Legit Reviews

Hey everyone, just thought I would put this up to see if you guys have any advice or anything. I have also posted this at xoxide forum network, so dont tweak if you have seen it before.

Well if anyone knows anything about boy scouts, im sure a few of you are still in it, or were, theres a bunch of ranks, top being Eagle, im one below Eagle currently and now working towards Eagle. I wasnt very enthused and was finding it hard to get any inspiration, but my mom let me know the other day that if I finish it she will help me buy a decent car, so now i have a reason to finish

Ok my current plan that I have all worked out involves getting together components for 10 different computer systems, each a little different hopefully on the outside, but the hardware will be pretty alike. I'm working on getting 10 from AMD or intel, or 5 from each for a little variety. Keep in mind these arent powerhouses, im hoping for some celerons or semprons. Im hoping for decent quality video cards, might jump back to the FX or 9*** series' for decent gameplay but cheap cost, preferably 512mb ram per computer thats value, and other miscellaneous things. Each system will have a different case, and each system will be slightly modified with lighting, rounded cables, sleeving, wire management, and other minor things that arent too structural. Now lets move on.

I will get together 10 different teens, junior high to high school age, each with an interest in technology and each coming from a fairly low income household. They will join me in bi-weekly classes to last an hour to two hours for a month(total 8 classes for those who didnt pass 1st grade math), where they will put together their own computer, learn the in's and outs of the hardware and software side of things, and help in modifying the system to their liking. At the end of the month of classes they will be allowed to take home their systems, complete with monitors(probably 17" crt's), keyboards, and mice. Also might try to root out some speakers for them.

Everything I am expecting to be donated. I sent letters to AMD and Intel today and will be giving a follow up call early next week to hopefully seal the deal.

Does this sound logical to you guys? I hoped for some support from xoxide but have recieved no notification from them of any interest. Everyone who donates will get a huge amount of recognition as this will be written up on my website, posted on other websites, and will most likely get recognition from my local boy scout district and the local newspapers.

Thanks. This also will be coinciding with my senior project how perfect.

Also, if anyone wants to help out, I would greatly appreciate anyone who pulls out information on motherboard, ram, and video card manufacturer's with their address's for mailing and a phone number. Thanks a lot guys.

Questions and Answers:

I'd say you'll probably want a few spare parts as well, don't just buy 10 of each thing and expect them not only all to work properly, but also all not to get damaged or shorted out during installation You might also want to look at getting basic toolkits for the students since some may not have the necessary tools themselves, depending on just what you plan on teaching. Don't forget OS and OS liscences as well

I expect decent support from MS and if none from them, I will delve into linux! Will also be getting together comprehensive toolkits.

umm, here's something you may want to watch out for. (this is coming from my recent experience, staying 2.5 weeks at my brother's new house with 3 children) now, i'm sure you know how kids are, most are pretty competitive and they're gonna fight for what they want. what i'm saying is, it might be wise to go with identical hardware for all the systems, that way you don't have kids running around "I WANTED THAT ONE! HIS IS FASTER THAN MINE! BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT COLOR!" you know how kids are.

and i'm SURE plenty of people here have some old games and stuff they would donate. i've got a few myself that are a bit old to trade in that i'd gladly donate for the cause.

I'm planning on having essentially identical hardware, and the cases and modding supplies will be predetermined before having them arrive, in order to have each kid have a case that they personally like. As for people interested in helping, shoot me an email at snowking03 AT comcast DOT net.

Update # 1 : 2 weeks ago
Called AMD and Intel today. Couldn't make heads or tails out of Intels Menu and I got through to AMD and figured it out but the person wasn't there to talk to. Ive sent a web-request to Intel and am reviewing AMD's donation/grant policy online and filling out the application.

Bah, lets hope I can get this figured out by the end of the week.

Update # 2: 2 weeks ago
Both amd and intel are against donating to individuals, so no help from them.

Update # 3: 2 weeks ago
Sent email to Newegg, hoping for a positive response.

Update # 3: 4/5/2005
Recieived response from newegg

Hello Patrick,

We received product from AMD I can send to you.

I am awaiting a response from Intel, and then I can send everything all at once.

Thanks,

Thadus

So its on!

Update #4 : Newegg got me another email. They are giving me 5-7 proccessors, that I do not know what they are yet, and other products that I do not know of yet.

Update #5 - Shipped!! : Just got this:

newegg wrote: We've shipped a couple of AMD processors, 5 Desktop Boards, 5 Pentium 4 Processors along with a series of product information guides, quick reference guides, etc.

Thank you for allowing us to be of assistance.

** BTW, we wondered if you could provide us with a bunch of pictures receiving, installing, and using these products. We'd like to share the joy you experience in using these items with our Executives, Vendors and others. In fact we may even be putting this on our website.

