Ultra X-Blaster Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front Ports
Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply
Our new MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Bundle offers you affordable quad core performance and expandablilty at a new low price! This solid MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard supports Intel Socket 775 processors with FSB up to 1333MHz and makes a perfect foundation for your next ATI CrossfireX-based build. The MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Bundle features dual-channel DDR2 memory support and full support for ATI's CrossfireX Technology, allowing you to equip your rig with up to two ATI Radeon graphics cards for the ultimate in gaming performance.
It doesn't stop there. The MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard & Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Bundle also includes an Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz Processor, 4GB of Corsair XMS3 Dual Channel DDR3 RAM, a Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB Hard Drive, an Ultra X-Blaster Black ATX Mid-Tower Case, and an Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply. This kit has what it takes to form the basis for a screaming fast CrossfireX gaming rig. Why wait any longer? Grab it before it's gone, because deals like this don't stick around for long!
What It Is and Why You Need It:
ATI CrossFireX Technology
Through multi-GPU configurations in CrossFireX, gamers can see performance scaling across a range of today’s most popular DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 games on Windows Vista - up to 3.2 times the performance over a single GPU2 in some scenarios. The flexible architecture of CrossFireX allows for the mixing and matching of compatible ATI Radeon cards. CrossFireX also supports a wide range of platforms, enabling many gamers to take advantage of multi-GPU gaming on compatible hardware.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 2.66GHz Processor
Leaders of the pack seeking monster performance, look no further. With four execution cores, the Intel® Core™2 Quad processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multi-tasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications.
The Best Upgrade Money Can Buy
Obviously a kit like this one can be used to build a great new system, but did you know that it can also make an excellent cost-effective upgrade for your old PC? Just transfer your old compatible hardware over to this new unit and "Voila!", you've got a brand-new computer! It's as simple as that.
MSI X48C Platinum Motherboard
If you want to run more than one video card, the new MSI X48C Platinum Intel X48 Socket 775 motherboard offers the ultimate in graphics performance with support for two PCIe 2.0 x16 ATI CrossFire X cards. Based on the Intel X48 chipset, this ATX platform is designed for systems with Intel Core 2 Extreme, Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo processors.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Processor BX80580Q9400
These new processors deliver amazing performance and power efficiency. Whether it's encoding, rendering, editing, or streaming, make the most of your professional-grade multimedia applications with a PC powered by the Intel Core 2 Quad processor. With four processing cores, 6MB of shared L2 cache, and up to 1333 MHz Front Side Bus, more intensive entertainment and more multitasking can bring a multimedia powerhouse to your home.
Corsair XMS3 TW3X4G1333C9AG 4GB Dual Channel DDR3 RAM
The XMS3 family is Corsair’s mainstream line of performance DDR3 memory. These modules allow you to experience outstanding memory performance and stability. These modules are guaranteed to support all Dual-Channel DDR3 platforms from Intel and AMD.
Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB Hard Drive
As hard drive capacities increase, the power required to run those drives increases as well. WD Caviar Green drives make it possible for energy-conscious customers to build systems with higher capacities and the right balance of system performance.
Capacity: 1TB
Interface: SATA 3.0Gb/s
Data Transfer Rate on Serial ATA: Up to 3000 Mb/sec
Ultra X-Blaster Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front Ports
When looking for subtle styling, durable quality and unparalleled ease of use, look no further than the Ultra X-Blaster. The X-Blaster supports AT, baby AT, ATX and micro ATX motherboards and features 1mm thick high grade steel.
Form Factor: ATX Mid-Tower
Material: Steel
Special Features: Tool-Free Drive Bays Vented Side Panel Quick-Release Side Panel
Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply
The new LSP is the latest addition to our line-up of professional power supplies. It provides the ultimate amount of power and performance. This series is 25% more efficient than its predecessor with the affordability and quality you have come to expect from Ultra.
Assembling Barebones Computer Kits & Computer Cases
Remember when assembling one of our money-saving Barebone Computer Kits, or
installing your existing computer components into a new computer case, you
may have to modify the case to fit your components - This Is Normal!
