Need help on building perfect Intel 9650 system

[stocktalk00]

This is humbling but i need help on a new system. I am pushing 40 years old so I used to know what to do but now have kids and job and wife. I have money but want the computer to be top notch for 2 years or at least upgradeable. I want to play max settings or near it on games like crysis

This is what i think i want

(1) Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Processor
(1) Asus Blitz Extreme Intel P35 ( DDR3 worth it? No SLI so should I avoid and get another card)?
(1) EVGA GeForce 8800 GTX Video Card
(2) OCZ 2048MB PC14400 DDR3 1800MHz Memory (2x1024MB)
(2) Western Digital Raptor 150GB 10,000 RPM
(1) Creative X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty
(1) Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium


My other board option would be ASUS Striker and go wtih DDR2 and upgrade to a new board and DDR3 in maybe a year. Thoughts?


What case would you get?

 

[aigomorla]

seeing how your a high end shopping like me, i suggest you really wait on the reviews of skulltrail.

Intel Chipset meets SLI. The only chipset to offer SLI from intel.


If you really insist on a QX9650,

Then i would pick up

gigabyte X38-DQ6 <no DDR3 isnt worth it yet>

Crucial Ballastix PC1065 <best overclocking ram>

RAID is not worth it with only 2 drives unless you plan on mirror raid. Now if you have 4 Raptors, like i do in Raid0 thats a different story. Go with seagates 7200.11 1TB drive. Very fast drive that keeps up with raptors.

Ask JAG81 about sound cards he knows his stuff in this area very well. I dont like creative X-Fi because of all the compatability issues i ran into with them.

Running 4 sticks of ram can hurt your overclocking. I wouldnt recomend it. 2 x 2gb modules is a better route to go.

Gah.. hate vista.. :T