Definitely get a wired controller. They are fairly expensive, but I highly recommend a specific one that doesn't cost as much as an official Xbox controller. There are more perks to wired then wireless, namely the obvious stuff like latency and battery changing. They can also just be better overall for PC because you don't have to worry about losing a wireless dongle.
Speaking of the wireless dongle, you'll need one if you decide to go that route for wireless. They can easily get lost, and just hang from a usb port. It's pretty much an accident waiting to happen.
Afterglow puts out a nice one with "smart track" which basically gives you some great control on the sticks, because they're a bit more sensitive. It may take some getting used to, but I've really noticed it feels more natural in my hands and really helps for games that require some precision.
The casing on the afterglow is a reinforced plastic, and the rumble packs make it a nice, heavy hold so you don't feel like you're holding a cheap piece of trash. As with most Xbox 360 controllers, it has the headphone nook in the bottom of the controller, in case you feel like using it on your console as well. I love mine so much, I really don't use any other controllers.
The cable is thicker than your usual wired controller, and it really does have some good length to it. I can stretch mine across my living room floor and not have any issues using it. It does come with LED's but you can turn them off, or have them only pop up when the controller vibrates. They're a bit blinding, so I just keep mine off.
You'll find they're around 30 USD, but they're pretty easy to find a sale on, since no one wants to pay the price for a branded Xbox controller. It's licensed by Microsoft anyway, so it's not like you're missing out on anything.
Anywho,
here's the link. Go check it out if you want a good controller that will probably last a while.
