You all seem to be approaching this from a different standpoint.
I'm not looking to mine and make a killing off of the profit/roi. My goal is to find something with a ratio of 1gh/1kwh or better (consider that... hardware = sunk cost, profit is on a real-time level per coinwarz SHA256 calc). I'm an independent, self-employed individual with a bitcoin 'hobby'. My electricity costs are always written off as business expenses, so if it jacks up my electric a bit then it's not much of a problem. My goal with the BTC will be day-trading, and various forex.
I hope this can better guide the opinions and suggestions.
okay get an avalon 4.1 you pay over 500 usd it will run at 850gh and use .48 watts a gh. quiet quiet quiet.
you also need the older rasp pi to run it. so cost is 500 + a psu + 50 for the rasp pi. maybe 650 usd for 850gh and dead quiet gear.
so you are 650 out of pocket it burns .48 watts a gh
the s-3 with the mod and the psu you are 200 out of pocket it burns .8 watts a gh.
the s-5 is too noisy
the c-1 is pretty good choice see ebay links below.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xantminer+c-1.TRS1&_nkw=antminer+c-1&_sacat=0