Tigerdirect.com also has it for $349.99 as another option...shipping is ~$2

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4394456&CatId=2306

I'm itching to get a new card myself.  I currently have an 8800GTS 320mb which has been great because I only have a 19" LCD (1280x1024) and an opteron 285 (old dual core).  But I just don't think I can justify the expense until I get a bigger monitor and then I would also need a new cpu, mobo, ram, etc.... 

Things you will need to decide:

-How much gaming and what type of gaming you want to do (ie...card games, or FPS, current titles or older gems like baldurs gate???)
-How portable would you like it to be?  want to carry it around all day? have it on your lap in the car/plane?  Or will you just move it once in a while from desk to desk? Does ULTRA portable interest you?
-Budget
-durability needed...how rough on it will you be?

As far as where to buy, I can't help you much there.  I bought a thinkpad (Lenovo/was ibm) about 1.5 years ago and it has had zero issues.  That was my first laptop.  I think Asus has a good warranty and is sold by Newegg and also a couple of models at BestBuy.  You could get it from Bestbuy and get the optional protection plan and then just bring it to any best buy while you are travelling for a new one.  Costco has a great return policy, but I think it is only 90 days on some technology items.  Still, 90 days is pretty good.

looks good, but hope it doesn't suck.  My 755p is getting a little long in the tooth and I can exit my contract this summer....that would be a nice upgrade..

[MB]

Geforce 280 1 MB
6 MB RAM

Dude, no wonder it was so cheap 

Seriously though, I'm envious!  Maybe your wife can grant me "early purchase permission too"!  She is a powerful lady I'm sure.

The latest fad is President for life....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011000468.html

Didn't the Chinese INVENT gunpowder?

Gakidon - engineer
Leinart - warrior priest

I agree with Red Alert 2 being the best - I would play that now in preps for the latest Red Alert 3 coming in late october.

It got pretty good reviews http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/915126.asp?q=RYZOM when it was released.  Probably worth a look although I haven't played it.

Well, went to target and got a beta key.  Great, but unfortunately I'm waiting in an 11 hour line for download from fileplanet.  It's already crapped me out of line twice.  Anyone have a good link to another site or torrent file? 

hmm, no code there...???  maybe they are out of beta keys.  Does anyone know of a preorder site with actual beta keys remaining?

Hmm, I can't seem to find a media center.... I checked digital orders and media library, but nothing there.  I called them only to speak with someone who was very hard to understand and they told me that they would forward my concern on to their marketing and promotions dept and to have a nice day.  LOL.

Well, I just pre-ordered from amazon hoping they would email beta keys, no luck so far.

Bummer, warcry is now out of keys.  Anyone know of any other keys out there?

Not to derail this thread, but I want to preorder and get the beta and live head start.  Does anyone know if I order it from Amazon they are still emailing the keys?  It says so on the site, but also says...."while supplies last".

A quick look at the leadtek 8800GT you linked to show this in the specs:

A minimum recommended 400W system power supply (with 12V current rating of 26A).
A +12V 4-pin supplementary power connector

So your enermax should be good.  The enermax is good power and as long as it has the connector, you will be fine IMHO.

If you want to save some money, just use the onboard sound chip for a while and see how you like it.  It's an easy upgrade later and you may be happy with it.  Lots of people seem to recommend using that over an add on card.  Creative seems to be really slow issuing updated drivers. 

Also, your enermax psu may work just fine for a new system.  Enermax is a quality brand and 430 watts of good power may be more than enough for this system.  I know the newer Geforce video cards don't require tons of power anymore.  I would stick with your enermax and see how it goes.

So that should save you ~$100 plus shipping and maybe tax.  You can put that money towards a new monitor down the road.

As far as the hard drive, I like to use a small hard drive to keep the O/S on and then use another hard drive for my games/videos/pics.  That way, the big drive is just storage and is very easy to backup.  The small drive with the O/S is a quick reinstall if my O/S gets hosed.  Just a though.

I can't really comment on the other items since I am not up to date on the latest tech. 

yeah, I installed the 1.01a also.  I was a little wary because I couldn't find it on the Bioware or EA sites, but got it from gamershell.com.  Anyway, I played for about 2 hours with no crashes which was nice...but now, my two squad members don't follow me around - not sure if that is connected or not.  Never noticed them not following me before.  They kinda get locked into a location and then when I go into an elevator or talk to an NPC, they suddenly appear next to me.

Hey Ridah, I'm sure someone here who is up on current hardware can give you the info you need for a desktop config....but I saw your post and thought that maybe you would be better off with an inexpensive 15" laptop.  WOW is not very intensive at all from what I know and every week there are killer deals on good laptops in my local cc and bestbuy ads, not to mention dell has some smoking deals.  Anyway, it's just a thought because a laptop would get you a lot of flexibility, ie...you could bring it anywhere....it would come with an OS installed, no need for mouse, keyboard, case, psu, monitor, etc... 

