BlasterPC Kit (Creative MB + case + PS + live Platium 5.1 + FM tuner + remote +...) for $149

[mikeford]

This is what they have to say at Soundblaster.com regarding the Digital I/O 2 panel (that 2 worries me, the geeks may have a one or something thats different)

This product can be used in conjunction with: CT4670 (SB Live! Value), CT4620 (SB Live!), CT4760 (SB Live! X-Gamer, SB Live! MP3+, and SB Live! Platnium)

Note: If you have a Sound Blaster Live! Value card, check your card to see whether it has an AUD_ EXT (2x20 pin header) connector or a SPDIF_ EXT (2x6 pin header) connector.

Optical Digital I/O 2

 

[fixedbyjohn]

Please take note that S/H is $35.xx to Cal. bringing the total to $185.xx

 

[Paul]

This link to BlasterPC Hond Kong might help.

 

[Wei2Cool]

Yeah they are selling the newer VIA Pro 133A chipset model in Asia and dumping the old BX ones to North America market...

 

[bigbootydaddy]

any chance of taking this apart and using it with an exisiting card?

 

[benchmarq]

mikeford, I did what you suggested, and went to the Creative Asia Site to snoop around. I found that the M003 is the only motherboard that they have a manual listed for with a BX chipset and SB Live! integrated. Then I went further and downloaded the BlasterPC (Premium) Connection Leaflet that's in the same BlasterPC list at the bottom of the page. This appears to be the case that TigerDirect is selling with this package, and it looks like the front panel has the following: OPTICAL OUT, SPDIF IN & OUT (2 RCA connectors), Mini MIDI IN & OUT (2 DIN connectors), JOYSTICK/MIDI port, 2 USB ports, LINE IN, MICROPHONE IN, and HEADPHONES OUT jacks. There is also a HUGE Volume Control knob, the one that you can see sticking out in the picture at TigerDirect. On the back of the case, there is a MICROPHONE IN, FRONT SPEAKERS OUT, REAR SPEAKERS OUT, and FM ANTENNA jacks. I wish mine would hurry up and get here.

 

[Davemeister]

seems like a decent price for putting together a cheap, so-so speed entertainment machine. not high end, but enough upgradeability to handle most games.

 

[gr8snakee]

Linkified Front Panel Connections


Blaster Case I/O Panel

 

[Wolverine27]

Wow, this definitely would make a nice second PC especially for hooking up to an entertainment center. Only if they had the black one...the one from Blaster PC looks really sharp.

 

[thecrews]

i think this actually might be from Canada.

http://www.blasterpc.ca/default.asp?lang=en

 

[kxy]

Has anyone got this blaster PC yet? If you did, would you let us know the extent of your satisifaction.

 

[mrvoice]

Well, personally, I think the intel boards are entry level at best. Of course I would prefer one over the no namers like fic, efa, soyo, etc but Whether it's intel or amd based. Abit & Asus have a hold of that market in the quality department. With Asus being my favorite. But if you can get an abit to work for you, you will be very happy. But the Asus's are in my opinion the best! My Professional Reccomdation.... Get an Asus A7V133 MB, AMD Retail Box 1.0ghz and draw the 4 lines under the L1 label and you've got yourself an awesome AMD 1.2ghz Machine for full upgradeablity and the best in overclocking abilities. The intel has NONE!!!!!!!!! Best part... you're looking at no more than $350 for that combo... Throw in a 128 micron module for $35 and the case for another $35 and you're done @ $420... I'd stay away from Intel. GO AMD!

 

[tryanasaurus]

I'm tempted. If anyone gets one post some info on it.

 

[Braxus]

Just to let you all know, Creative doesn't really make their own boards. A company called "Shuttle" makes it for them. Have a friend that works at creative and she showed me some boards she got. Upon booting, BIOS codes match Shuttle's Award Vendor ID codes. Even flashed the board with Shuttle's BIOSes and they worked fine. Checked this M003 board and it's made by Shuttle as well.

Found a review of a "complete" retail version of the kit. Check it out at http://www.mellenger.com/articles/blasterpc/blaster1.htm

 

[oldtigerdirect]

There are several different areas of concern and confusion which have appeared throughout this thread. In all fairness, we'd like to address them:

1. The retail Live! 5.1 upgrade does include "Optical In" and "Optical Out" connectors, however The Blaster PC Kit includes only "Optical Out." The "Optical In" port was eliminated due in part, because it was rarely used. The only devices that require "Optical In" are DAT drives and MiniDisc drives, both of which have been replaced by faster, cheaper alternatives.

