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Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Should be here today then, should have left yesterday. Received it yet? =]

Nope, very stressed now. DHL courier claims to have called here at 8:26 and claims he left a card. We have had 3 people here since 7am and haven't seen a DHL van, nor a card. DHL doesn't have a phone number anywhere, except an automated system to arrange re-delivery for MONDAY. (Which doesn't help if they don't know where we are!)

So we Googled the local service depot here in York and rang them. Helpful woman tried ringing the driver, but he's not picking up his phone. She's now saying they can't promise re-delivery today. What re-delivery? They haven't delivered in the first place :p

Main concern is that some random person has our delivery card - not too impressed with that. Given that we get DHL deliveries 2-3x per week, every week, it's a rather poor show.

Edit: Got a call back (very helpful woman again) that they're going to re-deliver 12:30 to 1:30 time slot. Hopefully the driver can actually find the right building this time...
 
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Sleinous

Author Level
Nope, very stressed now. DHL courier claims to have called here at 8:26 and claims he left a card. We have had 3 people here since 7am and haven't seen a DHL van, nor a card. DHL doesn't have a phone number anywhere, except an automated system to arrange re-delivery for MONDAY. (Which doesn't help if they don't know where we are!)

So we Googled the local service depot here in York and rang them. Helpful woman tried ringing the driver, but he's not picking up his phone. She's now saying they can't promise re-delivery today. What re-delivery? They haven't delivered in the first place :p

Main concern is that some random person has our delivery card - not too impressed with that. Given that we get DHL deliveries 2-3x per week, every week, it's a rather poor show.

Edit: Got a call back (very helpful woman again) that they're going to re-deliver 12:30 to 1:30 time slot. Hopefully the driver can actually find the right building this time...

Tis 13:11, hopefully its arrived by now :D
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Tis 13:11, hopefully its arrived by now :D

It has arrived - it took until this very moment to get online. (Though I have been eating, etc.)

Time to install all programs. A few things I wasn't overly happy with - but giving the benefit of the doubt before drawing early conclusions.

Biggest issue right now are;
=> We can't find the Windows 7 activation key anywhere. The 'sticker' has been torn of the case of the installation disc - but has not been attached anywhere to the computer, unless we are totally missing it. Anyone know where to look? I really expected the key *IN* the case with the disc.
=> A games pack was to be included, unless we're again overlooking it - this is not the case.

The box which contained all cables/screws/manuals/guides/windows was a bit messy and felt like it was thrown together in a rush. Could it be that some (vital) things were forgotten? We also have no other stickers that come with CPU/GPU, etc. except for the Asus motherboard one. Small detail but it's common courtesy to include these!
 

Sleinous

Author Level
Thatls because there is NO CPU or GPU sticker, Palit dont give you GPU sticker, No Intel stickers given for OEM unless PCS join the Intel sticker program for businesses.

As for tha game, its not a disc, its a download copy, there is a piece of paper in your box somewhere with the serial key.
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Thatls because there is NO CPU or GPU sticker, Palit dont give you GPU sticker, No Intel stickers given for OEM unless PCS join the Intel sticker program for businesses.

As for tha game, its not a disc, its a download copy, there is a piece of paper in your box somewhere with the serial key.

That makes sense (and thank you for answering) - the Windows key is apparantly at the back of this giant tower. Unfortunately it was already put in its rightful place on a desk and it was an absolute pain getting the serial from there. (Cameras were involved - being too stubborn to disconnect the whole thing again!) Why do they no longer print these on your manual, or insert them somewhere a little bit more handy? (Blaming Microsoft here!)
 
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Maestro

Guest
We have to affix the COA (Certificate of Authenticity) to the case as part of the microsoft terms and conditons for selling OEM software. We used to put the sticker on the case side, but many customers complained that it ruined the asthetics of a new case.
The welcome box, is only a certain size, and some pc's have an awful lot of extra stuff. It all goes in and you probably wont use 90% of it. But if you can make lots of extra cables and clips and bridges and adapters look tidy you are doing well. Most companies dont supply all these little extras so probably dont get criticism for this.
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Understand the COA issue - don't worry. Usually build the computers myself so haven't had the issue before of having to 'search for' the serial ;) It wasn't where I was expecting it but your manual actually explains where you can find it. RTFM moment.

