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Which Mouse/Keyboard/Case/Power Supply/Graphics Card?

paulm

paulm

New Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2008
Messages
441 (0.07/day)
Location
United States
System Specs
System Name Failbox
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3.2 w/ Stock Cooling
Motherboard Intel D975XBX2
Cooling Air
Memory Crucial Ballistix 4GB DDR2 800
Video Card(s) EVGA 7900 GS
Storage Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB
Display(s) Chimei 22"
Case Enermax Chakra (upgrading)
Audio Device(s) Integrated
Power Supply Corsair CMPSU-520HX
Software Windows XP SP3
Hi!

I'm new to these forums, and though I've watched the website and used its reviews and such as a reference for quite a while now, I never really looked at the forums much...

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section, I would be glad to re-post it elsewhere if necessary...

Anyway, here is my situation, and I hope that someone can give me some advice.

Currently, I'm running my system with this config:

Mobo: D975XBX2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121060R)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115003)
Graphics: PV-T84G-UDF3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150228)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 4GB DDR2 800 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148211)
Hard Drive: Seagate 320GB 7200RPM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148316)
PSU: Some 380W power supply

Currently, I'm not overclocking anything since I'm a bit nervous about the temperatures in my case without overclock. I plan to overclock a bit, but I'm not going to be pushing for a world record...

What I want to do is upgrade my case, video card, power supply, and then get a new mouse & keyboard.

For the case, I don't want to spend more than ~$150, and preferably somewhere around $100... I would rather get a mid-tower case with some decent/good cooling and some form of cable management. I was looking at the Antec P182 and Antec 900, but I'm not sure which one is better/if there is something better out there.

For the Graphics Card, I don't want to spend more than ~$250... I was looking at this card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801, but I don't know if there is anything better out there...

For the power supply, I doubt I need a huge amount of wattage, but I'd like to get a good one that will last. I would really like a modular one, and don't want to spend much more than ~$100 - ~$120...

For the keyboard & mouse, I don't need anything extreme. I don't use macro's, I don't really need a screen on the keyboard, and I don't need 772 customizable keys. For the keyboard, I just want some media controls (volume, play, pause, etc.) and maybe a few keys that I can customize, but mainly I just want something comfortable and decent looking. For the mouse, I don't need any custom buttons. Just a comfortable mouse (medium size, good for "claw grip" according to razer). My budget for mouse and keyboard is ~$100...

All in all, I just want the best I can get within my budget, and I would greatly appreciate any and all recommendations, as you all probably have better judgment than me when it comes to these things :)

Thank you!
 
Last edited:
Your vid card purchase is the best one within your price range. Definitely go with that.

Power Supply--Corsair or PC Power and Cooling are your best bets and are generally accepted around here as the best of the best. Modular? This will be your baby.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

Mice and keyboards are more what's comfortable for the user than anything else. Most cheaper keyboards will do you right since it sound like you don't want all the frills of say a Logitech g15. I love my Logitech MX518 mouse, but you'll get widely varying opinions between those, the G series, and Razers. A mouse is one thing you just have to find what's best for you since all hands and gaming styles are different.
 
Videocard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102813 - Would go with this over your current selection only $20 more, if you wanna toss another $30 could gte 2gb.

PSU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159072&Tpk=coolmax - Great PSU for the price, a ton of Amps, Modular, 80 plus, and alot of watts.

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 - Alot better than the Antec 900, lots of fan slots 7 off the bat and 8 if you put another in the bottom 2 cd bays. Then buy the sidepnael if you want see through, loose only 1 fan doing that. All tooless bays and slots out back. All HDD's go on clip in trays, for the money this is where it is at.

Keyboard - meh anything, my $19 walmart bought microsfot one works fantastic and has all the controls you just mentioned.

Mouse - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HCT12O/?tag=tec06d-20 - you said you didn't want anything fancy, but buy that as a refurb. You wont regret it, very comfortable mouse and only $39 on refurb.

I went over your videocard budget, but made up by dropping case cost. you go with those choices and you should have a real kicking system.
 
Thanks for answering!

@DonInKansas

I was looking at that exact power supply... Only thing I'm wondering is if I need 620W vs. the 520W version...

