Ok, here she is. Please tell me what you think and any suggestions. I have put allot of thought and have waited…waited…for next GEN cards and here we are.
 
Thermaltake ArmorPlus ATX full tower case  $204
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133056
Gigabyte-GA-X48-DS4 motherboard  $224
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128336
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 chipset  $329
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115042
Mushkin 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066 PC2 8500 $134
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146785
Seagate 750GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0 32MB Cache  $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148302
HIS Hightech Radeon HD 4870  $309
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161236
ABS Tagan 900W Power Supply  $239
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817814013
Zalman 9700 110mm CPU cooler  $53
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118019
Zalman VF1000 VGA cooler  $49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118037
Scythe S-Flex 120mm Case Fan x3  $44
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185005
Lite-On 20X DVD/CD Optical Drive SATA  $23
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106263
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit  $179
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116493
Asus 24” LCD Monitor  $489
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236033
Artic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound x 2  $13
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186020
Total: $2261
 
Ok there she is. I looked highly at all reviews on the Egg and elsewhere. My budget was 2k with a monitor. I plan on adding another 4870 in Crossfire once the figure out the drivers. Please tell me what you think before I click the buy button.  
 
Thanks,
 
DeepSea

I would say that looks very nice! Well done and good luck!

EDIT: If you want to save a bit of money, you could drop the 1066 ram and just go for 800 DDR2 as you won't notice the difference and it will save you $50

LINK: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231112

Thanks for the help!
 
DeepSea

Yeah you don't need 1066 RAM  *unless* you want to overclock past FSB1600.
 
Great choice on the 4870. Over $300 less than the 280, but 4870 beats 280 in some  benchmarks. Hell 4870 CF still costs less than 280 and really smokes it in some games.

What speed RAM would be the best choice for this RIG?
 
Thanks
 
DeepSea

Cannot really answer that question until we ask another:
 
How far do you plan to overclock the Q9450?

the ram is great ram... I have my ram at 1200 mhz 5 4 4 12 =D
 
don't utilize it because my fsb isn't high enough... but w/e XD
 
Motherboard doesn't support high fsb... doesnt' go over 450 =(

4GB G.Skill DDR2-1066 at New Egg for $85 plus free shipping.  I have it in my X38, works like a champ.

Ok after some more research and nukeing this to death this is what I have now.  
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450  
GIGABYTE-GA-DS4 X48 Motherboard  
Mushkin 4GB (2x2) DDR2 1066  
Seagate Barracuda 250 GB 32MB Cache x 2 in Raid 0  
Antec Twelve Hundred ATX Full Tower Case  
Sapphire Radeon 4870 512 MB GDDR5  
XIGMATEK 750W PSU  
LITE-ON 20X DVD/CD-R Optical Drive  
ZALMAN 9700 CPU Cooler  
ZALMAN VF1000 VGA Cooler  
ARTIC Cooler Thermal Compound MX-2 x 2  
Microsoft Windows Vista  Ultimate SP1 64  
 
I changed the case, psu, switched from HIS 4870 to a Sapphire "realy dont know why I did that", and went with 2 smaller 250GB drives in RAID 0. I took out the monitor. This will be easier to sell to the wife! Now my price is under $1600 bones. Not bad!! I do think this is the one!
 
DeepSea

Skip the RAID 0- it will not increase your speed in a gaming setup- will slow down some operations and doubles your chance of failure- either drive fails all your data goes with it.
 
Skip the Zalamn cooler its not that great. Get this one instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
 
Unless you plan on overclocking past FSB1600 you don't need 1066 RAM. 1066 RAM has issues with some motherboards- it seems to random almost, but 800 does not have such issues. I would stick with DDR2-800 RAM.

Ok tell me what you think about this?
 
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450  
GIGABYTE-GA-DS4 X48 Motherboard  
Mushkin 4GB (2x2) DDR2 800  
Western Digital Caviar 640 GB 16MB Cache    
Thermaltake ArmorPlus(Armor+) ATX Full Tower Case  
HIS Radeon 4870 512 MB GDDR5  
XIGMATEK 750W PSU  
LITE-ON 20X DVD/CD-R Optical Drive  
XIGMATEK 1283 CPU COOLER
XIGMATEK RETENSION BRACKETS  
ZALMAN VF1000 VGA Cooler  
ARTIC Cooler Thermal Compound MX-2  
Microsoft Windows Vista Home SP1 64bit
 
Ok that about does it price now is $1500, seems good to go.
 
Thanks,
 
DeepSea

Looks good sir. Enjoy!!