pick one (spending too much) but oh well

here you go $3252

Chassis: Cooler Master Cosmos S Edition
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 860W PC Power & Cooling (ESA Edition) (Dual SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: NVIDIA 780i Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 780i SLI)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 1066MHz (SLI-Ready Edition)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Liquid Chilled FrostBite CPU Only
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: Yes, Overclock memory timings (Includes Memory Fan Kit Installed)
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: - No Thanks
Mouse: - No Thanks
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

I would shop for the lcd and the rest and see if I can get a better price.

I would raise the warranty to 4 years.

magic he subtracted the monitor and sound card

I'd take improved cooling over a faster HDD any day of the week. Better cooling is going to give you more performance than a 10k RPM HDD.

thanks, I'm going to shop around for a monitor and skip the sound card like you say.

thanks

finally placed my order. I took all your advice very much appreciated.

Only thing I did not do was water cooling. I am old school and I did not want to be bothered with checking the water level etc.. Air is simple so I may loose a bit of performance but also saved a couple bucks.

I went with 1000W just in case I want to drop in a second video card.

stage 3 and Velociraptor 300GB

And went with the 850 case which is supposed to be great with air cool from what I read. I was thinking about the Cosmos or the 950 but could not decide so in the end went with the 850 since it's been out a while I figure DS has it figured out well.

Went with 4-year warranty and razor mouse and keyboard.

will shop for monitor on the side.

Hope my wife does not catch on how much this is costing $3294 but my last computer is 6+ years old

http://www.digitalstormonline.com/comploadsaved.asp?id=182275

Chassis: Digital Storm 850Si
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 1000W Corsair HX (Dual/Triple/Quad SLI Compatible)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: NVIDIA 780i Core 2 Quad (Chipset: nForce 780i SLI)
System Memory: 4GB DDR2 OCZ at 1066MHz (SLI-Ready Edition)
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (10K RPM) (16MB Cache) (Extreme Speed)
Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 896MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio
Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Additional Case Fans)
Internal Lighting: - No Thanks
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts)
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder Gaming Mouse (High-Speed Gaming Grade)
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 4 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty (Highly Recommended)

Originally posted by Nomak If she wont catch your credit card statement, shell be sure to catch all the noise w/ stage 3 air cooling.   One way or another your boys are in trouble.

LOL

She wanted me to get an Apple, but I wanted a gaming PC, hard to explain to her about things like video cards and hard drives etc.. one great thing about digital storm is they have so many choices all top notch components.

I was also looking at Falcon NW but I was not as sure about the service I'd get, DS sold me with how quickly they answer my questions. Also this forum is great.. FNW was a bit more money also.

Edited by rai-zero - 11 Sep 2008 at 10:08am

last thing I was on the fence about was the 4-year warranty. I usually don't get this but this is my first OC CPU so I wanted to get a little extra insurance.

I will say it's great DS gives 3 years standard that helps to make me more at ease with over clocking. I would guess they don't want to replace CPUs all the time so it's likely safe.

I can easily save $150 by getting the monitor on my own so I reasoned that money to be used for the warranty.




Edited by rai-zero - 11 Sep 2008 at 10:13am

...people who play pogo games or such...

thanks, I'm pumped. Can't wait.

BTW I was looking at FNW and similar computer (can't get exactly the same) was $4K.

--

could you guys throw me some tips to keep the system running well? I mean which protection to run and what type of tune-ups I need to do etc..

also any good LCDs I should look at? I was thinking 24" but could go larger or smaller if need be.





Edited by rai-zero - 11 Sep 2008 at 2:51pm

having second thoughts about not getting the water cooling. 

Originally posted by DST4ME tought one, I would look to some other way of paying for the liquid cooling other then taking down teh warranty.