• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

Iraq Deployment

A

Aegeas

n00b
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
41
Greetings guys. What is the smallest case I can get that will reliably run one of the new 7950GX2 cards? I will be in the desert for a while and want to be able to get my game on when I have downtime. I don't want to buy a laptop as they always seem to be obsolete the day I get them. I would rather have something small that I can add a component to from time to time, yet has enough power to run the toughest games I want to throw at it.

Any suggestions? It needs to be rock solid with good components and sturdy construction as it will spend the first two weeks inside of a foot locker being buzzed around by a C130.

Just because you are in hell doesn't mean you can't have a good time while you are there. My goal is to be playing Supreme Commander while I stomp camel spiders.
 
To be honest dude, i wouldnt suggest bringing that thing to the desert in the first place if you expect it to have any sort of life.

I've heard of too many stories where stuff has died due to the heat, but most are killed due to there "buddies" who just dont give ashit about whos pc and what is in it, it isnt theres, so they just dont give a shit and treat it like it was replaceable the next day.

My advice, dont take it with you, cuz either the pc will die, the card will get stolen, or your pc will get stolen.

Just the way it is....


Take a lower end pc with ya, one thats capable of playing games, but whatever you do, dont bring a high end pc to the war zone....
 
EVIL-SCOTSMAN said:
To be honest dude, i wouldnt suggest bringing that thing to the desert in the first place if you expect it to have any sort of life.

I've heard of too many stories where stuff has died due to the heat, but most are killed due to there "buddies" who just dont give ashit about whos pc and what is in it, it isnt theres, so they just dont give a shit and treat it like it was replaceable the next day.

My advice, dont take it with you, cuz either the pc will die, the card will get stolen, or your pc will get stolen.

Just the way it is....


Take a lower end pc with ya, one thats capable of playing games, but whatever you do, dont bring a high end pc to the war zone....
Click to expand...

Agreed, thats just asking for trouble... and good luck with the camel spiders :D
 
Take a LOT of canned air... the dust is like talc and gets in EVERYTHING...

Consider a very good APS, the electrical power can be hit or miss sometimes...
 
What about that new dell xps desk-top laptop thing?
 
uh the XPS series blows... They are still Dells...

As for a computer for this purpose, I would get something much more disposable than a 7950GX. Get a 7600GT... Here, I will build you one:

Shuttle XPC Barebones: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101002
AMD CPU (more efficient version than normal one): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103622
BFG 7600GT Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143064
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145505
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822145088
DVD Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106014

A total of $800, giving you money left over to get a nice little LCD for easy portibility and one of those waterproof rubber keyboards and a nice mouse. Personally, I would never get 7950GX for something like this, what if it gets lost or something...

Also, be sure to get a big, tough case to put the computer, LCD, keyboard, and mouse in while they get knocked around in the C130. I certainly would not want to have a broken computer before I can play it. By the way, the 7950GX probably will fit in the shuttle barebones I linked to. I would email Shuttle just to be sure...
 
I am not worried about thievery while I am there. I will be working and living in a secured area. I was thinking about the 7950 because of usability after I get back and the ability to handle Supreme Commander when it comes out.

Can you get a higher power supply for those shuttle boxes and has anyone actually tried a 7950x2 in one of them?

How about one of the "Hornet" small form factor PCs from Monarch? Any experiences there?
 
One other thing. Have the 2.5 inch 10krpm drives been released yet? I have used scsi and sata before and dont have a problem using either. The weight and power savings are nice to have.
 
I'm currently in Qatar and there's no way in hell I'd dream of bringing my shuttle system here... and it's not nearly as rough here as it is in Iraq. I ordered a Dell XPS M1210. Yeah, I know a GeForce 7400 Go is a far cry from my Shuttle with it's X1900XTX but it's small, very portable, and it can game enough for the short time I'm here (I'm Air Force so we don't stay here long... :D).
 
Go Blue! Ex 3C0X2 here. I will be in theatre for a year. Between 10-12 hour workdays and then crushing boredom I am going to have to depend on games and DVDs to keep me sane. I don't mind spending a little dough to have a decent box that I can upgrade on down the line.

From looking at storagereview.com I am leaning towards a couple of 7200rpm 2.5 inch sata drives for space. The FX60 looks like a good processor although the Intel chips could potentially be better supported given that apparently AMD doesn't like to ship to an APO for replacement parts. We shall see. I know the learned and experienced crew here at the [H] will make sure I get the right gear. Thanks for all the help you guys are offering.
 
There may be a chance you'll get a FedEx address. I did for where I am so of course I'm having my laptop FedEx'd from the states. They are far more reliable than USPS but also far more expensive. That's what hazard duty and tax-free pay is for. :D
 
Co worker just bought a Dell E1705. Ran like doggie doo doo when she got it, she was ready to send it back. After 30 minutes of uninstalling AOL and other crap it runs like a champ, she keeps telling me how much she loves it. I don't understand why Dell shoots themselves in the foot over performance just to be AOL's bi0tch.
 
Oh, that is cool. I could use anyone's power supply then. I am a little concerned about getting spare parts while over there. I called Monarch and they did say that they would supply any replacement parts I might need to an APO without issue. Looks like they may have some other government/military folks using their gear around the world.

Either way I think I am set. Thanks again guys. It always helps to go to the experts that have tested this stuff to the nines before starting a new project.
 
