HARD Choices for business/gaming cpu... Please help decide!!!

**Legolas** · 09-03-08, 11:51 PM

D-Link DWA-556 PCI Express Xtreme Desktop Adapter - Retail

GIGABYTE GV-R487X2-2GH-B Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1800C8DF - Retail

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600EB4GK - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-X48T-DQ6 LGA 775 DDR3 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

ASUS Rampage Extreme LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

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

POF: The q9550 has been oc'd to 3.8GHz stable on air by many people... That means a 475 FSB on air; I'm too lazy to keep up with a water cooling sytem... So, my question to you: "Which Motherboard and Ram set would you pick knowing that the x48 will be the last chipset of it's kind... The X58 will take its place in the future and will double it's bandwidth... Also, if this processor will max out at 3.8GHz, then how well will an underclocked DDR3 2000 4GB set suite me over a DDR3 1800 running just above clock speeds!!! (which ram would you pick

) Please also comment on the video card... I've seen multiple reviews that prove (I would list them, but I didn't save the page ip. It is pretty obvious though...) that it is better to get the 4870 x2 rather than going crossfire with two 4870's or anything else for that matter... Will the pci 2.0 e hold out or will crossfire be able to handle 4 GPU's in the future

Serious questions that NEED a serious answer... I would also appreciate any leads towards sweet ass air cooled cases and low noise fans...

Thanks for the help!!!

Lego

**roadhog0** · 09-04-08, 05:45 PM

Corsair, and ASUS. Corsair is from what I have hear a higher grade memory, I have some now and love it! Also I know people who have had problems with Gigabyte but the tech guys at my dads work say ASUS is one of the best motherboards out there! Only thing else I would is change from an ATI card to a Nvidia 9800 GX2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130338
My reasoning on that is it is much cheaper and you can get 2 of them and run SLI and they also come with a Lifetime Warranty. I just know putting 500 dollars into a video card is a little insane in my opinion. But its your money you can do what ever you want with it, I also haven't been too impressed with ATI with the multiple cards I have had from them.