Help Me Make My New System Please!

[GUITAR]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum board, but in all honesty, this is most likely the only time you're going to see me posting anything.

I have been using the same OEM comp for the past 7 years, and I decided that I need to upgrade. I've decided that I want to build my own system, both for educational purposes, and for personal bragging rights (really, this is a personal thing, lol). I'm not...well, I'm pretty okay in the tech field, but when it comes to getting really technical, I'm not very knowledgeable. So I would like to ask if you people can point me in the right direction. Please? I'll post up what I want my system to have, and if you could please point me in the right direction, I would very much appreciate it! Please ask if I am lacking information. I want to get it right!

I just have hardware issues, but for the OS, I will be Dual-Booting Vista Ultimate 64-bit and XP Pro (32-bit, just incase there's something that doesn't run in 64-bit). I just wanted to state that just incase that made a difference in the hardware decision.

I just want to state that a lot of it is overkill, but that's alright, because that's what I want. I want overkill, so please don't steer me away from what is potentially my dream system! Thanks!

Mobo: That's my biggest concern. What mobo will be compatible with my specs?
CPU Speed: 3.0ghz quad-core
RAM Speed: 8gb
HD Space: 2TB (1TB for each OS)
GPU Card: This is a little tricky. I don't know what's better, ATI or nVidia. Really, the two main games that I will be playing 99% of the time is Oblivion (85% of the time) and Crysis (the other 14%). The last 1% will be simple games like CS:Source, Doom 3, TF2, etc. I would like a dual-core GPU (so something like the ATI 4870x2 or nVidia 9800GTX2) and have 2 of them in either SLi or CrossX (so essencially, that's 4 GPUs). What would be best for playing Oblivion and Crysis (both on high)? (I saw Crysis run at like...40-50 FPS on SLi 9800GTX2 [4 GPUs])
Monitor: I'm going to run a 30" display. Any suggestions? I heard Apple displays are pretty good.
Sound Card: I do not wish to use onboard sound. Can someone please point me to a good sound card? (GOOD not decent) I will be using 7.1 surround sound speakers

And that's all really. I don't know what kind of PSU I should have, so can you guys please help me out there too? And anywhere else I missed too. If you need to ask me something, please ask! I'll be happy to help!

Budget: Okay, technically, I have no budget. My dad will be covering everything, but I don't wanna feel like a douche and go apeshit with spending, so could you please try to keep it under 5k? A little over is fine, but please try not to go over 6k. Please and Thank You!!!

EDITS IN BOLD

 

[johnyeah]

$5k? Does that include the monitor/OS/keyboard? Are you getting a complete entertainment system?

 

[GUITAR]

Hm...not sure. I think those are seperate from the 5k

 

[GUITAR]

Nobody knows what kind of parts I should get? Am I on my own? =(

 

[Fwertz]

Well, I typically run against your logic of having the best-of-the-best as it's just not smart to do in the tech world. But if you have the money to throw down.... here goes nothing...

3.0 Ghz quad-core? Over priced, but if that's what you want... I mean, a Q6600 can easily get there and beyond for much^3 cheaper. But it's not 45nm spec, but whatever.

8GB is quite a bit and with paging eliminated and running VM's you'll probably still never peak it. So, it's overkill, but that's up to your liking. Just make sure it's at least DDR2 1066 or higher for overclocking purposes.

HDD's are HDD's, if you're going with 7200's, make sure they have a 32MB cache, 16MB cache is ok too....or if you're going over the top with newer SCSI drives make sure you're mobo is compatible.

Right NOW ATI is ontop with its 4850/70 series' and will probably be ontop for a while. With the games you're playing, two 4850's would easily suffice but two 4870x2's would be over-the-top, quite marginally.

All in all, the parts I'm about to spew out wont even touch the maximum of your budget. With software being so far behind the abilities of hardware now, if it stayed at the same ratio, your build would last you 10 years. But with technology twofolding itself every year, spending that kind of cash is IMO "wreckless". You'll be on top of everyone else, but only temporarily until much wealthier software companies eradicate your build with new demands. I'm not trying to sound insulting, it's just my logic and good practice to spend 800-1000 every 2-2 years on upgrades or an entire system haulover than just fire a canon off. But hey, you're reaping the beneifits here (albeit so is Newegg) so here goes...

COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

Patriot 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220278

ASUS P5E3 WS PRO LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131282

ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

X2 for Cross-fire

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121253

COOLER MASTER UCP RS900-AAAAA3 900W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171033

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (X2 for 2TB)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284


As far as hardware, I'd personally go with that. Monitor is totally up to you as this build gives you QUITE a bit of head-room if you were to purposely max out your budget.

Projected total: ~$1947.93 without mail-in-rebates, combo-deals and without shipping.

 

[englandr753]

I agree its usless to spend that kind of money on hardware that will be 2nd rate in 12 months. If its worth it being on top for a few short months then go for it.

What you have to understand here (OP) is that you are asking a question to the users of this forum (some are rich too) but choose to be sensible and rationalize a reasable balance between performance and cost.

Most people here will adhere to that train of thinking due to the fact they have to work for a smaller paycheck and pay other bills first and then hope to have something left over after months of savings to get a fraction of hardware you are wanting to buy and they see someone like you come in and make a post like its no big deal and not putting much thought of how people here feel about it.

Its cool to spend your money how you see fit but even for the wealthier people of the world these times are more important than ever to be sensible in your spending due to not knowing which way the global economy will swing...

 

[GUITAR]

Thanks Fwertz. I appreciate your input. It really helps. Since I'm going to try to overclock, is there a good watercooling system you can recommend to me?

 

[johnyeah]

You don't need a watercooling system to overlock. Any decent FAN/Heatsink would do the job.

 

[johnyeah]

I was a bit busy yesterday to actually spend time and come up with something that runs well with your budget.

Fwertz makes some really solid recommendations.
However, I'd make some slight changes to the system since even with the money I personally would not spend it on the X38, I'd go with the Asus P5Q PRO P45 Chipset.

There's better choices for PSU's as well. As good as that Coolermaster may be, it's not worth that money. For about the same power I'd get http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379007, but honestly I'd say a 750W PSU should more than handle the load for XF or SLI setups.

 

[GUITAR]

Yeah, but I want a watercooling system anyways lol. that's not a problem, is it?

Oh, and thank you for your suggestion johnyeah. appreciate it.

 

[Nytmare]

OK.....

With your budget and wanting a high end build......this would be a screamer rig and components are compatible

ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131284

Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102768

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145197&Tpk=TWIN2X4096-8500C5DF

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148274

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional 70SB088600002 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Express Interface Sound Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102019

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106266

LIAN LI PC-A7110B Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112179

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003&Tpk=s1283

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

DELL ULTRASHARP 2709W
27-inch Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Monitors/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=223-9379