Creating a 5 box setup. Need advice

[Bradster]

Greetings,

I’m currently dual boxing at the present, which is fun, but it just made me want more. That said I would like to expand to a 5 box setup. My aim is to aim high and do a 5 V 5 team. My planned party make up would be one Holy Priest and four Affliction Warlocks.

I have chosen this combo for simplicity. One keyboard to control the four Warlocks, and my main being the Priest (another keyboard/mouse) unless there’s an easier way?

My limitation has been funds. I have a very strong main machine, and a really crappy second machine that would have to be replaced for the project. Taking in to the account I have one solid machine. I’m looking at the cost of 4 machines and the boxes. I think I can pull this off. But to do this I’ll need some guidance and I hope that some of you are willing to work with me and make suggestions.

Ideal Budget Target: $2500.

Monitors:
At the present I never look at my 2nd computer monitor. I just reach over and press the buttons I need without even looking. As much as I’d love to have five monitors going. Is this something I could simply skip for now, and upgrade to something later when funds permit? I plan to keep the priest on one keyboard, mouse, monitor, the warlocks on another keyboard, mouse, monitor with a KVM and Multiplexer to handle all the other characters. Which I have a single extra monitor for those four accounts. Would that suffice for what I’m trying to do?

Computer Setup:
I don’t want to go overboard on these machines because they will only serve one function. However later down the road say I want to multi-box Warhammer. I don’t want to have to replace all the machines to do so.

That said here is what I’m looking at. I’m pretty set about ordering from this one company (barebones setups) I used to built my own pc’s using www.pricewatch.com but when things go bad (and they will) its always a hassle to deal with the replacement. If I have downtime on one PC, I have downtime on all of them since I will be leveling them together. I’ve been extremely happy with this one company in terms of service, and product. I value the little extra spent knowing it’s going to work and I have a problem I only have one company to call, to trouble shoot it for me.

Case: ATX Medium Tower with 350 Watt.
Questions: Do you feel that will be enough? I’m trying to keep the wattage down for the mercy of the electric bill and power breaker. Do you think a single residential outlet (15amp) be able to handle this load? 350Watt x4, Plus the main machine 500Watt, along with two monitors. Both of which are CRT’s that draw more power then LCDs.

CPU: Sckt755 Intel P D 805 Dual-core CPU @ 2.66GHz 533FSB 2x1MB L2 Cache EM64T

CDROM – Included SONY 52X CD-ROM

FAN: Stock Intel LGA775 certified CPU fan & heat sink
Question: Are these loud?

HDD: Single Hard Drive (160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

MOTHERBOARD: ECS 945P-A I945P Chipset LGA775 1066FSB DDR2/667 SATA Dual 16X PCI-Express Platform W/7.1Audio,GbLAN,&USB2.0
Question: Never used ECS, only Asus. This was a downgrade in motherboard to save $25 for each PC. Times four it makes a difference! Any thoughts on this choice?

MEMORY: 1GB (2x512MB) PC5300 DDR2/667 Dual Channel Memory Corsair
(Upgrade from 512M)

NETWORK: Onboard 10/100

SOUND: Onboard (doesn’t matter)

VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS (again a slight upgrade on video card scales across four machines).

Cost per machine: (with shipping) $555.00 (shipping included $65.00)

Total PC costs: $2,220.00

What do you think of this rig setup for mutiboxing? Keep in mind with the rest of the equipment I’m going over budget. Is there something that stands out to you that looks like a bad idea?

Once I have this part worked out, we've move to the rest of the hardware =)


Thanks
-Brad

[Xzin]

Greetings,

I’m currently dual boxing at the present, which is fun, but it just made me want more. That said I would like to expand to a 5 box setup. My aim is to aim high and do a 5 V 5 team. My planned party make up would be one Holy Priest and four Affliction Warlocks.

I have chosen this combo for simplicity. One keyboard to control the four Warlocks, and my main being the Priest (another keyboard/mouse) unless there’s an easier way?

My limitation has been funds. I have a very strong main machine, and a really crappy second machine that would have to be replaced for the project. Taking in to the account I have one solid machine. I’m looking at the cost of 4 machines and the boxes. I think I can pull this off. But to do this I’ll need some guidance and I hope that some of you are willing to work with me and make suggestions.

Ideal Budget Target: $2500.

Monitors:
At the present I never look at my 2nd computer monitor. I just reach over and press the buttons I need without even looking. As much as I’d love to have five monitors going. Is this something I could simply skip for now, and upgrade to something later when funds permit?

You *can* but you will need SOME way to look at them for configurations, ec. TightVNC is free and would work. Consider that when your main dies you are pretty much screwed - unacceptable for serious PvP.

I plan to keep the priest on one keyboard, mouse, monitor, the warlocks on another keyboard, mouse, monitor with a KVM and Multiplexer to handle all the other characters. Which I have a single extra monitor for those four accounts. Would that suffice for what I’m trying to do?

Consider wireless keyboards set to the same freq - saves you $400 on Vetras at the price of some hardware flexibility. Setup proper keybinds as it will always broadcast.

Computer Setup:
I don’t want to go overboard on these machines because they will only serve one function. However later down the road say I want to multi-box
Warhammer. I don’t want to have to replace all the machines to do so.


XPSes, Shuttles, etc are a good way to save money, since all they will ever do is play WoW, etc. I suspect any 7600+ card will play WAR just fine.

