New PC build

I have been clamoring to get a new PC together for a while now.  With the new year comes the opportunity to do so (thanks to having room for it in the budget).  I am in the process of figuring out exactly what I want in this machine.

I started out with a smaller case (smaller than mid tower) but not super small.  I then started looking into parts to go with it.  I definitely want to go with a core i7 (Ivy Bridge) CPU with an SSD for the main system bits.  Given this setup, I found that through the Intel purchase program I can get a 3 piece bundle that includes a CPU, SSD and motherboard.  I found a i7-3770K with a full ATX motherboard and 180GB SSD.  That was when I realized that the case that I selected would not do the trick.  So back to a Mid Tower case.

I started piecing together the rest of the system, including a 1TB second drive (may go bigger), 16GB of memory and a 660 ti video card.  I'm pretty much set on these items, and I want a full BluRay burner.

Of course, I started thinking more about this build, and thought to myself, "Do I really need to get a full blown build again?"  Looking back into what I use my current PC for the answer is probably not.  I want a good machine, but needing it to be expandable is not a high on the needs list.  So now I'm looking at a smaller setup.

I went back to the Employee Purchase site, and found a bundle that comes with the 180GB SSD, a mini ITX motherboard and an i7-3770S.  The 3770S doesn't come with an unlocked multiplier, so it significantly reduces the overclockability of the processor.  My last bit overclocking experience was with the good old Celeron 300 overclocked to 450.  The processors are so fast now, there really isn't a need to do any overclocking.

Back to a different case!  There are a number of mini ITX form factor cases out there, but found one with a great minimalist style.  It doesn't have any external 5.25", but I don't use the current optical drives in my current system, and if I need to use one I can just hook up an external drive.

What else is great about going smaller, is the reduction in price.

Now to start buying the pieces...

I have another knee, why not have surgery on it?

I learned at the tail end of last year that I have knees of an old man.

I have been having problems in my right knee with swelling and pain after strenuous activity.  I guess volleyball is a pretty strenuous activity on the knee, especially when playing indoor ball.  I was actually taking a break from indoor volleyball because of the tendonitis in my left knee from my ACL surgery, but it ended up my right knee doing me in this time.

My initial visit with Dr. Aschenbrener showed arthritis in my right knee, with a few bone spurs here and there and obvious indications of less than ideal amounts of cartilage.  With that finding, I was sent to the imaging center to get an MRI on my knee.

A few weeks later, I had my followup with the Doc, where I learned that I had a lateral meniscus tear.  I don't know exactly when this tear occurred.  It could have been a months ago, to years ago.  I have a feeling it was way back when I was living in Santa Clara and was playing indoor soccer when it actually happened.

Along with that news, I found out that my patella doesn't track correctly, which is causing additional wear and tear behind my patella that can be the cause of more pain and inflammation.  Ugh.

I actually went in for the surgery on the 2nd of the New Year.  I went in telling the doc that I didn't want the lateral release done on my patella (which can fix the tracking problem) unless it was absolutely necessary.  Thankfully, he didn't do the release and just snipped out the torn meniscus and performed any other cleaning that was necessary to get me on my way.

4 days later, I am doing pretty well with the recovery.  It is nothing like the ACL surgery.  I was able to put full weight on the knee right away, and it's just taking the time for the surgical area to heal before I can really get into my physical therapy.  The physical therapy will concentrate on working the needed muscles to improve my knee function and also work on fixing my patellar tracking.

It should be a fun next 4 weeks or so!  I'm just hoping that things turn out for the better in regards to the pain and swelling.  I don't want to have to give up on playing ball...