Also the LG Bluray Writer is a sata device, and then the two drives. So that leaves two sata spots. Ouch!

There is another PCI-e x16 slot, but it’s way down the board, and then those little slots, most are hidden between the graphics cards. I’d find a way to use them, with the right addin things, I guess I could, as long as … well, I’ll just save those thoughts for when and IF I need them.

I’m going to go wake up my new system. I’m writing on my Ultrabook right now. I’m glad I have it, a lighter laptop, no dvd drive. Touchscreen. It’s my perfect secondary device. I planned that before, but didn’t know when I’d be able to build my desktop. It was suddenly something I could do this past week, so I did.

My older i3 Toshiba Satellite laptop I’ll empty and refresh for some other use in the house. I don’t want it! It’s sat hardly used since I got this Ultrabook. Now I don’t need it at all. It would be too much having: my Ultrabook, Desktop, Nexus 10, HTC Evo 4g LTE, Samsung Galaxy Player 5.0, and having that laptop. It’s totally just a browsing light work, but a heavy machine (pain to lug around) so … now it’s time for my children to use it I guess. Not destroy it, but I’m sure that’s what’ll happen. Oh well.

So then, this new desktop is OC -able but I’m not touching that yet. I’m going to see what it can do the way it is now. MSI OC Genie is a nice feature on this MB and I will use it eventually.

Bought most of the computer stuff

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I got most of my computer stuff last night. I’ll be putting the bare bones stuff together today to get it to post first. Then I still need to see about another HD, I have an SSD 256 GB that’ll be the main OS drive. It’ll be so rock solid, fast, it’ll be awesome!

The motherboard isn’t the one I was going to get, they didn’t have any left in stock to buy (on the floor in a build). So I got the next one up from there (which worked out anyhow) since it has more USB 3.0 ports on it, and bluetooth and wifi as well (though I like these two features, they are not the reason to get this MB)

So I have a Blu-ray Writer, and plenty of space for other drives. I just need to see whats available elsewhere for little bits here and there, and add-on. I need more coffee now, so I can get going!

Finally going to be able to build my computer!

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I am finally going to have the opportunity to build my new desktop pc. It’s been years in the planning, and ditching of plans, of course.

Anything dreamed of 5 years ago has come and gone. The stuff I can get today is so far superior, and prices are so doable for what is available.

I’ve wanted a good home built system so I can do video processing of my family stuff, and photo things and write it all to blu-ray discs. Soon enough I hope that will be possible.

I did a quick re-up on what’s out there and have settled on an MSI motherboard, i7 3770k, and GXT 670 x2 (SLI) graphics. I’ll get the best, including price, memory, hoping for 32gb total.

I won’t do any raid setups. I would like a SSD for OS and other drives for files and working on projects.

I have a NAS where I put all my music now, and a lot of my photos and videos. I’ll totally get all that stuff that remains on my laptops into NAS and then new stuff only will go into the new computer, and I’ll bring old things in piecemeal to work on them.

I have a decent monitor, Playstation 3D Display. Plus I have another 23″ monitor if I want to use it for dual monitors.

I’ll need a new desk, trying to work that out.

I’ll get everything at Fry’s, hopefully tonight, everything, that is, meaning computer parts.

As for software I will get Win 8 Pro. I’ll also need to remember a keyboard and mouse. I’d like a touch pad of some kind too. I can deal with Win 8 as long as SOMETHING is touch oriented.

I have had a case for this computer since … I don’t know, Hubby gave it to me for Christmas, not this past xmas, nor the one before, so longer ago than I really care to recall.