AMD Tech Tour 2006

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dandragonrage said:
I have a feeling they're not going to make the bundles so available this time around... They probably saw all the ones people turned around and sold for profit...
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I don't think that they care either - worst case scenario - they got a ton of positive advertisement because of it.
 
I also got this e-mail last week. I bought the desktop bundle last year and am currently using a computer with that MB and CPU. Assuming that this year's bundle has a dual core chip, I must resist the urge to buy it!
 
Talked to someone about this last week, apparently the "bundle" isn't locked down as a config yet...there is apparently some talk that they want to put together a full blown system type bundle, not just mobo, cpu, windows.

Also, there will be no AM2, no socket F, and no Quad Core :(

That hardware isn't really gonna be pushed till after the last tour stop, and this tour is supposed to focus more on MS Vista. Which is funny cause that won't really hit en masse till next year (January debut)
 
hardwarephreak said:
Talked to someone about this last week, apparently the "bundle" isn't locked down as a config yet...there is apparently some talk that they want to put together a full blown system type bundle, not just mobo, cpu, windows.

Also, there will be no AM2, no socket F, and no Quad Core :(
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WHAT THE HELL?! I was expecting a cheap mobo and CPU to get me going, I don't want to shell out all that extra cash for a whole computer.

I think most of us around here having electrical dreams about Opteron 1xx or Athlon 64 X2 3xxx series bundles.
 
Indeed, I was hoping to upgrade to an X2 and was fairly sure they'd offer one in the bundle. If it's a whole system though...pass.
 
Anyone have the url to the site for login?

I used to recieve these emails, but have since changed my email address.

Doc
 
GlimmerMan said:
Somehow, I don't think they made money on the bundles.
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I'll bet they didnt lose any money on the bundles. This is an advertizing thing, not a sales promotion. If they wanted sales, they would have put a blurb on their website about it.

I'd be willing to bet, AMD/Tyan/Asus/MS didn't lose any money, but I'll also bet they didnt make a darn dime either. :)
 
Boo.. I hate being in Saskatchewan, its half way across the country to get to either one in Canada :(
 
they will have bundles available at each tech tour stop. they have to.

i will buy whatever it is, regardless if its a whole system, b/c you KNOW it will be provided AT COST. just like the bundles last year.

however i bet they will just stick with cpu / mobo since they take up a crap load less space.
 
So can someone please post some information on how we sign up for this event? :(
 
You wait until they get their website up, and post details :), took about 3 weeks from initial announcment last year, be patient
 
I would like to point out to everyone that is saying they didn't make any money on the deal...you may be right, they didn't make money, but they sure as $hit didn't lose any either...take a look at recent Opteron price drops, a 265 about a month ago retail for just over $715, then two days later they retailed for $330. That's more than a 50% price drop over the course of one weekend...and you know they are still making good bank on those chips @ $330.

And they are thinking about putting the bundle out as a full system...but think about the logistics of pulling that off, a bit more difficult than CPU + mobo...when my rep first said something about that I was a little disappointed, but the more I think about it..I would LOVE to get some really good RAM, or a nice DVD drive at a great price. Maybe WD steps up an bundles a raptor at a great price (these are all guesses).

Plus it might actually make it easier for AMD, they could be COUNTING on people not wanting an entire system, thereby reducing the number of bundles they have to put together. I am not saying this as fact, but at Intel events, they often sell full systems with new tech (or tech they are pushing) at a very reduced rate. The last time Intel did this, it was a great deal but I really didn't want to put down the cash, when last years AMD Tech Tour came around and the bundles were announced I bought both.

I have been told that this years Tech Tour is supposed to be geared a little more towards the people in the industry (not just the end user). So that may play into what the bundle turns out to be. I really hope it is, and I also hope that they pick a place that has a better air conditioner...Atlanta, in the middle of June, on a SUNNY day, with no vacant seats and people standing everywhere...there was a good bit of sweat.
 
I really wanna know what you guys paid for the bundles last year. Also, was there an admission fee of some crazy price?
 
