In need of some help on new pc

[biohazard08]

Hi all

I am trying to figure out what parts to use for my next computer. I haven't built a computer in 4 years and i'm still using it today. My current pc is a amd 3200+, Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe, 1 GB OCZ memory, BFG Tech 7800GS AGP. The pc still runs great but time to upgrade. I just bought a new LCD last week, I purchased a Samsung 2232BW 2 ms.

My budget for the computer is 1500.00 to 1700.00. The computer is mainly a family computer. I want it to be able to play games. The games i currently play are TF2, Half Life 2, World in Conflict (doesn't run well), i would like to be able to play Crysis but my current computer really has a hard time with it. The computer will be doing a lot of multitasking with the wife and kids.

The parts the I have been looking at.

CASE COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811119138



POWER SUPPLY PC Power & Cooling S610EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817703005



CPU I'm really confused with the current CPU's and to tell you guys the truth I really don't know what to go with. I'll list the ones that I have been looking at.
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017
Intel® Boxed Core 2 Quad Processor Q9450
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0287628


MOTHERBOARD This is another area that I'm really confused on what to get. I don't know if I'm better off running a intel chipset or a nvidia chipset. I don't know if SLI would be something to consider with my current monitor or not so i really don't know. But here are some that have caught my eye.
ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813131227
GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128089

EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024
EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188026


MEMORY G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820231148

HEATSINK XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835233003

HARD DRIVES I'm going to run 2 one for a main and a smaller one to back certain info onto.
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822152100
Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16822135106

VIDEO CARD
EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130325
or
EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339

If I go the SLI route then maybe these
EVGA 512-P3-N861-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130334 x2
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318 x2


Any advice anyone could give me I would really appreciate. To all those who read or respond to my my post i would like to say thanks for taking the time to do so.

 

[badge]

My current pc is a amd 3200+, Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe,

I still have this combo running too. Well, all the potential hardware you have listed is top of the line and a new build with just about any combination of the items you have listed would obliterate the AMD 3200, A7N8X-E Deluxe (nice MB by the way).

My system in 'my configuration' is very fast. I use both the e8400 and q6600. I plan on upgrading to the q9450 soon. The e8400 will run at 3.6 GHz with little more than stock cooling. If you game a lot at that speed your 8800/9800 series video card will spin at a good rate. The quad cores are fun. Very good at multitasking, very fast. Besides SLI with the Nvidia chips you mentioned, the X38 chips will do CrossfireX with PCIE 2.0 16 x 2. The G92 and 9800 you mentioned are for SLI nvidia boards, but the X38 will use two x 3870 or 3870x2's and the upcoming 4800 series in Crossfirex if you want a dual video card set up. I also have the 610 PCP&C PSU as a spare, have not used it. The G. Skill RAM you have listed should be excellent, but it will not clock quite as high as other Micron chips do if you are in to overclocking. Anyway, your list contains some very nice, very cutting edge components to choose from. GL.

 

[aevm]

Nice case, PSU, RAM, cooler.

Get the Q6600 or Q9450. You seem to be the kind of person who keeps a CPU for a long time. The E8400 will be better than it in same games, for now, but in the long term quads will win.

Don't look at SLI with mediocre cards, it's better to get a single really good video card and be done with it. Your monitor doesn't require SLI anyway.
I'd get the GIGABYTE GA-EX38-DS4 and a 9800GX2 video card. Or a HD 3870X2, since it's cheaper and it gives you the option to add a second card later in CrossfireX.

HDD: the WD6400AAKS has the best price/performance ratio I can think of these days.

 

[shadowduck]

As aevm said, look at the Q6600 or the Q9450. The Q9450 is 4MB more cache and as a 45nm part. The Q6600 will probably overclock better due to its higher multiplier.

Q6600: 266 x 9 = 2400 400x9 = 3600
Q9450: 333 x 8 = 2664 400x8= 3200 450x8= 3600

Just a quick comparison.

Now, I TOTALLY agree with Aevm on the SLI thing. Unless you are gaming at high (1920x1200+) resolutions you do not need SLI. SLI is basically a marketing ploy to sell more video cards . Look at the 9800GX2, it performs pretty well. It is like SLI, but on one card so its ok!