Help with motherboard/CPU options for a gaming machine

[aqua08]

Assuming cost is not relevant, which option would you pick for a gaming machine:
1. 780i/Q9450 overclocked to 3.4 GHz, DDR2 1066, 9800 GX2
2. 790i/Q9450 overclocked to 3.0 GHZ, DDR3 1600, 9800 GX2

The first option's advantage is the higher CPU speed but I am concerned about the crippled northbridge of the 780i compared to the full 32x northbridge of the 790i. The second option's advantage would be the better northbridge which would allow future proofing when I upgrade my video card. Keep in mind the only upgrade(s) I would do to this machine would be new video card(s). I would not upgrade the CPU or memory. This machine would be in use for the next three years or so.

I'd appreciate any suggestion.

 

[shadowduck]

3. X48 motherboard, Q9450 overclocked, 280 series video card (9800 GX2 is a stopgap waste ala 7900GX2)

 

[aqua08]

I really don't want to order a third set of component, so please pick between 1 and 2 and give me an explaination.

 

[shadowthor]

+1 with shadow, i don't like either options at the top as the nvidia chipsets have lots of problems recently. Plus if you are not using sli, its kind of useless to get the nvidia chipset.

 

[aevm]

3. X48 motherboard, Q9450 overclocked, 280 series video card (9800 GX2 is a stopgap waste ala 7900GX2)

Agreed. If you don't need 2 video cards you're better off with Intel's chipsets, so go with X48. Also, a GTX 280 will be faster than a 9800GX2, especially in games that aren't optimized for SLI.