My favorite mods/texture pack

[pyre]

Texture Pack: LB Photo Realism x 256
[16x, 32x, 64x, 128x, 256x][1.7.3] LB Photo Realism, x512 Pack Updated 7/25/11 - Minecraft Forum


Tools:
HD Patcher. If you want to use anything bigger than the default texture pack, you'll need this. Also allows you to easily install mods.
[6/11 update][1.7.3 compatible] MCPatcher HD fix 2.1.0_02 - Minecraft Forum

Mods:
Modloader:
The holy grail of modding, modloader allows mod creators to create mods that don't conflict with eachother.
[V1.7.3] Risugami's Mods - Recipe Book Updated - Minecraft Forum
(First mod discussed in his list, you'll want it to be able to use all the mods in this thread)

GLSL Shaders:

This mod adds depth of field, bloom, bumpmapping/specular lighting, waving wheat and more. It does this through the use of shaders.
[V1.5] GLSL Shaders (AA, DoF, Waving Wheat and More) - Minecraft Forum
In the above thread a person named Laurina updated it. Here is the updated version for Modloader (Discussed earlier in this post)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/25451490/gls...l_1.7.3_ml.zip

Rei Minimap:

This mod adds a minimap like you see in games like World of Warcraft to your game and even lets you put waypoints in!

[1.7.3] [Jul. 25] Rei's Minimap v1.3 - Minecraft Forum

Slime Mod:

Oh my! Slimeballs are needed now? WHAT! This mod allows you to find the mysterious ways of the slime out and, as such, farm them like hell!
In other words this mod shows you a simple "yes" or "No" if the chunk you are standing in is able to spawn the rare slime!
(the mod is a bit of a ways down the page)

Find Slime spawning Chunks - Minecraft Forum

The Aether!:

The Aether is something that was thought to be one of those promised, hyped but never to be released mods. That all changed recently when the developers (theres quite a few!) released the initial version of the mod and all I can say is WOW Notch needs to do some hiring.
The mod adds a alternate universe to your game in which you can make a portal to it similar to the nether but out of glowstone. The area is above the clouds and is quite amazing.

[1.7.3] Aether Collaboration Mod - V1.01 - BUG FIXES - Minecraft Forum


This wraps up my small post, hopefully people enjoy these mods as much as I have. If you have any questions please, read the readme's in the mods first and then ask me.
All of these mods work on multi player and are legal to use in most servers with the exception of The Aether.

[Xel]

Great read, thank you! Been using PR textures for some time but I find them a little glitchy and lag-causing (might need a higher-end PC)

[Notahax]

Thanks for the texture pack.. This is what i've been looking for.

[pyre]

No problem! The GSLS shaders really make a difference, i'd suggest using it if you have an overkill computer like I do (for minecraft).

[Xel]

So backing up my minecraft.jar would be a good idea before applying all these?

[pyre]

The HD Patcher automatically backs it up for you. If you load all your mods through the HD patcher be sure to put modloader at the very top.

[Xel]

The HD Patcher automatically backs it up for you. If you load all your mods through the HD patcher be sure to put modloader at the very top.

Thanks for the tip

[MadameGrip]

The YogBox mod.. Easy to install and it also gives a nice texturepack that works 150% :P

[pyre]

The YogBox mod.. Easy to install and it also gives a nice texturepack that works 150% :P

Sadly YogBox doesn't work in conjunction with most of the mods I posted above, but yes it is a good mod.

[[Pat]]

Aether mod is simply an amazing mod that Notch should but into base minecraft.

But another good mod is Single Player Commands. Link to topic on MCForums. [1.7.3] Single Player Commands [V2.10_2] - Minecraft Forum

[cpjohn]

i would say Yogbox also.. its just .. simply awesome :P