My review // Now with PICTURES of HAF case!

Ookay, Hello everyone, and while there are about 3,450,129,193,123 reviews on this site, I thought I'd add my own in here as well.


Gaming is a dream on the system, and I couldn't be happier with the computer DSO built for me. I will fully recommend DSO to family and friends. I can definitely see myself buying another computer from DSO later down the road.
Thanks for everything!

I ordered my system 09/12/08, and the computer shipped out of the DSO warehouse 09/23/08. This is a total of 8 business days, so already, DSO beat their estimations on how long it would take. This is my system's specs:


Order Contents:

Chassis: Cooler Master HAF 932
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra SLI) (DDR3 Only)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 OCZ at 1600MHz Platinum Edition
Card Reader: Internal Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Video Card(s): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 280 1GB (Includes PhysX Technology)
Sound Card: Razer Barracuda AC-1 (Recommended)
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
CPU Boost: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Memory Boost: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

My first experience with DSO Customer support was a phone call, shortly before placing my order. I just wanted someone to look over my system and see if there was anything that looked out of the ordinary. I got Kelly on the phone, and he was quite patient with me while I just kind of stumbled all over my build, asking what was probably stupid questions. While this was going on, he even suggested I take a couple of things off of my computer, to save me some money. Things I didn't need. I could totally see him rolling his eyes at me over the phone lol (I'm kind of shy, and I'm not a big phone talker... I think it was obvious), however he stuck through it.


When I first purchased the system, there were a couple of things different about it: Slower RAM speed, a different case. After listening to a couple of suggestions from Kelly, I changed to the HAF case and the OCZ 1600MHz Ram. The overall cost difference was not much, so no problems there. Unfortunately, I asked for these changes when the system was in Stage 2, and my email wasn't answered for whatever strange reason. I had to call the day after I sent the email, after not seeing a response (By the way, DSO has a very fast email response. Big kudos for that), and got Kelly again. He claimed that he answered all of my emails, but after I insisted I sent another email to ask for those items changed, did he find it in the sales inbox

My guess is that someone opened it, and just had a brainfart, or got sidetracked. That's no real biggie though, it happens to the best of us, and I wasn't too mad about it.

The only real downer about the above is that, like I said, at the time I asked for the parts to be changed, the system was still in Stage 2, and therefore all the components were in a big plastic bin, presumably unopened. By the time I got my request honored, the system was in stage 4 (Stage 3 confirmation was never emailed to me). This was Sept 15. Stage 4 happened Sept. 16.

Because of this, I was charged a $60 rebuild fee that may or may not have been avoided. It was a little disheartening...

That's all the negative I have to say about customer support though! During the building, these poor guys were bombarded by at least 15-20 questions from me, and I was most pleased that Kelly answered almost all of them in a very polite, patient manner. Dealing with customer service at DSO is a real pleasure... I believe someone here on the forums said that talking with the folks at DSO is like talking with a friend... I now understand what that person meant. Big kudos to Kelly. He's a keeper for sure.

The day before (Sept 22), I also asked a couple of last questions, which were promptly answered by Duke. Thanks Duke!

*Edit* Kelly informed me that the CPU was OC'd to 3.34 GHz! VERY NICE JUMP!

Nobody give me grief over the room; it looks completely different now! Can't do much about the stains on the carpet; it's ancient, and is about to be replaced anyway.



The computer system fired up right out of the box, with no flaws. I haven't had a chance to really put it through it's paces, but I'm more than pleased that it is capable of recording video at least 1920x1200 resolution with at LEAST 48 FPS. I'll post what I think about performance later next week.


As an update on stability, I've had the system blue screen on me once (ERROR! "Modification of system code or critical data structure"). Google seems a bit vague on it, so I may have some funny RAM, or it isn't set right. If it goes BSOD again, I'll check the seating, if I can figure out how to get the cooling fan off of the RAM.

I've also had the system completely freeze on me out of the blue; as in, no response whatsoever. Had to force shut down by holding the power button down. I was actually away from the computer when this happened (Was watching Oz with the wife). Both times, there was nothing going on except an open web browser. If this happens again, I will be calling support on it.


*Edit* The computer keeps freezing up on me. Is this because of the CPU?


Performance wise, I am blown away. Everything runs like Hell on Wheels. The Velociraptor is incredible, reaching writing speeds of 150mb/sec (If Window's Copying calculations are to be trusted), and gaming is a true joy.

I have on it at the moment -- the Saga of Ryzom / Warhammer Online / Crysis / S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Clear Sky / The Witcher... all run extremely well except S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Crysis. Crysis is far more playable though, motion blur does wonders for low FPS.
In the end on gaming, I am going to take DST4ME's advice and nab another GTX280 near the end of the year. By then my bank account can take another beating.

