Looking for a little advice, I’m looking to build or purchase a new system with the following
Projected System Specs: Raid Max Smilodon Med-Tower
800 Watts Xion Super Nova Power Supply Quad SLI ready,
Quad-Core Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 @3.00GHz 1333 FSB12MB
L2 Cache 64-bit
Cooler Master Hyper TX2 Gaming CPU cooling Fan over clock proof
QX9650 support Asus P5K Premium WIFI-AP Intel P35 Cross Fire
Chip set LGA775 FSB1333 DDR2/800 Main board W/Gb LAN Internal
RAID, USB2.0, IEEE1394, 7.1 Audio.
(Reg.DDR2 main board) 4GB (4x1GB) PC6400 DDR2/800 Dual Channel Corsair memory
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX 768MB 16x PCI Express Video Card
Creative Labs X-FI Xtreme Gamer 24BIT PCI Sound Card.
Vista Premum Home 32bit
I would like any and all feed back on the above config and to know rather or not this would be a decent system for gaming. This system is to serve no other purpose other than gaming so please let me know if I’m on the right track..... Thanks,

Since you seem to have unlimited funding, I'll give you some advice with changes on the system. Will follow shortly.

EDIT:

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115034
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813188024
RAM: 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820148069
Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130325
Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16829102005
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817128011

CPU Cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835118019
GPU Cooler: http://www.zalman.co.kr/eng/product/Product_read.asp?Idx=276

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16832116204


Case is not for me to choose. I'd pick something professional and well built, though, for optimal performance conditions (and a non-alien look).

Going for DDR2 on an nForce motherboard, as you can see. If you want future-proof stuff, you should probably wait for x48-based motherboards to show up in the US and go with some expensive-ass DDR3.

Also, if you're not planning to play games on resolutions higher than 1680x1050, there's no real reason to have the GTX as the GTS sometimes is faster on lower resolutions. Also, G92 has great overclocking potential...

Vista 64-bit, or you won't be able to use 4GB+ RAM. And as far as I'm concerned, the 64-bit version feels faster in general. Anyway...

Got to get some breakfast.

With unlimited funds, I'd honestly get a pre-built system from Dell, Alienware or HP. Why? Only one reason: warranty. You can pay for 3 years on-site service with them, and never have to worry when one of those high-value-but-prone-to-failure hand-binned parts dies. Paying $1000 for a CPU or $600 for a video card blows badly enough when they become obsolete in 3 months, but that's nothing compared to when they die after 9 because a heat sink gets clogged with dust.

BTW, we're a month or two away from the next nVidia refresh, and it includes Hybrid SLI and Hybrid Power, both of which are HUGE deals for system longevity and noise reduction at the high end. I'd suggest waiting for it, no matter which way you go.

For those unaware, all of the next gen nVidia chipsets all have an onboard GPU (Geforce 8200), which you connect your monitor to even when you use a (compatible) discrete video card. When you aren't playing a game, the onboard video does all the work, and the add-in card is turned off. When you play a game, it spools up the add in card(s), and routes the signal through the onboard video, adding it's rendering power to whatever add-in cards you have. So, you save a lot of electricity and fan noise when not using the add-in cards, and get a small free boost in performance when you do. Cool, no?

May I suggest a water cooling system? I have an Evercool system that works really well. After having used it for awhile I'll never go back to fans and fins anymore.

As he is looking for advice, one could imagine he's not a very experienced user. So unless he's getting help from someone I'd not recommend toddling with water cooling.

@ Illrigger, pre-built systems mostly have OEM BIOS, which means no overclocking by any means. You have two-three year warranty on separately sold items as well, so it shouldn't any worries...

I guess emanueal90 is gone though, as he doesn't seem to be coming back to this thread.

That USED to be true, before they stared making enthusiast systems. There are systems from each of the above that are factory overclocked, and warrantied to run at said speeds. The Blackbird system from HP is acutally equipped with a MORE flexible BIOS than the stock ASUS board it includes - they are using an nVidia chipset board that can run either SLI or Crossfire - the only board available capable of doing so.

THat being said, you'll pay a bit more for all that, but if funds are not an issue....

Okay, another argument not to buy a factory made computer then...

They look fishy, and they have weird brands!