@1Kurgan1

Performance wise, what kind of difference is there between the two cards? Which one would overclock better, which one would be more future proof (if that's something that can be said about a video card, sorry I'm not the most knowledgeable in that field).

For the case, how would it compare to the p182? Would it be able to fit the graphics cards mentioned? I like the tray on top of the 900 since it is a nice added convenience, but its obviously not the most important part of a case...
 
Paul--Go 620--Especially with that 4870. Headroom is always a good thing.

The 4850x2 is a powerful card, but is REALLY loud.

I personally have an Antec P180 rev 2 and you'll be fine spacewise with the 4870, but I think the 4850x2 is longer and may be cramped. I like having the central fan blowing on my vidcard, and there's just enough space for that. Plus it keeps the card nice and cool.
 
The 4850x2 clocks just fine should be able to get it decently close to 4870 clocks, but will ahve 2 cards instead of one. I would say the x2 is more future proof since most things coming out now support crossfire.

And the case I mentioned is what I currently use. It has a ton of room, I'm running a 4870x2 in mine and watercooling kit. You can see some pics by clicking hte link in my signature. I would say theres a solid full inch of not more between the end of my 4870x2 and the cd/hdd bays.
 
Alright, so far I've got this on my shopping list:

Vid Card: Sapphire 4850x2 2gb
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W
Keyboard: Tied between Saitek Ecliple II and Razer Arctosa
Mouse: Tied between Razer Deathadder and Logitech G5

I'm still unsure on the case though. The coolmaster has a meshy exterior which is what I have on my current case, and really am not liking... Now looking at the p182, it seems that I'll have trouble with getting the vid card to fit & having the cooling I would like to have... I don't really know what case to go for... I need something that will keep it cool and be solid (good materials).

I'm still liking the p182, but can someone tell me what alternatives are out there?
 
hmmmm I'm thinking here, do you really need that 4850x2...what kinda a monitor do you have???

card is a good move but a waste if you never upgrade or have a decent monitor.

Case: coolermaster, or NZXT tempest...or get a gigabyte.
 
I've got a 22in monitor with 1680x1050 as the resolution.

Generally I prefer to have mid-high end parts last for at least two years, which I would hope is possible...
 
paulm said:
I've got a 22in monitor with 1680x1050 as the resolution.

Generally I prefer to have mid-high end parts last for at least two years, which I would hope is possible...
Click to expand...

calling a 4850x2 a mid-high end card is just not right...because the 4850x2 is probably the best card on the block next to the 4870x2...both perform about the same if I'm right.

my buddy has the armor MX+ man is it friggin sweet, except for the area where the psu is held. He bought a zalman psu and he had to place a piece of cardboard in it to sit up straight.

anyways hmmm 1 to 2 years. If this is the case you may be upgrading from that e6600 since they came out back in 06 anyways if I'm right....
 
kysg said:
calling a 4850x2 a mid-high end card is just not right...because the 4850x2 is probably the best card on the block next to the 4870x2...both perform about the same if I'm right.

my buddy has the armor MX+ man is it friggin sweet, except for the area where the psu is held. He bought a zalman psu and he had to place a piece of cardboard in it to sit up straight.

anyways hmmm 1 to 2 years. If this is the case you may be upgrading from that e6600 since they came out back in 06 anyways if I'm right....
Click to expand...

My PSU was a tight fit but did not have to alter any thing though.
 
AsRock said:
My PSU was a tight fit but did not have to alter any thing though.
Click to expand...

I see but I think zalmans are smaller, damn I need to get a pic of that. because I know that is normally a snug fit but that zalman was smaller....meh, anyways.

Is that board capable of crossfire??? I can't even remember.if not then a 4850 1gb or 48701gb would be fine as there is more video memory to handle the high res and all the textures. but if you have about 300 then get the 4850x2...
 
To be honest, the 4850x2 may be overkill for your 22' monitor, but it's your money. If you're not planning to upgrade your monitor, I'd go with the 4870 1gb and possibly put your saving towards a CPU upgrade.
 
Logitech make the best wireless kb and mice. i picked up the EX90 for about $35 and don't regert it. Simple but functional + a few extra controls - I think they sell them via their website, but you might find them cheaper on egg.
 
Does anyone know the length of the Sapphire HD 4870 & Sapphire HD 4850x2?

Thanks!
 
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