2. While the Sound Blaster mobo only supports 2X AGP, benchmark testing reveals that the actual performance difference between 2X and 4X is marginal, and in most cases insignificant. The only way to actually exploit the 4X AGP is with the Pentium 4 processor. Only 2% of PC users are actually achieving 4X AGP performance. Your experience with the Blaster PC will not be affected by the 2X AGP as opposed to the 4X.

3. Although the Blaster PC Kit features an UDMA 33 controller speed, ATA/100 or SCSI controllers can be added to the system. Both are inexpensive and readily available.

4. The 200-watt power supply, while criticized, is not only sufficient but provides premium power to this system. In fact, most comparable Gateway and Dell machines ship with just a 145-watt power supply. And the Blaster PC Kit's power supply provides extra connectors to expand your system. TigerDirect has built and tested fully configured systems, adding all optional devices and experienced no problems - in fact there was room to grow! We consider this power supply a main selling point of this kit.

The bottom line is that for the price of Sound Blaster Live! Platinum 5.1 alone, you get the Blaster PC case (with extra drive bays and power supply), infrared reciever, Creative Labs Blaster motherboard, Creative Labs infrared remote control, FM Radio and more---for FREE! We appreciate the comments made by many insightful individuals, and hope that all concerned will take a look at the overall value of this kit. We are currently accepting pre-orders for these kits.

We hope that individuals will see the incredible value of this offer and make a great new entertainment system: Click here for full details!

 

[kingink]

I was really thinking about this and am now stone cold after checking reseller ratings. I contacted a friend of mine that ordered from them and he didn't recommend the company b/c of
problems with an rma. It really looks good, but the seeming lack of customer service as evidenced by the poor few who were unlucky or wronged on reseller ratings, this is now stone cold for me. Thanks for the chance at a hot deal. I'll probably kick myself later. The item itself is great, just don't want to risk dealing with poor service and possibly bad products if I don't have to do so.
kingink

 

[HawkeyeNJ]

<< Also, any sb live with sdpif out connect to DD 5.1 ready receiver or 5.1 ready speakers, using software dvd player with DD 5.1 software decode will get DD 5.1 result. >>



Kingofcomputer please PM or email me. Want to set up SBLive to Midiland 5.1 sounds like u know. Tks

 

[Kingofcomputer]

For about same price, you can buy a plain bx mb, sb live oem, hoontech digit i/o daughter card, a case. Unless you need the ports on the front of the case.


How to connect?
Just connect the spdif out from sb live (some model) or hoontech's spdif out to your speakers set's spdif in.
Or if you got sb live 5.1 and a 5.1 speakers set with analog input only, connect the 3 pairs analog line out from live 5.1 to the speakers set's 3 pairs analog line in.
Also need to change some settings in PowerDVD or WinDVD.

 

[ProfessorFrink]

There's no use being so critical of this deal. Granted, it's not for everyone due to the older chipset. But this deal is perfect for someone like me, who is working on a dedicated multimedia machine. This will be my 8th box and I was looking for a cheap case and motherboard anyway for my spare celeron, ram, and harddrives. Coupled with a tv-out capable video card, this setup is perfect for connecting to a home theater/stereo. Personally, I'll be connecting it to my projector and maybe pick up a set of promedias and I'll have a nice little home theater setup that's completely portable.
As for piecing together something comparable, it would be difficult to get those parts from the same vendor and not get gouged on shipping. Not to mention the fact that you wouldn't get the polished look of this specialty case.

But u can do what ya like i spose

 

[whizbang]

I bought a PC from TigerDirect a couple of years ago, but would not again (of course I build my own now, anyway). They shipped a different video card than I expected and would not swap. I did order some accessories from them without a problem. I suspect that if you order boxed items instead of a component system, you will not have a problem, just don't expect any customer service. I did return a defective mouse for replacement without a problem, except they charged me when they sent the new one and didn't reimburse me for the defective one until they received it back from me.

Just make sure you have in writing what you expect to get. Talk to a CSR and have them fax or email detailed description to you prior to ordering. That way, if they try to swap a component or item, you have proof of the agreement.

Expect long wait times for customer service and reps with difficult to understand accents (unless you speak Spanish)...