Need help with new pc build, please...

[dimentionalrift]

I am planning to buy a new pc in mid september.

So far I have a ready list, however I need someone to tell me if I chose good parts or not.

The list is not complete because I'm still waiting for the Radeon HD4870X2 to come out so I can decide whether to buy it or a GTX280.

The current list is as followed:

Case: Antec.com - Gamer Cases (http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15120)

CPU: Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9450 - SLAWR (http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLAWR)

Motherboard: GIGABYTE - Product - Motherboard - Specification - GA-X48T-DQ6 (http://www.giga-byte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Spec.aspx?ClassValue=Motherboard&ProductID=2765&ProductName=GA-X48T-DQ6)

GPU: GIGABYTE - Product - Graphics Accelerator - Overview - GV-N28-1GH-B (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/VGA/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2853)

PSU: I already have a PSU - EZCool PS-07 1050W multi-GPU certified (up to 4)

Memory: 4 sticks of 1GB of Kingston DDR2 @ 800MHz

HDD: I'll keep the old WD 250GB SATA-II @ 7200rpm

Any ideas on how to improve the list without crossing the 2500$ budget line?

[Cheesus]

Seems like a solid build. You could probably shave off a few bucks by using a P45 based motherboard instead. Or even a P35, since unless you want to Crossfire, they're basically the same. With that money, you could probably buy yourself a new hard drive, or invest it in a new monitor (22" is a minimum).

Naturally, this only applies if you're not willing to wait 2-3 months till Nehalem comes out, since its an entirely different socket type (If you ever want to switch to it, you'd need new RAM, a new CPU, and a new Motherboard).

[Princess Garnet]

Nehalem won't be mainstream right away. Only the extreme versions will be released first, and with intel "paper launching" things recently, who knows? I think it'd be hard to predict when Nehalem will be mainstream and Core 2 Duo is budget/obsolete. That won't be the case only three months from now though, that's for sure, but since the budget is $2500, perhaps you should wait. I wouldn't spend that much now and then have Nehalem come out soon, mainstream or not. If it was a cheaper build, maybe.

As for advise for this build, get 2x2GB. 4x1GB will stress the northbridge more and limit overclocking. Also, go for a P35/P45. The X38/X48 offer little improvement (I have an X38 so I know) besides running really hot, so unless you need crossfire, you can get as much for less.

Also, rumor is that with the Q3 price cuts, the 9450 will have it's price cut, and the 9550 will take the price the 9450 has now, and the 9650 (regular, not the extreme version) will be introduced at the price the 9550 is now, and seemingly the next price drop (Q1-Q2 next year) will put the 9650 where the 9450 is now. The E8600 will also be introduced, and the E8500 will replace the E8400 (which seems to have happened already for some reason...). I think I have most of that right, but anyone correct me if not. Basically, what I'm saying is, don't get a Q9450 right now. In short, the 9450 is about to be obsolete, and if you wait, you'll get the 9550 for the same money (but then if you wait, there's Nehalem). You sure picked quite a time to upgrade, but this is always how things are. Whether you build for this or Nehalem, you'd be better off waiting. You get either lower prices (going with Core 2 Duo) or the latest technology (Nehalem), so I'd say wait.