Second Opinions on New System

[Deaf Pilot]

Hey all... I've been researching for a couple of months now... here's what I've got planned at this point:Case - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16811163014Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16813131540CPU - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16819103529Memory - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16820227210Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16814102629 orhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814143044Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16822144160Monitor - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16889107001Misc - http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16817103931http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16812104635http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16812104641http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16837102034

[tf51d]

Looks good, however if your main use for this PC is FS, you may want to rethink the monitor. FS was not designed with widescreen monitors in mind, so your 2D panels will look scrunched vertically, the 3D VC though, from what others say, doesn't look that bad. You may want to just get a monitor with a standard aspect ratio!!

[Deaf Pilot]

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this... I do plan on using FS a lot with this system, but I rarely use the 2D panel except in cases where I really do need to use it (i.e. when the VC functionality isnt there), and on top of that, I plan on getting the new TrackIR 4, which will make using the VC pretty much a full-time thing. The monitor is also going to double as a new TV... I will be getting rid of my 20" TV, as well as my standard-size dvd player and vcr. The monitor will be the new tv, and I will get an ultra-slim dvd player. So that is also why I wanted to go with such a big monitor... I'm getting two very nice birds with one very green-backed stone ;) By the way, for anyone else that might be checking this out... I think I'm going to change my power supply to this one:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16817104155I was quite turned off by the exposed wires... I just bought a ThermalTake 430W PSU for my current system to replace the failing original suppy, and it as worked great, but it is such a mass of wires that I just don't really want to deal with that with a new high-end system... so I started looking for PSU's with sheathed wires, and I came across a couple of modular PSU's... not only are the wires sheathedI can choose which power cords I want on the power supply. The ONLY cables permanently attached to the power supply are the main system power cables... everything else is optional. That is VERY attractive to me!Anyways... hey I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving :)

[tf51d]

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this... I do plan on using FS a lot with this system, but I rarely use the 2D panel except in cases where I really do need to use it (i.e. when the VC functionality isnt there), and on top of that, I plan on getting the new TrackIR 4, which will make using the VC pretty much a full-time thing.The monitor is also going to double as a new TV... I will be getting rid of my 20" TV, as well as my standard-size dvd player and vcr. The monitor will be the new tv, and I will get an ultra-slim dvd player. So that is also why I wanted to go with such a big monitor... I'm getting two very nice birds with one very green-backed stoneYou're right, then a 16:.9 (Dot to prevent smiles) screen is the only way to go!! You can always set the aspect ratio to standard on it at a cost of a smaller display size, still larger than most PC Monitors. I also use mine for both PC and video, except I went the front projector route. Mine has a native 4:3 aspect ratio. This gives me a standard 1280x1024 screen that's 8ftx6ft, and a HD display size for TV and movies in 16:.9 aspect that's also 8 ft wide. Great for watching Football on Sunday's!! The downside to these projetors though is you need a large room with enough wall space to accommodate the screen (Actually I play mine on the wall). Also it can get costly, as you need to replace the lamp every so often depending how often it's used. Mine lasts 4000 hrs. These bulbs are expensive ($300-$400+). Good luck with your new system, it sounds like a beauty!!!!:)

[Guest]

Looking good so far...just suggest less on the videocard...go with something like the...XFX Geforce 7800GTX...Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814150100 or...ATI X1800XL...Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16814102610 and spend the money on a second LCD screen...Samsung 204T (Silver or Black 20.1") LCD Monitor...Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16824001193 Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16824001194 or the newGateway FPD2185W (Black 21" Widescreen LCD)Link: http://www.gateway.com/programs/lcd/index....1W_overview*taband a second Hard Drive like the Western Digital Caviar SE16 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0GbLink: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16822144701Also a good CPU fan like the ZALMAN CNPS7000B or ?Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16835118112Lastly...DVD Burner/Reader, my suggestion is the NEC ND-3550A (new)Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16827152060and dont't forget a keyboard and mouse!

[Deaf Pilot]

Thanks for your input. About the second screen, that is a very strong option that I have had on my mind for a while... there is a good chance I will get a high-end 19" flat screen dedicated to computer use, and a HDTV flat screen for tv use (I'm looking for 20-27 inch). I'm not too keen on having one screen for both functions, but I love the idea of having a big monitor as well as a big tv... but I really do think that going seperate would be best because that way I can just get the best quality for their respective uses (best LCD for computer use, and best LCD for TV use). The cost would be about the same, too. I'm pretty set on either one of those video cards... but I might go just a hair lower to save myself a good chunk of change. Maybe a BFG 7800GTX. I really like those two that I have picked out though... especially the 7800GTX 512... the fastest single card on the market today.I don't really care much for having a second hard drive... I actually dont use that much space. I have never had anything more than an 80GB drive and it has always been more than enough for me. If I really wanted/needed one, it would probably be another Raptor. About the CPU cooler... I might do that, but I've read that the stock Athlon 64 coolers do the job very well, and third-party coolers aren't really needed unless you were going to overclock, which I wont be doing.DVD burner... I have one that I'll be using in the new system... I just bought a ND-3550A (Black). Same goes for the Keyboard/Mouse ;)EDIT: I just checked out that Gateway monitor... WOW! Thats pretty awesome. I'll have to check out some reviews on that thing. Great features for a great price, and I LOVE the idea of being able to rotate the screen. That's definitely an option! Thanks for showing that to me!