UGM 2008

Ten years ago we launched ZDTV (which later became TechTV) and The Screen Savers, its most popular show. We wanted to begin with a bang, so Kate Botello and I decided to build the "Ultimate Gaming Machine" basing it on Lloyd Case's design from Computer Gaming World. In 1998, that meant a PII 400 Mhz, 128 MB of RAM, and a fabulously expensive widescreen Sony CRT (and a price tag of over $10,000). Here's what it looked like back then... There have been 9 UGMs built since then, the most recent for Attack of the Show in 2005 (which cost around $6000 and was a lot faster). Since I'm launching TWiT Live 10 years later I thought it would be fun to see what the UGM would look like these days. Only this time, we're going to let you build it. Starting Friday, June 6, we'll be inviting you to pick the parts for UGM 2008. From processors, to motherboard, to video and sound system, the choice will be yours. We'll spend a couple of hours debating the merits of each component, with expert commentary to help you decide, then when we reach consensus we'll buy it. At the end of the month we'll assemble our creation and then give it away to some lucky TWiT Live viewer. I'm not sure exactly how we'll give it away. I know I mentioned this on TWiT and proposed a crazy scheme to get me more followers on Twitter. All I can say is I must have been drunk. It won't be necessary to follow me, or Dvorak, and it definitely won't be necessary to unfollow Kevin. I'm going to check with the legal department and find a fair way to do this that doesn't require anyone to join Twitter! We'll kick things off Friday, June 6, at 3p Pacific, 6p Eastern, 2200 UTC with a processor showdown. AMD or Intel, which will it be? I'll have experts on both sides then I'll ask you to decide. June 13 it's Motherboards and Memory. June 20th, video cards and monitors. June 27th storage and peripherals. We'll finish the machine on the 4th of July, choose the best five games for it, and award it to a lucky winner. So join us Fridays starting in June as we recreate one of the most loved bits we ever did on The Screen Savers. It should be a lot of fun, and who knows, you could walk away with UGM 10!

Comments

[Krewell]

Should be good for me, count me in. Slater's website is: http://www.mslater.com/">http://www.mslater.com/.

[Laforge129]

Vista 32 Bit is better you don't have to worry about getting verified drivers. Also If you have to think about how hard it is to find all the drivers for the system. I'd go go with a quad core being water cooled.

just to help with speed

Just some thoughts!!

[Z4i0n]

Hello,
I hope that concerte the shortcomings of the sites hosted on its server ... =)
If you need only to contact!
Z4i0n - Zer0Day Group

[Krewell]

The reason I suggest Vista 64-bit is that 32-bit x86 operating systems (including Vista) limit any application to 2GB of memory, so there are limitations when you want to install 4GB and get maximum advanatge of the extra memory.
I, myself used Vista 32 with 2GB of memory in my game box when I built it last year for the same concerns you have on drivers. But I understand that drivers are getting better for 64-bit. Also, a good rule of thumb is provide a GB for each core for maximum performance - quad core = 4GB.

[TyGuy]

you should also build a cheap gaming PC, maybe a sub $500 machine.

[Larry]

Great idea, Leo. I think it would be a great celebration of the decade since TechTV was launched.

Good luck for your project, and your checkbook!

[W. Branscom]

Leo,

I am glad that you decided to change your UGM giveaway plan. Suffice it to say that I am a lawyer and familiar with sweepstakes laws.

I thought of an alternative for you to use to boost your twitter numbers. How about offering to randomly select a certain number of twitter followers (1,3, 10, whatever) to join you on one of your shows? My guess is that most people who listen to TWiT or GizWiz, etc would like nothing more than a chance to be part of the banter. You could screen winners to see which show would be best for them or do something entirely separate.

Anyway, I think that would get you clear of most sweepstakes laws and give a real incentive for folks to follow you on twitter.

William Branscom

[xgdfalcon]

How about a way to watch TWIT Live via mobile phone? Windows Mobile 6? iPhone? I'm usually not near a computer during the core TWIT Live hours, and of course Flash Video doesn't work on mobile phones.

[leolaporte]

I need to find an attorney to advise me on sweepstakes laws - I still want to give UGM away and I want to do it legally. Can you help?