 I have determined that DSO did a fine job on Overclocking the system. I set the system to base speed because my computer kept crashing, and recently I've discovered that whenever FRAPS is loaded, the system has a chance to freeze up. Not running FRAPS keeps me crash free, and a happy camper. Since then, I've set the system back to the overclock speeds it was shipped to me with, and have been crash free for a few days now, with the system on 24/7 (What? I like to download things!)


 

PROS - Phenomenal Customer support
          - The computer came in very good packaging. No dings, dents, scratches, or even fingerprints.
           - All original manuals (sans Case) and extra wiring also came with the system.
           - Just LOOK at the computer pictures above! How can you not fall in love with that thing?

Questionable (?) - There was a $60 rebuild fee that may or may not have been avoided due to a "lost" email, which was later found. As you can see in the posts below, Alex is trying to bribe me with a free game.   Shows you how much DSO likes to take care of their customers! Told you! Phenomenal customer support! How can you go wrong?

                        - I've had a couple of crashes, and I have determined that FRAPS hates my system, which means that I have no complaints with the job DSO has done. I just need to figure out what FRAPS hates in my system so much.

CONS: None here, move along.

So far, overall rating of DSO: 10/10   --- I would definitely recommend friends / family to give DSO their business.
That's all for now!


Edited by Jeremiah.L - 17 Oct 2008 at 11:14am

Alex, I'm not THAT broken up by it. I don't know how fast your orders go through production (which is why I added the "It may or may not have been prevented").I WAS hoping to get that taken care of before DSO spent the time and energy building it in the wrong case.

So, yeah. that's all. I won't be wanting the fee refunded, and never intended on trying to get it refunded either.  You guys deserve to get paid for any extra work you do.

Whaaat? Oh no no no, that's completely unnecessary. You don't have to do that.

*googles Crysis: Warhead*

...what? I don't know what it is. Don't hang me please.

*glances over shoulder, half expecting to see a small swarm of angry PC gamers sharpening their pitchforks*

On a side note: Who's Jason? Is he the head honcho of DSO? Sales Department? Am I completely messing up the chain of command?


Edited by Jeremiah.L - 24 Sep 2008 at 2:45pm

So I saw. In all honesty, Crysis is a joke of a game in my eyes (Even if it is a good game, but you have to really be full of yourself to make a game so hardcore that nothing but the Large Hadron Collider can run it butter smooth at max settings).


Of course, that doesn't mean I wouldn't play it :) It IS an awfully pretty game to look at, plus videos like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Iw98DCyp0

make me want to do stuff like that as well ^^

Nah, I wouldn't worry about it Alex. Thanks for the offer though.

Now, if you were offering a free Dead Space game... it's just too bad EA will most likely load it up with horrible DRM, a la Spore.

I know Axel :(

I'm most likely gonna get it for my 360, because at least the 360 won't have SecuROM garbage all through it.

No that information is for private eyes

Bump to the top! 

-looks at the top- Is that the..... fan?...... It's.... tiny O_o;

Aside from that looks wicked.  I feel more and more fine with sticking with that case ahaha.


Edited by Axel Daemon - 26 Sep 2008 at 4:19pm

Yeah there's 3 220+mm fans one in the front, side, and on the top, that's why I'm wondering as to where it went lol.

Unless it had to be removed due to the radiator.


Edited by Axel Daemon - 26 Sep 2008 at 4:35pm

Ya I thought it had a small one in the front but I was wrong its got 3 big ones.

I'm with LD, why one fan on top?

but man the HAF looks even better then pic I have seen, it looks like a beast, wow, wow.

now its harder to wait for mine

Edited by DST4ME - 26 Sep 2008 at 5:20pm

Man, i wish the HAF was out when i got a computer haha..i really like that case a lot...the Cosmos S is great...but its expensive compared to the HAF lol...

showing me these pics, I will not be able to contain myself and will go on a crazy shopping spree .


Wow love HAF, its all I thought it would be and more.

Thank you very much Duke for clearing that up boss

Thanks for the clarification about the stock 230mm fan Duke.  I know it's possible to mount 2 - 120mm fans on the top when removing the stock fan.  Is that still possible with mounting the radiator the way it is or does the mounting of the radiator there not allow the install of both fans?

Sorry, fell asleep.

It's not exactly loud; It's about as loud as a small fan running next to you. Nothing to get bent out of shape over. I'm still trying to get used to the sound of the liquid sloshing around. It kinda freaks me out.

write down the stop error next time

DST4Me, the Stop error was written in my previous posts. I'll go ahead and bold it for you.

I had the system keep freezing on me about an hour into operation, so I had to do something about the OC speeds, since I cant think of anything else that would cause my system to lock up like that.

I don't know how to mess with overclocking CPUs much, but I did reduce the multiplier from 8 to 7, and the system hasn't locked up on me since I did that. Dropped the speed down about 400Mhz, but I can cope with that til I talk to tech support on monday.

Edited for clarity.


Edited by Jeremiah.L - 28 Sep 2008 at 5:38am

Oh okay, sorry. I'll write that down if it BSODs on me again.