What would you pick?

[Celeron]

These are my two choices. I don't know which one to choose. What do y'all think?

Abit KN8 Ultra moterboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo
2gig OCZ PC3200 (2 x 1gig) 2-3-2-5 timings
Sapphire ATI X1900XTX PCIe
Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS (carry over from old PC)
WD 150gig Raptor
Antec TruePower II 550 ATX PSU
Cooler Master Praetorian PAC-T01-E1
Total price for this system is, with shipping $1754.

Or

Abit KN8 SLI moterboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo
2gig OCZ PC3200 (2 x 1gig) 2-3-2-5 timings
2 x BFG 7900GT OC PCIe in SLI
Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS (carry over from old PC)
WD 150gig Raptor
Antec TruePower II 550 ATX PSU
Cooler Master Praetorian PAC-T01-E1
Total price for this system is, with shipping $1950.

Now, the ATI system would be a little slower, but it costs $200 less. The X1900XTX is noisy, but is it noiser than a pair of 7900GTs?

 

[Howard]

Depends on what monitor you're using.

With the money you save, you can buy an aftermarket heatsink (with a sizeable fraction left over) that's much quieter than the stock HSF on the video card.

EDIT: What PSU are you using?

 

[Celeron]

I'm using a Dell 2005FPW. Native res is 1680x1050. I'd like to play games at that res is possible.

 

[alimoalem]

is it possible for you to hold off on the upgrade for a few months to consider AM2 or Conroe?

what monitor do you have? i'd just get the X1900XT (not the XTX) but if i had to choose between those two, i'd go with the ATI rig

are you planning on OCing?

 

[Shadow Conception]

Then, without a doubt, the second configuration would be the way to go for current generation games, and the games of the future. But, you can also buy the first configuration and play current generation games at pretty high settings, but you wouldn't exactly futureproof yourself. You should wait for the DirectX 10 cards imo.

 

[Celeron]

I considered holding off. I decided not to because I rarely upgrade to the latest and greatest. Far too expensive at the beginning. I would like better performance now as the games I want to play are not running as fast as I would like. Using a Dell 2005FPW running at 1680x1050.

The XTX is only $40 more expensive than the XT. Not a big deal there.

I will probably do some mild overclocking.

 

[yosuke188]

Go with ATI, then upgrade later.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

i'd take that 1900xtx anyday over 7900gt. and its cheaper too. the xtx not only blows away the 7900gt it blows away its big bro the gtx also. you'll love it