Xzin's Original 5 Box Setup

[Xzin]

This is where it all started. Drawing upon Team Wizzy's DAoC success, I was inspired to do the same for WoW. I didn't just want to do the same thing he did - I wanted more flexibility. I wanted to customize it for WoW and I wanted better input, better control, a better setup. I had absolutely no idea how to go about doing it so I dug in and found most of the resources that I have already posted about here. Vetras, wireless keyboards, X-keys, mini keyboards, KVMs, monitor mounts, etc. I wish a site like this was available when I started boxing - would have saved me a TON of time.

This was my original 5 boxing setup. Built back around 2004. I used it to level the Zins to 60 and achieve Warlord on all 5. It was a fairly complex setup at the time, 6 computers, 7 monitors, 2 Vetra Multicasters, 1 Vetra KVM, 5x Happy Hacking Keyboards, 1 X-Keys Stick and 1 X-Keys Desktop. I designed it myself - there were no guides or resources like this site to go by. I had to figure out what I wanted to do, what was possible to do and then actually figure it out through lots of trial and error. The computers are under the main desk and there are 2 more side desks that form a U, giving me lots of desk space. I modified the desk legs to give me more leg room and also added two "end tables" by cutting a 4th desk in half and using both sides on either side of the desk with the monitors to make the length of the "main" desk equal, rather than leaving gaps there. Not sure if that makes sense or not .

My chair (not shown) is a LEAP chair - very comfortable and far better than an Aeron. The USB "piano" keyboard I used to dabble with creating my own digital music.

A decent 5.1 surround sound system, a Griffin powermate volume knob (to instantly mute, change volume) and a set of wireless mice help to round things out. A nice, clean, basic, functional setup.

The picture quality is pretty poor - at the time I lacked a real DSLR camera. Honestly, it looks worse than several of the other setups out there - but keep in mind that I did this back in 2004, over 3 years ago. I dug around and tried to find a better picture but it seems that I never really took a good series of shots before I started upgrading.

Anyway - here is the first generation of my computer setup. Knowing what I know now, it was a robust and reliable setup but there was certainly room for improvement. Which I have made and put into place for my latest 10 boxing setup Apologies for the webcam quality picture. I may be able to dig up some better ones.



My latest setup.... is quite the upgrade from what you see above I doubled the number of computers and redesigned everything from the ground up, all custom made. But I will be saving those pics for later - if I decide to release them at all - see my next post for an explanation why.

[webology]

I think it's interesting to see your setup and there are several of us out there that have been doing this for years too. I have never gone as high as ten (or even five). I have been working on cleaning up my setup and documenting it as well.

I'm puzzled why you've mentioned that your current setup is so secretive. For a guy that has quite a few public articles about him and you've given the server name, classes, origins, and names of your characters publicly. You've documented your hardware, recommendations, even macros at times. I guess I fail to see why it's such a secret since you've been so public about everything else? (BTW, I don't mean anything negative by this but I am curious.)

[Xzin]

I'm puzzled why you've mentioned that your current setup is so secretive. For a guy that has quite a few public articles about him and you've given the server name, classes, origins, and names of your characters publicly. You've documented your hardware, recommendations, even macros at times. I guess I fail to see why it's such a secret since you've been so public about everything else?

I don't mind being known in the WoW Universe. But I keep my personal life separate from my gaming life.

In no particular order, there are a couple of reasons for this:

a) Not everybody "gets it" - they don't understand and I don't care to explain it to them.

b) I keep my business life and personal life separate. I keep my gaming life separate from my personal life. I have found through experience that it makes things easier.

c) I don't feel like I should have to justify my setup to anybody. You saw the reaction that the 47 boxer got? Most all of the comments were negative. People stereotype, they misunderstand, they don't want others to have nicer things - perhaps an element of jealousy? Hard to say but very few of the comments were positive.

d) I spent quite a bit of money and time on my setup, and I don't feel like flaunting it to everybody (even though it is pretty amazing and I put a lot of work into it). I am not going to lie about what I do or minimize and I realize that it is far beyond what most people are willing to spend on a game - but I don't feel the need to shove it in peoples faces.

e) Lastly, because it is so over the top and so far beyond what most people consider to be "normal" that quite honestly I am not sure I want the attention. Think the setup where Tank is at his operator console in The Matrix. It's like that - only worse. I mean... I customized EVERYTHING and while it looks quite organized and orderly... by most peoples "schema" of what a "normal" computer setup should be..... its so far out in left field that people have a hard time integrating it. People ask - "whats wrong with that guy" kind of questions. I have no problems helping people with their setups, describing what I did or how I overcame problems. You guys get it. Most people don't. And I am not really sure they ever will.



Which hopefully helps to explain my reticence towards posting my setup.

[Otlecs]

D'oh! Typical. I get here too late to see the picture, which I guess has been blocked by the host due to the number of hits

*sigh*

[Xzin]

I hosted it on photobucket.... it should display just fine....pretty sure the MASSIVE 20 or so people viewing it have not overwhelmded it... maybe they are down temporarily.

[mmcookies]

Geez I want a $900 chair =P

It sure looks comfy tho >_<

Just curious, and don't answer if you don't want to... what do you do for a living?

[caldvn]

c) I don't feel like I should have to justify my setup to anybody. You saw the reaction that the 47 boxer got? Most all of the comments were negative. People stereotype, they misunderstand, they don't want others to have nicer things - perhaps an element of jealousy? Hard to say but very few of the comments were positive.

47 computers didn't show us someone 47 boxing...

[Shogun]

Makes me chuckle that Xzin's "old" setup is what alot of us are currently aiming to set up

Shame we may never see the new one, as it sounds pretty phenomenal

[Xzin]

Geez I want a $900 chair =P

It sure looks comfy tho >_<

Just curious, and don't answer if you don't want to... what do you do for a living?

Entrepreneur.

[Scribbler]

Geez I want a $900 chair =P

It sure looks comfy tho >_<

Just curious, and don't answer if you don't want to... what do you do for a living?

Entrepreneur.

Can I have a job? :P