New single PC 5-boxer looking for rig suggestions.

[Heretical]

Hey guys

Recently I've decided to start 5-boxing, so to actually accomplish that I would need to make a new rig. I've built a couple other rigs before but I haven't followed the hardware scene since then. My budget is quite high (2500-3500 AUD), so it is available to quite a few options.

I am currently interested in 5-boxing on a single PC with my main on one screen with max res, and the 4 alts on the other. I've noticed quite a few other multi-boxers enjoy the same setup, so I have no doubts this is the direction I want to head in.

My current buy list looks like this:

Note: Prices and models in USD from Newegg. I know they don't do international shipping but I thought the site had a nice wishlist :P . The Australian prices on the end for the same models from staticice.com are the cheapest found in Australia.

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core. = 289.99 USD = 469 AUD.
Mobo: ASUSRampage II Extreme LGA 1366Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard = 398.99 USD = 679 AUD.
HD: Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive = 179.99 USD = 289 AUD.
Video: XFX GeForce GTX 285 Black Edition 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card = 399.99 USD = 787.60 AUD.
RAM: CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1866 (Two of these, totaling 12GB). = 770 USD = 1458 AUD (Absolute joke).
OS: Vista Ultimate 64. = 235.99 USD = 229.60 AUD.

Total USD = 2274.95
Total AUD = 3912.20

As you can see, prices in Australia are amazingly lame. Buying from the states comes out to about 3444.64 AUD (not including shipping costs), and even with shipping it won't come close to 3912.20, which also has no shipping costs included.

Now I've seen quite a few of these items on eBay (the ram above for 250USD) and other sites for cheaper than the above, so if I look around I'm sure I can make a saving. However, one of my questions is whether country zones will affect compatability in any way? I have never bought PC parts from overseas, so I had to ask.

Onto my main questions:

1. Worth going all out for the I7 965 or staying on the 920 and upgrading every 6-12 months once they are cheaper?

2. The mobo listed seems quite decent for the most part, any suggestions on an alternative?

3. In my case, is it worth going for a SSD rather than the standard HD?

4. I'm feeling puzzled as to what video card I should go for. Nvidia is a definite, just not sure if I should bother going for one of the best cards out there or sticking to a GTX 260 and upgrading every 6-12 months like the CPU. Any suggestion?

5. The Corsair RAM above seems like the best out there at the moment (the reviews suggest the same), am I right in thinking this is a 100% keeper to my list?

6. Better off buying all my parts from the US?

7. Besides the case (which will be a decent 300-400 tower) and PSU, am I looking at any extra cooling? If so, any suggestions?

If anyone has any suggestions or tips to help me finalise my decision, it would be most appreciated. I am extremely looking forward to start multi-boxing and the sooner I get this rig out of the way, the quicker I get to run around with a pack of synchronised killers.

Thanks

Heretical.

[KvdM]

I'd at least make sure that the Corsair memory modules are on the Asus compatibility list (use the Asus site for this, not the Corsair site), just to make sure you don't run into any compatibility issues.

[Owltoid]

My new rig will hopefully arrive in one week (next Friday). You have some upgrades from my system:

New computer has been purchased - specs, rationale, and thanks ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=18795')

I went with the SSD for my operating system and WoW and a seperate data drive for storing movies, music, etc. I didn't see you list a power supply, case, or additional cooling, so I'm guessing you already have those. For the full package (everything included) I'm paying about $1750 US, including shipping inside the US and assembly. Again, I have lower specs (GTX 260, 12GB RAM @ 1600, MSI motherboard, Vista Premium) but I'm also including the power supply, liquid CPU cooling system, case, sound card, and optical drive, and a low cost SSD. I'd check out www.buyxg.com to see if you can get a comprable rig to the one you're looking at for less money. I'll let everyone know how the SSD is working when I get the new system, but with so much RAM it may be hard to tell.

[KvdM]

I went with the SSD for my operating systemYou do know that a SSD has a limited amount of times data can be written to it, right? They're perfect for reading static game data from, but I'm not too sure placing your OS on it is such a good idea.

[Chranny]

Ya, the cheaper MLC versions have a limited write "lifetime" or whatever you'd call it. Using it to write will reduce the lifetime of the drive by quite a lot. And the OS is doing a lot of writing. :P

[Owltoid]

Ya, the cheaper MLC versions have a limited write "lifetime" or whatever you'd call it. Using it to write will reduce the lifetime of the drive by quite a lot. And the OS is doing a lot of writing. :P

It's no longer a problem. Google it and you'll find pleny of reviews saying the limited writes is a myth. Besides, how many hard-drives have you had crash on you? I've had 3... I'll take limited writes and significantly increased reliability and reading speed over a problem that many say doesn't exist.

[KvdM]

I would not call it a myth since it is an artifact of the flash technology that is used in SSD's. This is why I checked the spec sheet of the Intel SSD's and from what I've read, the problem is still there.

[Bovidae]

I would suggest a small ssd in addition to a hard drive. Static data (wow data folder, etc) on the SSD, OS/applications on a Raptor, and perhaps a third drive (or array) for general storage of documents and porn, err pirated m.. uhh... legitimate media files.

The 920 overclocks just as well as the 940, but the 965 not only has an unlocked multplier, but it doesn't have that over voltage (or whatever its called) protection that limits the amount of electricity you can shove into the chip. Is it worth the extra $700? Not IMHO. I'll be grabbing the 920 and be trying to push it to a modest 3.6, if the government would ever send me my tax return.

The Rampage II Extreme may be a little overkill, but thats a good thing.

Buying in America and shipping it yourself to Aus is great, if you have the contact to do so. My aunt makes quite a side income by carrying things like Levis and portable electronics when she travels for work between her two homes near Los Angeles and Sydney.

Vista Home Premium x64 OEM = $99 and has less bells and whistles to deal with.

Oh yeah, and the so called "myth" is still being perpetuated by ssd manufacturers when they direct people to disable defragmenting because their products have a limited amount of read/write cycles. I tend to believe a products developer more than some dude on a blog.

[Heretical]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I extremely appreciate the input. I have definitely taken all your suggestions into consideration and will come up with a more refined purchase list asap.

On a side note, for the above list, would a 1k Watt PSU be recommended?

Thanks

Heretical.