First time and of course New System build (US$ 2400). ADVISE.....

First time and of course New System build.

PROCESSOR:
Intel Q9450 C2 QUAD BX80569Q9450 (Penryn Quad Core 2.66 GHz 1333 FSB)
@ PCMALL $376.99

MOTHERBOARD:
ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
@ NEWEGG $249.99

MEMORY:
(x2) Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - Retail
@ NEWEGG ($64.99 x2) $129.98

GRAPHICS CARD 1:
XFX PVT88PYDD4 GeForce 8800GT XXX 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
@NEWEGG $249.99

HARD DRIVE 1:
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
@NEWEGG $104.99

HARD DRIVE 2:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
@NEWEGG $149.99

HARD DRIVE 3:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
@NEWEGG $149.99

SOUND CARD:
Included in Motherboard

OPTICAL DRIVE 1:
SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM
@NEWEGG $33.99

CASE:
COOLER MASTER cosmosS RC-1100-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
@NEWEGG $249.99

POWER SUPPLY:
COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, cUL, TUV, NEMKO, BSMI, FCC - Retail
@NEWEGG $199.99

MONITOR:
SAMSUNG 245BW Black 24" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with Height Adjustment 400 cd/m2 1000:1 (DC 3000:1) - Retail
@NEWEGG $469.99

TOTAL COST = US$2,365.88
n.b. the prices of course are subject to change depending on the store and date the product is ordered from.

Hard drive 2 and 3 will be for a RAID setup. I'm looking to add a Blu-ray burner/player when those become more mainstream (cost wise) than they are now. Also, a 2nd graphics card for SLI, if not CF, depending on purchase for 1st gfx; (optional total graphics upgrade when the next generation cards come into play).

I'll be installing Vista but I'm wondering what is/are the hype/benefit(s) of 64 versus 32bit, and if 64 bit, would it be better to go with the 8 GB RAM than the current 4 GB I'm looking at. Finally, Monitor help for a 1920x1200 resolution would b a great help. N e further advice is greatly appreciate.

Thanks for the help.

2 things, go with the 8800 gts 512 g92 instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 2)%2b512MB
or go for the version with crysis included (30$ more)

secondly go with 2 x 2 gb even if you decide for 32 bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231122
cheaper and easier + the option of 8gb if you want 64 bit

If you want SLI, you'll have to go with a Nvidia board like this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131255

But if you want to stick with a X38 Motherboard, there is always the HD 3870 X2:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102723

The Q9450 would overclock a little better than the Q9300, but I don't know if they are actually shipping right now.

(Q9300 review: http://xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/d [...] tml#sect0)

If you want to overclock you'll need a better cooler too. I have the Freezer 7 Pro, but if your budjet is $2400, you might want to look at a Thermalright Ultra-120 with some nice fans.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835109125
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185006

I would go for a Q6600 processor and with the money saved choose the 3870x2 video card seeing as you have a crossfire board there.