Ive had it with my comp

I'm ready to build a new comp and the wife has given me the go ahead. I want somehting close to the ultimate gaming rig. Would like to go liquid cooled as well. So starting at the MOBO what is the closest mobo I can get that is comparable to the below listed? I was looking at this form tigerdirect: Intel D955XBKLKR Intel Socket 775 ATX Motherboard / Audio / PCI Express / Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 & Firewire / Serial ATA

Does it compare to the following?

Alienware® nForce™4 SLI™ Intel Edition Chipset Motherboard PCI Express SLI

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Specifications

Chipset NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Intel Edition

Processor Type Intel Pentium/4 Socket 775

Memory Type Up to PC-6400 DDR2 SDRAM

System Bus Speed 1066 / 800 MHz

PCI Express x16 Slots 2

PCI Express x1 Slots 2

PCI Slots 3

IDE Ports 2 ATA-133

Serial ATA-300 Ports 6 (5 internal / 1 back)

Serial ATA-300 RAID Yes (Modes 0 and 1)

Ethernet Ports 2 Gigabit

USB 2.0 Ports 8 (4 back / 4 front)

FireWire Ports 2 (1 back / 1 front (optional)

Thanks.

zkirby

 

If you want "the ultimate gaming rig", then why go with an Intel based board?

Also, why do you want liquid cooling?

 

I have always been an Intel guy, I would have nothing against AMD and I haven't done much research until recently when my comp started giving me serious issues. As for liquid cooling, my alienware is so loud, always was, so I figured liquid cooling would be a nice way to go to keep the fan noise down, maybe better fans would be ok too if they were quieter.

Any advice on a mobo/cpu combo to start on? I like ASUS as well and AMD cpu would be cool to if they are leading the gaming scene now.

Also what about dual processors and dual vid cards like the new alienwares? is this feasible or a waste of hardware? thanks.

zkirby

 

I personally wouldn't go for dual processor unless I was doing video editing for a living and/or gaming 24/7.
Get dual monitor if you like, but I feel that dual processor is only for extreme multitasking or servers.

Just for the records, I'm using an AMD 64 3200+ and using a Zalman heatsink with 120mm fan and it idles at 25c.

 

I agree with where you're headed on this.
The liquid cooling is overkill and expensive. Get a good Thermaltake heatsink/fan combo and you're good to go. Then take the extra money and sink it into a better cpu.

 

The Zalman with the big 120mm fans inside? Those are great. You can pick one up from pricewatch for about 40 bucks shipped.

 

I guess it would be overkill to go dual devices as well as liquid cooling so with that in mind would some of you more tech knowledgable peeps plz recommend the following for my new system. I think once I get these items selected I can come up with the rest of the needed components. Also, what is a descent wattage for my power sup? I am running 420 now but I want enough power so it never become suspect while troubleshooting later down the line.

1: Motherboard (leaning towards ASUS but am open to other sugestions)
2: CPU (interested in AMD this time around)
3: GFX card (Want to stay clear of ATI as I'm sick of the headaches mine has caused me)
4: RAM (currently have 1 GB of PC-1066 RDRAM which at the time was the best, would like to stay with quality RAM vice value)

I want top of the line but at the same time will settle for the second or third fastest CPU for example, if there is a huge price difference like the $600-700 difference between the higher end Intel and the new Intel Extreme processor. As for GFX card I want something that is pretty much one of the best or up there and again no ATI so leaning towards GEFORCE/NVIDIA.

Thanks in advance.

zkirby