New Computer

Well, I got a new computer a couple weeks ago and have been slowly integrating it into my normal usage. It didn't help that the parts came over the course of a week (most in the first 2 days, save some necessary sata cables that rendered the rest of it useless), and that my pretty new monitor (hp w2207) worked well with my old pc, delaying my motivation/installation. For those that are curious/bored, heres the specs on my new computer:

• CPU: Intel E8400 -- 3.0ghz core 2 duo, fast goodness
  
• Motherboard: ASUS nForce 750i -- Does everything I need and much more (everything I may need someday?)
• RAM: G.Skill 4GB -- Nothing too special here, 4gb of DDR2 800 PC2 6400. Works very well though and no issues installing it at all
• Video Card: eVGA GeForce 8800GT -- Sweeeeeeeeeet card. I'm immensely impressed at what this thing can do. PCIx 2.0x16, 512mb, 256bit, GDDR3, HDCP, SLI; this should keep my graphics near-high-end for years
• Monitor: HP w2207 -- Great monitor. Get one. Actually, why not get two? 22" widescreen LCD, 1680x1050, 1000:1, DVI or VGA input, even has USB ports and can be easily rotated to be in Portrait mode instead of the usual landscape mode (VERY useful for long spreadsheets and web pages)
• Hard Drive: WD Caviar 500gb sata 7200/16mb --Just a big hard drive.. I had read a bunch of good reviews, so I got one. Actually I bought this last Friday and should get it tomorrow hopefully, currently have an old 120gb drive in the machine right now (which will stay, my OS is on it)
• DVD/CD drive: Samsung DVD burner -- Just a fast, robust, sata dvd burner. Lots of good features on it, though I've only used it so far for reading cds/dvds and haven't burned anything yet. Soon enough, I'm sure, as I can't wait to try the dual layer. Hoping the lightscribe isn't just marketing hype
• Case/PSU: CoolerMaster RC-690-KKA1-GP -- Big case (bigger than I was expecting :/), lots of great tool-less features and lots of room for fans. Included a few fans to begin with, as well as a 550w PSU, plus external ports. And it is black. I guess the only thing I don't like is the neon blue glowing in the front, but certainly not enough to want a new one. Way too many positives outweight it.

So yeah, that is it. Installed XP x64 on it, Firefox, Visual Studio 2008, Office 2007 ultimate (woo!), and Guild Wars. Haven't tried that other than just a quick check to see how it looked, which was much better than my old pc. The release of Mario Kart Wii kinda curbed my enthusiasm for the new computer, it'll return soon enough I'm sure.

Oh, and I got a USB wi-fi adapter for it too, in case I decide not to anchor it near my router. Much better than the one I had anyways for my laptop, so it was money well spent.

Overall, the computer was a little more than I had planned to spend, but if nothing else I can thank the $600 economic stimulus refund I got, and simply write the monitor off as a personal 30th birthday present.