It has been some time since my last new build/upgrade and have read some of these posts of new builds. I really want some major input on the items I am looking at purchasing. My main concern is the motherboard. I know it is one of the newest on the market and is one of the better ones to have, but if I can go with a cheaper board and not sacrifice performance that would be a plus.

So here it goes...

ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131297

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146731

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

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

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102007

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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102768

OCZ EliteXStream OCZ1000EXS 1000W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341014

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model iHAS220-08
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106265

LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-16D3S-04
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106261

Antec Twelve Hundred Black ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129043

If you don't want to click on each item, you can click on this link to view the wish list.
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] tle=steve1

I know there is no harddrive listed, as I already have one ready for the new system and I am running a 24" widescreen monitor. Should I get a different motherboard? Should I skip the sound card? I believe the 4870 x2 card will be the only one I will be putting in this system.

I want honest opinions please.

Thanks in advance

The x48 you dont need cause you got a 750w power suppply. And even if you plan on cf, no chance with that psu. Get the P5Q pro for 139 and save yourself some money.

Idk about the Quad Core, but I went with a dual core e8400 cause people are just taking too damn long to make anything that fully takes advantage of 4 cores.

All the features of your x48 board, plus some more:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131297

The only set back is of course a loss of perhaps 6-8 FPS if you did decide to crossfire in the future.

Buy the bracket for the Xigmatek and some paste, such as AC5.

Your PSU is, of course, an excellent choice. It's more than you need probably. You could get by with the 610W.... If it were me I would get that Signature 850W that comes as a combo with the case, because I like having that kind of security and future proofing.

People thought I was nuts when I bought the 600W that's still in my case, 3 builds later.

I am kind of confused here... are you saying that the PSU is underkill for a x48 MB and also not good enough for a CF with another 4870 x2? Please advise.

Your PSU would not run two of those cards (4870X2), but your motherboard is designed with that intent... that's all he's saying. Basically it's too much motherboard if you aren't going to crossfire.

It's a very nice board and I would not go as far as to say it's a bad choice, even for a single 4870X2... but if it were me, I would save a few bucks and get an eSATA port or two

The only argument for the board you chose over the P45 board i listed is the slightly higher framerates when you crossfire... but you are not crossfiring, so the P45 is the better choice.

+1 for the P45 chipset Asus P5Q Pro ....the gigabyte is a good board but its more expensive and you could put those $ else where like a 1100-1200 watt PSU.

+1 for the Xigmatek bracket and Paste

Most of these new motherboards have 7.1 sound on them.....so your basicly paying for a sound card to reduce the load on your cpu.......which could be done with a less expensive card (dont need Jonathan "Fatality" Wendel card). I would take the 100$ from this and drop it into a full tower Aluminium (Lian Li or Silver Stone) case cause that 4870x2 kicks out a lot of heat (Albert says 286 watts @ 90 degrees C).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTR3qXk83q0

The only other thing I see is you didnt get a lightscribe DVD writer.......while you dont need it ...its neat and its only a couple $$ more.

I have made some changes to my newegg wish list. I have not changed my original post to reflef the changes, but the wishlist link should reflet the changes.

Should I get a sound card at all or will one of the cores keep my gaming performance unaffected by using on-board sound? If I should go with a sound card, what would be suggested?

I truly think souncard is an individual decision. I own a card almost identical to the one you listed, and have used both that card and onboard sound extensively. I find the Creative card delivers far higher quality sound.... when the drivers work correctly.

Many people can't tell the difference in sound.

I agree Proximon, you're only gonna tell the difference if you have a savage speaker setup and getting involved with the sound more than normal. For movies, games music, the included 7.1 card on your mobo is more than enough.
+for the GPU
+for the processor

I presume you're going to overclock so i'd go with the Antec 1200 instead - truly the beastlord of all cases (IMO)

Honestly I would rather have a Antec P190 1200 (a little more than I would want to ever spend). Color me funny, but I just like the idea of a seperate chamber for the PSU. Does it really make any differance what so ever with it being a seperate chamber?

I have looked at the Antec 1200 and the 900, but I really don't need the blue LED lighted fans, even if they look cool. I was looking at the P182 since it had sound dampening built into the sides. My rig now sounds like a small vaccum cleaner when powered up. Trying to avoid that same mistake.

As for the sound card issue... I do alot of simulation racing online and wear 5.1 surround headphones (when I need to be quiet) as well as have a 5.1 surround speaker system when I can crank stuff up.

Thanks for your guys input...keep it comming!

The idea behind a case with a lot of 120mm fans is to actually limit noise while improving cooling. If they are quality fans running at less than maximum, then they make very little noise.

I don't care about LED fans either, but I do care about cooling.

A GOOD PSU is efficient. An efficient PSU is cool, and when placed in a properly ventilated case does not need a separate chamber.

Well... I went to my local Micro Center and purchased the Antec 1200 case, WD 400GB SATA HD and soundblaster x-fi soundcard. I have yet to get the major components to go inside, but all I have to say is... damn that a big honkin case!

So as long as I don't get another 4870 x2 card and crossfire it, the PC P&C silencer 750 will operate everything with no problems?

Yes, everything you could possibly want in that case, except the second video card.

Thanks for the quick responces! One last question, then this thread will probably be completed... Let's say I did go with a second 4870 x2 card... what would be the PSU I should get? Obviously the combo is out the window since I got the case from a local dealer already. Keep the price realistic as possible. I would like to keep this a bit future proofed.

Corsair, OCZ EXS, several other 1000W PSUs are probably up to it.

I note the OCZ EXS is only about 230.00 on newegg.