I've finally got a new computer system up and running. It feels so good. The old AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.4GHz system (yes, I know it's ancient) died on me sometime towards September of last year and since then I've been using the HTPC for my computer needs. Now since Tuesday, I once again have my own personal system to use.

I'll give the spec. of my old and new system just to show the differences in hardware I had.

Old:

AMD Athlon Thunderbird 1.4GHz

Generic PC-133 SD-RAM 384MB

Epox Socket A motherboard running a VIA chipset of some sort (I can't remember)

Fujitsu 40GB HDD

Leadtek nVidia GeForce MX440

New:

Intel Core i7 920 2.67GHz $390.00AUD (~$304.19USD)

OZC Flex-EX PC3-12800 DDR3-1600 C7 6GB $173.41AUD (~$135.25USD)

Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P $322.00AUD (~$251.25USD)

Western Digital Caviar Green 500GB $78.00AUD (~$60.84USD)

Gigabyte GeForce 9600GT 512MB $60.00AUD (~$46.81USD)

So far the thing has been a joy to use. I don't plan on building a replacement in 3 to 5 years. So lets hope it'll last.

1958 - 2009

May your legacy never dim.

If you've been in the loop with HORI.jp you'll know recenlty that they had the limited (I'm thinking very limited) HRAP3-SE up for pre-order, with the usual 1 per customer limit. So ever since AkihabaraShop.jp annouced that pre-orders were opening sometime last week, I basically had the site camped. And boy did the window for orders come and go in a flash. Luckerly I was able to snag one. Woot! But at the same time, Ouch! Since the total cost to have the stick shipped to Australia via EMS would set one back 20840 Yen! Talk about a blow to the hip pocket.

Y20,840 in Australian dollar, as of the 24th June '09, equated to $283.41 AUD! That's $219.77 USD! (Using a $0.77542 USD conversion). Man, I hate the Australian currency sometimes. Its value gets whipped so easily when ever the market hits a bump. But I wanted the stick, so I paid in the end. I should be receiving the thing sometime towards the end of next week.

http://www.akihabarashop.jp/

http://www.hori.jp/products/ps3/controller/realarc_pro3_se/

Will post pictures when I receive the stick

>World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Collector's Edition (PC) - It's pretty much a carbon-copy of The Burning Crusade's collector's edition. And it looks damn nice on my shelf with the other WoW collector's editions.

>Pokemon Pinball (GBC)

>Chibi Robo (GC)

>GameCube to GameBoy Link Cable

>Folklore (PS3)

>Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne (PC)

>Dementium: The Ward (NDS)

>Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (NDS)

>Elite Beat Agent (NDS)

>Titan Quest: Immortal Throne (PC)

>Metal Gear Solid 4 Pre-order Artbook - This wasn't really as special as I'd hope for. All the images contained, I've seen elsewhere. But then again, this was simply a pre-order give away.

>Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (NDS)

>Wario Land 4 (GBA), Shining Soul II (GBA), Super Ghosts 'n Ghouls (GBA), Street Fighter Alpha 3 (GBA), The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA), Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon (GBA)

>Zone of the Enders: The Fist of Mars (GBA)

>The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Collector's Edition (PC) - Oh boy! I'd wanted to own this for a awhile now and it's a pretty tough find. Especially ones that are 100% complete. So it was just my luck when I saw this on eBay for a darn good price. And it was unlucky that I had to pay quite a bit (actually a lot in my opinion) to have the thing posted to me in a sturdy box from the States, which in the end off-set the great "Buy Now" price.

>Diablo (PC)

>Pokemon Trading Card Game (GBC)

>Golden Sun (GBA), Dark Arena (GBA), Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament (GBA), Sigma Star Saga (GBA)

>Guilty Gear X Advance Edition (GBA)

>Perfect Dark (GBC)

>Pokemon Channel (GC)

>S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadows of Chernobyl Collector's Edition (PC)

>Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (GC), 2x GameCube to GameBoy Link Cable

>Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator (PC), Freedom Force (PC)

>The Last Express (PC), Blade Runner (PC) - Ahhh! The Last Express. An adventure game that (for some unknown reason) I've always wanted. That and the U.S version of the original Broken Sword known as "Circle of Blood". I've seen copies on eBay from overseas before, but never bidded on them due to the high cost of shipping (since the game comes packaged in a large beautiful box). And as usual I was lucky enough to find a copy from Australia (I had always considered great finds as luck).

>Black and White 2 Collector's Edition (PC)

>Warhammer: Mark of Chaos Collector's Edition (PC)

>Dance Dance Revolution 3rd Mix (PS), Dance Dance Revolution 2nd Remix Append Club Version Vol. 1 (PS)

>Vampire Night (PS2)

Note:Why is this site so buggy? It never use to be like this. *sigh*

>Tales of Phantasia (GBA)

>Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA), Sword of Mana (GBA)

>Gunstar Future: Heroes (GBA)

>Gameboy Advance Indigo Purple

>Crash Bandicoot XS (GBA), Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Trance (GBA)

>Nintendo Puzzle Collection (GC)

>Nintendo Gameboy Advance AC Adaptor

>Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (GBA), Boktai: The Sun is in Your Hand (GBA)

>Pokemon Yellow: Special Pikachu Edition (GB), Mario Tennis (GBC)

>Pokemon Crystal (GBC), Pokemon LeafGreen (GBA)

>Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg (GC)

>LotRO: Shadows of Angmar 60 Days Time Card x2, The Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles (PC), Pokemon Emerald (GBA)

>Gameboy Advance Game Link Cable

>Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team (GBA)

>PixelJunk Monsters: Encore (PSN)

>Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (NDS)

>Advance Wars: Dual Strike (NDS)

>Hotel Dusk: Room 215 (NDS)

>Pokemon Puzzle Challenge (GBC)

>Metroid Prime: Hunters (NDS)

>Dynasty Warrior Advance (GBA), Duel Masters: Sempai Legends (GBA), Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA), The Legend of Zelda (GBA), Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors (GBA), Dragon Ball Z: The Legend of Goku (GBA), Mega Man Zero 4 (GBA), Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories (GBA), Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga (GBA)

>Fallout 3 Collector's Edition (PC)

Note: Why is this site so buggy? It never use to be like this. *sigh*