Ok morlac, where do you live?  I'll walk over and borrow your dvds.   

Seriously though, I'll start the queue for a buddy pass request!  I've been anxious to give it a whirl.

I had no idea there were so many elevators in the future.  And apparently you enter a type of time warp where time stands still while in an elevator...

FYI, I'm using software mode.  Also, the crashes seem different than before the patch.  Also, the pre-patch trouble shooting suggested to move the hardware acceleration slider in dxdiag to none.  If I do that now I get stuuttering sound in the game.  Weird. 

Overall, post DLC/patch, it's more playable for me, crashes maybe 1x per hour.

Looks like they are now saying the SB Audigy series (among others) is not supported using hardware sound (I guess they gave up on fixing it)

Just yank the card out and go to motherboard sound. You will be a happier person overall for doing so, and your games will crash less as well. Problems like these are why I left card based sound cards forever. My game at the time was one of the Battlefield series - same exact issues.

This is the only game I've ever had such problems with.  Considering I have gaming ADD that means literally 80+ games over the last couple of years have run no problems.  I really can't see opening up my computer to pull out a card I paid money for  just to play 1 game without crashes. 

If all that weren't enough, my mobo sound is listed along with the audigy as not supported in hardware mode anyway:

   " Please note that the following sound cards are not supported by Mass Effect in hardware mode:
    * RealTek AC97
    * SigmaTel Audio
    * Realtek HD Audio output
    * Sound Blaster Audigy
    * SB Audigy"

So before anyone pulls out there, audigy, check your onboard sound.

Well, post DLC (with included 1.01 patch) I was able to play for about an hour and then whammo....freeze up.  So, I went to the forums and they updated the support page.  Looks like they are now saying the SB Audigy series (among others) is not supported using hardware sound (I guess they gave up on fixing it) and they are saying that AMD mobo owners need to install the latest Processor Driver and Dual Core Optimizer from AMD.  I installed both and am about to give it another go. 

I can only think that most other publishers would be destroyed by the gaming media at this point. 

[edit post DLC:  In game freeze is still happening, sadly.]

I downloaded the DLC and sure enough I checked my version of the game and it's now 1.01.  Just an FYI. 

EDIT: Read up on it. Not sure on saves....I did see a lot of talk about how it messes up sound ....

OMG, if the patch really messes up the sound it would be incredible...mine was already so messed up I couldn't play.  I'll get it and report back........

p.s. from what I read, I think the DLC automatically applies the patch??

Ok another update:  the 737 panel from FB is working well and I'm happy with it.  Haven't put in the time to try to get it to work with FSX yet, but hope to...if anyone knows how, please let me know.

As far as hardware, I got a Saitek Yoke and the X52 to see which I liked.  The Saitek Yoke is very good, it's a big piece of gear and the throttle quadrant is nice.  The yoke itself could be a bit smoother as sometimes it sticks a tiny bit (but maybe this will work itself out) and the throttle could have a bit more tension (an adjuster would be perfect, but there is none).  I don't have the pedals yet, they are a bit pricey at over $100 so for now I mapped the rudder to a two position button on the yoke and am just making do.  I'm planning on keeping the yoke but I do wish it had another hat switch on the yoke and also a couple of trim knobs (for rudder assignment) and sliders like the ones on the X52 throttle.  If anyone knows of a better solution for the rudder assignment with the yoke (beside pedals) let me know.

As far as the X52, I am really impressed with the throttle...very nice piece of gear, smooth, adjustable tension, very nice rotary trim wheels (two), lots of other buttons and a slider, ...oh and the mouse pointer is very very handy.  The stick itself has lots of buttons, but the movement of the stick itself is only ok.  It has a fairly soft spring tension, yet it sometimes has a slight binding after being held away from the center for a moment or two (mostly on small movements).  I've seen people mod there X52's with plastic discs to increase the tension a bit and it is reported to work well. 

For commercial flight sims, the saitek yoke is great.  I don't really recommend getting the X52 for ms flight sim unless you only plan to use it occasionaly and your primary purpose is for a jet/prop fighter sim game.  If however you are buying solely to play military sims, I give the X52 throttle two thumbs up and the stick itself just a moderate recommendation.  As far as I know, you can't get the throttle without the stick so overall it's a decent buy, but I wish the stick had more tension and was a bit smoother around the center of rotation.  For ~$100 the X52 seems like a good buy for throttle, stick with rudder twist and lots of useful buttons, knobs, etc. (I've read that the X52 pro has a better stick...anyone care to comment on a comparison?)

My next idea is to try to use my old MS FF stick and the saitek throttles that came with the yoke with a game like IL2 sturmovik and see how it goes.  The throttles only have what I think is a ps2 connector, but I will try to use a USB adaptor and see if it works.  Not sure how the gameport stick and usb throttle combination will work, but it could be good.  If only I could buy the saitek throttle from the X52 separately!

