Lets see. In order to download SINS you need Stardock Central. By just preordering, you can't get access to beta 1, but you'll get access to beta 2 and beyond. You could get into beta 1 now, but you'd need to buy game tokens, which costs more. Beta 2 comes out on the 21st, which is the earliest you could get the beta if you preoder.
Store:
https://www.sinsofasolarempire.com/store/
I also got the Download+ CD, but I don't know exactally what that means (could mean you could do either, or the CD is part of it and the download is the other part).
also how do i sign up after i get the ref # from pre-ordering do i have to go to some other website and set it up or something like that.
Ref #? After you get the beta key, get
Stardock Central, go to the games list, find the SINS beta, right click and then register products (If I remember correctly).
Don't worry, Multi or some one will tell you the absolutly right way to do it, eventually...