Woot, we are in business!

Updates will be on first post, and will be bumped using another post on the thread.

Update 2/27/2006
Well, I decided to update this after contacting infinitevalence, who wasn't any help to me =P
By any means, still where i am in the donations department, i've been emailing companies for the last hour looking for parts. I finally have a group nailed down and I'm planning on starting here in the next week or two. I'm working with a local group called Centro Latino (http://www.centrolatino-ser.org) and it looks like this is going to go perfect as long as the parts aren't too difficult to come by. Nate, if you see this thread, could you give me a pm? I'm looking for some specific marketing/PR contacts for a few companies that don't have them listed on their website.

Anyways! I'm freakin excited.

thats awesome man.
I personally fix up systems for people (for free), for friends i build new systems, i just ask them to donate their old stuff to kids or families who can't afford things like that.
I'm really impressed that the Egg jumped on board, not so surprised about the others...its hared to even get a review sample from AMD, they just can't swing it a lot of the time.

Lets hope motherboard manufacturers might be a little nicer :\

I too am impressed that newegg is donating to the cause. I expected the response you got from AMD and Intel.

Good luck on this project of yours... I made Eagle back in '97 and have been very happy that I completed that accomplishment! It's awesome that you are doing something that will obviously keep your interest through out the project's life... I wish I could have done my project with computers, but I just didn't know what I know now back when I was a freshman in High School. ;) And parts were so much more expensive when I was in High School...

anyways, not sure if I will be able to help or not, but if you have something you would like to ask of me or if you just have some questions, I'll see what I can do..

my town is so small we dont even have a boyscouts chapter but my grandfather got the silver buffalo a few years ago.

wtf is the silver buffalo?
lol but yeah. Waiting for the next response from newegg...
I asked for more info on what they are willing on sending specwise, so we will see what they offer

wow, wouldnt it be amazing if I got something higher end

Silver Buffalo

The Silver Buffalo Award, created in 1925, is bestowed upon those who give truly noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth. This award, Scouting's highest commendation, recognizes the invaluable contributions that outstanding American men and women render to youth. The service must be national in character and can be directly connected with the BSA or independent of the movement.

The first Silver Buffalo Award was conferred upon Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement and Chief Scout of the World. Other award recipients have included aviator Charles A. Lindbergh; artist Norman Rockwell, well-known for his many Scouting paintings; General Colin L. Powell; Apollo 13 commander James A. Lovell Jr.; artist and film producer Walt Disney; baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron; entertainer Bob Hope; Marian Anderson, first African American singer to appear at the Metropolitan Opera; football coach Vince Lombardi; Carlos P. Romulo, Pulitzer Prize-winner and cofounder, Boy Scouts of the Philippines; Neil Armstrong, first man to set foot on the moon; Dr. Ralph Bunche, former U.N. mediator and Nobel Peace Prize winner; cartoonist Charles M. Schulz; Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund; and 13 presidents of the United States.

http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-513.html

Wow, pretty amazing. Its a leader/adult award though, thats why I was not familiar with it

yeah, have to say its kinda humbeling to know that a member of your family recived an award like that.

Update, more specification from Newegg. Getting 5-7 proccessors + other products that I do not know of yet.

Products should be shipped.

Also talked to my high school spanish teacher who in turn introduced me to the English as a Second Language teacher. Got her email address and will be contacting her to give her more details in the coming days.

I am extremely busy currently with school and work though, so time is limited!!

Its christmas!

god i love boxes like that

Mmm, I cant say what I have got, because i guess im not suppposed to get donations until i have the project approved(ooops?), but lets say I have got much much muchhhhhh more then I could have EVER imagined.

Edit: wh0a, PCI E boards :O

LOL... ya, don't say anything to anyone in your troop until that project is approved! When are you supposed to get your approval?

I'm going to draft up the full plan and submit it this week to the troop, and once it is approved there(which shouldnt be a problem) i have to take it to the district, which will be the hard ones. Shouldn't be more then a week hopefully

kewl... good luck ... but as a word of advice, make sure you don't let slip that you already have donations... I know that if that happened in the STL area, the district board would not pass the project approval and make you do a different project.... and NewEgg wouldn't like that ... ;)

PS... I don't know where you are located, but if you are reasonably in the STL area and need help putting systems together, LMK, and I'd be happy to help!

WA
if by STL you mean saint louis, too far , if you mean seattle, heh.

Yeah, i know, nobody is going to know i have this stuff yet

But i totalled the stuff up.
Intel procs: 1385
Intel mobos: 710
Amd Procs: ehh around 6-700 i believe.

Bump.