Buying PC today: 1300 - 1600 build

Option 1 [with p45 and ATI4870] price: $1342.91

Option 2 [with x48 motherboard and Crossfire(not sli ) price: $1609.90

Motherboard:
option1: 107.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128345
option2: 289.99
ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131284

Power Supply:
option1: 89.99 (after rebate)
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005
option2: 134.99
PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703009
Memory Price: $96 (after rebate)

Video Card
option1: 309.99
SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102748
option2: 174.99x2 = 349.98
(2 of these) SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102747

Processor: 329.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115042

Monitor: 249.99 (after rebate)
SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 DC 8000:1
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824001268

Memory: 96.00
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145197

Case: 84.99
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137

DVD Drive Price: $29.99
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151154

Price: $6.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019

Price: $36.99
XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003


I'm going to use the computer for both gaming (War Hammer Online), and for running some processor intensive applications for work (such as 2 or 3 vmwares at once). So it has to have some good RAM and processor speed. I also plan to overclock (although i'm new to it). So i've narrowed it down to either getting a p45 board and one ATI 4870, or getting an x48 board with ATI4850 setup in SLI. I chose the gigabyte p45 board cause it was a good brand name and has only 1 PCI-E 16x slot (no need for 2, otherwise you might as well get x38 or x48), but i'm open to a better board.

Based on the 22inch monitor I'm getting it sounds like i should get the p45 setup... although i'd also like to play future games on the monitor (after warhammer online), which makes me lean towards the x48. Although, i'd be willing to get a 24inch monitor if there's one that's really worth it. 22inch seems to be the best for the money though which makes me lean toward the p45.

Please let me know your suggestions. I'm open to changing any of the parts if there are better parts value/performance. I have to buy it today.

Thanks!
--Lee

If it's X48 with ATI cards we like to call it Crossfire, not SLI. Just so we don't confuse people, OK?

Absolutely excellent choices, all of them.

I'd go with the X48, of course, if the budget allows it. There are already games where a single video card is not enough at 1680x1050 (Crysis, Frontlines) unless you dial down the eye candy. Just change to this $225 GA-X48-DS4, it saves you $65.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128336

Maybe change the Q9450 to Q6600. The Q6600 has a multiplier of 9 (Q9450 has 8), so when overclocking on a good X48 with a good cooler like the Xigmatek you could actually get more speed from the Q6600. It's also $100+ less.

Maybe get 8 GB of RAM, it should help with the virtual machines.

Oops, yeah, I missed that part. I'm voting for the 750W PSU, it's a good match for X48 so you can do Crossfire. I have one of those Silencer 750W myself

Edit: games usually work better if you have a hard disk, you know... The WD6400AAKS is really good, and a great price/GB.

Also, the operating system I'd pick is Vista Home Premium 64-bit. The 64-bit part is because you need virtual machines and lots of RAM, and the Vista part is for DirectX 10 so that new games like Crysis can look at their best.

Well, it depends. Some people have got excellent clocks on the Q9450, but it takes some luck and skill. Also, if you use software with SSE4 for media work the Q9450 will win at any clocks. Also, a 65nm Q6600 at 3.6 will consume more electricity than a 45nm Q9450 at 3.4, even though they're about the same speed in most benchmarks. Either way, good CPUs both.