new rig, looking for right mobo and tips

[kazeryu209]

i really like the look of the Cosmos 1000. helps with noise 2?
ok:

Cosmos 1000 $190
(Combo so on PSU-$30 haha)
COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro 750W ATX12V / EPS12V [$150-$30] $120
WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb $190
Intel q9550 (price drop woo!) $ 330
as5 $6
Artic Cooling Freezer 7 $32
[MSI OC HD4870 $300]
Corsair 4gb (2x2gb) ddr2 pc800 $87
Samsung 22x dvd burner w/ lightscribe SATA $29
Creative X-fi XtremeGamer $86
Logitech Z-2300 2.1way $91
Windows XP 32-bit home wit sp2 $100
Mobo: ???? Around $200?? MSI p45 Platinum($180)??

Ok with the exception of the 4870(sold out), everything is from newegg and its telling me my total so far is: $1,384.30 add in the card and I'm looking about so far $1700.

What I need/intent for comp?
I would like to consider this a gaming rig. Its my intent so far. I have a 19" Samsung (syncmaster 712n) so i dont think i need to do superhigh res gaming so 1 vid card is good. I know close to nothing about overclocking and i do not plan on doing crazy experiments. I do plan on learning soon . So i am not looking for an expensive mobo designed for OCerz.
My tech knowledge is low to a little higher. First time building my own - I got that nervous feeling like a kid with a bag full of money outside a Candy SuperMega store(they shud make one). :lol:

Few questions:
1) mainly: what do u guys think is a good mobo for around $200?
[Was Thinking about (intel p45 being the factor) the Asus p5q deluxe. Research is saying 4850 is blocking the SATA ports in the end and 4870 is blocking too.]

2. XP or Vista? ive read that vista and dx10 isnt worth it still?

3. since its looking like Xp so far...: pc800 or pc1066? 2gb or 4gb?
My 2 cents is even though Xp doesnt fully show 4gb (max 4gb right? with w.e .5gb use by windows itself to etc), derrs still a 1gb-1.5gb advantage over 2gb. Will that help in gaming?

4. Is a sound card worth the bucks? found some nice speakers so i would like nice sound for the budget. i dont mind (less than) $100 for better then mobo sound.

5. Comos1000.... do i need more fans?

Any input/opinions would b kool guys. thnxs in advnce.

 

[auscanzukus]

0. Do yourself a favor. Pick up a tier 1/2 psu:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

Your others will probably last longer than the CM psu. It's not crap, but I wouldn't put it in a $1700 build.

1. GA-EP45-DS3R. Unfortunately, newegg doesn't carry X38-DS4 which is a better board for under $200. They do have X48-DS4.

2. DX10 not worth it? LOL. You haven't seen DX10 in-game screenies. $1700 rig doesn't even run DX10? You got to be kidding me.

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20060817/directx10-fabulous/

Move mouse over each picture.

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/news/35026/Flight-Sim-X-Acceleration-DX10-Screenshots

For starters, pick up Vista 32 Home Premium. It will run anything XP32.

3. Since you're not overclocking, why worry about ram speed? Default is half the cpu's fsb. q9550 is 1333mhz fsb / 2 = 666mhz. Any ram you throw at it will run at 666mhz at stock.

5. No for a stock pc.

 

[kazeryu209]

Thnxs for the info.
The link for the psu awesome.

1. Picked up the mobo u suggested but is the x38-ds4 much better? the p45 is cheaper so that is nice.
2. Vista 32 sounds good. I keep reading that Vista just slows everything down.
3. Ram. I plan on OCing. so i'll just keep it at pc800. Corsair looked to be a nice bang for the bucks. Better ram out therr for similar?


___________
Cosmos 1000 $190
GA-EP45-DS3R $135
Intel q9550 $ 330
PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W $140
MSI OC HD4870 $300
Corsair 4gb (2x2gb) pc800 $87
WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb $190

without the extra: so far $1300ish.

 

[auscanzukus]

1. X38 means 1600MHZ FSB & PCI-E x16 in Crossfire. P35/P45 does up to 1333mhz fsb & x8 in CF.

2. Pre-SP1, I'd agree with you. Post-SP1, Vista is neck & neck with XP + SP3.

3. Get at least 1066mhz ram if you plan to o/c the ram as well as the cpu. Any popular brand is ok. Look into Mushkin Redline.