gaming build comparisons

Those two are really close. Do you like blue or red better?

I'd probably go with the first set you linked just because its newer tech with the SATA6.

I have the motherboard from the second combo and it installed very nicely. No graphics on board though. Just an FYI since I didn't realize that until I was having graphics card installation issues when I built.

Asus > Biostar when talking motherboards IMO

#1. For Gaming get the 3.4Ghz Black Edition, Its Quad Core some games now are starting to use 2 Cores fully, 2 Cores used at 3.4Ghz will be much faster than the x6 Core at 2.8Ghz.

#2. make sure you get the CrossFire or SLI option down the line you will need to Graphics cards if you want to play at 1080p with x8 AA and everything in ULtra, maybe one 5770 will be able to handle a few games but not at 60 or 70 frames per second.

#3. Its a year away or less, I am not going to plan an upgrade Until I see what CRYSIS 2 requires to get 70 frames per second and everything on ULtra at 1080p 8xAA

crysis 2 isnt' gonna be as demanding as crysis 1 is
reason being its developed to work on consoles too.