As for the welcome box - I don't want to diminish the focus on the actual computer by lingering on that - as the machine itself is magnificent so far. Re-installing all our usually programs, setting up user accounts/office etc. took a while but it's now happily re-downloading/installing our steam library. (Which will probably take the whole night, even at 10.5 mb/s.

Brief initial test with DoWII on Ultra High gave a minimum framerate of 51, and a maximum of 187. Brilliant stuff. Empire Total War on absolutely maximum settings rock solid at 60fps. (Vsync)
Installing Crysis/Metro2033 and several other bigger titles, so will have a proper "play" tomorrow.

A few pictures have been taken, will upload them tomorrow.
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Wouldnt mind giving us a few mb/s of that 10.5? -.- 700kb/s here ftw!

We need it! Could do with a bit faster, but there's nothing better available around here. (yet)
Usually get around 5mb/s from Steam, but it's not that often we have to re-install an entire steam library anyway. Unfortunately we have Gamers Gate to go after this. :-/
 

Sleinous

Author Level
Bah, 0.7mb/s, we need BT Infinity way more than your area rofls, and theres people around that have less than that, with as low as 0.1 - 0.4mb/s
 

lewwoo

Active member
I was once capped at 50 k/bs, I did not realise that there was better internet back then haha. However I get about 1MB-2MB and I am pretty happy with that.
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Bah, 0.7mb/s, we need BT Infinity way more than your area rofls, and theres people around that have less than that, with as low as 0.1 - 0.4mb/s

We're on Virgin (at home) - which is rolling out a 100mbit connection here soon. BT around here is "ok" at best and Sky is total garbage. To give you an idea of BT: the business park near Poppleton is stuck on 2mbit lines, and cannot get any better without a huge investment. That's 2mbit for entire offices.

Edit: We're drafting an article about the new machine now - with some pictures and a review/summary of the buying experience. Needs to go through editorial afterwards, but should be live soon! (Few days maximum)
 

Mikulus

Member
Thanks Evil. Just given me the answer of how to get the Windows key from the back of the tower after it has been fitted into place. I too found that the key was on the back after I had plugged everything in and even though the unit is on casters I just cant be bothered to move it. So camera here I come and finally I will get round to activating Windows lol.
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Thanks Evil. Just given me the answer of how to get the Windows key from the back of the tower after it has been fitted into place. I too found that the key was on the back after I had plugged everything in and even though the unit is on casters I just cant be bothered to move it. So camera here I come and finally I will get round to activating Windows lol.

Hehe glad that my little outburst was of use to someone ;)
 

Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Here's a taste of the machine in action:
(Pictures/Article about it coming soon, promised!)

[video=youtube;1LFe5zoqP3o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LFe5zoqP3o[/video]
 
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Evil Tactician

Gold Level Poster
Another video of the new machine in action. Absolutely maximum settings, DX11 and Tesselation on. Even with fraps running framerate stays above 60. Without fraps, framerate is between 153 and 309 on maximum settings. This is unedited footage, we're working on a second video as we speak as this game lends itself really well to frapsing.

Note the landscape detail once the plane is in the air. The bit with the Apaches is quite good as well.

[video=youtube;Fi3_wzh6QaI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi3_wzh6QaI[/video]

Edit: And here we go, the second Hawx 2 video - showing the events in the Training Mission. This includes a /fail moment.

[video=youtube;fEuH_WxhLPU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEuH_WxhLPU[/video]

Edit2: And here's the third one - showing a 'real' mission and thus a little more action.

[video=youtube;fChZMJNVrzc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fChZMJNVrzc[/video]
 
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