No admission fee

500 bucks for two opty 246s and a dually mobo + server 2k3 x64 with 25 CALS. Retail all that stuff and it was about 1200 without the OS, lots more with.

250 (or 200, cant remember) for a a64 venice 3200+ and a decent asus mobo

Insane deal on the server bundle it was
 
yeah, like i said about the server bundle above.

im running it as my main desktop right now. its soo sweet. and worth every penny of the 500$ i spent to get it.

but i still have the server x64 sitting on the shelf.
 
I'll be at the MA one, last year I bit on the server bundle as well. Tossed the board on ebay for cheap just to get rid of it (I think I sold it for $100 lol), plugged the 246's onto a K8WE, a pair of 7800 GTX's and called it a day. I'll probably pick up the server bundle again and build another rig for the hell of it.

...now I just have to find a way to do this behind my girl's back :D
 
Wish they would come back to Minneapolis, can never seem to work out getting that weekened off to get to Chicago.
 
jbrukardt said:
250 (or 200, cant remember) for a a64 venice 3200+ and a decent asus mobo

Insane deal on the server bundle it was
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dont forget, it came with windows xp 64 (or was it pro?) also
 
The old tech tour wasent that long ago.
----------------------------------------------
Server Bundle - Tech Tour Price $500
2 x Opteron 246's - Retailed for $350 at the time
Tyan K8SD Mobo - Retailed for $550
Windows 2003 Server Enterprise Edition in dvd case - Retails for $2000ish


Desktop Bundle - Tech Tour Price $250
----------------------------------------------
1 AMD A64 3200+ Venice Core - Retailed for $250ish
1 Asus A8NE Nforce 4 Ultra mobo - Retailed for $130ish
1 Windows XP 64bit edition In DVD Case, Not for Resale version - Retails for $120ish


Picture of mobo here
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/IIRuffyII/Selling/A8NEFinal.jpg
 
Towards the end of the tour, they ran out of the K8SD mobo and gave out the K8SE, which was better because it has one pci-e slot and SATA-II. This made the server bundle even more awesome.
 
I believe they were also giving out the Enterprise version of Server 2003 x64 as well, either the entire time or towards the end. I remember seeing a FLOOD of them on fleabay right after the tour dates, even though that technically violated the distro agreement with MS and the fact that in big fat honkin' letters it said "NOT FOR RESALE." :)
 
Im not sure about the Enterprise windows. I brought the server bundle after the tour and I got the Small Business Windows. I still have it cuz Im too lazy to fleabay it. The hardware sure makes a great Linux server, LOL.
 
ir0nw0lf said:
I believe they were also giving out the Enterprise version of Server 2003 x64 as well, either the entire time or towards the end. I remember seeing a FLOOD of them on fleabay right after the tour dates, even though that technically violated the distro agreement with MS and the fact that in big fat honkin' letters it said "NOT FOR RESALE." :)
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wrong, It was Enterprise edition till the end then they gave out Small Bussiness

and The Server Bundle did not say NOT FOR RESALE

The desktop bundle with Windows XP 64 said not for resale
 
Ruffy said:
The desktop bundle with Windows XP 64 said not for resale
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It's amazing how easily that sticker peeled off.......
allnighte.gif



I'm still using that copy of XP x64 on my Opteron tower though :)




I'm anxious to see what the bundles are this year. I'm either looking to upgrade/downgrade from 254 Opterons to dual cores...or I'd like to build myself a media PC.

I'm more interested in where AMD's mobile chips, and MS's Vista are going than anything else though.
 
drizzt81 said:
wouldn't it be nice if they gave out a pre-release copy of Vista :p
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Not if it isn't supposed to be out until next year! That software will be buggy until a SP AFTER they release it....
 
Shodin10k said:
dont forget, it came with windows xp 64 (or was it pro?) also
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Yeah. Don't forget; otherwise, you won't be able to tell people what not to forget!
 
Ruffy said:
wrong, It was Enterprise edition till the end then they gave out Small Bussiness

and The Server Bundle did not say NOT FOR RESALE

The desktop bundle with Windows XP 64 said not for resale
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Well if the product itself didn't say it, this did:
Attend the AMD/Microsoft Tech Tour 2005 and you are eligible to purchase one of each of the bundles highlighted below.

