going from 2 to 5, need advice

[Mons]

Here is my setup. Since launch I have been dual boxing the easy way. I have a mac dual G5 (main machine) and a macbook pro that sits on my left. So far I have powerleveled several characters for fun running them through instances.

But after seeing Xzin and Xbox videos I need to move to 5 box. Now the tricky part is that I already have two macs. Should I get 4 super cheap pcs and control them all from the main mac or should I just gete 4 cheap macs and find a hardware/software solution to use one keyboard/mouse.

Sorry for the noob question but my dual-boxing has been fairly simple so far but since I have disposable income I am really thinking about giving a 5 shamans or 1 priest + 4 felguard locks a try.

Please feel free to give pointers and what you recommend. There seems to be a lot of hardware/software available for PCs but not so sure about macs. I was even thinking about getting 4 mac minis and have one wireless keyboard/mouse combo...would that work?

Comments appreciated

[Wilbur]

Mac Mini's have crap GPU's so It wouldn't be advisable.

You can run a 5 box off of a single Computer, Quad Core, few gigs of RAM and some Decent GPU cards.

To be honest, the computer setup should be what you feel happiest using, taking into account space, costs, etc. Its true there isn't as much software developed for Macs, So depending on the type of setup you want, it may be beneficial to use PCs.

[cerruption]

So far I have powerleveled several characters for fun running them through instances.

Slightly OT, but how much XP do you get for this? I'm grinding another priest to 10 (ugh) on my trial account, just so I can give it a whirl in deadmines. I'm hoping its worth all the effort :twisted:

(yes I know its not much 'effort' leveling to 10 :lol: )

[Mons]

At the moment I have a 70 lock with felguard clearing SM in 15 mins and getting about 50 or 60 Xp per kill i think on a level 22 paly. 3 to 4 clears makes a level.

As far as my next setup I prefer to have dedicated boxes instead of running one machine with 5 clients because I don't know on the mac how to send keystrokes to the other clients when they are the background...yet. I was hoping people here would know.

But as far as the mac minis go, does it matter if the individual clients don t have high resolution graphics since they are all on follow?

My goal is to reproduce what Xzin was doing with his '10 movements' video and then experience the 5 shamans clear of a 5 man group instance. As far as XP, how much more do you get from having 3 people in your group? Does anyone know? is is int eh 10% or more like 30% because in that case getting a third box is really worth the extra Xp. I need to dig more into these forums, I am sure everything is already in there the more I look

[keyclone]

one thing to remember about Xzin's '10 movements', which was very cool, was that in order to have such in-sync motions and be able to record it, you need to have very, very low latency to the server. i would guess he normally has 10-40ms pings. after that, keeping them together is a function of action-to-input latency... which in his case is identical between all machines (since he is splitting signals... as far as i know)

as for your question... you could go buy 2 cheap pcs, test them out with trial accounts and split screens using wow maximizer... and if you just can't stand windows.. return them for an apple replacement.

keep in mind, you are in the game not the OS... the choice of OS should not really enter the picture (unless you want to software broadcast the keys... which i don't think exists for macs)

[Mons]

I think I will do just that, get 2 base PCs and that square backlighted keys controller Xzin mentioned (the one with the custom printed icons) and have the pcs mouse/keyboards linked together and use that keys controller for controlling the 4 PCs and see how it goes. I ll probably keep the dual G5 as my main since the keystrokes broadcasted don;t need to come from the main machine...I think.

I am so psyched about all this and really can not wait to blow some cash on my setup and get noobs go 'WTF!' just that alone would be worth it. I want to thank Xzin and Xbox for showing the path to beating boring questing and awful levelling times.

But my main goal is way in the future, I am thinking of the open pvp area in WotlK and have 4 death knights and a 80 priest or just 5 locks or 5 shamans like xbox's...we will see how that goes. If all goes well I will star posting my setup in less than a month and keep a blog somehwere.

[Bradster]

You may find this useful on what your looking at for costs.
http://bradster.net/forum/index.php?topic=9.0

[MrLonghair]

How much larger do the power bills get? Dualboxing wasn't that much of an impact for me I think.

[Valorin]

Hey Mons,

I can't believe I missed this post. I just posted my mac summary, so in effort not to repeat myself, let me just say this about this mac + pc clones idea..

I've decided to go that way myself (at Morganti's urging) and so soon I'll be able to post how the mix works (tomorrow according to FedEx :) ). Anyway, the new mac version of synergy can do keybroadcasting across multiple macs and it's really smooth. In two days, I should be able to tell you whether it'll keybroadcast from macs to pcs. Of course, there's always the vetra as praised at length on these forums.

I hope this helps.

[Wilbur]

I should be able to tell you whether it'll keybroadcast from macs to pcs.

The original does, I'm not sure if your modified version will though.

[Valorin]

I should be able to tell you whether it'll keybroadcast from macs to pcs.

The original does, I'm not sure if your modified version will though.

Well, believe the original modified synergy keybroadcasts from pc's to macs by all accounts, but I've not heard about the other way around yet. Of course, macs can't run the .exe that keybroadcasts already.

[Mons]

I am thinking of getting 4 of those
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/sp3.asp

unless you guys can recommend another vendor or system around the 600 to 700 each, let me know

[Ughmahedhurtz]

I am thinking of getting 4 of those
http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/sp3.asp

unless you guys can recommend another vendor or system around the 600 to 700 each, let me knowRead this first: http://bradster.net/epicfail.htm

[Mons]

Rofl...ok thanks for the tip

you guys have any links/vendors you would recommend. I really need base machines not anything fancy

[Tealuin]

[I paid about $1600 for the four computers I bought]

I bought 4 Dell Insprion 531 Athlon 64 X2 duo 3800+ (2 GHz) boxes. Only change I made to base cofiguration was get the 128 MB GeForce 8300GS.