That said here is what I’m looking at. I’m pretty set about ordering from this one company (barebones setups) I used to built my own pc’s using www.pricewatch.com but when things go bad (and they will) its always a hassle to deal with the replacement. If I have downtime on one PC, I have downtime on all of them since I will be leveling them together. I’ve been extremely happy with this one company in terms of service, and product. I value the little extra spent knowing it’s going to work and I have a problem I only have one company to call, to trouble shoot it for me.

Case: ATX Medium Tower with 350 Watt.
Questions: Do you feel that will be enough? More than enough. I’m trying to keep the wattage down for the mercy of the electric bill and power breaker. Do you think a single residential outlet (15amp) be able to handle this load? 350Watt x4, Plus the main machine 500Watt, along with two monitors. Both of which are CRT’s that draw more power then LCDs. No. Especially not if other things are on the breaker.

CPU: Sckt755 Intel P D 805 Dual-core CPU @ 2.66GHz 533FSB 2x1MB L2 Cache EM64T

CDROM – Included SONY 52X CD-ROM

FAN: Stock Intel LGA775 certified CPU fan & heat sink
Question: Are these loud? Any cpu is loud if it is stock. Depends on what you are ok with.

HDD: Single Hard Drive (160GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 8MB Cache 7200RPM HDD)

MOTHERBOARD: ECS 945P-A I945P Chipset LGA775 1066FSB DDR2/667 SATA Dual 16X PCI-Express Platform W/7.1Audio,GbLAN,&USB2.0
Question: Never used ECS, only Asus. This was a downgrade in motherboard to save $25 for each PC. Times four it makes a difference! Any thoughts on this choice? Don't skimp on motherboards or power supplies - you will regret it later.

MEMORY: 1GB (2x512MB) PC5300 DDR2/667 Dual Channel Memory Corsair
(Upgrade from 512M)

NETWORK: Onboard 10/100

SOUND: Onboard (doesn’t matter)

VIDEO: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS 256MB 16X PCI EXPRESS (again a slight upgrade on video card scales across four machines). This might not be enough for 60+ FPS or WAR. The 7300 is gimp compared to the 7600. Check Toms Hardware for charts. It will still be very playable though, if that is all you need.

Cost per machine: (with shipping) $555.00 (shipping included $65.00)

Total PC costs: $2,220.00

What do you think of this rig setup for mutiboxing? Keep in mind with the rest of the equipment I’m going over budget. Is there something that stands out to you that looks like a bad idea?

Once I have this part worked out, we've move to the rest of the hardware =)


Thanks
-Brad

Check your PMs

[Bradster]

You *can* but you will need SOME way to look at them for configurations, ec. TightVNC is free and would work. Consider that when your main dies you are pretty much screwed - unacceptable for serious PvP.

My thinking could be really off here. But I think the way I have it setup this might work.

Vector setup to all 4 machines, 1 mouse 1 keyboard 1 monitor.
We have Player A,B,C,D
Player A - dies.
Could I use a KVM switch JUST for the monitors? Thus I could use the KVM hotkey Example: Hit Scroll lock then hit number 2 for player B display. The only thing I would be doing is changing the display, my keyboard and mouse controls will still remain the same. Would that work?


Consider wireless keyboards set to the same freq - saves you $400 on Vetras at the price of some hardware flexibility. Setup proper keybinds as it will always broadcast.
I think i'm going to go right for the vectra. I may consider the keyboard option but I think getting the vectra out of the way would hurt he wallet but be the best choice. In other words i'm willing to make this investment.


I suspect any 7600+ card will play WAR just fine.
I have a 7600GT in my main machine now, but i'm also running SLI. How would you feel about the NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 256MB 16X PCI Express?

No. Especially not if other things are on the breaker.

This worries me a bit. I'm in an apartment; I can't see my landlord running a new wire. I'm pretty sure the whole room is on a single circuit, which means I’m going to need to run an extension cord to plug in 3 computers on it (3 on the other circuit). I'll have to talk this over with my wife. I can't see this going over too well but I think I’m in the clear lol.

Question: Are these loud? Any cpu is loud if it is stock. Depends on what you are ok with. Now that I think about it, this should be ok. These PCS would be located near the Window AC unit which is allready loud.

Don't skimp on motherboards or power supplies - you will regret it later.

The next upgrade selection for power supply is 500Watt and at a added cost of $50 each. I really wish they had more of a selection.

The motherboard options I have ECS or I could go with an Asus for an added cost of $25 each. These Asus boards support SLI altho I will not be using it. I've always had good luck with Asus. I think i'll speak with the techincal team and compare the both boards with them.


Check your PMs [/quote]

Thank you ^^

[Xzin]

Quick note - you don't need BIG power supplies - you need well built ones. Not the $30 case that comes with a power supply ones

Most PCs REALLY do not need 300+ watt power supplies.

[Bradster]

"The Bradster Project" is almost complete.

KVM and the new 8 port Mutiplexer model ordered.
4 Gamer machines ordered
4 Wirless mouse ordered.

The machines will roll out in about 10 days. Then another 5 for shipping. So about 15 (working) days. I should be ready to start building this Lean mean Xzin machine.

Side note: Went over budget about $500. I will create a full write up of the budget version for those like me that or either cheap or broke =)