I am planning a new build for next month... Need help on some issues...
My planned config. is...

Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Asus P5E3 - Deluxe / GigaByte GA-X38T-DQ6
2GB DDR3-1066 Corsair (2*1GB)
Seagate 500GB 7200.11 Sata 3GB/s
HD3870 512MB PCIE2.0 / XFX8800GT 512MB
Lite-on DVD-RW Sata with Light scribe
Logitech G5 Laser Mouse + G11 Gaming Keyboard
Altec Lansing VS2421
ANTEC PSU??!!

My doubts/questions/queries/confusions/whatever

1. 8800GT or HD3870?
The board (X38) doesn't have SLI support. Hence I was thinking of buying one HD3870 (gigabye or ASUS, which do u recommend?) and then later on when the HD3870X2 (HD3890 or whatever they decide to name it) releases, pop one of them in this and do a Tri-Fire set up... Does it sound good? I mean, would it be possible to do such a tri-fire setup with one HD3870 and one HD3870X2 (technically its crossfire coz only 2 cards on the whole, but since 3 GPUs are there, I think its a logical Tri-Fire set up)
Would this be supported/possible? Any news so far?

2. ASUS P5E3 Deluxe or GA-X38T-DQ6? This explains it all i guess

3. Right now, i am not in a position to afford high speed DDR3-1600 Mhz RAM (OCZ seems good) so I am going for DDR3-1066 for now, strictly as a temprory stop gap measure for about a couple of months (till apr/may)... Does DDR3-1066 has good performance (better than DDR2-800 atleast)?

4. Power supply... Got i am seriously confused on wat wattage i would require... For this config... what wattage would be necessary? but $150-175 is max for PSU... Need suggestions... especially on the wattage...

Thanks guys...

Get a cheaper CPU and wait. You'd be crazy to buy that chip right now.

I know a lot of us would talk you into downsizing your budget, but hey, if you want to be one of those early adaptors who bring down the prices, by all means. I'd be buying ddr3 when it hits current ddr2 prices.

The P5E3 is getting good reviews. Google around. I don't think you can do tri Crossfire, but I could be wrong. Cuz the video card comes with a dual setup link:

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggI [...] 067-08.jpg

From what I've read, there's only tri SLI or quad CrossFire.

One of the certified psu's under the HD3870 is fine:

http://ati.amd.com/technology/cros [...] rown2.html

If you plan to overclock, as if there's any other logical explanation for choosing that cpu, get a bigger psu.

This is my first build actually... I had been a kid while buying all my previous computers, so didnt have much say except in the graphic card and then occasionally about motherboards... This time i am building my PC right from screwing every little clam/screw into it... so did 2 months worth of research... Damn intel, if they hadnt postponed Q9450 i wud not have gone to QX9650... but DDR3 was always on the list... All this time I had only been given EOL purchases and as soon as i bought somethng there was a revolution (except for the graphic card, always managed to have one of the best...(i thank my dad for that)...

What is the verdict on DDR3-1066? jus as a stopgap for 3-4 months max after which i wud goto DDR3-1600 a decent latency model....

And wish you readers all a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR

^Not worth it to go with DDR3. Why? Because the new X48 chip sets are coming out and all upgradability will be lost by the end of next year because the Nehalms will be out, which requires a new motherboard and native DDR3(not sure on the RAM), and also the DDR3 prices will fall.

*The Nehalms will have a new socket, IMC, QuickPath, etc.
http://www.intel.com/pressroom/arc [...] 28fact.htm

Not planning on upgrading the processor anymore, cos i wud over clock it upto 4.2 with water... and wen DDR3 prices fall i wud pop in a good DDR3 with 1600MHZ speed... till then DDR3-1066 should suffice for me... No processor upgrades as i would purchase another computer in q3/early q4 2009... at which time i wud go for nehalem....

^Fact: The new Penryns OC better.
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] r_cooling/

Saying its a good d3al or wat guys??

Cant wait more than FEB for my new PC, am missing out on lotta games... F.E.A.R., Crysis, COD4, UT3, QuakeWars... to name a few...

I would suggest getting a Asus Maximus Formula and good DDR2 Ram (and save $300+)

Why waste the money for 2% performance increase, its so stupid.
If you want DDR3 your basically saying I have nothing better to do with my money than to buy something I dont need

I would say get the HD3870 and then later put in a second

Guys why do u never get my point? its jus 2% increase now... Think of the longer run... My processor is meant to live for 3 yrs atleast from 2day... and shud i waste more cash by going for a new motherboard and ram when ddr3 becums **** priced in 6-8 months max??? I think it wud be wiser to go big now than spend double... after all difference is jus about 175 - 200 bucks... not 300+ bucks as u ppl say...

It's is $300 if you get the Maximus Formula mobo instead which supports DDR2 and is $100+ cheaper

If you do not like our advise then dont use it, you came to us not vise-versa

And where do you get 3Yrs at the rate technology is advancing, that Cpu is obsolete by the time Nehalem comes out in '08 with 8 cores and the new hyperthreading

And if your worried about spending more later why dont you just get DDR3-1600 instead of getting DDR3-1066 and then DDR3-1600. Your words seem very hypocritical.

DDR3 1066 is jus 100$ here now... DDR3 1600 is 530$.... there's a difference aint there???

and spending $150 on the ram alone is quite a different equation than spending $350+ for both ram and MOBO.

By the time DDR3 becomes reasonably priced, so will the motherboards that utilize it. A good motherboard now costs $100-140. Once DDR3 drops it will be where DDR2 is now (hopefully) so $140+100=240

Just get a decent board now with DDR2 and then upgrade later with DDR3
Or do what you want. Get DDR3 (still a waste of money)

Edit: Also on newegg, all the DDR3-1066 I see is $250+. Where do you get it for $100?

DDR2 (board+ram) $240 now and another $240 (Board + RAM DDR3, as u say) = $480... ofcourse not actual prices... (i doubt a good board at that time will be so cheap)

DDR3 Board $250 + $100 DDR3 1066 =$350... After sometime $25 on DDR3-1066 so, $350 - $ 25 +$100 (DDR31066) = $425...

Math works out for me...

Not if you include NEW TECHNOLOGY.

The X48 motherboard is supposedly coming out, as time goes on stuff gets better.
And older stuff drops.....X38 motherboards will drop

Also how do you get $240 for a board and DDR2 now. Very good P35 is $140 plus $50 for 2 gigs of good DDR2-800 Ram = 190 + another 240 later = 330

Math works out for me...

Good one!
I've got some problems with upgrading my MOBO in less than a year's time...
Might sound crazy to u, but here in INDIA (Translate as "Antartica for PC hardware" or "the Island where Lost was shot" )... things arent so easily available at launch... takes 3-4 months atleast and not to mention the $$$ for all that comes from my dad who's gonna "bark" if i ask for $$$ for a motherboard so soon.

Laugh all u want ppl, its jus my fate.... Thats why i am hell bent on X38 now, coz convincing my dad to upgrade to better ram wud be a walk in the park rather than for a motherboard (imagine WWII if u will)

Thats the sad state of affairs in India...
Although i wud be happy to pay u for a motherboard and ram that u cud purchase in the US and ship it to me later on!

You see that changes things......

I'd totally be willing but it would cost you