I've been catching up with emails and missed these posts, I'm glad to see you have everything running well!!Sorry to hear about the case tho
Budget 2500K First Time Build
- Thread starter SMed
- Start date
Well I had originally got the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 keyboard and mouse set as it was cheap and I thought it looked good. I also was keen on wireless as it looks better on the desk imo. But now this kit is getting sent back. The keyboard has a serious intermittent problem where it keeps going non-responsive. I've tried several new batteries, it's not the batteries. The only thing that 'fixes' it is a system reboot, which is annoying and it just comes back again the next day. The mouse hasn't been so bad, but the cursor is a bit jittery sometimes, which is apparently common with cheaper wireless mice.
It's a shame, because I really like the look of these items, and I like the laptop style keys as that's what I've been used to for the past 6-7 years; almost exclusively laptops.
So I've ordered the Microsoft Sidewinder X4 keyboard and the Logitech MX518 mouse. I was to rash with the mouse though, and hadn't quite researched what was out there as much as I usually do. I got a second hand one for a reasonable price, but now know that the G400 is the successor, is better, and cheaper, and looks much better. I'm not a big fan of the 'dented' look of the MX518. Since I got it on auction, can't send it back. I may sell it on and get the G400.
I decided to go wired as I'm pretty sure I'll be getting into gaming in the future once I get a GPU.
It's a shame, because I really like the look of these items, and I like the laptop style keys as that's what I've been used to for the past 6-7 years; almost exclusively laptops.
So I've ordered the Microsoft Sidewinder X4 keyboard and the Logitech MX518 mouse. I was to rash with the mouse though, and hadn't quite researched what was out there as much as I usually do. I got a second hand one for a reasonable price, but now know that the G400 is the successor, is better, and cheaper, and looks much better. I'm not a big fan of the 'dented' look of the MX518. Since I got it on auction, can't send it back. I may sell it on and get the G400.
I decided to go wired as I'm pretty sure I'll be getting into gaming in the future once I get a GPU.
Hm, I've been always using optical mouse that I got with my first Dell
Do you actually feel any difference between your MX518 and a generic optical mouse?
Don't have the MX518 yet, just bought yesterday.
I have another cheap £5 optical mouse which is very light, and medium sized. I prefer a slightly bigger, heavier mouse. The wireless one I have now feels much better, nice and heavy and I can almost rest my hand on it. I'd prefer one to palm I think, which is why people recommend the MX518 (and G400).
I was meaning about the Apple case you were looking at buying to mod.. I thought it was a shame that you missed out on it!!
I do like the Razor mouse I have, that's wired also. I was told that wired mice were better for gaming with, but I don't see how.. Maybe I'm just bad at gaming!!
What res/games are you into playing??
Oh, no there are lots of these cases on the bay, generally go for around £50-60 which seems a reasonable price. But it's a lot of modding to fit a normal mobo and such in it. Would be a nice project if I had that much free time (and the tools).
I'll be gaming at 1920x1080 (23").
I wonder what has to be changed inside the case to make it fit a standard ATI motherboard?? I shall do a little bit of Googling
Sounds like you'll be having a great time with your rig.. If you ever get (or have got) Steam and Left 4 Dead or something like that, drop me a line
Check out the video above. From what I remember, the standoffs are different, as are the rear cutouts for all the plugs etc. There's more too I think.
On a separate note, I just plugged my wireless mouse and keyboard receiver into the front USB plug on the case, and it's all running much better. I think I had it in the USB3.0 plug and it was having all sorts of problems. The mouse seems much smoother now. Hmmm.
I also had problems (at least I think I did) with USB3.0 ports - keyboard wasnt recognised during boot and I couldn't enter bios.
I am now using PS2 keyboard, but having problems with USB hub I got from ebay for £1 (4usb->1usb, using USB2.0 this time though): like printer stopping printing midway through a page. USB ports are fickle
Yeah, well this was part of the reason why I just spent nearly £60 on a new wired keyboard and mouse, this current wireless setup wasn't working. Now the mouse is much smoother and the keyboard hasn't cut out at all. Meh, ultimately the new K&M will be much better. I'll RMA the wireless ones to recoup some some money.