AMD and Microsoft are bringing you 64-bit computing at substantial savings! Use your bundle to build a demo system for trade shows, training, and customer evaluations. Act now by registering for Tech Tour and reserving your bundle. This offer is only available through the registration site, and you must attend the AMD/Microsoft Tech Tour 2005 to purchase.

Desktop Bundle - Price = $250
Athlon

* — AMD Athlon™ 64 3200+ 939 pin processor
* — Asus A8N-E Socket 939 motherboard
* — Microsoft® Windows® XP x64 Edition

Server Bundle - Price = $500
Athlon

* — 2 - AMD Opteron™ 246 CPUs
* — Tyan Thunder K8SD Pro (S2882-D) motherboard
* — Microsoft Server 2003 x64 Edition

Limit one purchase of each bundle per person. ----->Bundles are not for resale.<----- Pre-ordered bundles will be available at the show for pick up. The cut off time to purchase bundles is 2pm EST the day prior to the show in your location. Bundle purchases can only be made online with a credit card. Only the purchaser may pick up the bundle and must attend to receive. Bundle purchases cannot be made onsite.
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The point is and was that many people: 1) abused the system in the first place because they were not resellers; 2) Whether is was on the product or in the above verbage that everyone would have seen and hopefully read when they signed up, the bundles were not for resale. Yeah, AMD couldn't stop it, but because of all that, I have read on another site that AMD this year will be REQUIRING a reseller tax-ID BEFORE any bundles can be purchased this year. I believe this was confirmed by someone who emailed AMD and got an email back from them. This will most likely put a big brake on many would-be bundle buyers this year.
 
GlimmerMan said:
Towards the end of the tour, they ran out of the K8SD mobo and gave out the K8SE, which was better because it has one pci-e slot and SATA-II. This made the server bundle even more awesome.
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yeah, i got the K8SE

i didn't buy it at the show, and i wasn't going to, but then after the whole tour ended, they emailed me and said they have a few move available :D so i bit.
 
ir0nw0lf said:
Well if the product itself didn't say it, this did:


The point is and was that many people: 1) abused the system in the first place because they were not resellers; 2) Whether is was on the product or in the above verbage that everyone would have seen and hopefully read when they signed up, the bundles were not for resale. Yeah, AMD couldn't stop it, but because of all that, I have read on another site that AMD this year will be REQUIRING a reseller tax-ID BEFORE any bundles can be purchased this year. I believe this was confirmed by someone who emailed AMD and got an email back from them. This will most likely put a big brake on many would-be bundle buyers this year.
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Good thing my dad owns a business that I build systems for... bwahahaha.
 
I got the email too, here it is: http://js.antinoc.net/amdtechtour_email2.html

Don't pass that link around outside this forum or I'll have to take it down, which I don't really want to.

To reiterate what has been said above, per the software. Last year, both Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 and Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 were marked as "Not For Resale", also the Small Business Server came with zero (0) client licences, which means it is really for system builders to test out system configurations, NOT to actually run it as a server; it probably violates the EULA of doom. If you try to sell this on eBay, they'll cancel the auction... I'm pretty sure we're not allowed to sell it in FS/T here, but read the rules to verify. I wound up giving my SBS copy to a SysAdmin friend of mine to run tests with.

Bundle 1 - $623*

Bundle 2 - $518*

*Prices from pricewatch.com rounded up to the nearest dollar; Small Business Server is not listed, because you are probably not going to get a full version of it; ie you're not allowed to use the software to run your small business... it is for development only. If you really want the price it is $229.
 
Anandtech forum thread about this has the list up as well, and NO I didn't post a link to this thread or the ^^ link. Someone else posted the info. The desktop bundle looks nice, some people will piss & moan over the mobo though.
 
Dunno about you guys, but I think those are pretty disappointing bundles. I'm not a fan of m-atx and the 'server' bundle is only good for the 165 IMO. Of course my opinion is regarding the items, not the value involving cost.
 
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