Multiple Copies of WoW & BC?

[DragonOfTheAges]

I’m just getting started here. I really appreciate all of the effort that has gone in to this forum. Thank you.

I am looking at purchasing the equipment and software required to 5-box on one computer. I believe in that adage: “measure twice and cut once.” Thus I want to be sure of exactly what I need before making the purchases.

I think I have the equipment figured out from the many informative post on this forum. If anyone has any input about my planned equipment (listed below), I will appreciate the comments.

My main question is about the multiple copies of WoW & BC. I don’t remember entering and key-code when installing WoW. I have even read that many on this forum are only using one WoW directory. So do I need 5 copies? How are the copies associated with the accounts?

Planned Computer Build:

1) Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 (8MB L2 cache, 2.4GHz,1066FSB)
2) Windows Vista® Home Premium, 32-bit
3) 4GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
4) 250GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM)
5) SLI Power Supply 450 Watt or Greater (SLI for graphics card)
6) PCI Express 2.0 Slot on Mother Board 9 (for graphics card)
7) EVGA GeForce 8800 GT Video Card - Superclocked Edition, 512MB GDDR3
8) 2x 20”+ Monitors
9) X-Keys 56

Thanks

[Eteocles]

First: I'd get a 500-550w power supply at LEAST. Anything below 500 isn't acceptible for gaming anymore, let alone boxing lol

Second: You poor soul, you're going with Vista.(just my opinion :P )

Third: The "copies" aren't technically associated, you just have to buy them for the keys; my WoW install is a leftover BETA install, not ONCE have I installed from CDs. I run all 3 off the same install too lol; the keys are only input during Account Creation via Blizzard/WoW's website; you can pretty much take the key out and never touch the CD/DVDs.

Fourth: (AB)USE THE REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM! Invite yourself after account creation I think so that you end up getting Box's 30day Free time, then when you pay on the new account, the referring account gets a free month, saving you $15 each time, x4 new accounts = hellloooooo nurse/free time. I did this with my third acct(didn't think to with my 2nd) and am currently enjoying not having paid them more than $15 in the past month for all 3 accts lol

[Boom]

Be sure to keep your eyes open for WoW deals too. For some reason, they're popping up all over the web for insane prices. Some places have had WoW for $10 each. I got a bunch of Battlechests (wow and TBC) for only $19 each. Keep your eye on www.Techbargains.com ('http://www.techbargains.com/')

Boom

[Mith]

Regarding the multiple directories:

this setup is usefull if you plan on configuring your UI and mods individually for each instance of WoW open. (at least i think that is correct). Otherwise they all draw on the same interface/addons directory to draw the UI's. Also i think there was some talk on multiple directories resulting in better load times (if spread across different HD's). I could be wrong though. I run multiple instances of wow from separate directories and it works just fine for me. Never have tried running from a single directory.

[Eteocles]

As far as UI mods go, they do share the same DIRECTORY; they do NOT however, share the same setting of WHICH UIs are on per-ACCOUNT. I have Omen, recap, CTRA, and a few misc mods disabled on my alts, and all of the above enabled on my lead. The little "Addons" button at the bottomleft is your friend, and saves "Which UI is on and which are off" to a Folder in your wow dir named for EACH account; if you enable or disable for one, it's not changed for the other. Never has, either, I've still got my beta Account name's folders in my dirs lol

[DragonOfTheAges]

@Eteocles

Thanks for the detailed response.

First: Okay 550 watt here we come.

Second: Vista: So many people talk about it solving two monitor video problems. I personally like XP pro more than Vista (I have both). You have me rethinking that one.

Third: Good information, thank you.

Fourth: When I am my own friend for the "(AB)USE THE REFER A FRIEND PROGRAM", lol, do I need to use different email addresses? Do I get charged for the software (WoW) eventually? How much?

@Boom
I enjoy reading your posts; thanks for responding to mine.

I checked out that Circuit City $10 WoW deal. You have to go to Roseville, CA or Redding, CA to pickup (no shipping available). Redding is 1.5 hours from me and Roseville 2. Gasoline will consume my savings. I have not found any cheap battlechests yet.

No big matter as this is a small expense compared to the computer and monthly fees. I do like how this community looks out for each other.

@Mith

Good information. I will probable try both ways. Thanks.

@Eteocles

Thanks for adding even more information to the mix.

8)

[Eteocles]

I think what I did for refer a friend was send the invite; create an account with the key I was mailed; then immediately upgraded to a retail copy with the key from my WoW Box; my Account Info showed I had the 10 or 15 day trial still to go as Active, a 30month Trial as Pending, and once payment goes through after that 30day trial, my Referring account will be credited a Month's time as well

[XeR0X]

I would use a raptor x drive for my main drive instead (10k rpm) = ) and vista 64! i love vista it allocates memory so much better than xp and way more stable i find... i dont reboot for weeks or crash. If your good with comps vista 64 way better. Although it does take alot of tweaks and customizing to get it running just the way you want, so i guess not for the computer faint of heart types ;)

[Parsous]

Also, if this is your first foray into multi-boxing I'd suggest using trial accounts before spending money on a bunch of non-refundable (once opened) WoW boxes. If you decide it's viable then just use the refer-a-friend method.

[Chorizotarian]

I would use a raptor x drive for my main drive instead (10k rpm) = ) and vista 64! i love vista it allocates memory so much better than xp and way more stable i find... i dont reboot for weeks or crash. If your good with comps vista 64 way better. Although it does take alot of tweaks and customizing to get it running just the way you want, so i guess not for the computer faint of heart types ;)

I second both of these suggestions. I have had 2x Rators in RAID 0 in my last 2 machines, and they have not given me the least bit of trouble. The quality control on them seems to be much better than gignormous Maxtors that you can pick up for 1/2 the price.

I know that a lot of people knock Vista for gaming, but it has been great for me. Running x64 means that you can use all 4 GB of the RAM you paid for, which actually will matter when you 5-box.

[yarr]

wouldn't vista 64bit work better to make use of the full 4GB of memory (and also to make it expandable to 8gb in the future). I think 32bit stops at like 3GB-3.5GB.