At 1280 x 1024 res in Shattrath I was getting ~30 FPS with just some minor chop while turning on an epic flying mount, settings mostly low. Other than that it handled the game great when I tested with my two main accounts on the test realm.

I wouldn't suggest ordering X-keys from EnableMart. They had the USB X-Keys for cheaper than PI Engineering, or anywhere else that happens to sell X-keys for that matter. So I had them special order the PS/2 version, took 2 weeks just to get the order finalized and they're finally shipped this past Monday so will finally be up and running 5-box style in a couple more days I hope.

Originally I was supposed to have saved about $30, but they didn't honor the same price as they charge for the USB models (which I figured might happen) but waiting two weeks for order processing definitely not worth the $10 I saved on shipping costs compared to ordering direct from PI.


Edit: Forgot to mention price per PC

[Jezebel]

if you look at the prebuilt systems offered by HP, dell, etc.. sub-par graphics, generic or cheapo motherboards and ram. half the time its difficult to even identify the exact model number of something in the system.. and whenever you have even a minor system problem youre forced to go through (Eg.) dell approved repair centres or void your warranty.

find a cheap, local PC store that has been around for a good while and pick the parts yourself (after doing some research) and, if you dont feel comfortable doing it yourself, have them assembled before you pick them up. you will end up with vastly superior machines. if youre not sure about parts or shops.. try googling local tech forums.. there are some really great online communities (such as the whirlpool forums, if youre in australia) that have a lot of helpful advice.

[Zseth]

Wow, Brad, I took the time to read through your entire story with Cyberpowerinc and I will buy from them. Now, Ibuypower.com I have purchased 3 machines from all with excellent results and to date NOT A SINGLE ISSUE with any of the machines. Currently however, I'm probably going to go with buying parts from TigerDirect and cases from Ibuypower to make my four new machines so I can bump up to ten boxing.

[Jezebel]

Wow, Brad, I took the time to read through your entire story with Cyberpowerinc and I will buy from them. Now, Ibuypower.com I have purchased 3 machines from all with excellent results and to date NOT A SINGLE ISSUE with any of the machines. Currently however, I'm probably going to go with buying parts from TigerDirect and cases from Ibuypower to make my four new machines so I can bump up to ten boxing.

id be wary making any significant purchases through online stores. it really helps to have a physical address to go to if you need any support or returns. even if you have a contact phone number.. returns and warranty claims can be hell if you have no way to physically go in with a receipt and a part and talk to someone.

[Zseth]

I live 30 minutes from where TigerDirect operates haha. I've gone straight into the office before to buy something.

[Tealuin]

Unfortunately not everybody lives somewhere that they can do all their business locally.

The point is valid about trying to buy local can provide better support. In my case though I can buy a lot of stuff online, and so long as shipping isn't outrageous (parts of the US still think that Alaska is overseas/island/etc), the huge savings offset compared to buying local and my working with Internet/computers makes up [for] that.

I do buy local when I can, like the four LCDs I bought locally as I wasn't going to pay $600 for monitors plus $200 in shipping. :roll:

[Jezebel]

lol i wonder if dells extended on-site pickup warranty covers where you live? =)

[Mons]

Quick progress report, so far got:
- Xkeys
- 4 extra wow copies
- 4 extra lcds
- 2 dual vertical stands for lcds

Still undecided on the 4 machines, maybe the base Dell ones, not sure...got to check the local microcenter to see if they have cool deals. Then I only need a Vetra KVM and then I am good to go. I will basically have one keyboard+xkeys/mouse on KVM to 4 pcs and a Dual g5 as my main.

I need a KVM that enables a quick switch from either all 4 at once or select machine 1,2,3 or 4 with just a button press not one of those buttons you need to turn. Vetra still the best? or do you have USB KVM recommendations?

[Slats]

You going to use software to broadcast your keystrokes? Seems a shame to go all that way and not use a Vetra Broadcaster.

I have the 8 Port KM switch, and the 8 port Vetra Broadcaster.

On my X-Keys stick I bind the first button to Scroll Lock 1, (goes to ALL PC's) SLck + 2, +3, +4, +5, +6 all goto the individual machines.

I use a PS/2 mouse on the KM switch so I can individually control any machines mouse input when I switch to it.

I will be using 4 wireless mice (still undecided on brand/model) as my mice 'broadcasting' 4 receivers one mouse.

I use a Dell XPS M1710 as my main PC, I take this to work as well and play there on my nightshifts - otherwise it sits on my dock and acts as the main PC plugged into all the Vetra/X-Keys bla bla.

What LCD's did you go with? I am considering Samsung 740B 17" or perhaps 19". Did you by the DS Ergotron series or the LX newer series? I am considering going the LX setup and buying two dual arm ones.

Still got some stuff to work out but should be up and running soon too. =)

Excited!

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Just a quick reminder: if you do get the Vectra PS/2 broadcaster, make sure the PCs you buy have PS/2 ports. Some of the newer systems are "legacy free" and won't have those. There are adapters for this but I think some of the folks on here have had issues with the PC recognizing the devices with the adapters in place.

[Vyndree]

Just a quick reminder: if you do get the Vectra PS/2 broadcaster, make sure the PCs you buy have PS/2 ports.

QFT.

My vetra is collecting dust right now until my 3 new PC's show up. Curse you laptops!

[Mons]

I spoke with Vetra an hour ago and they said that a 4x usb KVM is about to be launched...in like two or three weeks or something like that.

At the moment I have the xkeys USB (since I may need to use it on the mac) so I'll be waiting for Vetra now to release their kvm since I believe all the others usb ones have delays...like 5 seconds right?.