I thought so. It seemed better, for a while, when I switched it to a USB2 socket. However, it started failing again. I still think it's better to use a USB2 plug, as the mouse is now much smoother. Anyway, I'm really liking this Sidewinder X4.
It works. Already an improvement.
Well typing feels a little better than the wireless one I had before. And it feels MUCH better than the usual point of sale keyboards I'm used to using in libraries. I like that the LED backlighting isn't bright. You basically can't tell it is lit when my desk lamp is on, but when I dim the room for films or a game, then it's just the right amount of brightness IMO to see the keys.
It apparently has got lots of good benefits for gaming, but I have no experience in these things.
I have a research paper I'll be writing up for the next couple of months, maybe I should've saved up for a mechanical keyboard. But £100 is just too much to drop on luxuries like that right now.
Well typing feels a little better than the wireless one I had before. And it feels MUCH better than the usual point of sale keyboards I'm used to using in libraries. I like that the LED backlighting isn't bright. You basically can't tell it is lit when my desk lamp is on, but when I dim the room for films or a game, then it's just the right amount of brightness IMO to see the keys.
It apparently has got lots of good benefits for gaming, but I have no experience in these things.
I have a research paper I'll be writing up for the next couple of months, maybe I should've saved up for a mechanical keyboard. But £100 is just too much to drop on luxuries like that right now.
Ok
I've never used an expensive keyboard, always had just (as you put it) a "library" one. I think the only difference I ever appreciated between keyboards was the presence of a wrist rest on my old (£1700) 1999 IBM Aptiva PC's keyboard compared to all other keyboards that I got for free with my later PCs which did not have wrist rests...
Happily typed 1000page translation of a book on a Dell Keyboard, but you got me curious - off to read about "mechanical" (huh?!!!
Did you get your new mouse as well? I've also never used any optical mice that were not of a "library spec" (not counting trackball mice- my current £60 Slimblade is superb).
No, mouse didn't come today like it was supposed to. Tomorrow or Monday I guess.
Wow, this mouse is brilliant. Bigger than the MS 5000, feels much nicer in the hand, it's lighter. Nice tactile notch in the scroll wheel and buttons are in a great place.
But I don't like the stupid dented metal look. I think I'll trade it for the G400 which is basically the same, but more features and better looks. Same shape though.
But I don't like the stupid dented metal look. I think I'll trade it for the G400 which is basically the same, but more features and better looks. Same shape though.
Just worked out I've saved myself well over £200 had I bought everything new. Even more if I hadn't have found some of the fantastic bargains (especially the SSD). Quite happy with the savings, and the secondhand stuff I have is practically in as-new condition.
Wow I missed that you bought the SSD second hand as well - isnt that a bit of a risk? I also believe in buying second hand components- but not HDs or SSDs though
Edit: Scratch that- I misunderstood
Yeah, the SSD was new. But interestingly, I've seen secondhand copies of this SSD go for the same price almost. Very happy with that purchase.
Another potentially huge savings I could've made was on the monitor. I paid £120 which is a fair and common price for these secondhand. But one randomly went for £77 on the bay which I'd almost bid on but my internet connection dropped at the last minute so I couldn't bid. Could've saved another £30-40 possibly there. Meh, I'm still happy overall.
Oh, that sucks. I suppose it was cheap enough then you can get another monitor?
I really could've saved dramatically had I gotten a cheaper monitor and SSD, but I'm into photography and really wanted an IPS panel. And 60gig SSD would've been too small.
I really could've saved dramatically had I gotten a cheaper monitor and SSD, but I'm into photography and really wanted an IPS panel. And 60gig SSD would've been too small.
Not much progress really, exams in a week and funds are a little low. I want to get the 6850 GPU that OCUCK have on sale and get a Geld Tranquillo cooler as well. That'd probably do me fine for a while.
But the PC itself is running beautifully. I've got any games yet so that's probably why it hasn't been a problem using the integrated graphics.
But the PC itself is running beautifully. I've got any games yet so that's probably why it hasn't been a problem using the integrated graphics.
That's me done for a while. Next update will be a new case and probably PSU so I can overclock the CPU and GPU. My PSU will just about handle my system at stock clocks, so I'll leave it at that for a while. It will be several months before I get the case and PSU. I'm just gonna get some games and enjoy my new system for the mean time.