mad modding - sticker shock
Well, I am still in love with me beauty of a computer and have gotten the hardware and modding bug. I spend several hours researching the possibilities of my new computers motherboard and I just start getting lost. I start looking into hardware mods, my ASUS P4B motherboard supports a proprietary thing called an iPANEL(it actually a P4B-LA, but that suffix seems to not exist, I find no mention of it on any web site, it must just be an OEM brand). Anyway this drive bay unit is an LCD and LED monitoring device for CPU speed/temp/voltage along with fan speed. I know this information is available because it is displayed in the BIOS. Obviously that information does me little good there. I want to be able to see that from a desktop monitoring application similar to gkrellm. My look into getting lm_sensor to work left me reeling at my Linux inadequacy. I�m sorry but recompiling my kernel with new modules is something I simply don�t know how to do properly, not for a lack of effort though.
My Solution to this dilemma was that I could use the iPANEL, uh oh, no free drive bays on my mid-tower. Well, I wanted a cool lian-li case anyways� so i might as well get a window kit too� if i have a window i need some cold-cathode lights for my case�. and a window etching is a must have. All of a sudden I realize I don�t need all of this stuff, my HP Pavilion case isn�t all that bad even for a mid-tower. My next option is getting an LCD box that works through the serial port, hey thats a great solution. pcmods.com has a nice little jobber that should work very well. If I can assure myself that it will work for both Linux and windows than I may by that sucker, It�s a little pricey, but still cheaper than my scott e-vest.
I first saw these things in a review from pdabuzz.com when I first purchased my iPAQ. After I saw it mentioned in reviews of the latest major tech shows. I went back to their site and found that they dropped the price considerably. So I had and attack of impulse shopping and had one sent to me. I must say that I really love it, I wear it for college a majority of the days of the week. Hey, I am a geek and proud of it, this vest is what people at work know me by, I like it. Oh and it is just as frustrating as the gadgets It holds. As soon as I have it, the evest v2.0 is announced! Honestly its more like a version 1.2 but I wont hold that against them. The biggest feature that I missed in my evest is zip-off sleeves, this is included in v2.
Tonight I was reviewing the 3 high-end hardware items that I have wanted for my new system. An ATI All In Wonder RadeonDV which is the coolest video card around, with a TV tuner and a full range of inputs and outputs you couldn�t ask for more. Except for a price tag that is less than $400 :( Also in my line of sight is a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum Ex. This is the highest end sound card you can get, it is really probably for professional audiophiles only. It is the version with an external connections box since I don�t have any spare drive bays, nrgggg! This item prices out at a little over $200. To go with that sound card though would be a nice set of THX and DTS 5.1 speakers� hm.. that will be aver $300 for top of the line. Ouch, I think I�m going to curl up in bed and plan for a better paying summer job.