£3000GBP Build... Need help

[ChaosWDG]

Hey guys
1st Post here but I'm an experienced builder/OCer

Im building a rig next week or so and I have a £3000 budget

I already have the Monitor/Keyboard/Mouse/Mat/Speakers/Headset ect...

Here are my initial Ideas

Processor - Intel Q9650 Quad Core, 3.0Ghz 1333FSB
Memory - 4x2GB OCZ DDR3 1600Mhz XMP Edition
Graphics - 2x HD4870X2
Sound Card - Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Titanium - Fatal1ty Champion Series
Boot HDDs - 2x WD Velociraptor 300GB Raid 0
Backup HDDs - 2x WD Caviar Black 1TB no Raid
Optical Drive - LG Blu-Ray Writer
Second Optical Drive - LG DVD Writer
PSU - Undecided
Case - Undecided

Going to watercool it all
CPU - EK CPU Supreme Clear Top
NB - Asus Stock NB Block
GPU - 2x EK 4870X2 Clear Top
Rads - 1x240mm TFC Xchanger + 1x360mm TFC Xchanger
Pump - Switech Laing D5 Vario
Res - Single Bay

(If your not from UK like me, then http://www.Overclockers.co.uk/ is where I would most liekly buy it all for your pricing guide)

I want 4x2GB RAM, Crossfired 4870X2s and around a 4Ghz+ OC!
But I heard the RampageEX has problems with 4 ram sticks...

What are your ideas?

[Ghost326267]

First thing I've noticed is you plan on putting 2 4870x2 in there, what monitor do you have? because there is a good chance that could be a waste/overkill.

[zlojack]

P5E3 Premium maybe?

[Chruschef]

Blu-Ray optical drives, are so far just expensive and useless just go with two fast CD optical drive.

I'd also replace the asus stock NB block, because its basically useless.

Because your budget is pretty big, I'd wait and grab up a Nehalem board/processor when it comes out and wait a bit..
You've already got a very capable gaming PC.. So it could pay off to wait and go Nehalem.

[ChaosWDG]

Ill just list all my other peripherals incase that helps

Monitor- Samsung T260 25.5" 1920*1200 20000:1 5ms
Mouse - Razer Lachesis Blue 4000dpi with Razer eXactMat and Wrist rest
Keyboard - Razer Terantular and BattleLight
Headset - Razer Barracuda HP1
Mic - Shure SM58
Speakers - Genelec Active studio monitors (8020a Pair)

If that helps ?

Also as far as Nahelem and x58 goes, Im going to build one of those too when it comes out, but not untill the reviews are out for me to see... I have set aside a bigger budget for that too

[Asgard_thor]

grab the I7 board with 6PCIE, and GET 6 8800GT's! LIQUID COOL THEM SEND THEM TO ME

Or

wait for i7 and this would give you more future proof

[ChaosWDG]

like i said, i have a seperate budget for that stuff in a few months, im talking about the here and now, no waiting!

[masxerofkartis]

if i were you id get a lian-li PC-P80. As for the PSU since you have taht big a budget an ultra x3 1600W is the best option.

As for the mobo, i'd go with a rampage extreme if i were you

[pcaddict]

yeah, get pc-p80 and skulltrail and some good nvidia cards :)

[RandomSuffix]

Spending this much, I'd wait for i7. Only a few weeks.

[Chruschef]

You know if you combined both budgets you could build one really insane LGA1336 build, potentially you could even phase change cool the processor, or even water cool a dual socket LGA1336.

Reguardless, if you buy a computer now based on LGA775, most likely there will be a price drop after LGA1336 debuts. Allowing you to build an even more extreme LGA775 build.

IMO I think waiting is the best decision because you've already got a very capable gaming machine, and if you follow the first option I mentioned, it would be a much more powerful LGA1336.

[Mungri]

I'd definately wait for Nehalem instead of wasting all that money right now.

If you want to go crossfire right now, you really should get an X48 chipset.

Also, two 4870 X2's will be an overkill in everything. One 4870 X2 or two 4870's can already run everything maxed out at 2560x1600 with plenty of AA. Just grab a 2048 Mb 4870 X2, or 2x 1024 Mb 4870's and you will be set for a good couple of years at least.

[.Logic]

Hitting 4Gh/z might lead to a pretty toasty quad if you are only running one loop. Don't underestimate the heat that x2 4870X2s and the NB put out on top of a quad. If I where you I would be doing dual loops, the Quad on the 240, the GPUs on the 360 and forget the NB (unless you are going to add another loop).

Just a suggestion...

[ChaosWDG]

Well decided to do 2 loops, in a lian li pc-p80b
going to externally mount them somehow but modded to fit flush on the case
might take some pickies when im done

[Bobsama]

Have you thought about 2P systems?

Asus Z7S
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B129819

Xeon E5450 (x2)
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B92449

Kingston 2x2GB DDR2 800 FB-DIMMs (x2)
http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B96782

Corsair HX1000
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-012-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084&name=Corsair%20HX%201000W%20ATX2.2%20Modular%20SLI %20Compliant%20PSU%20(CMPSU-1000HXUK)

Whatever chassis you like.