New Computer time

[nbowman]

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming, watching movies, basic office tasks, linux dual boot for coding/compiling. gaming takes priority

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
$950, max before rebates

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
no particular preferences

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
Case (Antec P182), PSU(Corsair TX650), optical drives, OS (yay, MSDNAA), monitor and peripherals excluding mouse

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
yup

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I will be Overclocking FSB to 400, if I can get there on stock voltage. that's about it really. I value cool&quiet > higher clocks.

8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
I will be ordering before the 30th - so this week sometime, depends on when my bank transfer goes through.

Newegg Wishlist
there is a $30 combo deal on the mobo and video card, that doesn't show up outside the shopping cart, so the actual out the door is just under 800 right now. well, plus CA sales tax I guess.

besides the usual check for glaring issues, I have 2 specific questions:
1. should I get a sound card? I plan on running Vista x64 Business edition. whats the story on creative and Asus and such? I have a set of Logitech Z-5500s that I will be swapping to this when it is built, suggestions?

2. what is a good high DPI mouse for people with largish hands, I have a logitech MX that unfortunately is kinda beat up now and doesn't track as well as it used to, and even that is a bit small (length wise, the width is adequate) - how are other brands/models in this regard? any suggestions are welcome here.

 

[akhilles]

The list looks great to me.

1. I think you should try the onboard sound 1st. If you don't like it, upgrade it to a card.

2. Eh. I have used Logitech mice before and every time I did, my hand was cramped. Microsoft mice are the most comfortable to me. Google Wireless Laser 6000. Some reviews complain about the sharp of the mouse, but it actually melts into my palm. I got it brand new for a few bucks + $10 shipping from ebay. It's OEM. Just in a sealed bag + a booklet + a driver cd.

 

[nbowman]

thanks for the suggestion, it looks like it might fit the bill, and its hard to beat the price.

 

[modoheo]

Sure you don't have another 100 bucks in your budget to upgrade to the 4870? Such a nice graphics card for the coin.

I'm not a big fan of that RAM. It's pricey, and the big heat sinks often get in the way of placing CPU coolers. It's also high voltage ram (2.1), which some mobo's have trouble initially posting with. I'd go with Corsair or G.Skill 1.8 volt ram. Going from 4-4-4-12 to 5-5-5-15 timings really makes little or no difference.

 

[nbowman]

something like this then? Gskill RAM
looks like the heatspreaders don't extend above the top of the memory modules.

RE: the 4870, if I can find one in stock I will consider it.