$189 is about the going rate for just the CPU/MB combo so you're basically getting Win 7 Ultimate for free.
Only hitch is, you gotta attend the MS/AMD Ready to Launch Tour although I suspect you can register and just show up at 5pm to pick up the kit since you're prepaying for it.
If the link doesn't work for you, go to msevents.microsoft.com, enter the keywords 'Ready To Launch', deselect all choices except for 'In-Person Events'.
OP's first link works fine. Numerous event dates and locations. When you click on a location link for details, all the info per OP's is correct. Sounds like a good deal ... if you are close to a location. I'm buying this board and Mobo this week ... wish I was close to a event site .. closest is 14 hour round trip.
Tampa Florida 33609 Duluth Georgia 30097 Reston Virginia 20191 Newark New Jersey 07114 Dedham Massachusetts 02026 Oak Brook Illinois 60523 Sunnyvale California 94088 Lynnwood Washington 98036 Irvine United States Burbank California
Tempting... I went to one of these events a few years ago and (via FW) and got in on a crazy hot price for an Opteron (dual-core)/mobo at the time. This doesn't seem to be as good. They probably learned their lesson
Doors open at 9AM but you can't get the kit until 5 PM. Doesn't say if you can show up late but first agenda item is at 10am. Therefore, you have to spend 7+ hours of your time and most events are on weekdays. I guess if you can get your boss to let you go for "work" it might be worth it, but otherwise I don't see much advantage to taking a vacation day for this deal.
Aside from being NFR (not for resale) what restrictions comes the the bundled W7 Ultimate? Last event I attend Vista Ultimate was restricted to 32-bits. (Called MS and they wouldn't allow me to purchase the 64-bit media CD.) If this CD is restricted to 32-bit it is not worth the time or effort.
cliesucks
New Member
posted: Oct. 19, 2009 @ 2:28p
Has anybody been to this year tour? It looks like the event has been already hosted in two cities in Texas. Maybe those who attended could provide some information regarding the version of Windows 7. I agree, if it's only the 32-bit version, I would definitely pass.
nganti
New Member
posted: Oct. 19, 2009 @ 2:57p
kshell said: Aside from being NFR (not for resale) what restrictions comes the the bundled W7 Ultimate? Last event I attend Vista Ultimate was restricted to 32-bits. (Called MS and they wouldn't allow me to purchase the 64-bit media CD.) If this CD is restricted to 32-bit it is not worth the time or effort.
last year i also got vista ultimate, key worked for both 32bit and 64bit. only thing is you have to get 64bit ISO its not a big issue. iam assuming same thing applies to windows 7 also.
ChuckWits
Ancient Member
posted: Oct. 19, 2009 @ 3:38p
gman2819 said: "Only hitch is, you gotta attend the MS/AMD Ready to Launch Tour although I suspect you can register and just show up at 5pm to pick up the kit since you're prepaying for it."
No, it clearly states that you have to attend the event in order to receive the kit.
ChuckWits said: gman2819 said: "Only hitch is, you gotta attend the MS/AMD Ready to Launch Tour although I suspect you can register and just show up at 5pm to pick up the kit since you're prepaying for it."
No, it clearly states that you have to attend the event in order to receive the kit.
How are they going to force it, assuming if you show and register in person at 9am?
dwkor said: ChuckWits said: gman2819 said: "Only hitch is, you gotta attend the MS/AMD Ready to Launch Tour although I suspect you can register and just show up at 5pm to pick up the kit since you're prepaying for it."
No, it clearly states that you have to attend the event in order to receive the kit.
How are they going to force it, assuming if you show and register in person at 9am?
I'm guessing registration is 9-10 and you get a badge or something. Then at 5pm, you have to show badge to get items. If it was held near you, might be able to register, leave, come back at 4pm ,then get items. the one at NJ is at the airport hotel so it would a huge pain to do that.
cfredette
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 10:58a
Am I missing something. If you add the kit to your card you can go all the way to the purchase page. It looks like they will just mail it to you. Where does attending the class fit into this?
cfredette said: Am I missing something. If you add the kit to your card you can go all the way to the purchase page. It looks like they will just mail it to you. Where does attending the class fit into this?
On the main ordering page, they say The Microsoft / AMD Ready To Launch Tour DIY Kit is eligible for purchase only by registered attendees of the launch tour.
I think people are assuming you have to show up at the event. But they allow you to register online. Maybe I'm wrong but that implies you don't really have to attend the event - as long as you're registered, you're eligible. Which means you can just show up at 5pm to pick it up. Or if you don't show up, they'll mail it to you.
The worst that could happen is they'll refund you if you don't show up.