Cases are designed to hold and accommodate a wide variety of motherboards,
interface cards, connectors, and other components. Because of this,
the case manufacturer designs their cases with easily removable panels to
allow these components to properly fit in the case. All you need to do
is punch them out with a screw driver or fold them over with a pair of
pliers to snap out the metal piece for your exact components. In this
way, you save the cost of assembling your computer, and have the
satisfaction of building your own workstation.
PLEASE NOTE:
Carefully read all documentation BEFORE you start to assemble your Barebones
Kit or add components to a Computer Case. Some components need to be
assembled in a specific order. Also place the components in the case
temporarily to confirm any modifications (punch outs) that need to be made
to fit that component.
Important Info About Barebones
Computer Kits
Our money-saving Barebone Computer Kits gives you the opportunity to build
or upgrade your perfect computer at an affordable cost, by installing key
components yourself. Most components included in our Barebones Kits,
including power supplies, are not pre-assembled (mounted and connected in
the case). With Barebones Kits, where we include a case and a separate power
supply, the case specifications may not indicate the presence of an attached
power supply (simply because it is a separate component). This is also
because you must install the included power supply yourself.
Know Your BIOS! With today's rapid pace of
design advancement, new product updates come fast and furious. This is
especially true of board-level products, like Motherboards, Video Cards, GPU
Processor Cards, and other main edge connector products. The good news is
that manufacturers have designed in the ability to easily update your
product BIOS, which is sometimes important for full compatibility. So before
installing or combining components, it is always a good idea to check your
product's current BIOS revision against the manufacturer's website, to
determine if an update is needed, or advisable. The manufacturer's
documentation will guide you through this process if it is necessary.
However, remember that most products are designed to be plug-n-play out of
the box!
But
What Is BIOS?
Most electronic devices,
from computers to MP3 players have software embedded in their hardware.
These are programs that tell the device how it will function - from basic to
advanced functions - so that it knows how to start, and perform the most
simple and complex tasks it was designed for. We call this software the BIOS
(sometimes also called Firmware). In computer jargon, BIOS stands for "Basic
Input/Output System", but in reality, there is very little "basic" about it.
In your computer's motherboard for example, it tells your computer how to:
start up; communicate with hardware components, such as hard drives and
video; how to move data in and out of memory; and even talk to your USB
connected devices. Without your BIOS, your device is JOOL (just out of
luck!).
Keep in mind that changing a PC's BIOS
settings incorrectly can cause the PC to malfunction. If this happens, a
BIOS reset is usually available, and will need to be performed to return the
BIOS to the default "factory settings." This is usually activated by a
jumper on the motherboard. [Warning: always read
your motherboard or system manual thoroughly, before upgrading your BIOS, or
making BIOS setting changes!] Though normally, most incorrect
settings should have no negative affect on your PC, but please follow each
step explicitly since some can.
Remember: It is recommended that you reboot
after each individual BIOS setting change to ensure that your system
functions normally. If you make numerous changes before rebooting, and your
system will no longer boot, you won't know which change is responsible for
the failure.
Updating Your BIOS
Before you consider updating your BIOS, be sure you need to - not every
update will be needed or even benefit you. Also be sure you are up to
the technical challenges you will face. Changing the version of BIOS
stored in your computer or motherboard is not the kind of activity
recommended for novice users. To perform this successfully, you need
to be comfortable and familiar with your BIOS settings, and be able to
download and apply the BIOS Update without issue. For this reason, it
is best to let professional computer technicians do this work for you, if or
when it is needed. However, if you know what you are doing, it is a
fairly easy task.
Before Updating BIOS, consider the
following:
The reasons for updating your BIOS -
frequently, updating is unnecessary
Identifying your BIOS chip - if
replacing is the approach required
Replacing your BIOS chip - this requires
significant care, and can void your warranty
Locating your latest BIOS version -
required for any update
Flashing your BIOS - make sure you have
a UPS!
Live update - great for minor or quick
updates - again a UPS is vital - a partial update can make your system
inoperative
Configuring your new BIOS settings -
read the manual! twice for good measure!
