Configuration Help?

Ok, looking at various google searches and the comparisons on the website here are really not helping me choose a configuration.

I buy workhorse powerhouse computers that last me years. My last computer was purchased 4 years ago, and it ran every game of the time at 1600x1200 high. It was only last year that it began to run into issues, and I'm down to 1280x1024.

My last computer had 400 gigs of storage, which was the best I could find at the time, and I ran out of that a long time ago. It also had the best CPU I could get at the time. Lastly, a large CRT display for maximum flexibility in resolutions.

All of this has given me a computer that's lasted so many years doing office, programming, storage and gaming at fairly top notch for fairly cheap.

It's an Alienware. I'd planned on buying my new one from Alienware again this year, but the rising prices and lowered configuration choices drove me to search for other sites. Found this one and was very impressed, especially when I built a computer for under 4k that Alienware couldn't match at nearly 6k.

What I'm looking for this time around is more of the same - Multitasking ability, storage space, and longterm viability in gaming and productivity.

I have several questions and several problems with my build. I used the configuration request form to send these questions in, but it's been three weeks with no answer. So I'm turning to the boards to get some help from the community and a few of the employees I see hovering around.

I'm aiming for less than 6K. If I get it under 5K, I'll be buying with no reservations.

My build:

Specifications:
Case: Digital Storm 950Si (Black Anodized Aluminum Finish)
Power Supply: 1000W SilverStone Strider (Dual SLI Compatible) (Model: ST1000) (Silent)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650 Extreme 3.00GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: nVidia 790i Ultra Core 2 Quad (nForce 790i Ultra  SLI) (DDR3 Only)
Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz
Floppy / Card: Digital Media Card Reader (Black)
Hard Drive 1: 1TB Western Digital (7200 RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 1TB Western Digital (7200 RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 3: 1TB Western Digital (7200 RPM) (16MB Cache) (SATA) (Extreme Speed)
Raid Option: - No
Optical Drive 1: BLU-RAY/DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (Blu-Ray 4x / DVD Writer 18x / CD-Writer 48x) Optical
Network Card: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: 2x SLI Quad (nVidia GeForce 9800GX2 1GB)
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer (Recommended)
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
LCD Display: Acer 22 inch (Widescreen) (Black) (High-Performance Gaming Display)
Speakers: - No Thanks

My questions

1. Video Card: I can't find any good information on the newest NVidia cards. I see various posts about the differences between the 8800s and 9800s. However, I'm unable to find any good information about the 9800 GTX vs the 9800 GX2. Which card would be best for high quality gaming and video imaging currently and in the long term? I'd aim for a dual SLI, but the dual GX2 costs are extraordinarily high compared to the dual GTX. I can't countenance the cost without some information from somewhere. I'd prefer a 9800, as it's two levels above what I have now, but if necessary, I'll drop to a single 8800 config, and upgrade later.
2. Display: I've been shying away from LCDs for years because of their inability to competently handle the massive array of resolutions that a CRT can. I'm currently working on a 1920x1440 desktop resolution, and I play games ranging from very old ones with a 600x480 (or less) resolution, all the way up to older ones that I can handle at 1920x1440. I also use many of the inbetweens, depending on the game and what I can handle in it. As this computer ages, I expect to be doing the same - playing at the highest resolution I can handle and am willing to accept. Can any of the LCDs offered in the customizer handle this array of choices? I'd accept one that can handle 1024x768, 1600x1200 and a higher desktop resolution in the same way that my current CRT can. I'd like to go for the 24 inch, but I'm playing around looking at costs.
3. Speakers: I've had the same speakers on my computers for ten years - Klipsch Pro-Media 4.1. These speakers are nicely powerful for their size, and haven't had a single problem. I'd love to upgrade them to 5.1's, but not a single set of speakers has come near their output and fidelity. In the opinions of anyone who has used them, do the Logitech's available in the customizer stack up to these speakers? If not, are there any that do? Suggestions for this would be greatly appreciated.
4. HDD Setup: More an employee question - Would it be possible to have the system configured with a smallish partition of HDD1 above as the system partition? Something along the lines of C = 200G, D = 800G, E/F = 1T each with the Optical in F? My only problem with my last few computers has been a complete inability to nicely wipe and reload. I have too much data on all the drives to completely back things up, so I just don't bother. A partitioned drive would answer this problem nicely. It will also allow me to give up on Vista someday and reload with XP, or to upgrade to Vista 64 someday to use all that memory I just added.

Thanks all for any information or answers you can provide to the above.

Originally posted by Adrenfreak I have several questions and several problems with my build. I used the configuration request form to send these questions in, but it's been three weeks with no answer.

Yeah, me too. I'm guessing it's because the company got very popular and they're dealing with explosions of people hitting the configurator.

And wait - If the GTX isn't out yet, how is it in the configurator?

Just a bump, hoping for employee input tomorrow.

I'll answer the technical part in a second, but I'm in a meeting - Quick question, what's the domain that the responses come from?

Last quick note - the area up here gets fairly warm in the summer, and my house is somewhat aged - Even with the AC on, I sometimes push high 70s in the summer. With that in mind, will the level 3 air cooling do ok?