New PC Built

Finally I built my new PC last week. Costed me nearly $4000. I overclocked my QX9650 to 3.6Ghz. I could have gone up to 4Ghz but decided to stay at 3.6Ghz to keep temperature lower.

Here is a great guide for overclocking QX9650 with Asus P5E3 Deluxe,

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...oc.aspx?i=3156

My BANS site

I did not spend much time working on it. This is no where close to done, but here it is: www.GamingPCParts.com

I'll keep working on it gradually but, right now, I am a bit busy with upgrading my PC.

Building BANS web site

Recently I came across of something called Build A Niche Store (BANS). Basically it is a tool that allows you to create your own eBay affiliate web site. It costs $97. I can't say it is cheap, but decided give it a try. This tool is quite straight forward. You don't really have to deal with too much codes. You mostly work within the GUI. It comes with the step-by-step instructions for some of codes you need to deal with. Besides BANS, you will need to buy your domain name, and have a web site hosting that based on Linux/Unix and supports MySQL database access. I am using 1&1 web hosting, which I highly recommend it.

I am going to start building my first BANS site soon. I will post my web site when it is in shape.

Amazon Holiday Return Policy.

Amazon is currently offering holiday return policy, which you can return most items up through Janurary 31, 2008. So you have 3 months to return.

I just bought Geforce 8800 Ultra from Amazon. Nvidia is going release new GeForce 8950GX2 around January 2008. I did not want to wait for it, because I want to upgrade my PC very soon. If 8950GX2 turns out to be more powerful than 8800 Ultra, I will return my 8800 Ultra and replace with 8950GX2.

Upgrading my PC

It has been a while since my last post. I have been quite busy with something.

This fall, I am going to spend around $4,000 to upgrade my PC. I am going to upgrade practically everything except a case and the monitor. I have not made my final decision, but I am seriously considering of following:

CPU: Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Motherboard: Asus P5E3 Delux/WiFi @n
RAM: Corsair XMS3 DHX 4GB DDR3 (TWIN3X4096-1600C7DHX G)
Video: Hopefully new Nvidia G92, or 8800 Ultra until a new one releases
Sound: Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Pro
HDD: 150GB Raptor 10,000 RPM (x2 for RAID 0) + my current 2 7200 RPM 500GB HDDs
PSU: Thermaltake ToughPower 1200W
OS: Win XP 32-bit & Vista Ultimate 64-bit

If you have any suggestion, please let me know.

Going to Vegas

I am going to take another vacation again. it would probably be the last one for this summer. This time, I am going to Vegas. I will post some pictures after I came back.

Installed invisibleSHIELD on iPhone

Ever since I got iPhone, I have been looking for a case to protect beautiful screen and body. All cases add extra thickness to iPhone, I did not like any of them. After searching online, I finally found a perfect one. It is no exactly a case but a protection film called invisibleSHIELD from ZAGG, Inc. invisibleSHIELD covers screen and entire body. So now I can put iPhone in my pocket with earphones without extra thickness and worry of getting scratches. It comes with the application solution, which is the liquid that you spray to both sides of film during installation, so then you can easily push out the bubbles with a plastic card. It took me about 30 minutes to install. Thanks to the application solution, I did not have any hard time installing it. I highly recommend this for protection of your portable toys.

Niagara Falls

7-6

Niagara Falls - Canadian Side









View from my room at Hilton. http://www.niagarafallshilton.com/

Just got iPhone

I just received my iPhone today. I was not able to get it on 6/29, so I had to order it online. Mine does not have any dead pixel or battery issue. I absolutely love this phone! However, there are some cons: new 2-year contract and no 3G support.

Tropical Botanical Garden

6-18

Basically, this is the end of my trip. After this, I went to Osaka and stayed there with my friends for a few days. On 23rd, took a flight from Osaka to Narita, then came back to the U.S.

Mori no Glass-kan

6-17

You can create your glass craft (reservation required). I did not make a reservation but, since they had an open spot, they offered me if I want to try. I was not in the mood (a bit depressed after Himeyuri and Peace Memorial Museums), so I politely declined their offer.

Himeyuri Peace Museum

6-17

It is a museum and memorial of high school student nurses. Most of them were killed or committed suicided while being surrounded by allied forces. Only a few survived.

Peace Memorial Museum

6-17

I truly hope there will be no more war.

Churaumi Aquarium

6-17

This is the world's second largest aquarium.









World's Largest acrylic glass panel. Very Stunning!

Okinawa World

6-18

Okinawa Gyokusendo Cave

U.S. Airforce Base

6-18
















Seems like those are F/A-18s.

Shuri Castle

6-18

Kyu Kaigun Shireigou

6-16

Old Naval Command

Meow and Jiji

Meow seems to like Jiji.

Ghibli Museum

6-13


I bought a voucher (top) from Lawson's Loppi. At museum, you will be given a unique ticket ( bottom) that contains actual film. Mine is Laputa.

If you cannot read Japanese at all, you will have a very hard time buying voucher with Loppi. I don't think Loppi has English option, so you will need someone to help you. Even though I speak Japanese, it took me a while to find Ghibli Museum from huge lists and enter my information.