Stay Grounded
Static Electricity is generally harmless to humans, but a harmless static shock can harm your PC, or even kill components. Remember, to always ground yourself before touch the sensitive components of your PC. You can do this by touching a metal door frame, a bathroom faucet, or the screw to a ground light switch. But the best way is to use a proper ground strap when working on the inside of your computer. Here are some great tips to keep the electricity from shocking your system into submission.
. Click Here To Learn More
»
Even The Best Hard Drives Die.
Do You Back Up?
Businesses of all sizes
are witnessing an explosion in the volume of data they hold. Whether it is
the result of the Internet, email, or increasingly heavy and media-rich
application software, there is a massive growth in the volume of data all
around. Conservative estimates place data growth at approximately 80% per
year. Data is increasingly being recognized as one of the real assets of a
company, and losing this data would cause severe damage to any organization.
Data loss can be very costly, particularly for
organizations in the small and medium business (SMB) market where the
difference between survival and closure can rest on the ability to recover
from a disaster. At the very least, critical data loss will have a financial
impact on companies of all sizes:
Data type
Time to re-create 20 MB
Cost
Sales and marketing
19 days
$17,000
Accounting
21 days
$19,000
Engineering
42 days
$98,000
The financial impact on a company is a combination
of loss of business, low productivity, legal action, and the cost of
re-creating data. A study showed that the cost of re-creating just 20 MB of
data can be extensive!
Your best solution, is an external drive as a
backup. You can have multiple drives, and it is much easier restore
from a portable external drive, as opposed to CDs or DVDs.
Why Do I Have
Less Drive Space?
Your hard drive may show less space than the published specifications due to
a number of reasons.
The way size is calculated and
displayed.
Any "Partitions" on the disk will
change the total in a specific partition.
Hidden files and folders decrease
available space.
Compression increases the apparent
size, but not the physical size.
Drives larger than the OS or Drivers
natively supports.
First, the definition of a megabytes
(or gigabytes) is a unit of data storage capacity measured in 1,048,576
bytes (or 1024KB). The larger the numbers, the more apparent the size
difference will be when listing the size as megabytes (or gigabytes) versus
bytes. Actually, both numbers are correct. The noticeable difference is due
to the 1024KB definition of a megabyte. This is why a 95.3GB hard drive can
also be listed as having 102 billion bytes of total space. Just think
of it as "round off" In the screen shot at right: The first number is the total number of bytes,
the second number is based on the number of megabytes or gigabytes.
Second, some computers have a
non-DOS hard drive partition that is used for features such as Save to Disk,
Hibernation, or Recovery. This partition is not normally reported by the
operating system, although it can be viewed using a disk partition utility.
This is very common on desktops and laptops. NOTE: Partition information will be created or
formatted automatically during initial system setup and a system recovery.
Third, by default, all system files
are hidden and cannot be seen. This may adversely affect the reporting of
available hard drive space. You can set your Folder Options so you view
system and hidden files and folders, but do be careful as changes to system
files can adversely affect your system.
Fourth, if you turn on Compression
for a drive, it will increase reported free space and used space, but since
compression is based upon the actual contents, this number is not fixed, but
will change as files are added or changed.
Fifth, older operating systems did
not support some of today's larger drives, so the total space reported may
be much smaller than the drive specifications.
It is also worth noting that bad sectors
are corrected by your operating system and can change the total drive space,
free space, or used space as well.
So as long as a drive is reporting a value
approximately close to the specification value, you can be comfortable that
you received the right drive and that you are getting to correct data
storage. Of course, tuning of your drive's partitions and options can
yield optimal values, but this is not something for the average user to
explore.
Got Enough
Memory? Bet You'll Need More!
Windows Vista and today's software
applications make much greater demands on your system's memory. Adding
peripherals, like webcams, USB hard drives, and complex Internet pages, all
take memory. Watching DVD movies, or watching videos on the web, or
playing PC based games demand increased memory. So take full
advantage of your system's potential, your operating system's enhancement
and entertainment capabilities, and your software's productivity by expanding
your system memory!
The best time to
add more memory is when you buy your system! Get the memory that's
right for your computer, whether laptop, desktop, or All-In-One.
Click Here for our Memory Upgrade Options. »
Shared
Memory? Or Where Did My Memory Go?