I bit....mostly to take on trips on my laptop (but I have it on DS as well )  sometimes the big screen is nice...and worth a tenner.

The DHS is watching...

Bummer, I thought you might have something helpful to say in this post.

Anyway...update:
I did find a good 737-300 Analog panel [Boeing 737-300 Analog Panel
For FS2004 only (fab733an.zip) By Fabrizio Berretta] but I can only get it to work with FS 2004.

And it appears that the 737 Pilot in Command Payware only has one panel and it's not quite a "hardball" -300 panel.

Looks like I'm sticking to MS 2004 for now.  And I also ordered a Saitek yoke and will post my impressions when it arrives.

How did you get past the install crash?

Congrats on getting it stable to play for a while.

I have the same card....along with about 70% of all people who use non-motherboard sound cards.  You'd think that would be caught in testing.

hmm.  The bug/s I have are freezes sort of like you describe, but mine installed ok.  Do you have a creative sound card?  That is the culprit with me I think.  Anyway, you might want to try to go into dxdiag and turn your sound acceleration off and then reinstall it.  Just a shot in the dark.

Really, I can't believe that a huge retail game like this has not been fixed with a patch yet.

Thanks for the forum link and the feedback on the X52.  All the forums I've visited seem to have very little in the way of reviews for joysticks and yokes.  I could just be overlooking them, I'm not sure.  Anyway, it seems that both the CH yoke and Saitek yoke are good products.  I like the design of the Saitek Yoke, but the CH Yoke has absolutely zero negative comments that I can find.  Apparently the saitek yoke has/had? an issue with making random button presses.  Not all units have it but, many have.  Maybe the new batches fix it.  In either case, neither stick is available at retail so it looks like Amazon or some such place for the purchase...which kind of stinks if I need to return it.   Right now, it looks like I'm going with the Saitek Yoke and returning if it is making the random key presses...I just think it looks more beefy and the throttle quadrant would be great to use with IL2 1946 or other WW2 fighters as well.

As far as the 737-300 aircraft, the closest thing I've found is importing the 737-400 from FS 2004.  I did that and it works pretty well, but the panel isn't really an "analog" 737-300 panel...ie...no glass...all "steam gauges" no moving map, gps, etc...  If anyone knows of one, let me know.   I did find an add-on product called "737 Pilot in command" which purports to have the 737-300/400/500 but from the website I can't tell what the panels are like...and unfortunately, it's a ~$50 deal so I need more info before an impulse purchase.

links:
Saitek Yoke on amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TCD1UK/ref=s9sims_c4_at1-rfc_g1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-4&pf_rd_r=020CQ61JPQTTBZWBTXEJ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=372728601&pf_rd_i=507846

737 Pilot in Command on amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/737-Pilot-Command-Expansion-Simulator/dp/B0013YMHL2/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1216348096&sr=8-1

some good sim sites in addition to Creepy's suggestion of simhq.com

www.fsinsider.com
www.avsim.com
www.flightsim.com

I've got MS flight sim X and 2004 but I've never used either of them.  I'd like to do some IFR flying with a 737-300 "classic" panel with a joystick or yoke and throttle.  Problem is, I don't have the panel or the hardware.  Do any of you know of a good panel for FS X for the 737-300? (I think I found one for MS 2004 - will an FS 2004 panel work with X?).  Also what do you recommend as far as yoke/throttles?

- CH USB Yoke Throttle?

- Saitek Pro Flight Yoke/throttle?

- CH Products Fighterstick with throttle?

thanks for any help........

Yeah, I need the patch also.  I am anxious to play the game, started it and got to the second planet but the CTDs for the sound bug were just killing it for me.  The promised DLC isn't out yet either???  Between this and Witcher I'm playing the waiting game lately.   Maybe I need to get AOC.

I'm shelving this for now to wait for a patch (will there be one and will it fix the audigy bugs?).  The CTDs are killing me, seems that many users with audigy cards are having this problem.  I was having fun with it, but it will have to wait.  Plus the DLC is still not out. 

Ok, I'm trying this out as well.  Just finished the massive download and made a character (shaman, evil in Timoros Deep on OASIS server).  Just made something to check it out.  I can reroll anywhere.  I see some of you are on Oasis.  Any suggestions for race, class, and what are the ramifications of being good or evil?

You hit the nail on the head...the pistol you start with is worthless.  You need to pick up a shotgun or better yet an assault rifle before you get into any kind of real firefight.  Head shots count as well, so if you are stuck with the pistol, go for the head shot.

Daehawk,

I have the same sound card and the same problem.  I first tried just software emulation and that helped some, but I got the best results by doing as Destructor said above and lowering the acceleration in windows...I had to set it at basic to get rid of the lockups.

FYI, I checked the creative website and there is a BETA audigy driver that was released 2 June 08.  I haven't tried it yet, but would love to know if it is stable and if it solves the problem.

I don't think the problem I had was due to a weak system....and from the tech forum I don't think the power of your system is the only player here.