len_mullen

You can get a LOT of games... Saints Row IV (86, 8/13), Tomb Raider (86, 3/13), Sleeping Dogs (81, 8/12), Hitman (79, 11/12), Deus Ex (90, 8/11), Devil May Cry (85, 1/13), Dirt: Showdown (72, 5/12), Far Cry 3 (88, 12/12), Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (81, 5/13), Dirt 3 (86, 5/11), and Sniper Elite v2 (66, 4/12) The numbers in parentheses are the metacritic rating and release date for each game. Green is a rating of 86 or better and a release date from this year. Pink is a game rated 80 to 85 and released last Christmas. Uncolored is a rating of 79 or less and a release date prior to last November. Sniper v2 had pretty poor ratings. Saints Row IV, Deus Ex, and Far Cry 3 had the best ratings. In the end, though, what you like may be different than what someone else likes, so ratings are just a guideline. The release dates range from summer 2011 to this summer. One of the things I like about metacritic is that you can read snippets from a lot of reviews. Sometimes the major criticism is that a game is more of the same. If I do not have the previous version, this is not as important. Also, some criticize for hardware requirements -- again, not an issue if you are using the game on a new computer. Metacritic links for the free games... http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/crysis-3http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/deus-ex-human-revolutionhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dirt-3http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dirt-showdownhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dmc-devil-may-cryhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/far-cry-3http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/far-cry-3-blood-dragonhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/hitman-absolutionhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/saints-row-ivhttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/sleeping-dogshttp://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/sniper-elite-v2http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tomb-raider

I do like the 'if you can read this' back. My GD shirt says that. My suggestion is that you post a gallery of all previous shirts. It'll be fun to remember and provide some ideas. I think the 10th anniversary of anything should be reflective and forward looking. Maybe the front should be something new and the back should be a favorite look back?

Just wanted to close the loop on this. I have purchased the following... - XFX Radeon HD 7950 Double D Video Card - 3072MB, GDDR5, PCI Express 3.0 (x16), 2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 2x Mini DisplayPort (FX795ATDFC) - SeaSonic 550-Watt 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply (SSR-550RM) The 7950 is a dual fan solution with very good reviews for noise and performance that comes with a lifetime warranty. The PSU is a top rated unit from a top manufacturer which provides 10% more power than recommended for a system with a 7950. Reviews... http://benchmarkreviews.com/1787/xfx-radeon-hd-7950-black-edition-fx-795a-tdfc-video-card-review/http://www.legitreviews.com/seasonic-g-series-550w-ssr-550rm-power-supply-review_2148http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&file=print&reid=323 The Deal... One of the constraints of this effort was that I wanted two identical systems. With video cards and power supplies, rebates can be an important part of the price, so, if I wanted to get identical systems, I generally would have to 1) find a rebate-free deal, 2) find a rebate with limit two or more, 3) lose a rebate, or 4) hope to get a good deal on the same hardware with a new promotion. To wit, I purchased the gpu from XFX which pays rebates on two units and went with a rebateless bargain on the PSU. I relied on this chart to guide my search for a PSU. Tier 1 was out of my reach, but there are a lot of discounted Tier 2 PSUs. For $80 shipped, the SSR-550RM was an outstanding value among the Tier 2 PSUs. Choosing a GPU was more challenging. I used this table (scroll down) to compare apples to oranges. I decided that the 'sweet spot' (affordable and amazing) was in the 7950/760 part of the performance chart. I quickly settled on ATI as the 7950s were $50 less than a 760 and included a bundle of games. I found the FX795ATDFC on TigerDirect.com for $240 with a $30 rebate which allowed for two redemptions. With shipping the total came to $488.40 or $244.20 per card. Discounting for ShopDiscover cash back and the rebate, the net cost per card was $202.20. I waited until yesterday to pull the trigger as TigerDirect added Crysis 3 to the bundle of games -- C3 plus three of Saints Row 4, Tomb Raider, Sleeping Dogs, Hit Man, Deus Ex, Devil May Cry, Dirt: Showdown, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Dirt 3, and Sniper Elite v2. If you find games in this list you would buy anyway, it could be argued that the cost of the video card was less than $100. We've been away from PC gaming since the PS3 debuted, so this is the case for us. I'm not recommending the hardware -- I can't until I use it for a while. Just wanted to post some ideas for anyone who may have just begun the journey. Happy shopping!

I think you should be able to do that without standing outside a store.

We have a WII, a PS3, and an Xbox360. Neither of my kids is clamoring for a new console. In fact, both are asking for desktop computers.

This surprised me given Kevin Clash's problems. I figured Elmo would disappear. Looks like they replaced him and things are...uh...A-OK.

Also, apple has some product launches in the next couple months and amazon and microsoft have new stuff coming out so google and samsung must too. Seems like you ought to be able to get a discount if you can wait.

There have already been quite a few <$600 60" televisions. Good ones too.

Kids? Does 16 and 20 count? They'll let me know!

Brad, I think you have your first contest! Here are the rules... - one thread per merchant - one post per user per thread - winner is the first post in the thread to guess the correct cease and desist Let's get started!

