I'm ordering components tomorrow for a new system from NewEgg.

Core2Quad6600, 8GIG RAM, Intel MOBO, intense case and Powersupply, Quadro Video card

I am going with the Intel board for the sake of stability, reliability, simplicity. These boards are boring for gamers, but that is not me! This motherboard also has excellent audio capabilities, and I need that to drive the rather outrageous sound system I am getting; this is to be used to do some work on, and also audit finals of, sound for DVD/HD release files. Depending on results, I may add an additional audio card.

I am going with the Quadro video card because it has optimized drivers for 3DSMax and because it hopefully will run the graphics elements of the general computer better than a gamer board. It will drive dual monitors, which I already have in the studio. I don't expect it to necessarily improve the viewport experience in Poser and Carrara, but it should do no worse than a gamer card for those apps.

You'll notice twin WesterDigital Raptors, small ones, which in RAID-0 will give me a 70Gig main drive. This is partitioned for the OS and a second partition for my working .pz3 and .car files. The second hard drive (80Gig WD) contains two partitions, one for the windows page file, one for applications and runtime folder. Yes, that only gives me 150GIG internal. I do not believe in "storage" or archive internal. I backup to a huge external I already have, then from there to DVD storage and offsite. I've had great success with twin raptors in raid-0 for three years running as my sleek, fast working drive.

1 Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor  $254.99
1 Intel BOXDP35DPM ATX Intel Motherboard    $107.99
2 CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB(2 x 2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Memory $268.00   ($134 each)
1 Antec P182 Gun Metal Black Computer Case  $149.99
1 Rosewill RX750-S-B 750W Power Supply   $139.99
2 Western Digital Raptor 36GB 3.5" SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive  $189.98  ($94.99 each)
1 Western Digital Caviar SE 80GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $41.99
1 PNY Quadro FX570 VCQFX570-PCIE-PB Video Card  $209.99
1 LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DH-20A4P-04 $22.99
1 Logitech Black Cordless Desktop EX110  $29.99
1 Logitech Z-5500 5.1 Speaker  $262.99
1 Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64Bit SP2C  $139.99

Subtotal: $1,818.88
Tax:  $150.06
Guaranteed 3 Day Service $69.21

Unfortunately I have to pay sales tax for California if I buy from NewEgg.com