Dont mean to ressurrect a dead post, but I am in the same situation and leaving for iraq tomorrow. Back in 2004, i was deployed to Afghanistan and took an emahcines M6805 with me. The dvd drive crapped out on me quick, and it was replaced by best buy with an M6807 which lasted the year, but also had the dvd drive crap out. While I was there, I went ahead and ordered a complete mATX system, complete with x800pro and a watercooling setup. I didnt have a single problem with that system, and it still runs fine to this day. Yes, the dust there sucks, but its not horrible, especially in the buildings. Laptops are much harder to keep dust free then a pc that is easily torn apart. Also, you can easily put filters in to help cut back on the dust. You can also store the dvd drive in a ziploc bag and only pull it out when you need it (external would be nice for this). Less chance of it breaking, then again you can get replacements for 30 dollars.

As for theft, well, it does happen. However, depending on the base and your job, you can easily be in a lockable room, or you can just put it in a foot trunk and lock it up. You tend to only bunk with people in your unit, and if you're lucky like me and have a small unit in which everyone knows each other and gets along, theft becomes a very unlikely concern. As for shipping, it's all in the packing job. All the parts made it to me free of problems, and I was able to pack the system up and ship it back no problem either. Along with a 17 lcd.

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with having a desktop system over there if you take precautions. Also, it really depends on your unit and mos. If you are infantry, a desktop might not be the best choice. If you are a REMF (or fobbit) like me, then its not a problem.
 
I am a contractor currently working on Balad (Anaconda), Iraq. I built my SFF here. It consists of the components in my signature all plugged into an SLI capable mobo wrapped in a nice little Silverstone SG-01e case. Aegeas, if you're on the way here, I could sure use an opponent. Have LAN bag, will travel. ;)


Don't sweat the dust, as Syco said, my SFF is easier to keep clean than my laptop was. Everyone stay's in lockable rooms and the power is fairly stable. Unless you are one of the Marines or Army grunts kicking in the doors (God bless them), life and living conditions are pretty decent.

If you need a detailed list of the parts I purchased, let me know - Monarch and Newegg were great to order from.
 
Hello,

I was wondering if those who have taken their PCs with them could relate to us the extent that they were able to get connectivity to the outside world. Were you able to connect via wire or wireless to the web? If so from where, your quarters or some otherplace?

-G
 
I have internet service in my room - one of twenty people in my pod (collection of trailers) that pay about 150 dollars for three months of service via a satellite dish. Many people here receive service this way, with satellite setup's being sold all of the time. I know of three or four that I've seen for sale in the last week. They usually cost from 2 to 5 thousand, plus the monthly service fee, but if you split the cost between several people it isn't that bad.

I am the network admin for my site, so I control the internet connection here as well. In fact, here in about 30 minutes I'm going to be baselining someone's Shuttle that they brought with them so that they can use our military internet connection. These guys aren't here long enough for them to invest into internet for their rooms.
 
EVIL-SCOTSMAN said:
To be honest dude, i wouldnt suggest bringing that thing to the desert in the first place if you expect it to have any sort of life.

I've heard of too many stories where stuff has died due to the heat, but most are killed due to there "buddies" who just dont give ashit about whos pc and what is in it, it isnt theres, so they just dont give a shit and treat it like it was replaceable the next day.

My advice, dont take it with you, cuz either the pc will die, the card will get stolen, or your pc will get stolen.
Click to expand...

Im assuming hes going to be on base for awhile (year or so?), stuck there away from home, completley bored out of his mind. Id say go for it, unless you are saving up your money for something, or have bills to pay back home. 1 months pay will get him a nice shuttle box, though Im not quite sure if it would last through the heat. Shuttle + phase-change cooling? :p

Best thing, if he gets a shuttle or some other kind of mini toaster sized pc, along with a 15" LCD he can lock it up.

Though, to the OP... Before getting your mind set on a shuttle, check out other micro-atx cases on newegg, some of them are fairly cheap, and have modding potential for more fans.
 
I am one of those "monetary-draftees". That is to say that my reserve commitment expired before they could get me in theatre so they had to offer me enough compensation that I was forced to go. My old supervisor called me just after I got out and asked me what I was going to do and I was ....vague.. as I sensed something in him thinking about ways to get me over there.

Lucky for me they couldn't make me come back. I am one of those CISSP/Security folks so you understand my line of work. No kicking in of doors for me...that is of course unless it is my own.

Now I just have to figure out if I want to try to get a Conroe and the smallest motherboard I can. To the best of my knowledge there aren't any SFF Intel boxes that will run a Conroe.
 
Well I've been using my M1210 laptop for this past month here in Qatar and it's a great little machine. Highly portable and stealable(?) but it's perfect for me. Now that I think about it, I could easily build a SFF to play with here but:

#1) I don't have internet in my room. I'm at an Army base so they are less tech savy than the Air Force... lol. If I was with my other peeps at the AF base (where all the girls are too), I'd have internet but I would have to use a government image. *shrug* Can't win them all.

#2) The only place for me to hook up my laptop right now is at the morale center. They only have 4 jacks and they recently blocked me from playing Guild Wars (of course people can play WoW all day... wtf :confused: )

At any rate I have a pretty nice Shuttle system back at my home station (Germany) so I can hold out until then. Good luck on your assignments and whatever you guys decide for your choice of PCs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top