[geeks] Octane systems (was Re: The Ideal gaming PC's? )

[Kurt Huhn]

Joshua D Boyd <jdboyd at cs.millersville.edu> wrote:

> > and buy an Octane2 with an R14k processor.  By the time I need to buy
> > the Octane2, this system will have cost me less than $30 per month
> > factoring in processor and disk upgrades.
> 
> You are so lucky.
> 

I only recently was able to afford to do this.  8 years of part-time
college, as well as all the credit card debt I amassed in that time, screwed
me royally for a long time.  This past summer I finally got all that shit
paid off, reduced my debt load to only the two trucks, and started saving
some money each month to go toward retirement.  Retirement saving at 31? 
You bet your ass, I hate working for other people...

Anyhow, the bottom is beginning to fall out from under the Octane used
market.  Direct from SGI, R12k-300Mhz systems without monitor are running
about $2300 - less than half what they were about a month ago (IIRC).  It
won't be long before we begin to see Octane2s from Modelmasters.com and
reputable.com - I think XSI (xsnet.com) already has them, but at somewhat
inflated prices.  For instance, an Octane2 R12k-400, V6 graphics, 512MB RAM,
18GB HD costs about $7500.  As comparison, and Octane Octane SE, R12K
300MHz, 512MB, 18GB will run you about $3000 - $700 more than direct from
SGI.  They (XSI) do have some Octane SI, R10K 195MHz, 128MB, 4GB for less
than $700 though.

I suspect we'll see Octane2 prices dropping sharply by (or before) this time
next year.  When they do, I'm likely to spring for one.

-- 
Kurt
kurt at k-huhn.com