It's certainly more work and less joy shopping for older kids. Listem to them and use your best judgement. If they do not appreciate your effort NOW, they might later. I'm a great parent -- my kids just don't know it yet!

Do I 'officially' have the first post of the BF 2013 season? I am anticipating a lot of deals on some interesting items this year. For me, the most exciting thing under the tree will almost certainly be a new DVR. We have cut the cable and have EchoStar DTVPal DVRs on all our televisions. I learned yesterday that ES is introducing a pair of Channel Master branded DRVs this fall. These support USB drives and streaming services and include a program guide. If you receive television over an antenna or have been thinking about cutting the cable, this is worth following... http://thebeersoncomcast.wordpress.com/2013/08/21/echostar-dvr-details Google's entrance into the streaming market is welcome. The Chromecast is amazing and available again at Best Buy for order with the Netflix promotion. It's only $11 after the Netflix code! Apple and Roku are on notice. Windows 8 is here -- get used to it! I predict that Windows tablets, touch screens, and all that are going to be steeply discounted as Apple and Amazon are refreshing this fall. Got my kid an 8.9" Fire HD this spring and am looking forward to the third generation. No one is excited yet about the 4k TVs and 3D seems to have fizzled, but there are a LOT of very small televisions by companies you have never heard hitting the deal sites for very low prices and some pretty decent, pretty huge LEDs are coming down in price. I'm hoping a 65" plasma falls into my budget. If an Amazon tablet is on your list, be sure to install the kindle ebook reader and an android emulator on your pc so you can start collecting the free books and apps NOW. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000426311 http://www.bluestacks.com/ New consoles will be out. I think the PS4 is gong to WII all over the XBox One. Lots of bundles coming our way. This summer was terrible for the movie studios. Look for steep discounts on recent movies. Sony's new 'low end' iPhone should be under a lot of trees. With all the new smart/wireless gadgets, you ought to be thinking about your home network. I tend to lag in this area, but the new AC routers are exponentially better than the last gen and totally worth the investment. No need to pay retail, though. I got mine during a 25% rewards promotion at staples and Newegg has has these at a similar discount. If you have wired devices, consider upgrading your wired network as well. 8 port gigabit switches have been $15-$20 at staples and newegg all summer -- get a couple. Happy shopping!

I have searches set up on slickdeals and fw and am signed up for tiger and newegg emails. I've done some research and, based on that research, have targeted 660/7950 cards from Nvidia and ATI. Right now, I am trying to figure out WHEN to buy. Thanks for the link to the archive. Just wanted to make sure no one posted anything amazing. No need to sit tight -- these things are not door busters. Looks like I can expect price drops in Q3 when the next gen arrives.

I came here looking for the archive. Believe it or not, I am already Christmas shopping. I got a pair of these for $349.99 (one free and one for $349.99 shipped free) and am looking to see where I am going to get video cards and power supplies and how much of a deal I can expect come November. Anyone with thoughts on this is welcome to chime in. For the video cards, I am looking for 660/7950 performance wise and prefer no rebates since I need to buy two, All ears when it comes to suitable power supplies -- brand, size, vendor. thanks!

I might break the forums into deals, discussion, and help. So people looking for the deals would not have to sift through the 'which one do I want' and 'this one's better posts' -- I wouldn't want to lose any of this, but when the stores open, I only have time to scan the deals.

I'm always here for you, Brad.

Need some more information to help you make a good decision. Budget and programs you intend to use would be nice. Preferences with regard to screen size and battery life too. If you play games, which ones?

It was just a game. No big deal. Just one more reason not to shop there.

Walmart just cancelled my order. Looks like Amazon is going to have a Big Christmas season.

I have never been able to get my head around this. Clearly, people who do this have to leave the line from time to time during their wait. How does that work? Can you set up a tent on Monday and return in four days? Do you tag team so that at least one person is in the camp? Do 'late comers' join the campers? At what time does this become inappropriate? Are you allowed one or two latecomers? Must they be in line three hours before the doors open? Is there some kind of informal union among those who are assured a doorbuster to protect the position of the others? Even when I have lined up a couple hours early, I see people enter the front of the line in the hour leading up to the opening. I can't imagine someone who slept on a curb being very happy that a tent manned by a single person for four days becomes a hive of anticipation in the hours before opening. What do you pros see?

I have one which I had worn regularly, but I have outgrown it. I figured Brad, having read my amazing haiku and appreciating the bang up work I've done in the laptop, desktop, and tablet topics, would overnight me one, but it looks like another year in the pumpkin patch for me...

well played!

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Here's a decent free shipping $250 laptop for people who do not want to wait in line... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?SID=ug4rMjQ1EeKa-MZSIP-VjADUc1_02oH3_0_0_0&AID=10440897&PID=1225267&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-cables-_-na-_-na&Item=N82E16834230600 Brand: ASUS Model: X501A-WH01 Color: Black Operating System: Windows 8 CPU Type: Intel Celeron B820 1.7GHz Screen: 15.6" Memory Size: 2GB DDR3 Hard Disk: 320GB Graphics Card:Intel HD Graphics Video Memory: Shared memory Other Features: Instant On Screen Size: 15.6" Wide Screen 1366 x 768 WLAN802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN HDMI: 1 x HDMI Webcam: 0.3M Pixel

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