Last minute advice on new Games spec

[pussycat]

Hi

After months of research I am finally ready to place my order this morning with Scan !
Here is my spec
all comments welcomed


1 Gb (2 x 512Mb) Corsair TwinX, DDR, PC3200C2PRO, Cas 2, LED Activity Lights, Lifetime Warranty £85.59 £100.57

Akasa Eclipse-62 Midi Tower Case - Hi-End £72.89 £85.65

Akasa Maxi-View Side Panel for Eclipse-62 Case £8.99 £10.56

250Gb Maxtor Maxline III 24x7 Reliability (7200rpm,16MB) SATA II NCQ - Lead Free £62.50 £73.44

256MB XFX PCI-E *Extreme Edition* GF7800GT *450 Core 1.05Ghz Mem* (256bit) ViVo 2xDVI £221.99 £260.84

AMD Athlon 64 4000 32/64Bit CPU S939 "San Diego" Retail inc Heat Sink Fan & 3 Years Warranty £216.25 £254.09

Mitsumi FA404M 1.44 Black FDD+Int USB2 7 in 1 Card Reader (SM/MMC/SD/CF/MD/MS) Fits in 3.5" FDD Bay £10.49 £12.33

Sony DWQ28AB2 Black 16x16x4 DVD±RW Double Dual Layer DVD Writer OEM UK £24.59 £28.89

Sony Black 16x DVD-ROM + 48x CD-ROM IDE £12.19 £14.32

Logitech Cordless Internet Desktop Pro - Black Keyboard & Optical Mouse OEM £17.99 £42.28

Altec Lansing VS3151R Versatile 5.1 flat-panel speaker system with wireless remote £48.39 £56.86

120mm Coolermaster Internal Case Fan with BLUE LED S12-EB £3.69 £8.67

Asus A8N-SLi Premium NF4 S939 DDR400 PCI-E SATA Raid Gbit Lan 8Ch Audio £105.20 £123.61

Hauppauge WinTV-Nova-S Digital TV PCI Receiver (542) HDTV Compatible £65.79 £77.30

BT (British Telecom) Voyager 240 ADSL Modem Router inc 4 port switch 10/100 and Firewall £32.69 £38.41

530w Tagan EasyCon - TG530-U15 - 2Force Silent Modular PSU £64.99 £76.36

Cheers

[darrensen]

Looks like a quality setup there! If you wanted to save a few £ then i'd get the 3700 SD and clock it up. You wont get much performance difference between the 3700 and the 4000 SD's.

[Thorsson]

Computer Shopper has a review of TV cards this month and doesn't rate the Happauge at all. Unfortunately if you want to buy everything from Scan it doesn't look like you have any other options. Shopper recommend the Twinham Ter D+A or the Nebula DigiTV PCI if you're made of money.

Have the speakers been bought on looks? Reviews I've seen of these complain at a lack of bass. I'd recommend the Logitech X-530s in this price range, but Scan don't currently stock much from Logitech (they say that's going to change, which would be smart).

I presume with this setup you're going to game. If so then the mouse is not the best choice (and you appear to be ordering it twice too!). I wouldn't go cordless unless I was willing to break the bank with the G7. Going down in price (and corded), the G5, the MX518, MX510. The MX1000 cordless laser is OK but is very heavy.

[pussycat]

Thanks alot for your advice.

I have researched further into cordless gaming mice
and fallen for the G7.

It is pricey but sounds amazing.

You are right I did go for the Altec Lansing VS3151R speakers because of their looks.
Also the wireless remote sounded good.

I will do some more research into speakers.

I will look again at the tv card too.
Thanks for telling me about the poor Happauge reviews.

I wanted a card that could use with my sky satelite subscription and record sky programs.

Cheers

[dave87]

Ive got the mx1000, well worth looking at if you use you're PC all day (like me). Logitech speakers are truley a lot better than some of the competition, but i run my pc through a 600w cinema set - hl2 = amazing. Have you considered dual core athlons?

[pussycat]

Do you consider the mx1000 to be "very heavy"?

I did consider dual core but was told that the 4000 San Diego would be better for games.

My head hurts there is too much choice

[dave87]

not really, did find it a bit of a drag until i bought my Icemat now it 'flies' over the top - especially when gamign . It is heavier than a corded mouse, but I didn't find it a problem

lol how true.

[pussycat]

Thanks

I have added an Icemat to my shopping basket

[pussycat]

After more research
including a good review in Tom's Hardware Guide
on these three speakers

Altec Lansing VS 3151R Puts Volume Above All
Creative Inspire T5900
Logitech X-530

I have decided to go with the Creative Inspire T5900

They seem to be best in this price rasnge.

I have found them for £49.99 at Amazon

Nearly made all my shoping decsisons

[rajagra]

I have added an Icemat to my shopping basket

A quick warning: My G5 doesn't work with an Icemat.
My MX518 and MX1000 are fine though.