Mid-High End Gaming Rig W/ Badass Monitor!

[Waspy]

CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield - $953 (Newegg - open box, yikes!)
GPUs (2x SLI): eVGA 8800 GTS G92 512MB 512-P3-N841-AR $540 (Newegg - mail-in rebate NOT included)
Motherboard: eVGA 780i 132-CK-NF78-A1 $260 (Newegg)
RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) - Retail $139 (Newegg)
PSU: PC Power & Cooling S75QB EPS12V 750W Power Supply $155.00 (TigerDirect)
Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003SWA Silver ATX Full Tower w/ 25CM Fan - Retail $200 (Newegg)
Monitor: Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC $1,164.00 (Dell)

Total: $3,411 ... not including shipping and handling.

Note: If this number sounds too good to be true, it is. There is are no HDDs included in this build and no DVD/CD burner picked out yet!

Any and all feedback appreciated!

 

[taota07]

IMO Extreme QX9650 is not worth almost $1k. You can get the Q6700 for about $530 (if you're still crazy) or just settle with Q6600 for about $260.
I'd wait until NVIDIA releases their 9800 series video cards, prices on 8800GTS will most likely drop even more.
Get a reliable PSU, like Antec, you can get the Antec 850 for about $180 from newegg, very good, stable, 85% energy efficient, and it has cool racing stripes, weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Nice case, my friend just bought one of those, easily accessible and light for its size.
Hm, and, do you really need a 30 inch monitor? I have a 24 and sometimes feels a bit too big.
Are you planning on running windows XP or Vista? If you're thinking about Vista, go with 64 bit, nice and stable...

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

Yeah, the QX is way overpriced. And really not worth the $1k IMHO.

You can pick up a Q6600 for $260 and a good heatsink for $40, then overclock to 3.2 GHz easily (just make sure to get the G0 stepping version of the processor).

You might also consider the Crucial Ballistix 2x2gb kit on Newegg. A bit cheaper.

 

[Guest]

get better video cards. 30" monitor is gonna make those GT's cry. and get the qx9650 if you have the money for it, dont listen to the cheap oc path if u have the money.

 

[nachowarrior]

Wow... that seems like... a lot of money...

I know you prolly don't want to hear it, but here's what i would do...

Shave money off of the pc build but still keep to the higher end main stream, save money, and get a mid-high end projector. as long as you don't go 1080p you can get a decent price on one... then you can fit your entire pc setup in a duffel bag and have a 8foot monitor on the move. (not to mention anyone that likes to watch football will be your best frienda t least once a year?)

anyway. if you do go projo get a dlp, not lcd.

 

[drag0nox]

QX9650 isnt worth 1k, despite what hallubalooza says.

if you drop the QX9650 and use the money saved on buying 2x8800GTS 512MB's, you should be fine

a Q6600 will have no problems bottlenecking, and the 3ghz per cpu with the QX9650 isnt going to be used for a while

cpu cooler: thermalright ultra 120 is a great cooler, as long as you have a big enough case (thermaltake armor will be fine)

the PCP&C is a good PSU, but i would rather a Corsair HX620W (should power all that fine, with some OC room to spare)

 

[Waspy]

The 45nm quad core is really where it's at though, easy to overclock and I just really like the technology. If there are two things in this whole build who are giving me really warm and fuzzy feelings (regardless of cost) it's the 45nm quad core and the Armor case!

I know this is off topic, but what's the release schedule on Intel's lower-end 45nm quad cores?

I would consider the projector route if I had the room. In my current residence I do not have space to project onto, and I will be moving shortly and can not be garunteed of space to project onto in the new location either. So that option is unfortunately out right now. =/

if you drop the QX9650 and use the money saved on buying 2x8800GTS 512MB's, you should be fine

I already plan on buying 2x 8800GTS 512s, that's what's listed.

 

[Waspy]

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1073&model2=1096&chart=421

Look at that...how am I supposed to give that away!?? Cry!!

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

Have you seen their benchmarks for an overclocked Q6600?

It performs nearly on par with a QX9770 when overclocked to 3.3 GHz.

You can hit that easily with a good cooler.

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/11/08/dual_vs_quad/page26.html

Here is the article.