From what I recall, you sign in and get your badge, etc. For some reason, I also recall needing a "ticket," which may have been attached to the badge. I don't recall as it's been 4-5 years since the first one they had in Irvine. Anyway, I ended up staying for the entire event but I probably could have left and come back thinking about it now. Of course, I have no idea if they will have changed the rules now or if they'll be tighter on preventing you from leaving. I would think it's fine though. Just tell them you have an "emergency" to tend to (i.e. the datacenter is on fire!)
cfredette
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 11:56a
Sound like they just mail it to you right away. There is nothing about having to pick it up. They even ask for your shipping info to compute the cost. Which is 0 BTW. I say you just order it and if you don't get it in a week just cancel.
finalpendragon
Ancient Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 12:15p
The motherboard appears to have 3 video ports: hdmi, vga, and dvi. Does that mean it can support a 3 monitor configuration without any addin video cards?
hellboyctn
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 12:44p
Purchase only by registered attendees of the launch tour. No refunds will be provided for purchased kits
The kit will be handed out at the venue at the end of the event only upon confirmation of purchase
It does not say that we have to attend to the whole event. However beaweare that is no refund.
BlackDeath
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 1:03p
I think the refund comes in when I call up AMEX to issue a charge back when they fail to provide me with a product...
Either way, I am heading to the event in the morning, picking up my badge, and coming back at 5 to pick up my kit.
hellboyctn
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 1:15p
@blackdeath: if you can do that please leave a feed back. I would try to do that too, my event would be up in Nov 13.
Signed up for my local event on Nov 13th. I have some time to decide for the kit. I was looking to rebuild my server anyway. I think my mobo is fried. Or maybe the power supply. Ughhh
BlackDeath
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 2:18p
hellboyctn said: @blackdeath: if you can do that please leave a feed back. I would try to do that too, my event would be up in Nov 13. Sure. I am "going" to the event on the 22nd in Duluth, GA for reference.
finalpendragon said: The motherboard appears to have 3 video ports: hdmi, vga, and dvi. Does that mean it can support a 3 monitor configuration without any addin video cards?
I don't have this boards, but I do have a Gigabyte board with the same 785G chipset. It will not allow all three ports to be used. Matter of fact only one digital port can be used at a time. So you could do VGA+HDMI, VGA+DVI, but not DVI+HDMI.
Just came back from event in Tampa. Registered at 9am, came back at 5pm and picked up the kit. Absolutely no problems with it. In fact, you don't even need to come at 9am - they do not check anything besides order confirmation email and ID.
Edit: Media contains only 64 bit version even if label on the disk says that kit contains both.
dwkor said: Just came back from event in Tampa. Registered at 9am, came back at 5pm and picked up the kit. Absolutely no problems with it. In fact, you don't even need to come at 9am - they do not check anything besides order confirmation email and ID.
Media contains both 32 and 64 bit versions.
All I want to know is did they give out lunch or where you on your own. If they gave out lunch, what was it and how was it
junglejack
Broke Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 7:52p
Yes, I too went to the tampa event. They gave you lunch in a nice soft black microsoft lunch bag(you had six choices of samy's). also snacks at diff times and coffee and drinks all thru. At the end they gave out like 50 prizes, mobo's os7 mice and such. It was long but worth it. The mobo is micro atx.
Wow, those 620 CPUs some can unlock to Deneb, right? Either way, awesome deal!!
chang06
Enthusiastic Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 9:18p
So you need to order the kit and pay first and, then attend the event and pick it up at 5pm?
cliesucks
New Member
posted: Oct. 20, 2009 @ 10:00p
Thanks, Dwkor. It good to know that it's the 64-bit version.
dwkor said: Just came back from event in Tampa. Registered at 9am, came back at 5pm and picked up the kit. Absolutely no problems with it. In fact, you don't even need to come at 9am - they do not check anything besides order confirmation email and ID.
Edit: Media contains only 64 bit version even if label on the disk says that kit contains both.
junglejack said: Yes, I too went to the tampa event. They gave you lunch in a nice soft black microsoft lunch bag(you had six choices of samy's). also snacks at diff times and coffee and drinks all thru. At the end they gave out like 50 prizes, mobo's os7 mice and such. It was long but worth it. The mobo is micro atx.
Any more detail on the MB? Link in OP goes to a pretty loaded standard ATX board, would like to know any differences in specs...
Yep, that is the uATX motherboard I received in bundle. Original post link needs corrected. Also confirming the Ultimate as a single DVD 64bit version.
No DDR3 memory yet, so only tested the CPU in an AM2+ system, and it easily overclocks to 3.5GHz.
Skipping 11 Messages...
spammusubi
Senior Member
posted: Nov. 13, 2009 @ 7:57p
jplee3 said: Guys, how can you tell if your dvd is 32 or 64 bit? It seems ppl are reporting different things. I just got my kit from the Irvine event.
Got mine from Irvine as well. On my disc it says 64-bit software.
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