Your computer uses memory to run your
Operating System, applications, peripherals, and to generate and display
graphics on your computer monitor. Video memory is a form of RAM, and is
either built into your motherboard; or on a graphics card (video card).
Depending on the motherboard's configuration, and that of the video card (if
separate or built-in to the motherboard), your computer may have to draw on
its own RAM memory to meet its video memory needs. This creates shared
memory, where your computer’s RAM will be shared between its own Processor
(CPU) and its graphics chip.
The result is that some systems will have
shared memory, some will not. If you have 2GB (for example) of system
memory installed, you may notice that your system reports significantly less
memory. This is because your system is using shared memory for your
video.
What can you do about this?
You can actually configure this shared memory through your computer’s BIOS
settings. However, this is a setting best left alone, since it is
typically optimized for display performance, and making changes may impact
display resolutions, and other video capabilities.
The simplest solution is usually to either:
increase your system memory; or to upgrade the video hardware. By
upgrading to a new video card with built-in video memory, then turning off
shared memory, you will free your system to use it's maximum potential
memory, and provide your system with much more robust video features.
How Much
Memory Do You Really Have?
When you look at the specifications for a computer, it will display the
installed memory, and typically the maximum memory that can be installed.
However, while these are real values, they represent a potential useable
memory depending upon the installed operating system, and other factors. The actual useable memory may be different
(lower) from these values.
The reason is simply that a computer may have a limitation in the operating
system (such as Windows 32 bit versions), or configured to use shared memory,
which reduces the amount of RAM that is available to the CPU by using
some of it for other purposes, such as for video memory. In some
cases, you can control the maximum useable memory through system settings,
by upgrading from a 32 bit to a 64 bit version of Windows XP or Vista, or by upgrading to a video card that has internal onboard video memory.
But always
remember, that the amount of memory that your system reports, is not always
the amount of actual installed memory. For example, if you have 4GB
installed, 32 bit versions of Windows will typically report 3.2GB due to a
limitation of Windows itself. Also note that different Windows
programs report available and maximum memory differently, which can be
confusing. If you find that you need more
memory, we suggest expanding your system memory, since this is the most
effective performance increase, and the one that is easiest to perform .
Advanced PC Build-It-Yourself Guide
Not too long ago one had to be eligible for the Genius IQ Club (Mensa)
in order to build a computer. That is no longer the case. Today’s computer
manufacturers have made it much easier for the enterprising do-it-yourselfer
to create a great system.
Click Here To Learn More »
PC Building Tools Checklist
You're eager to get started on your system building or maintenance project,
but before you do it's good to get your tools in order. Here's a handy
checklist of tools you should have before you get started.
Click Here To Learn More »
Got Tools?
Do you need the perfect tools to build and maintain your PC?
Take a look at our selection of PC building, maintenance, networking, and
other tools and complete toolkits!
Click Here For Tools »
Only defective exchanges for identical item within 30 days of purchase permitted on this product. After 30 days, please contact the manufacturer at: 1-888-447-6564.
Manufactured by:
MSI Computer Warranty provided by:
MSI Computer Mfg Part No:
MSI X48C Platinum MOBO, C2Q Q9400 2.66GHz, 4GB DDR UPC No:
890552664993 Box Size:
( Length:
0, Width:
0, Depth:
0 )
Shipping Weight:
32.0000 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
Limited Warranty: A full text version of the limited warranty
may be obtained by mailing a self addressed, stamped envelope to the
address below and requesting the warranty for item number:
B69-1113
TigerDirect.com
Warranty Information
7795 W. Flagler St. Suite 35
Miami, FL. 33144
‡
NOTE: All comparison prices are shown as the full sell price listed
on the web site, and do not reflect any discounts or rebates that
may be available from the competitors web site. Some compares may
show a "refurbished" item's price on our site compared to a "new"
item on competitors site. We rely on an independent third party service
to update comparative prices automatically and we are not responsible
for unintentional errors. This data was obtained on
Nov 21, 2009
0
Item Total
$0.00
Need help browsing our website? Call 1-800-800-8300
Form Factor:
Know Your BIOS!
Why Do I Have
Less Drive Space?