[leolaporte]

Translation:

This is the hacker who zapped the TWiT Forums and http://Munchcast.com">Munchcast.com. He's not a native speaker (I think he's Brazilian) but he's saying:

"I hope you've hardened your sites. If you need help email me."

I found the code he'd used to access files on the server (a little PHP script he uploaded to an open directory - c9.php - stupid me I left it open for file uploads but it was also surfable.) He used that to gain access to the MySQL databases for those two sites. I have learned my lesson.

[Rab Bakari]

Gerry Todd? Who is this guy? You keep referencing him. I didn't get it until I watched your YOUTUBe embed. Why can't I find a Wiki on him? Seems pioneering in the 70s. Like Benny Hill was with his TV humor. I was a child in the 70s. Did I miss this boat in NYC? Can you write/start a wiki on him Leo?

[Z4i0n]

Hello,
I am not Brazilian but I speak English ...
If the script is called C99 ... Me makes up half impressed with a person who has knowledge may say a little higher than those on other computers have failed as a beast on the server but mistakes happen all servers are vulnerable to some method only enough time to explore the vulnerability of them ...
Until!
Z4i0n - Zer0Day Group

[W. Branscom]

If I can't then I can put you in touch with someone who can. Its more annoying than it is difficult because its regulated by in each of the states rather than by the feds. Send me an e-mail and I'll send you my contact info.

nicephorus at http://yahoo.com">yahoo.com

[travisccook]

Something nifty like the "What the Heck is It?" contest tied in with TWiT live would be fun. Probably not "important" enough of a contest to give away a UGM, but cool nontheless.

As far as the PC itself, I would think a backlit TWiT logo on the side (maybe in window form, with lights inside?) would be fun. I'm sure Colleen has the ability to cut out the logo on the side of the case :). IMHO, a case mod would really set this apart. Any good nerd can put together the best parts(if they win the lottery :P), but something to make it truly unique makes this a real prize.

[Daniel K]

Cool idea... Oh, and you might wanna take a look at the new Acer Predator - thier top of the line gaming rig... It's got some good specs (triple gfx cards for example), and a "nifty" looking case. More here: http://www.acer.com/predator/">http://www.acer.com/predator/

[W. Branscom]

Hmm... I am not sure my last post got through. Anyway, Either I can help or I can put you in touch with someone who can. The problem with sweepstakes law is that it is generally enforced by the states, not the feds. So, you have to deal with 50 different rules. Fortunately, they are similar enough that you should be able to devise a way to keep everyone happy.

Send me an e-mail and I'll get my contact info to you.

nicephorus at http://yahoo.com">yahoo.com

[Roy Issa]

Hello Leo, just finished listening to Net@night, this episode was a godsend for me, because I blog lightly on Tumblr, but I was looking for a way to have comments on there, and you guys talked about it.

By the way it's a great service thank you.

PS: I'm french living in Paris and I wonder how many of your TwiT listeners are from France?

[tcldizz]

Geez... If I didn't know better I'd think this was a Home Shopping Network program from a year ago.

[williamlarsen]

I miss those towers that actually looked like a tower.

[marcome]

I did a search for classic TSS episodes on YouTube and came across the 1st UGM...man how I miss those days....I watched TechTV more than any other channel...good luck with new UGM and figuring everything out.

[jtdennis]

It could be comments to a blog post you make about the UGM. I like the idea of someone writing a brief memory of ZDTV, TechTV, or TWiT as an entry. If the entry is via a comment here or on the twit.tv site, it wouldn't require the entrant to have anything special.

[Jaiharu]

Yeah, I remember when

[brent]

Haha! "32MB RAM, not an unreasonable amount. 128 MB RAM, a very unreasonable amount! A LOT!" :) That made me smile.

[steveballmer]

Did you say Dvorak? He is my favorite! So much so that many think we are the same person, what a guy!

[Reid]

Ya, you have to have either 3 30" monitors (OLED if/when they're out) or else that freaky Alienware curved monitor http://gizmodo.com/341413/alienware-curved-monitor-looks-like-its-from-another-planet">http://gizmodo.com/341413/alienware-curved-moni... (but its resolution isn't so good -- only 900 vertical, but 2,880 horizontal!).

Ultimate should have a FAST hard disk. RAID is demanded. RAID 5 for safety or.. Drobo? Is that fast? Or just big?